Is this the highlights I want to see in Barcelona
 

After spending 10 days in Morocco, we plan to spend 3 more days in Barcelona. We are a 50ish couple, active and interested in hearing any suggestions. The three things we 'think' we want to see for sure are (1) Las Ramblas; (2) La Sagrada Familia; (3) and, while I know that the Flamenco originated in the Andalucia area, we can't get to Andalucia this visit, so we'd like to find out which is the best place in Barcelona to see it. If there is time we may want to visit the beach area although we probably won't have time to swim. Our hotel will be in city center if that helps.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

A whole bunch of people will tell you that La Rambla is a terrible place. It may very well be filled with people along with the many bird sellers, flower vendors, etc., along with the usual number of "living statues." It is as much a part of the city as anything else so worth a look in my opinion.

People talk about possible pickpockets there; my own experience has been that they are more likely to be working in the Metro.

While you are in that neighborhood simply walk the few short blocks over to the gothic cathedral and see that (inside) as well which is very definitely worth your time and effort.

My absolute favourite was the Picasso Museum

Both Tablao Córdobes and Tablao de Carmen generally stages only top artists.
http://www.tablaocordobes.com/index.html
http://www.tablaodecarmen.com/

Brilliant El Junco in Tablao de Carmen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sENoCuTQYPs
Pastora Galván in Tablao Cordobés. Voted best female flamenco dancer 2010 by Spanish critics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtTGtAEEegM

The greatest flamenco artists tour Barcelona theaters all the time. The major performances are updated here: http://www.deflamenco.com/seccion-conciertos.html

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Montjuic (The Jewish mountain) almost right in the city center is very well worth some hours exploring; The castle, the history, the views of the city and the sea, the olympic arenas, the museums, the theaters etc. etc. http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/Parc...docdW4LHetpKP8

The Castle: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/Engl...5oCcjlP8pbDIVA

Take the cable car up to the Montjuic Castle, magnificent views: http://www.tmb.cat/en/teleferic-de-montjuic

For a genuine Barcelona lunch (from about 1.30pm), I can higly recommend La Perla at the foot of Montjuic down towards the small, local atmosphere and bustling Poble Sec district. Stumbled in here to a great food experience a year ago (only open for lunch, until about 5pm): http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Catalonia.html

Poble Sec is at the foot of Montjuic. Full of cafés, restaurants and tapas bars and not full of tourists. http://www.way2barcelona.com/travel-...t-of-montjuic/

I wouldn't say La Rambla was the highlight of my Barcelona visit, but La Boqueria (just off La Rambla) was definitely one of them. If you add that in, then yes, that's a worthwhile morning or afternoon.

You already have La Sagrada Familia planned - I would add Casa Mila (La Pedrera) or Casa Batllo to that and make it a full-on modernist day.

My third day would be Montjuic - absolutely loved the time we spent there. You have the funicular and cable car ride up, castle at the top, Jean Miro Foundation, Olympic Stadia and Magic Fountains, all within walking distance of one another. That was probably my favourite day overall from our visit in June.

Link to my TR:-

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rip-report.cfm

I'm confused. You have 3 days in Barcelona and the 3 things you want to do won't fill a day but you don't think you'll have time to swim at the beach. What's planned for the other 2 days that you won't have time for a swim?

In the event you're looking for suggestions on more sights (and it's not clear that you were):

La Pedrera
Casa Batllo
Parc Guell
Palau Guell
Palau de la Musica
Catalan Museum

The Ramblas was a disappointment. I thought it was going to be livelier than it was and have more interesting shops.

You could walk Las Ramblas in a morning and go to La Sagrada. Why do you not want to see the other Gaudi buildings and Parc Guell? They are far more interesting than Las Ramblas, imo.

I would take a day to go to Montserrat, it's an easy journey

I wasn't aware that the OP said they didn't want to see something or did I miss that part????

There is so much to see in Barceloana
I would not spend a day to see Montserat....with only 3 days in a city.

I went to the Flamenco in the spanish village on Monjuich. I've seen the one on the Ramblas, and the little one in Placa Real, but enjoyed spanish village the best. It is a larger venue, with a good view for everyone. We just had tapas, but it was 5 plates of different nibblies and we left satisfied. Also if you arrive an hour before your booking, you can look around spanish village for free before the show starts.

I would definitely agree with La Sagrada Familia, other than that, it's your preference. I don't really like Las Ramblas for various reasons but if you are in Barcelona, I don't know how you could not see it, of course you will at some time. It's not something that takes hours and hours, though, it's just a street and even if you walked from the top all the way to the bottom (which I've done), it doesn't take that long.

