Barcelona 7 days

A week is fine. I stayed there seven days and didn't have to worry about running from place to place. Aside from the famous attractions, I took a day trip to Girona, did a walking tour of the Gothic Quarter, browsed the Santa Catalina market, strolled along the beachfront and people watched. I loved it.

I spent nine days in the city and additional time in Girona, and I left some things undone.

I really enjoyed our one and only visit to Barcelona in 2017. My one suggestion is to visit the Saint Pau Modernista site - it's about a 10 minute walk from Sagrada Familia, with about 1% of the crowds.

We used Spanish Trails for 3 day tours - Priorat Wine Country, Tarragona and Sitges, and Girona and the Costa Brava. All were great.

https://spanish-trails.com/barcelona-tours/

You guys are great thanks for the quick responses. I’m glad I asked.

Any more tour advice or recommendations would be great.

Thank you all in advance,

There is plenty to see in Barcelona. We were there 4 nights and wished we could have stayed longer! Loved Barcelona. We would have included Girona if we had time. We took 2 free walking tours with www.runnerbean.com. Recommended by RS and others on the travel forum. Knowledgeable guides and a great way to get the "lay of the land" and helpful recommendations.

We did a lot of walking to major attractions. RS Spain Guidebook is a wonderful resource.

Thank you so much Janis, I will definitely take a look at that. Looks like such a great place to visit can't wait.

My first visit - 5 days. My second - 7 days. My third was a long weekend last month because I was on the French Riviera and couldn't imagine going home without stopping in Barcelona on my way home. So I don't think 7 days is too much.

There is so much to see and do. Give us some direction - what do you like more? Architecture, history, water activities, art, food, markets, churches.

The Barcelona tourism website is a great resource. Start here for a list of activities/sights. Some tours are run by the TI itself, most stuff is not, but often buying through the TI gets you a small discount.

I like walking tours. I recently took the Runnerbean's Dark Past tour - excellent. The TI's Modernisme tour was very good. The rooftop tour of the Santa Maria del Mar Church was also very good. On my first visit I took an early evening tapas tour and loved it.

I enjoyed day trips (on my own) to Girona and Figueres. I still haven't found the time for Montserrat. A friend enjoyed a small-group guided tour of nearby villages.

You don't need a tour or guide for the individual sights in Barcelona. They all have good audio guides and the museums have full explanations in English as well as Catalan.

Chani you are a seasoned veteran of Barcelona :) that’s awesome. Your insights are wonderful. We certainly like to hike so walking tours a must. Food tours, history, architecture and church are things we would like to do and maybe a quick visit to the beach.

Thank you so much

Hi All,

Looking for a 4.5 star or better hotel for 4 adults. Any recommendations? I looked at H10 Hotel Casa Mimosa, Quartprimera Apartments. Preferably 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

Thanks,

Anyone knows about the FISA Rentals? I am looking at FISA Rentals Gran Via Apartments? Good, Bad? Any advice? for four adults, looking for 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

Thanks

4.5 star or better is not what most of the forum members know about. Try another travel forum, maybe Frommer's or TripAdvisor . . .

I see. Was really looking to see any recommendations of nice places to stay that's all.

I stayed at the Hotel Colon and thought the location, service and cleanliness were all spectacular, but I don't know how many stars it has.

Star ratings for hotels don't mean the same thing in Europe as they do in the US. In Europe, they are directly tied to amenities. Things like an elevator, an onsite restaurant, room service, shoe shine machines in the hallways - all of these things raise the number of stars. Thus, a not-nice place that has all of these features can have a higher star rating than a nicer place that couldn't install an elevator and doesn't have its own restaurant.

So, it's better to say what your price range is, and if there are any amenities you want or need (A/C, elevator, balcony, view). Do you have Rick's Barcelona book (new edition came out late last year)? He will have a range of hotels, and usually will indicate some that he considers splurges, which are probably what you're looking for.

JNV, you might want to take a look at Hotel Jazz. Centrally located, quiet, well appointed, roof top pool and bar, & best breakfast we had in Spain. As previously mentioned we walked to major attractions. We were very pleased. It has been recommended multiple times on the RS Forum. www.hoteljazz.com.

