Where should I stay in Barcelona?

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chicken man

Probably the most central for Gaudi would the neighborhood Eixample la Dreta (see map at http://www.bcn.es/cgi-guia/guiamap4/cgi-guia/?actives=&scl=4&cnt=30320.38%2C84415.02&plt=&plant=capes4c&txt1=&txt2=&idioma=0&grayscl=0&zoom=1&escala.x=87&escala.y=20) near Passeig de Gracia, but the metro is good enough that you are fine anywhere toward the center of the city. Sorry that I'm no good with specific hotels.

Since you mentioned Dali, you probably want to make a day trip to Figueras to see the Dali museum.

As for what to do, search for old answers in this forum. My stock response:

Museums: Museu Picasso, Fundacio Miro, Museu de la Ciutat (City Museum). The 2nd is a little out of the in the Parc Montjuic, but is the best collection of Miro's work anywhere.

Architecture: Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, Casa Mila (aka La Pedrera), Casa Batllo, in that order. All these are Gaudi buildings, the first two are must-see, and the 3rd almost is. You can walk down the street Passeig de Gracia from Casa Mila to at least see the outside of Casa Batllo as well as other Art Noveau Buildings. A short hike up to the Tres Creus in Parc Guell gives you nice views of the city and helps orient you.

Music: Palau de Musica. Another Art Noveau gem. Try to catch a concert there (make sure its in the main hall) over the tour. It's gorgeous and the music is great. Buy tickets online.

restaurants: Les Quinze Nits (15 Nights) in Placa Real - get there about 20-30 minutes before opening as they don't take reservations. If you can't get in there, try La Fonda (I hear it's owned by the same people). Both excellent Catalan food at very reasonable prices.

Also try Origen 99.9, a local chain, but good authentic Catalan food. Get there a little before opening because they don't take reservations and often only do one sitting. http://www.origen99.com/web/

Tapas Gaudi of La Rambla de Gaudi (not Las Ramblas, but near Sagrada Familia) is a good tapas place.

nightlife: Clubs everywhere, for a slightly more relaxed and less touristy experience try Placa del Sol or La Cervesera Artesana (http://www.lacervesera.net/eng/indexeng.... best beer in Barcelona, not that that says a lot. Drink wine everywhere else - reds from La Rioja, whites and Cavas from Penedes).

Other: La Boqueria market, Las Ramblas, Barri Gotic, including Cathedral and Santa Maria del Mar. Just wander that area. Sitges for nearby beaches, though the ones in the city are decent if you don't have the time to get down there.

Day trips: Montserrat for the mountain monastery and hiking (and the caves that inspired the Sagrada Familia if you're lucky), Sitges for beaches (Cadaques is better but farther), Tarragona for Roman ruins (and more beaches). Figueras for the Dali museum.

You probably can't do all that, but pick and choose what sounds good to you. Have fun!

Other Gaudi sites that are less spectacular than above but still interesting include the Guell Pavilions with dragon gate and the Palacio Guell, which was closed when I was there.

I agree, Gracia is the best, least amount of thieves. Metro lines Diagonal, Fontana, Lesseps or Vallcarca.

Night buses runs from Pl Catalunya up there its nr 4 and 5.

Make sure you constantly check your luggage, bags and wallets. If you go out, don't bring anything valuable.

Have a great time, Barcelona night life rules. s

Barry E

I lived in Barcelona for 2 years and I would say it is very simple in that Las Ramblas is easily the best option. Las Ramblas area is within walking distance of the sea front and that means you'll easily be able to get home from the nightclubs etc on the sea front.
For eveything else also you'll be within 5 minutes always from a metro station but you can actually walk from las Ramblas to several Gaudi houses and also Sagraga Familia and Guell Park (another Gaudi hosue there) are very easy to get to on the Metro.
The Gaudi attractions are exellent and I was back two weeks ago and went to see some more Gaudi locations.
In terms of a specific hotel am not sure. I always normally rent a short-term rental apartment with someone such as http://www.holiday-velvet.com
Enjoy your trip and the Gaudi places!

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