Two days and three nights in Barcelona, what are the must do things?
Jun 9th, 2013, 12:39 PM
#1
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Two days and three nights in Barcelona, what are the must do things?
We have skip the line tickets for Sagrada Familia and same day night show tickets for Flaminco performance at Palau de la musica. What are the other things we must visit/ can do in Barcelona w an 8 yr old and a 17 yr old?
We are staying in the Passig de gracia area. Any good, reasonable restaurant choices? We are not into steaks and meat and have a vegetarian in the party.
Thanks much.
We are staying in the Passig de gracia area. Any good, reasonable restaurant choices? We are not into steaks and meat and have a vegetarian in the party.
Thanks much.
Jun 9th, 2013, 12:44 PM
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Can I also suggest runner bean tours? We used them last year, we booked the Gaudi one and loved it so much we returned the next day to do the old town tour. Check out their website. ( tours are free you tip at the end)
park Guell is a great place to go and I enjoyed the views of the city and the lovely open spaces.
Just 2 weeks ago we returned to Barcelona and visited the Olympic site which is also a nice walk from Monjuic.
park Guell is a great place to go and I enjoyed the views of the city and the lovely open spaces.
Just 2 weeks ago we returned to Barcelona and visited the Olympic site which is also a nice walk from Monjuic.
Jun 9th, 2013, 12:55 PM
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There is more than enough to fill your 2 days and 3 nights. You might be interested in taking a look at Maribel's Guide to Barcelona (www.maribelsguides.com) to help plan your relatively short time in the city. The guide includes a number of recommend restaurants, most of which will require reservations.
You can find vegetarian dishes at all restaurants. For vegetarian restaurants in Barcelona, check out http://www.happycow.net/europe/spain/barcelona/
You might also find ESPAI SUCRE, in El Born interesting. It's a dessert restaurant.
You can find vegetarian dishes at all restaurants. For vegetarian restaurants in Barcelona, check out http://www.happycow.net/europe/spain/barcelona/
You might also find ESPAI SUCRE, in El Born interesting. It's a dessert restaurant.
Jun 9th, 2013, 10:14 PM
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Great choice to buy tickets in advance for Sagrada Familia. If possible, I would very much recommend to take the guided tour. English speaking guide, and would most probably add immensely to the experience. I knew a lot about the church and Gaudí before visiting a month ago, but the excellent guide made a huge difference.
Lots of great tapas bars and restaurants in the fashionable Passeig de Gracia area. For a reasonably priced local restaurant not far away, I can highly recommend l'Aribau close to the impresssive 15th century university. Has become my favourite lunch place through three recent visits to Barcelona. A very typical and local atmosphere place with no fuzz and great Catalan food.
Here businesspeople, academics and all kind of locals drop in for a three course lunch for 8,60€ (before 14, 9,60€ after 14h). Salad or today's soup, grilled meat or fish with poatatoes/vegetables and dessert. Excellent place with lots of local specialities.
Many salads and vegetable dishes, bocadillos, tortillas and local fish and seafood plates. For example mixed vegetable grill (6€), Tortellini with spinach and cheese (8€), some 7 salads (around 5-7€), delicious Bacalla a la llauna (recommend very much, 8€/12€ with grilled vegetables, escalivada). Lots of desserts. http://barcelona.salir.com/laribau
The vibrant Braceloneta beach is great fun, all kinds of people and activities out here. Close to the city center, several great and affordable restaurants and tapas bars in the Barceloneta neighbourhood just inland from the beach.
Lots of great tapas bars and restaurants in the fashionable Passeig de Gracia area. For a reasonably priced local restaurant not far away, I can highly recommend l'Aribau close to the impresssive 15th century university. Has become my favourite lunch place through three recent visits to Barcelona. A very typical and local atmosphere place with no fuzz and great Catalan food.
Here businesspeople, academics and all kind of locals drop in for a three course lunch for 8,60€ (before 14, 9,60€ after 14h). Salad or today's soup, grilled meat or fish with poatatoes/vegetables and dessert. Excellent place with lots of local specialities.
