First time to Barcelona...HELP!
 

My wife and I will be going to Barcelona after Paris this September and would love some info.

How large is the city and what area is the best location to stay? Any hotels that are highly recommended? Anything else that us rookies should know?

Anyone?

Personally, I find the Gothic Quarter a good place to stay in Barcelona but when, and if, others respond you'll find there is a wide difference of opinion on where to stay in the city.

I have no idea how large the city is populatiuon-wise but it isn't as big as Paris or London if that is any help.

When I stay in Barcelona I always stay in the Hotel Colon which is located across the square from the gothic cathedral. It is pricey by some people's standards...especially since you can't use "points" or frequent flyer miles and for many that means it is out of reach...but I find it convenient to the places I enjoy visiting.

Hopefully others will make useful comments for you.

We were just in Barcelona at the end of June for just a couple of days (we loved it and could have stayed longer, but needed to move on). Before we left, I printed Maribel's files, which were a tremendous help. http://www.maribelsguides.com/
One tip she gives, which we did and I think is very important, is to take the Bus Turistic-a hop on hop off bus-all over the city. It is so easy to see the city this way. Barcelona is a city of over 4 million people, and it is rather huge, and the bus takes you to the highlights.
We stayed at the Hotel Astoria...it was very nice and had a great breakfast. I would recommend it. It was near a stop for the bus. That said, if we went back, we would probably stay a little closer to the action. I think you will really like Barcelona-we thought it was marvelous!

Stay in the Gothic Quarter. The hop-on hop-off bus is also a good suggestion.

I second the suggestion that you look at Maribel's guide, which has a lot of good information about hotels, restaurants, sites, etc. Barcelona is one of our favorite cities after 2 visits. I recommend that you decide which sites are essential for you, but also allow time to wander and enjoy the ambience of the city. Among the "must sees" for me would be Sagrada Familia, the Gothic Quarter, Park Guell, Montjuic, and a general overview of Gaudi architecture.

Our experience with the Bus Turistic was not as good as Wren's. We found ourselves stranded for pretty long waits a few times (as I recall, this was on a Sunday, which may not be a good day to use the bus). However, we found the subway system to be user-friendly and quite quick, and we also walked everywhere we could.

Type in "trip report" in the search function, and everyone's trip reports for Barcelona should pop up. They will go back many months. We spent 10 days there, and enjoyed every minute.

stayed in hotel condes de barcelona last November - it was around $150. It is well located on passeig de gracia very close to everything and a 5 minute walk to place catalunya. Spent 4 nights there - great city. Make sure you have tapas with sangria, choco con churros, and paella. Don't eat at the touristy joints on las ramblas. wander through the gothic quarter and find a cute restaurant away from las ramblas - enjoy and definitely take the bus tour.

It's a large city but spread out a bit. The Gotico Barrio (old quarter) is lovely, but it's not necessary to stay there, and most people are warned not to stay on the Ramblas (3 segments of one long north-south avenue down the middle of the main part of the city), and particularly not to the southwest of it. I assume you've check out "Barcelona" as a destination here at Fodors and most of the hotels are fine. There are warnings about pickpockets, etc. directly on the Ramblas and occasionally around the subway system and stations, but just be prudent and alert and you'll be fine.

Most people's lists of "don't miss" things include the two main cathedrals (old and "new"-Gaudi) but I'd add the following: the Palau de la Musica, the Miro Foundation museum, and La Padrera (Gaudi's apartment building -- see the roof!).

If you have time, certainly go up to Montserrat, and there are some other day or overnight side trips up the Costa Brava that are great.

I didn't have the nerve to go on the funicular from Montjuif to the harbor in a high wind, but on a nice day it would probably give you a spectacular view.

Enjoy my favorite city!

How could I forget Parc Guell -- a definite definite must, and, if it's open for a tour, Casa Batllo! Does anyone know if Casa Batllo has visiting hours? I was briefly opened for a festival honoring Gaudi, but I thought they closed it after that.

