barcelona-paris-lisbon; first time
 

Barcelona-4.5 days
Lisbon-2.5 days
Paris-3.5 days
We're 2 women going for our first time to all cities and looking for must do's and local transportation advice and information. Completely overwhelmed with research and hoping for help!

Well, with only 10 days the first thing I'd do is cut out one destination (as much as it hurts). You could easily spend 10 days in Barcelona or Paris themselves. You'll loose 1/2 day moving from one destination to another and packing/unpacking, hotel check in/out, etc......

We're flying between countries and our trip is booked; could really use some helpful information if possible

Cathy is right on all accounts, including all the time elements of travel. I would eliminate Lisbon. I have spent considerable time in both Paris and Barcelona and I never considered any of it misspent.

That was supposed to be helpful.

Now if you can provide interests, budgets, food limitations, and other information that is relevant than maybe others could be more helpful. And must-do's depend on what you like not the prejudices of strangers.

I am sorry to tell you that in such short time you will have only a bird's view of three very nice cities, some guide books however have information framed as ONE DAY in....such and such place or TWO DAYS in......,
I believe Frommers is one of them.
The only thing I can tell you if you care to see a Museum, and I do not bellieve you could choose more than one in each city, the mandatory ones for me would be the Louvre in Paris and el Prado in Madrid.
We all learn from experience, I am sure that no matter how much fun you have this tiime next time you will do a little different. Good luck.

For Barcelona, print out Maribel's Barcelona guide at www.maribelsguides.com. Her guide will answer all your questions for Barcelona. Also the Tourist Bureau at Placa Catalunya offer some very good walking tours. If you can do only 1, go the the Gothic Quarter.

Did you check out the destinations section here on the fodors site for these 3 cities?

A poster here, LReynolds, has a suggested walking tour for Lisbon, to give you an overview. Depending on how much you like to wander and explore, it can take anywhere from 1/2 day to 2 days. You can search her username and look for the thread. She also has many others on Portugal.

Paris is a beautiful city. If you haven't already, go see Midnight in Paris, it will get you in the mood.

I just want to add that all 3 cities have decent public transportation. Any good guidebook, and provide info on that, where which metro/bus/tram to take to what area, etc. Also most hotels have maps and can advise. Lisbon is on the small side, so depending on your stamina, much of it is walkable. Paris is the most spread out of the 3.

I suggest you get maps of each city in advance of the trip, so you have an idea of which sights are near one another, and you can plan your days accordingly.

My advice is always the same considering your time restraints-the on/off bus in all 3 cities will be great1 It will give you an overview and the option of getting on/off at places of interst to you and they are good for 24 hours!

Since your trip is booked, I would consider using a private guide in each of the cities for one of the days each.
If you hire a private guide, you can be sure that they will be able to take you from point A to B with no confusion in between.
Then wander at will the other time that you have in each place.
You would be surprised at how reasonable a guide can be shared between you gals.

Go with the idea that you can get a taste of each of these cities. And you can always return. I would get guidebooks for the cities only. Get three books: Paris, Barcelona, Lisbon. Then you will get to the heart of these places.

Make of list of what appeals to you. And be flexible and know that maybe you will not see everything you have listed.

Have a great trip.

<< looking for must do's and local transportation advice >>

What you decide to see is subjective. You could ask 10 people this question and get 10 different answers.

First decide what types of things you want to see such as museums (and what types of museums), parks, architecture, churches based on your interests. Then after you choose your top sights you can focus on transportation between the sights.

I think you should eliminate Lisbon and spend the 10 days in Barcelona and Paris.

I plan a trip 6 months in advance, color code my days, and plan the day in 15 minute increments. I just have a good sense of how long it takes to do what I want and I do enjoy myself. We were in Barcelona and Lisbon in November and have been to Paris numerous times, check the Fodors destination section for the highlights as there must have been some reaon you choose these 3 cites. So if you want something outside the regular top spots for each city, try this:

Barcelona: stroll up and down La Rambla. There's a wonderful Perfume Museum that has beautiful bottles, go in as many churches as possible but do not miss Sagrada Famalia.

Lisbon: ride the trolleys and be sure to queu in the line, go to the palace museums and definitely get to Belem.

Paris: get to the sewers, take the Canal St. Martin canal tour, search for the Passages and go to St. Denis and find a hotel in the Marais but don't miss the flea market.Midnight in Paris is a definite must before you go. Enjoy.

Since your time is limited in Lisbon I would take cabs. They are cheap and plentiful.

Sights: Decorative Arts Museum, Tile Museum, Monastery in Belem.

Paris Sights (not in any particular order of importance): Ste-Chappelle, St-Sulpice,St-Etienne-du-Mont, Mosque & tea garden, St-Germain-des-Pres, Jacquemart-Andre, Rodin Museum, Cluny Museum, Maillol Museum, Pere Lachaise Cemetery, Luxembourg Gardens, Rue Mouffetard on Sunday.

Of course we don't know when you're going so some of the things I mentioned are not good in the dead of winter.

Transportation in Paris depends on where you're staying (you haven't told us that either). Most of the sights I mention are easily accessed on foot if you are staying in central Paris.

You would really get better input if you would reveal some basic specifics about your trip such as time of year, hotel location, and interests.

I agree with Adrienne and really you just need to pick out what you'd really like to see and plan it out. This is not a trip where you don't know what you're going to do the next day. You need to know exactly when you're day will start, know exactly when sights are opened and closed, so you can adjust for weather is necessary.

Lisbon: trolley are plentiful and part of the experience and don't forget the Elevadors. Barclona: we walked everywhere.

jk