Going to Barcelona?

Question

Going to Barcelona in a few months, any suggetions on hotels/restaurants/things to do?

Answer 1

Barcelona is such a nice place to spend quality time.... I love it so much because of its location near the Mediterranean Sea and because of the works of Gaudi (those amazing buildings that he designed). I saw recently a website about Barcelona, a guide for the tourists who go there and for the lucky one who are planning on moving in Barcelona: http://www.infobarcelona.org. It is a site with plenty of information on things to do and places to visit in Barcelona, restaurats and shops, rent a car companies, museums and parks and so on. And you will have the opportunity to exercise your Spanish too. And if you need more information on Barcelona hotels, take a look at www.indexofhotels.com, because they have almost a hundred hotels listed there with the contact information.

Have a nice time in Barcelona!!!

Answer 2

I am actually visiting Barcelona right now.---(I am from the US).  La Hesperia Del Mar is a great modern hotel that is located about 8 minutes by taxi from downtown Barcelona and it is across the stree from Mar Bella beach.  Barcelona is beautiful---I have enjoyed EVERTYTHING except the food.  I am struggling with the food---seriously.  Don't eat at a McDonald's here---it isn't safe and the meat is raw.  La Rambla (a very popular street) is a must see!!! There is tons of shopping and street performers.  Bargin with the people in the souvinear shops---don't give in to their price.  If you hold your ground and act like you are going to walk away--they will give into you!  The Metro (subway) is really the most inexpensive way to travel!  At first it is intimidating---but in all honesty it is pretty easy!  Walk around the streets downtown and just take in the culture.  There are too many "sites" too see...and to name them all.

Answer 3

Tapa Tapa on Passieg de Gracia is a great place to try lots of different catalan foods, and they have a picture menu incase you don't speak Catalan. I love Barceloneta and El Ravel. There are lots of little restaurants near the Picasso museum that are cheaper than the more touristy ones and much more authentic.

Answer 4

I recommend to take a tour bus. You can buy your tickets at your hotel or get it on the bus line directly. Tour guides speak perfect English. Tour Bus is a great deal. Pretty much you can ride all day on  a bus to the famous spots, shopping destinations and parks. To make things better, you can get off and on at any time. It is much better than taking a taxy. You will learn much more and save a lot of money with the Tour Bus than doing it by yourself.  Make sure to visit Gaudi's park. It is very different and very impressive.

          If you go to La Sagrada Familia, I would like to warn you about the spiral stairway. You will have to climb it all the way up, before you can get down. If you do not like heights, I suggest to spend a few Euros on the elevator. People, who climed the stairs said if they knew, they would pay to get on elevator.

        We stayed at La Rambla Hotel. It was not great, but we still had a good time. It was located right on the big avenue, where they had a market place and street artists. You will see some interesting things on the streets.

        I would suggest to be very careful with your money. Buy a special pouch that you can hide under your clothes. Make sure you put all of your valuables into the safe, because things has been stolen from the hotel rooms.

Hope that you enjoy your trip!

P.S. I would like to note that in Barcelona they do not speak Spanish, but Catalan. These two languages are different, but they also speak Spanish or understand it. This should not be a problem, because Barcelona is flooded with tourists. Everybody will speak English to you, as soon as they  hear your accent.

Answer 5

Not the first two, but as for sights, there is some great architecture there, mostly by Gaudi. Most famously, his Iglesia de Familia Sagrada (Church of the Sacred Family). It is a massive feat, and still being built to this day; towers over the city. There are also several houses and a park called Guell that were designed by Gaudi. Outside of that, the Olympic Park is okay.

Answer 6

First, don't miss the "ensaimadas", there are a pastry, really delicious.

Last December we stay in the H10 Gravina.  Is near the Plaza de Catalunya, but not in the noisy side.  We have two rooms connecting, because we have two kids.  We really like it.  The size of the rooms were a regular american hotel room, with full bathroom.  We also have refrigerator.  We don't have any problem and we stay 10 days.  

There is the Parc Guell, Sagrada Familia, and the Gaudi Houses.

We like the Zoo, walking in Las Ramblas, don't miss the Magic Fountain in Montjuic, it only play some days of the week so you have to check the schedule.

We like also the Tibidabo, a small amusement park in the tallest mountain in the city of Barcelona. There is a small roller coaster and some other attractions. Is good for a afternoon visit. To get to the Tibidabo there is a blue tram that get you to a zipper train. We have visited for years, even when I was a little girl. The last time was in December 2005. We enjoy it.

In Montjuic is the "Pueblo Español", where you find different examples of Spanish towns. There are stores with souvenirs and things of other regions of Spain.

There is the Mis Van der Rohe pavilion, also in Montjuic, if you like architecture.

For the foods: I like the paella (rice), crema catalana (custard), the tapas: boquerones en vinagre(sardines in vinegar), tortilla de patatas (potato omelet), ensaladilla rusa (Russian salad), pan con tomate (bread with tomato), croquetas (I don't know how to explain).

You can visit the Diagonal Avenue, there are a lot of stores there. They have a Tram that cross the Avenue. Is nice and you don't get overtire walking the long avenue.

I like the "barrio gotico" and the Cathedral, where my grandparents married.

I enjoy everything in Barcelona, the shops, the walking, the streets, the people, the food and the architecture.