Another Barcelona itinerary question

We arrive in Barcelona on a Friday at 10:05am. Plan to take the Aerobus to our hotel on Place Catalunya. Then plan to take the HOHO bus (3 lines) the rest of the day, approx. five hours.

Next day, Saturday, we plan to do Sagrada Familia at 9am. Then go to Park Gruell around noon. There is an afternoon excursion to Montserrat at 3pm from Place Catalunya. Do you think we will be able to fit it in or do we need more time at Park Gruell?

On Sunday morning we were thinking of doing the Rick Steves Bari Gotic walk and then taking a taxi to our cruise ship. Do you think we have enough time so we can board before 1pm?

I really wish we would have come in a day earlier so not to cram so much in in so little time. If anyone can suggest a better itinerary, please do.

Whether you have enough time at Park Guell is up to you. Depends how much you want to see. We spent around 4 hours there, but we walked all over the park. What you propose for Saturday would be too much for us.

May I ask if you are landing in Barcelona from a flight from North America? If so, you will likely be somewhat jet lagged and should consider how you plan to deal with that. If so, you may not accomplish as much on your first day as you would hope.

I have to agree with some of the others. Monserratt is a Half-Day trip by with a tour company or an all day trip if you DIY.

Also, you should purchase entry tickets to Parc Guell Monumental Area in advance and for your time period if you want to assure that you will get in to this limited ticket area. Just walking around the free areas, does not do justice to the park and all you will see is a park and not the Gaudi attractions.

Same with Sagrada Familia. If you have advance tickets and a set time for entry, then this will work.

When we went, we did Parc Guell first. We got advance tickets for 10 am (for tour and entry to monumental area). Reason: It was cooler in the AM. And since we were staying at a hotel near Place Catalunya, we were able to catch the #24 bus at 9:00 am from Place Catalunya (IFO the department store) that went straight to the side entrance of Parc Guell where the tours began. The bus stop was less than 75 feet from the where the tours began. The tour lasted an hour in the monumental area and we spent another hour walking around the free areas of the park.

From here we, we had lunch at a sandwich shop at the top of the stairs/escalators and then walked DOWN to the metro station. (I would have hated to climb up the stairs from the Metro station) From the metro station, we traveled to Sagrada Familia Metro Station, which is at the corner of the church. No problems making a 2:30 pm entry with a 3 pm English tour and we stayed 2 hours wandering around the inside, and looking at the displays in the basement.

Frankly, that's all we could handle for the day since we had dinner and Flamenco show at 6 pm back on the Las Ramblas. Doing Monserratt on the same day is NOT doable.

I would rather go with a tour company and a Half-Day trip!

I have to agree with some of the others. Monserratt is a Half-Day trip by with a tour company or an all day trip if you DIY.

Also, you should purchase entry tickets to Parc Guell Monumental Area in advance and for your time period if you want to assure that you will get in to this limited ticket area. Just walking around the free areas, does not do justice to the park and all you will see is a park and not the Gaudi attractions.

Same with Sagrada Familia. If you have advance tickets and a set time for entry, then this will work.

 

When we went, we did Parc Guell first. We got advance tickets for 10 am (for tour and entry to monumental area). Reason: It was cooler in the AM. And since we were staying at a hotel near Place Catalunya, we were able to catch the #24 bus at 9:00 am from Place Catalunya (IFO the department store) that went straight to the side entrance of Parc Guell where the tours began. The bus stop was less than 75 feet from the where the tours began. The tour lasted an hour in the monumental area and we spent another hour walking around the free areas of the park.

From here we, we had lunch at a sandwich shop at the top of the stairs/escalators and then walked DOWN to the metro station. (I would have hated to climb up the stairs from the Metro station) From the metro station, we traveled to Sagrada Familia Metro Station, which is at the corner of the church. No problems making a 2:30 pm entry with a 3 pm English tour and we stayed 2 hours wandering around the inside, and looking at the displays in the basement.

Frankly, that's all we could handle for the day since we had dinner and Flamenco show at 6 pm back on the Las Ramblas. Doing Monserratt on the same day is NOT doable.

I think you are right and will probably skip Montserrat. After Park Guell, you said you took the metro to Sagrada Familiar. Is it a direct line from there? What transportation did you take to get back to Place Catalunya?

I think you are right and will probably skip Montserrat. After Park Guell, you said you took the metro to Sagrada Familiar. Is it a direct line from there? What transportation did you take to get back to Place Catalunya?

Not a direct line. If you get on the green line at Lesseps, get off at Diagonal, transfer to the blue line and get off at La Sagrada.