The Rough Guide to Barcelona (Travel Guide)

My friend and I spent a week in Barcelona- me with the Rough Guide, and she brought the Lonely Planet guide. My book was great for facts, history, and excellent in providing detailed directions on how to find a place. It was very reliable, especially in guiding us to attractions using the Metro, buses, or walking. All prices given were either exact or slightly more than the book stated, which can be forgiven, as the book was published in 2006 and I used it in July 2008. The downside is the maps. They're not well done, and we ended up using my friend's LP book for any map needs. Some streets were missing, the maps don't point north (!), but instead on a diagonal, and were broken into useless pieces of neighborhoods.

This is an excellent guide.. although I must admit I did not expect anything less from Rough guides. It is full of helpful details which make you go around the city on your own with no fear of getting lost, from the airport till your own destination. It includes sightseeing and absolutely everything about the city.. I always buy rough guides, although there is more text than photos, because the information given inside are excellent.

I just got back from a two week trip to Barcelona and I found the Rough Guide very useful. I read a number of books on Barcelona before I went, including Robert Hughes' "Barcelona: the great enchantress" and Tobin's "Homage to Barcelona" (the title is a play on Orwell's "Homage to Catalonya"). I also had the TimeOut Guides, both to Barcelona and the TimeOut Guide to Barcelona Food and Drink. What I particularly appreciated about the Rough Guide was its accuracy and its completeness. For example, it includes accurate information about the metro stops to various places of interest. Each district in Barcelona has a brief guide to points of interest. The Rough Guide even provides accurate directions to Calonia Guell, where Gaudi's chapel, referred to as "The Crypt", is located. Since getting around and knowing when points of interest are open is a big part of visiting Barcelona, the Rough Guide was invaluable and I carried it everywhere. Along with the Rough Guide to Barcelona there is the Rough Guide Map for Barcelona which I also highly recommend. This map survided two weeks of constant use in very good shape.

Like most other Rough Guides, I found this very reliable. It is not too heavy to carry round ,even on a night looking for good Tapa Bars! The recommendations in eating out proved invaluable and accurate. They are much easier to follow than the LP guide as the different city areas are conveniently headed up.This enables you to wander around an area and stop off at your leisure sampling tapas. A very agreeable night out. Our favourite bar was El Xampanayet (A Cava Bar). The accomodation recommendation we chose proved good and prices were also as quoted. Time spent browsing the net for accomodation was far less productive than a quick read. The colour maps are an improvementon earlier additions, but you are better with a tourist centre map, not because that in the book is inadequate, but it is easy to have a map which slips into your pocket. The tourist info in the guide is good, the style is easy to read and all the city is covered, including days out from barcelona if you feel so inclined. The section on getting around is useful and includes weekly transport tickets etc. Overall excellent value. If you like pictures your better with Eyewitness, but its much heavier to carry, and in Barcelona you'll be doing lots of walking!