Passport/Visa Requirements: Passport needed by citizens of Australia, the U.S. and Canada. A tourist visa is not required for a visit of three months or less. Proof of onward passage and sufficient funds needed by all. Reconfirm travel document requirements with your carrier before departure.
Languages: Catalan, Spanish.
Predominant Religions: Christian (Roman Catholic).
Time Zone: 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+1 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is observed from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.
Voltage Requirements: 220 volts.
Telephone Codes: 34, country code; 93,city code;
| Currency Exchange | Top  |
ATMs are located in all neighborhoods of the city. La Caixa ATMs, in particular (those with the bright blue star logo), are very common and found in municipal markets and shopping malls. Most ATMs have instructions in English. Outside of normal banking hours, you gain access to ATMs by inserting your credit or cash card into a slot in the door. You can lock the door from inside.
Most banks will change traveler's checks, but the commissions vary. Exchanging money is more streamlined at the big banks in the city center than at small local branches. Private exchange bureaus are located in the city center and along Las Ramblas, and most stay open until midnight or later. Although private bureaus generally don't charge commission, they tend to give a lower rate of exchange.
| Banking Hours | Top |
Open Monday-Friday 8:30 am-2 pm and Saturday 8:30 am-1 pm. Closed on Saturday in summer.
The value-added tax (abbreviated IVA in Spanish) is applied to most items and services: The percentage varies from 7% to 16%. Most prices include IVA, though hotel rates are usually quoted without the tax added on. If it is not included, the tax amount should be clearly marked on invoices and bills. If you are not a European Union resident, you can obtain a refund of the tax if you spend more than 90 euros in a single store displaying a "tax-free" sticker on the door. Ask for a tax-free check—you'll need to fill out a refund form. You get the check stamped at Customs when leaving Spain and can cash it at a Tax-Free Shopping refund window, commonly found in the departure areas of airports. Get your refund before checking your luggage, as you may need to show the items. Be aware that you apply for the refund in the last EU country on your itinerary.
There are no set rules for tipping in Barcelona. As a guideline, for restaurants and taxis, 5%-10% of the bill will suffice—depending, of course, on the quality of service. Locals may leave the change or just a few small coins after having a drink at a bar or after a meal. If you're using a car, note that it's customary to tip gas-station attendants who pump your gas about 5% of the total sale.
There is really no best time to visit Barcelona, nor a worst. Thanks to its location on the Mediterranean, it enjoys a mild, pleasant climate year-round. December-February is the chilliest period, although the sun shines most of the time. Even in winter, locals swim and sunbathe on the beaches (in "suntraps" by the seawall) and eat and drink on terraces. In January, the average temperature rarely falls below 50 F/10 C and is often considerably higher. Really cold spells are typically few and far between, although the past few years have seen an increasing number of very cold spells and even some snow.
Summers aren't necessarily hot—the average high in July and August is 78 F/25 C—but the high humidity can make them somewhat uncomfortable. School vacation runs late June to mid-September, and those who are able to do so spend the entire summer away from the city. Most shops and businesses take their annual vacations in August, leaving the city relatively empty.
Rain is infrequent, but can be heavy when it occurs. It's most common in November, March and April. Barcelonans hate the rain and immediately grab all available taxis or take to their cars, causing traffic chaos.
| Weather Forecast | Top  |
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| Pressure: | 1016.92498908 Millibars | | Dew Point: | 68 °F/ 20 °C | | Humidity: | % | | Visibility: | 3 Miles / 6 Kilometers | | Wind: | 4 MPH / 8 KPH WSW | | Comfort Index: | 77 °F/ 25 °F | | Last Updated: | 8/21/2008 4:00:00 PM |
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| FRI | Weather Condition | High | Low |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS | 84 °F
29 °C | 68 °F
20 °C | | SAT | Weather Condition | High | Low |
| OVERCAST | 77 °F
25 °C | 64 °F
18 °C | | SUN | Weather Condition | High | Low |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS | 78 °F
26 °C | 64 °F
18 °C | | MON | Weather Condition | High | Low |
| SUNNY | 80 °F
27 °C | 64 °F
18 °C | | TUE | Weather Condition | High | Low |
| SUNNY | 80 °F
27 °C | 66 °F
19 °C |
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| What to Wear | Top |
It won't take you long to learn that Barcelona is a style-conscious city, so it's a good idea to have some options other than jeans and T-shirts. For the heat of summer, take along the coolest clothes possible. Fashionable long shorts and sleeveless tops are fine, but bathing gear is strictly for the beach. Sunscreen and a hat will be two useful accessories. In autumn and spring, it can be chilly in the morning and evening, so take along a jacket and sweater. The winter tends to be relatively mild, but it is wise to take along hats, gloves, scarves, and so forth, to be prepared for very cold spells, which can appear without much warning. Business visitors should stick to plain, conservative business suits with ties for the men and the equivalent for women: dark colors in winter, lighter in summer. Above all, pack comfortable walking shoes.
