Our plane arrives at 7:15 AM in Barcelona on a weekday in June.
Does anyone have any suggestions about what to do in those wee morning hours before check-in? I assume much of the city will have just gone to sleep at that time. Thank you all for your suggestions!
Well, not everyone in the city will have been up dancing until dawn...
If your flight is scheduled to arrive at 7:15 am, it'll surely take you at least an hour or two to grab your bags, hit the ATM for some Euros, get through customs, make your way to your hotel, drop your bags with them, get some brekky, etc. So yeah, you will still have the typical dilemma of arriving in Europe, sleepy, and (probably) needing to wait until afternoon to check in (although it's certainly worth asking at your hotel how early you can have your room). The dilemma is always to try and stay awake, the common tactics are to be outside, walk around, get fresh air and sunshine, avoid sitting inside for long periods, fight the urge to take a nap, etc. For me, it means no museums, and a long walk to take in the arrival city. Try to stay awake until dinner, grab a light meal, then hit the sack for a very deep sleep. Set two alarms. :)
if possible try to leave the bags at hotel until it is legal time to checkin;
and then figure out how to go see the Gaudi's Sagarda Familia from the outside that will wake you up
Barcelona is a city that slumbers longer than most, and not necessarily because it is a city that likes to party.
Where is your accommodation located?
This city ain't a giant spring break... please leave that mentality home :)) In a weekday in June, MOST of the city will be quite asleep by midnight... because people work next day. If anything, you can find isolated spots here and there frequented by people that don't have to rise early in the morning, or a few of those that are simply visiting... not really much to do at that hour, sorry, the city is just waking up and you'll find lots of traffic of people going to work.
7:15 - so figure you will be at your hotel at 9. Leave your bags there, since you probably won't be able to check in. If you are staying in an apartment or somewhere that can't hold bags look into where there are luggage storage facilities. Sometimes train stations have this or private businesses with this exact purpose.
Then stay outside. Go see the outside of Sagrada Familia and sit in the park behind it with snacks from a nearby market. Do one of the Rick Steves walks. Many churches will be open if you feel like going in. Find a sidewalk cafe and sit with a coffee. Wander the area near your hotel to get familiar.
For along walk...
-Start at Arc de Triomf
-Walk thru Parc de la Ciutadella towards the sea front
-Walk the beach promenade from the Arts Hotel to the W Hotel
-From Barceloneta walk around the old port to Colon
-Walk up the Ramblas to Placa Catalunya, stopping at Boqueria Markets
-Continue up Passeig de Gracia, past Casa Batllo, to Casa Mila
These are all great suggestions, and they're well-suited to us, as we love to walk and explore. It'll also feel great after all those hours on the plane.
Thank you all so much for your ideas, and for cluing me in that the city's party-all-night reputation may be a bit of an exaggeration!
