And of course, as suggested, La Boquería food market just off Las Ramblas is one of the absolute finest in the world.
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/07/17/tr...-fresh-markets
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...rink.features2

The produce and the way that everything is presented could bring tears to your eyes + some fabulous (but expensive) tapas bars. I like the newly renovated Mercado San Miguel in Madrid, but after the renovation it has very little to do with a serious Spanish food market. Fine stalls predominantly catering to tourists. La Boquería is in a totally different league.

The most butiful market I have seen in Spain is Mercado Central in Valencia!

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=O-929...%3DO-929praBtA

Perhaps hiring a guide would be easier as then you won't waste time looking for a cab and can concentrate onseeing everything. We hired a guide for 4 hours Layla Dworkin [email protected]. she was great at explaining things and getting us around the town at our own pace.

<<Are you referring to Mercado San Miguel that re-opened a few years that is shiny glass and metal building with a new granite floor that has a champagne and oyster bar, where hipsters and fashionistas mingle after dark? That less flashy Mercado San Miguel?>>

No, I'm referring to the Mercado San Miguel that has excellent food offerings and top quality product regardless of the characteristics of its patrons instead of the overrated, overhyped, and underperforming Bocqueria, regardless of how hoary it is.

No, I'm referring to the Mercado San Miguel that has excellent food offerings and top quality product regardless of the characteristics of its patrons instead of the overrated, overhyped, and underperforming Bocqueria, regardless of how hoary it is.
______

Well that makes for a irascible majority of one.

Here is a photo I took at La Boqueria that was part of an exhibit selected by a curator at the Guugenheim.

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/1...41271811111555

Why not take the tram and then the funicular to Tibidabo? Aside from the breathtaking view, it is an amusement park and your kids will enjoy the ride up as well as the amusement park.
http://www.tibidabo.cat/en/homepage
For a vegetarian food in a fast food/ cafeteria style which is great for families with kids, try the FresCo chain. It has all kinds of veggie dishes, pizzas, pastas etc... for a reasonable price and since it's cafeteria style, no waiting for hungry, tired kids. Maybe it's not gourmet but it's quick, cheap and an easy option.
Check out the description on this site: http://voices.yahoo.com/cheap-dining...a-8769319.html
Check out the hop-on-off bus tour (there are several companies) that go all over Barcelona. You can get to all the sites, use it as transportation the whole day, there are coupons and discounts with a map. It really took the pressure off getting around Barcelona. We used it for two days and got to see lots of sites.

Thanks all! Taltul, Tibidabo montain looks like a good idea, it seems closer to the city and dont have to waste whole day unlike Montserrat Monastry. Will also check out the Fresco chain, we would only have time for quick bites on the go. Reserving good restaurants and coming back to wherever they are, will not be practically possible, given the tight schedule. Will def check out La Boqueria too. It has got a certain old time charm that we don't get to see here in US.
Smeagol, sure I will write a trip report:-)
Right now am just overwhelmed and anxious, just want to come back home safe without any major problem like missing flights, having pick pocketed/robbed etc..have also bought pacsafe etc. Didn't feel like this last year during our first Europe trip to Paris, Belgium and Switzerland..:(

If you want to add some real "scare", try the cable car across the harbor.. if your kids are a little adventurous, they might like it.. the aquarium is also nice if you need an indoor place (the sun does not shine 365 days in Barcelona).

On day one, or evening one, you can stroll down Pg de Gracia and just keep on walking into Barri Gotic once you passed the big Corte Inglés department store on your left.. you may find the maze of the medieval streets and alleys more fascinating than the Rambles..
Eateries and tapas bars of any kind will line your path, and while real restaurants won't really start until 9pm, you won't starve..

If you want to splurge a little, walk UP Pg de Gracia until you cross Diagonal and see Casa Fuster. This 5* hotel also has many public spaces like the café or rooftop bar.. coffee and drinks will be more expensive, but if you don't eat there, it won't break the bank.

While public transport can take you anywhere, taxis are really affordable. So if you feel too tired to walk back or wait for bus, you will not wait longer than a few seconds at any major street until you can flag down a cab.
If you do NOT want to take a taxi to Parc Güell but still don't like the idea of a strenous uphill hike from Lesseps metro, just catch the 24 bus on Pg de Gracia. It will drop you off at the side entrance of Parc Güell from where you can walk to to famous main gate in 10 minutes inside the park without any climbs.

