Guide to Barcelona Barrios

Barcelona is a huge city and is generally divided up into "Barrios" or districts which you will notice when trying to look for a Barcelona apartment.
Here is a brief guide to the most popular Barcelona barrios for tourists.






Raval
El Raval is bordered by the one of the two historic neighbourhoods near Las Ramblas along with Barrio Gotico. The neighborhood is home to 200,000 people. Raval is very famous for many different reasons. It is becoming one of the hippest up-and-coming neighbourhoods of Barcelona where many artists live and work and is home to many bars, restaurants, and night spots. However it can be a bit dangerous at night with many drug dealers and prostitutes roaming the streets and muggings have been reported. However in general it is safe and a great place to stay.

Barrio Gotico
Barrio Gotico is in the centre of the old city of Barcelona with many of the buildings dating from Medieval times, some from as far back as the Roman settlement of Barcelona. The Barri Gòtic retains a labyrinthine street plan, with many small streets opening out into squares. Most of the quarter is closed to regular traffic although open to service vehicles and taxis. It is on the other side of Las Ramblas and is very popular with tourists.

Eixample
Eixample is very famous for being home to the most famous buildings in the whole of the city: Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila and Casa Batllo all designed by the world famous Antonio Gaudi. It is divided into 2 sides Izquierda (left) and Derecho (right) with the famous Passeig de Gracia splitting them down the middle. The area is characterized by its long straight streets like a grid across the city. The left side is very beautiful with many great bars and clubs and the right being a very popular business and residential area. Overall they are both great areas to stay for tourists as you are very central but still can retain a sense of peace and quiet.

Gracia
It is the area home to the world famous Parc Guell and is a place full if quaint little shops stores, boutiques, bars and restaurants. This is where the bohemian arty types like to reside and it is one of the most expensive areas to live in. Although it is not cheap, no one can deny it is not a beautifully charming area. So if you have the money to pay for Barcelona accommodation there then it will definitely be worth it.

Barceloneta
It was originally and old fishing quarter as part of the Cuitat Vell district but after the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Barceloneta was redeveloped and now is one of the most popular summer barrios for tourists and locals alike. This is due to the fact it is located along the beach and near the port. It is not too far from Las Ramblas and at night, especially in the summer, there are a wide range of bars restaurants and clubs. This is a great area to stay in but probably would be more suited to during Spring and Summer time.

Top Ten Tips to Avoid being Pick Pocketed

If you have just arrived in Barcelona or are planning a trip to the city then you are in for a real treat. From leaving your Barcelona hotel this city has something to do for everyone. You can visit the Nou Camp to see the famous FC Barcelona play or tour the museum, you can admire all the works of Gaudi dotted around the city, you can go to the shops and also discover lots of other delights which other people might not have experienced. However during your stay you will become familiar with the fact that there are many skilled pickpockets around the tourist areas like Las Ramblas.
Let me make one thing clear: Barcelona is a very safe city and very rarely will you see or experience any acts of violence as most pickpockets make sure that their approach goes unnoticed.

However here are my Top Ten Tips to prevent you being targeted.

1. Wear your normal clothes: It seems unbelievable the amount of tourists who decide to wear football shirts and sports apparel or general "tourist" clothing. You look like a target!

2. Bring trousers: Spain is definitely not warm all year round so don't expect to be able to walk around in beach wear all day. Try and observe what the locals are wearing and follow their lead.

3. Keep maps and guidebooks out of site: There really is no point to be displaying them unless you are looking for something as you just become a target.

4. Keep your bag under the table: NOT hanging over a chair as it can be easily dipped. Make sure you have one strap wrapped round your leg.

5. Hide stuff of value: What is the point of having all your cool cameras and phones on display if you're not using them?

6. Wear your bag on your front: Especially in crowded place like the metro as pickpockets can slice open a bag, rob it and be gone without you noticing.

7. Avoid physical contact: Some people will "accidentally" bump into you or try and hug you saying "eeengleeeesh", meanwhile slipping a hand in for your wallet. They're not your friends so don't make the effort!

8. Don't play street games: Especially on Las Ramblas, the shows and statues are fun but in a big crowd there are pickpockets lurking, waiting until you become distracted so they can pounce.

