Las Ramblas and Gothic

Six hours is plenty of time for just walking around the area. You could even see the Barcelona Cathedral at the same time.

30 minutes on ramblas, walk from plaza down to market on right. Cut through the market and then start enjoying a better perspective of barcelona. Cris cross across ramblas and get to the cathedral and surrounding area. Stop at cafes and enjoy watching humanity flow by while enjoying a beverage.

30 mins on Rambla does not leave much time for looking at anything! One can spend at least that long in the Boqueria Market if desired. But your 6 hours should be plenty. Definitely have some Sangria on Rambla and people watch.

One hour to touch the main parts of Las Ramblas, La Boqueria, and the many vendors on Las Ramblas...(So many sell the same things you will find,) but the artists and mimes are entertaining. Put a coin in the box and the mimes will move, dance, or whatever, and pose for a photo. La Boqueria is fascinating..open air market with some eats available. Gothic area is safe to walk in, lots of small streets, shops along each side.. The Cathedral is there as well as the Church of Santa Maria Del Mar, which I find to be more interesting...Some great tapas and bars from street to street and fine restaurants as well. My favorite bar is about one block south of the Picasso Museum at the main cross street, on the left hand corner as you are walking south across the intersection.....go in and see the bartenders!! They are true artists!!

I don't recommend take a drink in La Rambla for the expensive prices.. As HJ says, in the Gothic and Born quarters there are many bars and restaurants.

If you have a well-marked route 6 hours are sufficient.

A good route can be:

La Rambla: Plaça Catalunya - Canaletes - Boqueria Marquet (Hospital street to visit Hospital de la Santa Creu) - Liceu - Nou de la Rambla street to visit Palau Güell - Columbus column.

Gothic Quarter: Av. Portal de l'Àngel - Portaferrissa - Petritxol - Plaça del Pi - Carrer del Call - Plaça Sant Jaume - Carre del Paradís - Carrer del Bisbe - Plaça Sant Felip Neri - Cathedral - Plaça del Rei - Plaça de l'Àngel

Born Quarter: Plaça de l'Àngel - Carrer de l'Argenteria - Santa Maria del Mar - Fossar de les Moreres - Passeig del Born - Born Centre Cultural - Carrer Montcada (Picasso Museum) - Santa Caterina Market - Palau de la Música Catalana.

I think it depends on any sights you might want to see in the area. It could easily be a very full day. I'd recommend starting your day in Barri Gothic with the guided walk from the TI (Placa Sant Jaume). It's a great value. Then you can spend more time visiting places you want to see, churches, art galleries, museums, etc.

Las Ramblas is about an hour or so from Placa Catalunya down to the statue of Columbus, depending on your pace and number of stops along the way (under a half hour if you walk non-stop). This is the pickpocket heaven of Barcelona. I didn't notice much there, other than wheelchairs trying to run into/over people intentionally (presumably as a distraction for thieves). Avoid carrying a lot of shopping bags, a purse, or anything else that would be easy for a pickpocket to target along the Ramblas.

Good advice above.