Advice on Barcelona

bm365

Going to Barcelona this summer with 3 other lads. I was wondering what part of the city has the best nightlife (we are all 19 and 20 and would like nightlife with similar age groups). Also any idea where we should stay?

peanuthead

Hi

Barcelona is a lovely place, there will be lots to see and do, always lots of hen parties, so u lads will be in ur element!!!

Now Im female, so i kno its different for me than it is for three lads, but I found it quite dangerous. I was followed from the train to the beach one day by some guy, and had another very bizzare encounter with a local which I wont go into.

Beware of pickpockets in barcelona. Alot of thieves.

Try stay out of the irish bars, drink is cheap enough, but you will pay irish prices in the irish bars

Cant recommend places to stay cause i was studying over there, but IBIS hotels are cheap enough and pretty good (i know they have a bad rep in Ireland, but they are fine abroad, stayed in them in milan, paris and belgium) so if there is one in barcelona, if its cheap youre looking for go for that!

bm365

Thanks but what I'm looking for is an apartment/hotel which is close to the best nightlife, and I dont know what part of Barcelona that might be!

peanuthead

Well, even though i spent a considerable amount of time in barcelona, i wasnt there to have fun :mad::(

But from what i could see, everything was happening up at Las Ramblas. But to be honest, its an expensive part of Barcelona, and it may not be the best place either. However i think thats where all the bars are.

danh789

My friend was there last year and she stayed in a place called the Atlantis Hotel if you want to check that out. Others here might know more about the place

How Strange

I think most of the clubs are down around the Port area.

Why don't you get a guide book to Barcelona which will list all the clubs and accomodation near by.

Petrolium Hat

I'd disagree somewhat about the Irish bars, there's a couple just off La Ramblas which are good craic and near to loads of amazing restaurants. I'd say stay somewhere centralish near a metro line. The metro is v.good. Do be wary of dodgey characters are las ramblas, it is where most of teh craic is though.

bm365

I wouldn't be too concerned about an area with amazing restaurants, what I would like is an area of Barcelona with lots of tourists/locals our age (late teens - early 20's) and full of great nightclubs

Dodge

I'd stay away from Las ramblas tbh (in terms of accomodation). The lower aprt (towards the port) can be seedy at night. Its a brilliant spectacle during the day though

The Olympic port, on the other hand, is an area packed with tons of pubs, clubs and restaurents and gets very fulla t weekends with tourists.

The more up scale clubs are to the north of Placa catalunya, which is the square at the top of Las Ramblas. Locals tend to go to these and some are ultra high fashion clubs.

There's an Irish bar called Flahertys just off Las Ramblas thats pretty good as irish bars go. a good sign was locals drinking there. They also had a happy hour from 5-9 with bottles of beer only €1. Even after that the local beer Estrella Damm was only €2/€2.50 in most places. Gorgeous beer it was too.

My favourite city in europe, I've been about 7 times now

gandalf

Heading there this weekend so will post up what I think late next week.

Staying in the Soho Hotel in Las Ramblas.

How Strange

gandalf wrote: »

Heading there this weekend so will post up what I think late next week.

Staying in the Soho Hotel in Las Ramblas.

I stayed there before, it's fab. It's about a 20min walk to Placa de Espana. Lots of seriously cool bars and places down side streets to the right of Gran Via as you're walking towards Place de Espana.

Avoid the Irish bars off La Rambla. They are a total rip off and as someone else said you'll pay Dublin prices for slop beer.

Brods

Hey Dodge, is Estrella Damm the beer in red cans you can buy on the street? Know if its sold anywhere in dublin?

Dodge

Brods wrote: »

Hey Dodge, is Estrella Damm the beer in red cans you can buy on the street? Know if its sold anywhere in dublin?

No, tried most places...

d-arke

bm365 wrote: »

I wouldn't be too concerned about an area with amazing restaurants, what I would like is an area of Barcelona with lots of tourists/locals our age (late teens - early 20's) and full of great nightclubs

I'm going in two weeks and from what I gather Las Ramblas sounds like it is the Temple Bar / Grafton St of Barcelona. That is, streets with loads of pubs, cafes, street entertainers etc.

