Last year when we did the Med, we arrived by overnight train and had a few hours to kill before going to the port so we asked the taxi driver at the train station to tour us (we negotiated a price beforehand). We toured the outside of the Sagrada (walked completely around it taking photos) while he waited with our luggage. We then went to Park Guell and was there for about 45 min. He dropped us off right at the entrance. We then went to see the Olympic stadium, followed by the Castle in Montjuic where we got some great photos of the Magic. After that, he drove us along Passeig de Gracia, where we stopped to photograph the exterior of the Gaudi houses, then drove down the Ramblas to see the activity there, then he dropped us off at the ship. All this was free, so our only cost was the cab and it gave us a great overview of the city. We paid him 120 euro plus tip for 3 hours.
After the cruise, we toured the Ramblas including the boqueria and we also went to the cathedral in the Gothic Quarter (its free to get in in the am). DS got a haircut while DD and I shopped for some really nice ceramics. We headed back to the ship in the afternoon to continue a B2B. DH got his luggage and checked into a hotel for his early flight back the next morning.
This year's med, we spent 2 days before and 2 days after the cruise. Pre-cruise, we stayed north of Placa de Catalunya at the Hotel Continental Palacete and really enjoyed its location to the Gaudi homes and shopping on the Passeig de Gracia. DD and I shopped all morning the day we arrived while the boys slept, then in the afternoon we went to Casa Mila (Pedrera), one of the Gaudi homes. Loved it, esp the roof! In the evening, DH and I had a very nice dinner in Barceloneta at 7 Portes. Its very close to the metro stop and the metro was very easy to use. We met another american couple while waiting for a table and asked if they wanted to join us. Had excellent rich mans (or was it called poor mans?) paella and a few pitchers of sangria with our tablemates!! We wound up closing down the restaurant so DH and I took a taxi back since the metro had stopped running. Its a very different crowd that walks the Ramblas late at night.
The next day, we visited the Picasso museum (free for kids under 16 so we only had to pay for DH and I). I loved the museum and they have a fantastic museum shop. We ate lunch at a place nearby close to the metro
www.restaruantenervion.com and they handed us a tourist menu but they also sold bocadillos (sandwiches) and pizza (neither was on the menu they gave us) so that's what we ordered. I had wonderful churros and chocolate for dessert. We wound up getting 2 more orders of churros only, they were so good and hot! YUM!!
DD and DH were tired so they went back to the hotel, and DS and I took the metro to the Arc de Triomph to visit the Chocolate Museum. That area is very nice too strolling the park there. Well, we spent almost an hour looking for the museum and actually walked right by it, beside it, around it, stopping several times for directions from locals. We wound up in a local plaza in a nearby neighborhood close to the Gothic quarter and sat down to get our bearings. I saw 2 boys running with an open backpack, then a few min later, a family frantically running trying to find them. The boys headed down a narrow alley and I pointed the family that way. Don't know what the outcome was, but be careful of your stuff. Do not lay things down, even for a minute. Wear your backpack (or better yet, don't carry one). DS 14 wore a sling bag across him - he was in charge of carrying water bottles, snacks, the umbrella and guidebook (Frommers Barcelona Day by Day, an invaluable resource
) . I had my small camera, iphone, and cards/money in my pacsafe purse that I wore across my body. We finally found the chocolate museum and DS 14 said that was one of his favorite things to see in Barcelona! I think he also enjoyed the fact it was just he and I and he didn't have to compete with DD 15!
That night we went to Taller de Tapas for a Dismeet tapas dinner with 42 people! Fun times!
After the cruise, we stayed at the Fira Palace in Montjuic (I picked this because of its location to what I had planned for the next 2 days). We dropped off luggage and headed to the base of Montjuic. At the grounds where there was the National Museum of Catalunya, we stopped to take in the views of the city and listen to a guitarist. I wished we had time for the museum but we wound up hiking up to the Castle again (it was a hike - we rested on the way). Got great photos of the Magic once again, then took the cable car down to the base of Montjuic. That evening, we went to Poble Espanol to see the flamenco dancing at Tablao de Carmen. You get free entrance 2 hours prior to the show (we did tapas and show). The tapas were plentiful enough that we were stuffed! The flamenco dancing was good - the show lasted about 1 hour. We saw the first show of the Magic Fountains on our walk back to our hotel. It was still light at 9pm though in July and is much more spectacular in the dark.
The next day DD was not feeling well so DH stayed behind while DS and I went to Montserrat. There was a huge Harley festival going on with at least 10,000 bikes parading past our hotel that morning! We walked thru the festival to the Sants station, and purchased our train tickets. We opted for the cable ride up (you have to decide once you buy your ticket). We had just missed the train so we went back to enjoy more of the Harley festival.
Since it was Sunday, a service was going on in the basilica. DS did not want to visit any churches (guess he had his fill after 10 nts of cruising) and the line to the Madonna was very long so I did miss that. And the boys choir was on vacation for the summer. We took a second cable called the Joan Muro to another part of the mountains. DS really enjoyed the cable cars.
We got back and had dinner with DH and DD. Most restaurants don't start serving till late, so we got some bread and chees at a local shop to hold us over. After, DS and I went back to the Harley festival to hear a band, and I went to buy a shirt for a friend. We fiinished our last night by seeing the Magic Fountains around 10:30pm. They were much more spectacular in the dark! If you want, FB me (put in the comments that you are on this cruise so I know who you are), and you can see my photo album - its called
DCL Barcelona 2011.
OK, this sounds like a trip report!!!
I loved everything we did but was not a big fan of the lower Ramblas other than the Boqueria. Once down was enough.
My personal don't misses are Sagrada (at least the outside), Casa Mila, Park Guell, Picasso museum, and find some good paella and sangria!
We are also planning a day trip to Montserrat and any tips would be appreciated 
