Hi,
Planning to go for a week to Barcelona and we planned many of the days.
However - not sure what we can/should do the first day, as we arrive (transatlantic red-eye flight) around 12:30 PM to the airport (to the hotel in l'Eixample I assume about 1 hour later?). We arrive on a Saturday.
One or both of Casa Mila and/or Batllo and then Ramblas (only to Liceu?) or the enitre Ramblas including Palau Guell and in the evening Magic Fountain?
Any ideas?
Thanks
when we are feeling jet lagged but trying to stay awake and get the lay of the land we like to take a hop on and hop off tour, get in the open air top and just ride the routes. We were feeling good our first day in Barcelona so we took an afternoon Fat Tire bike tour. It was great!
when we are feeling jet lagged but trying to stay awake and get the lay of the land we like to take a hop on and hop off tour, get in the open air top and just ride the routes. We were feeling good our first day in Barcelona so we took an afternoon Fat Tire bike tour. It was great!
I wouldn't plan one of the modernista sites for your first day. They are quite expensive and usually require advance purchase of tickets to avoid a long wait in line. You may be dead on your feet upon arrival. I'd much rather walk around in the Eixample or the Barri Gotic than pay for a HO/HO bus; I assume a full-day fee though it may be more like 3 PM by the time you're settled in your lodgings and ready to head out. I'd be certain to fall asleep, but some people like them.
Ditto on previous suggestion of hop on hop off bus. Great introduction to Barcelona to get the lay of the land. Next am you're rested & ready to revisit areas on foot.
It's hard to say what your energy level will be. Sometimes you just can't sleep on the flight. We landed at the airport at 11:30am, took a taxi to our hotel near the Cathedral, unpacked and put up our feet for an hour, took a taxi to Sagrada Familia for our pre-purchased admission at 4 pm. But we had only two days in Barcelona and took a chance that we would be able to enjoy it. I think your idea of getting out and walking is the best way to reset your internal clocks.
If it's of any help... been traveling for years and I've come to the conclusion the best way to counteract jetlag is NOT to rest immediately after landing, no matter how "tired" you think you are. If your energy level doesn't allow for a proper visit to a museum, then simply stroll the city, get fresh air, feel the vibe of the residents, take mental notes of the things you see and will want to explore in more detail the next day... have light meal, and when it's dark (important!) then go to bed. This way your Circadian rhythm won't be altered as much by the fact you've changed a number of time zones.
Thanks so much to everyone for the replies - really useful information.
I understand the recommendation of the HO/HO bus, however, given the great info from "Bill" re the time from airport, we'll likely not head out before 3:00 PM, so as "acraven" mentioned, not sure it's worth spending the money for 1/2 a day (or even less).
Thanks for getting me out of visiting any "house"/"site"...as we're staying 1 week (technically 6 1/2 days as we're flying out the following Sat morning at 11:25 am), we actually already planned for the different houses and Sagrada familia for other days.
In the end - knowing my family:-) and my propensity to stop and take a photo every 2-3 minutes especially when I'm first time in a city - I'll probably opt for an easy stroll (thanks "Enric") towards Pl. Catalunya and then maybe doing some of the Ramblas Ramble (getting maybe some snacks at La Boqueria market) or thereabout. We'll see depending how "fresh" we'll feel.
Thanks for now!
Hey SFJ67... (gosh, I'd rather call you Sam or John or Bill, LOL!)
When are you arriving? I mean in which date? also, where do you come from? (city/town not country, that I know!) and last question... where are you staying? in which part of town?
To Enric,
It's actually Sorin:-)
Arriving from Toronto, Canada - staying close to Provenca metro station.
To Bill,
Thanks for the advice, but as much as me (and my family) love "free" stuff...none of us want to get into any museum for 2-3 hours same day after arriving on a red-eye 8 hours flight:-)
We have MNAC scheduled (tentatively) as part of the Poble Espanyol (early) /Montjuc (mid-day/afternoon) /Barcelonetta (late aft/evening) day.
Thanks
Sorin
I too would advise against any paid entry sights on your arrival day.
My suggestion is to walk it off. Start at Arc de Triomf, then thru Parc de la Ciutadella to the Barceloneta waterfront. Depending on time you could drink or dine before finishing by Colon at the port end of the Ramblas. Take the metro back to your hotel.
The next day pick up your exploration where you left off ...
Colon >> Palau Guell >> Placa Real >> Liceu >> La Boqueria >> Placa Catalunya >> Passeig de Gracia >> Casa Batllo >> Casa Mila.
SFJ67,
We enjoy HOHO buses and I believe that would be a good first day activity (although it might be expensive for only riding 1/2 day). We arrived in Barcelona six weeks ago for a five day visit and took acravens advice and visited Sant Pau, which we really enjoyed. We always try to be outdoors our first day to combat jet lag and Sant Pau involves much time outdoors. It also is a less popular site, thus you most likely can show up and not endure a line. Lastly, its near Segrada Familia, thus allowing you to see the magnificent basilica before (most likely) touring later on your trip. Enjoy Barcelona
Thanks djp_syd and christshieder,
Both are very interesting tips - to be honest, I didn't have Arc de Triompf in the plan, maybe this is a good opportunity to include it.
For the Sant Pau - I was planning to include it in the day we're doing Park Guell and Sagrada, mid-day between the two.
From your hotel, take the FGC from Provença (technically not a metro stop) to Catalunya and change to Metro Line 1 (Red) for Arc de Triomf.
Return to your hotel on Metro Line 3 (Green) from Drassanes to Diagonal.
