OT: Barcelona

[starvenger]

One of my family's "every other year (or so)" trips is going to the UK to visit my wife's side of the family.

This year we're going to spend a week of that trip in Barcelona, and I was wondering if you had any tips/suggestions on what to do there.

We found a place on Airbnb on Av. del Paraŀlel near Pablo Sec metro station, and there will be 5 adults, 4 kids (ages 5-8). Any ideas would be helpful!

Thanks!

 

[mkmommy]

If you have the chance, go to Montserrat, it is about an hour from Barcelona, but the views are amazing. We timed or visit to be able to see the Black Madonna, but did miss the Boys Choir.

 

[Nora03]

Just saw your post. I visited Barcelona in September 2011 and loved it. I was inspired to plan a trip there after reading Mike Jones trip report on the UK Trip Reports board January 2008. You can do a search for that. We stayed on Las Ramblas and did the HOHO bus. We enjoyed Gaudi's architecture, but not sure your little ones would enjoy that. There is a huge beach. I would spend lots of time reading The Barcelona boards on Trip Advisor. Good luck planning.

 

[squirrel]

My mom and I didn't see much, we only had a day or two before the DCL Transatlantic. We did tour Sagrada Familia with the audio tour. I also booked us for a tower tour but unfortunately the elevators were broken that day. Do book the tour ahead of time as we saw so many people outside waiting in the standby line on their phones (they could have used them to book).

 

[kiford]

We booked a food and wine tour as well as a full-day sampler tour of Barcelona both through Viator. The food and wine tour was a small group of 7 plus driver. We went to a small place up in the mountains for a mid-morning snack, then up to Monserrat for a quick walkabout, then over the mountains to an inn and restaurant in the middle of nowhere in an olive orchard, then on to a winery for a tasting of wines and cava plus some olive oils. We also walked down Las Ramblas (once we were staying in a hotel on Las Ramblas and once staying close) watching the street acts and spent time walking through the Bouqueria. We walked down to the pier and wandered through some of the shops there and then got a jug of sangria and just people and boat watched.

Our day tour took us to La Sagrada Familia (just outside - no time to go in), Parc Guell, up to Montjuic, past several of Gaudi's works, some cathedrals, a walking tour of some of the oldest parts of the city, and some general sightseeing of the city.

The first time we stayed in Barcelona we stayed at Le Meridien and loved their restaurant Cent-Onze (the hotel is at 111 Las Ramblas). The second time we were there we stayed in a different hotel but walked down there two days for lunch. They have a daily changing menu using local products and a great sangria.

We still would like to spend more time there - it's a beautiful city with lots to see and do and great food.