Travelling to Barcelona, Spain

RJK · 4th March 2010, 23:04

Folks,

So as the title suggests, I'm travelling to barcelona in the 2nd week of april. I intend to go for two weeks, not necessarily just in Barcelona but in some other country in Europe too, most likely France. I was thinking of driving from Barcelona to Valencia since it looks like a bloody fantastic drive along the coast. I was also told to visit Malaga also by someone I know.

So, if you guys can suggest any other places in Spain that I could visit, it'd be great. Would it be a good call to club France in this trip ? I'm totally clueless right now; like a headless chicken really and I do know that there's google but the search is over-whelming. I'd rather hear from someone who has visited the places first hand. I'm a beach lover and thats why I'm going to Valencia, also contemplating if I should go to Corsica Island in France.

Also, Can I drive w/ my Indian license in Spain ? My US license just expired last week which really sucks !

Hoping for your replies, guys !

mjothi · 5th March 2010, 06:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJK

Also, Can I drive w/ my Indian license in Spain ? My US license just expired last week which really sucks !

Hoping for your replies, guys !

Not sure, but most of the countries allow you to drive if you license is clearly readable and in English. And since those places are tourist spots, I don't think you will have any issues in renting with Indian driving license.

Best bet is, just drop in a mail to Avis in spain and check. They give you clear answers.

raghu230506 · 5th March 2010, 07:13

RJK,

You can drive with an IDP, it would safe if you can travel with it. As mjothi, suggested check it out with AVIS.

I was in Madrid for 6months in 2005, biggest problem I faced in Spain was language problem, it was allways hard to find people speaking in English.

Places you can think of are

> Cordaba
> Granada

I personally liked them and hence suggested.

raghu230506 · 5th March 2010, 09:14

One more place, it's in the borders (between Spain and France). This too can be on your list.

san sebastian, it's bit far from Madrid, more from Barcelona, just check it out if you can make it.

Abhay · 5th March 2010, 12:13

Sorry for the advice as I have not been to any of the above places but I "know" a lot about them - armchair travelling you can say...

If you are in Barcelona and want to club together S. France then you can also do some places on the Costa Brava. Of course there are lots of things to do/see in Barcelona itself. In case you like old buildings/architecture there are tonnes of places of interest (especially those of Antoni Gaudi) and plenty of nice beaches near Barcelona. If you want some more beaches/island life, you should also check out Mallorca/Menorca which are closeby in the Mediterranean Sea. (halfway to Corsica/Sardinia)

If you decide to head to the southern part of Spain instead of North, Andalusia is the place to be (as someone has already suggested you Málaga) - Sevilla, Cordoba and Granada are very nice places with some amazing history/culture and beaches.

Language though might be a problem, as much as in Catalunya as elsewhere in Spain.

deky · 5th March 2010, 13:29

On my ship journeys, I have been to Barcelona more than a few times and is my favourite city till date. The vibrance and the energy that the city exudes is brilliant.

The best way I found to see barcelona is the tourist hop on and hop off bus. Few things IMO that are must see are
1. Walk along Las Ramblas, the main street
2. Biggest fish market at las Ramblas
3. Nou Camp stadium
4. Gaudi Architechture- most prominent being the Sagrada famillia Church
5. Train Journey to Monserrat.
6. Spanish Food- Tapas and Paella are a must.

If you wish to see other places in Spain you should try and visit Sevilla atleast. Close to Sevilla is a small Sherry producing town called Jerez De La Frontera. Visit the Tio Pepe Bodega (cellar) there, its simply amazing and very pretty.

Malaga, Cordoba & Granada as people suggested are also very pretty and are old towns with lots of history.

If you happy driving, you could also think of driving from Barcelona to Nice/Monacco (france). The drive along the French Reviera offers breathtaking sites and Monacco is worth a visit atleast once to see how the richest of the rich live.