| Communication | Top |
| Internet Access | Top |
Internet cafes are common in Barcelona. Small establishments can also be found in virtually all parts of the city, but their prices vary and their connection speeds are often not very fast. Rates can be as low as 1 euro per hour. Large chains are not so common: easyInternetcafe has little competition in the city center, with two large branches in the vicinity of Placa Catalunya. You can also check your e-mail at the Oficina d'Informacio Turistica at Placa Catalunya. Wi-Fi access is becoming more available in the city and is offered by various hotels. There are also numerous cafes and bars that offer free Wi-Fi (free with your overpriced coffee or tea, of course). The Eixample area has the highest number of such cafes, though they are also found in the city center and university areas. All of them advertise with large signs, frequently in English, for free Wi-Fi, or, less commonly, for Wi-Fi gratis.
Two branches with more than 300 stations and not a single customer-service representative. You purchase a ticket, via vending machine, for the amount of time you want to spend online and then enter the code at any available computer. Daily 8 am-2:30 am. Las Ramblas 31 and Ronda Universitat 35, Barcelona. http://www.easyeverything.com.
| Mail & Package Services | Top |
The main post office. Monday-Saturday 8:30 am-9:30 pm, Sunday and holidays 8:30 am-2:30 pm. Placa Antoni Lopez, Barri Gotic, Barcelona. Phone 93-486-8050.
| Newspapers & Magazines | Top |
Barcelona Metropolitan is the city's English magazine and is available for free at many English bars and bookshops, cinemas where original-version English-speaking films are shown, Internet cafes and so on. It offers a comprehensive rundown of entertainment options in the city.
The Broadsheet (Madrid) and
The Reporter (Marbella) are other English-language publications distributed for free. Both contain articles on Barcelona and entertainment listings.
Barcelona Business is an English-language business newspaper (printed on distinctive pink paper) available at English bookshops and some newsstands. Barcelona Metropolis Mediterrania is an upmarket culture and art publication produced by City Hall with an English translation of all articles at the back. Catalonia Today is a weekly paper published in English in collaboration with El Punt, and El Pais produces an English-language insert for Spain for the International Herald Tribune. Spanish-language newspapers include El Pais and La Vanguardia. El Periodico and El Punt are the most widely distributed dailies. Guia del Ocio is a thorough entertainment guide in Spanish; it also has a Web site at http://www.guiadelociobcn.es.
Barcelona is very cosmopolitan, and newspapers and magazines from all over the world can be bought at a large number of places, including all the newsstands on Las Ramblas, Placa Catalunya and Passeig de Gracia, at both main branches of El Corte Ingles department store and at the FNAC stores, as well as some newsstands on the Diagonal and elsewhere.
Public pay phones accept coins, phone cards issued by Telefonica (Spanish Telecom) and credit cards. The phones have clear instructions in English. You can also find pay phones in many bars and cafes, although they tend to cost more. You can buy Telefonica phone cards at post offices, tobacco shops and newsstands. International calls are cheapest at phone centers, called
locutorios, which offer discounted international connections. You will find several in the old town, especially in El Raval. You make your call in a private booth and pay in cash when you are through.
Most regular Spanish phone numbers contain nine digits: The area code (93 for Barcelona and Catalonia) must be dialed for all calls, even if you are calling from within the same city or region. For international calls, first dial 00, then the country code, then the area code and number. Call 1005 or 1008 for an international operator to assist with calls to Europe, northern Africa and Turkey. Spanish cell-phone numbers begin with 6, toll-free lines with 900 and special-rate services with 902. For directory assistance within Spain, dial 1003. For international directory assistance, dial 025.
| Transportation | Top |
The best way to get around in Barcelona is on foot (a centrally located hotel will put you within walking distance of many of the best attractions) and by public transport, especially the efficient subway system, the metro. There are a number of multiride tickets and travel passes available for use on the six metro lines, the city railway network and a huge fleet of buses. The city's old tram network has also been resurrected, and modern trams coast up and down Avenida Diagonal on a regular basis. Another alternative for getting around the city center are the ecological taxis that resemble a cross between rickshaws and bicycles, though they're not the best choice if you happen to be in a hurry or want to go farther afield. The hugely popular Bus Turistic is a great way to visit the main sights of Barcelona. For general information on all city transportation services, phone 101 or visit http://www.tmb.net.
Aeroport del Prat (BCN) is 7 mi/12 km south of the city, near the town of El Prat del Llobregat. The airport has one of the fastest-growing traffic flows in Europe, and it is a hub for Mediterranean destinations. In spite of its rapid growth, the airport has been doing a good job of maintaining efficiency and comfort. There are shopping and food areas in Terminals A and B. In Terminal B, there is also a well-equipped business center called Sala Europa. Phone 93-298-3838 for information. http://www.aena.es.
