What to do in Barcelona?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I am trying to plan a one-week trip to Barcelona (and surroundings) for May (my graduation present). All I know right now is that I want to go visit Majorca, specifically one town, but I have to work that one out with my parents.

Is transportation between the city and islands expensive? Are there any student discounts? Any places I can visit, festivals, masses, churches, cemeteries? Places to eat and stay (cheap and safe ones)? Anything I can do with a student ID? How is the public transport system? Any places I should avoid (single female, native Spanish speaker)?

Thanks!

2

Palma de Majorca! My favorite place in the Med! Inter-island transportation is cheap, I think. For a great place to eat in Barcelona, try Los Caracoles.

Wow, I just googled on “Los Caracoles” to make sure it was still in business (it is), and I found this: http://www.ari.es/hotelloscaracoles/english/recepcion.html Malaga is another place in Spain that I really like. And Torremolinos is right up the beach on the Costa del Sol. http://www.malagaweb.com/torremolinos.php

The only thing that puzzles me about your request is that you will only be in Spain for one week. How can you possibly stay for only one week? Sell your soul for another two weeks! Or sign a contract to give up your firstborn for an extra month! Oops, that may have been a bit over-the-top, but you get the idea.

Let us know if the statue of Christopher Colombus is still in the plaza down by the harbor. (I think that was Barcelona. It’s been a few decades since I was there.)

3

Thanks for the sites. Barcelona (and Majorca) are the places I most want to visit in Spain, that’s why I want to go there for a week first. Heck, I don’t even know if I can make it unless I save enough money. I also have other travels I want to do this summer, so I cannot stay there for long.

I don’t want to stay in the capital of Majorca, I want to go to the town where one of my ancestors came from.

4

The metro is fabulous (surprise, Matt) and so is commuter rail.

The bare minimum of churches you must see are the Sagrada Familia and Nuestra Señora del Mar; also la Seu (the cathedral) if you can, because it’s lovely.

If it’s not too hot, take the funicular up Montjuic, and on a different day, head up to the Parc Guell for some of the funkiest architecture you’ll ever see.

5

Yes, but Barcelona is full of stuff designed by Gaudi, so make sure that you check out as much as you can.

6

I was waiting for your comment about the metro. Is it easy to follow, like the one in Paris? Can I get all day (or all week) passes?

7

If you mean the Placa Portal de la Pau at the bottom of the Ramblas, yes, the monument to Columbus is still there.

If you’re a Picasso fan, then the Museu Picasso is truly unmissable.

Otherwise, the main advice I’d give to someone visiting the city is to read both Robert Hughes’ Barcelona and Orwell’s Homage to Catalonia. In their different ways, both very, very good books. Hughes will give you lots of ideas for things you’ll want to see.

8

If you like soccer definatley go to a Barcelona game.

9

Montserrat outside town is a good half day trip- it’s a beautiful monastery on a jagged peak. I second the Parc Guell and Sagrada Familia- hike up the tower, unless you;ve got vertigo. There’s also a bar that’ll serve you absinthe- I forget the name, but it’s in the Lonely Planet. Quite an experience.

10

The guide to Barcelona written by Rick Steves was great when we went there last year.

Don’t miss Sagrada Familia, the Gaudi stuff, the cathedral (we heard a wonderful mass in Spanish- just us and a couple of nuns), the Gothic quarter.

We walked all over Barcelona, never took a cab or metro. The food is fantastic- just wander around grabbing tapas here and there- graze, rather than sitting down for a big meal.

I will post a link to the hotel we stayed in, it was great and very central to all the “good stuff!”

I am jealous!

11

Ok, I was able to obtain information about travelling to Majorca, and the name of the city I wish to visit is Soller. Any information about it? I already checked, perhaps I can go to some of the museums. Is there a place one can ask about genealogy (namely see if I can find something in the cemetery)?

Any other churches or cemeteries I should visit? Places I should avoid (still a single, Spanish-speaking female)?

Any information about youth hostels? I’ve checked some online (include breakfast, good), but I wanted to know if someone here had experience with them.

So far the only thing keeping me from going is the airfare… $908-$932 depending on how lucky the search engines feel is the cheapest I’ve found…

12

I’m going there next week. If I see something to recommend, I’ll post it here.

13

Ok, this is the plan so far.

I’ll be leaving Jacksonville May 4. I’ll arrive to Barcelona at 7:45am, and stay there until May 13, when I’ll return to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

I’m planning on going from 6-8 to Majorca (Soller). Airfare is about $85 round trip, cheaper than boat. On Soller I’ll probably stay on a guest house (monastery).

The hostel I’m planning to use, at least for the first night, is this one. Includes breakfast. Anyone has had experiences with hostels?

As before, please give me any advice. Any Spanish people want to comment? Any festivities going on? Anything I should 100% avoid?

14

Los Caracolas was nice, but really busy (you should make reservations, or come early or be prepared to wait) and fairly expensive.

I haven’t got much else to add to what was said by the others.

15

I was in Barcelona for a few days this time last year as part of my train trip around europe. I stayed in hostel just off Las Ramblas, and no problems. I just got to the city then found a hostel close to wherever I got off the train. If you don’t like the one your at, just move to another one (I did that because I found a cheaper one). But, I’m sure they’re all fine. I never went to one I didn’t think was fine in all of europe.

I always felt safe in Barcelona (although, I’m a guy, and was with my gf at the time). Just wander around the city, get drunk at night (I really enjoyed the bars and nightlife there), and have fun. It’s a Beautiful city. Go to the top of the Sagrada Familia. Easily worth it (unless your scared of heights, I suppose). One of the most amazing things I’ve seen in my life. Go to Park Guell, and stroll around. I love walking around checking out buildings and Barcelona has to be the best place in the world to do that with all the Gaudi architechture.

I hope you have a great time (as I’m sure you will). I’m really jealous, and am hoping to go back soon (in May if I find a stash of money somewhere…).

16

Yea, the hostel I checked has the lowest price for what it offers (free breakfast…free coffee!). I’ll pass on the getting drunk part (abstinence), although I would like to go out at night. Then again, I’ll be a stranger in a different city. The most contact I’ll have is my sib’s ex-girlfriend is living there, so in case of emergency I may reach her.

Has anyone gone to Soller? There seems to be a museum in the area I may check out, plus do some genealogy… The thought of seeing a tomb of a great-great-great-great-great-grandfather Grenze fascinates me.