3 days in Barcelona with teen? What shouldn't we miss?

[oddsocksmostly]

DD (15) and I are planning our trip. Looking for advice and tips as we haven't been before. We want to make the most of it without totally exhausting ourselves!

Parc Guel would be top of my list on a sunny day, took my kids at age 10ish, pretty sure they'd like it now they are teens unless their in the worse teenager mood.

What is parc guel? Is it to do with Gaudi?

The cable car from Montjuic would be a must if it's a clear day.

If you like shopping, there's a lovely shopping centre towards the top of diagonal called L'illa with some nice shops including Benetton and Fnac.

There's Picasso's cafe, Els Quatre Gats just near Place Catalunya for a coffee stop.

The Casa Pedrera and the one opposite on Paseig de Gracia are well worth a look as they're a perfect example of Barcelona's stunning architecture.

The food market, La Boqueria Market, on the Ramblas is an eye opener.

We lived there for 2 years and just always tell visitors to take the tourist bus tbh. It takes you everywhere and you'll fit so much more in. Both the routes; red and blue, are worth doing.

We were told to begin with a trip to the cafe at the top of the Corte Ingles department store, at the top of the Ramblas - it gives you a great view of the city, and was good advice. the city tour on the open top bus covers a lot of 'must sees', nd move to the underground on the second day.
the football stadium tour was more interesting than I expected!

I took DD for her 18th - they do an open topped bus tour that is worth the money, you can stop and get off anywhere that takes your fancy and get on the next one.

Parc Guell (yes it's Gaudi) is amazing, the best 'sight' we visited but it was seriously packed, and this was November. Top tip , if you go via the Metro (really good value for money to get around) get off at Vallcarca as there are escalators to take you up to the Park, rather than Lesseps which will leave you with a tough uphill walk.

Las Ramblas in the evening was fantastic, lots of lovely outdoor eating etc, and of course the Sagrada Familia, but don't go without booking a time slot/express entry, the queues are massive.

However, be warned that thieves and pickpockets are everywhere (DD had a bag of souvenirs 'lifted') and DD was very upset by the number of beggars - she's done a fair bit of travelling and isn't a young 18, but she was pretty shocked and unnerved by it.

agree park guell -very fairytale
also sagrada famille- amazing
gaudis chimneys at casa milla - really fantasy
the habour is a nice area to explore too
we also went on the cable car/Olympic park/neu camp/cafes near the beach
It's a fab city with loads of interesting things to do

Thank you! Great suggestions here. Yes I have read pickpockets being a problem balia, hope we stay lucky.

Agreeing with what the others wrote - Parc Guell, Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera, Casa Battlo (to get your Gaudi fix). My personal fave church in Barcelona is Santa Maria del Mar.

Are your kids in to football? If so, touring Camp Nou (home of FC Barcelona) is really fun.

If you want a day to relax at the beach, try one of the ones that's not as touristy, like Platja Mar Bella.

we'd like to visit the nou camp and the beaches, where is best to stay for these?

anywhere not on las ramblas which is the pickpocketing capital of the world. Barcelona is actually quite small and easy to get around. if you buy a tour bus on/off ticket it will take you to the beach and the nou camp with the option to get on/get off. we stayed in a fantastic apartment with 3 bedrooms on the edge of playa catalunya. really central for the buses plus some great places to eat out in the evening and breakfast.

do you have a link mummymeister x

When I was 15 I loved the model village (I can't remember what it is called!) but its by the olympic park and is a mash up of all the architectural styles of Spain. I was really into art and the Miro museum is fantastic.

Not so much now, but I was very shocked by the drug peddlars. All around the harbour and the Ramblas!

poble espanyol.^^

agree with all above - also loved the restaurant los caracoles if it is still there.

We're here at the moment and it's fab! I'm overtired and can't sleep hence mumsnetting.

We did Parc Guell which was lovely and followed the guide book telling us to start at the top. The problem is they now ticket the main Gaudi parts so by the time we got down to them the time slots for the day were taken so if I did it again I'd start at the bottom to ensure you get to see the best bits. If you want to visit Sagrada Familila as well I'd suggest booking tickets. We went last night but no time slots left so managed to book on the Internet for tonight and it was breathtaking. We also went to the Font Magica tonight, a fountain show to music which was pretty spectacular. It's free and runs from Thurs to Sunday evening every 15mins.

We've used public transport to get around, it's been really easy. We brought the Barcelona card which covers buses, metro, trams. We found a lovely beach today outside of the Hospital del Mar. The sand was much nicer than the main beach by the marina.

We also visited the zoo (we have our five year old with us) but DH and I both agreed it is one of the best zoos we have been to so may be of interest to you.

Tomorrow is our last day and none of us want to go. You will have a great time!

If you are there over a weekend, on Sunday evenings the locals come out to dance in the square in front of the large church (the one with the geese inside!). Grab a coffee or ice-cream and watch. It's all generations & informal. Warning that's a few years ago but it was weekly and for their own enjoyment not a touristy thing.