Barcelona in general > Reviews > Great city, but be warned

Author's product rating:   

Value for Money
Sightseeing
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around

Advantages:	Great architecture and so so much to do
Disadvantages:	street crime

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

A weekend in Barcelona is just not long enough. There is so much to do!

As you'd expect from the home of Gaudi, it's full of culture for all those art and architechure lovers. You must see the Sagrada Familia. One of Gaudi's most famous buildings, it was not completed in his lifetime so men and machines are still at work today. Other must sees are the Cathedral in the Gothic Quarter and the Casa Mila. You can enter the cathedral at certain times, but the dress code is very strict (no shorts!). The Casa Mila was the last building Gaudi worked on before the Sagrada Familia. It is a family home so you can wander around and nosy in all the rooms. You can even go up onto the bizarre terrace roof! Just walking around the city you will notice Gaudi is everywhere.

Barcelona is also on the coast so there is a harbour and a beach a short distance outside of the centre of the city for those that like to be near the sea. There is entertainment for young and old. The aquarium is really good for kids having one of those travelators that runs through a tunnel while the sharks swim over your head, and the zoo although not my favourite place, is home to a rare albino gorilla who is amazing to see. For the grown ups there are flamenco nights and a wide selection of bars and restaurants. For the ladies, there are plenty of shops. And for the guys, well there are plenty of ladies!

However, there are some not so nice aspects that I think you should be aware of so that you don't come home with a bad experience. There are two problems I had with the city. The first is crime.

We were staying in Barcelona for a week so hired a car for a few days and drove to Lloret de Mar (just a short ride away) for a couple of nights. On returning, already in a bit of a state after trying to navigate the one-way system, we eventually parked up at the return point for Avis. My boyfriend was sorting the bags in the boot and was approached by a local speaking to him in Spanish. He tried to explin that he didn't understand but the guy kept talking to him. After a few minutes the guy just walked away. We thought nothing of it until I realised that one of our bags was missing. We don't know what happened, but presume that whilst my boyfriend was distracted, a friend of the local man had swiped it. It was terrible to be left with the realisation that we had been robbed.

Luckily I had our passports in my money belt. I don't want to scaremonger, but it's not worth the risk. Be on your guard. A friend of mine was also a victim a few weeks earlier when her bag was snatched in a busy bar. My experience was certainly not unique!

My second problem is one that may not bother some people. Along La Ramblas there are a variety of stalls, some of which sold 'pets'. Small birds crammed in cages were common. The same goes for rodents and more unusual pets. A lot of the hostels and restaurants also have birds displayed in cages. I was tempted to release them! If you're an animal lover, you won't like this aspect one bit.

But aside from these negative aspects, it is a beautiful city and you should not be put off from visiting. I have some very fond memories of the city and I'm sure you'll share them too.