go_laura

We will be in Barcelona arriving morning of Oct. 6, leaving morning of Oct. 14. Staying at Hotel Murmuri, my understanding is that it's about a 10 minute walk north of Plaza Catalunya. Can't wait! We're traveling with another couple, and trying to balance planning ahead for things where it'll help to have tix and avoid lines, with leaving lots of time for just wandering and discovering. With that in mind, what we have planned is:

Monday, arrival day, walk around Las Ramblas, Mercat Boqueria, the Cathedral, wander Barri Gotic. If completely exhausted from the overnight flight, possibly a hop-on hop-off bus tour.

Tuesday, we have 9AM tix for La Pedrera, and 3:45 for Picasso Museum. I read to late in an old trip report, to do La Pedrera on Sat. to avoid school groups!

Wed., we have Sagrada Familia entrance at 1:45, with entrance to Nativity Tower at 3:30. In the evening we have tix for a guitar string quartet at Palau de Musica. No morning plans.

Thurs., our friends are doing a day trip to Madrid, we are not. We might do Barceloneta area that day, or wander Gracia neighborhood, not sure yet. Dinner that night at Cinc Sentits. We haven't yet booked other meals and are figuring we'll do a lot of casual tapas and dinners, but we might look to book one other lunch or dinner.

Fri. we're all doing a day trip to Montserrat.

Sat. is wide open, possibly a day trip (or half day?) to Sitges. I'd love to see the folk dancers at the Cathedral at 6PM if we do stay in town, but we won't plan around that.

Sun. we have 11AM tix for Parc Guell, no plans after that.

Monday we've left open, by our last day we've always come up with either places we hadn't known about that we want to get to, or places we want to return to.

There are so many other things that sound interesting, that we haven't put on the "must" list, figuring we'll see how it goes and what fits nicely. I'd love to hear any of your favorite places to see or neighborhoods to wander or places to eat, to try to add in! Especially love hearing about things that we wouldn't find in guide books, or if something is a guide book type thing, what you loved about it.

Thank you in advance for any and all replies.

danon

Murmuri is on the one of the loveliest streets in Barcelona.....many cafés and restaurants around.
Ho-ho bus offers several different routs...BG strictly on foot.
La Padrera is a block from your hotel... Casa Battlo is across the street from Padrera and much more interesting.
From SF a short walk will take you to the spectacular Hospital Sant Pau ( don't miss it)
One day you might visit Montjuic and Miro museum ( if interested in art)
We liked Tarragona very much ( an hour from Barcelona) Sitges is mostly about the beach.
Minutes from Ramblas is amazing Palau Guell
El Born and Barcenoleta should defiantly be on your list.
more interesting than Gracia ,IMO

adrienne

You'll be fine with 9:00 tickets for La Pedrera. Be there on time and you'll be alone on the roof for a few minutes.

You might want to consider Casa Batllo (prebook), Palau Guell, Catalunyan museum on Montjuic. I second the Hospital Sant Pau.

There isn't any reason to prebook the Picasso Museum as there were few people when I was there. We just walked in.

I doubt there's anything that's not in guide books.

kspencerinskeep

We will be in BCN nearly the same dates as you: 10/4-12. This is my second trip to this wonderful city, but the first for my husband. I highly recommend taking the HO HO tour, if only for one day, not necessarily to listen to their recorded audio or even get off at different sites (unless you want to) but because it allows you to see this beautiful city from a higher perspective. I like to do this early in a trip to orient myself to different parts of the city. Sit up top, of course!

Take the tram from the Barceloneta to Montjuic and wander around. There are many hidden paths and gardens to explore - and several museums. I missed the Font Magica last time I was there (mix up on times) but I've heard it is beautiful. Fri & Sat @ 7 & 9 pm.

Parc Guell is my personal favorite. Bring a picnic and people watch. SF is, of course, amazing.

Take a bike tour. Fat Tire Bikes offers a nice tour that will give you a great overview of the city.

Time your trip to Montserrat so that you can hear the boys choir at 1 pm.

My favorite restaurant is Petra, located on the west side of the Basilica de Santa Maria del mar in the El Born. Take the metro to Jaume l and walk down Carrer de l'Argenteria until you get to the church. Turn left and you are there. They are open at 1:15 for lunch and 8:30 for dinner. restaurantpetra.com for details/menus.

Wander, wander, wander! Shop (so many great little shops if you like fashion) and eat lots of gelato. The gelato shops are amazing. Have fun!

DebitNM

Bookmark

lynnalan

bookmarking

Continental_Drifter

A little touristy, we had a great evening doing this - You might want to catch the Magic Fountain on the way to Tablao de Carmen for some flamenco. You can enter after dinner for a reduced price, but still have wine and order from the tapas menu.

http://www.bcn.cat/parcsijardins/fonts/EN/magica.html

http://www.tablaodecarmen.com/

You can walk from the fountain to Tablao de Carmen. I'm guessing it's about a mile up a (very) slow grade of a hill. However, you may miss the beginning of the show, so look for a cab if you can.

