I am an American college student studying abroad in Copenhagen this semester, and I am going to be visiting Barcelona Wednesday, May 11th and Thursday, May 12th. It will be my first time in Barcelona. Does anyone have any recommendations for things to do, sites to see, museums to visit, places to eat, places to avoid (e.g., high risk pick pocket areas), etc. (keeping in mind that I am on a college student's budget)? I'm a fan of Picasso and Miro, and I'd like to see some of Gaudi's architecture. Are there any relevant sites I should be sure not to miss? Thank you!
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
2387 posts
Since you're a student make sure to ask for student discounts on admissions to museums. The Picasso museum (in the gothic quarter) is great to see his early work. I think it's worth a trip up Montjuic to the Miro museum (I'm not a fan personally, but the museum had a good selection and an awesome view of the city). You can see a lot of Gaudi for free (street views), including the Parc Guell (worth it to take a taxi up that way). There's a website (Google it) that lists all the Modernisme architecture (Gaudi and others) with a map so you can walk around and see a lot of great buildings. I liked Casa Mila on the inside, but if you're on a budget I'd skip going in. Las Ramblas is a spectacle, but also the place to keep your eyes peeled for pickpockets, etc. Most of all, have fun!
Posted by
Fontainebleau, France
893 posts
It sounds like you won't have all that much time in Barcelona. Given your interests in Gaudi, I'd suggest dong the RunnerBean Tours "free" (tip expected) tour of the Gaudi sites. Our tour was great, and the majority of people on it were college students staying at hostels. The guides will show you pictures of the insides of some of the places, which will save you some money. I was surprised at how expensive it was to get in them. You can take a bus from Pl. Catalunya (ask at the TI there - I can't remember the number) to Park Guell to save money. It's a huge uphill walk if you take the metro. The Picasso museum is nice, and not that big, so you should have time to do Picasso and Miro in one day (I have not done the Miro museum, so I can't çomment about it). The TI offers a Picasso tour + museum visit if you'd like more information. Pickpockets are everywhere. We did two tours with RunnerBean and on both tours people were complaining about having been pickpocketed. Carry a bag on your front and make sure you've got everything secured. I carried my wallet in a zipper compartment in my bag that has a zipper on the top and then a flap that snaps shut over that. Never had a problem with it.