Cokie1

Hello. We're starting to plan for 10-14 days this summer. My husband has his heart set on Paris (we've been before), but I'd like to add on something new. Barcelona sounds great. Is it? We love food, wine, exploring, neighborhoods, not too much time in museums or cathedrals, etc. Been to Normany/Brittany, loved Italian hill towns in Tuscany, Lake Como, Italian Riviera. Is Barcelona that second city? Any other suggestions? If that's our choice, should we fly between the two? Thanks Fodorites!

Intrepid1

I've done the overnight train between these two cities several times. Frankly, if you can meet the airline luggage requirements I would fly between the two.

They certainly offer up many differences. Of course, many will tell you to go to Madrid or Seville...both good..if you haven't been to Spain AT ALL my feeling is you need to do so.

Dave_in_Paris

By all means Barcellona as well as Paris. It's a lovely city, and after Paris, the prices are a bit of a relief. The Gothic Quarter is delightful, outside the Ramblas which must be seen but in high moderation. My only quibble is with hotels. Little in the way of small and charming. We ended up at the Neri (thanks Fodorites!) Lovely and wickedly expensive. Fortunately, it was a short stay.

emnyc

My boyfriend and I did that combination last April over ten days. We took the night train; if you click my name you can find my description of it. The short version is that it was fun, but we did need a nap the next day. I think whether it makes sense all depends on how much the sleeper car experience appeals to you, as well as on what deals you can find, as the full-priced Trenhotel is steep. For us, with such a deal it was a good choice. The thing we most liked about Barcelona, after our time in Paris, was the day we spent at Montserrat, an easy day trip to a monastery in beautiful mountains. The day spent hiking and picnicking in the countryside was a nice change from all the city travel, and a good way to recharge our batteries. I am afraid we were especially in need of this as one of the notorious Barcelona pickpockets tried to walk away with my boyfriend's backpack while we sat in the Plaza Catalunya our first morning in town, which gave us a sort of nasty first impression of Barcelona. Montserrat, the Sagrada Familia, and the Picasso Museum made us feel better, as did wandering in the Gothic Quarter, eating tapas, etc.

geneven

Barcelona is nice; the Gaudi architecture is not to be missed. Beware of pickpockete -- in my five months there, I had four close brushes with them.

Try to take a side trip to Montserrat, a wonderful mountain monastery with nifty weird rocks and scary high places. Stay overnight there, if you can, it is peaceful and pleasant.

rainbow007

Cokie1,

We found an inexpensive, convenient flight from the Paris Orly airport to Barcelona El Prat on Easyjet. Like you, we also like food, wine and exploring. Our itinerary has a mixture of cities and smaller towns:

Paris: 5 nights, flight to Barcelona
Barcelona: 3 nights, train to Collioure
Collioure: 2 nights, train to Avignon TGV, rent car
St. Remy: 4 nights, drive to Beaune/Dijon
Dijon/Beaune: 2 nights, train from Dijon to CDG, then home

Not sure if this type of trip would be of interest to you, but I can't wait to go!

Rainbow

artlover

rainbow007,
Please do a trip report when you return--this sounds like a trip I'm in the first stages of planning for April-May for DH and my 25th wedding anniversary.

Cokie1, in answer to your question--I've been to both Paris and Barcelona and think they'll make a great combination (which is one of the reasons I'm planning this again.) And yes, Seville is wonderful too, but I think it would be too hot in the summer, as might Madrid.

Doubletee

I think Barcelona would be a lovely complement to Paris. You mention being attracted more to food, wine, general exploration of neighborhoods than to museums or cathedrals, and so I think Barcelona will definitely fit your style. (That being said, the Picasso Museum in Barcelona is a nifty sampling of his art from childhood to old age, and I really enjoyed watching locals dance the sardana in front of the cathedral.)

I'd recommend finding an inexpensive flight to get you to Barcelona, unless you aren't opposed to paying for a sleeper and can sleep on a train. But I flew from Paris to Madrid on Air Europa back in 2003, and we were quite satisfied with that experience.

Barcelona's airport, as I remember it, is new(ish), clean, and efficient -- and most importantly, easily accessible via public transit from Barcelona.

Intrepid1

As an additional follow-on...
I would second the recommendation of at least a day trip to Montserrat which can very easily be reached by public transport from Barcelona. Be sure to vist the art museum while there. You do NOT IMO need to take any sort of an "organized" bus tour if you don;t want to.

If you DO decide to take the overnight train you can get a much better idea of what is offered by going to www.elipsos.com

I would recommend the possibility of spending the money for a gran classe double compartment (they are not cheap but sometimes you can get a good deal through the SNCF site but reservations can usually not be made more than 60 nights ahead.

Center-city is easily reached from the airport by airport shuttle bus or by rail as was mentioned above.

In terms of places to stay in Barcelona, I would at least consider staying in the Eixample area of the city although I have also stayed in, and enjoyed the Gothic Quarter.

Pickpockets: they are plentiful on the Metro and they are VERY skillful. The best way to avoid that "problem" is by using a moneybelt.

