Kazz

Go dancing at the Paloma (ask and somebody will help you find it). Its a Barcelona institution. Don't go for the late club session but the early evening ballroom when the people who live in Barca go to this beautiful old dance hall for a cha cha. You and your husband will love it. We have had mixed times in Barcelona. Sometimes love it sometimes hate it. I prefer Madrid.

Good Luck

nonnafelice

I would be curious to know if anyone loves BOTH Paris and Barcelona. I'm just asking because after we got back from our last trip to Paris, i still had that Parisian glow and was raving at a party about how Paris must be the most nearly perfect city in the world. Someone else at the party turned up her nose and started in on how much she couldn't stand Paris. I asked her which city she most loved, and she answered "Barcelona." I have never been to Barcelona, but it does seem that the people who have commented here generally like one or the other, but aren't crazy about both.

MaureenGP

I think it's fine that we all don't like the same cities--but I do have to say that my family liked Barcelona a lot, and my daughter and I both commented on its vibrancy--while other people on this forum found it the opposite. Let's face it, everybody's experience is different, for so many reasons.
I know Paris is a fabulous city, but I went there at the end of a trip to Europe and I was tired and ready to come home. I am absolutely certain that I did not experience the Paris that everybody else describes. The difference for me was that I was worn out. I plan to go back someday, at the beginning of a trip, or as the sole destination of my trip, and I know I will see Paris the way so many other people do.

L84SKY

Have you tried some day trips?
There's a lot ( I think) to do outside of the city like the Costa Brava, Montserrat, a drive through the Pyrenees. I didn't like Las Ramblas either but I love Gaudi.
The San Diego commment made me chuckle. I'm a native and it's a great place to live but I could see how flying 6,000 miles to vacation here might be disappointing. But the food is better in San Diego.

Intrepid1

Ok the original poster didn't like Barcelona almost a year ago and I'm going next month which means one or two fewer "tourists" we'll have to contend with...a very good thing IMO.

tamjam

I am one who likes both Paris and Barcelona. They are very different, but each has it's own allure. Paris is a lovely city, with some attitude (I probably shouldn't have said that). It's full of fabulous art, culture, fashion, food, etc. It's a much larger, more major city than BCN.
As for BCN, it's a lively city. Very late night, with dining beginning at 10pm. It also has art and culture, but Gaudi and Picasso. Gaudi and Picasso are not conservative in nature. And, I think that's how you can describe BCN. Enjoy BCN and the people. Have some tapas, red wine, fish, and that bread with the yummy tomato spread. Take a train to the beaches or surrounding towns.
Actually, I don't think it's fair to compare Paris and Barcelona. Maybe Nice and Barcelona would be a more fare comparison.

kenderina

I live 2 hours from Barcelona. I see it as a much better place to live than Madrid or any other big city and I also think authorities in Barcelona want their city to be touristic but to a certain point, they don't want it to be extremely crowded to protect the pace of live in the city. So Barcelona is a wonderful place to live there and enjoy it but maybe people who is looking for "the kind of things tourists have to do when abroad" is a bit dissapointed.
My own view is Paris , London (very big cities) to visit and Barcelona to live in

julies

We got back from Barcelona a couple weeks ago and spent 3 nights there. We have mixed feelings about it; it is not on our list of "I'd go back there again places".

The most overrated thing there is La Sagrada Familia. It is a total rip off . If you want to see it just go look from the outside and don't waste your time or money inside. La Ramblas is nothing special. We enjoyed some of the lesser known tourist sights (see a trip report I made). As far as the Gaudi things, a little bit goes a long way unless you are a true architecture aficionado. And, we were not particularly impressed with the food.

We spent our first night in the area at Montserrat and really enjoyed it. We stayed at the hotel Abat Cisneros right on the mountain and while the hotel was nothing special, the setting was fabulous. It is well worth the money to spend the time there so you can enjoy the location without the hoardes of tourists who are there during the day. Hike the area during the day because relatively few of the visitors do that.

hester

I just returned from Barcelona last night. Barcelona wasn't my favorite city. But it was at the end of the trip, we were tired and frustrated from other things that happened on the trip so I don't know if that has clouded my stay. I did enjoy the seeing all the Gaudi works around the town and the Picasso Museum. I had always heard how wonderful Barcelona is and it didn't meet my expectations but maybe they were unrealistic. Would I go back? Yes, maybe in a few years.

