any tips advice welcome

In terms of where to go Park Guell was really nice for spending a day when I was there. That was in August sunshine though, not sure what it's like at other times.

Camp Nou is very impressive if you go inside, especially if you see a match.

Sitges

Hotel Medinaceli has a couple of inside rooms that go cheap but its lovely and perfectly positioned.

Cal Pep for tapas.

this was cool, just round from the contemporary art museum, a couple of hundred yards off the Ramblas, on a proper old side street

We went for a long weekend and stayed in the Barcelona princess, it's about 10-15 mins on the underground to the ramblas. The underground is fantastic and dirt cheap. There is an open air bus tour with headphones which you can jump on and off as you please, good way to get you bearings and decide where you'd like to spend more time. Barcelonneta beach is only a couple of stops on the tube too. If you want to visit the gaudi house and apartment block and sagrada familia then go early to avoid the queues

Went here on my honeymoon the most amazing food I have ever seen or eaten.
[url=http://comerc24.com.mialias.net/

tour old quarter at night, lighting and opera buskers

I'd stay off main drags – busy, brash

I stayed with a place that let apts for 3 nights, it was like a building site outside, but as it was off the main tourist drag really enjoyed it, square had a giant cat in it and was local trade in the bars etc

did the Gaudi trail as was with an arts student (at 8am)

it MIGHT have been via this site – http://www.gobcn.com/?gclid=CIT7pfTtrp8CFY8A4wodpQxw1g
just turned up at door and somebody turned up with key

eat here (pricey but check out the patrons (famosas) pages. It's amazing!)

http://www.loscaracoles.es

Stay here (well pricey!)

http://www.hotelmiramarbarcelona.com

Love Barca

http://www.hotelbarcelonaprincess.com/

that's where we stayed, got a great deal booking online. The Market on the ramblas is well worth a visit too

Stayed at the Hotel Montblanc a couple of times. Nothing fancy but right by Place de Catalunya, Las Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter.

Parc Guell is good.
Sagrada Familia cathedral is a must.
Sitges is handy for a beach out of town (about half an hour on the train IIRC).

I also took a train (about 1 hour) to the splendid Dali museum up at Figueres.

Add sea-food down at Port Olympic… you can't beat Barca.

Hotel H10 Raco del Pi been looking at this place ? any good
read a lot about pickpockets and the like is it true or do you just have to be aware of whats going on?
great tips everyone the more info the better

keep it coming

the bus turista is a good start as someone else said.
don't miss out on Gaudi.
do waste your money on a drink on the Ramblas (how much!?) it's worth it to watch the tourists and the statue/mime/blaggers
the museum of contemporary art
the back street fruit and veg markets

There's a really good bike shop in the old city somewhere, found it once, couldn't find it again

the chocolate museum!

I didn't have problems with pickpockets, just usual city carefulness IMO
I love Barcelona.