EDIT: And yeah Corsica is worth the visit. We used to wait to arrive to Ajaccio (Corsica) so that we could have the bestest seafood available in the world. But I am sure you would be aware, you would have to take a ferry for Corsica.

lsp · 6th March 2010, 19:59

I would suggest Ibiza - the most popular party island in Europe.
Getting from Barcelona to Ibiza (and return) | Spain Travel Guide

I had planned a trip to Barcelona and Ibiza in 2007 but unfortunately could not make it. I want to travel to those places vicariously through you.

If you plan to drive down till Valencia, Ibiza should be closer from there.

mitchontheroad · 6th March 2010, 20:21

are you living in the usa now? if so, renew your license. then go to AAA and get your intl driving permit. its only us$10. bring two small photos. then you are good to go.
only 2 weeks. stay in spain or just over the border into the corner of france on the coast.
keep in mind that it may still be cold in april.
barcelona is good for at least 3-5 days. do we assume you will fly back from barcelona too?
i will suggest 2 different loops

1. from barc into france along the coast to perpignon and up to carcassone. a real life medieval castle town still functioning.
then up the highway to biaritz on the coast and down thru san sebastion for some great seafood. and then decide if you want to go thru madrid area with a stop in the beautiful city of segovia and work your way back to valencia and then to barca.

2. or all the way down the coast to catch the beautiful places of cordba, seville and malaga. but then its a looooong way back.

you are too early for the running of the bulls in pamplona. july 7th.
if the passes are open and you feel up to it, you could try crossing through andorra. way up in the mountains. you would sure see snow and its really spectacular scenery. but no beaches.

for me, just driving through the countryside and stopping in small towns for tapas(snacks at the bar) is a nice experience. yes, language can be a problem but hey, thats what it is all about, no?

enjoy

majorpayne · 20th April 2011, 19:50

Hi everyone,

My cousin and I are backpacking through Spain in May, and I was hoping to get some information on the places we are visiting. The following are the places that we intend to visit:

We start off at Madrid - Bilbao - Barcelona - Valencia - Granada - Malaga - Sevilla - Cordoba - Toledo and then back to Madrid.

Does it make sense visiting these places in the above order? So far, the buses seem to be the cheapest mode of transport. We plan on staying at hostels and cheap hotels.

I was wondering if anyone has been to any of these places? If yes, any tips / suggestions on places to stay, travel etc are welcome.

Thanks in advance.

unicorn_i20 · 20th April 2011, 20:12

hey good to hear about your euro-trip. This is one of the top item in my to-do list. I haven't been to Spain or rather Europe earlier. This is my first visit to Europe and it was too short to explore anything. so I cant provide you much information on other places you are planning to visit.

However, I have been to Barcelona from Toulouse, France in car for just 1 weekend. I am writing a travelogue on this trip which should get published tonight in Travelogue section. Go through it, you may find it useful.

majorpayne · 21st April 2011, 02:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by unicorn_i20

hey good to hear about your euro-trip. This is one of the top item in my to-do list. I haven't been to Spain or rather Europe earlier. This is my first visit to Europe and it was too short to explore anything. so I cant provide you much information on other places you are planning to visit.

However, I have been to Barcelona from Toulouse, France in car for just 1 weekend. I am writing a travelogue on this trip which should get published tonight in Travelogue section. Go through it, you may find it useful.

Thanks dude. I'll go through your travelogue...

KMohanan · 18th March 2012, 23:22

Friends,

In the last week of May, I am visiting Spain for 3-4 days. It is my first visit outside India. Since it is an official visit, my passport, tickets etc my company will take care. I want your help in a few specific aspects.

(a) How is the weather in spain during this time ? Have I to take special clothing for protection from cold etc ?

(b) I am a PURE vegetarian from KERALA. I do not even take egg. I do not consume fish also. Do you think, I can survive in Spain ? Whether I will get 'vegetarian' food in spain ? Do the meaning of their 'vegetarian' and indian 'vegetarian' same ? Or there is nothing called 'vegetarian' in spain ?

(c) Good juices will be available ?

(d) How much time it take by flight from Delhi ? What is the most common route. Mostly we will be opting Air India. Whether there is direct connectivity by Air India from delhi to spain ?

