I'm very lucky to be planning a fourteen day Mediterranean cruise the last half of October. My friend, who thinks I'm experienced (all I know started here) would like to spend a few days in Barcelona. She's not left this country. By that time, we will have been in a floating g hotel for two weeks, so I was thinking apartment rental. Are there some suggestions out there ?
Not knowing Spain so well, I'd love thoughts on maximizing the experience. Are trains good like I think they are in Italy? Day trip thoughts - probably no car rental here. Thanks so much.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
This will get you started in your trip research:
http://www.ricksteves.com/europe/spain
Look for the info specific to Barcelona.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
How many days are we talking about exactly? Just a few days (2-3) and you would probably not venture further than Barcelona itself. An apartment is an excellent idea - try vrbo, and look in Eixample district. Trains are mostly good (fast and frequent) like Italy, if a little more expensive.
Posted by
OP
United States
223 posts
Thanks for the great responses. Boy, that link to RS made me think - the most rain of the year! Hence the bargain cruise!
Thanks for the rental info. If I can find a low cost spot we can stay longer. I'll just wear Crocs.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
On average 6 rainy days in Barcelona for all of October - I'd take those odds still.
Posted by
OP
United States
223 posts
Agreed. I believe that rain eliminates unnecessary primping!
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
Primping is something I definitely don't need to make time for in my schedule, ever !! (I'm follically challenged)
Posted by
Barcelona (Catalonia)
2937 posts
... just for info... a 'rainy' day in Barcelona does often means a short downpour of say half an hour or an hour, which you can "ride" having a drink in any coffee shop, and which might be followed by the odd drizzle/rain here and there. While we do also have miserable grey days with drizzle/rain and showers all day long, it's not the norm -yet if you happen to catch a few of those days Sarah, don't come complaining to me, huh, I just said it's not the norm but I don't control it, LOL!
Posted by
Lubbock, TX
396 posts
Sarah,
I'm in Barcelona right now, and even though everyone on here recommends the Eixample, I think either the Born or the Barri Gotic has a much more local, "neighborhood" feel to it. IMHO, the Eixample is great for a walk during the day to ooh and aah at all the shops (most of which we have back in the US), but the old city feels much more like you're in a different part of the world. Both have great shopping and eating options as well. The trains are general good here, although the train schedules can be a bit hard to find (http://rodalies.gencat.cat/en/index.html Thanks to Enric for this link!!). The "local" trains to places you would want to day-trip are cheap, but with only 2-3 days in town, you probably would have enough to do just here. If you only had time for one day-trip, I'd recommend Montserrat. If you get out there first thing in the morning, you can be back in Barcelona with time in the late afternoon to see some more sights in town.