A
Addresses
Addresses are indicated by street name, number, storey, door. So Muntaner, 375, 6° 2a means Muntaner Street No. 375, 6th floor, 2nd door. The first floor of a building is Principal, often abbreviated to Pral. Some buildings have an entresol or mezzanine. An àtic is a top floor or penthouse, usually with a terrace. Street names are sometimes prefaced with C/ or Av. or Pg, meaning carrer (street), avinguda (avenue) and passeig (passageway).
Admission Charges
Museums have an entry charge ranging from €4 to €10 for the main ones and as little as €2 for the smaller ones, although entry to the Gaudí buildings is more. They have the usual reductions for students and pensioners, and many are free or reduced in price one day, often the first Sunday, of each month. People eligible for discounts should carry evidence of their identity. All municipal museums are free from 3pm to closing time on Sundays.
An Articket (around €30) allows entry to six key museums: Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, the Picasso Museum, Fundació Miró, Fundació Tàpies, CCCB and MACBA. The ticket, which lasts three months but is valid for only one visit per museum, is available from tourist offices, from one of the relevant museums or through Tel-Entrada CatalunyaCaixa; tel: 902-101 212 (from abroad tel: +34 933-262 946); www.telentrada.com.
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Budgeting for Your Trip
Gone are the days of cheap holidays in Spain. What you save on budget flights can easily be spent on meals, accommodation, shopping and clubbing. Accommodation is the main culprit, although for budget travellers there are hostels where beds are available in dormitories from €18. Self-catering is now widely available and is a good solution for families; shopping in the market is an enjoyable experience and an obvious saving.
Good restaurants are expensive but usually better value and quality than in northern Europe. Bargain-hunters should opt for a lunch-time set menu, excellent value at anything from €8–15. Even some smart restaurants offer a lunch-time menu for around €25.
On the whole, fashion items and some household goods are slightly cheaper than in northern Europe, but probably not less than in the USA.
Cinema tickets cost from €5–8, with discounts on certain days of the week – Dia del espectador, usually Monday or Wednesday. Check listings in the daily press.
Public transport is good value with a T10 card for 10 journeys about €10 for use on the metro, bus, FGC and even RENFE trains within Zone 1 (for more information, click here). Taxis are not prohibitively expensive: a short journey within the centre could be as little as €3, but the fare quickly rises on longer journeys, late at night and when stuck in the frequent traffic jams.
One option for serious travellers who intend to cover a lot of ground in a short stay is the Barcelona Card, a ticket valid for anything from two to five days which gives free public transport and entry to museums, plus discounts on some leisure centres, restaurants, bars and shops. An adult card for two days is €37 and for five €62. This, the Articket and other offers can be purchased online at http://bcnshop.barcelonaturisme.cat.
Low-budget travellers can take comfort from the fact that, Barcelona being a Mediterranean city, life on the streets is free and endlessly entertaining, and no one charges for basking in the sun or swimming at the city’s many beaches.
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Climate and Clothing
Average temperature: 10°C (54°F) in winter, 25°C (75°F) in summer. December and January have the lowest temperatures, though the cold is often accompanied by bright sunshine.
Rain tends to fall in November and February to April. Spring and autumn are pleasant, with mild, sunny days. July and August are hot and humid. There are 2,500 hours of sunlight a year.
What to Wear
Catalan men and women dress elegantly, though casually. Ties are worn in formal situations and some offices, but not when going out to dinner. In July and August cotton and loose-fitting garments are necessary. Respect local traditions: bathing costumes and bikinis are strictly for the beach and you now risk paying fines if you are not fully clothed in the street. A light jacket is useful any time of the year. In winter, bring a warm jacket which can accommodate various layers, especially in January and February, when the wind blows. Be sure to bring comfortable shoes – Barcelona is a very walkable city.
Consulates
Canada
Pl. Catalunya 9, 1° 2a
Tel: 93-270 3614
Ireland
Gran Via Carles III, 94
Tel: 93-491 5021
UK
Avinguda Diagonal, 477, 13°
Tel: 902-109 356
US
Passeig Reina Elisenda, 23
Tel: 93-280 2227
Crime and Safety
Take care, as in any large city. Loosely swinging handbags, ostentatious cameras, mobile phones and even rucksacks are regularly snatched in broad daylight, especially from bars and terrace cafés. Barcelona is not a den of iniquity, and with due care and attention, you can avoid dangerous situations. Be streetwise and don’t get distracted by someone asking you a question so you look the other way while their partner snatches your bag.
