OT: Barcelona Advice

[PSUForever]

My family and I will be visiting Barcelona (among other cities in Spain) this summer and would like some input on what is a better excursion to do.

1) Montjuic- visit the the Olympic stadium and museum

OR

2) Day trip to Montserrat. We are not Catholic by the way, but have read this is a great trip.

We are only in Barcelona for 3 days and can only do one of these sites.

Btw, when we go to Madrid we will visit the Bernabeu stadium.

 

[Chumboshifko1]

Why?

 

[LionJim]

Montserrat is a great trip. A must-see is the Sagrada Familia Basilica, it has the best window light I've ever seen. You have to try El Xampanyet, start queuing no later than 6:45. Trust me.

Google Search

 

[Mstan85]

Montserrat and Sagrada Familia. We went in the fall, hope the summer crowds aren't too bad. What other cities are you going to? If you have time, a day trip to Toledo (from Madrid) would be a great trip.

 

[LionJim]

The Prado in Madrid is the best art museum I’ve ever visited. YMMV but the Prado is awesome.

 

[JakkL]

Agree on Sagrada Familia. I think the exterior is supposed to be finished this year. In Barcelona stay in a hotel near or on Las Ramblas. Lots of pickpocketing on public transportation so be careful.

 

[Steve JG]

My family and I will be visiting Barcelona (among other cities in Spain) this summer and would like some input on what is a better excursion to do.

1) Montjuic- visit the the Olympic stadium and museum

OR

2) Day trip to Montserrat. We are not Catholic by the way, but have read this is a great trip.

We are only in Barcelona for 3 days and can only do one of these sites.

Btw, when we go to Madrid we will visit the Bernabeu stadium.

definitely do the Montserrat trip and if you can do the tour that goes Montserrat and then the Llopart winery even better!! Llopart winery makes a local variety of Cava, called corpinat that I highly recommend. And the Sagrada Família and pay extra to go up the top of the towers at the Sagrada Família and walk across the bridges between the towers. Absolutely worth it

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Only 3 days?

Definitely Montserrat of the two you listed. It does take a full day, but it's a great trip, and amazing to see. And like you, I'm not Catholic.

As others have mentioned, Sagrada Familia Basilica is well worth a visit, and you can do that in half a day. Just make sure to purchase timed tickets in advance of your trip.

Park Güell is another site in the city I would recommend.

If your'e interested in Montjuïc, I would recommend the fountain and light show at night. (Also called the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc.) That only takes a few hours, but is quite impressive.

Do be forewarned about the pickpockets. They are very active in the city. Phones and wallets are their main focus.

If you're looking for something a little different, I'd recommend this. We took a trip on a motorcycle with a sidecar. The guides ride the motorcycles, while the tourist sits in the sidecar. They have some type of microphone system so that you communicate with the guide. You'd have to search for it -- I have no idea what it was called/who ran it. We did it the first morning we were in Barcelona, and used it to figure out places to visit that we hadn't already scheduled.

Have fun. It's a great place to visit.

 

[LionsAndBears]

I've always wanted to go to Barcelona. However, I just saw that all EU countries are now fingerprinting and taking the picture of those traveling from the US. I have a big problem with that.

EES Introduction in Europe

 

[Tgar]

Three days in the summer? It’s going to be hot. Blistering hot.

Coffee and Croissants outside at a sidewalk table in the morning after sleeping in. It’s still cool and there are plenty of people to watch. Go get a work out, walk Las Ramblas, take a food tour of La Boqueria, mingle among the locals.

Grab a light lunch then go repair to your quarters and take A Solid nap. When you awake, get in some pool time and once the heat of the day starts to subside, go over to the north end of Las Ramblas, find an old bar full of Mahogany with windows and shutters open to the street. Enjoy several Gin Mare’s along with some tapas as the night is young and you will need a substantial amount of drunken energy.

Once the buzz is solid, head over to the Gaudi marvel, Casa Milà and take the elevator to the roof deck. If you are lucky there will be a jazz band playing and champagne flowing. Throw your heads back, laugh at your good fortune and fall in love with each other. Enjoy the lights as you overlook the city and dig the vibe.

