Barcelona - help with itinerary

Get your tickets with timed entries first. Then organize your visits to other sites around that.

If you're flying to Barcelona from the US/Canada and arriving late on Sunday, I am very doubtful that you'll be raring to go early Monday morning. Jetlag may really slow you down that day.

The following sites require pre-purchased, usually timed, tickets to avoid very long ticket lines and the possibility of sell-outs: La Sagrada Familia, Casa Batllo, Casa Mila/La Pedrera, Parc Guell, Picasso Museum, Palau de la Musica Catalana (English tours may sell out), and (to a lesser degree) Palau Guell.

It is difficult to create an efficient sightseeing plan when you have fixed times to be at so many places. You have to be accurate in guessing how long you'll wait to get inside despite having tickets (due to excessive crowds), how much time you will want to spend inside and how long it will take to get to your next timed entry--plus how much time you'll spend at lunch. My recommendation is that you slot one of the challenging sights first thing each morning (but not early on Monday). That way, you won't have to worry about getting to those places on time.

I don't think 1 hour is enough time for Casa Batllo.

Palau Guell is less interesting that the other Gaudi sites you've listed. I'd drop it since you have way more places listed than you will really have time for.

If you want to have another modernista site on your tentative list where you can just walk up and buy a ticket on the spot, I highly recommend the Sant Pau modernista site.

Skip the Ramblas. It is a big nothing unless you want to play "Spot the Pickpockets".

You have a lot of art museums on your list. I like those, too, but you may have to cut back due to limited time. The Catalan Art Museum (MNAC) is great. It has an interesting modernism collection (furniture, decorative arts, jewelry) and fabulous frescoes rescued from churches in the Pyrenees. It will probably take close to 5 hours, if not longer, for a comprehensive visit. I'm sure you can find a floor plan and information about the collections on the museum's website so you can figure out where you want to spend your time.

The Picasso Museum gets much, much more crowded than the other museums. If it's important to you, you probably should get a first-time-slot ticket.

Several of the Gaudi sites have evening hours, which can help you squeeze in a bit more sightseeing.

Monday - do you mean you start the walk at 8.45 that takes you past the places your are going to tour? Most of us don't have the RS guide, so we'd just be guessing. In any event, it sounds like 5 hours on your feet before lunch. I haven't been to that market, but at the ones I have been to, you pretty much graze through them which means being on your feet some more. Then another couple hours at SF, standing and walking. Yikes!

Tuesday - again, all day on your feet, rushing from sight to sight.

Thursday - skip the Rambla walk. Nothing to see there. BTW the Santa Caterina Market is very close to the Palace of Catalan Music, makes more sense to see them at the same time. And lunching at the markets is nice once, but better sit in proper restaurants and enjoy a meal while recharging your batteries.

Friday - not nearly enough time at MNAC. Unless there's an exhibition you want to see, the Caixo Forum is just okay.

Lastly, I don't know anything about your daughter. I don't know any 9-year-olds who'd much enjoy the itinerary you have planned.

Hi Rochelle

Barcelona is one of Europe's great cities and as per your itinerary there is so much to see and enjoy.

Our one tip though would be to truly enjoy your trip you should allow more time to relax, saunter the many beautiful streets (especially around the Gothic Quarter) and have the ability for those special ad hoc stops you will inevitably want to make

Paul & Nicki

At that age my children were nuts about boats. If there's a rainy day, visit the Maritime Museum.