When to visit

Barcelona really is an all-year-round destination. But if you like to avoid the tourist peak and the summer heat then it’s wise to avoid August, with average temperatures of 27 degrees. Go and enjoy Barca’s beach life in mid-June or September. According to the Lonely Planet May is the best month to visit: clear and fresh. Spring and autumn can be a bit rainy, but there are plenty of bars, museums and shops to keep dry…

Opening hours

Shops open at 10am and close for lunch at around 1:30 – 2pm. They reopen at between 4.30 and 5pm and close again between 8 and 9pm. Larger shops and malls usually do not close at midday.

Banks are open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 2pm. Some banks are also open on Saturday mornings.

Restaurants are open for lunch between 1pm and 3:30 or 4pm. For dinner they open their doors at around between 8pm and close between midnight and 1 am.

Cafés and bars are open all day from around 7 to 8am until 11 pm to midnight, or later for your nightclubs.

Tipping

In Spain it’s common to leave 5-10% tip.

Telephone

Country code: +34

Emergencies: 112

Police Barcelona (Guàrdia Urbana) 092

Sagrada Familia

Whether you’re a fanatic clubber, a fine diner, a lazy beach goer or a cultural junkie, Barcelona offers it all! There’s too much to summarize Barcelona’s highlights in a couple of bullets, but just to give you a taste, the following are a must:

• Barri Gótic Barcelona’s Gothic quarter, bordering the famous (though bit sleazy) Rambla, is a highly atmospheric place to wander around. Get lost in the labyrinth of streets, shop around and sip a cafe con leche in one of the little squares surrounded by medieval buildings.
• Sagrada Familia One of the most impressive buildings in the city of master architect Antonio Gaudi. Even though unfinished – it has been under construction since 1882 – it’s annually good for over 2 million visitors in awe.
• Picasso Museum An extensive collection of Picasso’s drawings and paintings in chronological order gives insight to the painter’s lifelong development.
• Camp Nou – FC Barcelona Stadium and Museum A must see…that is, if you’re into football and one of the icons of the sport.
• Nightlife Barcelona’s nightlife, with plenty of (open air) clubbing will not disappoint you. Three good options: MIX, the classic open air club La Terrazza or Otto Zutz. Check out the locals as well for the latest venues as Barcelona’s nightlife is extremely dynamic.

Metro Map Barcelona

Barcelona has an extensive network of public transport. The metro is a particularly quick way to move around. Single tickets cost €1,45, but when spending a couple of days buy a pack of 10 (T-10) for €8,50. If you’re planning to move around a lot then 1, 2, 3, or 4 day passes of unlimited travel in public transport will work out as the most economical option. Check the rates here.

Open deck tourist buses

The Barcelona Tourist Bus run by Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona are a perfect start for a city trip. The ‘hop-on hop-off’ open deck double-deckers give you a glimpse of all the major tourist attractions and a good first orientation of the city. The buses run 3 different routes. 1 or 2 day passes cost €23/30 euros for adults and €14/18 euros for children from the age of 4 to 12.

Taxis

Taximeters start at €1,75 and charge €0,78 per kilometer. Furthermore an extra euro is charged per large piece of luggage. Taxis can be flagged down on the streets or ordered by phone (93 225 00 00, 93 300 11 00, 704 101112). The call-out charge is generally €3.09 during the day and €3.86 at night and on weekends.

Walking

Walking is still the best way to experience a city, and the compact historic centre of Barcelona, with its winding alleys and vibey Rambla is just perfect for that.

Biking

Or… rent a bike or book a cycling tour! Bike Rental Barcelona and Barcelona Biking are two reliable operators

Sants Train Station

Conseignas, the Spanish word for luggage, might come in handy when looking for a place to store your luggage after checking out of your apartment. As you probably don’t want to stroll around town carrying your heavy bags it might be a good idea to drop them off at the luggage storage at the rear-end of Sants train station, next to McDonalds. The costs for 24 hours are as follows
Small lockers (80cm x 60cm x 40cm): €3
Big lockers (90cm x 60cm x 50cm) €4,50