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Your First Time In Barcelona

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One of the only city's where you can be skiing at 9am and surfing by 5pm, Barcelona has the laid back ambiance of a beach town with the vibrancy of a cosmopolitan city.

A definite must see for a first timer in Barcelona, is the old city, or 'ciutat vella.' Spanning everything below Plaza Catalunya, areas such as the Gotico, Born, Barceloneta and the Raval, feature windy alleyways, boutique shops, niche cafes and above all, an incredible rich history with stunning architecture. Divided down the middle by the famous, Las Ramblas walkway, everything in the old city is accessible via foot and easy to find.

Moving away from downtown, venture into the more modern, Eixample district, directly above Plaza Catalunya. This area boasts wider streets with more mainstream and elegant stores, as well as an incredible selection of yummy yet affordable restaurants.

This area is also accessible via foot or public transport. There's definitely no need to rent a car if you're staying in the city. In fact it's harder to get around with a car. Public transport is efficient and everywhere and if you feel inclined to rent something, opt for a small motorbike. Barcelona is extremely scooter friendly and it's a welcome change from walking every now and then.

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Author: Sam

Day 1 - Barcelona

This is a great day to experience on foot with a few metro or bus journeys sprinkled in here and there. Start in the old city with the Gothic quarter and quaint shops on Paseo del Born. Here you'll see the exquisite churches and get a taste of Barcelona's rich history. It's easy to lose your way amongst all the alleyways in this part of town, so try find landmarks just in case. After you've had your fill of the old city, slowly make your way up Paseo de Gracia and all the way to Gaudi's Parc Guell. This is the newer and slightly posher side of town. As you stroll up Paseo de Gracia you'll see Gaudi's buildings sprinkled along the street. The Sagrada Familia is easily accessible by foot or on the purple metro line and is a vision both during the day but even more so at night when it lights up the sky. If even slightly interested in art, Picasso's museum is worth a visit, but check the times it's not open daily.

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Tapas Evening Walking Tour of Barcelona

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Location:

Barcelona, Spain

Parc Güell

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carrer d'Olot
08024 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

+34 93 317 39 74

Paco Meralgo

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carrer de Muntaner 171
08036 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

34 93 430 90 27

Barri Gòtic

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Pla de la Seu
08002 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

+34 93 368 9730 (tourist information)

Passeig del Born

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passeig del Born
08003 Barcelona, Spain

Passeig de Gràcia

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passeig de Gràcia
08007 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

+34 93 368 9700(Tourist Information)

Fundació Joan Miró

Location:

Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

93-443-94-70

La Sagrada Família

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Majorca 401
08013 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

93-207-30-31

Barcelona Walking Tour: Picasso and Picasso Museum

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C/ Montcada 15-23, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona, Spain

Las Ramblas

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La Rambla
08002 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

+34 93 368 9700(Tourist Information)

All Barcelona's Monumental Highlights

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All Over The City
08002 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

+34 986 22 1399

Day 2 - Barcelona

Choose from an eclectic and tasty variety of wonderful restaurants. Xampanyet is a true taste of Barcelona, with greasy tapas and cheap drinks. Centered in Barceloneta, the old Fisherman town, this is usually a nice crowd of older locals and excited tourists. Slightly on the more upscale side is Pla, featuring some of the freshest most delicious food in the city and centered in the Gothic Quarter accessible from the yellow metro line at Jaume 1. Other Barcelona classics include Els Quatre Gats and Tapas 24; but go early to the latter, as it's always packed and you can't make a reservation. Taller de Tapas has classy, yet inexpensive tapas with locations around the city. One of the best locations is in the Born, where you can sit outside on the patio right around the corner from the Cathedral.

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Pla

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carrer de Bellafila 5
Barri Gotic
08002 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

34 93 412 6552

Taller de Tapas

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L'Argenteria 51
Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

93-268-85-59

Tapa Ç24

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Diputacio, 269
Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

34 934 880 977

Xampanyet (El)

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carrer de Montcada 22
Al lado del museu Picasso
08003 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

34 93 319 7003

Els Quatre Gats

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carrer de Montsió 3
08002 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

34 93 302 4140

Day 3 - Barcelona

Infamous for its thriving nightlife, you'll never run out of bars or clubs to frequent in Barcelona. Scattered throughout the city, bars are usually open until 3am and clubs until about 6 or 7 in the morning. There's usually a cover charge but it includes a drink. There are few places where dress code is an issue; in Barcelona basically anything goes at any hour. There's plenty of clubs along the beach in Barceloneta, however touristy they sometimes are, they're always a good time. The Eixample neighborhood, to the left of Paseo de Gracia and accessible via the green or yellow metro lines, has slightly more local and very trendy bars and clubs good to either kick off the night or end it.

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Mix

Location:

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carrer del Comerç 21
08014 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

+34 93 319 4696

Otto Zutz

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Location:

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carrer de Lincoln 15
08006 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

34 93 238 0722

Sala BeCool

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Plaça de Joan Llongueras, 5
08021 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

34 933 620 413

Moog

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Location:

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Carrer de l'Arc del Teatre 3
El Raval
08002 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

34 93 301 7282

Ginger

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carrer de la Palma de Sant Just 1
Barri Gòtic
08002 Barcelona, Spain

Phone:

34 93 310 5309

Day 4 - Barcelona

One of the best things about Barcelona is that it's in close proximity to breathtaking scenery, historical landmarks and challenging adventures. Easily accessible by train, bus or car, here's a few day trips definitely worth the trek if you have the time. Be sure to get an early start and try not to venture out on a Sunday when traffic back into the city is always a bit of a nightmare. Cars are easy to rent and fairly cheap for one or two days. The trains are also a great way to travel, check out the RENFE schedules online.

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