The Old Town has a bad reputation for petty crime, so be alert when wandering through it or watching street artists. Wear your handbag across your chest, keep your camera hidden and do not flash your wallet around. Carry enough money for the day, leaving the rest in the safe-deposit box at your hotel.
At airports and railway and bus stations, keep your luggage together and don’t leave it unattended. Never leave anything valuable in a car, even in a crowded street. Take special care when arriving in town from airports, as the professional thieves watch these spots.
Don’t get caught by a few small gangs who perpetrate various tricks to waylay you, like commenting on the dirt on your back and, while ‘helping’ you to remove it, slip the purse from your pocket. Another is a game known as trila, a variation of the three-card trick, played by crooks (regulars on La Rambla), in the guise of innocent bystanders. You will never win. When travelling by car, be careful at traffic lights: a familiar scam is where one person causes a diversion while the other pinches your bag from the back seat, or slashes your tyres. The latest scam is performed by individuals claiming to be plain-clothed police officers and even showing their ‘identity’. Do not show them yours.
In the case of a theft, assault or loss, call the general emergency number, 112. You will probably be advised to go to a police station to make a statement (denuncia). This is vital if you want to claim on an insurance policy or seek further help from the city police or your consulate. It may soon be possible to make a denuncia in hotels to ease the process.
Police
The main police station is at Nou de la Rambla, 76. There are two main types of police in the city:
Policia Municipal. Tel: 092. The city police, known as the Guàrdia Urbana, are responsible for traffic, civilian care and security. They are recognisable by the blue-and-white checked band around their caps and on their vehicles.
Mossos d’Esquadra. Tel: 088. The autonomous police of Catalonia have taken over all responsibilities from the state police, the Policia Nacional, in Catalonia. The Policia Nacional in Barcelona just handle bureaucratic paperwork like issuing IDs, passports, etc. Occasionally you see the Guardia Civil, who are responsible for customs and border controls at ports and airports.
Assistance for Tourists
The city police have a special scheme for tourists at their headquarters (La Rambla, 43; tel: 93-256 2430; 24-hour service), offering legal advice, medical assistance, provision of temporary documents in the event of loss or robbery and an international telephone line for the speedy cancellation of credit cards, etc.
The general emergency number, 112, can attend to calls in English and French and has a translation service for other languages.
Customs
Visitors from outside the EU can bring limited amounts of cigarettes, alcohol, perfume, coffee and tea. If your camera, computer, etc is new and you do not have the purchase receipt, it is wise to ask a customs official to certify that you brought it into the country with you. There is no restriction on the movement of goods between EU countries, although there are guidance levels for alcohol and tobacco for personal use: 3,200 cigarettes, 90 litres of wine, 110 litres of beer and 10 litres of spirits.
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Disabled Travellers
Huge advances have been made recently for people with disabilities thanks to new local authority policies. Over 190 hotels are equipped with facilities for people with disabilities. Details can be found at www.bcn.es/turisme or through the tourist office, tel: 93-285 3834. Some 28 city museums are wheelchairaccessible, as are many public and historic buildings; a complete listing can be found on www.bcn.es/cultura by clicking on the Directories category.
All the beaches have suitable access, and there are 14 adapted public toilets.
On public transport, nearly all bus and metro lines have disabled facilities; for details click on Transport for Everyone at www.tmb.net.
Regarding car rental, with warning Hertz can provide automatic cars.
For an accessible taxi service, tel: 93-420 8088 for information.
A very helpful organisation is Accessible Barcelona (tel: 93-428 5227; www.accessiblebarcelona.com), run by British wheelchair-user Craig Grimes, who has road-tested all his recommendations.
For general information, see www.tourspain.co.uk/disabled, or for queries specific to Barcelona, contact: Institut Municipal de Persones amb Disminució, Diagonal 233, 08013 Barcelona; tel: 93-413 2775; sap@mail.bcn.es.
E
Electricity
British or US plugs do not fit Spanish sockets, because wall sockets for shavers, hairdryers, etc, take plugs with two round pins. It is advisable to bring an adaptor, which can be bought at supermarkets, chemists and airports, or in Barcelona at El Corte Inglés. The voltage is 220v, so US visitors with 110v appliances will need a transformer.
