So I’m going to Barcelona and Mallorca next month on vacation. Will spend three days in each place. Will take a ferry from barcelona to mallorca. Anyone have suggestions on what to do or see in either place? Any specific beaches, landmarks, historical sites, restaurants?
Barcelona has lots of architecture by Gaudi like that unfinished church, Sagrada Familia.
Re: Barcelona and Mallorca
Barcelona is renowned for its beautiful architecture. highlights of the city include the monuments and buildings created by Spain's most famous artists: Gaudi and Picasso.
Start your morning with a stroll through Plaza de Catalunya, considered to be the centre of the city. The plaza is known for its many fountains and statues.
Wander the medieval streets of the Gothic Quarter where you will find many buildings dating from the 15th century including the Barcelona Cathedral. Continue to Plaza Sant Jaume where the important government buildings are located, including the Palace of Generalitat and the Town Hall.
Montjuich Mountain offers a panoramic view of the city and harbor. Tour the Olympic Stadium, Palau Sant Jordi and Calatrava Tower.
Visit the Poble Espanyol (Spanish Village) which reproduces the most typical regional architectural styles in Spain.
Go to Paseo de Gracia to see Gaudi's famous apartment buildings including Casa Batllo and La Pedrera; then visit Gaudi's bizarre Parc Guell which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Visit La Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) Cathedral, Gaudi's unfinished masterpiece which is Barcelona's most famous landmark.
Visit Barcelona's Monumental Bull Ring and the famous Cathedral Sta Maria del Mar, the only gothic church in Catalonia completely finished.
That's most of the the cultural, arty stuff to do in barcelona :)
Re: Barcelona and Mallorca
Restaurants - spanish food is wonderful, but they love their meat!! if you want something halal, you will find a lot of halal resaturants and takeaways predominantly in the Raval area which is an next to La Ramblas. Practically every street in Raval has a halal restaurant.
Re: Barcelona and Mallorca
Wow thanks so much maroush!
Re: Barcelona and Mallorca
In barcelona, go and see the light show at the magic fountain - it was the best part of my trip.
Re: Barcelona and Mallorca
Barcelona is a city that has it all. Do visit the old areas like Gotic, they have great cafes and small shops in that area. Gaudi park where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city.
In Mallorca there is a beach with not so many people,its a bit far from the city, like one hour os so but i dont remember the name. Both are great places, you are gonna have a blast :)
Re: Barcelona and Mallorca
maroush: what is the best time to visit Barcelona? I have a long due trip to Spain. !
Any time is a good time! 
Re: Barcelona and Mallorca
Do try the chair-lift near the dock area... it starts from a mountain top just across the dock area. The experience is really great as you get a beautiful view of open sea, beaches etc. The feeling of floating above dark blue waters is something I really liked.
Re: Barcelona and Mallorca
OMG im scared of chairlifts. There's no way you will see me get on one of those. Though I would love to see everything from atop.
Hi
Im still contemplating on which country to go to..but I am planning to go on holiday between 9th and 13th April..whats the weather like in Barcelona?
I thought spain was all beaches...obv I was wrong!
Firenze jee, like the espanola senorita says, any time is good to visit Spain!
I would recommend the south of Spain…Al Andalus is my favourite part of Spain, and it has the most beautiful architecture!
Sevilla - where there is the beautiful Alcazar palace, built by the Almohads and was King Pedro’s residence.
Granada - where you will find the beautiful Alhambra palace… breathtaking…
Córdoba - The great mosque(formally visigothic church) of Córdoba, where the Nasrid kings also resided..
I love Spanish history.. Viva La Espana! 
Re: Barcelona and Mallorca
maroush said it all…she mentioned some great places to visit.
Also…I didnt enjoy the food there. They always have shrimp with eyes and antlers sticking out of em in everything! 
They also seem to love their ham.
Raval has some good halal restaurants and if i recall correctly so does la rambla.
hotels are not so great! I am pretty picky about where i stay and for the most part barecelona had some run down tiny hotel rooms in which you could barely walk. When I checked in I was in shock(considering the amount of money it costs)…I immediately checked out and headed straight to the Princess Sophia Intercontinental Hotel 
Now that’s an amazing hotel…but be ready to dish out some major $
I am headed to Asturia’s (northern part of spain) in sept iA. for a friends wedding…will be flying to southern spain as well for 10 days. I hear Asturia’s is beautiful and not so touristy. Anyone ever been there?
Firenze jee, like the espanola senorita says, any time is good to visit Spain! I would recommend the south of Spain...Al Andalus is my favourite part of Spain, and it has the most beautiful architecture!
Sevilla - where there is the beautiful Alcazar palace, built by the Almohads and King Pedro's residence.
Granada - where you will find the beautiful Alhambra palace... breathtaking...
Córdoba - The great mosque(formally visigothic church) of Córdoba, where the Nasrid kings also resided..
I love Spanish history.. Viva La Espana! :)
I am so looking forward to seeing all this in sept inshAllah.
Maroush if you get the chance...maybe you can start a thread dedicated just to southern spain and tell us all about your excursion? what hotels to stay in..what to see etc? thanks
Salaam
Barcelona is probably one of the most beautiful places i have been to, the people are warm and friendly. I was only there for a two days as i was based in Salou.
If your taking any footy fans try and get a tour of the Nou Camp where Fc Barcelona play as the stadium was terrific.
In barcelona, go and see the light show at the magic fountain - it was the best part of my trip.
I second that, it was the best part of the visit and was a sight to behold. I remeber they had some chinese guy who would write your name out with chinese caligraphy absolutely amazing.
Inshallah all the best on your journey and may Allah grant you a safe return.
kh
Re: Barcelona and Mallorca
^ i agree...people in spain are very friendly and tho most can not speak english they truly make an effort to communicate with you in english unlike the french!
btw...
no one mentioned the running of the bulls!! it is suppose to be a big event in spain which only takes place in july i belive. however if you are an animal rights type person....this form of entertainment is not for you.
Re: Barcelona and Mallorca
^ I did mention it above in my first post... Visit Barcelona's Monumental Bull Ring :)
Me and the hubby are currently contemplating whether to buy some property in the south of Spain..... but with children i don't think purchasing another holiday home is feasible :(
I agree 100% about the spanish attitude... very friendly, approachable and helpful. My hubby is french, and although i'm also fluent in french and have spent so much time over in france, whenever i go there i always notice the way most french people behave with tourists... they are pretty unfriendly and snobby at times..... and it's well known that if you are a non-french-speaking tourist, you approach a french person and start to speak to them in english, they will find it extremely offensive... you always have to greet them in french first....
Re: Barcelona and Mallorca
^ugh! im gonna be there in april. but now i really wanna go to the light show.
Re: Barcelona and Mallorca
Ohhhh i just re-read the thread, and see you're going to mallorca too... the mallorcans are really teased by other spaniards because of their funny accent! :)
I liked the food in Mallorca, but they really do have meat in everything! I liked:
Tumbet - it's like a ratatouille with aubergines, peppers and potatoes in olive oil
Gato de almendras - an almond cake served with toasted almond ice cream... yum!
Ensaimadas - the thing the mallorcans are the most proud of. Lovely spiral-shaped pastries dusted with sugar and filled with anything and everything... my faves were the ones with pumpkin jam, and the one with cream, turron paste and chocolate.
Ohhhh and and in general, try churros (long spanish donut) with hot chocolate.... i could talk about this stuff forever :D