Spain/Portugal/Gibraltar - 6-8 hour 'layover' in Barcelona, transit thoughts and to-do's

Hi, we are arriving mid morning into BCN and departing late afternoon/evening from the port for a cruise.

Any ideas for how to spend the day, esp since we are likely to have to deal with hauling our bags. It will be a Sunday in late June. A simple lunch and people watching is fine (we will sightsee on our return dates when we stay for extra days).

Any transit thoughts are also welcome from BCN and/or to the port.

Thanks!

there is a train that takes you from BCN to the main train station in BCN. Im not sure but I would bet that there is somewhere possibly at the train station to stash your luggage. If you do go, check out las ramblas, guell park and eat some paella. or just go to the beach.

Thanks Grbflyer---
i will be in green bay next weekend, grew up in the area and visiting family!

The train into Barcelona takes about 25 minutes in to Sants station - so you would have time to find a locker for your luggage - I'm not sure where they might be. Definitely walk Las Rambla - check out Mercat St Joseph - a wonderful market and great place to have a quick Catalan meal. Stroll through the Gothic quarter - or walk several blocks and over one or two to visit the Gaudi Batllo House at Passeig de Gracia, 43. Park Guell is wonderful, but you would eat up a lot of time either on a bus or in a taxi to take you to the top of the hill. The Batllo House will give you a good sense of the Gaudi style.

Enjoy your trip!

Information on transit here (http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/airport/barcelona-airport-transport.html#renfe)

You can store your luggage at Sants station, the lockers are located next to the McDonald's there. The airport also has lockers, located in a seperate building in front of T2B next to the parking structure. Those lockers only work with coins - no bills, no credit cards.

Both places cost 3-4€/day depending on size, but none of them offer storage for an enormous suitcase.

You can take the Metro from Sants station to Sagrada Familia. This is one of the most incredible places in Europe, and the church has never been completed.

If you are a sports fan, you can get a stadium/museum tour at FC Barcelona; the stadium is not that far from Sants station.

Just about everywhere in Barcelona I loved. However, beware of pickpockets in the metro. I had lovely three days in Barcelona, and was on my way to the airport to catch my plane to Vienna in one morning. I arrived at the airport to check in, only to find one of the pockets in my backpack empty. I was robbed of my passport, and I obviously missed the plane.

I had to travel all the way to Madrid in a very expensive, but not fast train (even had to take coach at first and then was transferred to a train station somewhere like Zaragoza?) because that was the only place where there was embassy. It was such pain. So while the city is mesmerizing, don't get lost in that beauty and beware of theives.

As in any city full of tourists, you should keep your belongings secure in public places and on public transportation. Sorry for your problem. Not sure of your nationality but in Barcelona there is a US Consulate that will do emergency passport replacements.

If you are looking at the front of Mercat St Joseph, to the right of it is a little courtyard area. There are two wonderful local restaraunts that are very reasonable and delicious!

Make sure you sit back and have a glass of Cava (local wine). Enjoy!

El Chipiron (http://www.monchos.com/flash/elchipiron/) for lunch. Wonderful seafood by the bucket. Next door to the very good aquarium. Great way to spend a few hours.

Barcelona is a really lovely city and my wife and I have been there about 15 times and never had a problem but like any major city you have to have your wits about you, we love the gothic quarter and you still see people with about 2 or 3 cameras out in the open and bags open I know it is not right but you are asking for trouble.

ps we love the little square in the gothic quarter Del Pi and will just sit back with a nice cold beer in the afternoon watching the world go by......

If you are a sports fan, you can get a stadium/museum tour at FC Barcelona; the stadium is not that far from Sants station.

I'm a huge soccer fan, and this was the biggest waste of seven euros EVER. Then again, I hate the team, which might contribute to my opinion.