I'm spending three days in Barcelona in early September, in the Exiample area. Are there any things I shouldn't miss? Could you recommend any nice restaurants or caf&eacute;s - not madly expensive, but not 'budget', you know, just nice? <BR><BR>Thanks very much for your help!<BR><BR>

Kate<BR>check out another post on this board titled "WARNING DO NOT GO TO SPAIN" for information on the risks you run in going to Barcelona....watch out for the pickpockets and muggers.

Pick up a copy of TimeOut Barcelona--a great guide for finding off-the-beaten-path places. I loved my evening spent going to cava bars, and I used the Fodors list. <BR>Cal Pep is very fun for a tapas dinner--get there when it opens and beware there is no menu. The man behind the counter will figure out that you don't know what is going on, will ask you if you like to eat certain things and then will start feeding you.<BR>The restaurants really do follow the closing times posted, or even close a little earlier. It was really hard to find anything open during the 'off' hours. <BR>Do some shopping at Zara for me--great clothes, like H&M but with quality.<BR>I found food to be VERY reasonable. My most expensive dinner was about $115 for 9 courses for 2 people, plus 2 bottles of wine, at Jaume de Provence.<BR>Don’t’ worry too much about the pickpockets. My boyfriend and I took a money belt, nd joked about its uselessness the entire trip. Be sensible—don’t play three card monte, don’t use a backpack, don’t be clueless. Only once the entire trip did I think anyone was sizing me up to pick and I promptly walked away, no problem. <BR>

I found the Picasso museum very interesting. It is his early scetches and shows the talant that he had from ages 11 to 17.<BR>

YOu'll be staying near some of the great Gaudi architecture--make sure to check out Casa Miloand the Street of Discord, and Sagrada Familia.<BR>My favorite restaurant in Barcelona was La Dolca Herminia at Magdalenes 27--2 blocks towards Ramblas from Palais del la Musica(which is also worth checking out if you can get in). The food was great and very inexpensive and they even had a non-smoking section!<BR><BR>If you like Joan Miro, it would be worth going to the Fundacio Joan Miro--it's open late on Thursdays--sunset is gorgeous from there.<BR><BR>Barcelona is one of my favorite cities and I didn't feel at all unsafe there, or really any place else in Spain. Just be sensible about what you do and you shouldn't have any problems. Spain is wonderful. Enjoy yourself.

Take the Bus Turistica, it starts at Placa Catalunya and you can hop off and hop of where you please around the city.<BR>18 Euro for two days and very good value for money. (Saves a lot of shoe leather!)<BR>Regards<BR>Maggie

Kate-<BR> I think that you will find that much of Barcelona is dominated by the artist/architect Gaudi. You can go to La Sagrada Familia, or actually visit his house. I also thought that Barcelona's port was very interesting. The Picasso museum is very interesting because it shows so many original works of art and they are all in chronological orders. It is cool because they tell you everything that was going on in his life while he was creating his works of art. Have a great time!

Thanks very much Jess, Maggie, alH, Joey, Paula et al. Some good advice, great looking suggestions. I certainly will get the Bus pass - not a big fan of undergrounds, but that's because I live in London and we have the worst subway in the world. <BR><BR>Again, thank you<BR><BR>Kate

Hi Kate,<BR>So pleased that you are going to give the Bus Turistica a go - it is certainly the easiest way to see Barcelona.<BR>Do get off at the Tramvia Blue stop to go to the top of Tibidabo. When you get off the tram, you then take a funicular right to the top and a most beautiful church.<BR>You can then take a lift up one of the towers and then a few steps up to the feet of the statue of Christ.<BR>From here you have the most magnificent view of Barcelona and the Med beyond.<BR>There are a couple of good restaurants and the changing point from the tram to the funicular.<BR>You must also try and see the musical fountain show, the guide on the bus will tell you about it and what time it starts.<BR>Enjoy Barcelona - it's a super city.<BR>Regards<BR>Maggie.

Yay! I'm so bloody excited about all that and am writing down everything you said, Maggie. Many thanks xx

Some of my favorites in addition to the Picasso Museum in Barri Gotic, are the Museum of Catalan Art in a huge old palace-type building and Gaudi's amazing Parc Guell (you'll find them all on the Bus Turistic map). There's so much to see and do in Barcelona that you'll wish you could stay much longer.

Don't miss Casa Battlo. A Gaudi home that is open to the public for the first time EVER. Get there as soon as they open in the morning or the line to get in is really long. Absolutely amazing. Also, Parc Guell was a favorite.

May I add the attractions on and near<BR>Montjuic (people have mentioned the Fondacio Miro and MNAC -- Romanesque art) and cable car rides to Montjuic and on Montjuic. Also the replica of Mies's Pavillion is worth a look if you're a fan of architecture.<BR><BR>Lots of good shopping in Eixample along Passeig de Gracia.<BR><BR>Have lots of fun!<BR>

I got here today. I spent the last 3 months in Northern Europe. I have a really bad impression of Barcelona- dirty, smelly and trash everywhere. I have never seen such a dirty city. Are the trash men on vacation the month of August too? I am beginning to wonder why so many people come here....any insight would be great.

Oh Isabel, how negative!<BR>Our impression in March was that Barcelona was a very clean city.<BR>We had friends who also visited in April and they were of the same opinion.<BR>My son and his wife visited in June and were most impressed with the city.<BR>Surely things cannot have changed so much in four months!<BR>Regards<BR>Maggie.

Kate,<BR>If you can get a copy of US Vogue, August, Jennifer Aniston on the cover, there's a list of recommended tapas spots in Barcelona.One restaurant we enjoyed was El Mussol (the owl) in the Gothic quarter. Lively and popular spot for everyone from dating teens to business people. Mostly grilled meats and poultry.Now, this was about three years ago,so I'd double-check, but if it's really busy, it's worth a try.<BR>I loved Barcelona, very easy walking city with interesting architecture and lots of museums. Don't miss the Palau de Musica (probably misspelled that)--it's wild and beautiful. Isabel,I think August brings out the worst in S. Europe..lots of tourists and heat...

Thanks again for your lovely posts. I've read in my travel guide that a lot of restaurants are closed throughout August - so maybe August isn't the best month to go. Not because the restaurants are closed, but because ... well, because of the reason the restaurants are closed. I sound kind of an idiot, so will leave it there.