Hey rijan - don't worry. Barcelona is a great place and easy to get around. We were extra careful about pickpockets too but as long as our bags were not hanging on our backs (I even wore my backpack in the front - will never do that again!), nothing happened. Just be careful in crowded areas and never leave your bags open or unattended. We also walked around with photocopies of our passports.
Loved Barcelona - can't wait to get a chance to go back!

Thanks cowboy68 and taltul and everyone who has taken time to share their insight:)
This is how our 3 days look (Is this plan over ambitious or can add one or two more activities?) Hope we're not missing out too many good things!

1st day- check in at the hotel by 6 pm at passeig de gracia
early dinner at Cerveceria catalana or l'Aribau
Walk around Passeig de gracia.

2nd day
Morning visit to Sagrada familia (advance tkts done)-take the train back to Casa Battlo ( advance tkts done); look at casa mila from outside

Lunch

Cab to Parc Guell- spend 3 hrs

Take the cab back, eat dinner around Palau de la Música Catalana area (any particular restaurant to get a quick bite?) Enter the Palau de la Musica( tkts done) for the 9.30 show by 7.30

3rd day

Morning Tibidabo Mountain
Come back, lunch at La Rambla, Walk to La boqueria, Gotic quarters, Spanish village

Evening - Barcelona beach(?) Is it worth or just a normal dirty beach?

You can skip the Spanish Village, it is cheesy.

The Barceloneta beach is very special, vibrant atmosphere and all kinds of people and activities out here. Many fine and local feel tapas bars, cafés and terraces in the just inland triangle Barceloneta neighbourhood.

For a quick meal before the Palau, I think Taberna del Bisbe just beside the cathedral is one of the more atmospheric places in the area to sit down for a little to eat and a glass or two. Excellent spinach, white beans and tuna salad with sweet mustard vinaigrette, and the tapas were average ok. Very crowded at lunchtime, and not only with tourists. Three course lunch menu with wine/beer or whatever for 11€. Fun and friendly waiters with very much to do. Open all day.
http://www.tavernadelbisbe.com/eng/home.htm

"Please do not use runner bean they are tours for tips. They are basically not contributing to "the system" via taxes and use unregistered guides."

That's your problem. Runnerbean gives an absolute outstanding and professional tour. It was one of the highlights of my trip.

"While La Rambla is a tourist trap, La Boqueria is one of the best markets in Europe. "

I agree that La Rambla is to be avoided, but La Boqueria has its hare of tourist traps. Bar Pintxo is a complete rip off.

Joshlee

You just started on these boards but have recommended the same site 6 or 7 times including opening on old topics. Do you have a personal or economic interest in that site?

<Bar Pintxo is a complete rip off>

Not sure what you mean as "pintxo" is the name of the basque version of tapas and there are plenty of pintxos bars in Barcelona. But if you mean Pinotxo at Boquería - as you probably do - it's expensive but has been top quality for ages. Miles away from rip off:
http://www.worldsofflavorspain.com/node/745
http://www.yelp.com/biz/pinotxo-barcelona

joshlee872 appears to be making a concerted effort to promote his/her new web venture. popov is just strange.

Thanks kimhe. The menu looks terrific, can't wait to try this restaurant!

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Hi all, we are back- safe n sound and happy:-) The Barcelona trip went extremely well. We stayed at the Paseo De Gracia apartments near Hotel Moritz right in the heart of the city. Everything was walkable. The apartment was just awesome, one of the finest, cleanest, most luxurious and modern apts we have ever stayed in. Would highly recommend anyone with family. Anyways the best thing about Barcelona was the taxis- so cheap, we took cabs eerywhere and never paid more than 10 euros from one corner of the city to another. Sagrada Familia was awesome, casa batlo was ok, park Guell was great, the Cathedral was one of the finest churches, I've been to, Gothic Quarters just took my breath away, the old, tall Spanish buildings, cobbled streets, the entire feel, was just great, can't express how i felt..La Ramblas was of course cheesy, didn't like it a bit, esp the innumerous street vendors who were all selling those lil noisy toys.The performers were below average. La Boqueria was fun and colorful. Lunch at Taberna del Bisbe was a disappointment. Tapas at Cervecería Catalana was excellent, it was an experience in itself. Barcelona beach was great, so clean, full of life and beautiful. Fleminco show at Palau de musica was ok, our kids slept through the entire performance.. well what else one can expect from kids:) Mt Tibido was quite boring and expensive, wish we went to Montserrat instead. Kids went crazy at Zara store and bought a lot of stuff. All and all it was a great trip, we covered almost everything that we had initially planned to.
Thanks a ton everyone for all the great suggestions!! Take care.