To ask what what you do if you had 24 hours in Barcelona?

[Littlefluffyclouds81]

I'm going to Barcelona for the weekend with my bf (first child free weekend in 3 years!). We arrive pretty late on the Friday and fly back Sunday lunchtime so really we only have Saturday to do stuff.

We don't know the city at all (or a single word of Spanish for that matter!). Any recommendations of things to do or places to go/eat would be great. I'm a vegetarian but my bf isn't.

TIA.

Airport to city centre, we pre-booked a shuttle bus but to be honest we didn't need to pre-book, you could get tickets at booths by the bus stops and the staff spoke English. The buses are cheaper than trains or taxis. Two stops, first at an exposition venue outside the city centre and then in the city at the Playa de Catalunya which is a big square at the top of Las Ramblas.

Keep your hand on your handbag on Las Ramblas, handbag snatching is a big problem. Also don't put your phone on the table or handbag over the back of your chair in restaurants etc.

Tapas restaurants would be perfect for you as you can go veggie/fish/meat as you choose. Lots of options everywhere for these.

As lots of PPs have said Sagrada Familia is amazing definite to do! Also Cafe L'Opera on las ramblas for churros and hot choc was amazing, we ventured into the side streets off of las ramblas for food, found some cracking little non-touristy tapas places -the only thing I will mention as a fellow veggie is watch out when eating olives as they all seem to serve the ones with anchovies inside them

Have an amazing time

I found Sagada Familia quite creepy. Gaudi's house Casa Batllo is much more interesting and memorable. Parx Guell is fabulous for a view over Barcelona. You can rent bikes too and ride all over which is a wonderful way to see the city. You can do a lot in one day.

Open top bus tour ....mark off the galleries shops etc you want to hop off at....

Thanks so much for the suggestions everyone, I'll be printing this off and taking it with me. All the great ideas are making me wish I had a week there, not just a day!

If you like ice cream this place was my highlight [[vioka

Stupid phone... Vioko

Google Gaudi and see if you like the look of his stuff (I LOVE it!) and if you do, you will be able to find a walking route that will take you round the highlights online or in a guide book. Agree go to the Sagrada Familia and Casa Batllo and Parc Guell. I went over 10 years ago so can't remember restaurants and any recommendations would be out of date but the food was great. I think there is also a really good Picasso museum if you are a fan.

Casa Batlló on Paseo de Gracia is a must, just so beautiful. Friend got married there

Next to that is Casa Ametlla (spelling?) which is also beautiful and you can have a free wander inside and buy chocolate

I think you can still go up to the top of the Christopher Columbus monument at the bottom of Las Ramblas which gives great views.

Barceloneta, the beach, has fantastic fish restaurants and it's a nice place to walk and enjoy the sea air.

I hope you love the city as much as we all seem to

oh yeah. really watch out for pickpockets and never put your handbag down

Seconding Vioko - one of the culinary highlights of my last visit as well. Nom nom nom.

I thought the airport bus was cheap and quick, and they run pretty frequently.

I enjoyed wandering round the Barrio Gotic area - Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar is gorgeous. La Boqueria is fascinating! Mmmm cava and tapas. Barcelona is a great city to just amble around, IMO.

Airport bus is the way to go we were just off las ramblas dead easy barcelona cathdral good on sundays at midday they have a live band and the locals do the local folk dance

Just DONT get pick pocketed on las ramblas.

Personally I would try to find the fab bar where I misspent many many hours of my three week Spanish exchange.

Gaudi park
And the unfinished cathedral
Deffo the tour bus

Picasso Gallery and Papa Bubble sweet shop.

The barri gottic
The beach - great bars with very comfy sofas
Tapas 24 does awesome Tapas
The Picasso museum

We were there for two nights in August and managed to get round a tonne of stuff (including the bloody football grounds... grumble...) using the open top bus, it was great value.

Sorry to be negative but everyone has covered the good stuff - do watch out for pickpockets and watch out for distractions that make you drop your guard. My friend's purse was taken when someone distracted us with their dog and there was a bit of a squash and a squeeze in a narrow road/alley, it was all very amicable however realised straightaway the purse had gone and so had they - it was totally orchestrated.

Re pickpockets, I think if you're extra-careful and have, eg, a crossbody bag with a zip top so nobody can actually stick their hand in it, don't leave bags on the floor/on the backs of chairs, and be extra-wary in crowds, you'll be fine. I've been in Barcelona a few times and never had anything stolen.

(I have been pickpocketed in other cities, mind)

I would walk around Parc Guell, walk up and down the Ramblas and sit in Placa Real.

oh and the gothic quarter where for one heady summer I had a little room...

Check whether the Magic Fountains Of Montjuic are 'performing' it's free, it's camp, and it's fabulous. Try to get a spot on the foot bridge on the left.

Another vote for the bus tour. We were there for a similar amount of time as you last year, and did the bus tour on our full day. If I went back, I would do it again, but actually get off and look at places, as didn't really have chance to do that (other than getting off and going to a comic shop that DS spotted!).

Would really like to go again and spend longer there so I can see stuff properly.

Thanks again everyone, just packing my suitcase, I'm so excited