Barcelona Trip In November: Request Advice/Suggestions

1) I enjoyed visiting Park Guell, but I can't say whether you will

2) I went to a concert there. You might want to check the schedule during your visit and see what's playing. Maybe attending an actual performance would be better than a tour.

3) Tapas is not a specialization of Barcelona. That's not to say there isn't plenty of good tapas, but I think a much better way to sample food in Barcelona is to go to some of the markets and try food from different vendors. Tapas is more part of the culture in Andalucia and in the Basque country (where it's known as pintxos).

4) If you like Gaudi's architectural style, it is representative.

There are a lot of other things to see in Barcelona. You don't say how many days you'll be there. And to be honest, no one can tell you what you should see or should skip. Different people like different things. You should get a good guidebook and read about all the sights and see what sounds interesting to you. If you rely on me and others on this forum, all you'll get is our opinions, which may or may not align with your interests.

Hi Lane

Thanks for your feedback. I agree with you that everyone is different and no one can predict what I will like or not. However, if most people like or dislike a particular sight, then it is likely that I'll be in the same boat.

My family and I will be in Barcelona for 7 days. My sister has booked us on a half day tour to go to a monastery where there is a great choir, and I have booked a tour of Sagrada Familia. Apart from that, we have not yet booked any trips or sightseeing. So we are open to all ideas. The only caveat as I mentioned in my previous post is that half of the family are vegetarians, so recommendations for places to eat are not important to us. We'll find our own restaurants that have menus to satisfy both vegetarians and meat lovers!

Penn

Take a look at Recinte Modernista de San Pau. It is a short walk from Sagrada Familia, uncrowded and beautiful. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit there.

https://santpaubarcelona.org/en/visita/visita-lliure/

I am currently in Spain on the Best of Spain Tour. We started in Barcelona. If you like architecture Casa Batllio is good. Next door to it there is a less crowded casa Amatller. If you like art there is the Picasso Museum, Miro Foundacion, and Antoni Tapies Foundation…
Park Guell was nice when I visited 20 years ago. I decided to skip it this time around.
I enjoyed it greatly. Take your time to walk around, take in the atmosphere and enjoy yourself.

Have you looked at the Rick Steves tours of the area? By seeing what he covers on his tours might give you some insight. We leave on one in a few weeks. We did book a concert on our own to see Palau Música Catalana as it was meant to be seen.
On food tours many you can say you are vegetarians if that might interest you.
I have also enjoyed watching YouTube videos to get some insight. Enjoy

All the Gaudi sites mentioned so far will probably be very crowded. In 2016 Casa Batllo was just a bit more crowded than Casa Mila/La Pedrera, and I slightly preferred La Pedrera. Either would be a good choice (and both have audio guides, making a tour unnecessary). Just be sure you are mentally prepared for the mob scene. And be aware that you'll need timed tickets for Parc Guell, Casa Batllo and/or Casa Mila. You're lucky to have as much time as you do; it means you don't have to squeeze sight entries so close together that you may have to leave before seeing everything. (And those tickets are expensive!) I suggest scheduling one of the problematic, timed-entry sights first thing each morning so you retain flexibility for most of the rest of the day and don't have to guess how much time you'll want to spend at each place, how long it will take to move to the next sight, when you want to eat lunch and how long that will take, etc.

The Picasso Museum also calls for purchasing a ticket in advance and can be extremely crowded.

Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau is great because it is not only attractive, but also lightly visited. You can simply walk up and buy a ticket for immediate entry. It's a multi-building complex (a former hospital) set on lovely grounds. Allow plenty of time to see it.

There's much more to see in Barcelona. Rick's suggestions for top sightseeing stops are here: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/spain/barcelona. Click on At a Glance.

There are also a number of good day trips possible from Barcelona. I really like Girona with its medieval center and wall. Somewhat farther away but also doable is the Dali Theatre-Museum in Figueres. Girona and Figueres are both served by fast trains (usually more expensive, especially if tickets are purchased at the last minute) and slower trains (cheaper, no reserved seats, but with tickets buyable at the last minute).

I usually try to avoid answering when questions are too subjective. Everyone has their own preferences and expectations when they travel, plus their own baggage and past experiences. It gets really tricky and honestly kind of pointless to give super personal opinions. What works for me might totally not work for you.

That said, let’s make an exception with a couple of short notes:

Time of year
Don’t fool yourself thinking you’re visiting “off-season.” It’s been many decades since Barcelona really has an off-season. Sure, there are fewer tourists than in August, but you can still find places crowded, especially the spots everyone wants to see. Proof of that is that at the most popular attractions, tickets are mostly sold online in advance—no ticket booths anymore.

