Barcelona - please, help:)
 

I have planned my itinerary for B, with an exception for 1 day. I seem to have a hard time planning it. This is what I would like to do during this day:

Las Ramblas walk (Escribe, Opera House, etc)
Placa Reial
Placa del Rei
Placa de St Jaume
Cathedral
lunch (Boqueria or El Xampanet - spel?)
Palau de la Musica Catalana
Santa Maria del Mar
Museu Picasso
Dinner

Please, help me structure/organize it. THANKS!:)

Agnes

Anybody, please.

I don't have much advice for you but am posting mainly because you hope for a response. I have been to Barcelona several times and have not covered all the sites you suggest for a single day - maybe just go for a "slow travel" day, enjoy people watching on Las Ramblas, visit the cathedral and the cloister there, go thru the big market, have a nice long lunch. I wuldn't worry about having all my time planned in Barcleona - just relax and revel in BEING THERE! I'm sure you'll have a wonderful day and trip to Barcelona.

I agree with seuc. I can't imagine how you could appreciate any of those places with such a hurried, packed sked. I'd follow seuc's advice to just relax and roam.

Thanks for the suggestion. Still, if there is anybody that can suggest how to organize this day (order of sightseeing), it would be great. I have been trying to work with the map, but when you do not know the city, it is still hard.
Thank you.

We visited there in May, and visited most of the places you mention. I'll give a try at a suggested order, while being lazy and not looking up any locations!

First question - where is your hotel? I'm guessing that you're not staying in the Barri Gotic, or else you'd be seeing a bunch of these sights just due to staying in the area.

Also, factor in the one place where you'll need to get tickets, possibly in advance - the Palau de la Musica Catalana. We showed up shortly after 10 am one morning, and the next English tour for which we could get tickets was 11:30. At that time, we found out that we could have bought or reserved (I can't remember which) tickets over the internet, that the ticket office opened at 9 or 9:30 (can't remember that either), and that you can purchase tickets from the ticket office one day in advance. So, assuming you can get the tickets for the time you want ahead of time, then you'll be able to schedule your day in advance. Otherwise, you'll have to juggle things around your tour time. That tour, in total, takes 50 minutes, 20-30 min. of which is a slide show, and the rest of the time is an actual walk around the building.

You could possibly do a sort of circle, starting at the "top" of Las Ramblas, at Placa de Catalunya, heading straight down (southwards), stopping at the Boqueria (whether or not you eat a meal there, it's a great place to visit and/or get snacks) and going slightly off Las Ramblas to visit Placa Reial. Then when you get to the "bottom," by the statue of Christophoro Colon, go over to your "bottom-most" site, Santa Maris del Mar. Then head up (northish?) through El Born, visiting the Museu Picasso. Continue further "up" and "west" (I think), to the Palau de la Musica Catalan and Placa del Rei, which is a very pretty placa. Then walk through Placa de St. Jaume, up to the Cathedral. A few blocks further north from there, and you'll be back at Placa de Catalunya.

This list could easily take you more than one day, even though many of the items on your list are beautiful scenary, rather than places to stop and visit. Also keep in mind that many of these sights (sites) are close together, and you could easily switch the order or drop off items and it would still work. I didn't include a dinner place, as it depends on where and at what time you would want to eat. And of course, you could do the same list in the opposite order. Supposedly, however, the Boqueria is more lively in the morning, though when we stopped by there on the Friday evening we were there, it was still very busy then (I assumed because it was the start of the weekend).

Enjoy!

Thank you. It is very helpful!
Agnes

I think I just had an idea thanks to your help:
How about:
1) Palau de Musica Catalan (if we get tickets for a 10 am tour)
2) Cathedral and Placa de St Jaume and del Rei
lunch before or after Museu Picasso
3) Museu Picasso
4) Santa Maria del Mar
Is there a way to walk from Santa Maria del Mar to La Rambla (taking a longer way), along the waterfront?
Is this doable?
5) Las Ramblas (going from Columbus Monument to Placa Catalunya)
dinner
What do you think?
Thank you,
Agnes

I don't remember what the waterfront between Santa Maria del Mar and La Rambla is like, and we weren't in that specific area. As you'll see if you look at a map, there's a pretty big road that goes along the waterfront at that point. That road runs underground for a few blocks; that the point at which we walked from the Santa Maria (El Born) area into Barceloneta for lunch one day. You could probably walk along the waterfron to Las Ramblas, but I don't know how scenic it would be. The Colom statue, as I recall, is in the middle of a traffic circle, but still scenic.

