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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Talk to me about Barcelona

24 replies

Dancergirl · 02/10/2018 14:08

Planning a last minute trip to Barcelona in October half term. Will be me, dd1 (17) and dd3 (11). We are thinking of going Friday night and coming back Tuesday night so 4 full days, is this about right?

Recommendations for what to do? Dd1 is doing Spanish A Level so will be keen to see some culture, but dd3 is quite young for 11 so will get bored doing too much.

Any tips gratefully received! Thanks.

OP posts:
Ricekrispie22 · 02/10/2018 16:39

We had three full days which we found perfect, but we tend to lack a lot in - our family like to be up and out of the hotel quite early. I'd recommend:
La Sagrada Familia
Casa Batllo
Park Guell
Mercado de la Boqueria
Mount Tibidabo
Montjuic Cable car
Evening bike tour which includes the music and light show at Montjuic fountain.
See a Flamenco show
The aquarium

Original poster
Dancergirl · 02/10/2018 18:47

That all sounds fab, thank you Smile

OP posts:
AntiBi · 02/10/2018 19:12

Get the airport bus from outside arrivals. So much cheaper. You buy your ticket from a machine. Drops you off near El Corte Anglaise which is not far from Las Rambles.

Original poster
Dancergirl · 03/10/2018 15:08

Thank you, booked flights Smile

Any hotel recommendations please not too far from the airport?

OP posts:
SandAndSea · 03/10/2018 15:12

The hop on-hop off buses are useful. Not cheap though. (I think it was 30 Euros pp.)

MaddieElla · 03/10/2018 15:17

Definitely don't book transfers or taxi from airport, just buy a bus ticket. Think it was 10 euros return each?

We stayed in the Iberostar which is properly central. Family we were with stopped at the Exe Plaza Catalunya.

The marina is lovely. There's a shopping mall called Maremagnum with H&M, Mango etc which my daughter (15) loved. Can't go wrong with restaurants either, they are lovely.

CalonGlas · 03/10/2018 15:30

the tour buses go round three quite big loops of the city and you can hop on/hop off at any point; it's not cheap, but I think we found a discount code online, and the fare covers all three loops. DH and I would quite happily have stayed on all day, going round and round, looking at stuff and eating a picnic.

Sagrada Familia is breath-taking - be careful in Las Ramblas, it's notorious for pickpockets.

Bit boring to mention the end of the holiday but... leave plenty of time for getting through the airport on the way back. When we went, there were only 2 customs officials, and literally hundreds and hundreds of panicking travellers in a scrum waiting to go through. Our friend in Barca warned us to allow 3 hours and we only just made it onto our plane.

TakeAChanseyOnMe · 03/10/2018 15:33

Las Ramblas is very tourist trap and a bit tacky in places. There’s a fantastic food market just off it - avoid restaurants along Las Ramblas. Also don’t eat anywhere that has photos of the food outside!

Barcelona is a fab city. It’s very big and lots of the sights are far apart. The metro is good if your DDs could handle that?

Pinkandproud · 03/10/2018 15:37

Agree to avoid Las Ramblas! Wander along all the back streets :) it’s one of my favourite cities.

MrsMoggy · 03/10/2018 15:39

The zoo is great and right in the city park which you can have a look round too. There’s a nice beach area a little further down from the Marina. You can go up the Montjuïc and there’s the old sports stadium, a castle and excellent views over the city.

We went in Feb with our 6 year old for 3 nights and it was fantastic. He and my husband also went to watch Barcelona play football at the camp nou, there’s a shopping centre not far from there where I went while they were there.

Original poster
Dancergirl · 03/10/2018 15:40

Just looking at a hotel in Sagrada Familia, is that a good place to stay?

OP posts:
MrsMoggy · 03/10/2018 15:41

We stayed at the Park hotel which was very central opposite the train station, 5 minutes walk From the zoo/park, 10 minutes from the marina and about 20 minutes walk to las ramblas

Original poster
Dancergirl · 03/10/2018 16:00

The Park Hotel is booked up unfortunately.

Can't decide to book a hotel with a pool or not. The dds would like it but not sure if they'd have time to use it...

OP posts:
Hogtini · 03/10/2018 16:24

Loved Barcelona. We stayed in the Eixample district (about 1.5km from Plaça de Catalunya). It was good for us as it was quieter with lots of nice restaurants around and we didn't mind a short walk there if we wanted to get the bus. Definitely get the bus from the airport, don't bother with taxis/transfers - they do a ticket for 10 journeys for 10 euros (bus, metro, tram) which was plenty for us over a few days. Definitely go on the Montjjuic cable cars, we walked down from the station to fountains.

Hogtini · 03/10/2018 16:26

Stayed in H10 Art Gallery, the breakfast was amazing!

Ginmakesitallok · 03/10/2018 16:29

I always recommend www.abissinia.barcelona on threads about Barcelona - fab food!

TakeAChanseyOnMe · 03/10/2018 16:36

Ah I stayed in a H10 on my first visit in 2012 - I think it was the Casanova looking at maps. I like the H10 group, generally stylish and not too expensive.

If your 11 year old DD is easily scared, she might not like the cable cars. They swing a lot and are cramped.

Have a fab trip, October is a great time to go.

raisinsraisins · 03/10/2018 20:32

North of the Ramblas is a lovely shopping street called Passeig de Gracia, really beautiful street and not as busy. Casa Mila is on this street - recommend going up to the roof.

Gothic quarter lovely to look around, and shops for your DDs.

Recommend Barcelonetta and the prom area along the sea front.

Park Guell, your younger DD will like.

AlmostGrockle · 03/10/2018 20:34

Tour of the Nou Camp if they're into football.

Original poster
Dancergirl · 04/10/2018 16:20

Thanks all, great tips!

I have booked a hotel in Sagrada Familia. Can't wait!

OP posts:
SerenDippyEggs · 04/10/2018 16:42

Hi OP, it's a bit late now but I just got back from a 3 night stay in Hotel SB Glow - a beautiful location 2 minutes walk from the metro and shops bars etc close by. It has a pool which isn't too busy and a beautiful view.

Don't bother with a transfer, buy a metro ticket when you're there - €4!

I paid €30 for an open top bus tour - you can choose two routes to take you to all the sights to see and if you leave about 9am you have time to spend ages on both tours.

It's a beautiful city! I loved it

Violetparis · 04/10/2018 16:57

The Museum of Catalan History is worth a look, it's not far from the Marina at the bottom of the Ramblas. It's a big warehouse with a lovely cafe on the top floor with great views. I found the modern history bit really interesting, Spanish Civil War, Franco, quest for independence etc.

twosoups1972 · 23/10/2018 15:02

Just a question about Sagrada Familia - is it worth booking a guided tour?

Toanewstart23 · 20/02/2022 16:39

@Ricekrispie22

We had three full days which we found perfect, but we tend to lack a lot in - our family like to be up and out of the hotel quite early. I'd recommend: La Sagrada Familia Casa Batllo Park Guell Mercado de la Boqueria Mount Tibidabo Montjuic Cable car Evening bike tour which includes the music and light show at Montjuic fountain. See a Flamenco show The aquarium
Zombie thread But what company does the evening bike tour…. Sounds perfect! Thanks
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