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 For the city that needs no talking up March 28, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
After the low point of my relationship with Lonely Planet (Montreal and Quebec City), I was pleased to have my faith restored in the imprint with this excellent guide.
As you'd expect, author Damien Simonis sings the city's praises, but it's never over the top and, let's face it, how many cities can you name that can beat Barcelona? (Of the three I can think of, two are Spanish.) This is a well-measured talking up of a city that needs no talking up.
A number of elements make Barcelona for me: accessibility of live music, art, food and language.
Taking the last first, this is the only place I found Simonis indecisive, and I have to admit I'm still confused myself, but generally speaking I get away with my self-taught Spanish, I've only been (semi-)upbraided once for not speaking English or Catalan, most of the signage is in Catalan, and all the newspapers in the hotels are in Spanish. The way I read it, Catalan in Barcelona is a little stronger than Gaelic in Dublin, but it's close. You'll hear "Adeu" in some places, but most people say "Adios". A useful addition to the Catalan section, though, would be some help with pronunciation.
For food, there are a few good tips, and although none of the restaurants I've eaten at are in the book it's hardly surprising - there are so many to choose from, and so many are good. So for tapas I could recommend Matamala in La Rambla de Catalunya (which may be too new for this edition), very swish and post-modern (and pricey), or the very basic, order-at-the-bar El Paso in one of the narrow carrers in the Bari Gotic, where the tapas is half the price. The quaintly named Mi Burrito Y Yo, also in the Barri Gotic, does an excellent esqueidixada, as recommended by LP (aswell as a mother of a steak), and La Tramoia, on the junction of Rambla Catalunya and Gran Via, does a mean fried egg and chips (a speciality starter not mentioned by LP).
For art, the overview of the four big names - Dali, Gaudi, Miro, Picasso - is just right, as are the descriptions of the main attractions on the Gaudi trail (especially Parc Güell, La Pedrera and the Sagrada Familia).
For music things become a little more haphazard. LP doesn't mention Bel Luna in Rambla Catalunya, OK for dinner jazz and only 12 euro. One of their recommendations, Harlem Jazz Club, also mentioned by a friend who's lived and worked in the city, on the Saturday night of my visit had a "comedy" act on before 10pm. Having got in early I wasn't charged for the musical part of the evening, but there were none of the seats mentioned in LP at all out front - standing only. After a promising sounding warm-up at around 10.45pm (Highlight: the fiddle-player treating us to a snatch of Jig-A-Jig), the set proper started at 11.30pm and I left after three very samey Latin numbers, even though I love Latin music normally. Presumably the floor was clear of seats for dancing, but I guess nobody had drunk enough, because most folks were totally motionless, other than those at the bar or leaving.
Ironically, unlike LP's Andalucia book, this one isn't above recommending the tourist-oriented Tablao Cordobes for flamenco, but though the hotel receptionist also recommended it, and the performance is excellent, it's not as long a show as the one at Tablao Arenal in Seville (ignored by the Andalucia LP), instead of sitting comfortably at your own table as at Arenal you're crammed into an incredibly tiny space with little prospect of getting out, and the drink didn't materialise either.
For directions the book's generally good, although Vallacora is the better Metro for Parc Güell than Lesseps - 600m mostly through semi-picturesque backstreets (with escalators to help with the incline) versus 1.2km mostly up a grubby main road. It would also help if they included something about the Teleferic (cable car) up to Montjuic, like "avoid it if you want to get to Montjuic the day you set out". Otherwise the tips on where to get on/off the Metro are pretty useful.
Finally, just to confirm their point about petty crime, and a reminder that criminals don't always "look like criminals": a friend had her purse snatched from her by someone in a business suit. Walking round the city generally feels pretty safe otherwise, but that's possibly easier to say for a six-foot black belt than for others, so the usual "be careful" is in order.
 Not as good as it should be December 14, 2007
We used this for a short week in Barcelona but it took us most of the week to figure out what it was trying to tell us. What you need from a guide book is clarity and accessibility, but this has neither. The maps in the back are almost impossible to read, with thread-like streets and tiny, tiny text. The main body of the book is practically picture-free except for a few glossy photos inserted in the centre of the book so you're never quite sure what is being described in the text, and the attractions are only casually cross referenced to the maps in the back so you can never find anything.
There's certainly lots of information in it but the book needs a fundamental re-edit with the user in mind. If you're looking for something to inspire you and help you, look elsewhere.
A sound guide book for a beautiful city February 11, 2007
21 out of 22 found this review helpful
I went to Barcelona recently, and in the planning of the trip I consulted four guide books:
Lonely Planet's Barcelona City Guide
Dorling Kindersley Eyewitness Barcelona and Catalonia
Cadogan Guides Barcelona (Dana Facaros and Michael Pauls)
Time Out Barcelona
All of them were good. I took two with me: Lonely Planet and Eyewitness.
The reasons I chose those two:
LP specialises in listings, which seemed to be more up-to-date and comprehensive than either Time Out or Cadogan, It also had a good Excursions section which helped a couple of times when I travelled beyond the city. I also liked a couple of the walking routes they recommended. Information on matters such as public transport is comprehensive and detailed. I like the chapters on history, architecture and food as well.
I took Eyewitness because it unfailingly has a good quality map, which in my view is LP's downfall. Eyewitness always includes a Street Finder Index which LP does not, and LP often misses out on streets other than the major ones, which can be very frustrating, especially in a city like Barca where there are many alleyways. I never use Eyewitness for hotels - the information is scant and usually more expensive than my (more Lonely Planet) budget, but it has fantastic colour photos and cutaways of buildings, and illustrations which place buildings within their streetscapes. It's a nice book to read on the bus or train going somewhere.
Time Out's great strength was in helping to plan. It had a huge array of hotels, and if you were especially interested in nightlife, I would take Time Out. I was there primarily for a conference, and many of my evenings were organised. And I'm also night a great nightclubber, perhaps contrary to Barca lifestyle!! If you are - consider Time Out. Its maps were pretty good, but not comprehensive for the area I was staying in, beachside Barceloneta.
That is where the Cadogan guide excelled. Its maps were so good that I pulled them out of the book and took them with me. I would have taken the whole book, but for the weight in my suitcase! Its info about places and sights seemed accurate and comprehensive.
 Brilliant March 7, 2006
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
Having just been to Barcelona, I cannot recommend this book highly enough, not only did it enable me to see both the ‘old’ and ‘new’ Barcelona but it also helped me stay on my strict student budget. I especially liked the section on ‘Walking Barcelona’ where you can go on 3 specialised tours exploring the Old Town (my recommendation), El Raval and the Modernisme Trail.
You can buy this guide on most of the market stalls along La Rambla, but you will find that they come with a much higher price tag (I bought mine for 20 euros). I also recommend reading ‘Homage to Catalonia’ by George Orwell before you go; it is a brilliant insight into The Spanish Civil War. You may even be able to spot places along La Rambla where Orwell was caught up in the street fighting between the Assualt Guards and POUM troops.
Great travel companion! August 23, 2004
25 out of 28 found this review helpful
Bought this book for my second trip to Barcelona, have since lent it to two friends who have also visited this fantastic city. Great tips about how to get about - alternatives to getting taxi from airport and using the tourist buses eg. the underground and the aerobus - will save you a good few Euro's. Also chapter on visiting places outside Barcelona was very useful for our trip to Montserrat. Maps at the back of the book are very useful and we found them detailed enough for us. Also includes some spanish phrases. I would definately recommend this book as I think it is so comprehensive that you won't need anything else and I am sure I will be using it again and again!
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