EnricM

De res!... thanks for the effort, albeit my mother tongue is Catalan -the local language over here is not Spanish:)

Yes indeed... keep in mind that Barcelona, contrary to many other cities elsewhere, especially in the [allow me...] New World, did not historically grow from a centre into suburbs but absorbing towns already existing in the plain of Barcelona. They now form part of the city as neighbourhoods. This results in having a very "decentralized" city, in fact, there are several centres so to speak. These neighbourhoods are sort of self-contained areas, meaning they all have their main squares, main streets, shops, cinemas, restaurants, monuments, etc. If you live in one of these neighbourhoods there's no real "need" to go out of the neighbourhood for food or entertainment. This is not to say neighbours don't go elsewhere, of course, we Barcelonians are very "mobile" and we like to move about to different parts of the city whether for a stroll, a restaurant, that special shop, or whatever. There are only a few neighbourhoods that are were created as "residential" per se, and this happened mainly during the 1920s and then the 1950s and 60s to accommodate successive waves of the Spanish migrants into Catalonia. But even these have grown over time into a mix of residential-commercial areas. They, however, have little or no reason to be visited as they don't contain special buildings, monuments or other places of interest -much less to an occasional visitor.

Anyhow, among the historical neighbourhoods, I would highlight Poble Nou or Sarrià among other. These neighbourhoods are not spectacular nor have many "monuments" or "attractions", but they keep a little town-like ambience which seems to have preserved their spirit over time and which makes them worthwhile a visit.

POBLE NOU

Literally "New Town" in Catalan. It was nicknamed "The little Manchester" back in the mid-1800s because it had a large number of factories (textile and metal manufacturing mostly) resembling the epicentre of the Industrial Revolution, the English city of Manchester. Nowadays all these factories are long gone, albeit one can still see some of the factory chimneys -which are now heritage monuments.

The neighbourhood is nowadays a melange of different things: on the one hand it contains the so-called "@22 district", the hub of the knowledge industries and technology companies in the city -where all the major ones' HQs are located; it also houses dozens of creative workshops and art studies, and alongside this, the traditional working-class neighbourhood of the historical Poble Nou. Being next to the beaches, it also encompasses a new breed of wealthy investors -local and foreign alike- which hog all the premium real estate in the new developments at the beach front. Note however that "beachfront" in these shores means at least 150 yards from the actual beach as the coast (all the coast) is public land and developments are not allowed. You might find the odd house or building but these were built during the Spanish dictatorship of Franco, and you know in such corrupt environments rules and regulations are "bendable".

I particularly like the area around Rambla del Poblenou, sort of the main street in the neighbourhood, a long nice promenade full of small shops and restaurants with terraces which communicates the area with the beaches. In that particular boulevard, there are a couple of good restaurants I tend to go from time to time, one is specialized in seafood in carrer Taulat and serve great paellas and the other is a no-frills very cosy and romantic place serving typical Catalan snacks located in the promenade itself. This one is cosier in the evening but you to get there at 8:30-9 since it's always full. Unfortunately, it seems that in this forum "locals at port" are always considered guilty of something (while in truth I couldn't care less whether any one goes or not to the places I mention!) so if I name the places the post will be deleted. Sorry. I hope the hints help ;)

SARRIÀ

Much older than the previous, its origins are traced as far back as the 10th century albeit the first stable settlement dates from the 13th century. In 1921 the town was annexed to the growing city and now, administratively, is a neighbourhood of Barcelona. Life in Sarrià evolved around its main street "Major de Sarrià" which ends in a little square where the church of Sant Vicenç de Sarrià is located. Much like in squares in many towns and cities across Catalonia, many Sunday mornings at noon "sardanes" -the national dance of Catalonia- are danced in that square. Young and elderly join hands in circles to dance this ancient folkloric dance. The calendar for sardanes gatherings in the neighbourhood for 2018 is here. (note, "lloc" is Catalan for "place" so you know if the gathering is happening elsewhere in the neighbourhood).

Among other curiosities, this fancy-decorated balcony in Major de Sarria, 21 pays homage to the Roman roots of the village. A visit to Sarrià must include, of course, a visit to the Monastery of Pedralbes once the heart of the Catalan royalty during the 13th-14th centuries.

There are also quite a few nice small quirky little restaurants in this area. A few in which I have eaten at quite a few times in that part of the city: one is an unassuming tavern-like place in Major de Sarrià street serving no-frills plain traditional Catalan cooking dishes. The place was established in 1873 and has since served the hardworking citizens of this neighbourhood. A couple more places I like: one is located in the same main street, in nbr 134 and it has a wonderful interior patio for a meal on a hot day; the other one is a romantic little place a further down the same street, in nbr 109. For a quick snack, there's a place by the church square of Sant Vicenç de Sarrià, which is located in an 18th-century 'medievalised' manor from a very rich merchant family of that time. Now the ground foor is a restaurant. Worthwhile seeing. Food is also very good.

