"Big city, soccer, food, beach, sun and... " a Barcelona Travel Page by Renescheffer

Update
I visited BCN around 20 january with wife and daughter.
Tip: an appartment is much more spacious and relatively cheaper.
In january we had a bargain, 360 euro for 5 nights (80 sqm, 3 bedrooms) with: www.bookings.com and old town appartments.
The mentioned favourite restaurants are still good.

Barcelona is a masterpiece of a Big Mediterenian European seashore city; it hosts everything a tourist wants. I was there about 8 times and everytime i felt like coming home. The smell of the restaurant Pollo Rico, the birds noise on the Ramblas and even the noise of the nightly garbagecars in the narrow streets. A quick chorizo caldo tapa on my way to Camp Nou....i want to go back !

Barcelona has reinvented its position as city with beach and port.
The port Vell (with cinema's and acqarium), the beach and the Olympic vilage are a day trip worth and the restaurants near the Port Vell bring you in a complete different atmosphere in comparition to The Ramblas and Bairro Gotico. In winter when the shade of the high buildings make it cold after 13.30 hr, you can go to the Port and sit in the sun till 16.00 hr. I advice to walk to the Port and beach and to go back with the bus or metro.

You can visit the stadium and the museum. For going to a FC Barcelona match visit my tip at "sport". Further info: www.fcbarcelona.com.

For women:
A big very upmarket shopping centre L'Illa is in a distance of 1,5 km of the stadium. At saturday evening shops are open till 21 hr or later, so its possible to do shopping from 18-20 hrs and then take a taxi for a FC Barcelona match at Camp Nou and have a tapa meal in one of the streets nearbye.