9. Don't carry all money, cards, passports: If you plan to use your credit card then you will need your passport as I.D but if you're not using it then why carry it? Only carry the amount of cash you plan to spend that day and maybe one bank card. Leave the rest in your hotel.

10. Be alert on the metro: The number one place to get robbed is on the metro as it's a very crowded area with many people getting on and off. Keep a tight grip on your bag and always keep your hands in the pocket of your wallet. If you notice something missing then don't be afraid to shout and alert others so that the culprit may panic and drop their stash.

........and finally
Don't drink to much!: I'm not trying to spoil your fun and of course you can enjoy a drink but just don't over do it. Your reactions slow down, you become less alert and overly friendly so you can become a sitting duck for these crafty pickpockets.
For a more comprehensive Barcelona Guide.

Getting from Barcelona to the UAB

The time has come for Erasmus students to start descending upon the city of Barcelona and in particular to students going to the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona which has the highest amount of Erasmus students across Europe. Literally thousands of Erasmus students attend the UAB every year to experience new things, meeting new people and trying to learn Spanish, although some will try and learn Catalan too!
However the UAB is outside of the city, closer to the towns of Sabadell and Cerdanyola so many people who decide to live in the city of Barcelona will be wondering how to get there.
The best way to reach UAB is to take the Ferrocarril from Plaza Catalunya station either on line S2 to Sabadell or S55 to Universitat Autonoma. Reaching Plaza Catalunya is easy either by taking the Red or Green line and from there the Ferrocarril is well signposted. However if you are walking to Plaza Catalunya you simply enter the metro entrance outside Cafe Zurich at the top of Las Ramblas.
The Ferrocarril runs roughly every 15/20 minutes to the University and the journey takes about 40 minutes.
Also if you are staying in Barcelona apartments in Eixample Izquierda, there is another Ferrocarril stop called Provença located on Calle Balmes, which is the first stop after Plaza Catalunya. It may be handier, but be warned, in the morning the Ferrocarril is very busy so you you probably won't get a seat for the journey if you catch it from Provença.

Good luck to all the Erasmus students this year and I'm sure you'll have a great time!

For a more comprehensive Barcelona Guide.

Gracia Festival "Festa Major"

For those lucky enough to be renting Barcelona apartments in Gracia right now then they are in for a treat. The Gracia festival or Festa Major is the week long festival held in the Gracia neighbourhood of Barcelona and takes place between the 15th - 21st of August 2007.

Although tourists renting Barcelona apartments can experience festivals for each of it's districts this is by far the biggest of the neighbourhoods festivals in Barcelona and basically becomes one big street party. If you are looking out of your Barcelona apartments in Gracia Many streets in neighbourhood are decorated and there is live music everywhere. The Tabalada Infernal is one of the most popular and festive events of the Festa Major which is the drum parade, where drummers from the colles de foc, fireworks groups, parade round Gracia's streets. In addition to this people who enjoy fireworks will be impressed with the Correfoc as it is a popular light and fire event which draws hundreds of eager spectators, who will be chased by groups of people with fireworks. Another popular tradition in Catalonia is the human castles and Gracia fills up with colles castelleres building human castles that are amazing to see live. The final act of the festival is the Castell de Focs.
For more a more comprehensive Barcelona guide.

Cheap Cava in Barcelona

When you think of Cava, Spain is the first place that springs to mind, better yet Barcelona, Catalonia. The birthplace of Cava, spain of course and is the Spanish version of sparkling wine like those from the famous French region of Champagne. For those looking for cheap cava but also good quality then Barcelona has it for you. Although Cava spain is made out in the Catalan countryside, there are many many Cava bars were you can taste the region's wonderful wine.If you fancy sampling cheap cava along with a great selection of sandwiches and tapas then the bar Can Paixano is the best place to go. Commonly known to tourists as the Champaneria or Cava Bar, Can Paixano is known for cheap cava where a copa is about 50 cents and the most expensive own-label bottle a little over 4€. However there are no seats and if you go at lunchtime, you'll be able to find some space to enjoy your drink but if you go at night, expect the place to be crammed full. It's a good way to get tipsy early, but any time after 7pm will start to get very, very full and is very popular with tourists. It's compulsory to order two mini sandwiches with the first bottle you buy. From then on, every few bottles you may be asked to buy a couple of more tapas or sandwiches and the staff are very trusting and will wait for you to finish eating and drinking until they ask you to pay for anything.
Also, if you decide you want to take some Cava with you, then there is a shop at the back of the bar where you can purchase bottles (in the case load if you prefer) at a reduced wholesale rate.
Open 10:30am to 10pm.