Me and my 3 daughters (not children) came back from Bcn. just yesterday, and we are still there. (in spirit).
The best deal we had, was to buy a Metro+Bus ticket for 5 days. each 18 Euro, and we used it, maybe 20 times a day. The metro is very good and frequent, so you can have a cheaper hotel not in the center, and be there whithin few minutes. The touristic bus is very good, to have the "first glance", and then you choose where you want to come back. when you buy the ticket, you get many reduction "stamps" for several shops, food chains and reductions to many entrances. It pays. We were not lucky about food for we hate anything that comes from the sea, but if you like fish you are in paradiso.
A tip: if you go to piccasso museum with husband, freind or sombody - dont say at the cash that you want 2 or 3 tickets, everybody buys for himself,a seperate ticket.
We had a ticket for 4 and we were like prisoners, all the time together, because they wont let you to pass from one hall to the other without a ticket
(even not to w.c.) one must learn from mistakes.
One "normal" restaurant was in Princessa st. 23, and this is also tthe name, very very close to piccasso museum.
If you also want to go to Figuers for the Dali museum, make sure you make a reservation a day before (to his house, in port ligat),
we walked 3 kilometer in the heat of noon, and were not admited.
If you are not afraid of hights, dont miss the teleferic. it is good for the camera.
Wish you the best.and envy you that you are "before" and I am "after".

I would recommebd the Hotel Neri. It is in the Gothic Quarter, and is a new boutique hotel. Great rooms, good prices, in an old palace with ultra modern decor. Also stayed at the Hotel Colon which gets hype but is way overrated. My room was expensive and carpet hadnt been changed in years. Hotel needs a total update. Would not recommend it at all.

I would also recommend not staying on Las Ramblas...not safe.

One correspondant mentioned not eating on the Ramblas. We had a pitcher of sangria there, and it cost $25. Next day had a pitcher on Passeo de Gracia, cost $6. (Admittedly weaker, though).

Our hotel was at the top end of the Ramblas, right across from Placa Catalunya - a great location. It's central to everything - Gothic Quarter, Eixample, the harbor are all walkable. It's also the transportation hub, where several metro lines and the train to the airport converge. If you're into those hop on/hop off buses, Placa Catalunya is their hub. Plus you'll be right on the Ramblas, a 24-hour carnival midway of sorts lined with restaurants, crazy shopping ( I actually saw chinchillas for sale at a pet stand), the fabulous Boqueria food market, and incredible human entertainment.

Our hotel was the Hotel Continental by the way. More than fine, and actually quite an incredible bargain considering it's prime location.

Why is Las Ramblas considered "not safe?"

We were just there last month and stayed at the H10 Placa Catalunya.

Right on the square opposite el Cotre Ingles.

Easy walk in either direction. Also hop-on bus, Metro, Airport shuttle, Eixample, Gothic, etc, etc.

Great buffet breakfast included.

We were also just in Barcelona and loved it. We stayed at the Majestic Hotel on Passig de Gracia and thought the location and the hotel were both excellent. We walked most places during the day (which we enjoy as you have a chance to see everything on the way to your destination) and took the subway at night as needed. Highlights were the Miro museum, the Sagrada Familia, and La Pedrera. Casa Batllo was also open. We had wonderful tapas dinner (pitchers of sangria for $8!) and paella at a nice place on the Port Olympic (tons of restaurants and bars in this area). We walked through Las Ramblas one afternoon, but I didn't get the lure of this area. It seemed like a good place for college kids backpacking through Europe. Also liked the Gothic Quarter, which was a nice walk from the hotel. From Barcelona, we rented a car and drove up the Costa Brava...asolutely beautiful!

The Ramblas is quite safe, if for no other reason there are ALWAYS lots of people on it. There are plenty of pickpockets, but that's easily avoidable. The only part of Barcelona that I found a little intimidating after dark was the Barri Xino, west of the lower end of the Ramblas, and even there plenty of people were about.

I just had my first visit to Barcelona a few months ago and can't wait to go back. It's fantastic! Especially if you have any interest in Gaudi or in architecture in general.

I stayed in the Gothic Quarter at the Gran Hotel Barcino, which is only a block away from the old Cathedral, and would recommend it, although you might find better values further outside the Barri Gotic. For a first-time visitor (like I was), I also highly recommend the Bus Turistic, which is a great value because it will allow you to hop-on or off at all the major sights and it also gives you a bunch of discount tickets that can actually save quite a bit of money if you plan to visit several attractions. Plus, I enjoyed riding the bus b/c it allows you to see more of the city than riding the subway.

As far as attractions go, my favorites were Parc Guell and the Sagrada Familia, which will be unlike anything you've ever seen, no matter how many churches you've been to. All of the Gaudi buildings are interesting. Walking around Las Ramblas is also great for people-watching, and the street performers are particularly entertaining, but be VERY alert at all times and careful with your valuables b/c I've never seen more pickpockets anywhere else in Europe. They seem to outnumber the tourists in Placa Catalunya.