Okay just ordered RS Barcelona book from Amazon! Still searching for a good place to stay, Hotel Jazz does look and seems nice. Will keep that as a contender.

If you like to hike, I recommend a day trip to Montserrat. Easy to get to from Barcelona and spectacular. Of course, the star attraction is the beautiful monastery, but you can also take a funicular up to the top and do quite a lot of hiking. Be aware tho, we decided that while hiking time in Switzerland is estimated by clocking an 80 year old grandma, in Spain, or at least at Montserrat, it is 22 year old Olympic marathon runners at peak condition!

I will also highly, highly recommend time in Girona. It is about an hour train ride from Barcelona and a spectacular, ancient walled city on a very pretty river with bridges and lined by attractive buildings. It was used for some Game of Throne scenes. From Girona there are several opportunities for day trips. We loved Besalu, another medieval city on a river. We spent 3 nights in Girona but it can be done on a day trip.

Thank you Jules, I think I ll have to put that on the itinerary. The hiking sound great and though I am no longer in my 20’s, 30’s or 40’s my mind seems to think it is. I do run a lot and try to keep in shape, an Olympian I am not. Lol

Thanks for the recommendation those are great.

We really enjoyed the U232 Hotel in 2017. We walked everywhere, except Park Guell.

https://www.u232hotel.com/en/

I am looking about the day trip from Gracia to Costa Brava, looks like a 2 hour train ride? Has anyone done this trip and will it be worth to stay at Costa Brava for the night and head back the next morning? Or come back same day?

Why is it so hard to book a hotel? Looks like July is a big travel month to Barcelona...

I had to book a room for March some 3-4 months ahead. Barcelona is a very popular destination.

Where are you thinking about on the Costa Brava? Tnat's a part of Catalunya, not a single place. If you're interested in the smaller coastal towns, buses or a rental car may be needed.

Although I'm sure you can find a nice room unless there's some very important special event going on in Barcelona at the time of your visit, some places could well be booked up. Barcelona is extremely popular and seems to be becoming more so every year. Plus it has been cracking down on short-term apartment rentals, which may have pushed more people into hotels. I suspect that many people wanting to stay in deluxe hotels book farther ahead than this, so it may be simpler to see what is still available on a website like booking.com for your dates. Not all rooms will be listed on websites like that, but at least you'll see (I assume) some options. Do pay attention to the cancellation policies. They are clearly spelled out, but they vary from hotel to hotel. I find the reviews on booking.com quite helpful; you can't post a review there unless you've actually stayed in the hotel on a reservation made through that website.

7 days is more than enough for Barcelona. You can go PortAventura which is 110 km far away from Barcelona. PortAventura is one of the top sixth theme park in Europe which has very attractive water riding and ride. If you are planning to visit Barcelona you should go to see that amusement park. You can book your tickets from here. PortAventura Tickets

Hello All, I am now planning my tours, looking at the MONTSERRAT tour says 5 hours. Has anyone done this tour and can give me some insights?
.
Thanks as always

I wouldn't do a tour to Montserrat. VERY easy to do on your own and less expensive. We spent a day but we also did some hiking on the mountain. If this is of interest make sure to buy the transportation ticket that includes the funicular. There is no charge for the monastery, except perhaps the art museum?? The cost is in the transportation. Just bring the RS or other guide for info

Everything you need is here, from Enric, a Barcelona local and expert.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/spain/a-visit-to-montserrat-the-holy-mountain-near-barcelona-in-catalonia

Thank you for the quick response.

I was in Barcelona a few weeks ago on the Rick Steves Barcelona/Madrid tour. During our free time one afternoon, a fair number on my tour opted to pay for an optional tour to Montserrat offered by the company that provided our outstanding local guides (I can't remember its name; it's located at Place Catalunya). I chose not to go because I didn't think there would be sufficient time to do even limited hiking.

The tour's duration was either 4 or 5 hours. I spoke to a few who went. Their feedback:
-They enjoyed it, were glad they went, and appreciated that the bus transported them directly to Montserrat (e.g. didn't have to take the funicular up the mountain).
-They were only in Montserrat for around 2 hours and did not have time to hike.
-A few who didn't normally experience queasy stomachs felt motion sickness from having on ridden winding roads in the bus.

