Barcelona travel advice

Visas and entry requirements

Members of EU countries need only a passport. Visas are needed by non-EU nationals unless their country has a reciprocal agreement with Spain. Full information on passport and visa regulations is available from the Spanish Embassy in your country. 

Embassies and consulates

Almost all Western European countries have consulates in Barcelona:

Canada: Plaça de Catalunya 9, 1º, 2a, tel: 93-412 7236, www.canadainternational.gc.ca.

Ireland: Gran Via Carles III, 94, tel: 93-491 5021.

New Zealand: Travessera de Gràcia, 64, 2on, tel: 93-209 0399.

South Africa: Parc Empresarial Mas Blau II , c/ Alta Ribargorça, 6–8, El Prat de Llobregat, tel: 93-506 9100. 

UK: Avinguda Diagonal 477, 13º, tel: 93-366 6200. 

US: Passeig Reina Elisenda 23, tel: 93-280 2227, https://es.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/barcelona.

Transport

Getting to Barcelona

By Air. Barcelona’s airport is linked by regularly scheduled daily non-stop flights from across Europe. Iberia (www.iberia.com), the Spanish national carrier, and other major airlines connect with most parts of the world, sometimes via Madrid. There are numerous low-cost airlines flying to Barcelona from European cities. Among the most popular from the UK are easyJet (www.easyjet.com), Monarch (www.loveholidays.com), British Midland (www.flybmi.com) and Jet2 (www.jet2.com). Spanish low-cost airline Vueling (http://tickets.vueling.com) is good for onward destinations in Europe.

Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) flies to Girona (90km/56 miles from Barcelona) and Reus (80km/50 miles from Barcelona) from several UK cities and has a few flights to El Prat, the main Barcelona airport. There are shuttle-bus connections to Barcelona from Girona (www.sagales.com) and Reus (www.igualadina.net). Tickets are available at the airports; the journey takes 60–90 minutes depending on traffic.

Direct flights from the US are operated by Delta (from Atlanta and New York), Continental (from Newark), Iberia (from several US cities) and Air Europa. Air Canada flies from Toronto and Montreal, while Singapore Airlines fly directly from Singapore to Barcelona. 

Barcelona Airport (El Prat, tel: 902-404 704; www.aena.es) is 12km (7 miles) south of the city. There are two terminals, T1, the new one, and T2 which mostly handles budget flights.

Since 2007, Spain has demanded that all air carriers supply passport information about passengers flying into the country, prior to travel. Check with your airline before travelling.

By Rail. The Trenhotel (www.renfe-sncf.com) runs daily from Paris to Estació de França in Barcelona, and several days a week from Zurich, Geneva and Milan. During the day there are several TGVs, the French high-speed train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Figueres Vilafant, where you can change onto the AVE, the Spanish high-speed train to Barcelona Sants. This recently inaugurated route cuts the journey from Paris to Barcelona to only 6.5 hours. Soon it should be possible to do this without changing at Figueres. All other international connections involve a change at the French border, in Port Bou on entering Spain and Cerbère when leaving. These trains have few facilities. There is also a line from Barcelona to La Tour de Carol on the French border, further west in the Pyrenees, from Sants and Plaça Catalunya.

For international train information and reservations, tel: 902-243 402. A helpful website is www.seat61.com. Most national long-distance trains terminate in Estació de Sants, some in Estació de França. For national train information contact RENFE, the Spanish national rail network (tel: 902-240 202; www.renfe.com).

By Car. Barcelona is 149km (93 miles) or 1.5 hours' drive from La Jonquera on the French border and can be reached easily along the AP7 (or E15) motorway (autopista, toll payable, around €13 from the border to the city) and then, nearer Barcelona, the C33. Alternatively, the national route N11 is toll-free but tedious. The worst times to travel, particularly between June and September, are Friday 6–10pm, Sunday 7pm–midnight or the end of a bank holiday, when tailbacks of 16km (10 miles) are common.

By Bus. Eurolines (tel: 902-405 040; www.eurolines.de) offer a service from London which may involve a change in France. Most arrive at the bus station Barcelona Nord (tel: 902-260 606; www.barcelonanord.cat), but some go to Estació d'Autobusos Sants (tel: 93-490 4000). In the UK, contact National Express (tel: 08717 818 178; www.nationalexpress.com).

