Barcelona Travel Forum

Our cruise will arrive in Barcelona on April 30th. We are considering staying in Barcelona for 3 additional nights, but are concerned about the May 1st Labor Day Holiday. Will bus tours, museums, shops and restaurants operate as usual or will we find ourselves frustrated trying to find open attractions and restaurants? We are considering cancelling our hotel and flying home after a brief tour of the city operated by the cruise line.

Any information will be greatly appreciated.

I'm sorry, I don't know about the holiday (although, if you're planning to stay for 3 nights, would a 1 day holiday be that much of a problem?). But what I'd like to contribute is that we stayed some extra time in Barcelona before our Med cruise and it was one of the high-lights of our trip. We wouldn't have missed it for the world!!

So, I guess what I'm saying is, "Keep you're hotel and go for it!" I'm sure you'll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy Barcelona, even "if" they DO close down for one of the days you're there.

I hope this is helpful and that you enjoy your trip whatever you decide!

Only shops will be closed. Bus tours, museums and restaurants will operate on May the 1st.

Only on Xmas Day, New Year and Good Friday will you find practically everything closed in Barcelona (except public transportation).

you will be ok for buses, museums and restaurants, shops is a tossed up if you ncluded clothing stuff, however, food items shops will some have open; it depends nowdays , I always find somebody open. Even some restaurants closed, especially itis Friday so l ong weekend; You will have some manifestations on the streets so better stay away from the center near the port,and plaça Catalunya on may 1st

Hi. We took the City Tour/Airport transfer offered by our cruise line and were left rather disappointed. There were some interesting points on the tour but were not given any time at all to enjoy them properly. For instance - we had 25 minutes at the Sagrada Familia and only 10 minutes at the top of the mountain for the panoramic views of the city. I strongly recommend staying on for the extra 3 days - there is so much to see and do in Barcelona and you will kick yourselves if you have to leave.
Enjoy your trip.
Helen

I agree with Helenbak - you'll kick yourself if you don't stay - and you don't need a formal tour to enjoy Barcelona, although an overall city tour is always a good idea just to get your bearings.

Enjoy!!

as others said... you will regret if you cancel

You will still not be able to see everything that will be open!! Just check the opening times of the places you're interested to visit, as as in festive days some museums do open only during the morning. But still you'll find many possible activities for the evening on May 1: CaixaForum (very interesting -and free- building converted to a exhibition hall), Poble Espanyol (it may be great for souvenir shopping), Sagrada Familia, Park Guell...

Most shops do close on festive days, except the ones in "Maremagnum" shopping mall (at the sea end of Las Ramblas).

Do not worry about restaurants: it will be a long weekend not only in Barcelona but in the rest of Spain and other countries, so expect many fellow tourists around, the restaurants owners would be quite silly to close in such days! (only a few ones catering mainly to local crowds may be closed)

Enjoy Barcelona!