Many salads and vegetable dishes, bocadillos, tortillas and local fish and seafood plates. For example mixed vegetable grill (6€), Tortellini with spinach and cheese (8€), some 7 salads (around 5-7€), delicious Bacalla a la llauna (recommend very much, 8€/12€ with grilled vegetables, escalivada). Lots of desserts. http://barcelona.salir.com/laribau
The vibrant Braceloneta beach is great fun, all kinds of people and activities out here. Close to the city center, several great and affordable restaurants and tapas bars in the Barceloneta neighbourhood just inland from the beach.
Jun 10th, 2013, 10:34 AM
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Thanks all for the great tips! Thanks a lot kimhe for excellent tips on food choices, that helps!
Just wondering if it's possible for us to make a half day trip to Montserrat Monastry on second day. This is our plan-
Ist day- Reach Barcelona by 6 PM. Check in the hotel at Passeig de gracia. Get out for a stroll on La Rambla, have dinner.
2nd day- We have advance tkts for Sagrada Familia in the morning and 9.30 PM Flaminco show at Palau de la musica at night. In between what all we can do? Any suggestions to cover most attractions? What should be the order to visit Parc Guell, Casa batllo,Casa milo ( aren't these all similar)If want to skip one which one should it be?
3rd day- take the first train to Monastry, be back visit Bari gotic, parc de la ciutadella, anything else?
4th morning leave for the airport.
I'm quite confused about the order of visiting all the main attractions, but for the sagrada familia and flaminco show, we have flexibility to squeeze attractions, according to their proximity to each other.
Just wondering if it's possible for us to make a half day trip to Montserrat Monastry on second day. This is our plan-
Ist day- Reach Barcelona by 6 PM. Check in the hotel at Passeig de gracia. Get out for a stroll on La Rambla, have dinner.
2nd day- We have advance tkts for Sagrada Familia in the morning and 9.30 PM Flaminco show at Palau de la musica at night. In between what all we can do? Any suggestions to cover most attractions? What should be the order to visit Parc Guell, Casa batllo,Casa milo ( aren't these all similar)If want to skip one which one should it be?
3rd day- take the first train to Monastry, be back visit Bari gotic, parc de la ciutadella, anything else?
4th morning leave for the airport.
I'm quite confused about the order of visiting all the main attractions, but for the sagrada familia and flaminco show, we have flexibility to squeeze attractions, according to their proximity to each other.
Jun 10th, 2013, 11:49 AM
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Parc Guell is a park, casa Batilo and Mila are buildings...... They are walkable from each other, ( the buildings that is) I would definitley also do parc Guell, great views of the city and some great Gaudi architecture.
You could do all 3 of these after Sagrada Familia as you are doing that early a.m , then do the buildings and the go to the parc.
You could do all 3 of these after Sagrada Familia as you are doing that early a.m , then do the buildings and the go to the parc.
Jun 10th, 2013, 11:55 AM
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Las Ramblas is a famous walk for a reason, but be aware that many places here are unexciting tourist traps.
Just off Las Ramblas, you'll find Can Culleretes from 1786, the oldest restaurant in town. Still popular with locals, and I have had several good, traditional and quite affordable Catalan meals here. Opens at 9pm and reservation is a must.
http://www.culleretes.com/en
The second day looks very hectic if you try to squeeze in Sagrada Familia, Park Guell as well as both Casa Milà/La Pedrera and Casa Battló before flamenco at Palau de la Música at night.
After Sagrada Familia, I would suggest you go back to Passeig de Gracia and visit Casa Milà, better known as La Pedrera (The Stone Quarry). An experience in itself (buy online tickets in advance to avoid waiting in line for a long time) and spectacular views of the city from the quite spectacular roof top terrace.
Maybe make lunch your main meal of the day as most Spanish do. Several great places around Passeig de Gracia. I mentioned l'Aribau 10-15 mins walk from La Pedrera as a great and affordable local feel alternative. Even closer are very popular places such as Cervecería Catalana and Ciudad Condal in (or very close to) very nice Rambla de Catalunya among a vast number of other options.