Girona Airport is also worth considering, as it has regular flights between many major European cities and is well connected to Barcelona's Estacio del Nord in the city center (Metro stop: Arc de Triomf) via a 50-minute bus service. Bus tickets cost 21 euros round-trip. Phone 902-260-606 for information. http://www.barcelonanord.com.
Connecting Transportation
Best way:
If you have only a bag or two and are headed for the city center, the Aerobus is inexpensive (3.60 euros) and almost as fast as a taxi (about 30 minutes, depending on traffic). It stops at Placa Espanya, Comte Urgell/Gran Via and Placa Universitat and ends at Placa Catalunya, at the top of Las Ramblas. There is a bus stop outside each terminal, with buses leaving every 11 minutes from 6 or 6:30 am to midnight.
Other options:
If you have a lot of baggage, a taxi is probably the best, though not the least expensive, option. Be prepared to wait in line for a few minutes at the rank outside your terminal. Taxis are metered. Expect to pay 20 euros-25 euros, depending on the traffic and how much luggage you have (this includes an airport-supplement fee).
The train is the least expensive way into town (2.20 euros), but you'll have to move your luggage a fair way to get to the station—across a bridge between Terminals A and B (it does have a moving walkway). The trains run every 20 minutes 6 am-midnight and stop at four stations in Barcelona: Barcelona-Sants, Placa Catalunya, Arc de Triomf and Clot-Arago, all of which link up with the metro. Phone 902-240-202. http://www.renfe.es.
Eventually, there will be a direct metro link from the airport to the new station being built at La Sagrera to accommodate the new AVE high-speed rail line from Madrid, but the completion date is uncertain.
Major rental car agencies have branches at the airport.
Barcelona is well-served by a large number of bus companies that operate regular lines to other cities and towns in Spain and to the rest of Europe. Most long-distance buses, both national and international, arrive and depart from one of two stations. Estacio d'Autobusos is at Barcelona-Nord, Ali Bei 80 (next to Arc de Triomf metro station). Estacio d'Autobusos Barcelona-Sants is next to Barcelona-Sants railway and metro station. Some buses to and from other towns in Catalonia stop elsewhere in the city.
Because it has a good public-transportation system, and because its automobile congestion is legendary, the first rule about driving in Barcelona is to avoid it if at all possible. If you can't avoid it, carefully study a good map well in advance of your arrival and plan the route to your destination within the city. Driving is on the right side of the road, although Barcelona has a rather extensive and complex one-way grid of streets. Use a detailed city map to locate a parking garage (indicated with a P) near your destination—though these are often expensive (up to 20 euros per day. It's always difficult—if not impossible—to find a space on the street. Remove all valuables from the car, no matter where you have it parked. Don't be tempted to park in a loading zone or other restricted area, as cars will be towed and the cost is very expensive.
Operates a regular ferry service to and from Genoa, Pisa and Civitavecchia (Rome's nearest port), Italy, as well as Marseilles, France. The boats dock at the Moll de Sant Bertran wharf in Port Vell. Phone 93-443-9898. http://www1.gnv.it.
Runs regular passenger and car ferries between the Balearic Islands and Barcelona. Boats arrive and depart from the Estacio Maritima at the Moll de Sant Bertran wharf. Phone 902-454-645 for information and schedules. http://www.trasmediterranea.es.
| Public Transportation | Top |
Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) runs both the buses and the subway system, and there are also FGC trains that operate in the greater Barcelona area. Multiride cards (called
targetes or
tarjetas) reduce the cost of each ride and are accepted on subways, buses and FGC trains.
It will almost certainly be worth your while to buy a Barcelona Card. It covers travel on the metro, TMB buses and FGC trains. In addition, it grants you discounts of up to 50% at museums, shops, restaurants and on special buses such as the TombBus, Aerobus and Barcelona Bus Turistic. You can purchase a card that's good for a certain number of rides or one that allows unlimited rides in a certain time period (ranging from 23 euros for two days to 34 euros for five days). The cards are on sale at the tourist information offices at Placa Catalunya, Placa Sant Jaume, Sants railway station, Cortes Ingles stores and other tourist attractions.
Free maps of the public transportation system are available at the customer service centers at several locations, including the Sants train station and metro stations at Universitat, Diagonal and Sagrada Familia. http://www.tmb.net
This railway network is run by the Catalan government and offers service in the city and to the surrounding region. You can take FGC trains from Placa Catalunya to the uptown residential district of Sarria and to the foot of Tibidabo mountain. Stations are marked by bright blue signs with FGC in white letters. Automated ticket machines have instructions in (slightly weird) English. The fare is 1.20 euros. Phone 010 or 93-205-1515 for more information. http://www.fgc.es.