Emergencies
In an emergency call 112 or go to the ‘Urgències’ department (A & E) at one of the main hospitals, or visit an ambulatorio (medical centre). They can be found in every district – ask in any pharmacy for the nearest one. With the drastic cutbacks to Spain’s public health system in 2013, some EU visitors have been presented with a bill even if they have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which should make them eligible for emergency treatment. Check the latest situation with the relevant authorities. It is wise to take out travel and medical insurance before your trip.
Hospitals
Hospital Clínic
Carrer de Villaroel, 170
Tel: 93-227 5400
Hospital de Nens (children)
Carrer de Consell de Cent, 437
Tel: 93-231 0512
Hospital del Mar
Passeig Marítim, 25–29
Tel: 93-248 30 00
Emergency Numbers
Emergencies (police, fire, ambulance), tel: 112
Fire Brigade, tel: 080
Ambulance service, tel: 061
Policia Municipal, tel: 092
Mossos d’Esquadra, tel: 088
Road accidents, tel: 088
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Gay & Lesbian Travellers
There is a thriving gay and lesbian scene in Barcelona, and the city is considered one of the gay capitals of Europe. This is a far cry from the not-too-distant past when homosexuals suffered repression under Franco. Spain was the third country in Europe to legalise gay marriage in 2005, and in the first six months following the law’s approval there was a gay wedding every day in Catalonia.
A whole area of the elegant Eixample district, known as the Gayxample, has fashion shops, bars, clubs, hairdressers and so on particularly focused on the gay community. In the midst of it is Europe’s first gay hotel, also ‘hetero-friendly’, the Axel (for more information, click here), in a stunning modernista building with a designer interior.
In addition there is an annual gay film festival, the International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival of Barcelona (www.cinemalambda.com).
Nearby Sitges (just half an hour south of the city on the coast) is a real mecca for gays, particularly in summer. The drag parade during Carnival in February is renowned.
For advice and information on the latest venues, the lesbian and gay hotline is Telèfon Rosa, tel: 900-601 601; www.cogailes.org.
A general guide is www.gaybarcelona.net. (For more information, click here.)
Other useful addresses are:
Casal Lambda
Verdaguer i Callís, 10
Tel: 93-319 5550
From 5pm onwards. An information centre campaigning for gay and lesbian rights, offering help and advice.
Col·lectiu Gai de BCN
Ptge Valeri Serra, 23
Tel: 93-453 4125
Sextienda
Rauric, 11
Tel: 93-318 8676
Guides and Tours
If you want to recruit a professional tourist guide or interpreter, you should contact:
Barcelona Guide Bureau
Tel: 93-268 2422
City Guides
Tel: 93-412 0674
Professional Association of Barcelona Tour Guides
Tel: 93-319 8416
Context Travel
For more exclusive tours with smaller groups and specialised docents, check out Context Travel (www.contexttravel.com/city/barcelona).
H
Health and Medical Care
There are no special health risks to be aware of in Barcelona. You should take the usual travel precautions and break yourself into the climate and the food gently. Between June and September you should wear a hat and suncream when out during the day.
Food and Drink
In most areas of Barcelona tap water can be drunk without fear, but it is often dosed with purifying salts which make the taste unpleasant. Mineral water is easily available, and Vichy Catalan is soothing for queasy stomachs.
Catalan cooking is healthy and nutritious, but a change of diet can affect some digestive systems. Avoid excessively oily food.
Another danger area can be tapas, which in hot weather can be a source of infection if they have been left standing on a counter for too long. Most notorious is anything mayonnaise-based, such as the ubiquitous ensaladilla rusa (Russian salad), a potential source of salmonella; in some parts of Spain home-made mayonnaise is banned.
With common sense it is easy to spot the ‘tired’ tapas in greasy bars, which should be avoided.
Treatment
Residents of EEA (European Economic Area) countries, which means EU countries plus Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Iceland and Norway, are entitled to receive state medical treatment in Spain if they have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which must be obtained in their own country. In the UK this can be done online, by phone or by post (tel: 0845 606 2030; www.ehic.org.uk).