Tablao is a rather small setting for the flamenco. When I was in college (about 100 years ago,) we went to Las Cuevas outside of Sevilla for flamenco. Tablao de Carmen has a bit of that feel. Pure passion, rhythm and good wine.

Continental_Drifter

I say - small setting - in a good way. It's intimate and every seat in the house is great.

Robert2533

On Tuesday, 7 October, the Colla Castellera of Gracia will open its premises to visitors for a guided tour and rehearsal at 8:00 pm. Explanations will be given in English. The meeting point for this tour will be at Can Musons, Carrer Alzina, 7.

http://bcnshop.barcelonaturisme.com/...kHl5H7SPbZWIyY

On Thursday evenings you may enjoy a jazz concert in the Café Vienés of the Hotel Fuster at Passeig de Gràcia 132, above the Avinguda Diagonal. It is held on Thursdays from 9:00 to 11:00.

smokointokyo95

Don't go to La Ramblas, or if you do then stay aware, it's full of pickpocket's and at night it's even worse

adrienne

I was on or near the Ramblas quite a few times and had no problems. There are pickpockets in every major city, especially in Tokyo.

Continental_Drifter

<<Don't go to La Ramblas, or if you do then stay aware, it's full of pickpocket's and at night it's even worse>>

Well, I have to say that's a pretty broad statement. We have been there many times and stayed just off Las Ramblas.

Use the same common sense you would elsewhere.

There are pickpockets everywhere - even on the steps of Sacre Coeur in Paris.

dweislaw

Many great ideas here. Let me add a day trip to cava country- perhaps to Freixent in Sant Sadurni d'Anoia where we had a terrific tour. Also stopped at the beautiful Cordonieu outside Sant Sadurni. No problems for us walking Ramblas, but go to the market hungry We had an expensive but excellent seafood meal at Botafumeiro and another fine meal at 7 Portes. While in Sitges La Salseta was memorable.
Walking through El Born and touring Casa Mila were also highlights for us.

go_laura

Wow, such a wealth of ideas! I had to work late tonight and it was such a thrill to come home and open my computer to all of this. Thank you, thank you for all your replies, I am going to look into all of your suggestions.

I do have a question, feel a little stupid, but I see El Born mentioned above and elsewhere, yet can't seem to find it on the map. Which area is considered El Born?

Re: the pickpockets on Las Ramblas thing, I'm not going to worry much about it, tho' I'll certainly be careful. I got rather scared about it before my first trip to Paris about 18 months ago, from all the posts, but didn't have much of a problem. Was glad to know ahead about some of the common scams, tho. And, my stepfather at 88 was pickpocketed 6 months later and it was a devastating experience for him, so I do know it happens.

I'm actually more curious to see how I respond to Las Ramblas in general, as some people seem to feel it's gotten way too touristy to enjoy and others still seem to love it. No matter what, I am very much looking forward to Mercat Boqueria as markets are one of my favorite things everywhere.

dweislaw

From "Tourist Guide Barcelona" -El Born is sandwiched between Via Laietana and Barceloneta and is served by the metro stops Barceloneta and Jaume 1 which are on the same line. Las Ramblas and the very centre of the city are a pleasant 10 minute walk away.
Also:http://www.barcelona-life.com/barcelona/born

danon

El Born s one of the best knows parts of Barcelona.... many bars and restaurants, very lively, Picasso Museum,
famous church Santa Maria del Mar.., well known tapas at Cal Pep etc

ribeirasacra

Hopefully the protests will have finished by the time of your visit.
http://www.antena3.com/noticias/espa...100100019.html

go_laura

Ah...on maps El Born seems to be called La Ribera. Thank you.

Not sure yet if we want to see the flamenco. Is it something we'd need to reserve ahead?

Robert, the Castellera looks so interesting! Tues. is a bit of a busy day for us and we might still also be jet lagged, so again wondering if we'll have energy or be wanting a nap about that time...again, is that something we'd need to reserve ahead for?

I'm disappointed that the jazz concert you mention is Thurs. night, as that's something a couple of us enjoy very much, but it's the one night Cinc Sentits had a dinner reservation available. Ah well, can't do it all.

Dweislaw, I never heard of the places you mentioned, so look forward to looking them up. Do you need a car for the day trip to cava country?

Thanks again to all who replied.

go_laura

Oh, and I meant to ask, danon, can you say a little more about Tarragona, and is it accessible by public transport?

And does anyone know if we'd need to book ahead for Palau Guell?

And for Hospital Sant Pau, what are your subjective opinions of how much time to allow?

Thanks!

adrienne

<< And does anyone know if we'd need to book ahead for Palau Guell? >>

No need. Very few tourists here.

<< And for Hospital Sant Pau, what are your subjective opinions of how much time to allow? >>

Nothing subjective about it...the tour is an hour. Check the times for English tours.