When hunger revisits, head back over to the neighborhood and find another bar restaurant with open door sized windows, grab a table and order paella with a bottle of Rioja. It should be midnight by the time your meal arrives. Savor, relax, take your time. After satiated with caffeine, alcohol, protein and carbs, take a casual stroll back to your hotel to unwind and prepare to repeat that sequence of events the next day.

Make sure you deviate from this game plan for a couple of hours to tour Sagrada Família, obviously the most magnificent of the Gaudi collection of marvels. If you can ge tickets and Barca is playing, go. If not, you will find the game on a flat screen.

Barcelona is a great walking city but again, incredibly hot during the afternoon. It is also empty as everyone shuts down for a few hours. Use Viator to find an evening walking food tour of tapas or Pinchos in a local neighborhood and / or take a morning food tour of hams and cheeses as well.

Party like the pros you are but pace yourselves because again, it is hot, really hot.

 

[Tgar]

Only 3 days?

Definitely Montserrat of the two you listed. It does take a full day, but it's a great trip, and amazing to see. And like you, I'm not Catholic.

As others have mentioned, Sagrada Familia Basilica is well worth a visit, and you can do that in half a day. Just make sure to purchase timed tickets in advance of your trip.

Park Güell is another site in the city I would recommend.

If your'e interested in Montjuïc, I would recommend the fountain and light show at night. (Also called the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc.) That only takes a few hours, but is quite impressive.

Do be forewarned about the pickpockets. They are very active in the city. Phones and wallets are their main focus.

If you're looking for something a little different, I'd recommend this. We took a trip on a motorcycle with a sidecar. The guides ride the motorcycles, while the tourist sits in the sidecar. They have some type of microphone system so that you communicate with the guide. You'd have to search for it -- I have no idea what it was called/who ran it. We did it the first morning we were in Barcelona, and used it to figure out places to visit that we hadn't already scheduled.

Have fun. It's a great place to visit.

Help is on the way……. ( we have done scooter tours and Tuk Tuk tours in various cities, always a blast )

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g187497-Activities-c42-t231-Barcelona_Catalonia.html

 

[ClarkstonMark]

No help with your question, but enjoy Barcalona.
No one has mentioned the Picasso Museum; while small, and not awesome, it is well worth an hour or 2.
Some pix from La Boqueria, Picasso Museum, and tapas bar Canete .....

 

[JerseyLion]

Make sure you get tickets well in advance for the major attractions. Otherwise you have very little chance of getting in.

 

[BiochemPSU]

Montserrat, but it is a full day. Go as early as you can as it can get packed.

we always try to hit a flamenco show at night. Just very different and a good experience. The wife will love it; get dressed up a bit, see the show and get a nice meal afterward, easy points to score with the Mrs. Don’t eat there, just go for the show. https://tablaocordobes.es/es/

There are free English speaking walking tours of the gothic quarter. You can find them online, just tip the guide at the end and they are happy. They take you down side streets and give you insight that you would never see on your own.

The market (boqueria) is also a free experience that will be fun and you can kill an hour. You can’t really buy much unless you have somewhere to cook, but it’s a fun experience.

We got out of Barcelona and did the coast for a day trip. Coasta Brava. Stunning views, Mediterranean ocean swim, and seafood. Also a full day trip and not super cheap.

echo the pick pockets. Be very careful of laying things on a table, even at a restaurant. They will walk by and just take it, you’ll have no idea it even happened. And it’s not just young people stealing, middle aged folks do it as well. Everyone thinks getting pick pocketed is some Hollywood robbery type situation. It’s usually just you relaxing, looking around, and not realizing that you are doing something that you normally do and a thief sees an opening.

 

[OKLALionsFan]

We spent a week in Barcelona in the summer of 1992 for the summer olympics. While most of our time was spent getting to/from and attending events, we did have ample time to sight see and explore. Any specific info I could give is now dated 32 years (my god, how time flies) but can tell you that Sagrada Familia is a must, Montjuic at least at the time was amazing and by all means try to go at night. I was amazed at the architecture no matter where we went in the city. Also, at that time public transportation especially the subway was clean, safe and easy to get around the city. Barcelona is a beautiful city. Enjoy your trip!