I request all my BHP friends to kindly help me. Also, guide me on special attention areas like looting, terrorism etc...

raghu230506 · 18th March 2012, 23:38

Which part of Spain you would be travelling to?

Depending on the place of stay weather can vary, I was in Madrid for few months, didn't find food an issue (being non veg) but language was. This was way in 2006, hope they got improved ;-) on language part.

Since your travel is for few days I would suggest you carry as much ready to eat as possible for those days.

Good juice and different variety of Fruits is no problem around the world.

Journey should take roughly 12hrs excluding the transits and waiting times (this was in my case via Frankfurt)

anekho · 19th March 2012, 00:05

Hey KMohanan!

Quote:

Originally Posted by KMohanan

(a) How is the weather in spain during this time ? Have I to take special clothing for protection from cold etc ?

Weather should be great, atleast 20-25 °C and sunny for the most part. Still, I'd recommend keeping a (very) thin jacket, for the occasional shower/windy day.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KMohanan

(b) I am a PURE vegetarian from KERALA. I do not even take egg. I do not consume fish also. Do you think, I can survive in Spain ? Whether I will get 'vegetarian' food in spain ? Do the meaning of their 'vegetarian' and indian 'vegetarian' same ? Or there is nothing called 'vegetarian' in spain ?

Being a vegetarian isn't easy in Spain - we found it quite difficult to find vegetarian food. If you're visiting a city like Madrid or Barcelona it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Vegetarian options of traditional spanish food (like veg. Paella) do exist but finding them can be tricky. Alternatively, stick to Italian or Indian food and you'll be fine.

Typically in Europe, most people assume 'vegetarians' eat egg, chicken and fish. So just try to be extra clear if you suspect the food you're ordering may contain those things!

Additionally, language is an issue. English is not so well understood but again, in cities you'll be ok.

Enjoy and have a great trip! Spain is a beautiful country

pganapathy · 19th March 2012, 00:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by KMohanan

Friends,

In the last week of May, I am visiting Spain for 3-4 days. It is my first visit outside India. Since it is an official visit, my passport, tickets etc my company will take care. I want your help in a few specific aspects.

(a) How is the weather in spain during this time ? Have I to take special clothing for protection from cold etc ?

(b) I am a PURE vegetarian from KERALA. I do not even take egg. I do not consume fish also. Do you think, I can survive in Spain ? Whether I will get 'vegetarian' food in spain ? Do the meaning of their 'vegetarian' and indian 'vegetarian' same ? Or there is nothing called 'vegetarian' in spain ?

(c) Good juices will be available ?

(d) How much time it take by flight from Delhi ? What is the most common route. Mostly we will be opting Air India. Whether there is direct connectivity by Air India from delhi to spain ?

I request all my BHP friends to kindly help me. Also, guide me on special attention areas like looting, terrorism etc...

May is the middle of summer so you do not need to worry about warm clothing. In fact you would probably have to worry about being too warm.

Veg food is possible though a bit difficult and not available as easily as you would get in India. Juice should be easily available and fruits and salads are a practical option as it is for a few days only. Also as suggested by raghu, try and carry as much ready to eat food with you as possible. The one simple veg option would be pizza. Something like a Margherita.

As a rule Spain is reasonably safe though there is still the problem of ETA (the Basque terrorist group). It depends on where you are going to.

From personal experience I would suggest avoiding Air India if at all possible. Their service is really going from bad to worse these days. You will need to fly via some other point in Europe or the middle east.

4th March 2010, 23:04	#1
RJK Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,161 Thanked: 762 Times	Travelling to Barcelona, Spain Folks, So as the title suggests, I'm travelling to barcelona in the 2nd week of april. I intend to go for two weeks, not necessarily just in Barcelona but in some other country in Europe too, most likely France. I was thinking of driving from Barcelona to Valencia since it looks like a bloody fantastic drive along the coast. I was also told to visit Malaga also by someone I know. So, if you guys can suggest any other places in Spain that I could visit, it'd be great. Would it be a good call to club France in this trip ? I'm totally clueless right now; like a headless chicken really and I do know that there's google but the search is over-whelming. I'd rather hear from someone who has visited the places first hand. I'm a beach lover and thats why I'm going to Valencia, also contemplating if I should go to Corsica Island in France. Also, Can I drive w/ my Indian license in Spain ? My US license just expired last week which really sucks ! Hoping for your replies, guys !
	() Thanks