Cervecería Catalana: http://www.barcelona.com/barcelona_d...a_in_barcelona
Ciudad Condal/Ciutat Comtal: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Catalonia.html
Sagrada Familia and Casa Milà/La Pedrera would be a huge intake of fabulous Gaudí in one day, even though casa Batlló is just some blocks down Passeig de Gracia from La Pedrera. My advice would be to slow down, have a great lunch and take in the neighbourhood with all its avenys and nice streets, outdoor cafés, all kind of exclusive shopping etc. etc.
Maybe drop by one of Barcelona's great chocolaterías early in the afternoon before having some tapas before heading for the Palau de La Música, which is also a fairly short walking distance from Passeig de Gracia. Only tapas bars and tourist oriented restaurants will be open so early in the night that you could have a meal before the performance in the Palau.
A couple of great chocolaterías just off Las Ramblas and ten min walking to Palau de la Música: http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...estaurant.html
Just off Las Ramblas, you'll find Can Culleretes from 1786, the oldest restaurant in town. Still popular with locals, and I have had several good, traditional and quite affordable Catalan meals here. Opens at 9pm and reservation is a must.
http://www.culleretes.com/en
The second day looks very hectic if you try to squeeze in Sagrada Familia, Park Guell as well as both Casa Milà/La Pedrera and Casa Battló before flamenco at Palau de la Música at night.
After Sagrada Familia, I would suggest you go back to Passeig de Gracia and visit Casa Milà, better known as La Pedrera (The Stone Quarry). An experience in itself (buy online tickets in advance to avoid waiting in line for a long time) and spectacular views of the city from the quite spectacular roof top terrace.
Maybe make lunch your main meal of the day as most Spanish do. Several great places around Passeig de Gracia. I mentioned l'Aribau 10-15 mins walk from La Pedrera as a great and affordable local feel alternative. Even closer are very popular places such as Cervecería Catalana and Ciudad Condal in (or very close to) very nice Rambla de Catalunya among a vast number of other options.
Cervecería Catalana: http://www.barcelona.com/barcelona_d...a_in_barcelona
Ciudad Condal/Ciutat Comtal: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Catalonia.html
Sagrada Familia and Casa Milà/La Pedrera would be a huge intake of fabulous Gaudí in one day, even though casa Batlló is just some blocks down Passeig de Gracia from La Pedrera. My advice would be to slow down, have a great lunch and take in the neighbourhood with all its avenys and nice streets, outdoor cafés, all kind of exclusive shopping etc. etc.
Maybe drop by one of Barcelona's great chocolaterías early in the afternoon before having some tapas before heading for the Palau de La Música, which is also a fairly short walking distance from Passeig de Gracia. Only tapas bars and tourist oriented restaurants will be open so early in the night that you could have a meal before the performance in the Palau.
A couple of great chocolaterías just off Las Ramblas and ten min walking to Palau de la Música: http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...estaurant.html
Jun 10th, 2013, 11:59 AM
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Go to the Barcelona section of the Fodors.com site and you'll get some to-dos.
Casa Batllo and Casa Mila are not similar. The latter is covered by articketbcn.com discounts, the former is not. The latter's main attraction is the rooftop so entry is pretty much necessary, the former's is the front and the inside (but entry for Casa Batllo is expensive).
This: "reasonable restaurant" - is a meaningless term. Talk in dollars and cents or Euros and Europennies.
La Rambla is a bloody tourist trap. Wander through the Barri Gotic instead or go to the Port Vell.
Parc Guell is not close to or convenient to Sagrada Familia or the Casas. The Casas are on the Passeig de Gracia and within a block or two of each other and easily reached by Metro from Sagrada Familia. Parc Guell is not near a metro line. They are similar in that Gaudi designed them, less so in execution.
Casa Batllo and Casa Mila are not similar. The latter is covered by articketbcn.com discounts, the former is not. The latter's main attraction is the rooftop so entry is pretty much necessary, the former's is the front and the inside (but entry for Casa Batllo is expensive).