Getting from the airport to the city. Barcelona is only 12km (7 miles) from El Prat airport and is easily reached by train, bus or taxi. Trains to Sants and Passeig de Gràcia depart every 30 minutes from 6am–11.38pm and take about 25 minutes. The ­approximate cost is €3, but the best value is a T10 card for Zone 1 which can be shared between travellers, and can be used on the metro and buses in the city. It costs about €8. A shuttle bus connects Terminal 1 with the train station. The Aerobús, an efficient bus service, runs to Plaça de Catalunya from each terminal every 5 minutes, stopping at strategic points en route. It operates from 6am–1am; a single fare is about €5.30, a return €9.15. Note that the return ticket is only valid for up to nine days after purchase.

From Plaça de Catalunya the buses run from 5.28am–12.30am. Be sure to get on the one for your terminal when returning to the airport. A nightbus, the N17, runs from Plaça de Catalunya/Ronda Universitat from 11pm–5am.

To reach most central parts of Barcelona by taxi will cost about €25–30 plus an airport supplement and a token amount for each suitcase. To avoid misunderstandings, ask how much it will cost before getting into the taxi: “Cuánto vale el recorrido desde el aeropuerto hasta … (e.g.) Plaça de Catalunya?” Get the taxi driver to write down the answer if necessary. 

Getting around Barcelona

Barcelona has a reliable and comprehensive public transport system; getting around town is easy, rapid and inexpensive. 

By Metro. The metro has eight colour-coded lines but the main ones are 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Some are equipped for wheelchairs and prams, with lifts. Trains are frequent and cheap, with a set price per journey, no matter how far you travel. It is more economical to buy a card that allows 10 journeys (Targeta T10), available at stations, banks and estancs (tobacconists). It can be shared and is valid for FGC trains, RENFE trains within Zone 1 and buses. If you change from one form of transport to another within 1 hour and 15 mins, the ticket will still be valid, so you won't be charged again. Trains run 5am–midnight Mon–Thur and Sun, 5am–2am Fri and all night Sat.

By Bus (autobús). The bus service is good for reaching the areas the metro doesn't. Single tickets are the same price as metro tickets and can be bought from the driver, or a multiple card (Targeta T10) of 10 journeys can be punched inside the bus, but not bought on the bus. Most buses run from 4.25am–11pm. There are night services (the Nit bus) that run from Plaça de Catalunya, but lines vary, so check on the map or at bus stops. 

The official Tourist Bus (Barcelona Bus Turístic) takes in the most interesting parts of the city. You can combine three different routes, and get on and off at the 44 stops freely. It also offers discounts on entrance charges. The buses operate year-round with frequent services, the first leaving Plaça de Catalunya at 9am. The fleet includes buses equipped for wheelchairs and open-air double deckers. For information and tickets ask at a tourist information office such as the one on Plaça de Catalunya, or book online at www.barcelonaturisme.com.

By Train. The local train service, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC; tel: 93-205 1515; www.fgc.cat), interconnects with the metro and looks like the metro, but extends beyond the inner city to towns on the other side of Tibidabo, such as San Cugat (from Plaça de Catalunya) and to Manresa and Montserrat (from Plaça d'Espanya). It is a useful service for reaching the upper parts of Barcelona and for parts of Tibidabo and the Parc de Collserola. The metro ticket is valid on this line within Zone 1, but travel beyond is more expensive. To check the timetable, tel: 010. 

By Taxi. All Barcelona taxis are black and yellow, and show a green light when available for hire. There are taxi ranks at the airport, Sants station, Plaça de Catalunya and other strategic points, but taxis can be hailed on any street corner. Rates are standard and calculated by meter, starting at a set rate and clocking up at a rate governed by the time of day: nighttimes, weekends and fiestas are more expensive. Drivers do not expect a tip, but a small one is always appreciated. An extra charge is made for luggage per piece. Taxis equipped for wheelchairs are available (tel: 93-420 8088).

By Bicycle. Barcelona is now a cyclist-friendly city, with over 156km of bike lanes, parking facilities and many great traffic-free places to cycle, such as the port, marinas, and along the beachfront from Barceloneta to Diagonal Mar. Bikes can be taken on trains free of charge, and a useful map of the cycle lanes can be found at http://ajuntament.barcelona.cat. The red-and-white bikes parked at strategic points all over town are unfortunately not for rent. These "Bicing" bikes are exclusively for resident/long-term use. There are plenty of companies that rent bikes and organise cycling tours.