And a map so you know where these neighbourhoods are located.

Enjoy!

... and if you take bus #24 in Plaça Catalunya -top of Les Rambles- you can stop at the East gate of the park (by the bus parking lot)... a mere 200 yards from the park with no hills :)

From the stop of Vallcarca, this is what you'll encounter https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NJHANogF8a4/UVH20F_bbzI/AAAAAAAAEUU/i7a6t5uRi1c/s1600/4.jpg and notice there are escalators only in some stretches of the hill. For extra info, did you know this street is called "Baixada de la Glòria" -Catalan, the local language- for "descent from glory"? Boy, it is if you're on top but not when you're at the bottom going up!

WHAT TO DO ON A SUNDAY IN BARCELONA

Sunday is a weird day so to speak because shops are closed -except for the shopping mall at the old harbour named Maremagnum, and it has to do with the harbour area having a different applicable law than the rest of the city. So most locals tend to either stroll in the morning (La Rambla, Barri Gòtic, or one's own neighbourhood as most have their own 'life'.. or the long promenade by the sea in La Barceloneta), going to the beach or practice some sport (cycling, jogging, skating...) in one of the many green areas of the city or in the biggest city park in Europe: Collserola located at barely a 15' metro ride from the city centre.

Another very local tradition is having a vermut before lunch (note I am posting this article just to explain what 'having a vermut' means), and then is either museum and/or cinema in the afternoon (well, you call it 'movie theatres', don't you?). Public museums -those run by the City Council- are free from 3pm onwards including the Botanical Garden and the Pedralbes Monastery in the upper posh part of the city too. This site is not in English yet simply press over 'Veure els museus' and you'll have the list of the museums which are free on Sunday afternoon. As per cinemas in English, check here (we call them: "original language cinemas" because movies are shown in their original language other than our language, Catalan, whatever it might be -not necessarily English, so check before deciding to go to a movie!)

......

Other activities you can do on a Sunday: take a hoho ride, go to the beach, visit a nearby town... and for the later here are some ideas:

GIRONA - FIGUERES, note this and Girona are very close - SITGES - MONTSERRAT - TARRAGONA - VIC (in the morning) - BESALÚ (also best in the morning)

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On a Sunday, and if I had no time or desire to take a train to make an escapade, I would visit Park Güell first and then Sagrada Família later, probably two of the most emblematic sites in the city.

Both gather quite a crowd but PG at 9am is far less crowded than later in the day. If, aside the monumental part of the park, you decide to visit as well other features in the free area of the park (ie. the Viaduct, or the Turó de les Tres Creus, which is located in the highest point of the park and offers a magnificent view of the city) then I would calculate over 2 hours in the park. From Plaça Catalunya, take bus #24 and get off in the East gate of the park, visit then first the free area and then, say at 10:30am, enter the monumental part. Note you need to pre-book online! This way you can then exit via the main entrance and walk Larrard Street downhill towards the Gràcia district.

Gràcia is a bohemian district, founded in 1626 and independent from Barcelona until 1897 when the expansion of the old city absorbed many neighbouring towns and hamlets into the city and now these are districts and neighbourhoods. But Gràcia, much like Sarrià or Poble Nou, still preserve some of the town-like ambiance, with low rise buildings, narrow semi-pedestrianised streets... A stroll in Gràcia on a Sunday is something you must do, and have a vermut or a beer and a tapa in one of the many terraces in the squares. If you follow the YELLOW route on this map you'll visit the most emblematic areas of this unassuming and unpretentious district: Gràcia has also quite a few restaurants and other places to grab a bite. In their squares, especially the main one: Plaça Vila de Gràcia, one can often find popular gatherings, fairs, castellers' contests (*), etc. on some Sundays.

(*) This video is not from one of the typical gatherings, it's from the "finals" (sort of 'superbowl' for castellers) and it's celebrated every year in a stadium in Tarragona.

Then, by say 2:45ish I would head towards Sagrada Família on foot so to admire the architecture of the many modernist facades in L'Eixample district (see here a sample). It's a 30'-45' relaxed stroll so you'd reach La Sagrada Família by say 3:30pm. Do remember to pre-book to ensure you don't have to queue.

Near La Sagrada Família (10' walk) you have also another attraction you might want to explore: Sant Pau Centre Modernista. If you decide to include this you'll have to readjust the previous schedule, of course. Alternatively, there's a great Irish pub in the same square of LSF that I do like quite a lot: the Michael Collins (what else!?), a stop for a cold beer is always welcome -or if you are British, you'll probably prefer a warm one, ugh!

