Advice on must sees and dos in and around Barcelona

Mari,
Please tell us what you 'think' you want to see in Barcelona, based on the research you may have already done.
Then I think it will be easier for us to add to that list or make suggestions.
Barcelona is a very big city and offers a lot to see/do. So, understanding a bit about why you decided to go there and what might interest you will help us to give better advice.

Everyone will have a different list. It really helps to review some guidebooks and online and then ask more specific questions about sites you are interested in. For example, you can spend the better part of your time looking at amazing architecture. Or at museums. Or on the beach in quaint towns. Or visiting an ancient Roman city with amazing ruins. Or hiking in scenic mountains.

In general, Barcelona is known for its Modernista architecture led by Antoni Gaudi, fabulous food, modern art, its Medieval old town neighborhoods, its modern-grid Eixample neighborhoods and the beaches and towns of the Costa Brava.

Four days will barely touch the surface so you'll most likely spend most if not all of that time in the city. But it may allow you a daytrip to see something that particularly interests you.

Thank you for the suggestions. I've actually done a fair bit of reading on Barcelona, and there is a lot to see, which is why I'm interested in the sites most worth visiting. I am a historian by profession and my job involves working with historic buildings, so I am definitely interested in historic buildings, anything Roman, and also the sea. We only have four days, which is why we must be focused in our touring, especially since we'll need to rely on public transportation. Thank you!

I took a TI walking tour that focused Roman and Gothic. There is very, very little left from the days of the Roman Empire. It was a good tour, I must add.

I'm not a big Gaudi fan, but I enjoyed visiting Montaner's buildings - Sant Pau Recinte Modernista, Casa Lleo Morera, and Palau de la Musica.

I guess the only real must-see in Barcelona is the Sagrada Familia. Based on advice received here, I bought my ticket on-line in advance for the first timed entry and lined up about 1/2 hour before that, so I was one of the first in the church. Wonderful, quiet, photos without hundreds of other tourists. An hour later, it was packed with people, the din was only exceeded by the hammering and drilling noises from the construction - which I understand will continue for the next several years. I was not terribly impressed with the tower (Passion Tower) or the view, but visibility wasn't very good. Maybe on a clear, sunny day . . .

Mari, having just four days in town forget about "surrounding" visits... you won't have the time for that. The city, as you must know, is over two millenia old therefore you have too many 'stuff' to visit "in" the city already. Having said that, if the Roman era is your thing, you might want to invest on a day escapade (by train) to Tarrragona -ancient Tarraco, capital of Hispania Citerior (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarraco_%28Tarragona%29) The city is just 80 miles (about 1h or so) from Barcelona and there are fast trains communicating both cities. More on Roman Tarragona: http://www.tarragonaturisme.cat/en

In Barcelona there's also an interesting Roman past which you might want to explore: http://www.museuhistoria.bcn.cat/en/node/672

If you were to precise a bit more about which sort of historical building you like I'd be delighted to suggest some. As you can imagine there are too many to just start an endless list here!

Here's my experiences about Barcelona things to see -- now, please just take it for what it's worth - we travel a little on the fly, not really paying attention to guidebooks. Unless we make other plans, we just step out of the hotel and let the day unravel in front of us. I'm sure we've missed a ton of great stuff, but over the four times we have been to Barcelona, here are some of the things we've really liked:

Sagrada Familia - we scheduled a "skip the line" tour. It was worth it.
Monstesrrat - so beautiful. It is a 1/2 day tour, getting there and hanging out, but if you have the time, I recommend it.

Las Ramblas - you really can't miss this.

Cathedral of Barcelona - we really enjoyed it
The museum of roman ruins (near the cathedral) - very well done and you can zip through or linger, depending on your time restraints.
Hop on/Hop off bus - When we have limited time in a city, including Barcelona, I like to ride these. It's a good starting point to see things you might not have thought about and to get a general layout of the city. The lines for these buses gets long at Placa Catalunya, so go early or catch the bus at another location. Ask at your hotel.

