Message: Hi--
Is the metro safe to take at night? How late does the Bus Turistic run? Can you start/stop your trip at Sagrada Familia if you are staying near there?

I still have not decided whether to stay with my family of four (two teens) in a cushy yet very reasonably priced two bed-two bath apartment hotel (with breakfast included) right by Sagrada Familia (the Hispanos Siete Suizas) or to squeeze into a more expensive, no breakfast included, one bedroom, one bath suite with sleeper sofa, just to be near the action and the convenience of the Eixample (The Apsis Atrium Grand).

If the metro is safe at night, it may be worth it to have more room with my kids. Since the Bus Turistic stops at Sagrada Familia, can I use it as my transport for two days (we're in Barcelona five)
and take it home at night from Plaza Catalunya?

Also, I know I've asked this before, but has ANYONE stayed near Sagrada Familia? (or at either of these hotels?)

Thank you all for your help.
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ttt

I have taken the Barcelona Metro in the evening, but never past 10:30PM. Certain stops are safer then others, just like in any other major city like NYC or Rome. I would use extra caution and exit and enter only at main entrances and exits. The Metro in Barcelona is very easy and has great music playing all over the stations--kind of nice. I also found the stations were nice and brite.
I never used the Turistic bus, so don't know about the schedule.
If you are cautious with your bags, wallet, etc and don't look like you are "clueless" walking around the station then you won't be a target.
Enjoy Barcelona, it is very easy to navigate and get around the city.

I hate to expose my ignorance, but I'm new to this.
What does " ttt " mean?
Also what does " topping " mean?
Thanks for putting up with a rookie!

My wife had the escalator trick pulled on her during the day in Barcelona--the person in front "stumbles" at the top of the escalator and the person behind picks the pocketbook in the confusion. But pickpockets tend to choose individuals or inattentive couples, as we were at that moment. If you are four, I would think that the metro would be safe.

Hi Hax,

The attached link will give you some info on the Bus Turistic:

http://www.barcelona-on-line.es/eng/...istic_info.htm

You can hop on & off as you like, so yes you could use it to get back & forth to the Sagrada Familia area, but it seems that the latest service is at 7 p.m. so it won't be available to you at night.

I didn't use the Metro so I can't comment on that, but I would say that I found the city in general & the Eixample in particular very pleasant to wander through & so you might find yourselves happy to walk home at night.

Marcy - "topping" & "ttt" both mean the same thing - it's just a way of bringing a particular post back up to the top of the list on the left of the screen - otherwise it can quickly slide into obscurity!

Jim

Marcy,
Jim explained what "topping" and "ttt" are used for.
"ttt" literally means "to the top".
Paule

Barcelona is a great "WALKING CITY" and people are out very late in the evening. Remember, that everyone has dinner very late in Barcelona, and there is much activity on the streets at all hour. You may find that you will only use the metro to get to a longer distance as a time saver. Note, that cabs are very inexpensive in Barcelona and if you are uncomfortable using the Metro after a certain hour just jump in a cab! As long as you remain alert and aware of people around you in the Metro, it certainly isn't that unsafe.
Barcelona has a vibrant late night scene, and there is an abundance of taxis and available safe public transportation.

Jim and Paule,
Thanks for the education!!
Marcy

Thanks to everyone for the info on the metro and bus. Very helpful!