TMB operates a fleet of more than 800 buses, many of which are adapted for wheelchair access. Bus stops, some of which have shelters with maps, have a black bus icon on a white background. The TMB system also includes several trams, funicular trains and a cable car. Regular buses generally operate 6:30 am-10 pm, although some lines operate later. The base fare is 1.20 euros. Phone 010 for more information. http://www.tmb.net/eng/home.htm.
There are six subway lines in Barcelona (a seventh is under construction and is scheduled to open in 2008) that are clearly color-coded on maps and signs. To locate a metro stop, look for signs with the red M in a white oval shape on a red background. Fare cards can be purchased from ticket windows or vending machines inside the stations. The metro operates Monday-Thursday, Sunday and holidays 5 am-midnight, Friday and Saturday 5 am-2 am. The fare for a journey within zone one is 1.20 euros.
Barcelona is one of the Mediterranean's leading cruise ports and has several passenger terminals. The terminals are extremely close to the city center in the old port, watched over by the promontory of Montjuic.
Taxis are plentiful and can usually be hailed on the street fairly quickly. A bright green light on the top and a sign in the windshield saying Llibre/Lliure (Free) indicate that the taxi is available. There are taxi ranks at metro, bus and train stations, in main squares and many other locations as well. You can also call for a pickup, but most companies will start the meter at the time they receive the call, not from the time you get in the cab. Special services, including seven-seat vehicles and English-speaking drivers, can be hired from some of the telephone-taxi firms. The cabs are metered, and the official rates and supplements are shown in English on a sticker inside the rear window. A supplement is charged for each item of baggage handled by the driver. Try to make sure you have small bills: Drivers are not required to carry large amounts of change, and very few accept credit cards. When giving the driver your destination, you'll have better luck stating the nearest intersection rather than the street number.
Barcelona has two principal stations for long-distance trains. Barcelona-Sants on Placa Paisos Catalans is the busier. It handles many of the trains bound for other destinations in Spain as well as some international routes. Estacio de Franca on Avinguda Marques d'Argentera handles many of the international trains to and from France.
RENFE, the Spanish national railway, operates most long-haul trains in Spain, whether bound for Spanish cities or international destinations. Its well-designed Web site provides schedules and fares in English. Phone 90-224-0202. http://www.renfe.es/ingles.
FGC, the Catalan railway organization, operates trains throughout the region as well as local city lines. Two commuter lines run to nearby towns and villages, one from Placa Catalunya and one from Placa Espanya.
| For More Information | Top |
| Additional Reading | Top |
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (Penguin Books). This Spanish bestseller by a Barcelona writer became a huge hit when it was published in English. Set in Barcelona after the Civil War, it is the beautifully written tale of a young boy who discovers a dark secret when he searches for the books of an obscure author.
Gaudi: A Biography by Gijs van Hensbergen (Harper Collins). A well-crafted biography of Barcelona's most famous architect, which puts his work into perspective.
Barca: A People's Passion by Jimmy Burns (Bloomsbury). The story of Barcelona's famous football (soccer) club also gives insight into the role of sport in the Catalan national identity.
| Tourist Offices | Top |
Provides information from City Hall's Culture Department on exhibitions, theater and more. Sells tickets for the Grec summer festival and other events. There's also a bookshop where you can pick up a free copy of
Barcelona Metropolitan magazine. City Hall also operates Informacio 010, an all-purpose information hotline for visitors. Operators speak English. The hotline is operational Monday-Saturday 8 am-10 pm (phone 010). Office hours Monday-Saturday 10 am-8 pm, Sunday 11 am-3 pm. Las Ramblas 99, Barcelona. Phone 93-301-7775. http://www.bcn.es.
The city's main tourism office (there are also branch offices at the airport, in City Hall at Placa Sant Jaume, at Sants train station and at popular sights such as Sagrada Familia). In addition to providing information on the city, the main office exchanges currency; makes hotel reservations; sells theater tickets, transport tickets and phone cards;and offers computers for Internet and e-mail access. The BCN Original shop has souvenirs and books. Daily 9 am-9 pm, closed 25 December and 1 January. Placa Catalunya 17-S, Barcelona. Phone 80-711-7222 for recorded information. http://www.barcelonaturisme.com.
The Catalonian Government's tourist office is housed in a restored mansion, close to La Pedrera. It offers essential Barcelona information and maps, plus a vast wealth of material on the rest of Catalonia. The Palau Robert also stages regular exhibitions and has a shady garden. Monday-Saturday 10 am-7 pm, Sunday 10 am-2:30 pm. Passeig de Gracia 107, Eixample, Barcelona. Phone 93-238-8091. http://www.gencat.net/probert.