susanteach

I studied abroad for a summer in 1992 in Madrid, then Eurrailed all over the continent for a month after. After getting over my initial homesickness (first trip overseas), which took about a week, I completely immersed myelf into the language and culture of Spain. I loved Madrid, Cordoba, Granada, Seville...AND Barcelona. The Olympics were in full swing and I remember how beautiful the city looked...fountains, cathedrals...etc. Seville was also the Cultural Capital of Europe that year and was holding a World Expo--whole city decked out. Now, 13 years and lucky enough to take yearly trips to Europe later, I can honestly say that Barcelona is so NOT on my list of faves. All I can say to explain that is that I had Euro-glow and I hadn't yet cathedraled myself to death in Spain at that point. It's a nice city, but as a blonde, one can only take so many nasty hand gestures from men yelling, "La Rubia!" , pickpocket children and fish with the heads still on (-;. Returning there again 5 years ago, I too felt like I had imagined everything in 1992. My own hype! However, I'm sure that the other posters are correct. Some cities just "click" and others feel like you could have spent your money better if you'd just visited the nearest U.S. big city. My favorites now include those of which RETURN trips have given me the same great feeling...that's how I now judge the places I go, two chances: Zurich...okay, anywhere in Switzerland, Paris, London, Vienna, Salzburg, Budapest, Krakow, Prague, anywhere in Germany BUT Frankfurt...and I'm off to Italy in two weeks for the first time. I have been told by SO many people how dirty and smelly Venice is, but I just try to block out the negatives until I see it for myself. A city I felt very, very disappointed in...Vancouver! There was nothing I couldn't have seen right here in Chicago or where I used to live, just outside of D.C. I think it's okay to feel the way you do.

kenderina

susanteach, I've laughed a lot with your point of the "fish with the heads still on" I'll tell you. Here in Spain if a restaurant serves you a little fish without the head you won't eat it. Why ? Because the only way to know the fish is still fresh is in its eyes. So in the restaurants can serve it without the head to hide the fish is not fresh !
That doesn't apply to big fishes where you only ate a little portion, of course. There's no way then to know that it is really fresh , just your trust in the restaurant
By the way, grilled sardines are ALWAYS served with heads .

susanteach

Kenderina, in my month of travels through Spain, new friends, other students...NO ONE explained the purpose of those fish still with the heads on! La Moda de Espana. Thanks!

bettyo70

I've been to Barcelona twice...once by myself. I LOVE the architecture there! Also I think it is an easy place to walk around...doesn't feel as overwhelming to me as Paris, another city I love.

The second time I went, I did notice more homeless kids on the streets on drugs (similar to when I was in San Francisco and Berkeley).

If the local government could make sure the crime, etc., does not get out of hand, it would be a great city.

I liked their airport too.

bettyo70

P.S. I thought people in Barcelona and Madrid were very friendly...and VERY good-looking!

stardust

I am one of those people who both love Paris AND Barcelona. I've lived in Barcelona for 10 months, and I've been to Paris like 10 times or so (each time for about 3 days). They are completely different, but I love them both.
I love Paris because it's so romantic, and I love the parks and just the general feeling. What I like about Barcelona is the buzz, the different areas which are so different from one another: narrow Gothic Quarter streets, wide Eixample lanes, trendy Born shops and bars, alternative Raval streets (the shock on my friends faces when all of a sudden they see the bright white MACBA museum), the Parc de la Ciutadella on a Sunday afternoon, the beach for bonfires on a hot summer night, the new architecture in the Puerto Olimpico en Diagonal del Mar, the fresh air of Montjuic, the mountain feel of Tibidabo, the cosy atmosphere of Gracia, the international atmosphere, just to name a few. I agree that Las Ramblas is just a noisy rip-off full of tourists.
If you wonna try something different than tapa: go for Catalan nouvelle cuisine at moderate (Cinc Sentits) or higher (Alkimia) price level, cause you won't get into El Bulli without a reservation 6 months in advance anyway.
Also, I far more appreciate the Catalans than the French, I feel they are much more sincere.

ciaony

I didn't read ALL the replies to this post because there are too many but I've been to both Madrid and Barcelona and I run with a very "travelly" crowd.
It seems to me there are two types of people: Madrid people and Barcelona people.
Before I went to Barcelona, I asked advice from lots of frequent travellers and every single person said either "Don't bother going to Madrid go to Barcelona." or the exact opposite. It was never a tough choice for anyone.


By the way, I'm a Madrid person. I didn't get Barcelona.

bettyo70

I love BOTH!

ciaony

Oh, OK then. Forget what I said.

billy_boy

I DON'T LIKE BARCELONA ... when I'm not there.

Fiona_bcn

Barcelona itself can be heavy going, especially in summer. One of its advantages, though, is that the city is so close to so many other places. You only have to travel for an hour or so to get to some really beautiful mountains and beaches, which is great for escaping the heat of the city in summer. If you don't feel like wrestling with the public transport services (who it has to be said are often less than helpful) you could try an organised day trip. Rabbie's Trails, for example, do day trips to Montserrat, to Girona and the Costa Brava (and you can forget the tacky image you might have of the Costa Brava, once you get beyond the big resorts it's lovely), and to the Pyrenees. The tours are in English and are really easy to book, either by phone or on-line (www.rabbies.eu.com). They're a great way to complement your trip to Barcelona and give you a proper feel for Catalonia.