For greater peace of mind, take out private insurance, which is best organised before setting off but can be arranged on arrival in Barcelona through any travel agency.
If you are insured privately or prepared to pay for private health care, Barcelona Centre Mèdic (Avinguda Diagonal, 612; tel: 93-414 0643) is a coordination centre for different specialists and offers an information service for consultations (www.bcm.es). Before undergoing private treatment, check your insurer will foot the bill.
Buying Medicines
Pharmacies (farmacias) have a red or green flashing neon cross outside. When closed, farmacias post a list of other farmacias in the window, indicating the nearest one on duty. Pharmacies stock prescription and non-prescription medications, toiletries, baby food and supplies. Many farmacias also stock homeopathic remedies, or will be able to obtain them for you within a day. The following is an English-speaking chemist:
Farmacia Josep Clapés
La Rambla, 98
Tel: 93-301 2843
Alternative Medicine
The Old Town still has many charming herbalist shops, with shelves crammed with alternative health care and people queuing for advice. One of the finest, where they individually mix you a brew according to your ailments, is:
Manantial de Salud
Xuclà, 23
Tel: 93-319 1965
Dentists
Dentists in Spain are not covered by any of the reciprocal agreements between countries, so be prepared to pay for treatment. Even with insurance you may have to pay first and then make a claim on return.
The following clinics offer an emergency service:
Clínica Dental Barcelona
Pau Claris, 194–196
Tel: 93-487 8329
Emergency service daily from 9am–midnight. English-speaking dentists.
Clínica Janos
Muntaner 338, Entlo. 1a
Tel: 93-200 2333
Open Mon–Sat 9.30am–8pm, Sun 10am–2pm.
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Left Luggage
A left-luggage service (consigna) is available in Sants railway station 5.30am–11pm. There are also lockers at Barcelona Nord bus station, and a left-luggage office is open 8am–1am at the sea terminal on Moll Barcelona. Locker Barcelona is a great left-luggage service in the centre, near Plaça de Catalunya (Estruc, 36; tel: 93-302 8796; www.lockerbarcelona.com; daily 8.30am–9pm).
Lost Property
If you lose something on the metro or a bus, go to the TMB office (Metro Diagonal, Mon–Fri 8am–8pm); if you leave something in a taxi, tel: 902-101 564. The municipal lost-property office (Oficina de Troballes) is in Plaça Carles Pi i Sunyer, 8–10 (tel: 010; phone between 8am–10pm, visit 9am–2pm). Lost or stolen passports retrieved by the police are sent to the relevant consulate.
Much of the city was built on a grid system which aids navigation.
Gregory Wrona/Apa Publications
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Maps
The tourist board issues a good general map of the city (plano de la ciudad/plànol de la ciutat). A transport map is also available from metro stations. The city council online map is excellent for finding streets, metros, services, etc, and has an English version (http://w20.bcn.cat/Guiamap).
Media
Newspapers
The main daily newspapers are:
El País
Based in Madrid but with a Catalan edition, El País is the most internationally respected Spanish paper. An English version is published by the International Herald Tribune.
El Periódico
This is the more popular Barcelona newspaper, but it is limited on international news. In both Castilian and Catalan.
El Punt Avui
The original Catalan paper Avui, founded in 1976 less than a year after Franco’s death, was bought by its rival El Punt. Staunchly nationalist.
La Vanguardia
The traditional (and moderately Conservative) newspaper of Barcelona has good coverage of local news and events, especially its informative ‘What’s On’ section on Friday.
A weekly paper in English, Catalonia Today, covers international, national and local news in brief and has useful listings and features on Barcelona.
International newspapers can be found on the newsstands on La Rambla and Passeig de Gràcia, and also in several international bookshops, such as FNAC (Plaça de Catalunya).
Magazines
A wealth of magazines cover every interest and indulgence. The main fashion magazines, such as Vogue, Marie Claire and Elle, publish a Spanish edition. Most notable national magazines are:
¡Hola!
The most famous Spanish magazine, with illustrated scandal and gossip on the rich and the royal.
Guia del Ocio
A useful weekly listings magazine for Barcelona. Visit their website www.guiadelociobcn.es.
