Tips for Gaudi's Barcelona?

[pat100]

Tips for Gaudi's Barcelona?
I’ve spent a month hill-walking in the Pyrenees, mainly using free aires or wild camping, and usually avoid cities. But now I particularly want to see how the Sagrada Familia has changed since I visited as a schoolboy in the sixties. And to see the Park Güell, Casa Batlló and La Pedrera o Casa Milà.
As it’s a one-off for me, I’d be prepared to pay a lot to avoid driving solo around the city and doing a lot of research into parking, bus timetables, etc. I don’t speak Spanish so an English-ish guide would seem best. My pie-in-the-sky ideal would be a single travel company that took me to each site and told me about it! Though, I’m not a millionaire!
Usually, I favour a DIY approach with plenty of foot-slogging but might be happy to be “processed” this time!
Or not?
Can anyone kindly share their experiences of similar excursions in Barcelona?

 

[Langtoftlad]

Is there a hop on hop off tour bus?

 

[daveclare]

Watch out for pickpockets. Even when you just pop into a shop. They're very clever.... and sadly very successful.

 

[G-RMPS]

Yes, there is a hop on hop off bus tour.

 

[steve69]

Tips for Gaudi's Barcelona?
I’ve spent a month hill-walking in the Pyrenees, mainly using free aires or wild camping, and usually avoid cities. But now I particularly want to see how the Sagrada Familia has changed since I visited as a schoolboy in the sixties. And to see the Park Güell, Casa Batlló and La Pedrera o Casa Milà.
As it’s a one-off for me, I’d be prepared to pay a lot to avoid driving solo around the city and doing a lot of research into parking, bus timetables, etc. I don’t speak Spanish so an English-ish guide would seem best. My pie-in-the-sky ideal would be a single travel company that took me to each site and told me about it! Though, I’m not a millionaire!
Usually, I favour a DIY approach with plenty of foot-slogging but might be happy to be “processed” this time!
Or not?
Can anyone kindly share their experiences of similar excursions in Barcelona?

I was there in March 18 months ago 2023. Even at that quiet time of year the queue to get in was two hours long unless you booked online first. It's around about 40 euros I think.

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[The Boofles]

Yes there is a hop on hop off bus tour that will take you to the places you mention. The audio tour that goes with it is only brief but we found it interesting enough.
Definitely book ahead for the places you want to visit - there was a two day wait for Parc Guell when we went in September last year.

 

[John Barrett]

The view from the rocketship capsule hasn't changed much!

 

[Jev88]

I was in Barcelona about 10 years ago and walked to most sites we wanted to see and occasionally jumped on underground if going the right way. Discovered so many little fountains, mosaics and statues in quieter back streets whilst walking by compass and zig zagging around the Barcelona 'almost' grid like layout.

 

[pat100]

Well, I’ve just spent the afternoon online trying to see what’s available. There seem to be a myriad of ticket agencies offering various tours at various prices. Are these just a scam: buying your ticket for you when you could just go to the ticket office and buy it yourself? Are the fast track skip the queue tickets real or just a scam?
They also sell tickets for the Hop on Hop off bus. Do you need a ticket?
Are the audio guides any use?
And loads of apps of course!
Has anyone on the forum been inside these buildings/parks? How did you do it?
Quite apart from where did you stop overnight and how did you get to the town centre?

 

[Rob Hammond]

We went over 20 odd years ago it was the year of Gaudi so got into lots of buildings free off charge didn't take lift up the la Sagrada familia and paid for it next day was staying in siges great experience.

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[Figaro]

Sagrada familia I think is book a ticketed time slot and join the procession
The other buildings I think were pay on the door, Park Guell I can't remember an admission charge, I think you just walk up the hill to it unless it's changed ?
I'm sure someone will offer a premium escorted tour but no idea who, sorry

 

[Hagstrom]

My advice is - don't bother going inside. There's enough to see from the outside.

 

[seasideBill]

The other buildings I think were pay on the door, Park Guell I can't remember an admission charge, I think you just walk up the hill to it unless it's changed ?

There is an admission charge for Park Guell (€16) and booking is advisable.

 

[seasideBill]

[QUOTE="pat100, post: 6312343, member: 92520”]
Quite apart from where did you stop overnight and how did you get to the town centre?
[/QUOTE]

Stayed at Tres Estrellas earlier this year…ok site on the beach a few miles south of Barcelona at Gava. Easy & regular bus access to Barcelona - about 30 mins.

 

[peterc10]

My advice is - don't bother going inside. There's enough to see from the outside.

Can't agree with that.

You really need to see how Gaudi bathed the inside with light, especially around the alter.

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[The Boofles]

We stayed north of Barcelona at Cabrera de Mar (P4N) and got the train in. A pleasant walk to the station and the trains are frequent, fast and clean. The hop on hop off bus tour does include entry to some locations in their price but they might not be the places you want to visit? So it is worth double checking! The audio tour is just for the bus itself - it’s basic but that was all we wanted.
Parc Guell may have been free entry at one time but we climbed the extremely steep hill last year to be turned away because we hadn’t booked online! Very frustrating, lesson learned. The queues for the Sagrada Familia were insane, I’d been before so wasn’t so bothered about going inside - if it’s on your bucket list I’d be tempted to book that and plan other things around that timeframe. We didn’t encounter any scams (or pickpocketers) but as with any major city, it pays to be aware.
Another thing to maybe consider is that Barcelona has the equivalent of a low emission zone, one of the reasons we chose Cabrera de Mar.

 

[John Barrett]

Can't agree with that.

You really need to see how Gaudi bathed the inside with light, especially around that alter.

Agreed. When I walked inside I almost got religion again...

 

[pat100]

Thanks for all those helpful pointers, folks! I’ll get booking now I can make some sense of the scene.

 

[Folkranger]

Watch out for pickpockets. Even when you just pop into a shop. They're very clever.... and sadly very successful.

As I found to my cost earlier this year.