nannibray

If I just have 7 or 8 nights in Spain with Barcelona as a must see, should I just stay the entire time there or add 1 other city? Travel dates would most likely be during the latter part of February. Considering the weather in February, what would be prudent side day trips from Barcelona if we stayed the entire
time in Barcelona?
I know that transportation between cities uses most of a full day.
Background:
Have previously been to Madrid, Toledo, Seville, Granada, Cordova. (However, my travel companion has not been to Spain and might be interested in seeing one other city. If so, which city would make most sense? Madrid? Seville?
February is my only travel option. Time must be limited. flying from the USA.
Thank you for info on weather, concerts, etc at this time of year.

PalenQ

Weather-wise Seville would make the most sense - you could fly into Barcelona and out of Seville but Madrid is just a few hours now by high-speed train but rather high altitude and thus cooler in winter though could be nice the later in Feb the more.

Girona is a neat old town just about an hour from Barcelona by train. Montserrat is really close to Barcelona and one of Europe's most popular pilgrimage meccas - perched high up in the mountains - take a suburban train to the cable way that whisks you up top to the shrine with the venerated Black Madonna (if I recall correctly).

If taking trains check www.renfe.com - official site of Spanish Railways for discounted tickets to Madrid (or Seville but that is a long several hour trip though I think there is an overnight train too between them that could be fun- for lots in general on trains and places to go check www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

Another day trip from Barcelona that is popular goes northto Figueras and its popular Dali Museum in a weirdly architected building as fitting.

Barcelona for 7 days would be a bit much for some - the Canary Islands are just a short flight or longer boat ride away. With new high-speed train to France a neat seaside town like Couliers, just over the Spanish border, could be an easy day trip or few day stay.

kja

It would, IME, be easy to fill your time in Barcelona (with or without day trips!). If you want to take a side trip, Girona would be a logical choice.

You might take a look at my trip report -- long, but searchable. And note that I skipped Tarragona, just because I didn't have enough time in the area.

Hope that helps!

nannibray

Thank you PalenQ and kja. Will check on connections to Seville. Perhaps Madrid might make more sense as far as scheduling international flights.
Are there any nice costal towns near Barcelona that would be enjoyable in late Feb or would weather be too cool.
Would Lourdes, France be out of the question? Maybe make a nine pilgrimage?

kja

It's all such a personal choice about priorities, but I, personally, would hold off on magnificent Sevilla until you can give Andalusia 9 or 10 days. JMO. If you do go to Sevilla, flying through Madrid to Sevilla might make most sense.

For beaches other than those in Barcelona, there are several lovely little beach towns along the Costa Brava, but whether they would be too cool would depend on your preferences. You should be able to check average weather data on wunderground.com, though you might need to look up an inland city -- say Girona -- to find the info.

Lourdes would be too far for my preferences; YMMV. And with so very much to do in and around Barcelona, going there wouldn't be my priority even if time weren't the issue. You could always visit Montserrat from Barcelona....

kimhe

<the Canary Islands are just a short flight or longer boat ride away> You of course meant the Balearic Islands, and Palma de Mallorca is a great city: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/palma-de-mallorca

Madrid will be a fine contrast. But seven days would also only scratch the surface of very diverse Barcelona:
http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/en/

You have all the "usual suspects" of the Gothic quarter, world famous Las Ramblas, all the spectacular Gaudí sights, the upscale Eixample district around elegant Passeig de Gracia etc. etc.

And then it starts getting really interseting.

El Born: https://www.barcelona-tourist-guide....s/el-born.html
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/ba...tour-barcelona
Poble Sec: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...to-bodega.html
Barceloneta with the huge, eclectic and fun beach: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2...taurants-spain
Gracia: https://www.barcelona-tourist-guide....ia-barrio.html
http://www.timeout.com/barcelona/things-to-do/gracia
Raval: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/barcelona/el-raval
Montjuic, Jewish mountain: https://www.telefericdemontjuic.cat/en/welcome
http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...-montjuic.html

Weather staistics for late February says average highs at 60F, six hours sun pr. day and rainfall onece a week. http://www.wetteronline.de/klima-temperatur/barcelona

Elizabeth_S

^^^^^^

What kimhe says!

