lyre

Hello,

I will be spending a week over Christmas in Spain between Madrid and Barcelona. I will be in Madrid from the 24th-26th (3 nights) and in Barcelona from 27th-30th (4 nights). My travel companion and I are in our mid-20s. I have a rough itinerary planned, but I have not booked tickets for attractions yet. I don't mind if we miss something because it's too late to book as we do expect to return to these cities. I have never travelled to Europe in the winter, so I am hoping to get suggestions as to the ideal entry time for each of these attractions. I also have some confusion about the metro systems.

Madrid:
Museo Nacional del Prado
- only day we can visit is on the 26th. I just wanted to confirm that when we buy these tickets online, it's only for a specific day without a specific entry time? I am purchasing from here: https://www.museodelprado.es/en/visit-the-museum and it only allows you to select the day and type of ticket.

Barcelona:
Sagrada Familia
- 50% discount for under 30 from 4:00 PM onwards. Should I purchase tickets for this time or is it recommended to pick an earlier time?
Casa Mila
- what's an ideal entry time?
Casa Batllo
- what's an ideal entry time?
Park Guell
- should I purchase tickets for 8:30 am or is it better to wait a little bit longer until 9:30 during the winter?

Can I wait up to 1 week pre-departure to purchase the tickets above? Do I need to pre-purchase tickets for the Picasso Museum (as I'm not sure we will have time for it)?

Metro systems:
In Madrid we will be staying near La Latina station. We aren't expecting to use the metro other than when coming from the airport. Is this the correct ticket: SingleTicket+Airport Supplement:
Metro Zona A, Metro Ligero 1 (ML1) for entry and exit at Airport T1-T2-T3 and Airport T4 Stations (4.50-5.00 euros)?
In Barcelona we will be staying near Jaume I station. Which one do you recommend between: T10 tickets for 9.95 OR 3 Day Tourist Pass for 20.50 (valid 5:00 - 11:00). 10 tickets won't be enough, and we might have to purchase 7-8 additional single tickets. 3 day tourist pass will be for 28/29/30, so we will need to purchase 2 additional tickets.

PalenQ

Book train tickets ASAP for Madrid to Barcelona at www.renfe.com for nice discounts -check www.seat61.com for great info on that -for general info on Spanish trains (first v 2nd cl,etc) also check www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

kimhe

If you go to Sagrada Familia after 4pm, I recommend to see the light effects at sunset, both inside and outside: http://www.sagradafamilia.org/en/light-and-colour/

FuryFluffy

Around 4:00 PM in the summer is the best for Sagrada Familia, because at that moment the sunlight goes through the window and lit up the cathedral in a unique way. But it can also depends on the weather and the season, well the 4pm is what my friends told me during the summer (they were there and felt speechless).

danon

-For Prado..it is ok for any time during the day booked
-Picasso museum is not all that interesting
-Definitely book tickets for Sagrada F....the lineups are huge
- purchase train ticket right away( you can print them)

Christina

I always just buy the T10 metro ticket when in Barcelona for 4 days, but if you think you are going to be taking the metro/bus 18 times in 3 days and want to buy it, it's just your call, really, as to how much you think you'll use it.

However, it doesn't really make sense to buy that tourist pass if you think that, because you could buy two T10 tickets for slightly less and have 20 trips. (9.95x2=19.2 euro). It only makes sense if you think you'll need more than 20 trips in 3 days. Also, your tourist pass is only good for 3 days and you say you'll be there 4, so it doesn't make any sense at all in your situation, it seems to me.

I've been to Casa Battlo around 6 pm because there are less crowds then (it is open until 8 pm, at least in summer). It was a rainy day and you do miss a bit by it being so dark, but you still can enjoy the design and architecture. I think the sun shining is less important for those two houses than it is for the park and Sagrada Familia, of course.

Robert2016

The sun will be setting at 5:30 (17h30) when you're in Barcelona, so plan your day accordingly. Winter Solstice falls on 21 December this year.

Note that restaurants in Madrid will be closed on Christmas Day, and since you will be arriving on the 24th, you need to make dinner reservations if you want to eat in a restaurant. They will be packed. Tapas bars will be open, it's Saturday night, but expect them to be very busy in all areas.

Oh, and since the 26th happens to fall on a Monday this year, most restaurants will be closed for both lunch and dinner, some will not reopen until after the New Year.

lyre

Thanks everyone! I have already booked train tickets between Madrid and Barcelona. I have not made any restaurant reservations, we were thinking of going to tapas bars and the markets for food, but if anyone has recommendations, please share! One problem: my TC is a strict vegetarian since 7 years old, she won't eat any meat. I was thinking of making reservations here for Christmas night: http://www.flamencotickets.com/torres-bermejas-madrid But just for a show + drink. There is a show at 7:00 PM (70 minutes long) and at 9:00 PM (135 minutes long). There is also this one: http://www.flamencotickets.com/corra...moreria-madrid It's more expensive, but we are willing to pay if it's that much better. Which do you recommend between the shows? And if we go to the Torres Bermejas, is the 70 minutes show fine or is it recommended to see the longer one?

Christina, you're right! I had gotten it confused with the Barcelona card, which is much more expensive. The tourist pass doesn't offer any discounts on museums, restaurants, etc so it doesn't make any sense to purchase that. It doesn't look like the Barcelona Card will be worth it either. We will go with the T10 tickets.

I am hoping 4:00 PM for Sagrada Familia will be fine. The 50% discount is tempting.

dwdvagamundo

bookmarking for Barcelona transit suggestions

Robert2016

The shows are fine, but tapas bars are not a substitute for a good sit-down meal.

Being a vegetarian in Spain is not always easy, as pork is typically used to flavor most vegetarian dishes, but the good thing is that more and more restaurants are now offering vegetarian dishes without pork flavoring (http://www.maribelsguides.com/mg-veg...s-in-spain.pdf)

PalenQ

Thanks everyone! I have already booked train tickets between Madrid and Barcelona.>

curious as to what yous paid and was it from renfe.com -many find it hard to use!

kimhe

Both the Torres Bermeja and the Corral de la Morería shows on Dec 24 would for sure be great. 60 years old Corral de la Morería is especially famous. http://www.corraldelamoreria.com/en/index2.html

But you should know that to exceptional dancers perform in Madrid on December 25 and 26.

Paloma Fantova in Cardamomo on Dec 25: https://cardamomo.com/en/
Here she tears down the house in perstigious Sadler's Wells in London a couple of years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck7hMzNH3b8

Rosario Toledo in Corral de la Morería on Dec 26. http://www.corraldelamoreria.com/en/show.html
Here she is in the Oslo Opera house together with fabulous David Palomar and Dani de Morón: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TnE_UQ2qGY

ssander

Haven't been to Madrid since 2012, but Artemesia was a decent vegetarian restaurant. They have two locations, I believe. (I'm not a vegetarian, but we ate there anyway.).

Here are the regular and holiday hours...Google translated:

Meal Schedule:

Every day, from Monday to Sunday: From 13:30 to 16:00 h.

Dinner Schedule:

Friday and Saturday: 21:00 to 24:00 h.
Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: From 20:30 to 23:30 h.

Christmas Times 2016-2017:

Saturday, December 24, 2016 (we open during meal times, we close during dinner hours).
Sunday December 25, 2016 (closed all day).
Saturday, December 31, 2016 (we open at meal times, we close at dinner time).
Sunday January 1, 2017 (we open at meal times, we close at dinner time).

http://restaurantevegetarianohuertascortes.com/

ssander