5th March 2010, 07:13	#3
raghu230506 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 766 Thanked: 64 Times View My Garage	RJK, You can drive with an IDP, it would safe if you can travel with it. As mjothi, suggested check it out with AVIS. I was in Madrid for 6months in 2005, biggest problem I faced in Spain was language problem, it was allways hard to find people speaking in English. Places you can think of are > Cordaba > Granada I personally liked them and hence suggested.
	() Thanks

5th March 2010, 09:14	#4
raghu230506 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 766 Thanked: 64 Times View My Garage	One more place, it's in the borders (between Spain and France). This too can be on your list. san sebastian, it's bit far from Madrid, more from Barcelona, just check it out if you can make it. Last edited by raghu230506 : 5th March 2010 at 09:14. Reason: format
	() Thanks

5th March 2010, 12:13	#5
Abhay BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 727 Thanked: 12 Times	Sorry for the advice as I have not been to any of the above places but I "know" a lot about them - armchair travelling you can say... If you are in Barcelona and want to club together S. France then you can also do some places on the Costa Brava. Of course there are lots of things to do/see in Barcelona itself. In case you like old buildings/architecture there are tonnes of places of interest (especially those of Antoni Gaudi) and plenty of nice beaches near Barcelona. If you want some more beaches/island life, you should also check out Mallorca/Menorca which are closeby in the Mediterranean Sea. (halfway to Corsica/Sardinia) If you decide to head to the southern part of Spain instead of North, Andalusia is the place to be (as someone has already suggested you Málaga) - Sevilla, Cordoba and Granada are very nice places with some amazing history/culture and beaches. Language though might be a problem, as much as in Catalunya as elsewhere in Spain.
	() Thanks

5th March 2010, 13:29	#6
deky Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Jaipur Posts: 1,194 Thanked: 1,251 Times	On my ship journeys, I have been to Barcelona more than a few times and is my favourite city till date. The vibrance and the energy that the city exudes is brilliant. The best way I found to see barcelona is the tourist hop on and hop off bus. Few things IMO that are must see are 1. Walk along Las Ramblas, the main street 2. Biggest fish market at las Ramblas 3. Nou Camp stadium 4. Gaudi Architechture- most prominent being the Sagrada famillia Church 5. Train Journey to Monserrat. 6. Spanish Food- Tapas and Paella are a must. If you wish to see other places in Spain you should try and visit Sevilla atleast. Close to Sevilla is a small Sherry producing town called Jerez De La Frontera. Visit the Tio Pepe Bodega (cellar) there, its simply amazing and very pretty. Malaga, Cordoba & Granada as people suggested are also very pretty and are old towns with lots of history. If you happy driving, you could also think of driving from Barcelona to Nice/Monacco (france). The drive along the French Reviera offers breathtaking sites and Monacco is worth a visit atleast once to see how the richest of the rich live. EDIT: And yeah Corsica is worth the visit. We used to wait to arrive to Ajaccio (Corsica) so that we could have the bestest seafood available in the world. But I am sure you would be aware, you would have to take a ferry for Corsica. Last edited by deky : 5th March 2010 at 13:34.
	() Thanks

6th March 2010, 19:59	#7
lsp BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New Delhi Posts: 380 Thanked: 188 Times	I would suggest Ibiza - the most popular party island in Europe. Getting from Barcelona to Ibiza (and return) \| Spain Travel Guide I had planned a trip to Barcelona and Ibiza in 2007 but unfortunately could not make it. I want to travel to those places vicariously through you. If you plan to drive down till Valencia, Ibiza should be closer from there.
	() Thanks

