Barcelona in June, short stay - what not to miss
May 7th, 2004, 02:34 AM
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Barcelona in June, short stay - what not to miss
Going to Barcelona in June for about 4 nights staying in the Old Town (two fortysomethings and a 14 year old daughter!.) Just wondering how best to use the time to see the most. Particularly interested in Spanish art (Gaudi, Dali ) and would hope to take a day trip to the Dali Museum in Figuera.
Does anyone have a favourite restaurant?
Does anyone have a favourite restaurant?
May 7th, 2004, 02:40 AM
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I'm usually reluctant to respond to any sort of "must do" or "must see" post since everyone's ideas on these are subjective at best. However, given your interests and depending on what the 14-year-old might enjoy I would say you should see
1) Sagrada Familia
2) "The Ramble" with its many "living statues" and hucksters and people selling all sorts of fun stuff
3) The Gothic Cathedral and all the goings-on in the square immediately in front of it (that man in the white angel costume may still be hanging out there, too)
4) Park Guell (another Gaudi extravaganza)
Your day trip can easily be done from Sants station by train if you wish.
Enjoy Barcelona..a wonderful city but beware of pickpockets on the Metro.
1) Sagrada Familia
2) "The Ramble" with its many "living statues" and hucksters and people selling all sorts of fun stuff
3) The Gothic Cathedral and all the goings-on in the square immediately in front of it (that man in the white angel costume may still be hanging out there, too)
4) Park Guell (another Gaudi extravaganza)
Your day trip can easily be done from Sants station by train if you wish.
Enjoy Barcelona..a wonderful city but beware of pickpockets on the Metro.
May 7th, 2004, 11:45 AM
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It's probably a predictable answer, but I recommend that you take a trip on the "hop-on hop-off" Bus Turistic. It's a good way to get an overview of the city & will allow you to choose which sights you might like to revisit & spend more time at. There are two separate routes & it departs regularly from the Placa Catalunya.
Whatever you do, you'll have a great time - Barcelona is a wonderful city!
Jim
Whatever you do, you'll have a great time - Barcelona is a wonderful city!
Jim
May 7th, 2004, 11:48 AM
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Definitely the Palau de la Musica, but it's not by Gaudi but by Montaner. The San Pau (sp?) hospital is within walking distance to the Sagrada Familia and is interesting as a service complex built in 1910. I would also add the Romanesque section of the National Museum and the food market right off the Ramblas.
May 7th, 2004, 12:25 PM
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I'll second the recommendation to take advantage of the hop-on-hop-off bus. My husband and I were in Barcelona for three nights last October and found this bus to be very convenient. A great way to see as much or as little of Barcelona as you want in a relatively short time.
Diane
Diane
May 7th, 2004, 12:27 PM
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We never made it to Figueres but the Dali Museum there looks wonderful. If you're seriously planning on visiting it, I'd recommend picking up Paul Theroux's excellent book, <i>The Pillars of Hercules</i>, and reading the pages where he talks about Dali...what a fascinating artist.
In Barcelona, I'd say the Top 6 "must-sees" are La Rambla & the adjacent market La Boqueria (Gaudi's Palau Guell is also nearby so could be combined with those two), the Gothic Quarter & Cathedral, La Sagrada Familia, the Palau de la Musica Cataluyna, and Gaudi's two apartment buildings on Passeig de Gracia -- Casa Mila and Casa Batlo -- and Parc Guell. When I was there in 2000, Casa Batlo was closed to the public, but I just spoke to a woman who returned from there last month and she told me that it's now open.
For pinxtos (Basque tapas) we loved Txapela. See the cute little Basque guy icon at...
http://www.webares.com/english/rest/...s/frbttx20.htm
In Barcelona, I'd say the Top 6 "must-sees" are La Rambla & the adjacent market La Boqueria (Gaudi's Palau Guell is also nearby so could be combined with those two), the Gothic Quarter & Cathedral, La Sagrada Familia, the Palau de la Musica Cataluyna, and Gaudi's two apartment buildings on Passeig de Gracia -- Casa Mila and Casa Batlo -- and Parc Guell. When I was there in 2000, Casa Batlo was closed to the public, but I just spoke to a woman who returned from there last month and she told me that it's now open.
For pinxtos (Basque tapas) we loved Txapela. See the cute little Basque guy icon at...
http://www.webares.com/english/rest/...s/frbttx20.htm
May 7th, 2004, 01:14 PM
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I would also recommend walking through the market just off la Rambla. There is a restaurant in the market which was fun. It has two floors, the upstairs is more refined, the downstairs very casual. I would recommend it at lunch after walking through the very colorful market. We ate downstairs which was fun.
