http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19165
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.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19165 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17924
Most unique is their collaboration with Xocoa - the gourmet chocolatier of Barcelona. Wawas offers chocolate bars wrapped in their images, known as Barcelona Bombons. Without a doubt, the Barcelona souvenir you can find for friends, family, or 'novios'!

Definitely a must go!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17924 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16588 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16588 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13317
Go at lunch and scoop up some great bargains. This is the best market ever for bartering; most vendors start with stupid "tourist" prices but you can talk them down to just a couple of euros for stuff, especially near closing.

Good area guide for Barcelona:
www.way2stay.com/area-info-Barcelona-en-52.htm]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13317 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10978
To avoid this rip-off, go to any of the newspaper shops on the pavement side of Las Ramblas, who correctly sell the paper for €3.00.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10978 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10922
Running from Placa de Catalunya down to the port area, La Rambla is a place for people to stroll, meet, pass through, trade, eat, drink, people watch and be entertained. And if you think it's busy wandering down its length at midday return at midnight when it's even livelier.

Entertainment comes in the form of buskers and street performers of the 'living statue' type - give them some coins and they'll perform for you or just admire them as they stand immobile. One favourite was the headless torso with the 'detached' head alive and chatting on a plate of vegetables next to him. There are also stalls selling flowers, sketch artists offering to draw your likeness and booths selling a variety of birds and small animals. Indeed it was quite incongruous seeing pigeons hoping around the ground in front of a booth where others were on sale.

Inevitably in such a busy place there will be pickpockets so be careful with your purse, camera and other valuables. However don't let that put you off, whether it's a morning, afternoon or evening stroll - La Rambla is the place.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10922 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9256
On Sundays in the square, there are often art fairs and you can buy yourself a comic from the legendary Makoki comic shops - I recommend 'El Bueno de Cuttlass', a hilarious stick cowboy who has a girlfriend called Mabel and an obsession with Kraftwerk.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9256 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7650
Being a Mediterranean port, this is where fish reigns supreme. Every sort of fish – whole, gutted, filleted, dried, smoked, cooked, salted. Fresh and glistening in beds of glittering ice. From the lowly mackerel and sardine – unbelievable grilled over a hot barbecue, to octopus and langoustine. There can be no smell that is more evocative of the Mediterranean than that of shells of giant prawns roasting over charcoal. This gigantic market of food covers an area the size of a football pitch and is packed every day with shoppers till early evening.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7650 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7649 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7649 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5331 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5331 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5318
El Born has amazing bars and restaurants. Calle Banys Vells houses a great Cuban called Vieja Havana, and a cosy, romantic wine bar called Va da Vie. During the daytime El Born is home to great boutique clothes and shoe shops, although be warned, they close on Mondays.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5318 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5313 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5313 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5310 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5310 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5267 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5267 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5240 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5240 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5348 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5348 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5312 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5312 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5311 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5311 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5248 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5248 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5247 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5247