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Advance ticket purchase Barcelona

Posted by on

Barcelona, advance ticket purchase to avoid lines

We could use some advice.

Thank you

Posted by
27096 posts

These are the problem sights I'm aware of. Walking up without a ticket may put you in a long line and may well cause you not to get a ticket at all:

La Sagrada Familia
Parc Guell
Casa Mila/La Pedrera
Casa Batllo
Picasso Museum (and usually an utter zoo once you get inside)
Palau de la Musica Catalana

The Palau used to require that visitors take a tour; I think it now allows unguided visits, which may have reduced the need for pre-purchase of tickets. I do not have current experience at that sight.

There's also the Camp Nou Experience--a soccer thing that I believe sells out very, very early.

There are many other things to do in Barcelona. I have not read reports here of significant lines at: Sant Pau Modernista Site, Miro Museum, MNAC (Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya), Casa Vicens (newly opened), or the many other museums in the city.

Tickets to the problem sights can be bought on their websites. Most will require you to select a specific entry time. This is tricky for the second or third stop of the day--how do you know how much time to allow at the first stop, and for travel time, and for lunch? So my advice is to schedule one of the tough sights first thing in the morning every day, then fill in the rest of the day with places at which you can just show up and pay on the spot.

If you're in a real bind, note that several of the sights have hours that extend into the early evening.

Posted by
5581 posts

We were in Barcelona a couple years ago. We went to Palau de la Musica Catalana. We did not have tickets for a tour. We walked around the lobby, bar area and in the stairwells. We could not go into the concert halls. If you do not wish to purchase a ticket for a tour due to cost or time constraints, I would still recommend seeing the outside of the building and going inside for a peak. There was a very small exhibit of historical info. It is quite beautiful. Another option might be to go to a concert/event.

Posted by
41 posts

I visited my daughter in Barcelona last spring during her study abroad. Spain/Barcelona was never on my bucket list so I didn't approach the trip with the same level of enthusiasm as I did with Ireland and Switzerland. I am now a HUGE fan! What a beautiful place with so much to see and experience!

I do a LOT of up front planning before trips to make the most of my time and did go to several of the places you listed. I would not miss La Sagrada Femilia. Even my 18 year old and her best friend admitted it was a highlight! You don't want to chance tickets selling out (extremely popular) and standing in the LONG line in the heat is no better. I would definitely advance purchase that ticket.

I also advance purchased tickets for the Picasso museum. It was a timed entry. The museum is very small so capacity is limited and it also sells out. If this is high on your list (I really liked it, kids thought is was ok) then I would also advance purchase this ticket.

Parc Gruell is huge (wear walking shoes and take water) and made for an enjoyable day. I advanced purchased the ticket but it really was not necessary. I did not pay for the added Gaudi exhibit because we had already seen so much of his work the days previous. I did not feel like we missed out in making this decision.

The beach was nice and taxi service was super easy, honest and fair. Enjoy

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