Barcelona Tips Anyone?

[pinkmomagain]

Never been to Barcelona. Will be spending a few days there before our med cruise this summer. Any suggestions for accommodations, restaurants, or things to do? Will be there as a family.

TIA!

[larig]

Off the top of my head...
parc guell is BEAUTIFUL! I think kids would think it a magical place.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Güell


The Magic Fountain.
http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/albums-en/magic-fountains-montjuic/

las ramblas
http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/albums-en/ramblas/

we also did a boat ride around the harbor.

When I was there I didn't have kids, so a lot of the other stuff I'd suggest is more grown-up friendly (seeing La Sagrada Familia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagrada_Fam%C3%ADlia, and other Gaudi architecture).

[joules]

I'm not sure how feasible a day trip is. Pre-baby, we went to Figures for the Dali Museum (i think it was a 1-2 hour bus ride from Barcelona). It's more like a wacky fun house than museum - it was such a trip. I'm not artsy at all so I didn't really "get" the "art" at all...but it was a fun and unique experience.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dal%C3%AD_Theatre_and_Museum

There's nothing else to do in Figures.

[galvjen]

Per the tour books, Set Portes (seven doors) is THE restaurant for paella. (without kids) Loved it!! The food market off of Las Ramblas was incredible. The magic fountain and parc guell were pretty fantastic too. Barcellona was a wonderful start to our Spain trip (without kids).

[sste]

I also love parc guell (sp?)! And the gaudi cathedral, whatever that is called, I don't recall.

[larig]

I also love parc guell (sp?)! And the gaudi cathedral, whatever that is called, I don't recall.

La Sagrada Familia. It's lovely.

[HallsofVA]

We stayed in Barcelona for two nights before our transatlantic Disney cruise last September. Our flight arrived early Thursday morning, and we arranged a tour where the driver picked us (and our luggage) up at the airport, drove us around for 3 hours or so, stopping at the stadium, sagrada familia, parc g, and other famous sites, then dropped us off at the hotel at checkin time. The price was on par with the cost of just the transfer itself, and we got a great overview and a chance to see the most popular sites.

Once we got checked into the hotel, we took naps, showers, and went out for tapas for dinner.

On Friday, my family did the hop on hop off bus as a means for getting us to where we could catch the bus or trolley up to Tibadoo (or to the incline station to take us to Tibadoo), and for getting back to the hotel. The HOHO bus covered many of the same sites as our tour the day before, but because we were more awake and also out in the open, it was easier to pay attention and gave us a chance to get some better pictures. At Tibadoo we wandered around up there, though much of the amusement park was closed, and it was a bit too rainy for the playground. Our parents did a day trip to the montestary and winery that day.

If you're there in the summer, getting to the beach may be more important to you than it was to us.

We stayed at Le Meridien Barcelona because I had points and free night credits, but even getting a family suite it didn't officially sleep 4 people, though we talked them into letting one kid sleep on the couch and one on a rollaway (which they charged extra for) instead of making the kid sleep with the grandparents who were in another tower of the hotel. Location was good, but many folks with family have better luck with apartments or some of the hotels that cater to families.

[elbenn]

The tapas restaurants should be good for kids because you can order lots of little bites. Be aware that fish is often served whole (even shrimp come with heads on). Parc Guell is wonderful. So is La Sagrada Familia--you can climb it if you want. The city has a funicular. Las Ramblas is fun.

[HallsofVA]

The fountain is also a big draw. We had groups go on both nights, and had planned to go with the group on the 2nd night but had a huge rain storm that kept us in the hotel that night. Just be careful with your valuables there and across barcelona in general given the risk of pickpockets.

However, that said, DS left his backpack on the HOHO bus when we got off, and we reported it missing about an hour or so later to another bus driver who told us where to go at the end of the day. We were very happy to see that his backpack had been turned in with all of it's contents in place, so not everyone is a thief! (granted we had removed all of the games and items of monetary value.)