English Publications
Several freebies with information on the city and listings, such as Barcelona Connect (www.barcelonaconnect.com) and Miniguide (www.bcn-inside.com), are distributed to hotels, bars and bookshops. However, the most established is:
Metropolitan
Barcelona’s first monthly magazine in English is targeted at residents; it makes interesting reading and carries useful listings. It is distributed free at key points in the city (and around, e.g. Sitges), such as bookshops, bars and cinemas. Check out their website www.barcelona-metropolitan.com.
Television
The principal channels are TVE1 and La2 (state-owned), TV3, and Canal 33, the autonomous Catalan channels. The local channel is BTV. Commercial channels include Antena 3 (general programming), Tele 5 (directed at people at home during the day) and Canal Plus (mainly films, for subscribers only). Satellite programmes are obtainable in many of the larger hotels.
Money
The currency is the euro (€). Bank notes are issued in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500; coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 centimos, and €1 and 2.
Most banks have cashpoints (ATMs), operating 24 hours a day, where money can be withdrawn using most credit and debit cards.
Keep (separately) a record of the individual numbers of your traveller’s cheques, so they can be replaced quickly if they are lost or stolen.
Tax
Tax (IVA) on services and goods is 21 percent, and for restaurants and hotels, 10 percent. Visitors from non-EU countries are entitled to tax reclaims on their return home at a Global Refund Office. Look out for ‘Tax Free’ signs in shop windows. When you leave the EU, Barcelona Customs must confirm the purchase and stamp the tax-free cheque; you can then take it to the airport branch of Banco Exterior de España and cash the cheque into the currency required. Alternatively, take the tax-free cheque to Turisme de Barcelona in Plaça de Catalunya or Passatge de la Concepció, 7 to cash it in before leaving.
Banks
Bank opening hours vary, but as a general rule they are open all year Mon–Fri 8.30am–2pm, and also Sat 8am–2pm Oct–May. The cajas or, in Catalan, caixes (savings banks) offer the same service, but are open on Thursday afternoon instead of Saturday morning Oct–May.
There are numerous currency-exchange offices in the city centre, including in La Rambla and in the Plaça de Catalunya Tourist Information Centre. The larger hotels will also exchange money, although often at a less favourable rate.
Foreign banks in the city:
Barclays Bank
Passeig de Gràcia, 45
Tel: 93-481 2020
Lloyds Bank
Avinguda Diagonal, 550
Tel: 902-024 365
Credit Cards
Major international credit cards, such as Visa, Eurocard and MasterCard, can be used, although you will be required to show some form of identity or enter your PIN.
In the case of loss:
American Express
Tel: 902-375 637
Diner’s
Tel: 901-101 011
Eurocard, MasterCard, Master-charge, Servired and Visa
Tel: 91-519 2100/900-971 231
Visa International
Tel: 900-991 124
Tipping
There are no golden rules about this. If you feel the need to leave a tip, make it a token rather than an extravagant one. Some restaurants automatically add a service charge to the total, in which case nothing extra is needed. As a yardstick, in restaurants where a charge is not added, it should be around 5–10 percent and about the same in a taxi. In a bar or café, 80 centimos–€1.50 is enough, depending on the size of the bill.
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Opening Hours
In general, offices are open 9am–2pm and 4–8pm, although some open earlier, close later and have shorter lunch breaks. Most official authorities are open 8am–2pm and close to the public in the afternoon. Companies in the outer industrial zones tend to close at 6pm. From mid-June to mid-September, many businesses practise horas intensivas from 8am–3pm.
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Postal Services
Stamps for letters, postcards and small packets can be bought very conveniently in the many estancs to be found in every district. These are state-owned establishments licensed to sell stamps, cigarettes and tobacco, and are easily recognisable by their orange and brown logo, Tabacs SA. Opening hours are loosely 9am–1.30pm and 4.30–8pm. Postboxes are yellow.
The main post office is at the bottom of Via Laietana near the port, in Plaça Antoni López. It has collections every hour and is open Mon–Fri 9am–9.30pm, Sat 9am–2pm. Other post offices close at 2pm, apart from the one in Carrer d’Aragó, 282 (near Passeig de Gràcia), which is open until 8.30pm, but with limited services.
Poste Restante letters can be sent to the main post office addressed to the Lista de Correos, 08080 Barcelona. Take ID with you (preferably your passport) when claiming letters.
