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I've been lucky enough that my employer has seen fit to send me to a conference in Barcelona for a week in July.
In light of the above, I'm aware that, strictly speaking, I don't deserve your help. However, I'd be very grateful for suggestions for cool things to see, do and ingest on my free evenings (and a couple of mornings/afternoons). I've been before about 20 years ago, and saw most of the well-known architecture highlights.
That's it, as far as parameters go. Go mental.
I’m sure you’ll get loads of suggestions on how to spend your free time, so I’ll just give you this bit of advice & I speak from experience:
Do Not Walk Around With Anything On You That’s Even Remotely Valuable.
I would recommend not looking at earrings on a stall on Las Ramblas whilst the bus for the airport leaves without you, and you miss the flight home.
Other than that, hire a bike and go for a gentle ride around the sites. The German Pavilion (replica) is worth a trip to see the home of the Barcelona Chair. https://miesbcn.com/the-pavilion/
Go to La Poma Bikepark and hit some jumps.
Do Not Walk Around With Anything On You That’s Even Remotely Valuable
Too true, even on my last visit.
La Poma Bikepark
Ahh, cool.
I live 2 hrs drive/train from Barcelona and visit fairly regularly for sporting events (participating). It's worth pre-booking for a trip around the Sagrada Familia including the lift to the top of one of the towers. I'm usually a bit meh about such things but it really took my breath away. The Gaudi houses are nice but can be crowded which loses some of the quirkiness. The magic fountains at Montjuic are great in the evening. Otherwise it's likely to be very smoggy in July, the anti-pollution measures taken recently haven't had the slightest effect.
I live 2 hrs drive/train from Barcelona
You need a lodger?
I really enjoyed the Fundació Joan Miró (and even the kids didn't grumble about being in an art gallery).
Placa Reial just off La Rambla was a nice spot, had dinner near there.
Sagrada Familia - you prob went there from your OP but anyway, I thought it a bit odd from the outside and so busy there at first I wished we hadn't booked a visit but once inside it's just incredible. Needed a bit of time just sat in the aisles to take it in. The tower add-on was interesting too, quite airy at times.. but it's the basilica that really amazed me. I've visited quite a few cathedrals in Spain but this one is something else, as you'd prob expect.
We went to a flamenco show at City Hall near Placa de Catalunya, wasn't expecting a lot but again, wow.. Always good to see a performance from people with a real passion for what they do and this was way more impressive than I thought it might be. 25 euro each and glad we went. Turns out the collective performing were famous for what they do. Thought I was listening to the lead singer of the Gypsy Kings when he started up, a huge voice.
Walked past a couple of Gaudi's houses there on our way back to the station. Beach/port area is nice enough but I'm not really a beach-goer anyway.
Kept an eye on wallet / bag as always in a city when you're an obvious tourist, all ok.
Just head down to the 'Old Town' area and wander around the small/narrow streets. There used to be a great motor museum there but sadly, that's closed now. However, there're still plenty of quirky shops (including a couple of bike shops) and lots of authentic bars and cafes.
It’s worth pre-booking for a trip around the Sagrada Familia including the lift to the top of one of the towers.
Yep, it's crazy, but amazing all at the same time. You'd be mad to be in Barcelona and not go frankly.
RE the old town area, we walked to the Basílica de Santa Maria del Pi an d there's some lovely little streets there. Fairly quiet too compared to La Rambla area generally.
Montefusco Cycling have some hire bikes that are good for a bit of uphill to Montjuic. Claudio will also lead some guided rides around the city.
I found Las Ramblas over rated and the historic stuff a couple of streets over was more interesting.
Have a look on songkick for any concerts, the Apollo and razmatazz venues are central and walkable. July will be hot so don't be too ambitious with your walking plans. I would hire a bike and use the cycle lanes to diy a tour.
Top burger place is big als on corsega 178, over near sants station. Ignore the touristy markets go to Mercado albaceria, the cafe inside is fab for breakfast.
As it's hot I d take a train to sitges for a swim, Barcelona beaches are packed.
Haven't been for years, but try and get a table in Los Caracoles on one of the back streets off Placa Reial. Its only got wood fired ovens, you can see the waiters whith wheel barrows in the morning taking all the wood in.
Cheers for all of the above. Any further eating recommendations are especially welcome.
I really enjoyed the Fundació Joan Miró (and even the kids didn’t grumble about being in an art gallery).
Saw this last time. Lovely stuff.
Go to the Moco modern art museum, art not normally my thing, but this was brilliant, lots of Banksys and come really cool installations you walk through, and in a cool old area of town which is nice to walk around
I've just got back from Girona and that's worth a visit but probably too far for "after work" unless you had a free half-day/day...
Do Not Walk Around With Anything On You That’s Even Remotely Valuable.
Don't take this lightly. Barcelona is beautiful but it's the pickpocket capital of the world.
A mate of mine believes he got roofied there. One minute he was in a bar having a drink, the next thing he remembers he was at the bottom of a staircase outside with a broken ankle and his wallet and phone missing.
Obviously this is an anecdote from a sample pool the size of which would embarrass even L'Oreal, but IME it's not something that generally happens to fairly well built middle-aged blokes.
Get down the beach at the end near the W hotel. Don't bother taking any clothes though!
Sun's out plums out!!
Park Guell is a heap of shit and it will be baking. Sagrada famila again feels hellish.
I'd personally leave most of the tourist stuff and spend my time wondering old streets looking for old stuff and eating and drinking. Maybe hire a bike.
Yeah, re getting slipped a Mickey Finn. I get sent to Barcelona for training courses every couple of years and there's always a story about someone on the previous course waking up with phone and wallet gone. Probably avoiding c&h is a good start point.
I've never had any bother personally, but I tend not to head into the city any more. We stay in the 'burbs north of the city and the town is rather lovely so I stay there in the evenings.
I like wandering and eating in the 'El Born' district
Tlaxcal for a mexican,
Folks Burgers for a burger
Las Fritas er for a cone of chips with some roquefort
I was gutted thou that my favourite place had stopped doing truffle eggs & chips 🙁
There's also a nice little English music pub tucked down an alleyway somewhere which was good
Spanish food also available 🙂
Ohh nearly forgot the fantastic cake shop
Garage beer for a nice craft beer also BierCab nearby