Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You do not need tours but you need to book tickets in advance. Also beware of pickpockets, it is not a joke there. I recommend a moneybelt under clothes.

Hear me out: or... just don't look rich. I've traveled fairly extensively and have never purchased or worn a money belt. Leather or canvas cross-body only and have never had an issue. Just don't look like you have anything worth stealing.

Anyone is a target in Barcelona.

With kids that age, I would just explore on your own and use the audio tour for information. They are going to want to explore, not to stand still in various spots lisenteing to a tour guide drone on.

Everything needs to be pre-booked even Park Guell without a tour. BOOK NOW.

Agree, no tour needed at Parc Guell, and kids will appreciate the non-structured free time. Sagrada Familia needs to be booked in advance. It's really hilly at PG, and quite a hike to get there, so as others have said, go early and watch out for pickpockets. There is a nice cafe' on site at PG, with clean bathrooms.

For Sagrada familia, is there a big difference between the official guided tours and the audio tour?

We did a somewhat last-minute trip to Barcelona and therefore could not book tickets in advance. So we did a tour of Parc Guell because the only thing left two days before our trip was tickets that included a tour. It was worth it - we learned a lot about the park and then could explore on our own afterwards. It's beautiful. We actually did not end up going inside Sagrada Familia because it was booked. Next trip. Agree to book everything in advance.

I liked the tour because it drove you from one to the other and gave you information on Gaudi. The timing at each was perfect for trying to do both in a morning and afternoon. About 2 to 2.5 hours each. If you have more time I would not do a tour and spend more time at each place. Our tour ended at Sagrada familia so we extended our stay around there a bit. There were plenty to choose from. We met at a Gelato place near the park entry.

You don’t need tours in European cities

You do need to book Sagrada familia many weeks ahead especially if you want to go up the towers though.

Parc guell is a bit of a trek with litttle kids. I’d recommend a cab.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You do not need tours but you need to book tickets in advance. Also beware of pickpockets, it is not a joke there. I recommend a moneybelt under clothes.

Hear me out: or... just don't look rich. I've traveled fairly extensively and have never purchased or worn a money belt. Leather or canvas cross-body only and have never had an issue. Just don't look like you have anything worth stealing.

The only time I've ever had anyone try to pickpocket me was when I was on the subway in Barcelona. I had all of my luggage with me, so I was especially vulnerable. All of my money was in a money belt, so none of my valuables were in danger. I've also travelled extensively, but Barcelona is different.

Someone else on the subway car alerted us to the danger, and I was appreciative of this.

Same, Barcelona is the only place I’ve been pickpocketed. I was carrying a sleepy toddler. Easy target but I’ve travelled to other crowded big cities in Europe and Asia and was never pickpocketed.

Back to original question, I didn’t book any tours in Barcelona. Easy to get around. I did put my DS on the HOHO bus with his grandma.