P.S. and yes, we did get to see THE Dream Team.

 

[JerseyLion]

Also, at that time public transportation especially the subway was clean, safe and easy to get around the city.

That hasn't changed.

 

[Ghost of OM]

I too can’t speak to your specific questions but can say with confidence that you will love Barcelona. My son did summer study abroad there a couple years ago and the Mrs and I visited him. It is an amazing city and we had no issues with theft as many warn about. Stayed at the Marriott right downtown so were able to walk to most of the sights and the beach (which is topless, just saying). The food was awesome and the sangria….best I’ve ever had.

 

[BiochemPSU]

I too can’t speak to your specific questions but can say with confidence that you will love Barcelona. My son did summer study abroad there a couple years ago and the Mrs and I visited him. It is an amazing city and we had no issues with theft as many warn about. Stayed at the Marriott right downtown so were able to walk to most of the sights and the beach (which is topless, just saying). The food was awesome and the sangria….best I’ve ever had.

We never had an issue with pick pockets until last summer. We have done most of Europe without a problem, but Barcelona just seems to have an ever increasing amount of tourists so your odds of eventually having to deal with it increase. If you are traveling with small kids, are elderly, or are not speaking Spanish (or Catalan) when out in restaurants or the tourist spots, that means you are eventually going to be distracted by something. secure your belongings as best you can, don’t leave things on tables, and then go about your day.

 

[PSUForever]

Thank you for all the feedback and suggestions. It is most appreciated. My wife has done a TON of research on what to do, attractions, etc. so we are well prepared. We are also visiting Madrid and Costa Brava (Calella de Palafrugell).

 

[LionJim]

When you need to maximize your time the Rick Steves guidebooks are a godsend. He farms out his museum guides and provides a suggested room-by-room path that hits all the highlights. He answers all your “how do we get there” questions. He’s great on day trips.

Get an early start to your sightseeing. You can sleep when you get home.

If you do go to Toledo be sure to visit El Greco’s The Burial of the Count of Orgaz.

The Burial of the Count of Orgaz - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[JakkL]

I echo Boqueria market. Definitely worth an hour or 2. Every kind of meat, fish, candy, fruit, vegetables etc that you can think of.

 

[BiochemPSU]

Thank you for all the feedback and suggestions. It is most appreciated. My wife has done a TON of research on what to do, attractions, etc. so we are well prepared. We are also visiting Madrid and Costa Brava (Calella de Palafrugell).

Costa Brava is really cool. Long ride from Barcelona, but worth it. Enjoy!

 

[Nittering Nabob]

I’ve never been much of a Barcelona person but if you insist on visiting look for this guy.

Madrid is so much nicer and culturally evolved.

The Naked Man of Barcelona

NowAvailable: Naked Man of Barcelona Magnet! Buy Now! If you're lucky enough to live in Barcelona, you will no doubt see and become familia...

chrisrako.blogspot.com

 

[manatree]

Agree on Sagrada Familia. I think the exterior is supposed to be finished this year. In Barcelona stay in a hotel near or on Las Ramblas. Lots of pickpocketing on public transportation so be careful.

The Sagrada Familia isn’t expected to be ‘completed’ for another ten years, but they did hit a milestone back in February with the completion of the central tower.

The Final Piece of Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia Central Tower Installed in Barcelona
Antonia Piñeiro - ArchDaily
February 24, 2026

It is unknown if they will ever finish it to Gaudi’s design as it would require the demolition of several office and housing buildings, displacing about one thousand families to build the grand entrance stairs and plaza. Needless to say pushback is increasing.

I’ve never been there, I’m just a bit of an architecture nerd.

 

[Steve JG]

The Sagrada Familia isn’t expected to be ‘completed’ for another ten years, but they did hit a milestone back in February with the completion of the central tower.