This: "reasonable restaurant" - is a meaningless term. Talk in dollars and cents or Euros and Europennies.
La Rambla is a bloody tourist trap. Wander through the Barri Gotic instead or go to the Port Vell.
Parc Guell is not close to or convenient to Sagrada Familia or the Casas. The Casas are on the Passeig de Gracia and within a block or two of each other and easily reached by Metro from Sagrada Familia. Parc Guell is not near a metro line. They are similar in that Gaudi designed them, less so in execution.
Jun 10th, 2013, 01:16 PM
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I should add I wasn't suggesting that Parc Guell was near the casa, but if get you get a cab I Do think it could be doable. Or save it for the following morning. I would definitley pre purchase your Casa tickets.
Agree ref La Rambla ( or at least the bottom end) best thing about it is La Boqueria rest I would give a miss.
Agree ref La Rambla ( or at least the bottom end) best thing about it is La Boqueria rest I would give a miss.
Jun 11th, 2013, 03:59 AM
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I am from Barcelona and I really recommend the views from the Tibidabo mountain. There are 2 places to grab a coke/beer/coffee and enjoy the amazing views of the city. They are called "Mirablau" and "Mirabe".
I hope you enjoy it!
I hope you enjoy it!
Jun 11th, 2013, 07:12 AM
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<<La Boqueria is one of the best markets in Europe>>
Pah! It's not close. Displays are pretty, but quality is middling. Mercado San Miguel in Madrid was far superior and less flashy.
<<I should add I wasn't suggesting that Parc Guell was near the casa, but if get you get a cab I Do think it could be doable.>>
We cabbed from Casa Mila to Parc Guell - short ride, best way to go because the Parc is up an unfriendly hill (especially with offspring in tow).
Pah! It's not close. Displays are pretty, but quality is middling. Mercado San Miguel in Madrid was far superior and less flashy.
<<I should add I wasn't suggesting that Parc Guell was near the casa, but if get you get a cab I Do think it could be doable.>>
We cabbed from Casa Mila to Parc Guell - short ride, best way to go because the Parc is up an unfriendly hill (especially with offspring in tow).
Jun 11th, 2013, 07:47 AM
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<<La Boqueria is one of the best markets in Europe>>
Pah! It's not close. Displays are pretty, but quality is middling. Mercado San Miguel in Madrid was far superior and less flashy.
_____
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?
As opposed to La Boqueria which has been around in one way or another for almost 800 years and has informal places to eat plus countless more family owned stands? That flashy La Boqueria?
Pah! It's not close. Displays are pretty, but quality is middling. Mercado San Miguel in Madrid was far superior and less flashy.
_____
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?
As opposed to La Boqueria which has been around in one way or another for almost 800 years and has informal places to eat plus countless more family owned stands? That flashy La Boqueria?
Jun 11th, 2013, 07:50 AM
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<<We cabbed from Casa Mila to Parc Guell - short ride, best way to go because the Parc is up an unfriendly hill (especially with offspring in tow).>>
Definetly take a cab when you're going to Parc Guell, it doesn't matter where you are in the city. It's going to be 10 Euro maximum and you'll avoid the horrible hill and having to walk under the hot sun.
Definetly take a cab when you're going to Parc Guell, it doesn't matter where you are in the city. It's going to be 10 Euro maximum and you'll avoid the horrible hill and having to walk under the hot sun.
Jun 11th, 2013, 07:53 AM
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As for restaurants. I LOVE "Cervecería Catalana", one of the best tapas restaurants in the city, as well as a huge selection of beers. I recommend making a reservation before going, it gets very crowded. It is very close to Plaza Catalunya, that is, the city center.
Also, go to "Merendero de la Mari" if you wanna have a good-and-not-very-expensive paella next to the sea. Most places overprice the paella as they are close to the beach and give you very bad quality food. In this place you'll get awesome paella and an average priced bill.
Also, go to "Merendero de la Mari" if you wanna have a good-and-not-very-expensive paella next to the sea. Most places overprice the paella as they are close to the beach and give you very bad quality food. In this place you'll get awesome paella and an average priced bill.
