BARCELONA IN MARCH-ANY ADVICE APPRECIATED

[old-equestrian]

LOVELY KIDS BOUGHT ME + HUSBAND SHORT BREAK TO BARCELONA FOR CHRISTMAS, HAVE BEEN TO THE COSTA'S MANY TIMES BUT NOT ON CITY HOLS . WE ARE GOING END MARCH ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR SIGHTSEEING MUSTS & ADVICE APPRECIATED.(HAVE HEARD PICK POCKETING RIFE THERE).

[mickrog]

Nou Camp stadium home of Barcelona FC

[nungate]

Please give my love to the Camp Nou and my beloved Barca boys!

[mickrog]

take a hoto fof the champions league trophy and give the man u fans a look lol

[Zacs-Master]

Been to Barcelona a couple of times. No experience of pickpocketing on Las Ramblas. I was advised not to walk around the Gothic quarter after midnight but did and didn't see a soul. There are some good seafood restaurants around Port Vell and some good art nouveau architecture. Park Guell is quite nice with good views over the city.

[EvianBaby]

You have to go to the water fountain show. Take a bottle of fizzy and find somewhere to park your bum. I loved it!

http://www.barcelona-...c-fountains-montjuic/

I would recommend all the usual tourist places, la Sagrada familia, All the Gaudi architecture, the market in las ramblas and dinner in the square. So much more. Lucky you! I'd give my left leg to go back there.

[237SJ]

Last time I went there was a flying vising for lunch but my friend who lived there took me to a place called El Rey de Gamba and I had fantastic seafood. Before that it was about 8 or 9 years ago and I can`t remember but the Sagrada Familia is a must and I remember going in the little church on top of Tipidabo (you get there by funicular railway) which was a must - for the views especially. Las Ramblas is very touristy so I definitely wouldn`t eat or drink there. It`s a rip off.

[old-equestrian]

MANY THANKS EVERYONE-SHALL BE GOING TO NOU CAMP - ONE OF CONDITIONS OF SANTAS PRESENT WAS THAT WE BRING BACK BARCELONA SHIRTS FOR GIFT GIVERS!!
ALSO IS IT EASY TO REACH CITY FROM AIRPORT ON METRO OR BEST TO TAXI ?

[Zacs-Master]

There is some good advice here regarding transfers, on a previous thread:
http://www.theanswerb...l/Question933935.html

[Maydup]

My best advice is to take me with you! I love Barcelona but OH not so keen since he had his pocket picked on the underground.

The highlights are all the Gaudi buildings (architect), especially Sagrada Familia, his cathedral and Park Guell. Then there's the beach of course, which will be lovley and peaceful in March but fairly warm. Also worth gettingt he cable car up to Montjuic and the Spanish Village. Then come down on foot via the magic fountains.

There's The Ramblers for a stroll and some shopping and all manner of museums and galleries as well as the Gothic Quarter if you like old buildings.

From memory, many things close on a Monday so get a guide book and check. Plan a few things around it.

The weather in March will be spring like and a little like out May/June (in a good year!)

The downside to Barcelona are the pick pockets. The operate in all the busy areas so be really careful. It is not a violent or dangerous place, just a home for Fagin and his gang. We were waiting to get on the tube when a group of girls pushed in, hustle and bustled us and disappeared. OH had his wallet zipped into the inside of his jacket but they still got it without him feeling a thing.

Keep a little bit of cash in a couple of different pockets but don't take more than you need nor any credit cards which you don't intend to use. We were also a group of 4 and so obviosuly tourists with our maps and tube tickets in hand.

Don't let it put you off, its a great place otherwise. Anything else you need to know just ask!

[sunny-dave]

Get an all-day ticket for the 'red' open top buses that do a continuous tourist loop around the city - you can hop on/off anywhere you fancy (including the Camp Nou). There are headsets included in the price (which make a nice souvenir) and an english language commentary.

I'm not normally one for that sort of 'organised' touring, but it works really well in Barca - if you do it on your first day it then gives you loads of good ideas for the rest of your time there.

There are scheduled trains into the main central station from the airport (about every 30 mins) and then the metro is easy to use from there - but cabs are OK too especially if there are a group of you.

[Maydup]

PS We took a bus from airport to centre of town. Very easy and cheap. Once you arrive in Espana Place or Catalunya Place you can taxi to the hotel from there.

http://www.barcelona-...ps/barcelona-map.html

[jamesnan]

The train station is somewhere the police know about for pick pockets, they told us that platform 2 was notorious. We were waiting for a train, and my small handbag was over my neck and shoulder, with my hand over the zip. The only time I lifted it off, was to climb up onto the train, when I needed 2 hands, and then my hand was back on the bag. When I got into my hotel, my purse, which was shocking pink, and about 6" x 4" had been removed from my bag andit had been zipped up again.I now have a 10" chain attaching my purse to my bag but even so,in Barcelona money would be put into a money belt, inside a shirt or blouse. Once bitten twice shy!

[old-equestrian]

Thankyou maidup for all your good info, we are really looking forward to the break so shall have to do a bit of forward planning!! Hopefully, sunnydave, shall book the hop on hop off bus as we used one whilst in Rome, it was great for getting used to where everything was and deciding which site to revisit

[carlton23]

Nobody has mentioned the market and the human mannaquins, brrrilllliiaant.

[sunny-dave]

or the wonky/scary cable-car over the bay :)

[Buenchico]

If the weather's fine (as it may be in March) it's worth remembering that Barcelona has some excellent beaches.

Otherwise check out the official tourism website:
http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/English/
In particular, take a look at What to Visit > Day Itineraries, which guides you to the best attractions.

Barcelona has a really good (and cheap!) integrated travel system. Buy a 'T-Dia' ticket for a day's unlimited travel on bus, tram, rail and metro services. Fares here:
http://www.tmb.cat/en/bitllets-i-tarifes
(Zone 1 covers most of the main tourist attractions).

Chris

[sitges]

All good ideas. I think the train is the easiest way to get into town. You did not say where you would be staying but all places are close to one of the train stations that you can exit from the airport. If you have time, take the train to Sitges, 20 min ride from Barcelona. It is a walking town and about 10 min from station to the beach areas. A really laid back relaxing area and you get a real feeling for a resort type area without the costs. I prefer staying there myself and traveling into city. I think the last time I was there it was 4 euros round trip. The trains run every 15 minutes and you do not need a reservation as they are commuter trains. Usually only one or two stops before Sitges. Also, I would recommend a resturant just off the Las Rambles called Los Caracoles at Calle Escudellers, 14, just a few blocks from the Columbus statue by the waterfront. Most of the business there is local people. the menue is a lot of chicken dishes, but it is a real experience.

[AB Editor]

The Gothic Quarter (Signposted Barrie Gothic) and the Sagrada Familia are usual first stops for me.

If it's sunny the new regenerated port area is really nice too.

[spudqueen]

Get a good guide book (they don't cost much) which will detail all the main sights, how to get to the centre of Barcelona from the airport, and will have maps and tube maps. Depending on how long you are going for you probably won't have time to see everything, especially if you're like me and get easily distracted by interesting street/shops etc. Make a list of your priorities (everyones is different) and make sure you go to those first. I always have a list of 'secondary' places - places I would like to see if I get chance, but are not my first priority. When I've been to all the places on my priority list I move on to my secondary list if I've time.

I would say though that the important thing is to soak up the atmosphere of a place by roaming around and not rushing from place to place just to say you've been there. Enjoy it!