<p>We are going there next week (husband, DD, DS and self, plus another similarly configured family). We’ll be in the city and environs for ten days. I am excited; it sounds like one of the world’s great cities. I’d love to hear any advice, do’s, don’t’s, recommendations, etc. Grathias!</p>
<p>My husband was just there. He brought back the most incredible chocolates. You’ll want to see all the Gaudi buildings. <a href=“http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/gaudi/barcelona-gaudi.html[/url]”>http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/gaudi/barcelona-gaudi.html</a></p>
<p>I envy you. Barcelona is on my list of places that I’d like to go to. Of course, I could take six weeks just in the British Museum. Too little time, not enough money.</p>
<p>My S and his band were there last month, my D was in Florence, she flew over to Barcelona to visit and see S. She loved it and the beaches, but got burnt! My S ranks Spain as one of his favorite places in Europe. Tip on food…the closer to the water the more expensive!</p>
<p>My dad goes every year for 3GSM.</p>
<p>My child arrived today from a plane transfer in Madrid. All his luggage is lost. Does anyone have experience with lost luggage in Barcelona?</p>
<p>Great links. Thanks, mathmom!</p>
<p>I spent a school year there 35 years ago. It was wonderful. Going back in September.</p>
<p>I have!
for spring break we went to london, paris, and barcelona. </p>
<p>definitely see the Gaudi Buildings. i’m blanking on the name right now but there is this place a little outside Barcelona I think…its made out of tiles and its beautiful. Plus, you can see all of Barcelona because its up on this mountain top.</p>
<p>There is also a little village type thing in Barcelona. Its not used, but it was created for when the Olympics were there so that visitors could see what Barcelona was like. The houses are actually cafes and craft/jewelry stores. </p>
<p>Be wary of pickpocketers. One of the teachers almost got pickpocketed on the train</p>
<p>Another vote for seeing every Gaudi building you can, and don’t miss the Park Guell filled with Gaudi designs (a little off the beaten path but well worth going to - probably the tile location alamode is referring to above). La Sagrada Familia unfinished cathedral is one of the world’s wonders. The Miro museum is great. Lots of great food. Barcelona is a wonderful city.</p>
<p>My 16 year old is there as we speak! Says it’s “the most beautiful place in the world” and “all the people do here is eat” LOL.</p>
<p>For a preview of Barcelona in a “college” context, locate the DVD of “L’Auberge Espagnole.” </p>
<p>For tourists, Barcelona is indeed very nice. In addition to the Gaudi works, one must go is the Picasso Museum. It’s worth repeating that most tourist attractions are magnets for pickpockets in need of drug money.<br>
<a href=“http://www.museupicasso.bcn.es/eng/index_eng.htm[/url]”>Museu Picasso Barcelona;
<p>The Ramblas will be hard to avoid as they are on everyone’s list.
<a href=“http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/ramblas/barcelona-las-ramblas.html[/url]”>http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/ramblas/barcelona-las-ramblas.html</a></p>
<p>As far as beaches, the tourist spots such as Salou on the Costa Brava will be quite underwhelming for anyone who has traveled a bit. Expect a zoo from June to August. </p>
<p>Food will range from great to wonderful, but will be quite expensive. Do not forget a well-stocked wallet.</p>
<p>yeah, jrpar, I think Park Guell is what I was talking about. </p>
<p>one of my favorite memories from barcelona: we were on the train back to our hotel our last night in barcelona and some Spanish kids started smoking pot in the area where a bunch of our teachers were sitting. lmao. it was hilarious</p>
<p>Chidlren’s friends were there last summer for brief visit; did not love it apparently. Girls did not feel comfortable going out in single-sex group at night, which will not be a problem for a family with sons. Gaudi sites wonderful. Unfortunately, Las Ramblas really is a place to watch your wallet/purse, however.</p>
<p>All I know about Barcelona itself is what I saw on a daytrip there… so the usual, Gaudi architecture, La Sagrada Familia, etc. I only really remember the things nearby that my family spent time on when we were traveling around Spain five and a half years ago. </p>
<p>Northeast of Barcelona is Girona–a beautiful town, really gorgeous. My family lived there for a little while. We were there in November, though, so I don’t know what it’d be like in July. Probably still beautiful, but busier, hotter, etc. </p>
<p>Empúries… <a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empúries[/url]”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empúries</a> I never actually went there, but my parents thought it was great. If you’re into archaeology, ancient times, etc., then this would be cool.</p>
<p>My biggest recommendation: Treehouse maze… this has a name in Catalan like Poblat Savage (unsure of spelling), and it’s on the road from Besalú to Olot (closer to the former), about 100 km NE of Barcelona. This is an absolutely amazing feat… I hope it’s still there. It’s very informal, some guy just built it for apparently no reason; it’s not in many guidebooks, and a cursory check on Google doesn’t turn up anything about it. But it’s truly incredible–a towering wickerwork-like maze built into a stand of trees… I loved it. If you’re in the area and can find it, definitely check it out. You might have to ask a local guide-type person about it, I’m not sure, but it’d be worth it. :D</p>
<p>I like Spain, but Barcelona’s not my favorite city. Too many revelling tourists. And I’m way to old to have dinner at 10 p.m. :)</p>
<p>If you are an art lover I’d recommend the National Museum of Catalonia. They have a stunning collection of Romanesque and other early Christian art, beautifully displayed.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.mnac.es/colleccio/col_romanic.jsp?lan=003[/url]”>http://www.mnac.es/colleccio/col_romanic.jsp?lan=003</a></p>
<p>You can try the Salvador Dali Museum outside of Barcelona in Dali’s hometown of Figueres. There is a very nice collection of stuff there. Although most people speak Spanish, just remember that Catalan is the first language in Barcelona.</p>
<p>Picasso Museum - loved it. Don’t miss it.</p>
<p>DH and I were there a few years ago and had a great time. I would agree with what most have mentioned, especially the Picasso Museum.</p>
<p>If you have time, try to get out to Montserrat. There are trains that go out there, and it is well worth the visit. We had a rental car (I don’t recommend the big tour buses because they sway going up the mountain and make me queasy–and nervous!) The monastery and basilica are wonderful, but we especially loved the hiking. They have funiculars to get up to the hiking areas. The views are spectacular! </p>
<p>Whatever you do, avoid the bullfights!! I went to one when I was in Barcelona the first time, many years ago, on a tour. Never again–completely horrible and it is usually so hot that you feel sick!!</p>
<p>I was there last year and I loved Barcelona. I second the recommendation to visit Park Guell and La Sagrada Familia. I went back to the cathedral for a second visit just to see it again and really spend some time looking at all of the sculptures. Montserrat is worth a trip too. You can take an a train there and then connect with an aero car to get to the monastery. There is also a funicular to get there but the aero is more fun (if you don’t mind the height). If you get the chance, visit the Picasso museum (well worth it) and walk along Las Ramblas. Be careful of pickpockets though. Off of Las Ramblas is the gothic older section of Barcelona. Supposedly the palace there is where Columbus met with Queen Isabella to discuss his trip to the New World.
Food there is good. There is a gelato stand practically on every corner-yum! Also a open air food market off of Las Ramblas that is worth stopping in the see.</p>