Public Holidays
Many bars, restaurants and museums close in the afternoon and evening on public holidays and Sundays. If a holiday falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday it is common to take a pont or puente (bridge) to link the interim day with the weekend. Roads out of the city are extremely busy on the afternoon/evening before a holiday. August is the annual holiday month and many businesses, including restaurants, close down for three or four weeks, although this is happening less in central Barcelona.
The following are the public holidays (national and Catalan):
1 January – New Year’s Day
6 January – Reis Mags: Epiphany
Late March/April – Good Friday (variable)
Late March/April – Easter Monday (variable)
1 May – Festa del Treball: Labour Day
Late May – Whitsun: Pentecost (variable)
24 June – Sant Joan: Midsummer’s Night
15 August – Assumpció: Assumption
11 September – Diada: Catalan national holiday
24 September – La Mercè: the patroness of Barcelona. This is the city’s main fiesta
12 October – Hispanitat/Pilar: Spanish national day
1 November – Tots Sants: All Saints’ Day
6 December – Día de la Constitució: Constitution Day
8 December – Immaculada Concepció: Immaculate Conception
25–6 December – Christmas
Public Toilets
There is a notorious dearth of public toilets in Barcelona, but finally the municipal authorities are remedying the situation: public urinals have been installed at strategic points in the city. A few coin-operated cabins exist, although it is usually easier to find a bar. The beaches are well equipped with toilets, many of which are adapted for wheelchair-users, and others can be found in public centres like the airport, the railway and bus stations, shopping centres and museums. Bars and cafés are usually willing to let their services be used, especially if it is for a child.
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Religious Services
Mass is usually said between 7am and 2pm on Sunday and feast days. Evening Mass is held between 7 and 9pm on Saturday, Sunday and feast days.
Catholic
Parroquia María Reina
Carretera d’Esplugues, 103
Tel: 93-203 4115
Sundays 10.30am (in English)
Anglican
St George’s Church
Sant Joan de la Salle, 41
Tel: 93-417 8867
Sunday 11am (services in English). This is off the beaten track above Passeig de la Bonanova (FGC Av. Tibidabo).
Jewish
The Synagogue
Avenir, 24
Tel: 93-209 3147
Muslim
Centro Islàmico Mosque
Avinguda Meridiana, 326
Tel: 93-351 4901
Toarek Ben Ziad
Hospital, 91
Tel: 93-441 9149
Multicultural, multi-denominational
International Church of Barcelona
Urgell, 133
Tel: 93-894 8084
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Student Travellers
For holders of an international student card (ISIC), or the Euro26 card for people under the age of 30, there are many discounts on offer: reduced-price tickets at museums and other cultural centres, and discounts on railways and other public transport, hostels and shops. The ISIC card for students is available via www.isic.org and the European Youth card, for people under 30 whether a student or not, is available at www.euro26.org.
There is a youth hostel in the Gothic Quarter, Gothic Point at Vigatans, 5, with another, also in the Old Town, Center-Rambles, at Hospital, 63 (just off La Rambla). Both offer internet access and security lockers, and can arrange bike hire and other activities. For other youth hostels in the city visit www.youth-hostels-in.com/barcelona.
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Telecommunications
Telephone booths are well distributed throughout the city, and are easy to use and efficient, especially for international calls. Public telephones take all euro coins and most accept credit cards. The minimum charge for a local call is 20 centimos. Telephone cards are available in estancs (tobacconists) and post offices. International reverse-charge (call-collect) calls cannot be made from a phone box.
There are also privately run exchanges (locutoris), located mainly in the Old Town, where you talk first and pay afterwards. These are useful for making international calls, or if you are planning on having a long conversation.
Principal walk-in telephone exchanges are situated in Sants railway station and Barcelona Nord bus station (for more information, click here). US access codes are as follows:
AT&T: 900-99 0011
MCI: 900-99 0014
Sprint: 900-99 0013
Useful Numbers
Information: 1004
Directory enquiries: 11818
International directory enquiries: 11825
International operator: 11822
International code: 00
Australia: 61
Canada: 1
Ireland: 353
United Kingdom: 44
United States: 1
The Internet
There are plenty of internet cafés, and lounges or cafés with Wi-fi in the city, and many of the locutori (telephone exchanges) now offer internet service. There is even Wi-fi in some parks and other public spaces, indicated with a blue sign. A couple of options are:
Sports Bar
La Rambla, 31
Bornet
Barra de Ferro, 3
A smaller, attractive option in the Born.
