I’m headed there this weekend and staying for 10 days. I don’t know exactly what to ask, so please just tell me everything you know that I should know. Where are some good places to go? to avoid? What are the people like? How sensitive is the Catalonya-Spain issue?
Anything else would be appreciated…
These previous threads might help. All were posted during the past year or so.
Know Spain? Help me have an adventure in Barcelona and Mallorca!
The architecture is the real draw, even if you’re not a fan of architecture. The highlight is the Sagrada Familia cathedral, but you’ll also want to spend time in the Parc Guell. Beyond that, we found those double-decker bus tours to be a good way to see a lot of the interesting buildings. It’s not that big a town.
We saw a lot of petty crime when we were there several years ago, but nothing more violent than a purse-snatching. So don’t take anything with you that you can’t afford to lose. And then, if you spend the subway ride to the beach bragging to your friends about how smart you were to bring only things you wouldn’t mind losing, once your bag is stolen while you’re swimming, don’t then spend the whole subway ride back moaning about all the cool stuff they got that you’re devastated you’ll never see again.
–Cliffy
I went for the first time last year. Pretty much the best city I’ve ever been to, and that’s saying something. It has pretty much everything - great food, great nightlife, awesome architecture of the ancient and modernist persuasions, good transport, beach, lots of eye candy for any gender orientation… great great place.
I’d say with ten days there, you really don’t need to plan - you’ll find out what you need to see while you’re there.
My tips: Sagrada Familia - it’s worth the wait to get to the top, but it’s pretty scary up there. And apparently Las Ramblas is bad for pickpockets. I kept my valuables in the room safe and just carried one ATM card and cash in my front pocket. Oh, and if you’re offered tapas when you’re ordering drinks in a bar, it’s usually for free - one dish per drink (I refused it to my regret but found out afterwards that it was complimentary). And if you’re chatting up a woman in a bar and you think that she’s into you but suspect she might be married to a gangster, then leave before your friend makes you leave for your own good.
Check out Google Maps - they have done a Streetview of the city.
I should mention that I’m a 23 yr old healthy male. I can put myself in dangerous situations and get out alive, so I’m not worried about, say, meeting a stranger alone at night. I’m into the nightlife more than the architecture, and more of a self-guided tour king of guy.
You’re unlikely to come up against someone with a gun, but we did see this one dude pull a knife on another guy - in jest, but it was a real knife. Be careful in that sort of situation; knives don’t shoot but are still pretty dangerous. We could tell in advance by looking that the guys were bad news - probably addicts or something. That said, I didn’t feel at all concerned for my safety. Except when the guy started swinging the knife around. 
It’s a fantastic city, one of my personal favorites (I’d rank it up there somewhere with Rome, London, and Paris, possibly above them–depending on mood). Great food, great art, great people. In my limited experience, I found Barcelonians generally friendlier than people in Madrid or Andalusia (the only other parts of Spain I’ve visited).
This difference may be due in part to the Catalan character of the town and region. You will notice Catalonian flags and signs in Catalan (usually bilingual, IIRC) around Barcelona, though everyone can speak Spanish. I can’t speak to exactly how sensitive the locals are, but it’s clear that many of them take immense pride in being Catalan first and foremost. As a foreigner, I doubt you’d be expected to be completely versed in the regional politics, but I’m sure that some awareness of the cultural distinctions will be appreciated.
The downtown area (the old city) is charming, and includes the real medieval cathedral and the harbor. The Picasso museum is also in this area (and includes several of his earlier paintings, done before he moved to Paris–some of his best stuff, IMHO). Parts of the old city, and Las Ramblas (which connects the old town with the newer parts to the north), can be a bit sketchy with pickpockets, as already mentioned–but it didn’t strike me as particularly dangerous, and seemed comparable to other major European cities.
The Eixample neighborhood, in the newer part of the town, is more upscale, and has an almost Parisian sensibility with wide open boulevards and designer shops–but a lot less expensive than Paris. A few of the Gaudi houses are in that neighborhood, and I’d highly recommend at least walking by them–the Casa Mila and the Casa Batllo in particular.
If you like Gaudi, I’d second (or third, or fourth…) visits to the Sagrada Familia (technically, not a cathedral but an expiatory temple–not that it will make much difference) and the Parc Guell. They’re a bit more isolated from the other sites in town, but worth the extra journey. As beautiful as they are, they also make you wonder what they would have looked like if Gaudi had ever finished them (though we will one day get to see the finished Sagrada Familia, hopefully–they’re still working on it, 83 years after Gaudi’s death).
THIS sounds like a story! Or is this just common wisdom? Do tell more.
I went to Barcelona two years ago, my sister lives there. It’s a lovely city, pedestrian friendly, with the widest sidewalks I’ve ever seen. There’s a lot to see, a lot to do, it’s very cosmopolitan with the most open-minded people I’ve met so far.
After you’ve visited the usual touristy places, do visit the local restaurants. If there are a lot of locals in a place it probably means the food is good, cheap and plentiful.
Also take into consideration that there aren’t as many English-speaking people in Spain as in Northern Europe. A phrase book and a ton of patience will serve you well when outside the tourist traps.
Gracias, pero espanol es solo un poco dificil.
Catalan, on the other hand, I have no clue about.
I was there last August, and can’t wait to go back. Even if you’re not into architecture, you just have to see the works of Gaudí. Definitely Sagrada Familia (and yes, take the elevator to the top), also take the tour of Casa Batlló and Casa Mila.
I was warned about pickpockets, so I wore an around-the-neck-and-under-the-shirt wallet.
I was drunk, she was very friendly. She was Norwegian and 15 years older than me but had a real Mrs Robinson thing going on. Her friends left and my (married and therefore uninterested and would have been uninterested anyway because he’s more sensible than me) buddy and I were left with her, and a woman who resembled one of those Gonk troll dolls. She said her husband was “involved in property” in the Costa del Sol (aka the Costa del Crime). Despite this I was up for going back to her hotel, but my friend removed me from the situation. Then had a go at me for saying “schminky pinky” to the other Norwegian ladies in a fake Scandinavian accent when they left. :smack:
Some of the detail may be exaggerated. But it’s a good tale… 
ETA: It’s also common wisdom.
You’ll have problems hearing people that sounds to you like they’re speaking Spanish, only not quite. That means they’re speaking Catalan (or they’re Italian tourists).
I’m feeling lazy and have to go cook lunch, run a search on Nava and Barcelona to find previous posts of mine on this subject 
The Gaudí piece everybody goes to is the Sagrada Familia; my favorite is the Parc Güell. Your own mileage may vary
Haven’t been there in a long time but loved it.
My additional suggestion: Since you’ve got the time, take a train ride or two into the surrounding country. You’ll enjoy getting out of the city.
I liked Tarragona; I didn’t go to Monserrat but my friends did. You can see a lot of Gaudí’s inspiration from the landscape.
I barely speak Spanish but am fluent in French; I was able to get around mostly OK.
Not far from Barcelona is the Salvador Dali museum, in Figueras. Even if you don’t really like art (like me), I’d say it was well worth a visit.