- Barcelona
- (316)
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Spain
Been here so many times and never get bored of it. There is a maze of narrow streets - during the day you can shop at little independent outlets, eat tapas, enjoy a beer in a little square or just wander. At night, add more bars and all sorts of weird places - last time I visited I found an ice-cream and chocolate waffle shop at 2am in the morning after a night at a great little club. For the full effect it's best to book your hotel in the Gothic Quarter. I used this site for a list of hotels.
I booked a holiday apartment in the centre of Barcelona, just off Las Ramblas with this company. They picked us up at the airport and took us straight to our beautiful apartment, which was a great base for exploring Barcelona and really made our holiday.
Our family had a lovely time at their luxury apartment near the beach in Barcelona.
In order to avoid becoming a victim of crime on the streets of this wonderful city, here are a few tips:
- Do not carry large amounts of money when you leaving your apartment or hotel.
- Don’t let anyone invade your personal space while walking down the streets (whether they seem suspicious or not).
- Wear your bag diagonally across your chest and avoid wearing it on your shoulder. If possible, keep a hand on it at all times. If you must have a backpack, wear it on the front and not on the back as it should normally be worn.
- Even though it is important that you have a valid ID such as a passport with you, in case you decide to go shopping and you need to pay with your credit card, it is not recommend that you carry your passport with you. Take a photocopy of it and keep it somewhere safe in your bag.
- If you still want to take your passport or other ID documents with you, remember to photocopy them and leave the photocopy in your apartment or hotel.
- Carry your wallets and purses in your front pockets and never the back pockets. You will be surprised at just how easy it is to take a wallet or purse from a back pocket and before you realise, then perpetrator will be long gone.
- Whenever you leave a bus, metro or taxi cab, please remember to take all your belongings with you. If you are carrying a laptop, always keep it close to you and never leave your luggage or any other valuables unattended.
- It cannot be stressed enough that even in the busiest, safest looking places (bars and restaurants included), you are a potential target, so be aware at all times.
A very cool district of Barcelona, El Raval, stretches away just to the west of the Ramblas.
Not quite Barcelona's seamy underbelly, but in a decidedly chi-chi town, the next best thing.
In keeping with its working-class roots, there are still plenty of scruffy neighbourhood bars amidst the proliferating clothes shops, hip bars and restaurants.
From Placa Catalunya (north) to La Rambla (east); Ronda Sant Antoni (west) to Ronda Sant Pau (south)
Centric Point has got to have the poshest address of, not just any hostel in Barcelona, but any hostel in the world! Slap-bang on the Paseo de Gracia alongside all the flash shops, but still a stone's throw from the Ramblas, it's amazing.
Inside things are no less grand, either. A beautiful spiral staircase leads up to a large and very lively bar, nice, clean rooms and a good time for all.
Passeig de Gracia 33,
Barcelona
www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/spain/barcelona/8144/
Not exactly in Barcelona, but nevertheless a fantastic day trip, the monastery of Montserrat is absolutely magnificent.
First and foremost: the landscape. You can see it coming from a mile off; weird bulbous rock formations bulging out.
On the way up, there's a fantastic Romanesque chapel with amazing frescoes, and the whole area is riddled with hermits' caves.
The church itself is vast, 1000m above sea-level, and (oddly) reassuringly hideous in scale and detail.
Still, it's a mighty impressive spectacle and the surrounding countryside is simply breathtaking.
90 minutes from Barcelona (near Lleida)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montserrat_(mountain)
A huge area of forested parkland riddled with pathways, the Parc de Collserola is a great place to escape the crowds in Barcelona.
(To the northwest of the city)
Tourist information centre:
Carretera Església 92
08017 Barcelona, Spain
932 803 552
www.parccollserola.net
What a find! Large bar/restaurant, beautifully decorated with real imagination and character. There is a very New York feel to this bar. Cool, relaxed and totally beautiful. Cocktails to die for with a varied menu to suit all tastes and very nicely priced. Staff are friendly, this is a great place for a party. Got talking with one customer who will be holding her wedding here. Not to be missed.
Riera Alta 4-6, 08001 Barcelona
5 minutes from Las Ramblas
My family and I stayed in an apartment last month with a company called BCN Rentals, and I wanted to recommend them. They were very easy to deal with over the phone (English staff) and email, the apartments were clean and central, and they also organised a minivan to collect us as we had a fair bit of luggage.