Time Zone
Spain is one hour ahead of GMT in winter, two hours in summer (when UK clocks are also advanced by an hour for summer time, so the time difference is still only one hour), and six hours ahead of Eastern Seaboard Time.
Tour Operators and Travel Agents
There are plenty of travel agents in the centre, though many are going out of business. El Corte Inglés offers a good service in its Plaça de Catalunya branch.
Viajes Ecuador
Pau Claris, 75
Tel: 93-301 3966
To find a long list of tour agencies operating from the UK, a helpful website is www.abta.com/destinations/barcelona.
Tourist Information
For general tourist information about the city, call 010.
Information Offices
The main tourist offices are listed below. In addition, there are stands in La Rambla, Plaça d’Espanya, Colon and Barceloneta. Tourist cards can be bought at all of these.
Barcelona
Plaça de Catalunya
The main city tourist information centre. Well-equipped and good for hotel and theatre bookings.
Tel: 93-285 3834
Open daily 9am–9pm
El Prat Airport
In both terminals
Tel: 93-478 4704
Open daily 9am–9pm
City Hall
Plaça Sant Jaume
Open Mon–Fri 8.30am–8pm, Sat 9am–7pm, Sun and public holidays 9am–2pm
Sants Station
Open summer daily 8am–8pm, winter Mon–Fri 8am–8pm, weekends/holidays 8am–2pm
Catalonia
Tourist Information Centre for Catalonia
Palau Robert
Passeig de Gràcia, 107
Tel: 93-238 8091/92/93
Mon–Sat 10am–7pm, Sun and public holidays 10am–2.30pm
Information on the rest of Catalonia is available here, along with reading rooms and internet connections, a garden and gift shop.
Alternatively you can phone on 012 or 902-400 012. For information on the area around Barcelona, visit www.diba.cat/turisme.
Tourist Offices Abroad
If you would like information about Barcelona before leaving home, contact your nearest Spanish Tourist Office:
Canada
2 Bloor Street West, 34th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M4W 3E2
Tel: 416-961 3131
UK
6th floor, 64 North Row, London W1K 7DE
Tel: 020 7317 2011 (to book a visit) or 00 800 1010 5050 (freephone for information)
Email: info.londres@tourspain.es
Note that this office is not open to the public except by appointment.
US
666 Fifth Avenue, 35th floor, New York, NY 10103
Tel: 212-265 8822
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Visas and Passports
Passports are required for people of all nationalities entering Spain. Carry a photocopy of the identification page for everyday use so that the original document can be left for safety in a secure place (such as a hotel safe). If your passport is lost or stolen, you should report the fact immediately to the police (Mossos d’Esquadra; for more information, click here).
Visas are needed by non-EU nationals, unless their country has a reciprocal arrangement with Spain.
Travelling with pets. There are no quarantine regulations in Spain, but you will need a pet passport before you take your own animal into the country; the regulations vary according to its country of origin. The requirements are quite complex, so make sure you organise this well in advance of your trip. In the UK visit the websites www.direct.gov.uk or www.defra.gov.uk for detailed information.
Once in Spain, animals are not permitted in restaurants, cafés and food shops. If you are travelling with a pet, check with your hotel before departure that pets are allowed. On-the-spot fines can be given for not carrying an animal’s papers, or not having it on a lead.
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Websites
A few useful sites are:
Barcelona on the web:
www.barcelona-metropolitan.com
www.forfree.cat – a brilliant website that issues information daily on what’s on that is free.
Catalonia on the web:
Spain on the web:
Weights and Measures
Spain follows the metric system. As an approximate guide, 1 kilometre is five-eighths of a mile, 1 metre is roughly 3 feet/1 yard, 1 kilogram is just over 2lbs, 1 litre is just under 2 pints, or one-fifth of a gallon, and 1 hectare is around 2.5 acres.
In many of the larger stores and international chains, labels on clothing show European, UK and US sizes.
Women Travellers
A good source of information on issues that are of particular interest to women is the Libreria Pròleg, Sant Pere Més Alt, 46. This is the city’s specialist bookshop for feminist subjects and women writers. It is also an exhibition space and occasionally holds talks.