November is a bit chilly in Barcelona, but compared to Maryland, it’s warmer, with temperatures around 10°C (50°F ) in the morning or evening and about 16°C (60°F ) around midday, and most importantly, it tends to be sunny with very little rain. But be prepared for a surprise: l'Estiuet de Sant Martí (literally Saint Martin’s little summer), a nice little local weather phenomenon in Catalonia. It usually happens around mid-November, right after the feast of Saint Martin (November 11).

During this time, you can get a few days of unexpectedly warm and sunny weather, almost like a mini-Indian summer. In Barcelona, this can feel like a pleasant surprise after the start of the cooler, cloudier November days. People often take advantage of it to enjoy outdoor terraces, strolls along the beach, or a last few swims before winter. It’s short-lived, though, typically a few days, and then temperatures return to normal autumn levels.

Gaudí
Unless you have a really special obsession with Gaudí, doing too much of his stuff can get overwhelming. I’d mix it up with works by other architects. Barcelona’s Modernisme scene left amazing buildings all over the city by dozens of architects besides Gaudí, like the Palau de la Música Catalana or the Sant Pau Modernist Centre among others. You could also mix eras and styles. Barcelona has over two thousand years of history, from Roman times to Gothic, Baroque, Neo-Modernist, and 2 avant-garde.

For example, you could visit Park Güell in the morning, walk down to Gràcia for lunch, and then hit the Sagrada Família in the afternoon. If you’re not into walking in the park, swap Park Güell for Palau Güell, the Count Güell’s house and Gaudí’s patron: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/spain/infox-in-bcn-visiting-the-sagrada-familia-and-then-park-guell-or-the-other-way-around

Casa Batlló or Casa Milà, also called La Pedrera? I’d pick just one. Both are spectacular and have their own highlights; you’ll enjoy either.

Tapas -or rather Tapes, in Catalan, which is the local language

Tapas walks, I have to say, I hate how the concept has been cheapened for (and by!) tourists. Lots of people treat it like a bar-hopping checklist. Go to Pinotxo, try the anchovies and roasted chicken, sip a Priorat wine, then hit Quimet for calamari, then Cova Fumada for croquetes. Doing it like that kills the whole spirit. It is NOT just about food.

Going for "tapes" -which, by the way, we Catalans don't use this expression, we say "anar a fer el vermut"- is about taking your time, enjoying the food, the company, and a good conversation. Don’t rush to see how many bars you can hit in one day.

I suggest doing it the way locals do. Pick one or two spots, relax, savour the flavours, soak in the vibe, and enjoy those little pleasures. Yeah but we're here just for two days... so what? do it properly and you'll understand and enjoy the experience better! :)

Which bars? There are loads, all kinds, prices and styles. Check Timeout, it’s a bit of a local bible: https://www.timeout.com/barcelona/restaurants

Some quick ways to spot a proper old-school bar versus one designed for tourists who treat tapes like fast food. First, if it has big signs outside that say “TAPAS” and also offers paella and sangria, run away! Second, if the interior looks too perfectly designed, it’s probably an industrial-style tapas bar, not homemade. Third, if the tapas look like works of art, they’re probably amazing, but prepare your wallet.

Enjoy!

We took the earliest English tour of the Palau Musica and there was a group rehearsing. Tapas are everywhere and seemed very meat-centric to us, but I'm sure you can find things for the vegetarians. We were underwhelmed by Park Guell but you should go if it interests you. We also didn't care much about Receinte St Pau, although some people always recommend it. Try to see the Castellers if you're there for a performance. https://castellscat.cat/en/schedule?a=2025&m=11&p=189 is the schedule for November in Barcelona. If you're there during a festival, plan to see the giants and correfoc if they're doing that. On Sundays the city hall is open to visit.

The thing about being a vegetarian in Spain is that ham is often used as a flavoring even if it's not the primary component of the dish. It will be important to ask questions, especially if you're thinking about choosing a menu del dia scrawled on a blackboard with little descriptive information. I'm not a vegetarian (and I like ham), so it wasn't a big deal for me, but I once purchased a prepared salad with goat cheese on top. There was ham lurking under the cheese.

1) Parc Guell

I'd rate this as a strong "nice to do" but would also consider time of day and weather. We got an early ticket and the park was relatively quiet, but by the time we wrapped up our visit (just before noon), it was pretty darn busy and unpleasant. I'd suggest the earliest time slot (or perhaps a much later one?).

2) Palau Musica Catalana

To me, this is in the "must see" category. I put it up there with some of my favorite visits to music/opera venues. We coupled a tour with a separate show, and doing that pairing really was nice. We might even take in another show next spring on our next visit.

