We are only foing to be in Barcelona for a day and one night. What should we do to maximize our time? Where should we eat? What should I buy my wife?

The Romanesque art at the Museu d?Història de Catalunya (MNAC) - http://www.mnac.es/eng/index.htm Opening times
? Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m
? Sunday and public holidays, 10 a.m. to 2.30 p.m
? Monday closed, except public holidays
? Closed: January 1st, May 1st and December 25th


La Sagrada Familia -http://www.sagradafamilia.org/eng/noflash/index.htm
Or
Parc Guell

The light and sound show at Montjuic could be quite romantic.

Eat at Cal Pep, Placa de les Olles, 8.

Buy your wife terrific leather gloves, Mallorca pearls (El Corte Ingles... they are open until 10am - 10pm) or an assortment of great Spanish wines to bring home and enjoy together! See this thread for some specific recommendations: http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...p;tid=34483477

Actually, I'm having second thoughts here.
Do the MNAC in the morning, have lunch at Cal Pep around 1:00, walk down La Rambla and poke into La Boquería, walk through the Barri Gotic and then head over to the Gracia and Eixampla area, Tour Casa Batllo or La Predera... maybe both, they are relatively close to each other. Then shop in that same area, or head for the giant El Corte Ingles department store at Plaça de Catalunya. You could enjoy a romantic dinner at Tenorio's, Passeig de Gràcia, 37 (http://www.webares.com/catala/rest/b...s/frbctr10.htm). If there is steam left, see the fountains. It's a tremendous experience.

These are highlights. It's doable if you move fast and don't get too distracted by all your senses being stirred with everything your see, hear and smell.

Go to the Gothic Quarter and simply wander and do the "Ramble" also; take a look at the splendid gothic cathedral. I also second the Sagrada Familia or Parc Guell ideas...both are wonderful, but not the only, Gaudi sites` around the city.
I think you should spend as much time outside as you can if you want a real "feel" for the city.
"What should I buy my wife?" Good question..what does she like???

Here are 6 things (they are all equally good):

Las Ramblas
Barrie Gothic
La Bouqueria - lunch at Bar Pinnochio
Parc Guell
Sagrada Familia
Montjuic

As for your wife - a Spanish folding hand-fan.

1. All Gaudi sites
2. Barri Gothic
3. Picasso Museum (brilliant!)

Dinner at 4 Gatos

For wife: touristy, but they have some really pretty Spanish designed compacts, like compact mirrors with the outside made of gold colored metal and etchings in black.

Any of the above, then a concert at the Palau. <i>Then</i> dinner.

I would definitely do Sagrada Familia, and I would be there 15 minuted before opning because the queues are horrible. I would then go down to the beach and have a long Spanish lunch on a terrace overlooking the sea; and I would go to the Picasso museum in the later afternoon.

To maximise your time (which is not the same as the above) I would do the ruta di modernisma which is, in itself, a great tour of the central city.

I can't recommend anywhere specific to eat. It was all great.

Buy your wife gold.

As others have said, I'd do:

Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, Casa Batllo, La Pedrera and walk around the Barri Gothic and La Rambla.

I did that in one day. Casa Batllo and La Pedrera are open into the early evening, which helps the scheduling.

Have a great time!

Karen

I had just a little more time in Barcelona than you did (an extra half day) and this is what I did.You'll note it's a schedule big on art and architecture. Some things are closed different days (Mondays, for example) so check on that. Museums are open late (till 8 or 9) and dinner is even later, so you can really get a lot done in one day if you care to!

Bus up to Park Guell, admiring sights along the way. Walked around the Park but didn't go into Museum there since I was planning on other Gaudi sites later and next day--about an hour and a half in the Parc (reading from a good Gaudi book and Barcelona guidebook). Walked (pretty long walk) to Sagrada Familia. Did not go in, just admired external architecture.

Had a snack, and walked to Casa Mila (La Pedrera)--went early evening so we'd go to the roof for dusk/sunset and then saw interior museum, apartments. Took about 2 hours.

Next day, Palau de la Musica Catala (by tour only, barely an hour)--only 1 0r 2 English tours a day, so plan accordingly.

Picasso Museum--both for the art within (mostly early career--fascinating!) and the setting--building and neighborhood. Walked around the Barri Gotic area.

Walked on Las Ramblas--could have easily skipped. To me, looked like one big tourist trap. I was there at a quiet time of the year, yet still saw the touristy restaurant owners running up to people (but not me!) shoving menus at them, people &quot;dressed up&quot; as statues with baskets asking for money, etc. I may be in the minority, but I also found La Boqueria to be &quot;not all that&quot; compared with food markets in other cities.

Never got on the Metro at all. Just took the one bus ride, one cab ride at the end of one day, and walked everywhere else. Of course, that may not be possible depending on where you're staying, weather, and other factors, but for me it really allowed me time to &quot;see&quot; the city in a very short time.