So your plan sounds good. Just another thing. Lunch pretty much everywhere starts after 1 pm. So either you'll finish with the Palau de Musica Catalan, Cathedral, Placas de St Jaume and del Rei AND Museu Picasso, then have time for a late lunch, OR decide to eat lunch before you visit Museu Picasso, and have some extra time in the morning (which is not necessarily a bad thing).

Also, your revised plan would put you at or near the Boqueria near the end of the day, when it's (supposedly) less lively and interesting. Now, I am a big foodie person, but even so, I thought wandering around the Boqueria was great fun. One thing that I wish we did more was to buy more food, or a meal, at the Boqueria. So I'd say try to fit it in, if possible. One thing you could do is to go to the Boqueria first thing, and have breakfast there. It's not real close to the Palau de al Musica Catalana, though.

Have fun!

Hi A,
I've never eaten in the Boqueria- to me it doesnt seem that appetising (you can smell raw meat, its not very clean and you'll be sitting on stools at a bar). last time i went for a glass of cava i was looking at a meat counter with just about every part of the animal you could think of on display. still getting used to the fact that they buy jellified blood in blocks to cook with rice here. apparently its lovely...
In regards to this-
1) Palau de Musica Catalan (if we get tickets for a 10 am tour)
2) Cathedral and Placa de St Jaume and del Rei
lunch before or after Museu Picasso
3) Museu Picasso
4) Santa Maria del Mar

You might want to do museo picasso and s.maria before 1&2, depending on what time picasso opens. Its a more logical route. there is usually a stupid queue outside picasso by lunch as well.

Santa Maria del Mar to La Rambla along the waterfront- is cool, you will see more boats if you loop round joan de borbo towards the beach and barceloneta, then back. the xampaneria tapas place i mentioned ages ago is on c/isabel, very close to metro barceloneta (for your bearings) and about 2 minutes from s.m.del.mar.

5) Las Ramblas (going from Columbus Monument to Placa Catalunya)
dinner

i wouldnt recommend plaza catalunya for dinner, better in gotico or el borne rather.

Keep in mind that Santa Maria del Mar is closed for several hours in the middle of the day, from something like noon to 4 or 4:30 PM.

Wow hold on I saw your list and thought it was for the week.

Exactly how long do you intend to be in each bit?

Depending on where your hotel is I think I would start at the water front and walk in land but that would mean moving cathedral and picasso around a bit. Note the Picasso queue can be way long

You can certainly stop off at Liceu since it is right on Las Ramblas although I am not certain if the interior can be viewed during the day.

I have only attended the opera there once but it is wonderfully decorated despite having burned down at least three times in the past.

There is a Hop on Hop off bus that hits all the sites in Barcelona.http://www.spainbookers.com/bcn/acti...urist-bus.html

Everybody, thank you. I did not realize my day was so ambitious (?!)
Based on research done, and after reading at least 5 Barcelona guides, I assumed it would not be a big deal.
If anything, we will adjust - there is not need to 'overdo it', like I usually do. If anything, I can see the Cathedral, walk part of La Rambla hitting Boqueria, Escriba (spel), and Liceu Opera House (ext)
I want to see Palau de la Musica Catalana and Santa Maria Del Mar.
Picasso Museum is on my list just because it is a thing to see, and I thought that maybe I would change my mind about Picasso's art (I do not like it - maybe just a few Blue Period pcs)However, IF there is a long line, there is NO way I would be waiting to get in. It is just not my cup of tea...so I will classify it as "maybe" on my itinerary. My husband feels the same way I do about Picasso...luckily for me, I guess.
Anyway, I am going to stop by at the Boqueria Market, but just out of curiosity. Who knows? But the smell of fresh meat, and the images of bloody animal parts do not make it enticing, but rather make me queasy. Travel buzzing, thanks for the warning!
Everybody else, thank you for your time.
I am going to review my whole itinerary again...
I think maybe I was being too ambitious;)
I thought we would:
WED evening - after a snack, Manzana de la Discordia /and possibly either Casa Mila or Battlo interior - but, I refuse to wait longer than 15 minutes)
Thursday - you just helped me with it.
Friday and Saturday - Seville - nad yes, I already bought the tickets and made a hotel reservation for 1 night.
Coming back Saturday around 6 pm
Maybe a concert at Casa Mila rooftop?
Sunday - Sagrada Familia and Park Guell
Monday - Montserrat 1/2 day plus the beach (maybe)
Tuesday - leave
So you see, it looks hectic, but I am willing to adjust a bit.
Thanks again, and any comments/suggestions are more than welcome.
Agnes

A little more information on the Picasso Museum. I'm not a huge Picasso fan, either, and went because we were there, and I wanted to see his early works. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, especially the entire room where Picasso painted about 50 pieces all based on Las Meninas (The Maids of Honour) by Velázquez. At the beginning of the room, there was a high-tech slide show that transposed Picasso's pieces with and on top of Velazquez's. It's the first time I've been able to pick out human figures in Picasso's later works! So if you go, you mgith like it more than you think!