For both, PG and LSF, your pre-booked tickets give you a window of 15' from the time you chose when booking in which you can enter the premises -after that you'll be refused entrance. Once inside you can spend as long as you want. For those not aware, due to the popularity of the city, some monuments in Barcelona are booked on a time-basis, that is, when booking you're offered a set of available "entry slots" for that day (ie 9am, 9:30am, 10am.... ), and that's the time you need to be there to get in -actually get there 10' before your chosen entry time. Also, IMPORTANT, for some monuments/museums in the city -and especially PG and LSF- forget about "turning up" and getting a ticket in the booth... the queues are epic so you're very likely going to be queueing for a long time. Not just that, it might happen that when it's your turn, the available slots are not convenient and you're offered a slot hours later or worst, for the next day. So DO PRE-BOOK online!

Enjoy!

Enric

Except for shops and offices, everything else is open on Sundays.

The terminal, or to be exact, in any of the five terminals.

+1 answer above.

Not Bob, but if my answer helps... around 35€ on weekday+day hours (8am-8pm)+ normal traffic.

Obviously, there's no accountancy for taste, but Cuatro Naciones is representative of nothing, just a horrendously tacky touristy hotel, 'thematized' for unaware visitors and located in one of the noisiest parts of Les Rambles. Just sayin'.

Yes, minivans. Simply wait your turn in the queue and when you arrive at the head of the line ask the taxi marshall to call up a minivan. If any is available -and they normally are- it'll come in a few minutes. They can hold up to 7 pax with luggage.

... what season?... this ain't Disneyworld, LOL!.... this is a real monastery, with monks living there and the lot. It so happens that we, secular visitors, "disturb" them all year long, but they go on with their daily routines, among which the teaching of music to children and the training and performances of the choir. Don't worry, life in Montserrat, like many other things in here in Barcelona, flows all year around, this is a very vibrant city with 2 million inhabitants.

McDonalds? I am sorry but I don't know what is "american food", I've tasted succulent clam chowder in New England, cochon de lait in Cajun country, broccoli chicken casserole in the Midwest or kuchen in Dakota, among other, all of them from very different types of cuisine. If you could be more precise... I'll be glad to suggest something.

... which you can also buy in any hardware store (and many supermarkets/dept stores) here in Barcelona for peanuts :)

So you know...

1.) Shuttle bus takes you as far into the centre as the Columbus Statue, then either walk -if the hotel is close- or take metro/bus. Shuttle is 3-4€, bus/metro is 2.20€ (single ticket)... so say you're two pax: it's going to cost you ~13€ (*)

2.) A taxi to anywhere in the centre shouldn't cost you more than 20€ (incl. additional charges)

(*) If you need to transfer to a second bus to reach your destination note that you'll need a second ticket -unless you were to purchase initially a T-10 travelcard, but not knowing your particulars I can't advise that.

@Pamluis... sorry but your question is too vague... this city is not huge but it's "sizable", so "centrally" means little. Do post the exact address and I'll gladly advice. Depending on where you go in the so-called "centre", there are up to 4 different means of transportation.

@mskaufman

LOL!... no guiding, sorry... but surely we can meet for a friendly stroll one afternoon!

Thanks for your link in the private message at TA. Nevertheless it continues without working. Just for information: I did a bit more research and I discovered that the error is rather common with this website as there's a bunch of links (just googling "javascript error shutterfly") running back as far as 2010. Thanks anyway.

Thanks a lot... may I impose on you and ask you to send me the link via a Private Message in TripAdvisor instead? I would very much prefer not to post my email address in the open forum. My nickname there is the same than here at CC. Do you have a TA user? This private messaging is a feature I do miss here at CC. If it is too complicated, don't worry, I appreciate the intend altogether.

By the way, great picture of Palau Nacional (National Palace), built out of a 1924 competition for the 1929 International Exposition. This event had been postponed since 1917 due to the WWI and the ensuing Spanish dictatorship by Primo de Rivera imposed over this territory --yep, the Spaniards have the habit to establish dictatorships and absolutist monarchies against its colonies, like us here in Catalonia.:) Since 1934 it has been home to the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC), one of best art museums in Europe for the Romanesque period (6th to 11th centuries).

Alongside a set of spectacular water fountains and illuminated cascades, which are on many nights, on certain evenings the open air Magic Fountain show is also on display. The Magic Fountain is a true balletic spectacle of water and light and music which has fascinated generations of Barcelonians since 1929. Check the website for specifics on schedules as it varies throughout the year. Worth noting is one the few "attractions" that continue to be free in this ever more materialistic world! Have a peek here.