3) Tapas Walk

If you've been to Spain already and are familiar with tapas already, I'd skip an organized tapas walk. There are plenty of very good "visit on your own" tapas bars that you can easily enjoy without a guide. I'd also suggest trying the pintxos on offer at many bars vs simply tapas. While we are in no way savvy in the true way locals enjoy eating in Barcelona, we had an absolute BLAST going out in the evening as the pintxos started appearing, and having a drink and a few pintxos and watching/mingling with folks. After a while, a stroll and maybe another stop at another bar. Real fun and real tasty.

4) Casa Batllo

My feeling is there is a LOT of Gaudi on offer in Barcelona. Much can be enjoyed for free from an "external" viewpoint, but since several of these buildings are open to the public, you have a chance to pick and choose. We chose, instead, Casa Vicens and Palau Güell (and Sagrada Familia & Parc Güell) for our inside tours, and took in others (Casa Batlló & La Pedrera) on our wandering. Maybe folks can make a case for Batlló being "better", but we were very happy with the two "lesser" buildings we visited and there were not many folks there with us.

Hi All

Many thanks to all of you for your responses to my questions. I completely understand that none of you can predict if my family or I will like a particular sight or not, but I was just trying to get a feeling for sights that many of you liked a lot and others that you felt were so-so. I appreciate all the insight that you all have given me.

I do want to clarify that when I asked for recommendations about Tapas Walks, I was not trying to disrespect the cultural aspect of it. I certainly do not view it as "bar hopping". The reason I asked for recommendations for local areas where one can find many of the Tapas bars is because as I stated in my first message, half of my family are vegetarians. We therefore would prefer to go to a neighborhood that is known for Tapas bars because the odds of finding vegetarian Tapas there is higher than in a neighborhood with just a few of them. When we find a Tapas bar we like, we certainly plan to spend time there.

Thanks again for your help.

Penn

Hi Penn,

Oh, not at all — I didn’t take your question as disrespectful! I totally get where you’re coming from, and your reasoning makes perfect sense. Looking for a neighbourhood with several tapas (sorry, tapes 😉) options nearby is actually very practical, especially when you’ve got mixed dietary preferences in the group.

The reason I originally worded my comment that way is because “tapas walks” have become a bit of a cliché around here. Many travel blogs and even organised tours turn what used to be a relaxed, social, very local tradition into a kind of checklist experience — rushing from bar to bar without really soaking up the atmosphere or understanding the cultural side of it.

So when I brought that up, it wasn’t aimed at you personally, but more at that broader trend that’s changed how people perceive “anar de tapes” (going for tapes). I just wanted to point out that it’s more about the spirit — the slow enjoyment, the conversation, the unhurried rhythm — than about the number of dishes or stops. And honestly, your approach sounds very much in line with that! Taking your time, finding a neighbourhood that suits everyone, and staying put once you find a spot you love — that’s exactly how locals do it. As I suggested, check out Timeout for some references on what locals prefer.

For vegetarian-friendly areas, I’d recommend Gràcia — it’s full of small, authentic bars with a more local feel, and you’ll find plenty of veggie options too. Sant Antoni and Poble-sec are also great choices, especially (some, not all!) along Carrer Parlament or Carrer Blai. These areas have a good mix of traditional and creative spots, so you can easily find a bar that suits everyone. Having said that, most places offering tapes anywhere in town will have a mix of meat, fish and vegetable tapes, so I'd dare to say you're very unlikely to land in one that doesn't.

I really appreciate your note — it’s nice when visitors are curious about the local culture and want to experience it in a genuine way. Hope you and your family have a great time tasting your way through Barcelona!

Warm regards,

I enjoy walking around in nature so Parc Guell was a nice “break” from city life for me, if only for a few hours!

Thanks again to all of you for taking time to answer my questions about Barcelona. I really appreciate all the advice you have given me.

Penn

I often take walking/history/food tours with Devour, and in my experience they usually have vegetarian options available it might be worth inquiring on their website. They are great tours. Also, I attended a performance at Palau de Musica and it was fantastic. The interior is beautiful and worth a visit.

In my opinion, Casa Batllo really gives a different prespective from the other Gaudí works.

Keep in mind that it was a functional house of one of the richest Barcelona families at the time. The amount of detail and genius overall feeling that Gaudí inputed in all his works, translated into a "normal" house for living.

Don't misunderstand me, his other works are amazing (Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, etc) and challenge you in other ways, but Casa Batlló has that historical flashback that both transports you into the house of a rich Catalan business family & shocks you on how cool / genius / Gaudinian the work is.

If you have the time, I would visit both Casa Batllo and Casa Mila. IMO, they are both very different from each other, and they are both a wonderful and interesting experience.

Spend some time in Gracia, too. It’s a neighborhood where families live and you will see children playing outside, riding their bikes, etc. It’s a different experience and different vibe from the Barcelona where the “tourist sights” are located.