We are young 70's grandparents meeting our two granddaughters in Barcelona next June when they are out of school. We will be there about a month before they get there traveling in southern Spain and Madrid. First will it be easy to meet them in the Airport in Barcelona (they will both be 15) as they will be traveling for the first time without parents into a foreign country? And should we plan to take the train to Madrid with them, since we both will have spent time there. I'm afraid that 10 days in Barcelona will be too long to keep them happy.
If not to Madrid, is there a better place to take two 15 year old girls.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
I love Madrid! There is a lot to see and do there, world-class art museums, great shopping, beautiful architecture. You could get a good overview on the hop-on, hop-off bus tour, then stop to look around. Madrid is very different from Barcelona, so it would be a good addition to your trip.
Posted by
Oak Park, Illinois
4535 posts
You can meet them at the airport, but only where they exit from baggage. You won't be able to enter the secure area. If you let them lay on the beach, I bet they would not mind one bit spending 10 days in Barcelona. But throwing in some cultural experiences would be good for them... I would look to take a visit to Madrid. It will show them another part of Spain and it has such amazing museums. Definitely plan to spend a night or two there. The other option would be northern Spain, like San Sebastian, Pamplona and/or Bilboa. It's pretty accessible from Barcelona.
Posted by
Windsor, CO, USA
54 posts
I am picking up from your post that you will have been to Madrid already, before meeting your granddaughters? If that is true, why not adjust your itinerary for the two of you, and then enjoy a few days in Madrid with the girls? Madrid is a world-class city with so much to see and do, you would all enjoy exploring it together. With a month or so first, you can thoroughly enjoy Andalucia, then journey north and central.
Posted by
Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
11 posts
There is an amusement park in Barcelona that you can go one day (Tibidabo). In Barcelona as well you can go to park well, designed by Gaudi, with animals that can be interesting for kids. From Barcelona you can make a nice ride to the Basque Country, visiting: Pamplona, San Sebastian, Vitoria and Bilbao. The Basque Country is quite surprising area. Some plans for 15 year old can be: In Pamplona you can see the planetary and run on the way that the bulls run. In San Sebastian, visit the aquarium and the science museum or to the old amusement park with wonderful views of Igeldo. In Bilbao the Guggenheim and make a tour along the river or a boat ride. In Vitoria you can make a horse ride along the mountains, enjoy the games festival or take a balloon trip over the mountains to arrive to Rioja area.
After that you can just choose what you prefer. Hope that you will enjoy with your granddaughters. Aitor Delgado
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
June,, and two 15 yr old girls, go to the beach!!! I would rent a car and tour the small towns and cities of the Costa Brava coastline,, we are going to visit Tossa de Mar but have heard that Cadques and Lloret de Mar are a bit more fun ( more buzz) for teens. I wouldn't do just 10 days of pure city be it Madrid or Barcelona when you could work in 3-4 days off lovely coastline on the mediterrean!
Posted by
OP
Dallas, TX, usa
323 posts
We have decided to meet them in Madrid and spend a few days before we go to Barcelona. But it will be our first time in Barcelona and we want to do a lot of sightseeing including Montserrat. We don't do cars.
We will do one trip to the beach, but they are easy going girls, and while we're sure they will get tired of churches, that's what happens when you're with grandparents.