Getting There
The address of the bar is 7 Calle de la Reina Cristina located in the old fishermans area of Barceloneta. See map
If you are staying in Barceloneta accommodation then you can easily walk to the bar and if you have any trouble then simply ask someone as they will definitely know where it is.
If you are staying in central Barcelona accommodation then you should take the Metro to Barceloneta (on the yellow line) and you are only a few minutes away.
For a more comprehensive Barcelona guide.

Original English Screening Films

Although Barcelona is in Spain, there is still a large population of English speaking people who want to see original English screening films. Whether they may be from the UK, the US, Canada, Australia etc..there are literally thousands of Barcelona citizens who would prefer to a see a film in their own language in original English screening films. In addition to those people, you have many other people from all across Europe who speak fluent English and would quite happily watch original screening films here in Barcelona. However, Spain is notorious for badly dubbing English speaking films and it always sound like the same guy for every actor and same woman for every actress. The Simpsons is a classic example of how the Spanish have butchered the voice of an institutional character of this modern generation; the most famous man in the world, Homer Simpson.
In any case, there are a few cinemas which show original English screening films. These include the very small Cine Verdi located on Calle Verdi in the middle of Gracia. Here you can see some original English screening films, however the cinema is very small and has limited screenings.
The Renoir cinema chain has cinemas in Les Corts and Floridablanca, which are slightly bigger cinemas.
Finally the best cinema by far, for multiple screenings, selection of films and size, is the Yelmo Icaria cineplex, located along Calle Icaria near metro stop Vila Olimpica, which is dedicated original English screening films.
For more information on Barcelona look for a Barcelona guide.

Finding a Ramblas Apartment

Finding a Ramblas apartment might sound difficult as would finding any good accommodation could seem like a struggle in most big cities, but this isn't true.
When you think of the city of Barcelona, one of the first things that springs to mind is Las Ramblas so that is why many people are looking for Ramblas apartment. This famous street is well known for being filled with shops bars and street performers, very popular with tourists. It is the busiest part of the city and that is why people think it is so difficult to find a Ramblas Apartment. There are literaly hundreds of hotels in the surrounding area of Las Ramblas and are usually very busy, however nowaadays the apartments are becoming more popular and right now there are many Ramblas apartments available for rent in the areas like Raval and Barrio Gotico.
There are many examples of popular Ramblas apartments which are beautifully furnished inside and if there are enough people renting, then they can work out cheaper than the many below par hostels surrounding the area.
To find a more comprehensive Barcelona guide, just search online.

Booking Nou Camp Tickets

The new La Liga season begins the 26th August and there will be many people booking Nou Camp Tickets to see the world famous FC Barcelona play and show off their many new signings including:Thierry Henry, Yaya Toure, and Eric Abidal. Along with these new faces, they will have a chance to marvel at it's current stars: Ronaldinho, Eto'o Messi, Xavi to name a few.
FC Barcelona will be looking to win back La Liga from their arch rivals Real Madrid who they threw away their title to towards the end of last season.
The first home game is 2nd September and for the many tourists looking to book Nou Camp tickets, it is important to know where to buy them.

There are many online sites where you can book Nou Camp tickets like the FC Barcelona website. These are handy for big games and guaranteeing good seats as you have the option of choosing your seat however sometimes they can be slightly overpriced due to the many tourists who visit the sites.
Another option is to purchase your tickets from the various ticket offices in the city. Just search online for the nearest one to you. There are various ones along Las Ramblas.
You can also go to the Nou Camp stadium to purchase tickets also and the office is open Monday to Thursday, from 9.00 to 13.30 and 15.30 to 18.00 / Friday, from 9.00 to 14.30 / Saturday from 9.00 to 13.30 on weekends of matches played at the Camp Nou. Getting to the Nou Camp is very easy using public transport.
A very popular hotel near the Nou Camp is Hotel Atenea and is highly recommended for those who want easy access to the stadium.
The final option is very handy, where you can buy Nou Camp tickets using the Caixa cash machines which are located on almost every street of the city. You just use your card at the machine and follow the simple instructions to book your preferred seat and your ticket is printed for you right at the machine.
Tickets are priced according to their opponents and are rated from A(big opponent) to C(lower opponent or friendly), with the exception of Real Madrid which is A+ and is almost impossible to get a ticket for. I would advise you look at a guide of Barcelona for more information on the city.

