Need help with first Spain trip 10/6 to 10/18

You could visit the other Gaudi creations. The kids would especially like Park Guell. Or Casa Mila

https://www.lapedrera.com/en/

Thank you so much! I’ll check them out.

I would discourage you from using a 3rd party site for any museum or attraction. That's a good way to get scammed. Keep checking Sagrado Familia to see if any more tickets become available and if so, jump on them.

I spent about 3 nights in Barcelona pre cruise a few years back.

I stayed at the top of La Rambla which was being rehabilitated so as to be more resident friendly. The work should be done. I would suggest walking down La Rambla towards the Christopher Columbus statue and then on to Port Vell.

And I would suggest a day at Montserrat. So beautiful and interesting.

https://barcelonalowdown.com/visiting-montserrat-from-barcelona/.

There are other places close to Barcelona that wuld make great day excursions.

But unfortunately Barcelona is over visited and the city is hoping to reduce tourism. AirBnb's are seen as part of the problem because they scoop up property that could be used for residents.

Nevertheless Barcelona is beautiful and interesting and I found people very nice. There is always something to do. You will not get bored.

Great shopping if you are shoppers. Ditto food. And beautiful beaches.

Ditto the Park Guell suggestion.
I will also be in Madrid on 10/12 (end of my trip). Just fyi Oct. 12 is a major national holiday in Spain with a big parade in Madrid. Many museums and sites are free and don't take reservation that day, which from what I read means that they will have long lines and bigger than normal crowds.

Sagrada Familia is not to be missed. It is one of the great world treasures and you're right there near it.

In general, Phil is correct about trying to buy direct to avoid problems and fees. But Viator is a legit tour site and they show tickets for October 8th. I see "skip the line" for $63 and a guided tour for $80. For $17, I'd spring for the guide. You're sadly paying a €40 premium because Viator gobbled up the tickets and repackaged them but it's still worth it.

There are many beautiful sites that make Barcelona a wonderful place to visit, but I'd hate to have you be right there and miss out on such a crown jewel.

With 5 days on the front and ___ days after Madrid, you'll be able to do and see a lot. Walk around, eat tapas, drink vermut, use the Metro to get around, take a Spanish Civil War walking tour with Nick Lloyd, take a day trip to Montserrat, tour the beautiful Palau de la Musica Catalana and a Gaudi house or two, take in a rooftop flamenco performance, visit a market, eat fresh seafood.

Do not miss Sagrada Familia, even if you have to pay for for tickets.
Also, Monseratt is worth visiting, suggest going early (take the train to where you catch the cable car).

While in Madrid, do day trips to Toledo (for sure) and Segovia.
Toledo was the former capital 500 years ago and it is largely intact and awesome.
Segovia has an intact 1800 old Roman Aqueduct that still functioned until the mid-20th Century.

I realize this is definitely very much a minority view, but I think you’ll have a great trip to Barcelona without visiting the Sagrada Família, if the tickets are that expensive and hard to get. I’ve seen it a couple times, on different visits to Barcelona with different people, and I think it’s wildly overrated. But that’s because I simply don’t much care for either Gaudi’s style or his vision, and that’s purely a personal reaction.