You're probably best off just googling "Barcelona + nightclubs" and finding something you would like whether its dance clubs, rock clubs etc.

As for somewhere to stay, have you checked out the local hostels. Alternatively, look into booking an apartment instead of a hotel.

An Citeog

bm365 wrote: »

I wouldn't be too concerned about an area with amazing restaurants, what I would like is an area of Barcelona with lots of tourists/locals our age (late teens - early 20's) and full of great nightclubs

Your best bet is an area called "El Borne". It's in the centre of the city, 5 minutes walk from Las Ramblas and is fairly safe, compared to some of the other areas in the centre (mainly Raval). It doesn't have any nightclubs per se but it has lots of cool bars and a really vibrant and lively atmosphere at night.Have a look on hostelworld or one of those sites for accommodation in the area, maybe even try renting an apartment out there for a few days.

As for nightclubs, there are plenty to choose from and it all depends what you're into. The main touristy ones are along Las Ramblas and around the Maremagnum at the bottom of the street (Mondo being one). There are also a few down along the beach by the marina (Shoko, Catwalk, Opium) but these are slightly upmarket. Same with clubs like Up N' Down and Ribelino's on Diagonal. Most places will charge you €8-10 for a spirit and mixer and about €5 for a bottle of beer. If somewhere serves beer in pints, you can rest assured you're being ripped off!:D

If you fancy something a bit different, try Razzmatazz, near the Metro station "Marina". It's basically just a massive warehouse with 5 different dancefloors, all playing different kinds of music. Calle Aribau is another street with a good few nightclubs. They've also got this bar (in a shopping centre between Get Back and Costa Breve) where you buy a bottle of spirits for €35 (or 2 for €50) and they give you all the mixers you want for free. It's really small but the atmosphere is brilliant, girls dancing on the bar and it stays open till some time after 7am. I'm not sure when exactly because I've never made it till closing!:D

Just a word of warning aswell. Stay away from Raval ie. The area to the south of Las Ramblas (on the LHS, when you're looking up Las Ramblas with your back to the sea). There are some decent bars there but the area itself is very dodgy and drunken tourists might aswell have a target painted on their foreheads. The same can be said for Las Ramblas at night aswell. If some flower/beer salesman starts getting a little too close for comfort, just stare him out of it and he'll back down straight away. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the prostitutes and you really have to be blunt, even nasty to them.

Barcelona is a brilliant city and like most people, you'll have a great time, even if you just stay around the Ramblas area like a lot of the tourists. If you don't like it that much, there are always plenty of other options open.

Btw, if you only visit one tourist attraction in the city, make sure it's Parc Güell. Go there and you'll see why!:)

FearDark

Hey, i wouldnt go. The place is a feckin rob. Got stung for 30 euros for two slices of pizza and 2 coffees in one place, la ramblas is scumbag central, taxi driver stung me by shortchanging me. Grr...

paulanthony

Barcelona is a lovely city and very lively but be careful, especially in the metro, of pickpockets - it really is very prevalent over there. If people seem to be pushing up against you on the stairs or trying to sell you something on the street watch their hands as their other hand may be in your pocket!

gandalf

Well back from Barca and have to say I had a ball. Didn't really hit any nightclubs but the food and drink was great. If you stay away from the main tourist street restaurants and bars then the prices are good.

Las Ramblas has a good atmosphere and plenty to see but you have to be aware that there are a few chancers around. At night there is a more sinister feeling to the place, but again common sense will get you through.

The seafood in Barcelona is to die for and if you do get a chance go to El Chipirón de Moncho's at the port does a mean place full of seafood for €99 for 2 people (it would probably do 4). Check out the photo here http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=641487&l=bc483&id=741262614

The Hotel was brilliant, the room was extremely funky. Didn't eat there so can't comment on the food but one word of warning the lounge closed at 9.30pm so no late drinking there.

Will definitely be going back to Barcelona.

ircoha

peanuthead wrote: »

Hi


....Beware of pickpockets in barcelona. A lot of thieves.

+10
and mind your drink,
drink from a bottle only
if u go to the ceann, get a new bottle on your return.