We'll be in Barcelona again this summer for a few days in early July. We plan to hit the Bocaria, the Picasso museum and see Barceloneta. Maybe Monjuic. Barcelona is such a wonderful city. I love just being there and absorbing the energy. Buen viaje!!

I know your time there will be limited, but given your stated interests, I would really consider taking a daytrip to Tarragona. It's only about an hour by train and filled with Roman ruins dramatically set along the sea. A very good archaeology museum too. You could spend a few hours there seeing the museum, coliseum, ruins right nearby and maybe walking around the walls if you had time. Tarragona was the first Roman settlement in Iberia.

I think you'll enjoy seeing as many of the Gaudi sites as possible. Make advance reservations for Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell. I'd visit Casa Batllo and Mila too, even though they are pricey (each offers a different experience and perspective on his work).

Thank you for all these excellent suggestions!

I recommend 4 full days in Barcelona to do it justice.
This plan does not include Parc Guell which you will need to make space for – PREBOOK TICKETS !!

DAY 1 Ramblas & Bari Gotico
Metro to Placa de Catalunya, Barcelona’s main square
Explore the Ramblas from top to bottom taking side diversions
On the right C. d’Elisabets to the museums MACBA and CCCB (check for current exhibits)
Further down to La Boqueria markets
Left side thru the Gothic Quarter via Placa del Pi & Placa de Sant Felip Neri to the Cathedral
Placa del Rei and the wide Placa Sant Jaume flanked by official buildings of the city and state
Head down the shopping street C. De Ferran returning to the Ramblas at the Liceu opera house
Further along and left to Placa Reial, harmonious enclosed square with palms trees & Gaudi lanterns
And then Palau Guell (Gaudi) off on the right
Finally the port and the column with Christopher Columbus gesturing towards the new world
Metro Drassanes is close by

DAY 2 Gaudi & Modernism
Metro to Sagrada Familia for Gaudi’s masterpiece, still under construction – PREBOOK TICKETS !!
Walk down the Av de Gaudi to Europe’s largest Art Nouveau site, the hospital complex of Sant Pau
Metro across town to Diagonal and on to the Passeig de Gracia for Casa Mila (Gaudi)
Walk down Barcelona’s majestic boulevard to crazy colourful Casa Batllo (Gaudi)
Casa Amatller is next door and the Loewe store on the corner is in Casa Lleo i Morera
Finish at Gran Via – Metro Passeig de Gracia is closeby

DAY 3 El Born & Barceloneta
Metro to Arc de Triomf
10 min walk to Palau de la Musica Catalana – PREBOOK TICKETS !!
Through the revitalised area of El Born to the Picasso Museum – PREBOOK TICKETS !!
On to Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar and then into the Parc de la Ciutedella for a relaxing circuit
Past the historic railway station, Estacio de Franca to the old fisherman’s village, Barceloneta
The ‘D’ shaped W Hotel stands at the port entrance
Walk the other way along the beachfront towards Frank Gehry’s glimmering ‘Fish’ sculpture
Finish at the Hotel Arts and Port Olimpic – Metro Ciutedella / Vila Olimpica is close by

DAY 4 Montjuic & Olympics
Metro to Placa d’Espanya
Les Arenes, once the bullring, now housing shops & restaurants (fighting is banned in BCN)
2 large towers opposite and the Av de la Reina Marina Cristina towards the Palau Nacional
This area of exhibition space was the site of a Universal Expo in 1929
(Barcelona had Olympic visions way back then but the Spanish Civil War put them on hold)
Caixa Forum and Mies van der Rohe Pavilion are both worth a look
Escalators to the Palau and the MNAC museum, well worthy of a visit
The Anella Olimpica (Stadium, Palau St Jordi, Communications Tower) is laid out behind
Now back down the hill to the excellent Miro Museum (Fundacio Miro)
Piscina Municipal, the spectacular venue for Olympic diving is close by
Along Av. Miramar to the Funicular connecting with Metro at Parallel

Rick's listings online or in his book will dare to assign a rating system, as will Michelin Green Guides, while some other resources treat the choices more equally.