Hey Martyna,

Was in Barca 2 weeks ago and Madrid last weekend. love the Barcelona!! Where are you staying? i stayed down at the beach in the forum area. nice quiet place..big shopping mall next to my hotel and metro is an ease to get around Barcelona. very simple and straight forward (madrid was a bit more of a mess).

shopping... i'm not a lady.. but if you like Desigual...it's like on every corner!! (and that's no joke). go down to Las Ramblas to shop, but i loved the side streets as they have shops down each small one. and you end up in other shopping areas as you walk through them. Plus you get to see the sights of the city like the old churches, music hall, etc. one thing you have to see 'S. Familia catheral'. wow!!

oh! and do watch out for pick pockets especially when walking on Las Ramblas or in the touristy areas. you can see the people eye you and they are very famous for pick pocketing! even when you sit down to eat...and your bag is hanging on your chair.. be careful. :) but it's a great city!! :)

Caleb, many thaks! Yes, I heard about the pickpockets...It's a bit scarry, jezz...!

Anyway, I took a note of your tips. Do you know any night club there?

Cheers, Me

I was there a few weeks ago, so here's my tips:

Parc Guell, for the crazy architecture and great views over the city

For art, the Joan Miro foundation and the Picasso museum

For strolling, the Barri Gotic, las Ramblas, the Boqueria market, el Raval.

For eating: paella for lunch at one of the places in the Port Olimpic. 'Modern' tapas bars on Paseo de Gracia, more traditional ones in the barri gotic. And the restaurant at the Mercat the Santa Caterina, near the old cathedral (the market is also great, but probably not the kind of shopping you were referring to. For me, the most important souvenir of a trip to Spain is good ham) 

For a break from the city, a trip out to Sitges, a small seaside town ,easily accessible by train, with nice beaches, 'alternative' shopping, a pretty old town and of course great seafood (try de fideua, a Catalan version of paella made with noodles instead of rice, and usually coloured with squid ink)

Paella...hmmmm!!! Thanks Adam..! ;)

Agreed with Adam on the things to see and do. I'm a bit of a beach bum, so I'd just lie in the sand for a long while and enjoy the sun and ocean! 

I'm super jealous that you're heading there, so I hope you have an amazing time!

I'll dig up the info my guy and I relied on for things to do and copy/paste here later today.

Definitely check out the amazing street artists on La Ramblas, the Montjuïc mountain, annd Ciutat Vella. Ah, and try to pick up some Catalan before you head there. Catalan and Spanish are both the official languages, but things will open up for you as a tourist if you use Catalan over Spanish!

Hey, Ariel- Barca is so close that you can go there almost for a night only! :))

It's so nice to be here also because we are close to everywhere.!!

So true, and its cheap by easyjet if you book enough ahead. I think I might have to try for one more quick trip there before I head back to the States.

One thing I did notice was that the locals are *very* well dressed. Much more so than Genevoise, which surprised me. So if you do have a gorgeous little dress, take it along.

My boyfriend and I had gone for our 1 year anniversary, so if you need tips on romantic couple-y things, I can find the names of some of the little hole  in the wall restuarants we went to.  

One last thing - there is a shop near 'Traveller's Point' (an expat/tourist bar) and a piercing/tatt shop in the Old City. Its a jewelry shop, and almost everything is 1 Euro, with some necklaces around 5 Euro. The same stuff would be easily 80x the price here, so if you're wandering around that area, keep an eye out for the place. 

Also, near the beach there is a series of pita and salad bars open and serving food until 3 or 4am, so if everything else seems closed, head that way. 

Have fun!!!

my comments on flights... i use Swiss nowadays as Easyjet is getting way too expensive unless you book 3 months in advance or can fly during the weekdays. i agree with Martyna... just pop down there for the day. Thats' what i like to do.. spontaneous last minute trips for the weekend.. leave Friday night or Saturday morning..and return Sunday night. i was in Barcelona for the 4 day long weekend and last weekend to Madrid for 2 days.

if anyone here likes to travel and would love to go with me..anywhere.. would love the company :)  next weekend break.. probably Athens or Spain again. :)

Martyna.. for me.. i didn't get out to any clubs this trip as i was by myself. but there are lots there! if you want, there is a nice terrace to enjoy the view and eat and drink and a club up there.. at the W on the beach front. :) 26th floor .

Ariel - in Spain.. ALL the locals always dress very well compared to Switzerland. i think it's the Spain thing. wherever i go in Spain in big cities or small towns.. always the same. i feel so underdressed.. but that shows you are a tourist there :) lol.

oh! Martyna.. most Spanish people don't eat till 8-10pm :)

enjoy!!

There is some interesting architechture to see if you get on one of the busses tours.

I went with my kids - we had 3 different bags/stuff stolen. It is a chronic problem totally out of control, very well organised and they are just waiting for tourists.  Believe me - so keep your valuables and bags almost literally tied to you at all times, even in restaurants, in/out of taxis, at the airport.  Its a shame because the city is great for strolling around the boutiques in the old town.  These aren't just pickpockets, the go for your shopping bags, hand bag, luggage. So don't let that spoil your trip.

Caleb, the cluB you were talking is Eclipse Bar, someone just gived me the tip, and.... IT LOOKS AMAZING!!!!

http://www.w-barcelona.com/eclipse-bar 

Well, will need to arrange my day feeding plan to not starwing till 10pm !

hahahaah!!

Ariel, took anote a note for dress code ;))))) Thanks!!

Lucky you!

This place http://www.casabatllo.es/ is fantastic if you are into architecture. Amazing Gaudi attention to detail. I think it is near the Ramblas.

martyna.. you'll like the W - Eclipse.. but it's not in town.. it's down by the beach.

hmm.. Martyna.. now that i think about it.. i was supposed to go again to Barcelona this weekend :) hahaha.. there is a bike competition there this weekend and i was going to go :) but found a volleyball tourney to play in here in Lausanne.. so i passed on Barca :)

Well, I'll be there next weekend, this weekend I'm in Losbon... :))))

ahhh.. i thought you were going there this weekend, Martyna?

Sorry, misunderstood... now tomorrow morning: PORTUGAL- LISBON

Girls party before marriage!!! (my friend's , not mine ;))))))))

Barcelona next weekend...! :)))))

very simple but that is all you need in Barcelona -   Hopp on Hopp Off buss

it goes to through the whole city and it runs every 15 mins.

Also, for any travel in future it is always best to check: www.virtualtourist.com

it has everything you need to know pretty much about every city in the world.

Good Luck :)  

Thanks Sami, 

I just came back from Lisbon...Jezz...if in Spain people party at least as in Portugal, I think I have another "hard" weekend.

Good idea about the bus! And yes, I will need some "luck", 

Cheers, me

A great small tapas restaurant for lunch, close to Plaza Cataluna:

Tapaç 24, C/ Diputació, 269, http://www.tapas24.net/bar.php?lang=eng

Make sure you get there early because it fills up very fast. No reservations I think.

U HAVE to visit Hard Rock cafe!  Its awesome! ;)

Zara and other shopping places are

filled with a great selection of bright clothes and is quite inexpensive. U can go for the shopping at 9-10pm as well :D

The night life is great too, much better than Switzerland :D hahhaha... just check out the Casino place and near there will be very cool clubs.

well in Barcelona "u have to see" all places :) but for the w-end its a short time ,but I agree u have to use a tourisms buss.

I recommend to check Grada Familia, Gaudi park, Rambla and ofc - beach.

Dace, Edward, many thanks- well noted!!