Based on their feedback, if I am in Barcelona on a future trip, I will visit Montserrat by train (not bus with a tour) to allow sufficient time to see both the village and do some hiking.

We really enjoyed the Ultimate Tapas and Wine Tour through WithLocals. Natalia was our guide [you pick your guide based on their profile] and she was fabulous! The places we went to were in the Sant Antoni area and I think we were the only tourists. Highly recommend WithLocals and Natalia!

Hello Kerry, do you have a website for the Ultimate Tapas and Wine Tour through WithLocals?

Also is there URBER Barcelona if not what dependable car ride service is available to catch a ride from BCN airport to hotel in Barcelona?

So far my itinerary looks something like this:
Day 1 - Evening food tour, talk a walk in the Gothic District
Day 2 - MONTSERRAT tour early, evening ? Not sure yet
Day 3 - Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell,
Day 4 - Beach Day just relax
Day 5 - Hop-On Hop-Off Bus, evening ? Not sure yet

Day 6 - Open not sure yet.
Day 7 - Head back home.

Any recommendations? We like tours, Walking, learn about the culture and history.

Thanks

I don't do the Hop on Hop offs, but I think to take full advantage it'd be better to do it at the beginning of a trip. That way you get a feel for the city and if you see things you like, you could get back to them.

I really enjoyed the Barri Gotic walking tour offered by the tourist office.

If you happen to be staying near Placa Catalunya, the Aerobus is a very easy option to and from the airport. It runs extremely frequently. I'm sure someone else can advise about taxis.

The HO/HO bus did not look like a good idea to me. There was an incredibly long line of people waiting to board the bus at Placa Catalunya when I arrived in 2015. There was no bus in sight, and it was clear all of those people were not going to fit on one bus. The Barcelona Metro is very handy, and Parc Guell tickets now include a shuttle bus to and from the park.

Good idea of doing the Hop-On in the beginning, i have done them in other countries and seems like a good way to find places. I will keep an eye out though for long lines and full buses which will not make the experience fun. Thanks. Booked a cooking class and a food tour as well.

I don't usually take HO/HO in cities, but we did in (2016) Barcelona the first day. It gave us an excellent "lay of the land." We especially enjoyed stopping off to visit the amazing Miro Museum (huge fan) and see the incredible view of Barcelona. We had a great experience. (Added this to my previous suggestions.)

Five Places to Visit in Barcelona

In Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s Barcelona, the well-trodden capital of Spain’s Catalonia region, there is still much to discover beneath the surface. “Treasures beneath the noise” are how the best-selling novelist, whose books present a vivid portrait of his native Barcelona, describes frequent haunts in his hometown.
The 54-year-old author behind the series, The Cemetery of Forgotten Books (the most recent, The Labyrinth of Spirits, was published in 2018), divides his time between Barcelona and Los Angeles, where he is now based. His favorite places may sound familiar, but they take on an entirely different meaning when viewed through his fantastical lens. Here, five of Mr. Ruiz Zafón’s recommendations.

Another shout out to author Carlos Ruiz Zafón. His book, "The Shadow of the Wind" was one of our favorite reads before visiting Barcelona.

Thanks for that link Going234

Who would be the best place to book a guided tour for Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell. I find so many different prices and sites. Looking for a trusted and recommended one. Thanks.

Looking at https://dotravel.com/tour/show/2430/barcelona-tours-sagrada-familia-and-park-guell

Anyone knows if they are a trusted tour guides?

I understand there is no Uber in Barcelona, they have Cabify... has anyone used this service before?

What are the laws for flying a drone in Barcelona?

Spent about a week there in early July.
Stayed at the Europark hotel on Girona street.
Every staff member were super friendly to whole time we were there.
Room number 710. Back of the building. Has a balcony. Very quiet. Girona street is 6 lanes of one way traffic

Nice big bathroom and large shower.
Swimming pool on the roof.
Swam every night, just kick back. It was great.

We stayed at the Europark Hotel I think it was as room 610. Faced front of the hotel with balcony. Great hotel get the breakfast included it’s worth it. We had a great time in Barcelona. Did many tours all were great.

We booked a rickshaw tour with Pura Vida Rickshaw Tours the last time we visited Barcelona. It was lovely and relaxing. The driver showed us around the city and had a lot knowledge if the city. Highly recommended.