Also, on the Boqueria, that's a good point about animal smells, though I never noticed any smells when I was there. There are animal parts at the meat counters (along with lots of jamon), just the same as at a butcher counter in the U.S. But there are also counters of fruits, vegetables, cheeses, nuts, fish and seafood, and prepared food and breakfast/lunch counters. Offhand, I'd say there were more fruit stalls and seafood stalls than anything else, though I didn't count! Also, I do recall that the stalls near the front were more of the fruit and vegetable types. But I LOVE food and am a big foodie, so keep that in mind too!

Lexma90,
I appreciate your input, as well as honesty about how you feel re: Picasso...it seems any time I mention I am not crazy about him, people seem bewildered...if not shocked.
I will stop by at Boqueria, and decide if I want to eat there...in any case, we can always buy fruit and nuts to go.
Thanks again,
Agnes

yeah the boqueria is nice for the takeaway fruit, spices etc. but the meat thing i have to disagree. there is a lot more than you might find in a US butcher, like tripe, hooves, brain blah you name it (and i was trying not to look!)

I am not that fussed on Picasso either, however went years ago and im not sure if its still there "Guernica" (that civil war painting with the horse) which was really worth going for.

Personally I think you could do your itinerary and more, without feeling shuttled about all day.
1. definitely thurs night i would add going to the flamenco in raval, and taking a wander around gotico.
2. I think also you could get more into sunday. Montjüic has really great views and the war museum (which i think i have mentioned before and sounds dull but is not!), you could get the ferrocarril (linked to metro) or the cable car up. maybe in the early evening (im all about city views at sunset!)
beforehand, get the metro or tourbus if you do the tourbus, up to parc guell, then walk down through gracia, cutting across towards passeig de gracia. pretty squares to stop for a coffee: pl.virreina, pl.del sol, pl.rius i taulet. you'll be delighted by this area for a sunday stroll. and you'll be able to practise that catalan ;)

Guernica is in Madrid at the Reina Sofia Museum.

I wasn't previously, but it was the Picasso Museum in Barcelona that MADE me a fan, if it helps you at all. His earlier works are beautiful and the studies on Las Meninas (which I saw just before I saw Las Meninas themselves) are gorgeous.

I would not try to structure your time too much. You'll be following a regimen so much you won't relax! It took me three days to get through (and take the time to enjoy!) most on your list (plus the Gaudi sights). Just walk and enjoy the city.

Everybody, thank you so much for your time.I will go to Monjuic, if only for the fountain show.

Travel buzzing, thank for all the input...very useful.I am not having much look with learning Spanish and Catalan, as I am trying to learn the same phrases in both, and then I get confused - not to mention the pronunciation issue. So, I am a bit anxious about not speaking the language (s) :(

Also, I like plans, and order, and believe it or not, I have already made a reservation at Can Majo for dinner Thursday night. I relax when I have things planned...now I am learning it is not the end of the world if I need to modify my plans. Call me crazy ;)

Anyway, I will try to make use of all the great suggestions...and I will try and relax.
Thank you again,
Agnes

have fun! the fountain display is at the bottom of monjuic, between the national palace and plaza espanya pl.espanya metro). you will see what i mean about going up montjuic.

Odd..I thought Guernica was in the Prado..has it been moved or am I mistaken about this?

According to Wikipedia, the Guernica was at the Prado from 1981 (when it was moved from the Museum of Modern Art in New York, where I remember it from many visits) until 1992, at which time all the Prado's art dating from after the early 19th century was moved for reasons of space.

