Should I get this Barcelona book in addition to either Rick's complete Spain guidebook or his Best of Spain guidebook?
Probably not. If you're only spending a few days in Barcelona, as part of a longer trip in Spain, the Barcelona chapter of either Spain guidebook is all you're likely to need.
If, however, you're spending four days or more in Barcelona, the extra information in Rick Steves Barcelona can be worthwhile. It offers more in-depth sightseeing information, several additional self-guided city walks and museum/sight tours, and more specifics on shopping and nightlife, plus suggestions for kids. Other information is generally the same, especially compared to the complete Rick Steves Spain guidebook, which includes nearly all the hotels, restaurants, and nitty-gritty practical advice for Barcelona and its day trips that you'll find in the city guidebook. (But compared to Rick Steves Best of Spain, the Barcelona guidebook does have a few more hotel and restaurant listings, as well as more comprehensive coverage of day-trip options.)
What's the difference between this Barcelona guidebook and Rick's Pocket Barcelona guide?
Rick Steves Pocket Barcelona works best for people taking a short trip, or perhaps a return trip, to Barcelona. Like our other Pocket guides, Pocket Barcelona is smaller than the complete city guidebook and in full color (but still offers our best sightseeing advice and a handful of self-guided city walks and museum tours, plus a foldout map).
For travelers who want to delve deep into Barcelona, the full-size guidebook is a better option. It offers more substantial (and more frequently updated) advice on every front: practicalities, sightseeing, self-guided tours, hotels, restaurants, nightlife, shopping, kids' activities, and the city's history and culture, plus complete chapters on the best day trips.
