50yo sf. Barcelona at night...?

Old Oct 18th, 2014, 07:05 AM
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50yo sf. Barcelona at night...?

Hi!

I will be in Barcelona 10/29-11/5. I am traveling solo and hoping not to stay in my room at night, every night. I love people watching, music and possibly dancing! I will be staying in Eixample. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Hoping for safety of course, ease of travel and not looking old and out of place!!

Thanks!!!
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Old Oct 18th, 2014, 07:27 AM
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They don't call that part of town the "Gayxample" for nothing.
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Old Oct 18th, 2014, 07:43 AM
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Eixamle is a big area...
I have always stayed close to P. de Gracia and never had a problem walking around at night. Age has nothing to do with it.
Don't like Ramblas soutH of Ferran late at night.
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Old Oct 18th, 2014, 09:30 AM
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I'm in that demographic and but don't really expect to go dancing when out alone in a foreign country. So I can't help you on that one, I don't go to dance clubs or anything (which do usually skew fairly young, so I think you would look out of palce there, a 50-something single woman).

I just eat dinner late, I even do that at home, so I eat dinner between usually 8 and 9:30, which eats of most of the evening, and afterwards, I may linger in a sidewalk cafe with a glass of wine for an hour, or maybe with dessert. In the areas I stay (yes, in Eixemple), I like the outdoor cafes along rambla de Catalunya (in the middle of the street), which is NOT the famous ramblas. It runs north of placa de Catalunya. There are some good restaurants I like there or on passeig de Gracia, but I don't usually hang out on that street aftgerwards, it's too busy and noisy. So that means I don't go back to my room until maybe 10-11, which is fine for me.

I do go to classical music concerts or others a lot in cities when traveling, but I suspect that is not what you mean by music. I just look at local newspapers or entertainment guides to find those. There are various spots in Barcelona for that or other concerts (like Palau de la Musica). Some newstands on the ramblas have entertainment guides.

What kind of music and dancing are you talking about, anyway? You mean like techno, electro pop, dubstep, that kind of thing? Clubs run really late in Spain, by the way, the DJ may not even start until midnight. There is a club inside Hotel Omm in the Eixemple, a hotel venue might be more comfortable. They have a DJ. http://www.hotelomm.es/en/night-club-en/ There are some popular clubs in the Raval area but I wouldn't recommend you run around there in the middle of the night alone.

The Milano Cocktail Bar in-between place Catalunya and Universitat metro stops (eixemple) has live music some nights http://www.camparimilano.com/
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Old Oct 18th, 2014, 09:32 AM
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Just keep out of the dark shadows and you'll be fine. L'Example is fairly busy at night, at least until midnight. As far as going dancing, most clubs don't open until late in the evening.

http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...ight-club.html

Enjoy!
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Old Oct 18th, 2014, 11:46 AM
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One doesn't have a choice about eating dinner late in Spain. Eating late is just the way it is.

cms0515,

You should read up on Barcelona and take all that you read seriously. Most of everything you read will be what you already know: do not drink too much, do not walk in dark narrow blind alleys (stick to the busy, noisy, brightly lit main thoroughfares), do not let strangers engage you in conversation -- and most of all, do not let them buy you drinks or food. Carry a minimum of valuables, secured on your person, not in a handbag.

I would not pick the nighttime to be "adventurous" in Barcelona and seek getting "off the beaten track". A seasoned visitor to Barcelona would know how to negotiate that one. A newbie might not. There is of course a downside to sticking to guidebook recommended dancing venues -- including the downside that identifiable tourist destinations attract people who prey on tourists. But if you don't carry irreplaceable documents, devices, too much money or wear flashy jewelry, and stay sober, you've very little to lose.

Most crime in Barcelona is money-oriented petty theft, not the threat of violent assault. You don't want to leave the town with bad memories, so find some things to do at night that are upscale in safe neighborhoods, and take the right precautions about protecting your valuables by leaving them securely at your lodgings with just a minimum of what you need to get by tucked away securely on your person.
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Old Oct 18th, 2014, 11:55 AM
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You might find this interesting for specifics

http://www.cntraveller.com/guides/eu...lona/nightlife
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Old Oct 18th, 2014, 02:54 PM
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Carrer Aribau in the Eixample is local feel, quite upscale and fun for both a younger crowd and people like me in about 50 and older. A very good trait of Spanish socializing in general is that people of all ages mix very well. Here's a younger take on it, but recognizing that you'll also find many great coctail bars, clubs and cafes that stay open long into the night:
http://suitelife.com/2011/02/28/arib...treet-profile/
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Old Oct 21st, 2014, 07:47 AM
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Thanks so much!!
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Old Oct 22nd, 2014, 04:10 AM
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you should be fine to walk about, but i caution you to not take any bags with you. what you are hearing is right, the petty theft is very real there, and they will try to take your bag/camera. the last time i went i ended up putting my amex and a couple of euros in my pocket and that's it. the shopping is top notch in barcelona, boutique after boutique! have some wine and gelato and meander down the very small streets and alleys!
this was my favorite place:
http://www.lavinateriadelcall.com/en/
enjoy barcelona.
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Old Oct 22nd, 2014, 08:30 PM
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thank you!
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