One free day in Barcelona
 

I will be attending a conference in Barcelona in late October. I will be there for 6 nights but only one full day to explore. I feel sure I can squeeze in a few other things here and there but just have my arrival day on my own. I arrive at 8:45am (hoping passport control isn't a nightmare but you never know).

So, yeah, there will be some jet lag but I am very good on my first day in Europe (no napping and I stay up until local bedtime). I usually get a burst of energy once I drop my bags off at a hotel. I don't know which hotel I am staying at yet (corporate assistant is booking it but guessing it will be near Fira Gran Via).

If you only had one day in Barcelona, what would you recommend? I have never been to Barcelona. If you have read any of my trip reports, you'll know I do love my food and wine (just discovered Txakolina rosé, so I will be looking to sip on that). So, should I include La Boqueria or work it in another time...or go there every single day :-) ? I love to visit churches and I love fountains. From basic information I know about the city, looks like architecture is the thing in Barcelona.

I love to run as a way to see cities I travel to. If anyone has suggestions on routes or areas that are good to run and take in the sights, I would love it.

What day of the week will you be arriving!?

I have been to lots of markets and La Boqueria was certainly not my favorite. Visited once and that was more than enough. If I had known better, I would have not wasted my time. I was just there a couple of weeks ago. Way too crowded with tourists, and of course, the local shoppers. Leave it to the local shoppers and don't conjest it any further.

I would make advance reservations for Sagrada Familia, Casa Botllo, and the music palace. Still leaves you time to stoll around to see other sites.

I enjoyed La Boqueria but would definitely recommend visiting the Sagrada Familia.

Like joannyc, La Boqueria was my least favorite market in Barcelona -- although I'm glad I visited it.

That said, I wholeheartedly agree that it would make most sense to visit the Sagrada Familia, Palau Musica, and Casa Botllo -- and by ALL means, make advance reservations!

Enjoy!

You can't go there without seeing Sagrada Familia. Make timed reservations in advance on line because it books up a couple of days in advance. Las Ramblas can be crowded and touristy, but if this is your first time, you should at least stroll down it and stop to look in La Boqueria. Then stroll around the Old Town (El Born and the Gothic Quarter) which is nearby. For dinner in Old Town I would suggest Café De L'Academia or Tapeo Tapas Bar. That is how I would spend one free day.

Those mentioned by joannnyc are absolutely my top 3. Book in advance.

Just walking around Barcelona is brilliant. Running through lots of [people - not so much!

Arriving from Atlanta, jet lag shouldn't kick in until later on in the afternoon. In the meantime, unless you can check into your hotel before noon, you'll have to ask the hotel to hold your luggage until you can get into your room, so plan on having lunch around 1:30 to 2:00. You'll need reservations.

After lunch, take a nap and head out again early evening. I think a few tapas, ending with a good GinTonic would cap off your first day in Barcelona.

Forget about doing any heavy touring until you have the time to enjoy it.

OR if you can fit it in, the Hospital de la Santa Creu i de Sant Pau. :-)

You'll be a taxi or metro ride away from any of the main tourist sites.

Joan, I will arrive on a Thursday AM. Thanks, everyone.

Robert, I understand that the hotel will have to hold my luggage and that the hotel area will require me to use the metro to get to the main sites. Not a problem.

Thanks for all the suggestions...very helpful.

Txakoli wines are from the Basque country, so while no doubt you can find them in Barcelona, they might be the same exportable commercial brands you've been drinking wherever you already are. Late October you might want to switch to something heartier anyway. You might want to read up on wines more local to Catalonia and vineyards near Barcelona.

Were it me, I would go see the Palau de la Musica da Catalana, and then go for a wine & tapas crawl.

The most interesting thing to me about Barcelona is the imposition of aggressive rationality in its overall urban design. These shots of Barcelona from the air illustrate what I mean -- if you're lucky, you'll get a glimpse landing or leaving the city. I think it is more fun to walk in the areas that are the most "modernised" rather that the Barri Gotic. Unique. Makes me want to take a helicopter tour of the city someday.

https://static1.squarespace.com/stat...7/?format=750w

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-0...pg?imgmax=1024

http://onebigphoto.com/uploads/2013/...from-above.jpg

If you like rose', here's a tip for you. (note the place is open continuously)

http://www.redwelliegirl.com/2015/05...y-tapas-crawl/

When it comes to food, you can go to central but very local atmsphere Poble Sec and have tapas with the locals in excellent places. http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...to-bodega.html

And close to Poble Sec you'll find the so called Barri Adrià (after the world's greatest chef Ferran Adrià the past decade and his brother) with six world class and very different tapas bars/restaurants within a few blocks: https://www.elbarriadria.com/en

Run along the very fun and eclectic Barceloneta beach promenade or in the Ciutadella park, or perhaps up the Montjuic hill?
http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...eta-beach.html
https://barcelona.de/en/barcelona-parc-ciutadella.html
http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...-montjuic.html

And even though it is crowded, Boquería is totally spectacular. https://www.gardenista.com/posts/la-boqueria-market/

Go to Pinotxo in Boquería, many of the best chefs will have their breakfast or lunch here:
http://worldsofflavorspain.com/node/745
https://vimeo.com/114469366

And of course Sagrada familia. "Why Gaudí's Sagrada Família is a cathedral for our times": https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...-for-our-times

Poole Sec was my one (and only) favourite neighbourhood in Barcelona.

I'm so happy not to fit in to "our times".

I appreciate all the links to great info!!

Sadly, massimop, in the Atlanta area I find very few Basque wines at all (and discovered Txacoli at a wine & tapas bar here called....Barcelona).

Funny! The one time I went to Sagrada Familia there was a Kentucky Fried Chicken across the street & it was quite popular with locals, although I thought the local fried chicken was really much better.

There are Basque themed bars in Barcelona so maybe you would find a wider selection of Basque wines in one of them. In autumn you might want to try out some Basque cider

https://www.timeout.com/barcelona/fo...s-in-barcelona

You can look for Txakoli at Irati Taverna Basca, and Etxea Euskal Taberna, which is located in the Euskal Etxea Cultural Centre (SAGARDI Group). Txakolina (Talai Berri, Getariako Txakolina) will be on their wine list, but not the rosé, which is typically a summer drink.

To be fair... I went to la Boqueria on a Saturday which is never recommended in the first place but it was about the only day I had available and I was in the area.

It was a rainy day. So the combo of a Saturday and rain make it a madhouse. Then when the sky opened up everyone in any near radius made a beeline for it to stay dry.

Even though I had an umbrella, it was raining so hard that I would still have been drenched if I left.

I finally, after a very long time, got a seat at a place to eat. A lovely woman from the Netherlands was able to grab the seat next to me. We had a very happy chat for well over an hour.

But, as I originally said, I have been to much better markets.

Ugh. I do find that I am horrified that the worst of my country finds it way to all the great places of the world (KFC across from Sagrada Familia, McDonalds in the Louvre carousel mall, etc...). I guess if I like a little KFC occasionally I shouldn't be surprised that other my enjoy it every now and then. :-) .

Joannyc..we have all those truly miserable days and some tourist " dreams" dashed by visiting a popular site on the "wrong" day!

As always, you all are a wealth of information. Thank you!

Here would be my one day...

1 - La Sagrada Familia (advanced timed reservations a must...het the earliest...less crowds..skip the towers)
2 - Just up the street from La Sagrada Familia is Sant Pau Recinte Modernista (our favorite stop in Barcelona)
3 - Palau de la Música Catalana (advanced timed reservations a must)

((H))