It has been at the Reina Sofia since 1992.

i live right next to the palau and it's a good choice of something to see first.

i had a suggestion and that is that you first see the palau and then santa maria del mar, the museu picasso (if you can get in then; there seems to usually be a long line out the door) and then have lunch.

this is because they are all close together in the same area. also because i have a lunch suggestion for you. there's a menú restaurant called l'economic which is in the plaça de sant agusti vell, 13, nearby where you'll be. it's one of my favorites; they serve nice home-cooked dishes and the lunch menu consists of two courses, dessert, and wine or other beverage for 9€. the galta and the rabbit are always good if they have them. get there between 2 and 4.

best,
tiffany

Everybody, thank you again.
Tiffany - thanks for the lunch tip - it sounds very tempting.
Agnes

I like your idea that begins at the Palau at 10, goes to the waterfront, then back up the Rambla. It will work.

What will absolutely, positively not work in Barcelona is the attitude expressed in your statement that "I will not wait more than 15 minutes for the Casa Mila or Battlo". Spain is a place where waiting is a way of life.

You will wait. The question is what will the attitude be with which you greet this waiting.

Thanks for the comment about my itinerary, going from Palau de M C
down to the waterfront, and then making my way up La Rambla.
As to waiting - I hate waiting, and avoid it at all cost (I did my share in childhood and teenage years, and promised myself NOT to wait unless
I have to)- so it is not really being lazy or spoilt rotten...
SO, I will not wait - if anything, I will skip an item on my itinerary...
But, thanks again... .
Agnes

Tiffany, (or anybody else),
Sorry for my ignorance, but what is "the galta" you mention along with the rabbit?
I tried looking in dictionaries, as well as in the wikipedia, but alas, no success. Please, enlighten me! :)
Thanks
Agnes

So, what is "galta"?

"galta" is the catalan language word for cheek.

We were just in Barcelona from June 25-28 . We missed the Picasso museum because of the line, we went in the afternoon, should have gone in the morning or early evening. The only other long line we experienced was for the elevator inside the Sagrada Familia. We didn't get in Santa Maria del Mar because of its afternoon closure. No lines at La Pedrerra or Casa Battlo both of which we went to in the early afternoon. It's a great city to wander and see where you end up.

Thanks. I guess I am going to see what I can see and be flexible :)
Agnes

I just got back from Barcelona and have a few suggestions: If you go to the Picasso Museum, get there when it opens. You won't have to wait. The Lee Miller temporary exhibition was very interesting, and I'd say definitely to see it, too. I went to it first, and then the permanent exhibition. Those two together took about 2 1/2 hours, or maybe a little less. The placas are just pretty much plazas and don't really take that much time to see. You will walk past them just getting from one place to another. Las Ramblas is pretty much a zoo--definitely don't want to miss it (probably impossible to do even if you tried!), but you don't have to walk the entire length of it to have the experience. We ate at Pinotxo in the Boqueria. It's famous and good, but very crowded. The tour of the Palau was good--took about 40 minutes--and I had no trouble getting tickets, but I went at 10 (obviously, not the same day that I did the Picasso. I loved Santa Maria del Mar, but thought the Cathedral was skippable. I was surprised that everything was much closer together than it looked on the map. I walked just about everywhere rather than taking a cab or bus.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Very helpful. I might do Picasso Museum on a different day then. It does not seem like everything is very close, or walkable, on the map - but then, it might be misleading.
And, yes, I might not feel inclined to walk the entire La Rambla...
THANK YOU AGAIN - more suggestions always welcome.
Agnes

its july- aren't you here already?! everywhere IS walkable, the map is deceiving.
La Rambla is not that long: top-to-bottom in 10 minutes.
Did you think about hiring bikes by the way? a lot better way to see the city and get about.

I saw the Guernica in Barcelona in 1996. strange tho that i cant find info on this.

There MUST be a way to find out where Guernica is. Frankly, I do not care for it...
Anyway,TRAVEL BUZZING, how long of the walk is it from La Padrera to Plaza Catalunya, and then to the sea front? (Walking quite briskly, but not running)
THANK YOU! We will be in B on the 18th.
Agnes

There is no question where the Guernica is. I saw it last summer in Madrid at the Reina Sofia Museum.

I am currently living in Barcelona and know the city quite well. You probably already know that Antonio Gaudi was a great architect that lived in Barcelona for most of his life.

Some of the greatest sites in the city have been designed by him. Besides the famous Sagrada Familia Cathedral, he also made a beautifull parc. This is called Parc de Guell. Gaudi designed this parc for the family Guell.

You can recognise Gaudi's style in every aspect. This parc also has the famous bench created by Gaudi. The parc is situated on the top of a hill from which you can enjoy the amazing view over the city. The city is right in front of you and you can look all the way to the beach.

Some accommodation suggestions for you:
www.holiday-velvet.com/barcelona

Information link Parc de Guell:
http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...ark-guell.html