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Barcelona, day by day. Need some help here.

My new year's resolution is to be a better trip planner. I've spent hours pouring over internet resources and yesterday I bought RS Barcelona and read pretty much the whole book. I have a long list of sights and tours, and I'm overwhelmed now trying to organize them into daily itineraries.

I have 6.5 days, landing in Barcelona at 10 am on Tuesday, March 8, taking a morning train (yes, ticket is purchased) to Valencia on Tuesday, March 15. I'm staying across the street from the Palau de la Musica - good for sightseeing, not so good for getting to the train.

I want to take day trips to Tarragona and Figueres and a 1/2 day to Montserrat (sans hiking). Best/worst days for each?

These walking tours sound interesting. Has anyone done them? Good? Bad?

Once I get these into the itinerary by day, I should be easier to figure out the rest.

Posted by
7175 posts

This is a tall order Chani. Have you not spent time in Barcelona before? I maintain the city itself needs 3 or 4 full days, and if you want to make 3 days out, that makes it very difficult to schedule your walking tours.

You could do Santa Maria del Mar rooftop on your arrival day, Tue at 1400 and hopefully make it to the nearby Picasso by 3pm.
Modernisme on Wed.
Day out on Thu - perhaps Montserrat after a morning visit to Park Guell.
Fri and Sat in town again, with a nod to your evening options. I do like the look of the night at Palau Requesens.
Sunday & Monday - Tarragona & Figueres.

Posted by
1520 posts

Love the neighborhood around the Palau.
Montserrat as a 1/2 day is tough due to RT travel time consuming 2 hours. Clear skies is the key as, even without the hiking, the views are terrific; so you will need to be weather flexible on your schedule. Take a deep dive into the transportation options you have for going up and down the mountain.
Not too far from you is a chocolate factory tour, skip it! But, on the same street are some fine places to sit, enjoy a drink and watch humanity flow by.
Picasso tour......... hmmm..... have you taken the tour in Malaga? It really comes down to how much you love Picasso. My vote is artwork in Madrid and Malaga, and associated knowledge learned during these experiences, is sufficient. We were underwhelmed by the Barcelona experience.
Sefarad at Palau............. Sounds highly interesting and I have been reading where the Spanish govt is now making overtures to amending the cultural fabric torn so long ago.
I am including the webpage to another traveler who wrote about one of my favorite places in Barcelona, the ancient Roman sites underground the old city. Please consider taking this tour to learn and view, the origins of Barcelona.
https://varrtravel.wordpress.com/2013/01/03/subterranean-barcelona-the-worlds-most-extensive-underground-roman-ruins/
El Corte Ingles department store at Plaza Catalunya has a terrific grocery store in the basement and is located close to your apartment. Restrooms are on the third floor and in t he corner of most El Corte Ingles department stores.
There are a couple of RS forum contributors who live in Barcelona and you might desire to determine their inclination, and yours, to meet and greet (much as I would delight in meeting you to place a face with a name and share travel/life stories).
Safe travels!

Posted by
15560 posts

better trip planner I'm good at logistics, hotels, transportation, etc. But a lot of the time, I don't plan the actual sightseeing and, after a trip, end up feeling I could have seen/done/enjoyed more if I'd planned details at home rather than leaving it until I get to the TI or spending 2 hours in my hotel room when I could be outside or asleep. I'm a pretty slow traveler and I love to linger in museums. I won't feel obligated to follow a schedule, but if I know that on Thursday I have to be on the 8.00 train to somewhere, I'll be on it. If not, I might not be out and about before 10 or 11, just piddling around the hotel room.

David - 2nd time around. I'll have 3 full days in Barcelona, plus arrival day and whatever is left before or after Montserrat. I plan to spend one day at sights on Montjuic, the other two nearer to "home." Of the 3 day trips, that's probably the lowest priority. I think Tarragona will be a long, exhausting day, so I don't want to plan anything for that evening. Figueres should be less strenuous and less time. Maybe Figueres on Friday and back in plenty of time for the walking tour, starts at 21.30? I like the idea of a tour on arrival day - maybe Modernisme. It seems I could fit the Rooftop tour in any day, and it's more for the view than the church.

In the meantime, it seems Sunday is also out for day trips. I just found out there are Castellers performing in Barcelona at noon - in 4 locations.

I'd like to get opinions if anyone's been on any of the tours. I enjoy walking tours more than DIY ones if the guide is good. And as a solo traveler/tourist (take your pick), it's nice to spend time with a small group.

Posted by
15560 posts

David, you mentioned a chocolate factory - did you mean the Chocolate Museum? It's on my list of things to see on Monday if I have time. Monday's also laundromat day.

I've been to the church before but not to the rooftop - so the tour guide's spiel isn't a big deal. I'm sure I'll pop in to the church again, with or without a tour.

Posted by
7175 posts

I didn't mention chocolate factory tour. That was our friend Marbleskies. Do you have a golden ticket??

Posted by
15560 posts

Oops. Sorry.

Golden ticket? Do you mean tarjeta dorada? I'm planning to buy one when I get there.