Carl Cox at City Hall, Barcelona

This Thursday the 2nd August Club4 presents Carl Cox at City Hall, Barcelona for a one off special performance as part of his busy summer schedule across Europe and all over the world. Usually Carl Cox is used to playing huge superclubs across the globe, like his weekly night in the world famous Space in Ibiza in front of thousands of clubbers. However this week he will perform at the smaller venue, City Hall infront of a couple of hundred spectators looking for hard techno beats. The venue City Hall only has a capacity of 650 people and the concert has only been advertised on posters across Barcelona for a week due to the predicted high demand for tickets, but those on Carl Cox's website mailing list will have known about the concert for a month now. The doors open at 11.30pm and tickets cost €25 before 1.30am without a drink and €30 after, also without a drink. If you are thinking of going then it would be advisable to arrive early to ensure entrance as this will be without doubt a very busy night.
Another option would be to try and book your ticket in advance by phoning Otto Zutz nightclub office on 932380722 as they are part of the group which owns City Hall. Here you can buy tickets cheaper, (probably for around €20) and with the guarantee of getting in. Find the address below Otto Zutz c/Lincoln 15 08006 Barcelona This is just another example of how Barcelona is a great clubbers destination, with many great DJs performing here, so look online for great deals on last minute Barcelona accommodation this summer.

From your Barcelona apartment to Castelldefels

You can find a great Barcelona apartment if you like going to the beach as the city is located along the coast. However getting a Barcelona apartment near the beach in the city could be difficult due to it being peak season right now. Having said that, the beaches in the city can be overcrowded at Barceloneta and Vila Olimpica so it would be recommended to catch a train to somewhere like Castelledefels. It is a beautiful beach town located south of Barcelona about 30 minutes by train.
Instead of staying near the beach then maybe you could rent a Barcelona apartment near Sants or Passeig de Gracia train station.

Getting There
Depending on where you are staying, you can reach Sants Estacio by metro on the green line or blue line and Passeig de Gracia from the yellow, green or purple line.
Passeig de Gracia is a small station and is easy to find your direction however Sants is very big and a lot more complicated. From there, you head to platform (Via) 9 or 10 for all the trains heading south towards Tarragona.
You can either take the train heading for Vilanova, which stops at Castelldefels beach or take the St Vincent train which will only stop at Castelldefels town, where you will have to wait another 5/10 minutes for a train heading to the next stop which is the beach.
The price is 2.70 return and you can purchase a ticket from the many machines at the train station. Otherwise you can use your T10 ticket you would use on the metro in the city, as Castelldefels is within zone 1.
When you arrive at the stop, you are a mere 2 minutes walk from the beach, so instead of dirty, overcrowded beaches where you cannot relax, you can instead go to this beach where you have beautiful golden sand and clear blue sea. You should look for a Barcelona guide for more information.

Nou Camp Tours

One of the most popular thing for tourists is to go on the Nou Camp tour as FC Barcelona are one of the most famous teams in the world. Nou camp tours can be done all year round even when the team aren't playing, so during the summer it is still a star attraction in the city.
The Nou Camp tour ticket price is €11 per person. This includes a guided tour of the stadium where you see the players dressing rooms, medical area, press area where they have all interviews. It is covered by red tape barrier but many tourists sneak across to grab a quick picture in Frank Rijkaard's famous position. Along the walls there are famous pictures of stars past and present and as you take the stairs up to the pitch, you pass by the famous chapel which Ronaldinho prays in before every game, along with some other players.
As you enter the stadium up to the touchline, you are amazed at the sheer size of this, the biggest stadium in Europe. A great photo opportunity. From there you take the stairs up to the President's box where Laporta sits and then you can take the elevator up to the very top of the stadium to the press box to get a full view over the whole stadium. Also the ticket tour price includes a current exhibiton about the history of world football being held in the stadium's trophy room which is very impressive along with the countless trophies and memorabilia in the room.
From then on you can leave the stadium and head over to the club shop to pick up any FC Barcelona souvenirs you may want.