The four columns located in front of Palau Nacional, in between this building and the Magic Fountain, -in the picture you can only see two of them- represent the four stripes of the Catalan flag, called "la senyera" (roughly pronounced "seh-nee-eh-rah"), the flag of Catalonia since the 12th century. The monument was designed by famous architect Puig i Cadafalch in 1915. Note that in this postcard of that time, the National Palace -which ought to be in the back- hadn't yet been built. This architect is also the mastermind behind other famous monuments in Barcelona, some of which are open for visits.

During the dictatorship of the Spanish general Primo de Rivera in the 1920s -who had a fiercely hatred against the Catalans- the demolition of this monument was ordered for what it represented: the pride of the Catalan nation -much like the Lincoln Memorial or the Statue of Liberty for you guys.The monument has been fully restored just a few years ago, many decades after such shameful event -and the passing of yet another long Spanish dictatorship, that of fascist general Franco, which had equally not love for us Catalans either. Now they majestically preside the entrance to Montjuïc

...@mskaufman, I continue getting the same message, maybe it's something regional (first time I come across this anyway) but again, sadly I'll be missing your pictures :((

Well, we're talking to the whole Old City (neighbourhoods of El Gòtic, Santa Caterina, Sant Pere, La Ribera, El Raval and La Barceloneta) and also some neighbourhoods in l'Eixample, but you can also find quite busy other parts of the city, like Gràcia, Poble Sec, Poble Nou....

Map of neighbourhoods: https://monbarcino.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/barris_bcn.jpg

... ah ok, peaceful city, then you're definitively not used to a Sat afternoon in Barcelona

... yep, but many restaurants' kitchens won't be open earlier. There are 15000+ eateries in that part of town so you'll always find somewhere to grab a bite at any time, but you also might find "that" restaurant you wanted it's not opening its kitchen until later (8.30-9)

Actually, depending on where you come from (-az = Arizona??? and if so, Phoenix? Tucson?) you might find Saturday afternoon in the centre of the city far too busy. Also notice that "life" goes on until the wee hours, shops close between 8:30 and 9, then shopping malls and dept stores between 9 and 10, restaurants start getting busy from 9ish onward until midnight, then lots of people go strolling, or to have a drink in a terrace, or a pub, or a bar.... later nightclubs start getting crowded (past midnight) and you'll find people around until 2-3am. Then it starts clearing up but you still won't be alone, there are people here and there until 4-5am. And yet, this is not a "summer resort"! NYers and New Orleanianers will indeed understand me.

@mskaufman... so sorry, but just tried again and the same error. See for yourself (check the time, it's just a half an hour ago, 5ish PM GMT). This is the exact error: https://ibb.co/hrecvS

I have also checked with my laptop and with my phone -in data mode, to ensure it wasn't a wifi problem- and still... maybe someone else can check and see if it's a DNS thing or something else. Preferably it should be tested by someone currently "in" the States and someone outside. Also tried using a proxy located elsewhere (to ensure it's not a regional problem): http://www.gatherproxy.com/webproxylist Tried with one in the Netherlands -a country with very fast Internet. Same problem appears though (if you try, remember to untick "remove scripts" for it to work).

Don't know where you got that idea.

closed?, LOL!.... for crying out loud, Saturday is the worst day for shopping... flocks of shoppers everywhere. :)

@mskaufman, so you know at 8ish GMT of today March 27th, when trying to access your page I get a "The JavaScript for this page failed to load correctly" error. Tried on different computers and with different browsers. Don't know if it's a temporary glitch in your website or what. Looking forward to see your pictures :)

Also stay away from the troublemakers, there are always individuals that take any opportunity to stir up for uncalled trouble. In the "incidents" we had a few days ago, several anarchists were detained and at least one Spanish police undercover officer was identified by the Catalan police -whether he was acting on his own accord or not is not known though, at least publicly.

In many of rallies and demonstrations, when there's someone trying to provoke violence he tends to be pointed out by the rest so he can feel pressured and hopefully leave. Obviously, this works when the troublemaking is just by an individual or two.That's how we do demonstrate here. Violence is not the aim -of the majority at least. In any case, sadly the violence is mostly not executed by the demonstrators but by the sometimes savagery of the police trying to repress a peaceful demonstration. There can be shouting but that never justified unrestrained police charges, do they? I would imagine the dark past of the fascism in Spain is still too present in the acts of some.

Anyhow, the advice for visitors is always to avoid potentially charged situations right? after all is not your call and you're simply passing by. That's what I've always done when travelling abroad and confronted with demonstrations. In any case, one immediately sees when it's a peaceful demonstration or whether it can turn ugly. Just use common sense.

Sure Keith, but I've already had my brushes with the mods in the past for apparently being too specific -it seems the acceptable role of the locals at port is rather a greyish area- so I prefer if you look me up in TripAdvisor, where private messaging is available. My nick there is the same and I drop by the Barcelona and Catalunya forums from time to time.