My wife and I are going to Barcelona for 4 days for the first time starting September 8th. It doesn't seem like there is that much to do or see. We're not super interested in museums and/or art.

Will we find enough to keep us busy?

You can spend one full day investigating the wonderful Gaudi architecture. Several buildings are open to the public. Many others are viewable only from the outside. If you've got a car, go for a ride to the Cava (Sparkling Wine) factories - Cordineau and Freixenet (spelling?). A longer drive, but still an easy day trip will take you to the monestary of Montserrat. If you like the beach, there is a wonderful beach in Barcelona, or drive down to the resort town of Sitges. While in Barcelona, spend some time in the shops on Las Ramblas, or tour the site of the Olympics (92?). There is really plenty to see and do in Barcelona.

joearena's suggestions are very good.
Monserrat is s lovely place and great for hiking. Trains from Barcelona are easy to take and there's a nice assortment of day trips to chose from.
Even you just like to shop, Barcelona offers a lot of opportunities. 4 days will fly by.
What do you like to do?

I'm always curious about posts like this. If you haven't seen much there that interests you, why did you pick it as a destination? Or did you? You tell us what you don't like, but what DO you like? How do you normally spend your day in other cities.
Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but I get the impression you're not excited about going to Barcelona if you already think you might be bored.

Are you kidding? You can eat and drink and eat and drink and eat and

There is plenty to do for 4 days. joearena has some great ideas for day trips, but you can do those without a car too - the trains go to Monserrat, and you can spend the whole day hiking there if you want. They also go to the cava factory (freixenet), and the beach towns like Stiges.

See the Gaudi sites - Sagrada Familia, Casa Battlo, La Pedrera, the Palau Guell. Also visit Parc Guell - a wonderful park to walk around and eat a picnic lunch. Also visit the Palau de la Musica Catalana, a wonderful building - try to see a show there in addition to doing a tour.

Wander around Las Ramblas and the Eixample neigborhoods. See the Cathedral and the port. Visit Mont Juic to see the Olympic sites from 1992. There is also a Chocolate museum which was great fun (and I don't think that counts as a museum as you are thinking of it).

I spent 3 days there, and easily could have spent a week. Barcelona is a vibrant, wonderful city.

Karen

Are you kidding? Barcelona is loaded. Walking up and down the Ramblas and taking in that carnival midway atmosphere will eat up a day, as will gawking at the buildings of the Eixample. Then there are cable car rides up the side of Montjuic, a mountaintop amusement park, rambling through the Gothic quarter, beaches down on the harbor, clubbing and barhopping at night and on and on.

I was in Barcelona for a long weekend with my boyfriend a few months back.

Things we did - took a boat ride around the coastline near the port.

Walked up and down the Ramblas - stopping to window shop, grab a drink and a tapas. They have a lot of street theatre and entertainment, little shops. The cafes there tend to be a rip off.

The Segrada Gaudi Cathedral - really magnificent.

Picasso museum - very small easily done in about 2-3 hours tops.

We enjoyed some leisurely dinners asked at our hotel - went out late for a 10 ish time and then drinks and dinner.

Barcelona is a good city to wander around the back streets and get lost enjoy.

We spent 10 days in Barcelona, and it was barely enough time. Of course, this included trips to art museums. Type in Trip Reports in the search function and you'll get plenty of ideas.

The question is:
Will be enought only 4 days?

Of course you have a lot of thing to do and to see. Barcelona is an amazing city, is plenty of activities to be done.
If you can rent a car and you want to go out of the city, you also will fine awesome places to choose from....

What are some of the better day trips that won't take forever to get to?

Go to www.maribelguide.com and print it up. She gives suggestions of what to see, eat and shop. I am using it for next year when I go.

Sunshine 1223
I tried that web address but I can't get anything.

The URL is

www.maribels.guides

The URL is

www.maribelsguides.com

(If my first erroneous message went through, please ignore it!)

thanks Eloise

Take the commuter rail to Sitches a 40 minute train ride and a beautiful seaside resort with great beach and nice seaside cafes for lunch and dinner and ecclectic stores.. You can walk_less than 10 minutes from the train to the ocean.The train is cheap, runs regularly and is a friendly way to travel a short distance. Also take the "off and on " tour bus, cheap but you'll see everything. Take a boat ride at the end of Ramblas.
Barcelona is a great city

I think Mbohn99 meant Sitges. It does sound almost like "Sitches" though. And I agree it would make a nice and easy day trip. A beatiful beach town.

Yes I did mean Sitges. Thanks for the correction.

would any of the respondents consider Barcelona a good Christmas destination?