kirbiejill

Hello!

My husband and I are from Canada and in our mid 20s and are planning on spending 10 days in Barcelona in mid-August. We are looking for a rough itinerary suggestion. We would like to relax a few days and go to the beaches but also enjoy the culture and explore a bit. We aren't huge on seeing a lot of really religious sights or anything like that. But we are open to doing some cool day trips to different places or tours in Barcelona. I like wine and the marketplaces and my husband enjoys beautiful outdoor scenery. Is there a certain area that is central enough (or close enough to train, bus, etc.) that would be a good area to stay in the entire time?

Any suggestions would be so greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

BigRuss

First, do some research. No one on this board is you but you, therefore no one on this board can determine what is right for you. Barcelona is heavily touristed and the resources available to visitors can fill an encyclopedia. Given your demographic, you may want to go to Timeout.com and absorb the info over there - it's geared to more of a Gen Y crowd. Nightlife for you will be fish+barrel+shotgun.

Second, what does this mean: "We aren't huge on seeing a lot of really religious sights or anything like that"?

FYI: Barcelona's most famous site is . . . really religious. That happens a lot in major cities of Catholic countries.

kirbiejill

We have done some of our own research, no worries. I guess this was a vague question to throw out. We actually aren't much of a nightlife couple and are just looking for some great ideas to fill a few of our days - especially maybe one or two day trips outside of the city. This is our first big trip ANYWHERE so want to kind of stick to the one city, tour a bit and relax a bit!

And my second comment you are referring to - I just meant that we aren't big on seeing church after church after church for tourist type ideas. Nothing against it!

BigRuss

Hmm. Barcelona has two very prominent cathedrals and one easy daytrip where the religious site in question is just part of a larger offering of what to do, but it's not a shrine to shrines like 80% of Italy.

Check the proposed itineraries on Fodors, R--k S----s, Fr-----s, L----y P----t and Timeout. But again, what you like is what you like - filling in the gaps on that here would help you get better recs too.

And BCN is a late night town, dinner isn't until 9.

theheadysmiths

Consider taking a guided bicycle trip like Fat Tire Bike Tours. Great way to spend a morning or afternoon and get a feeling for a city. Cost in Barcelona is 24 euros. Easily found with internet search. Groups we have joined in places like Munich and Madrid usually include a range of ages. Nice because you don't have to get tickets in advance. Just show up if the weather is nice and the spirit is right

Robert2533

10 days is a long time in Barcelona, even with day trips.

If you are interested in wine, then you can do the Penedes from Barcelona, but in order to actually enjoy the Priorat wine region (one of the best in Spain), you should spend at least two nights in the village of Falset, in the middle of the Priorat. It can be done on a long day trip from Barcelona, but why?

kirbiejill

Thank you Heady Smiths - we love to bike and that sounds like a great suggestion.

Robert, we just want to do some relaxing and beach time a bit and enjoy a city! Thank you for the Penedes suggestion! We will definitely look into that.

danon

Beaches in Sitges( 40 min by train ) are better than BCN
A day trip to Tarragona or Girona is a nice change.
A cable ride to Montjuic could be fun.
Park Guell , Casa Guell, Casa Batllo, Casa Mila, Tibitibo, ...
are all non- religious places to visit.
Sagrada Familia is a church like no other....worth a visit.
If you like art..Picasso, Miro, MACBA, MNAC etc..
Our first visit to the city we stayed eight days without
day trips. It is great place...
Returned six more times.

kirbiejill

Danon - thank you!! It seems there is a water festival on in Tarragona while we are there - that might be worth checking out. Have you ever been during that time?

BigAleinstein

If you like markets be sure to visit la Boqueria, it is one of the great markets of Europe.

http://www.boqueria.info/index.php?lang=en

danon

K, no sorry...Tarragon is only 30 min by fast train from BCN
Girona, an hour.
If you decide on a few days away from Barcelona,
beautiful Valencia (great beaches) is a three hour train ride.

kimhe

The Barceloneta city beach is miles long and very popular with locals, vibrant atmosphere and all kinds of people and activities out here. And the small Barceloneta triangle nighbourhood just inland from the beach is one of the most vibrant and fun in the city. Lots of great restaurants, tapas bars and outdoor cafés that are not crowded with tourists (the tourists tend to end up in one of the many restaurants and cafés along Paseo Joan de Borbón on the main road out to the southern end of the Barceloneta beach). Even some very exclusive restaurants here in the Barceloneta neighbourhood such as Can Solé and Restaurante Somorrostro.

A couple of hours on the beach followed by a lunch in the midst of Barceloneta, no better way to spend the first half of the day (and perhaps the rest...).

You should also to take time to really explore Montjuic (Jewish mountain), also almost in the very center of town. You have to read up on it, but here are cultural institutions, museums, sports stadiums, theaters, cafés, restaurants etc for at least some 10 days. Site of the 1929 world expo and the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Used to be one of the world's most admired and feared Formula one circuits up here until several people were killed during the race in 1975. Lots of Barcelona history connected to Montjuic.

Plenty of local feel restaurants and tapas bars in Poble Sec at the foot of Montjuic. I love La Perla: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Catalonia.html

kimhe

... and when it comes to marketplaces you have, as suggested, of course the famous Boquería market just off Las Ramblas, one of the finest in the world.

But you should also visit the fabulous Mercat Santa Caterina, 200 meters from the Cathedral in the other direction. By far not as crowded with tourists as Boquería and fabulous produce:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attract...Catalonia.html

Also a fine market in the center of the Barceloneta neighbourhood: http://www.mercatdelabarceloneta.com/

For a genuine Barcelona dinner in a small and family owned restaurant in the center of town, I suggest you go to Ca L'Estevet. I can strongly recommend the tomato salad - much thanks to the extremely rich Vinagre de Jerez - the world class Iberian ham, the Barcelona speciality Bacalà a la llauna and the wonderful grilled chicken with prunes.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Catalonia.html

You should also have one night at Barcelona classic 7 Portes. Consistently great, traditional Catalan food in the best atmosphere. Popular with tourists, but it's easy to understand why this 1836 establishment still is a favourite with locals. Some weeks ago we had a fabulous fish soup, monkfish/rape a la plancha and a divine Catalan speciality Arroz caldoso. Quite affordable, we use to pay some 35-40€ pr. person. http://www.7portes.com/angles/index.php

kirbiejill

Kimhe - wow, thank you! I am busy spending my work time looking at all your great suggestions.