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BARCELONA - STAY FOR LESS "Euros"

BARCELONA is Spain's second City with many sights & activities & is another great European City to visit. To make the most of your trip, either short or long, you need local knowledge & as a "Golden" Backpacker I offer you my information to allow you to see the most & stay for less:

ACCOMODATION in the centre is essential to experience the real Barcelona.

No 1 - Alberg Palau at Carrer del Palau 6 (in Barri Gotic area nr. City Hall) tele 93 412 50 80 - E18 b&b (sheet E2) 50 beds in 6 bunk dorms with good lockers - self cat. kitchen (7-10pm) hobs , fridge & washer - dinning /sitting SMOKE area, TV - good showers, wc's. A character hostel, second floor balconies for viewing street life with good ambience for meeting people.
Reserves - Hostal de Joves HI at Passeig.de Pujades 29 ( nr. Parc de la Ciutadella ) tele 93 300 31 04 E15 b&b - 80 beds in bunk dorms - front eating/ sitting, SMOKE area - small self cat. kitchen with single hob - sep showers & but small inadequate wash rooms/ wc's. Cheap hostel but only for short stays due to restricted space, limited facilities & dark inside rooms!

Hostel Gothic Point at Carrer Vigatans no5 ( nr Picasso Museum) tele 93 310 77 55 - E35 b&b&s - shared rooms with individual space modules- good dinning area and facilities. Modern central hostel.

International Youth Hostel Monserrat at Passeig De Mare De Deu Del Coll 41 - 51 (4km north of City centre, nr. Vallcarca Metro ) tele. 93 483 83 63 - E27 pn incl. breakfast & sheets - 223 bed/ dorms - meals provided/ no self cat. laundry - good sitting areas inside & out, TV games room etc. Excellent hostel but too far from town centre to gain Barcelona atmosphere.

FOOD for self catering can be found in good supermarkets in the centre notably the "Champion" SM. at 113 Rambla which is cheap & has great range of foods, fresh fruit & veg, drinks also hot snacks, clothing & utensils etc. The main market again just off Rambla has beautifully presented fruit & veg, olives, sweets, fish etc at best prices. Of course there are multitudes of both fast and exotic resturaunts in & around the centre.

TRAVELLING AROUND the City on foot, visiting the well spread out sights will become pretty tiresome so the use of public transport in Barcelona is needed and can be very good value. A single ticket on the bus or metro is E1.60 but you can almost halve the cost by buying a T-10 ticket for E9 which allows 10 journeys in the central zone (75mins limit)

"FREE" ESSENTIAL SIGHTS TO SEE IN BARCELONA

1. Picasso Museum - Free on first Sunday of every month with ex's of all works (charge other times)
2. The Ramblas Walk - About 8ish join the crowds & meander down the boulevard, see entertainersetc
3. Sagrada Familia o/s - Gaudi's unfinished Cathedral, more impressive from the outside
4. Placa Reial (off Ramblas) - Elegant !9th cent. Square, with odd people & first lamp posts by Gaudi.
5. Park Guell - More of Gaudi's work, impressive mosaic seating area & houses
6. Port Vell Harbour Complex - An impressive IMAX/ aquarium & shopping mall with harbour views
7. Platja Barceloneta - Walk along or relax on this Mediterranian sandy beach
8. Olympic Stadium - Renovated for the 92 Games also Jordi Sports Palace next door
9. Monument a Colom - To Columbus at the south end of La Rambla (lift view from top extra)
10. Montjuic Park - Between city & sea a great place to walk, see the cable car & the funicular.

ESSENTIAL "CHARGE" SIGHTS TO SEE

1. Ciutadella Park / Zoo - Meet "Snowflake" the worlds only captive albino gorilla & friends
2. Casa Mila - Another Gaudi spectacular from 1905, rooftop chimney park & attic display
3. Palau Guell - Gaudi's palace with many amazing design features, built in 1880's

(Nick, Mark, Dimac, Lola, Thomas)