6th March 2010, 20:21	#8
mitchontheroad BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: miami Posts: 60 Thanked: 7 Times	hola are you living in the usa now? if so, renew your license. then go to AAA and get your intl driving permit. its only us$10. bring two small photos. then you are good to go. only 2 weeks. stay in spain or just over the border into the corner of france on the coast. keep in mind that it may still be cold in april. barcelona is good for at least 3-5 days. do we assume you will fly back from barcelona too? i will suggest 2 different loops 1. from barc into france along the coast to perpignon and up to carcassone. a real life medieval castle town still functioning. then up the highway to biaritz on the coast and down thru san sebastion for some great seafood. and then decide if you want to go thru madrid area with a stop in the beautiful city of segovia and work your way back to valencia and then to barca. 2. or all the way down the coast to catch the beautiful places of cordba, seville and malaga. but then its a looooong way back. you are too early for the running of the bulls in pamplona. july 7th. if the passes are open and you feel up to it, you could try crossing through andorra. way up in the mountains. you would sure see snow and its really spectacular scenery. but no beaches. for me, just driving through the countryside and stopping in small towns for tapas(snacks at the bar) is a nice experience. yes, language can be a problem but hey, thats what it is all about, no? enjoy
	() Thanks

20th April 2011, 19:50	#9
majorpayne BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 81 Thanked: 23 Times View My Garage	Holiday in Spain Hi everyone, My cousin and I are backpacking through Spain in May, and I was hoping to get some information on the places we are visiting. The following are the places that we intend to visit: We start off at Madrid - Bilbao - Barcelona - Valencia - Granada - Malaga - Sevilla - Cordoba - Toledo and then back to Madrid. Does it make sense visiting these places in the above order? So far, the buses seem to be the cheapest mode of transport. We plan on staying at hostels and cheap hotels. I was wondering if anyone has been to any of these places? If yes, any tips / suggestions on places to stay, travel etc are welcome. Thanks in advance.
	() Thanks

20th April 2011, 20:12	#10
unicorn_i20 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: bangalore Posts: 38 Thanked: 8 Times	Re: Holiday in Spain hey good to hear about your euro-trip. This is one of the top item in my to-do list. I haven't been to Spain or rather Europe earlier. This is my first visit to Europe and it was too short to explore anything. so I cant provide you much information on other places you are planning to visit. However, I have been to Barcelona from Toulouse, France in car for just 1 weekend. I am writing a travelogue on this trip which should get published tonight in Travelogue section. Go through it, you may find it useful.
	() Thanks

18th March 2012, 23:22	#12
KMohanan BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kochi Posts: 295 Thanked: 103 Times	Visiting Spain for the first time. Kindly guide me ... Friends, In the last week of May, I am visiting Spain for 3-4 days. It is my first visit outside India. Since it is an official visit, my passport, tickets etc my company will take care. I want your help in a few specific aspects. (a) How is the weather in spain during this time ? Have I to take special clothing for protection from cold etc ? (b) I am a PURE vegetarian from KERALA. I do not even take egg. I do not consume fish also. Do you think, I can survive in Spain ? Whether I will get 'vegetarian' food in spain ? Do the meaning of their 'vegetarian' and indian 'vegetarian' same ? Or there is nothing called 'vegetarian' in spain ? (c) Good juices will be available ? (d) How much time it take by flight from Delhi ? What is the most common route. Mostly we will be opting Air India. Whether there is direct connectivity by Air India from delhi to spain ? I request all my BHP friends to kindly help me. Also, guide me on special attention areas like looting, terrorism etc... Last edited by KMohanan : 18th March 2012 at 23:24.
	() Thanks

18th March 2012, 23:38	#13
raghu230506 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 766 Thanked: 64 Times View My Garage	Which part of Spain you would be travelling to? Depending on the place of stay weather can vary, I was in Madrid for few months, didn't find food an issue (being non veg) but language was. This was way in 2006, hope they got improved ;-) on language part. Since your travel is for few days I would suggest you carry as much ready to eat as possible for those days. Good juice and different variety of Fruits is no problem around the world. Journey should take roughly 12hrs excluding the transits and waiting times (this was in my case via Frankfurt) Last edited by raghu230506 : 18th March 2012 at 23:59.
	(1) Thanks