We spent two months in Barcelona in winter a few years ago and I could go back in a minute. By late February we were sitting in outdoor cafes and in early March the brave were swimming.

nannibray

thanks, kja, kimbe and Elizabeth. I am encouraged with all the possibilities.
Perhaps we should look at an apartment or efficiency for a stay of that many days?
Any suggestions> Would need 2 bedrooms or a room with twin beds.
Double, queen or king will not work. Location is important. Budget...moderate...possibility of 140 to 150 euros per day? Even less is better. Location is important.
thanks again!

Loacker

I love Madrid, but it can be brutally cold in February.
Seville makes more sense, but you will not run out of things to see in Barcelona in 7 days, if you decided to stay there.

Check out Habitat Apartments.
You should find something within your range, even less, especially in February. Their apartments are stylish and affordable.
Make sure to avoid Las Ramblas and Raval and the area around Placa Reial. Can get creepy at night. Look into Eixample and El Born.

Airbnb is a worth a look too.

Loacker

I love Madrid, but it can be brutally cold in February.
Seville makes more sense, but you will not run out of things to see in Barcelona in 7 days, if you decided to stay there.

Check out Habitat Apartments.
You should find something within your range, even less, especially in February. Their apartments are stylish and affordable.
Make sure to avoid Las Ramblas and Raval and the area around Placa Reial. Can get creepy at night. Look into Eixample and El Born.

Airbnb is a worth a look too.

PalenQ

<the Canary Islands are just a short flight or longer boat ride away> You of course meant the Balearic Islands, and Palma de Mallorca is a great city

Yes indeedy - mixed up Canaries - a LONG long way away in the Atlantic but Balearic Islands though some may say that they are too touristed but in February not so much.

lincasanova

USA- BCN..

then BCN-Sevilla
AVE Sevilla to Madrid if no good connection Sevilla-USA ( AF and some other airlines may have fine connections)

Madrid-USA (if unable to connect easily from Sevilla by air)

kimhe

I've used to stay in the medieval and cutting edge Born district on my frequent Barcelona visits the past ten years, a cradle of Catalan identity and culture and close to "everything" (the beach, the Gothic quarter, the cathedral, the Ciutadella park, Placa de Catalunya, Las Ramblas etc. etc) but very local atmosphere, at least in February. Great tapas bars, restaurants, terraces etc. etc. Many apartments for rent. http://www.barcelona-life.com/barcelona/born

Some of many apartment options here: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/deci...rne.en-gb.html
http://www.oh-barcelona.com/en/barce...artments/born/

kimhe

... and when it comes to concerts etc, there is always much going on up in the so called theater city at the foot of Montjuic. Have had many fabulous flamenco and oher dance experiences in the Mercat de les Flors theaters: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...el-teatre.html
Mercat de les Flors: http://mercatflors.cat/en/

An you have of course the spectacular Palau de la Música Catalana two minutes walking from El Born. Going here myself in a couple of months to see living legend José Mercé: http://www.palaumusica.cat/en

Thre are conerts every now and then inside the Gothic Santa María del Mar Church, right in the heart of El Born: http://www.santamariadelmarbarcelona.org/home/

And of course the famous Gran Teatre de Liceu, right on Las Ramblas and next door to one of the finest food markets in the world, La Boquería: http://www.liceubarcelona.cat/en.html
oquería: http://www.gardenista.com/posts/la-boqueria-market/

And contrary to what many peple think, Barcelona is serious flamenco city. The program for real deal flamenco concerts are updated here: http://www.guiaflama.com/flamenco-en-barcelona/

And only top of the shelf flamenco artists perfom every night in Tablao Cordobés and in El Tablao de Carmen, two of the best flamenco restaurants in the country. Here you'll get all the elements of flamenco: song (cante), guitar (toque) and boh male and female dance (baile).
Tablao Cordobes:http://www.tablaocordobes.es/en
Tablao de Carmen: http://www.tablaodecarmen.com/

Trailer to a recent documentary about the flamenco culture in Barcelona, home of the greatest flamenco dancer of all times Carmen Amaya (1915-1963). Her grand-niese Karime Amaya plays a major part in the doumentary, her career is taking off right now, and she dances frequently in Palau de la Música and in Tablao Cordobés: https://vimeo.com/51519531

The whole documentary, full of power and beauty: https://vimeo.com/116855159

PalenQ

One thing you will not see in Barcelona is bullfighting as it is illegal there as opposed to the rest of Spain (but I think in February there is none anywhere anyway).