Health and safety

Health and medical care

Visitors from EU countries with corresponding health insurance ­facilities are entitled to medical and hospital treatment under the Spanish social security system – you need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), obtainable from post offices or online. However, it does not cover everything and it is advisable to take out private medical insurance, which should be part of a travel insurance package. In most areas of Barcelona tapwater is safe to drink, but it is often dosed with purifying salts which make the taste unpleasant. Bottled water is easily available.

In an emergency, go to a main hospital: Hospital Sant Pau, Carrer Mas Canovas 90, tel: 93-436 4711 (behind the Sagrada Família); Hospital Clínic, Carrer de Villarroel 170, tel: 93-227 5400; Hospital del Mar, Passeig Marítim 25–29, tel: 93-248 3000. In an emergency, make your way to the Urgències department (A & E) at a main hospital, visit an ambulatorio (medical centre) or call 061.  

Pharmacies (farmacias) open during normal business hours but there is always one in each district that remains open all night and on holidays. The location and phone number of this farmacia de guardia is posted on the door of all the others, and carried in daily news­papers. Tel: 010 for this information.

Crime and safety

You should exercise caution and be on your guard against pickpockets and bag snatchers (be wary of people offering ‘assistance’), especially on or near La Rambla, the old city (particularly El Raval) and other major tourist areas, such as La Sagrada Família and crowded spots such as markets. Take the same precautions as you would at home. Photocopy personal documents and leave the originals in your hotel.

The blue-clad, mobile anti-crime squads are out in force on the Ramblas and principal thoroughfares. Should you be the victim of a crime, make a denuncia (report) at the nearest police station (comisaría – vital if you are going to make an insurance claim).

The main police station in the Old Town is at Nou de la Rambla 76–78.

Policia Municipal: these city police are responsible for traffic, civilian care and security. Tel: 092. They have a special scheme for tourist at their headquarters (La Rambla, 43), 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.

Mossos d'Esquadra: the autonomous police of Catalonia handle bureaucratic paperwork like issuing IDs, pasports etc. Tel: 088.

The general emergency number, 112, can attend to calls in English, French and German.

Money and budgeting

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 lunchtime set menu, excellent value at anything from €8–15. Even some smart restaurants offer a lunchtime menu for around €25.

On the whole, fashion items and some household goods are slightly cheaper than in northern Europe, but probably not the USA.

Cinema tickets cost from €5–8, with discounts on certain days of the week, usually Monday or Wednesday. Check listings in the daily press.

Public transport is good value with a T10 card for 10 journeys about €8 for use on the metro, bus, FGC and even RENFE trains within Zone 1. 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 or discounts on museums, some leisure centres, some restaurants, bars and shops. An adult card for two days is €26 and for five €42. This, the Articket and other offers can be purchased online at www.barcelonaturisme.com.

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. 

Money

Currency (moneda). The monetary unit of Spain is the euro (symbolised €). Notes are issued in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros. Coins in circulation are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and 1 and 2 euros.

Currency exchange (cambio). Banks and cajas/caixes (savings banks) are the best place to exchange currency, offering the best rates with no commission. Many travel agencies and casas de cambio (displaying a cambio sign) will also exchange foreign currency, and stay open outside banking hours. Be wary of those advertising ‘no commission’ – their rates are much lower, so you are in effect paying a hefty commission. Banks and exchange offices pay slightly more for travellers’ cheques than for cash. Always take your passport when you go to change money.

Credit cards (tarjetas de crédito). 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. Some smaller restaurants will not accept cards.

ATMs. Most banks have cashpoints (ATMs) operating 24 hours a day.

What to read

Barcelona: A Guide to Recent Architecture, by Suzanna Strum.

A look at some of the city’s stunning buildings.

Barcelonas, by Manuel Vázquez Montalbán.

Chatty book covering culture, design, history and some of the city’s personalities.

Catalan Cuisine, by Colman Andrews.

Describes the unique aspects of Catalan cooking; good recipes.

Homage to Catalonia, by George Orwell.

Famous account of the author’s experiences in the Spanish Civil War.

The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafón; translation by Lucia Graves.

Read the novel set in Barcelona then discover its places in a walking tour.