Barcelona Highlights

If you don't know of anything to see and do in Barna, there is tons of stuff on the web. Here are a few to get you started: this one and this one.. Not to mention this one.

You should be able to find some info on what is going on there. There is also a weekly entertainment guide called el guia del ocio that you can buy at any kiosk. Here is the on-line version.

That should get you started.

I thoroughly recommend taking a day to travel out to Montserrat (train from Placa de Espana) to see the monastery perched on the side of a mountain. Fantastic views across to the Pyrenees, and the cable car ride is something else! Actually in the city I really enjoyed hanging around the small squares in the Barri Gotic, and of course there is the modernista architecture (all over the city!). Hope you have a great time, I certainly did.

Thanks for that, got a rough idea on what to do. What are the beaches like? Busy?

Pretty logical: if the weather is good, the beaches will be full, but not unmangageable. The beaches right in the city aren't bad. You can arrive at beaches like Nova Icaria with bus or metro. Look at a map and you will see (type "Passeig Marítim de Nova Icària, 08005, Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain" into Google Maps).

There are also many nice beaches to the north and south of the city that are easy to get to by train. Look on a map and you will see all the possibilities. Look at the railway site, renfe.es and look at the "cercanias/rodalies" section for the local trains and you can see the schedules.

Think about what are your interests as the city offers very many different things.
About parks I would recommend of course Park Guell, but also the Parc del Laberint (it is the one that is shown in the film: Perfume) and the Jardi Botanic at Montjuich as it s a collection of mediterranian flora from all over the world where there is mediterrnin climate.
About buildings, you can follow the Modernisme Route and no need of bus for that, just walking and following the route. In the Ciutadella Parc you can find the Umbracle building, it is very peculiar building that sure you'll like, it is a building thought to produce shadow!!
About museums it very much depend on what you look for: the Picasso is nice because it is located into some middle aged palaces, the Cosmo Caixa is the cience museum and it is quite impressive although s a cience museum. MACBA is the museum of contemporary art that is concentrated in a kind of art that is not original as paintings but that is produced by modern forms and can be copied: digital art, etc.
Just be carful with pickpocketing and people pulling your bag and running, don't bring the most valuable things into your bag, put them in your front pockets.
About food it also depends, if you want something in particular, ask for it.
Well, investigate a bit and come back with more specific questions.
Jaime

Jaime,
Do you live in Barna? I have never seen anyone else mention Parc del Laberint. I've been there several times; it is an interesting little place; definitely off the beaten track but easy to get to on the metro (L3).

Hola fellas....
Please listen to jaime (the reply above mine) because the Parc del Laberint is fantastic and the gardens around it are great too. It also provides nice views of the city. And I've said it before in this forum, but if you wanna find affordable places to eat and drink and other coolness that's going on and is a bit less "pure tourist" then go to bcnweek.com, they have all types of good recommendations. Check out the bluelists on the lonelyplanet site for some other good recommendations....go here b4 you go there

quick question re: The Barcelona Card - I understand it allows for FREE public transportation, including Zone 1 of RENFE and the Metro ... but can these modes of transportation be used to get to say, Sitges, Figueres, or Girona (places I will visit while in BCN area)

Thanks!

#9: No. Zone 1 is only for the city. Look at the Renfe.es site and Cercanias/Rodalies and is should have the zones marked on there. The train fares are quite reasonable so it shouldn't be a big expense.

Here is the zone map: Barcelona Cercanias

Does that help, Mouseypoo?