Barcelona extension
 

Just booked a good fare to Barcelona, traveling early April.
Hoping for suggestion for 3 nights elsewhere for a couple that loves history and natural wonders. Love beaches also, but looks like that might not be a great idea in early April, so I guess we rule out Sitges.

Here's my plan so far, in its infancy:

Tues- arrive Barcelona about noon just chill , explore neighborhood
Wed -Barcelona
Thurs- Barcelona
Fri -train to Monserrat for the day
Sat -leave Barcelona, get a car and head to ?
Sun -?
Mon -?
Tues - ? then stay at hotel near airport
Wed - return car , flight home from Barcelona.

Our only other experience in Spain has been exploring Andalusia which we loved. Any suggestions most welcome .
Do you recommend purchasing tickets ahead of time for Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, Casa Batllo, La Pedrera and the Picasso Museum in early April?

The "9 Wonders of Catalonia" might give you some ideas: http://www.catalonia-valencia.com/un...catalonia.html

And perhaps spend one more day in fabulous Barcelona itself, tons of history and wonders - both ancient, medieval and modern. http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/en/

Barcelona city center is 15 mins and 20-25€ taxi drive to the airport, so no need to stay outside the city the last night. Perhaps in the Av. Paral-lel/Plaza de Espáña area, closest to the airport and fantastic restaurants and tapas bars: http://www.traveller.com.au/what-the...ng-next-gkmkfm
http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...to-bodega.html

Buy tickets ahead for Sagrada Familia, Casa Battló, La Pedrera (Casa Milá) and the Picasso museum, you can expect long lines in April also.

If you want to stay close to Barcelona, I suggest you la costa brava, all the beaches in the north of Catalonia and its beautiful towns like Palafrugell, Cadaques, Tossa de Mar, etc. About ahead tickets, maybe it is a good option, but I dont recommend you going to all these places. Maybe Sagrada Familia or Picasso Museum, but will lose a precious time for other sttuf

I would add at least one more day to Barcelona, especially if you'll be jetlagged on arrival. For your extra time, there's the Palace of Catalonian Music, all of Montjuif, the beach in Barcelona even if you're not swimming, and more Modernist sites. I recommend buying tickets to all sights ahead of time. We missed the Park Guell because we hadn't bought tickets ahead of time -- later in April.

Day trip possibilities are the Dali Museum in Figueres, Montserrat, and south on the coast Sitges.

I loved Barcelona. It feels breezy, open and modern. And there's so much to see.

Five years ago we spent a fantastic week in Barcelona. We took several day trips, one to the Costa Brava and Figueres with a tour company (Rabbie Tours--just googled them, they seem to be focused in Great Britain and France now). It was fantastic. We wanted to see some of the little towns on the coast and had a delightful seaside lunch. Had little interest in Figueres, which ended up being one of the highlights of the trip. The Dali Museum was hard to describe, but not to be missed.

Forgot to add--this was in February and the weather on the coast was mild...light jacket optional!

Thank you ! Good ideas! Will definitely add a day to Barcelona, then maybe 3 nights up the coast. Is there a central beautiful beachy town with loads of history you might recommend in Costa Brava ? I'm assuming driving is easy once we leave the city. Where would one get a car? Would it have to be the airport?

I think adding time to Barcelona makes a lot of sense. Lots of places to visit by day trip or for a day or two -- you might look at my trip report, and I would definitely encourage you to get a copy of the <i>Michelin Green Guide</i>, which provides excellent coverage of the area.

Whether you would need a car will depend on where, exactly, you decide to go. You can begin to identify your transportation options at rome2rio.com

Of course you do NOT need to go to the airport to rent a car. Google Barcelona and "car rental" -- or consult a decent guidebook to see which companies serve the city, and then check their web-sites.

Good luck!

If you want to go to Montserrat, why don't you go there and spend the night after you pick up the car, then continue north after that?

You can spend the night there and you will be able to visit after the day trippers go away.

... or go to Montserrat by public transportation, and then pick up a car and move on. I agree with rialtogrl that visiting Montserrat in the absence of day trippers leave is a true delight!

Thanks for further advice. So :
Sat -leave Barcelona, get a car somewhere and visit Monserrat ,we'll miss boys' choir they don't perform on Saturdays, then continue north ?
Need a base for three nights, maybe Tossa de Mar? stay there for 3 nights with the intention of visiting:
Sun - visit Girona
Mon and Tuesday-visit some coastal medieval towns - Palafrugell, Cadaque or inland Peratallada or Besalu and Figuere, then return to Barcelona for last night, drop off car Tuesday evening
Wed - taxi to airport , mid morning flight home from Barcelona.

Could be great! BUT have you taken that into consideration that many things in Spain are closed on Monday, and often for all or part of Sundays too; and many things in Spain will also be closed daily for a very long mid-day break? Hours would likely be more of a problem outside of Barcelona than in the city itself.

Good to know, thanks kja, so Tossa de Mar is a good base?
Or Girona ?