Recommendations for relaxed Barcelona walks, food and guides for anniversary trip

[Mumwithbaggage]

We're headed off to Barcelona later this week - very last minute - just me and dh (early/mid 60s so no wild clubbing sadly). It'll be our 38th wedding anniversary.

I miss proper maps and travel guides - I like to see the whole place not just bits on my phone. I've been before (twice) and dh has been once for a conference so didn't see much but can't find the old DK book - anyway, after a very busy few weeks and finally selling my late dad's property, we want to relax. The restaurant recommendations in there are from the last century!!

Can anyone recommend any blogs/websites/new travel books for Barcelona? We're there 4 nights and staying close to Las Ramblas. Normally I'd do all the art but that's not dh's thing, so more places to wander round in a chilled way/places to grab food or a drink, mid budget?

Thanks

We did a cycle tour it was really good, covered the city really well so you’ve got a good idea of where everything is. Easy to book online locally.

I'm petrified of riding push bikes and rubbish at it too (thanks for instilling that fear, mum) but I'm sure it's great - I remember dd1 doing one years ago. It'll need to be walking or public transport!

I hate to be a downer but please please be aware of pickpockets and muggers, I had two awful experiences in Barcelona that I wish I had been warned about

Love Barcelona- I lived there many years ago and have been back quite a few times. Highlights for me would be:
Sagrada Familia now that it’s finished - I went 3 years ago and it was absolutely stunning!
La Pedrera for more Gaudi and stunning views https://www.lapedrera.com/en/
Wander around La Boqueria market https://www.boqueria.barcelona/home

I would suggest getting away from Las Ramblas if you can, it is just so crowded and touristy. Whenever I go back we usually stay in the Eixample or Gracia districts - they are quite nice for wandering and finding bars or restaurants.

Last time we went the DC talked me into doing one of the tourist bus rides and it was actually really good!

I went in February (have been a few times previously). We did a bike tour, which was off the beaten track around Poblenou and was interesting, but I see that doesn’t appeal.

Sagrada Familia is a must, and strolling around to look at the architecture, Parc Guell is also lovely. We also did a great walk about the Spanish Civil War via Guru Walk, I’d definitely recommend (pay what you want).

We had a lovely lunch sitting up at the bar in the Boqueria market with some cava and lots of meat and cheeses.

Lovely stop off for coffee and cake at La Central bookshop, around the corner from where Gaudi was hospitalised at the end of his life, was a lovely gem.

Sadly we did see an attempted mugging while in the Gothic Quarter, an older solo woman was targeted. Thankfully another passer-by managed to intervene and he got away empty-handed, but it was quite unsettling.

Following for ideas ☀️

Would highly recommend a food and drink tour, preferably the first day you are there as you walk all round the city stopping of at bars and historic sights. It gives you a great overview of the city plus lots of nice food and drinks.

@Platypus7 thank you - lots of great ideas. We stayed in Eixample last time when I went with my youngest dd but dh wanted to be near Las Ramblas. We stayed at the Arts Hotel when I went with him before which admittedly is away from the city centre.

@EmmaStone I just can't do bikes. I have tried!! Love the idea of a Spanish Civil War walk.

I'm very aware that mugging is rife. Dh is a bit more likely to put his wallet in a back pocket than me! We were talking today about when someone tried to take his phone in the bazaar in Istanbul. He's also had a laptop stolen in Athens and a camera stolen from a table in Malta. Oh, and left his bag complete with passport and wallet in a cab on the way back to the airport in Madrid!! Luckily on that occasion the very kind woman who got in the taxi next managed to call him and return it - took a while though so I flew home alone as I had to be back for work!! Maybe I'll take charge of the important stuff while we're out and about!!

To be fair, he often used to spend 200 nights abroad a year for work, he wasn't just very unlucky on a couple of holidays!

city bus tour and the cable car for a great view of Barcelona. La Boqueria the food market at the Ramblas for tapas, it has so many stalls to choose from.
Barcino was fascinating- the Roman ruins. A https://www.barcelona.de/en/barcelona-museum-city-history.html

Another one saying Gracia district is great for wandering around. You can actually walk to Gaudi Park Guell from there, but parts of it are seriously uphill! We were staying in Exaimple and got a taxi up, and walked back via Gracia, stopping at various hostelries on the way ha ha. You can walk the other direction towards the sea via the historic Gothic quarter - to Barceloneta. There's a good museum of the history of Catalonia down there. You could pop in for a look and leave DH with a pint of Estrella!

I've no specific recommendations for eats, since we just stopped wherever we thought looked good, and most places are in Barcelona anyway, especially outside Ramblas as they cater for a local crowd also.

Get the hop on/off bus. Then you can decide if you fancy any place to go back and spend more time there. The queue for the Gaudi Cathedral was miles long for us, so we just looked at the outside! Philistines, but could see the inside on google....

As others have said, just be aware and on the ball regarding your personal belongings. No need to think every person is a pickpocket. We were two 60 somethings and never had an issue at all. None. Cross body bag in front is all you need.