Opening Hours
The stadium is open Monday to Saturday 10-18.30 except match days and on Sundays and bank holidays from 10-14.00.

Quick Tip
If you are coming to Barcelona from late August onwards, then the season will have started, so if you try to do the Nou Camp tour in the morning, then there is a good chance you can see the players as they train across the street in the Mini Nou Camp and are often seen wandering about the stadium or arrivng/leaving in their cars.

Accommodation
There are quite a few hotels near the stadium and one of the most popular for tourists and football fans alike is the Bonanova Park Hotel near metro station Maria Cristina along the top end of Avenida Diagonal. It's cheap yet good quality too. A favourite with many toursists.

Getting There
Getting from your Barcelona accommodation to the Nou Camp is easy.
You can take the metro to Collblanc (blue line) or Maria Cristina (green line) and from there the stadium is well signposted.

For a more in depth Barcelona guide then look online.

Guide to The Wonderful Parc Guell

Parc Guell, built between 1900-1914 by the world renowned Antoni Gaudi.
Originally it was designed as part of a commercially unsuccessful housing site, the idea of Count Eusedi de Guell , Eusebi de Güell whom the park was named after. One of Gaudi's masterpieces which is situated at the top of hill Carmel in the Gracia district. It has been converted in to a municipal park and is now a huge tourist attraction, known all over the world and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage "Works of Antoni Gaudi".
The park's design includes wonderful marble Mosaics along the seating areas, interesting ceiling arches however the focal point of the park is the entrance terrace which has a wonderful Sea Serpent statue in the middle of the magnificent staircase leading up to the top of the park. From the Plaza at the top you can get a great panoramic view across the whole of the city, but be warned, it can be very crowded due to it's popularity, so getting people out the way of your picture could be your biggest problem!

Info

The park opens at 10am until 8pm in the summer and the entrance is free. The only thing you would have to pay is to enter Gaudí's house, "la Torre Rosa," where you can see furniture he designed.
There are buses from the centre which take you there, and the one of the Barcelona Tourist Bus Routes stops near the entrance of the park, however if you don't want to pay the expensive ticket then you are advised to take the metro (green line) to Vallcarca.
You can find Barcelona accommodation in the Gracia district where the park is situated, by looking online.
It is truly a wonderful place and captivates the essence of Barcelona.

For a more comprehensive Barcelona guide search online.

Ex Pat's Guide To Finding Curry Sauce in Barcelona

We know that people from the UK love there food from home, just like anyone from there respective home countries, however the age old saying goes, "The Brits don't have their own great food"
People can say what they want, but if the people from the UK are happy with it, then why should the foreigners care?
Anyway, as most people may know, Brits LOVE curry! It's not our dish originally, but due to the Commonwealth's influence on India and Pakistan and the great influx of Asian people during the 50s and 60s, on many many streets across the UK you are certain to find at least one curry house. Also in UK supermarkets, you can find shelves full of different brands, jars, packets, types, of curry sauce which are very popular with shoppers.

However even with the huge amount of Ex Pats living and working in Barcelona, it is still almost impossible to find the much sought after jars of curry sauce. Ask any ex pat and they will tell you, one of the foods they miss is curry sauce and poppadoms. I know i do! There are some curry houses here but everyone says it's not the same as home.

Where to Find Them?
Never fear, as after months of searching, i have found certain hot spots where you can find the "Spicy Grail".
One shop in Raval, aptly named "Curry Alimentacion" is located along Calle l'Hospital with Ramblas de Raval, where inside you can find different Pataks curry pastes and powders if you feel brave enough to make your own creation, along with packets of Poppadoms. They jars are not too expensive and plenty available.
On Calle Verdi in Gracia there is a British Supermarket, however it is very small and only has one type of curry powder and one jar of Chicken Tonight sauce which anyone knows isn't the best.
Finally the best and probably most expensive place is the Delishop on Calle Mallorca with Ramblas Catalunya. In there you can find Powders, Poppadoms, Pastes and actual prepared sauces if your a bit lazy.
So if your having withdrawal symptoms from curry then get a map of Barcelona and get looking!

