Thinking of going there end of April for three days, people's thoughts please on almost anything and everything. Warts an all, food, culture, atmosphere etc... Cheers in advance.
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Thinking of going there end of April for three days, people's thoughts please on almost anything and everything. Warts an all, food, culture, atmosphere etc... Cheers in advance.
Madrid is a more down-to-earth capital city than many in that it didn't used to have rip-off prices (although I haven't been there for a few years). The Prado art museum used to be free on Sundays. Oh, and try the churros con chocolate!
Barcelona is a different kettle of fish. Much more touristy and watch out for pickpockets and the tricks that are a precursor to them. Well worth a visit though but do book tickets in advance for Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia (church) as you won't get them on the day. A stunning and very original piece of architecture. The Nou Camp lacked atmosphere when I attended a game as everyone seemed to be neutral and who made their appreciation evident by polite clapping.
Went to Barcelona last October and you're right about La Sagrada, it was heaving although well worth the visit. The bus tours are good value. you can hop on and off as you please and it's well worth stopping at Montjuic where you have great views of the entire city. One word of warning,avoid a company called Suntransfers for travel to and from The Airport. Didn't show up for our return and only a frantic dash for a taxi meant we caught our flight.
I've been living in Barcelona over 20 years, tourists things speak for themselves but if you have specific's (good food, cocktails, jazz music, getting high etc) i can help. If you let me know your neighborhood maybe can point out some food places or points of interest.
If you have interest in the Spanish War I know an excellent walking tour (same for Madrid) that isn't your typical style of pointing at landmarks and spitting dates.
If you do do tourist things, buy tickets and go early, public transport to move around, and pick pocket are a ****ing scourge, however only seems to be idiots that it happens too!
I had Barcelona/Madrid pencilled in for November..flight to Barca train to Madrid. Other things came up so had to cancel. Pretty gutted.
Dembe, you may be interested in a small carry-on (free of charge) piece of hand luggage that converts to the differing dimensions stipulated by Ryanair and easyJet, whether you use it as your sole piece of luggage or a supplementary reticule to a cabin bag that you pay for.
As the two airlines are charging as much for baggage as for passengers it's worth a shout. Just got one myself.
https://amzn.eu/d/9HGV0T4
Piggy backing the thread, I’d appreciate any feedback on Berlin, Prague, Vienna or Budapest? I’m doing a tour in a couple of months. Cheers in advance
Went to Berlin five years ago and found prices to be much more reasonable than say London or Paris. The city is surprisingly compact and most of the main sights, Brandenburg gate , Reichstag and checkpoint Charlie are easily walkable. My personal highlights were The Naturkunde museum which housed a large collection of dinosaur skeletons including a T Rex and a very moving visit to The Topography of terror which is built on the site of the former SS HQ and documents Nazi persecution in those terrible times. A large section of The Berlin wall is nearby as well. You can do a city tour in a Trabant if the mood takes you.
Berlin is excellent. It is huge and there is so much to see. It has so many levels of history - Frederick the Great, the Prussians in the 19th century, the Nazi years, post war, rise of East Germany, the wall years and the years since the wall came down.
We have been four times in the last few years and keep finding more places to see. I think Berlin is a 7 or 8 visit place there is that much to see.
Some which may interest you are the Stasi Museum - they were World class at espionage and the building is at it was when the wall came down. Some of the spying equipment is fascinating. Also worth visiting is the Stasi Prison - this is also as it was left when the wall came down. The prisoners were mainly political ones and there were more interrogation rooms than cells.