Top Ten Things to Do in Barcelona

All too often, cruise passengers arrive in some exotic port with little idea of what to see or do. Take the vibrant Spanish city of Barcelona, for example. It is an increasingly popular port of call, and there are plenty of sightseeing options which are both considerably more entertaining and a lot cheaper than joining an official ship’s excursion. Now the enterprising Luxury Cruise Company (www.theluxurycruisecompany.com) have come up with a ‘Top Ten’ list of the things their staff most enjoy doing – and are asking any customers who might wish to do so to add to the list.

The ‘Top Ten’ – compiled by Cathy Chesman – is:

1. Take a stroll down Las Ramblas. This mile-long street is packed with tourists, artists, human statues, fortune-tellers, dancers, musicians and vibrant flower stalls. A good place to grab a coffee and indulge in people watching.
2. You can’t go to Barcelona and not take in the fantastic architecture of Gaudi. To get a great panorama view of the city walk (or take the bus) to Park Guell, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
3. If you are in Barcelona overnight, take in a concert at one of the most prestigious venues in the world, The Gran Theatre Del Liceu. Alternatively, see what’s on at the L’Auditori, which offers classical, jazz and world music performances.
4. Football fans won’t want to miss visiting one of the largest football stadium in the world: Camp Nou.
5. The life, works, and genius of the painter  Picasso are detailed at the Picasso Museum, on Carrer de Montcada.
6. Take a Barcelona City Bus Tour. You can hop on and hop off as many times as you like, and the tour takes in all the key sights.
7. Visit the old, narrow streets in the Gothic neighbourhood.
8.  View the Magic Fountain of Montjuic, on Avenida Maria Cristina. There are stunning light and water displays in the evening.
9. Spend a day on the beach. It is only a 15 minute walk from Las Ramblas.
10. 10.  Be sure to visit Casa Milà or “la Pedrera” as it is sometimes called, along with Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia. Go early to avoid queues!

This website reckons that this is a really useful list. Where are you going next, Cathy?