May 7th, 2004, 02:09 PM
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We just came back from Spain last week, and LOVED Barcelona.
I agree with most of what's been said above. You might look at my trip report for some of our impressions, places to eat, etc.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34496105
Have a great trip!
I agree with most of what's been said above. You might look at my trip report for some of our impressions, places to eat, etc.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34496105
Have a great trip!
May 8th, 2004, 09:37 AM
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I'll add my trip report to the list. Included in it are several URLs where you can obtain more information about specific places as well as reviews of the places we ate. We had seven full days in Barcelona.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...e=SharonNRayMc
Barcelona is large with the various sites quite spread out. I suggest you try to group your touring by area to maximize your time.
The Placa de Gracia area offers delightful window shopping and is close to several of the Modernista must-sees.
La Rambla, Barri Gotic, Cathedral can be easily grouped together.
La Sagrada Familia and the Hospital complex are close together.
Parc Guell is absolutely fabulous and is better appreciated (I think) after seeing La Sagrada Familia. There is a tremendous Gaudi exhibit at La Sagrada Familia which helped me understand and appreciate his work. Also check out the Sagrada's website. The URL is listed in my trip report.
Have a great time!
Singletail advises to beware of pickpockets on the Metro. I'd add La Ramblas to that list, especially the area closer to the port. We had no trouble.
As you might already be aware, 2004 marks Dali's 100th year. This site provides detailed events, exhibitions, cinema, and much more as the world celebrates Dali. http://www.salvador-dali.org/eng/2004/prog/fhome.htm
If you are going to Madrid also there will be a phenomenal exhibit at the Reina Sofia museum, which we saw in Barcelona at Caixa Forum.
This page offers just some of the details of Dali 2004 Celebrations in Figures:http://www.salvador-dali.org/eng/2004/prog/altres.htm
http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...e=SharonNRayMc
Barcelona is large with the various sites quite spread out. I suggest you try to group your touring by area to maximize your time.
The Placa de Gracia area offers delightful window shopping and is close to several of the Modernista must-sees.
La Rambla, Barri Gotic, Cathedral can be easily grouped together.
La Sagrada Familia and the Hospital complex are close together.
Parc Guell is absolutely fabulous and is better appreciated (I think) after seeing La Sagrada Familia. There is a tremendous Gaudi exhibit at La Sagrada Familia which helped me understand and appreciate his work. Also check out the Sagrada's website. The URL is listed in my trip report.
Have a great time!
Singletail advises to beware of pickpockets on the Metro. I'd add La Ramblas to that list, especially the area closer to the port. We had no trouble.
As you might already be aware, 2004 marks Dali's 100th year. This site provides detailed events, exhibitions, cinema, and much more as the world celebrates Dali. http://www.salvador-dali.org/eng/2004/prog/fhome.htm
If you are going to Madrid also there will be a phenomenal exhibit at the Reina Sofia museum, which we saw in Barcelona at Caixa Forum.
This page offers just some of the details of Dali 2004 Celebrations in Figures:http://www.salvador-dali.org/eng/2004/prog/altres.htm
May 12th, 2004, 06:55 AM
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Hi, We just returned from Spring Break in Barcelona with our two daughters, ages 13 and 16. Meant to do a trip report, but no time--I keep traveling for work! My thanks to everyone who helped me with advice, especially Maribel.
I agree with all the above postings on the top things to see, but would see Gaudi's Casa Mila (la Pedrera) FIRST, because it has a great exhibit explaining Gaudi's design philosophy--made everything else he did so much more fun for us. My girls loved everything Gaudi, and also enjoyed
the Picasso and Miro museums, the Bus Turistic (we took the two day), La Rambla,
the beautiful Passeig de Gracia.
etc. But they especially LOVED the shopping! There are shoe stores EVERYWHERE in the old quarter, and if your teen is anything like ours, she will love shopping the small streets. Zara, a chain there, is very inexpensive--our 13 year old founds tons of cute tops and skirts for 5, 10, 20 euro.
Our favorite restaurant was Cal Pep. We went for lunch--get there early at 1;30, as everyone tells you. Let the men behind the bar order for you--lots of fresh seafood that is just delicious. And since you are not sure what's coming next, it's really fun.
