I visited Barcelona whilst Inter-railing this summer and was truly impressed.
I am a student, but I must warn you that I didn't spend the entire time drunk in bars. I've always thought that if you are abroad you should really make an effort to see the place you are in - otherwise you may as well just stay at home or go to Butlins!
I was very impressed by the city. I was less impressed by the rail system and would strongly advise travellers not to just randomly pitch up in Spain at all - get a plan and sort out reservations! As a result, I was actually in Barcelona for longer than I had intended - I was trying to get to Morocco via ferry from the very south of Spain - but this didn't come off. However, on my quest to find a way out of the country I spent quiet some time at Barcelona Sants train station and the airport. Both are easy to get to - on clean (relatively) and frequent trains that are reasonably priced and easy to navigate (just follow the numbered and coloured line system). The staff at both places are helpful and the customers QUEUE - which often impresses me when abroad! This is due to little signs on the floor imploring us to "Wait your turn".
Anyway, onto the city itself. Great! Maps are available for free from the info point at the train station. The city is partly on a grid system and therefore nice and easy to navigate around. The underground system is, as I say, a dream. Buy individual tickets or you can get deals - e.g. one ticket that's valid for 10 journeys.
Las Ramblas are the busiest streets - with shops, stalls, pick pockets and tapas bars everywhere. Wandering off into the little streets can be a bit dodgy at night-time, but during the day your likely to enjoy it and come across various odd little places - somewhat reminiscent of the little streets in Venice.
The highlights of the city have to be the fantastic and hallucingenic buildings and fountains by Gaudi. His magnificent fountain in the main park of the city is a must see. Again - easy to find and get to. The rest of the park is pleasant also, with odd buildings scattered around and a picturesque lake. Also worth the effort (and it is a considerable effort - with lots of steps (although there are some outdoor escalators, but they are badly maintained and often broken) and the feeling you will never get there) is Gaudi's mad-cap Park Guell. Climb right to the top, following a well signposted route, and get the most fantastic view of Barcelona. Then head downwards and see various odd buildings - complete with the famous lizard fountain, pictured in most guidebooks. This park is completely free and totally weird - I don't want to spoil it for you by giving more details - suffice to say - take a camera or you will think it was a hallucination caused by the climb.
Most impressive of all is Sagrada Familia - a temple that was Gaudi's last work and was never finished. They are now finishing it off for him and this is the cause of much controversy. Form your own opinions, but the new side is very angular, modern and a little bit manga comic book - whilst the original side is melty and fairy-tail in style. (I do not know, however, if the new side bears any relation to Gaudi's plans). You can climb the temple for great views - but if you are on a tight budget - it does cost a bit.
Basically, what I'm trying to say is that there is some great architecture in this city. I fear that many people don't pay any attention to this aspect of the city and just go there to get drunk and go clubbing. There is so much to see - more than I have the time to write here - so spare some time for that!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
NH Hotels, the hotel chain leader in Europe, with more than 300 hotels in 20 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa. Enter into our web site and find the best available tariff at all times
We propose some unforgettable holidays in "El Capistrano Villages", in Nerja, the privileged balcony of the Costa del Sol. "El Capistrano Villages" is, possibly, the most beautiful and exclusive Urbanisation on the Costa del Sol.
Advantages: Lot to do and see, coastline of beaches, and lots of good shops to the expensive to the cheap. Disadvantages: metro underground gets busy in the paek seasons, but all places have easy access and are walkable
HelenAslan 02.08.2009 ·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Barcelona (Spain)
Advantages: Close to centre, clean room, great staff, near great shops, cheap and clean! Disadvantages: no view, alley way smells, people pee in alley way, noisy.
Advantages: Cheap, clean, central location, cheap supermarket nearby Disadvantages: No breakfast, no windows, not wheelchair friendly, questionable neighbourhood
Advantages: Safe, well-built circuit, good prospects for competition. Disadvantages: Overtaking extremely difficult, indifferent public, teams have extensive prior knowledgeof the track.
![Vista Point Barcelona Spain [DVD] [NTSC]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/75784560.jpg "Vista Point Barcelona Spain [DVD] [NTSC]")
Sep 14th, 2001
very helpful by (94%):
somewhat helpful by (6%):