The Final Piece of Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia Central Tower Installed in Barcelona
Antonia Piñeiro - ArchDaily
February 24, 2026

It is unknown if they will ever finish it to Gaudi’s design as it would require the demolition of several office and housing buildings, displacing about one thousand families to build the grand entrance stairs and plaza. Needless to say pushback is increasing.

I’ve never been there, I’m just a bit of an architecture nerd.

The big issue is the grand entrance will take up most of the block across the street, which was not there when they started building the cathedral. Comes down to big eminent domain fight. Protest signs hanging on buildings across the street “don’t take our homes”. Three sides basically complete and towers

 

[LionJim]

The big issue is the grand entrance will take up most of the block across the street, which was not there when they started building the cathedral. Comes down to big eminent domain fight. Protest signs hanging on buildings across the street “don’t take our homes”. Three sides basically complete and towers

The Sagrada Família is extraordinary enough without the fancy entrance.

 

[LionJim]

I’ve never been much of a Barcelona person but if you insist on visiting look for this guy.

Madrid is so much nicer and culturally evolved.

The Naked Man of Barcelona

NowAvailable: Naked Man of Barcelona Magnet! Buy Now! If you're lucky enough to live in Barcelona, you will no doubt see and become familia...

chrisrako.blogspot.com

Madrid also has the Reina Sofia, where Picasso’s Guernica is exhibited.

 

[bdgan]

The Sagrada Familia isn’t expected to be ‘completed’ for another ten years, but they did hit a milestone back in February with the completion of the central tower.

La Sagrada Familia reminds me of an old Lewis Black joke. Years ago when the economy was weak and in need of stimulus he said the government should build a "Big Effing Thing" and people would come from all over the world and pay to see the "Big Effing Thing".

 

[LionJim]

La Sagrada Familia reminds me of an old Lewis Black joke. Years ago when the economy was weak and in need of stimulus he said the government should build a "Big Effing Thing" and people would come from all over the world and pay to see the "Big Effing Thing".

That’s more a Thailand thing. The Blue Temple, the White Temple.

 

[PSU Soupy 615]

When you come back to the states.....please tell us that you visited Barcelona, not Barth-a-lona. Thank you.

 

[PrtLng Lion]

I second (or 3rd, 4th, etc.... whatever we're up to by now) La Sagrada Familia and Montserrat. Both are absolutely stunning. We went to Monserrat on Xmas day back in 2019. The view from there (Pyrenees to the left, downtown Barcelona the other way) was one of the most amazing I've seen in all my travels.

We did a cooking class there too, bought our own fresh ingredients at La Bocqueria. Awesome market, must see. Hop ON/OFF bus tour was pretty cool, saw all the Gaudi works.

 

[Pennst8]

My family and I will be visiting Barcelona (among other cities in Spain) this summer and would like some input on what is a better excursion to do.

1) Montjuic- visit the the Olympic stadium and museum

OR

2) Day trip to Montserrat. We are not Catholic by the way, but have read this is a great trip.

We are only in Barcelona for 3 days and can only do one of these sites.

Btw, when we go to Madrid we will visit the Bernabeu stadium.

I've been to Barcelona a number of times. Montserrat is the choice. Couple it with a winery and lunch visit on the way back. Montserrat is stunning. I am not religious at all. It really plays no part in the visit. Enjoy! Also, hit the tapas bars and cafes in the Gothic Quarter. It's beautiful and delicious.

 

[LionJim]

I've been to Barcelona a number of times. Montserrat is the choice. Couple it with a winery and lunch visit on the way back. Montserrat is stunning. I am not religious at all. It really plays no part in the visit. Enjoy! Also, hit the tapas bars and cafes in the Gothic Quarter. It's beautiful and delicious.

Tapas >> paella. I loved the paella in Barcelona and Valencia but tapas are the way to go.

 

[Tgar]

Tapas >> paella. I loved the paella in Barcelona and Valencia but tapas are the way to go.

Paella at midnight in an open window above the promenade.….

 

[Leo Ridens]

If you go to he Sagrada Familia, you may wish to contrast it with the Barcelona Cathedral, located in the Gothic Quarter a couple of blocks off La Rambla. It was built mostly in the 1300s and is in true gothic style.