For a more comprehensive Barcelona guide then look online.

A British Guide to Las Ramblas

Ok, i'm sorry to say it, but us Brits are the most dense people when it comes to tourism. In Europe for example, Britain is an island race which is shut off from the rest of the continent and for this reason, we have become more ignorant to other places in Europe. We don't make any effort to speak anyone elses language, we're happy with our culture yet we choose to force it on other cultures when we go abroad!
When it comes to the city of Barcelona for example, we always think of two things.

Number 1: FC Barcelona and all the things that go along with it, like Ronaldinho (and now Henry) and the Nou Camp.

Number 2: Las Ramblas! Or "La Rambla, Las Rambla, La Ramblas or simply put by our oh so wonderful drunk football fans THE RAMBLES!!

First things first, it is called.....LAS RAMBLAS, so when your looking for Barcelona accommodation online near the famous street, then type in "Las Ramblas". However this isn't too important thanks to google's wonderful phrase correction tool.

Anyway, if you want to stay there then make sure you shop around because there are plenty of sites which prey on ignorant tourists who just go for the first hotel they see. Heres a tip, try searching for an apartment near Las Ramblas, as there are many sites which offer really nice, cheap apartments a stones throw away from it.

Look after yourself if your out partying, because British people are the easiest people for the many pickpockets to spot along this street usually due to the lobster suntan we tend to sport.

So try and keep your wits about you, or theres a good chance you'll get robbed whether it be on the metro, in the street or later at night while your drunk. Also if your out a bit drunk on the street and you fancy having a laugh with the local police like you might do at home, think again.
These are not the loveable PC plods from back home, who really don't want to arrest people and prefer to keep the peace.
Over there, the police are basically pumped up full of steriods and have developed a complex through years of being picked on at school. They would like nothing better to batter some drunk British tourist about for being to drunk or loud, and then maybe they'll arrest you for good measure.

Anyway, don't worry, it's not all doom and gloom. Las Ramblas is great for tourists who want to have a good time as it has many bars and clubs at night and entertainment and shops during the day. However sometimes ignorance can bring problems. So why not even learn a couple of basic phrases in Spanish, because people will be so much more friendly and helpful to you if they notice you making the effort.
For a more comprehensive Barcelona guide, look online.

Dancing til sunrise

In this modern day youth culture, hedonism has become the key to life. Most young people nowadays participate in some form of clubbing during their lifetime, whether it is from the later teens or even up until your mid 30s. Everyone is doing it.
Clubs are evolving at a rapid rate and the new thing now is outdoor clubbing.
With the heavy influence coming from party goer heaven, Ibiza, which is famous for it's outdoor superclubs, more and more summer destinations are trying to compete.
And this can only mean good news for us late night revelers who enjoy staying out late, dancing to great music. Apart from the White Isle's towering influence, it's become apparent that techno, house and other forms of electro music are becoming popular again
with many previously jaded listeners all of a sudden a techno fan because its "the cool music of the moment".
When considering these factors and consumers increasing demand for something extra, clubs are being opened with an outdoor design, so that the clubber feels like they are dancing on the "Terrazza" until the sun comes up.
A perfect of example of how outdoor clubbing has become popular is if you look at the city of Barcelona.
Liquid is a club located on the outskirts of the city which boasts a summer lineup of huge DJs such as Miss Kitten, and also has a swimming pool inside the club! However i'm sure it will be easy to dry yourself off with the suns rays come morning time.
Situated in Poble Espanyol, La Terrazza is a well known club for house music and attracts DJs and clubbers alike from all over the world.
Also the world famous L'Atlantida Disco situated in Sitges is a nightclubbers heaven as it sit on top of a cliff over looking the Mediterranian sea with the waves crashing against the walls. Here you can meet people from all walks of life looking to party until sunrise.
Look how crazy it was last year...

All of these examples along with others show that Barcelona is one of the coolest placest for summer clubbers and finding cheap accommodation in Barcelona is easy to do.
So what are you waiting for, go put your stunner shades on!!!

For a more comprehensive Barcelona guide, just look online.