Our girls also loved all the tapas bars. Their favorites Lizzaran and
I agree with all the above postings on the top things to see, but would see Gaudi's Casa Mila (la Pedrera) FIRST, because it has a great exhibit explaining Gaudi's design philosophy--made everything else he did so much more fun for us. My girls loved everything Gaudi, and also enjoyed
the Picasso and Miro museums, the Bus Turistic (we took the two day), La Rambla,
the beautiful Passeig de Gracia.
etc. But they especially LOVED the shopping! There are shoe stores EVERYWHERE in the old quarter, and if your teen is anything like ours, she will love shopping the small streets. Zara, a chain there, is very inexpensive--our 13 year old founds tons of cute tops and skirts for 5, 10, 20 euro.
Our favorite restaurant was Cal Pep. We went for lunch--get there early at 1;30, as everyone tells you. Let the men behind the bar order for you--lots of fresh seafood that is just delicious. And since you are not sure what's coming next, it's really fun.
Our girls also loved all the tapas bars. Their favorites Lizzaran and
May 12th, 2004, 07:07 AM
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Hi,
We just returned from Spring Break in Barcelona with our two daughters, ages 13 and 16. Meant to do a trip report, but no time--I keep traveling for work! My thanks to everyone who helped me with advice, especially Maribel.
I agree with all the above postings on the top things to see, but would see Gaudi's Casa Mila (la Pedrera) FIRST, because it has a great exhibit explaining Gaudi's design philosophy--made everything else he did so much more fun for us. My girls loved everything Gaudi, especially La Pedrera, the Sagrada Familia (definitely DO go inside) and Park Guell, and also enjoyed the Picasso and Miro museums, the Bus Turistic (we took the two day), La Rambla, the beautiful Passeig de Gracia.
etc. But they especially LOVED the shopping! There are shoe stores EVERYWHERE in the old quarter, and if your teen is anything like ours, she will love shopping the small streets. Zara, a chain there, is very inexpensive--our 13 year old founds tons of cute tops and skirts for 5, 10, 20 euro.
Our favorite restaurant was Cal Pep. We went for lunch--get there early at 1:30, as everyone tells you. Let the men behind the bar order for you--lots of fresh seafood that is just delicious. And since you are not sure what's coming next, it's really fun.
Our girls also loved all the tapas bars. Their favorite were Lizzaran and another in the Eixample --can't remember the name-- Ciudad? -- but they like the ones where you go up to the bar and pick up your bocaditos (little sandwiches) by yourself--then the waiter counts your toothpicks.
We also like Dali, but made the mistake of seeing the wrong Dali exhibit. There is a traveling show in Barcelona now that is supposed to be very good. We mistook it for a little Gaudi museum in the Gothic quarter. It is very shabby, and only has drawings and sculptures--none of his paintings. But the worst part was that much of the work was pornographic--our 13 year old was very embarrassed!
Have a great trip--I'm sure you'll love it. It's beautiful, and the people are very warm and friendly.
We just returned from Spring Break in Barcelona with our two daughters, ages 13 and 16. Meant to do a trip report, but no time--I keep traveling for work! My thanks to everyone who helped me with advice, especially Maribel.
I agree with all the above postings on the top things to see, but would see Gaudi's Casa Mila (la Pedrera) FIRST, because it has a great exhibit explaining Gaudi's design philosophy--made everything else he did so much more fun for us. My girls loved everything Gaudi, especially La Pedrera, the Sagrada Familia (definitely DO go inside) and Park Guell, and also enjoyed the Picasso and Miro museums, the Bus Turistic (we took the two day), La Rambla, the beautiful Passeig de Gracia.
etc. But they especially LOVED the shopping! There are shoe stores EVERYWHERE in the old quarter, and if your teen is anything like ours, she will love shopping the small streets. Zara, a chain there, is very inexpensive--our 13 year old founds tons of cute tops and skirts for 5, 10, 20 euro.
Our favorite restaurant was Cal Pep. We went for lunch--get there early at 1:30, as everyone tells you. Let the men behind the bar order for you--lots of fresh seafood that is just delicious. And since you are not sure what's coming next, it's really fun.
Our girls also loved all the tapas bars. Their favorite were Lizzaran and another in the Eixample --can't remember the name-- Ciudad? -- but they like the ones where you go up to the bar and pick up your bocaditos (little sandwiches) by yourself--then the waiter counts your toothpicks.
We also like Dali, but made the mistake of seeing the wrong Dali exhibit. There is a traveling show in Barcelona now that is supposed to be very good. We mistook it for a little Gaudi museum in the Gothic quarter. It is very shabby, and only has drawings and sculptures--none of his paintings. But the worst part was that much of the work was pornographic--our 13 year old was very embarrassed!
Have a great trip--I'm sure you'll love it. It's beautiful, and the people are very warm and friendly.
