Nov. 19 - 22, 2012 (4D3N): Did not get to see the real Massi (bummer) and Sagrada Familia was still under construction (probably still the case today).  Read up on Gaudi before going and then walk through his masterpiece!  This was leg 2 of our trip to Spain & Paris.  See Madrid and Paris post.  

*Highly Recommended

Day 1

• Arrive in Barcelona via Train from Madrid

• Check-in @ Hotel Barcelona Universal

• Lunch @ Tapas, 24*

• Stroll down Las Ramblas:

  • Placa de Catalunya

  • Mercat de la Boqueria (Europe’s largest food market; get some juice)

  • Escriba

  • Placa Reial

• El Raval’s Cultural Highlight Walking Tour:

  • La Rambla del Raval

  • Sant Pau Del

• Dinner @ L’Antic Bocoi del Gotic

• Artisa Coffee @ Placa Reial

Day 2

• The Sagrada Familia Tower (get ticket online) & church

• Metro to Park Guell

• Gaudi House

• Walk to Garcia district

• Snack @ Sol Soler

• La Pedrera (Casa Mila)

• Lunch @ Pans & Company*

• Casa Batllo* (get ticket online)

• Walk down La Ramblas (Mercat de la Boqueria & Carrefour)

• Dinner @ El Bosc de les fades (go for drinks only)

• Christopher Columbus Monument

Day 3

• Runnerbean Old Town walking tour* (2.5 hrs)

  • Placa Reial

  • Placa del Pi

  • Baixda de Santa (church)

  • Jewish Quarter

  • Placa Sant Jaume

  • Cathedral Cloister (to see geese)

  • Roman Fort

  • Roman temple of Augustus

  • El Born District

  • Placa del Rei

• Lunch @ Jai-ca*

• Walk to Waterfront district

• Gothic Quarter and Old town walk (anything not covered by the Runnerbean):

  • Visit Santa Maria del la Mar (free after 4:45pm) 

  • Passiega del Born

  • Barcelona Cathedral (free after 5:30pm)

• Meramegum mall (by the water)

• Dinner @ Cerveceria Catalana*

Day 4

• Camp Nou: FC Barcelona tour*

• Funicular to Montjuic:

  • Montjuic Castle

  • Olympic Stadium

  • Joan Antonio Samaranch Olympic & Sports Museum

  • MNAC

• Dinner @ Ciudad Condal* (grab bar seats)

Other points of interest

• Hospital de Sant Pau

• Palau Guell

• Picasso museum

Tips

• Purchase T10 Metro pass: 10 trips with free transfer to RENFE to airport

• And by the way, Catalan is the primary language here, Spanish comes second!