Barcelona is very different vs. Paris and delightfully so. As to the heat...although Madrid and Seville can be, as someone mentioned, very hot in the Summer there is far less humidity in Madrid/Seville. Barcelona is very, VERY humid and the heat can seem much more uncomfortable so plan your clothing accordingly.

lincasanova

check out www.vueling.com for inexpensive one way flights from cdg to barcelona.

iberia and air france have round trip deals that are comparable to low cost at times, but one ways tend to be very high.

however, the night train can be a bargain if booked in advance considering it saves you on a hotel in paris plus gets you into barcelona 5 hours before the cdg flight.

airport train to town, then tourist hop on bus is right at sants station, or if you have too much luggage, metro/taxi to hotel.

yes.. skillful AGGRESSIVE THIEVES. pickpockets sounds so.. "light". Mind you, Barcelona is under the same seige as all other large cities in spain.

these people are MONSTERS. most under 18 so the law does nothing to them, and they know it.

Just be AWARE of your surroundings, and those around you. Be suspicious when all of a sudden it gets crowded around you. They work in packs and create close quarters to do their quick stuff.

p.s. All races.. this is not limited to "gypsies".

wanderful

I went from Barcelona to Paris last May. It was worth it. I would suggest two things: Fly rather than take the train. And go to Barcelona before Paris. I think you will appreciate the former more. If you see Paris first, you may be disappointed in Barcelona by comparison.

rainbow007

Wanderful, it's funny you would say that Barcelona may be a let down after visiting Paris. I'm sure I'll enjoy Barcelona, though I find myself spending most of time reading about Paris and what to do there (as opposed to Barcelona). Any tips for how to spend our time in Barcelona to make the most of it?

Artlover, it sounds like you will return from your trip before I leave for Paris. We aren't going until the end of May. I'm just planning early for this trip!

Rainbow

wanderful

To Rainbow:

One dining tip: Agut d’Avignon, a restaurant tucked in an alleyway not far from La Rambla, the main tourist thoroughfare. It’s probably mentioned in one of your guidebooks. I wandered into it one evening and ate there again the next night as well. Let’s see, my Frommer’s says the phone number is 93-302-60-34.

Enjoy.

Ian

We did the combo back in 2001. We HATED Barcelona after being in Paris. We enjoyed Catalonia outside of Barcelona but not the city itself - Taragona, Girona & the rural areas inland from the Costa Brava. It might have just been our attitude after Paris & Lyon etc, I don't know. I would suggest Sevilla as a better combo partner. imho

Ian

Dave_in_Paris

We took Barcelona at a very leisurely pacefor two days. Mostly enjoyed the Gothic quarter, on foot, where we sought out the circle dancing by the Cathedral (adorable), happened on a human pyramid, apparently traditional street theater, in front of the government buildings, visited the one-room shoe museum, where the Catalan guide, an elderly gentleman, entertained us with informative pantomime, lingered in the lovely square behind the hotel Neri, where blossoms were falling off the trees and bullet pockmarks from a fascist-era massacre were still visible in the little church's facade, and the copule of homeless people were no trouble at all, stumbled upon a group of young people who had brought their own instruments to a tiny cafe and were playing and dancing up a storm, had a great lunch (tasting menu) at the Cinq Sentis, and another at a harborside restaurant suggested by the Hotel Neri desk, wandered into what is probably the seediest area of the city, a bit off the Ramblas, at midday, and escaped with a laugh. It was all wonderful, after a 19-year-stay in Paris, and we did not feel let down at all!

laclaire

I lived in Barcelona last year and am moving back permanently in April. I was always proud to host people and show them everything the city has to offer, and I think it is a wonderful choice. Frankly, I found Paris to be a letdown from BCN, but to each his own.

3 nights is short, so be sure to stay someplace central. Lower Passeig de Gracia is gorgeous, and there are hotels on the Gran Via as well. If you stay in the Raval, be very careful with your belongings. I do not recommend it for first time visitors.

As for what to do, well, what do you like? The architecture is fantastic from the outside as well as inside, and Parc Guell is nice. If you are the athletic types, rent bikes! I would have died without mine, and it got me up Tibidabo and all around the city.

Food and wine: Commerc 24 (on Commerc street near the Chocolate Museum) has a tasting menu and the chef is a Bulli protege. That is if you like experimental.

I am going to continue this later, as the keyboard I am on is small and confusing. More to come.

Claire Gunter

isabel

I'm doing that same combo in 33 days!!!! Not that I'm counting. I've been to Paris several times and can't wait to go back, but Barcelona sounds great. We're flying easyjet from Orly to BCN for about €50. Seems very quick and easy, I wouldn't even consider a train unless you happen to love trains. The best way I find to get myself psyched about somewhere (or to decide if I want to go somewhere) is to look at photos. I google a place and hit google-images which brings up tons of photos. Barcelona looks absolutely beautiful. Check out these sites: http://www.barcelona-fotos.de/Highli...ighlights.html
http://www.barcelona-fotos.de/Highli...ighlights.html

isabel

Sorry, that second site didn't paste in. Here it is: http://www.red2000.com/spain/barcelon/photo.html

There are many, many more. You'll find them by googeling.

Intrepid1

Cokie1....are you reading these posts???? We seem to have lost you along the way somewhere.....

otto

i've been to paris a number of times, and it is indeed my favorite city. (slowly taking over the number one spot from new york). i went to barcelona this november, and the very first night i dubbed it "paris' little sister". it's wonderful. people are so kind. the weather was more fair, the food was more than great!! they are both walking cities, although english is certainly more spoken by the locals in paris. where paris' sites and energy is striking (it is) barcelona is a softer and more gentile in it's art, sites and vibe. by all mean, go to both as you do not need alot of time in each city. perhaps 4 days in each? enough to wet the appetite for a return trip. i would fly between these cities simply in effort to save time.