Inspired by Kwoo's trip report (that I just topped), I'm intriqued by tacking on some days in Costa Brava (and the Pyrenees?) to our Barcelona stay. Personally, I'd like soem non-city time. We'd save San Sebastian for another time.

Main question is the time of year (mid-July). Too hot? Too late (already booked up)? Thoughts?

Mid July is basically too crowded for me, but since you have school age children, you gotta do what ya gotta do ! That said, my daughter wants to go to Spain (Mojacar where we lived for many years) for the month of July so we've been looking at rental houses. A lot are still available, but this morning's chore is to convince her to change the trip to June or September.

Tarragona has terrific Roman sites, is very lovely on the sea, has medieval walls and sites too and very walkable. (and best chocolate shop I ever found!)

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ly-for-him.cfm

Our time in Spain, as described in trip report above, was dictated by attending a WRC rally, but you might glean a few ideas, esp. if you are interested in Tarragona. I couldn't really recommend where we stayed in Barcelona--we had free room on points and it worked out fine, but wouldn't be my preference.

For some perspective, perhaps?

I was in Barcelona for 6 nights in September. I traveled alone, and I am the type who hits the ground running relatively early and goes nonstop except for meals. I had a list of things to see, prioritized but as usual options for me to attempt to visit, or not, as time allowed. I had day trips on my option plan, UNESCO sites outside of the city, etc etc.

I ran out of time before I ran out of things to do, even on my high level prioritized list - and the only place outside of BCN I was able to visit was Sitges.

If you are 7 people, you will automatically see fewer things than I was able to see if for no other reason you will have to muster everyone together each day and decide what to do and see. And that's fine. But I would suggest perhaps to not add another destination. Barcelona is a treat and their bars and cafes rival Paris.

I will say that based on September weather that July will be even hotter, which will also tend to slow you down somewhat - it would for me.

I really liked the Eixample as an area to stay. I very much liked my B&B:

http://www.barcelonabb.com/

Contact them, even if a given room is not enough for 7 people. Their B&B rooms are within a few blocks of each other and you could probably split into three groups and be close enough that it won't affect your daily planning. You could probably still do breakfast together, for instance.

I was in Barcelona mid-July a couple years ago, that's a fine time to go. Because it's on the coast and farther north, of course, it isn't that hot in summer. I mean, of course it is hot but it's not unbearable like you might be in southern Spain or even Madrid. It's similar to where I live in US or a lot of other places in Europe in July. I like traveling in summer because I like that it stays light late and wearing light clothes, and eating in outdoor cafes, etc. A couple sights were a bit crowded meaning there was a line (some of the Gaudi buildings like Casa Battlo, mainly, and Parc Guell was for a park, anyway). NOthing else I went to was that crowded that it was bothersome in any way (naval museum, Miro museum, museum of Catalonian Art, Catalonian history musuem and a few other things).

I agree with flygirl. This city is amazing and has SO MUCH to offer. We stayed in 2 B&Bs in the Eixample and both had between 4 and 8 units to offer.

I have been to Barcelona eight times and have never run out of things to do.
There is much more to see in and near Barcelina than Gaudi.
Depends one's interest., of course.
Good idea to skip SS... ,,...beautiful but the crowedes in the summer in such small place must be
hard to awoid.

I also was impressed with Barcelona, I've been there twice as I liked it so much. The first time I went, I hadn't realized how much there was to do there, actually.

Re flygirls comment, weather in Barcelona actually isn't that different in July vs September, they are about equally hot (around 75-80 in afternoon, down to maybe 65-70 at night). August is a bit hotter there than July.

Thanks for the additional comments. Leaning towards Barcelona + Costa Brava over 10-11 days or so. Took a break over this past week -- need to get back to it.