Anyone holiday'd in Barcelona?

Question

We normally have a week in a quiet beach resort, but this year, due to accrual of many days holiday we thought we'd do a fortnight, but therefore need more than a beach & a book.

I've just been looking at Barcelona, as it has beaches but all the fun of a city - is this a good place for a fortnight & where is the best area to stay - without the cost being astronomical. We're thinking june.

Answer 1

barcalona is a cool place but very expensive. find the local area and its reasonable the beach is nearly all man made it has a really nice port sightseeing is a must as it has thing there nowhere else has eg la famile, goudie park, las ramblas crackin zoo yes i did say zoo and of course shops. well worth a visit and take a camera.......enjoy the stadiums football and olympic

Answer 2

The best place i found to stay was near the football stadium it had easy access to the tube and the main railway as well as good places to eat etc

Answer 3

I lived in Barcelona for 4 years in the 90's.

It is the best city in Europe for a holiday !

You can take the train to some beautiful beaches (only 20 minutes away from the centre of town.

You can go to some of the coolest clubs in Europe (La terrrazza, Space, Pacha, Fellini - To name but a few)

You can eat in many really great restaurants, Spanish food, Catalan food, French, Italian, Mexican - You name it they've got it !

Shopping is just great, there aer so many shops and all in the same area.

As for hotels, they can be expensive, but as a tip, when you book online, it's usually half the price of the normal reservation, and especially if you do it in advance.

I've only ever stayed in a ferw hotels there (seeing that I had a flat so didn't need a hotel !) and it can be costly, depending on what you want. You should stay in the Gothic quarter, or "Barrio Gotico" as then you'll be close to everything.

Try the "Hotel Ingles" in the Gothic quarter for big, cheap rooms (only a one star hotel) or stay in my friends' flat http://www.filmflat.com if you want luxury and class !

The only thing you would have to watch out for is pickpockets, or rather, bag snatchers, as they operate around the town centre.

the golden rule is don't go out with a handbag at night, or if you do, make sure it's a shoulder strap one !

Have a good trip !

Answer 4

Yes, I went for a long weekend.  The city rocks, it's buzzing.  There is lots to do and see, lots of culture and history, plus good nightlife.

Food and drink are both quality, and not too expensive, try the local cuisine.

There are big green spaces to go for walks, and the weather is hot, hot, hot.

We only stayed for four days, and it wasn't long enough.  You'll have no problem filling a fortnight.

Answer 5

Ive been to Barcelona a few times and I love the place. I have only ever been in the winter months, but I have heard August is the hottest and one of the busiest months, so you should be ok for June. I personally think 2 weeks in Barcelona is too much, maybe a week and then you could mix it up with another place along the coast.

Answer 6

I think 2 weeks just in Barcelona will be too much, I usually have a week a bit further up the coast and get the train in to the city on 2 or 3 days (which is plenty).  The trains run really regularly and are dirt cheap,a day return costs about £3.  It's a great place to visit with loads to see and do, but I would never stay in Barcelona.

Answer 7

Barcelona is the best! I went in November for a long weekend without very high expectations and i was proved so so so wrong!

I couldn't believe that you had the amazing city life with amazing jobs, the mountains near by, and then the beach with beautiful beach side restaurants and bars..i was so shocked i couldn't believed that you had everything in such close proximity.  There really is something for everybody those who like clubbing which is great there or if you just want to sit outside at a nice taverna and watch the world go by.  Las Ramblas is great for people watching too and great to explore all the side streets finding little gems of places to go. and Port Bell the marina is stunning too.  Places are really pretty easy to find too.

Also i recommend taking a trip on the tour buses which i was originally a bit wary about, but i got to see everything of barcelona, you can get on and off, and you can appreciate all the natural beauty along with the architectural stuff like the gaudi cathedral which was stunning!

I wish i could have stayed for two weeks.....the city doesn't seem to sleep and i'm guessing that summer time would be even better!

We found too that if you book your flights and hotel seperately, it can often work out cheaper esp with all the low cost airlines

Answer 8

We have holiday round there many times the best resort in that area is in Salou they have a theme park owned by universal which also has a water park attached to it, there are plenty of bars and restaraunts along the beach and plenty of beach for sunbathing and your only a 25 min bus ride from Barcelona.  When in Barcelona watch out for the pickpockets though they are professional so keep your eye on your bags etc.  Visit the zoo the football ground and a bar called Chaplins in Salou.

Answer 9

I went end of March, it was quite warmish but not too much, great city though, one of the best.

Answer 10

better going to Salou or somewhere else along the coast & visit Barcelona on 2  trips most hotels do a day trip to shops' Nou Camp etc & also a evening trip to see Barcelona at night the fountains etc

2 wks in Barcelona you would be bored

Answer 11

When we went we stayed in the PERFECT apartment. I've put the link below.

It was so gorgeous, cheap and ideally located.

We stayed in the "Chelsea", it was really luxury and nice, and 3 secs away from the ramblas and the sea on a quiet street that also had cool bars - very spanish!

Answer 12

Go to Sitges, just south of Barcelona.

The big city is easily accessable by train when you want and the beaches will be cleaner.