My favorite thing (other than the Gaudi sites) was the Catalonia Art Museum, actually, but it's over in that park (where the Miro museum is, also), so takes a bit of planning to get there, you can't just easily go to it like you could the Picasso Museum (which I was not wowed by, I don't really like him that much anyway, though, but I didn't think this was the greatest collection of his works). I also would see the main cathedral other than the Gaudi one.

The beach area around Barceloneta is a great scene for an outdoor lunch and people watching, even a dip in the ocean if you want.

I think a visit to a market, Boqueria, that is on Las Ramblas is just fine and combines well with that walk. Yes Las Rambas is a bit racous but IMO it is a quintessential Barcelona sight.

I'd do Sagrada Familia, one of the houses and Parc Guell for your fill of Gaudi.

We did the cable car over the water to Monjueic - I was a bit disappointed, mostly I think because we spent quite a bit of time waiting that I thought would have been better spent elsewhere.

And if you take the metro, just be vigilant, there are some very professional theives that spend the time moving from station to station, line to line. If there is any sort of blockage, be very aware that someome may be fishing for your goddies!

La Sagrada Familia and the other Gaudi buildings are "don't miss" sights.

I love la Palau de la Música Catalana. Fabulous modernism design!

If you find the time go to Parc Guell! It was one of my favorite places when I visited.

Have a great trip!

That was a lot of really great input. I think, from the travel books, we had a different idea of what to expect at Las Ramblas. However, like Christina said, I think if we didn't at least give it a quick look/see we might feel we hadn't seen one of the more famous aspects of Barcelona. We will cut the time we expected it to take for Las Ramblas though.

I love the idea of the Montjuic and the cable car and getting the view of the city, so I appreciate those of you who mentioned it. I like the suggestion of Montjuic too

Since we apparently over-estimated the time it would take to get around then that's great. We'll probably get to the gothic cathedral that Dukey1 suggested as I love gothic architecture.

We may take a quick look at the Picasso Museum as I do like his paintings. I didn't mention that because I felt a little overwhelmed by it. I read that it encompasses 7 castles (I believe that's the correct number) and I just couldn't imagine spending that much time in a museum. We spent two days last year in Russia viewing the fabulous Hermitage, but my husband just doesn't like museums that much and with only 3 days, of course, we couldn't. So, maybe we can take a quick look at it unless ticket prices make it so you wouldn't want to pay for a quick visit and I haven't checked that yet.

Thanks, kimhe, for the link to the current performances. That's great.

If there's enough time we may go to Palau de la Música Catalana that Pegontheroad suggested. I'm always into anything pertaining to music.

I appreciate those who mentioned the various good Flamenco locations too.

I spent so much time planning the Morocco portion of our trip and I am glad I got your input on Barcelona portion. While it's only 3 days, it's our first time in Barcelona and we're really excited about it. I'm looking forward to the excitement of the city, some good sangria and perhaps, if I'm lucky some good Spanish guitar too.

I'll be checking back if you have any more suggestions. Thanks a million for all of your input.

<< If there's enough time we may go to Palau de la Música Catalana that Pegontheroad suggested >>

I often feel that people don't read what I write.

The Picasso museum is not that large and it focuses on his early works. You could see it in 2 hours. It's not 7 castles but houses and only portions of the houses.

"I wasn't aware that the OP said they didn't want to see something or did I miss that part?"

Well, she didn't but she didn't mention the Gaudi. When I think of Barcelona, I think Gaudi. It would just be a another city without the favorite son.

I don't agree with that at all. Most cities people go to don't have some major architect that is the focus of tourist visits, and people still like to go there. Barcelona has lots of fascinating museums and sites, good restaurants, great climate, traditions, stores, etc. IN fact, the first time I went, I only saw one Gaudi site because I was too busy doing other things.

Just to avoid confusion when it comes to flamenco venues in Barcelona. When burnie tells he/she liked the performance in Montjuic/Spanish village we're talking about Tablao de Carmen, and the place in Las Ramblas is Tablao Cordobés. The two places mentioned in my earlier post. The "little one" in Placa Reial is Los Tarantos with short and frequent performances by every now and then very fine artists.

Tablao de Carmen: http://www.tablaodecarmen.com/
Tablao Cordobés: http://www.tablaocordobes.es/
Los Tarantos: http://www.masimas.com/en/tarantos

My apologies,adrienne, for not mentioning that you recommended Palau de la Musica, too, and I do appreciate your comments. I read them but simply neglected to mention your input. I hope you accept my apologies.

Thanks for the info on the Picasso museum, too. So,it's really not as huge as I had previously though.