Las Ramblas on Sunday

[CruiseDaydreamer]

We have planned on staying an extra day in Barcelona after our cruise. But now, I'm realizing that it will be on a Sunday, so I'm wondering if everything will be closed. We also wanted to do shopping and sightseeing in other parts of Barcelona. What will be open on Sunday?

[grandbanksguy]

We have planned on staying an extra day in Barcelona after our cruise. But now, I'm realizing that it will be on a Sunday, so I'm wondering if everything will be closed. We also wanted to do shopping and sightseeing in other parts of Barcelona. What will be open on Sunday?

 

We were in Barcelona pre-cruise Aug 29 – Sept 1. Most all of the tourist sites are open on Sunday. On Sunday we went to La Sagrada Familia (open daily from 9am – 6pm) and then to La Pedrera (daily 10am – 8pm), both fabulous Gaudi structures. We then headed to Barceloneta to have lunch at the beach. We ate at Agua which has great views and good food. Then back to Monument a Colom and a stroll all the way up La Rambla to our hotel near P. Catalunya. After a siesta we had dinner at Picasso’s old hangout El Quatre Gats. You can find it all in Frommer’s Barcelona Day-by-Day, which we used to plan our 3-day Barcelona itinerary. Its well worth the $12.99 it cost.

[TLCOhio]

We have planned on staying an extra day in Barcelona after our cruise. But now, I'm realizing that it will be on a Sunday, so I'm wondering if everything will be closed. We also wanted to do shopping and sightseeing in other parts of Barcelona. What will be open on Sunday?

 

It is good that there's lots to do in Barcelona on Sunday. The key thing is to allow and have more time in Barcelona at either the start or end of your cruise. It is such a super wonderful city. Here are some of my notes I share with other on why we love Barcelona:

 

BARCELONA IS SPAIN'S SECOND CITY, but it bubbles with special vibrancy in its narrow Gothic Quarter alleys and along the grand boulevards. With Franco's fascism now history, Catalunyan flags wave once again and the stirring, patriotic Sardana dances are a weekly event at the cathedral. Barcelona has had an illustrious past as a Roman colony, Visigothic capital and 14th-century maritime power. Just enjoy it. LIVE IT!

 

Stroll down the main street, the RAMBLAS. This grand boulevard, more than a Champs-Elysees, takes you from the elegant Placa de Catalunya to the rough port, a 20-minute walk. You'll find the grand opera house, ornate churches, plain prostitutes, pickpockets, flower stalls, artists, street mimes, an outdoor bird market, classy cafes, great shopping, and people eager to charge more for a shoeshine than you paid for the shoes. The Ramblas, which means "stream" in Arabic, is an endless current of people and action.

 

The centerpiece of the Gothic Quarter is its colossal CATHEDRAL, a fine example of Catalan Gothic, started in about 1300 and completed 600 years later. Rather than stretching toward heaven, it makes a point to be simply massive. Barcelona is a walker's paradise. It has old and new, sea and mountain, postmodern and primitive. To saunter through its Gothic Quarter, along the dark, narrow streets and past the ancient artisans' shops, is to be transported back to the Middle Ages. Walk up Passeig de Gràcia, past the chic boutiques and the daring, whimsical buildings by Antonio Gaudí. This city is known as Spain's capital of design. This city spruced itself up considerably for the 1992 Olympic Summer Games, a face lift that is still paying off.

 

Dine at the usual hour, for those in Barcelona, of 11 pm along with the waterfront. The great seafood never tasted better in that setting, feeling the pulse of people, fun and enjoyment.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

[CruiseDaydreamer]

Stroll down the main street, the RAMBLAS. This grand boulevard, more than a Champs-Elysees, takes you from the elegant Placa de Catalunya to the rough port, a 20-minute walk. You'll find the grand opera house, ornate churches, plain prostitutes, pickpockets, flower stalls, artists, street mimes, an outdoor bird market, classy cafes, great shopping, and people eager to charge more for a shoeshine than you paid for the shoes. The Ramblas, which means "stream" in Arabic, is an endless current of people and action.

 

 

OK, here's the part I'm interested in. Will the shops, etc. on Las Ramblas be open on Sunday... will there be street performers et al on Sunday?

[texancruzer]

We were not only there on a Sunday but it was the very very end of season. December 2nd to be exact. Our cruise ended here and we spent one night post cruise at Le Meridien on Las Ramblas.

 

We found alot to be open. La Boqueria (sp?) was not open but most shops, restaurants, etc. were. There were numerous street performers and small kiosk type places selling tons of stuff all along the boulevard. We also visited Sagrada Familia. The only thing we found was that some shops closed a bit early since it was Sunday. Maybe @ 5 pm. Hope this helps.

[cruisemom42]

El Corte Ingles (the big department store at Placa Catalunya) is closed on Sundays, and a lot of the less touristy stores that are not in the Las Ramblas vicinity are also closed.

 

But like Texancruzer, I noticed many stores on Las Ramblas do open on Sunday.

[CruiseDaydreamer]

Thanks, guys, for the great information.

[shopgirl1688]

We were not only there on a Sunday but it was the very very end of season. December 2nd to be exact. Our cruise ended here and we spent one night post cruise at Le Meridien on Las Ramblas.

 

We found alot to be open. La Boqueria (sp?) was not open but most shops, restaurants, etc. were. There were numerous street performers and small kiosk type places selling tons of stuff all along the boulevard. We also visited Sagrada Familia. The only thing we found was that some shops closed a bit early since it was Sunday. Maybe @ 5 pm. Hope this helps.

 

We're booked for 4 nts at the Le Meridien, how is the hotel? Room sizes, service, location, etc (I can still change:-) How close is the hotel to the bus or metro station? Any info you have would be great. Thanks.

[supertomom]

Thanks to all for the info on Barcelona.  We are there mid-Nov on a Sunday.  We are travelling on the new Sky Princesses.