I rented an apartment with Pillowapartments on Paseo Joan De Borbón for four weeks in March 2008. The apartment was wonderful, everything first rate. Many things were within walking distance and the metro is the best for access to all other areas. I spent most of my time in the museums and wandering the beautiful neighborhoods around the museums.
A typical market is steps away from the apartment as are numerous fine cafes. The city’s best shopping areas are just blocks away. I found an Asian market within blocks for great vegetarian food. The internet place on the street was great since I left my laptop at home, even though the apartment is wired for access. I can't say enough about management, everyone was so nice to me and so helpful. I will not hesitate to stay again when I come to Barcelona and highly recommend pillowapartments to everyone.
One of the best music venues in the city. On our visit, late on a Sunday night, we saw a three-piece comprising a double-bass player with a massive quiff, a flamenco guitarist with long jet-black hair, white shirt, black tie and trademark cigarette hanging from his lower lip and a steel guitarist who looked like a cross between Steve Buscemi and Tom Waits.
The three increased to seven when they were joined by other musicians including a clarinetist, trumpeter and a sultry singer. It's hidden away down a back alley in the Gothic Quarter but once inside, you won't want to leave. Nothing is rushed, it's not at all poncey and the vibe gets better as the morning approaches. Get there early (before 10) to secure a seat. For a change from the normal bar scene, head to the Harlem.
C/ Comtessa De Sobradiel 8
+34 933 100 755
Get away from the crowds around El Born and the Gotic Quarter and head down to Barceloneta, an old fishing village by the harbour. It's less crowded and feels more authentic then other parts of the city.
The restaurants, which predominately specialise in seafood, are excellent. And if you don't like seafood, it's still a nice place for a stroll around the menu before heading to the beach.
I recently stayed in Barcelona and tried out a holiday rental apartment rather than a hotel. I used a company called Holiday Velvet and they were very efficient and offered excellent support.
Smart, clean stylish apartments in the heart of the El Born district. Friendly service. Very affordable (only 90 euros for a studio). We stayed in a studio next to Santa Maria Church which came with a balcony.
Tel. (+ 34) 93 268 28 68
Mov. (+ 34) 629 305 375
Fax (+ 34) 93 268 15 17
E-mail: dani.riera@inside-bcn.com
www.inside-bcn.com
Not only does this hotel have one of the best views and locations, away from the chaos, if you book the club floor you will have your every desire catered for at no cost.
We did the cable car ride up to the old castle on the top of the hill at Montjuic. There are some spectacular views from the top of the port and the gardens below. Highly recommended!
We took the metro which was close to our rental apartment (Paralelo) which has the funicular train, and the cable car is just over the road! Sorry I don't know if there's a website.
An international group of locals and expats who meet twice a week to socialise, practice their Spanish or English and exchange tips on Barcelona.
Don't watch TV in your hotel, meet the locals (Barcelonians and expats). Socialise and get all the insiders' info you could never get from a guide book. Every person is a walking, talking, up-to-date guide book. Ask and we shall answer!
The group meets at least twice a week. For all the details check out their website: www.englishoasiscafe.com
This is a very professional and friendly Spanish school. I enrolled when I first got to Barcelona and it was great! The teachers and staff are nice and experienced and my classmates were from all over the world, so I met lots of interesting people as well as learning a new language! I definitely recommend it to everyone.
You can find them here:
Calle Rocafort, 104
08015 Barcelona
0034 93 426 98 22
info@barcelonaspanish.com
www.barcelonaspanish.com
You want to experience Barcelona in a completely different way? Then participate at one of Cooltra's City tours on a scooter. I have done that on my last trip in this beautiful city and it was crazy! It is like being a local person, driving to places you couldn't reach normally and a great alternative to the tourist bus. You should live this experience, I recommend it!
Have a look at www.cooltra.com
You can find the Cooltra Motos Shop right in front of the Barceloneta Beach.
Pg. Joan de Borbó, 80-84
08039 Barcelona
Tel.: (+34) 93 221 40 70
Fax: (+34) 93 221 62 39
Móvil: (+34) 687641 388
Email: info@cooltra.com
Open daily from 10am to 8pm
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