City Info

Population: 1.6 million
Currency: Euro €
Language: Catalan and Spanish
Opening hours: Usually 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday – Friday with some variations. Many establishments have the same opening hours on Saturdays and some open until lunchtime on Sundays. Shopping centres and many large stores do not close for lunch/siesta.
Emergency numbers: 112 all emergencies / 092 local police / 061 medical emergencies

Getting There

From just about any country in the world, visitors can find affordable airline tickets through a number of airlines such as Iberia, Continental Airlines, Vueling, Condor, Air Berlin and Delta Airlines. All flights, international and domestic, arrive at El Prat de Llobregat airport ( http://www.aena.es). Located a mere 9 miles south of Barcelona, the Barcelona airport offers quick and easy access to all Barcelona hostels.

If you are having trouble finding good prices to fly to Barcelona El Prat, you can also check nearby airports Reus (REU) and Girona (GRO).

Moving around – Transportation

The fastest and cheapest way of moving around Barcelona is using public transport.

The easiest of all to use is the metro - with 5 different lines (identified by a different color each) running from 5AM to midnight on Mondays-Thursdays and Sundays and from 5AM to 2AM on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays. A one-way fare will cost around 1.50 euro. Tickets will be checked before boarding and it may be a good idea to get a deal on the multiple-trip tickets.

Barcelona's suburban train service, the FCG, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya, is also a wise travel option with 2 lines in Barcelona and 4 others going to towns close by. Trains run from 5:45 AM to 12:05 AM on Mondays through Thursdays, from 5:50 AM to 2:15 AM on Fridays and Saturdays and from 5:50 AM to 12:02 AM on Sundays. The fare is also around 1?.

The bus, while being a much slower form of transportation (due to traffic at rush tour), is not a bad option considering the city's extensive bus network (over 70 lines). It is also a great way of seeing the city. Different routes have different schedules and fares are also around 1.50 euro.

A taxi is the most comfortable way of getting around the city but also the most expensive. Identifiable by their black and yellow coloring, taxis show a green light when available. Prices must be displayed inside the cab and meters (which are compulsory in all cabs) will indicate the fare.

What to Visit (do no miss!)

Museums & Monuments

Sagrada Familia : Gaudi's unachieved cathedral
Address : Sicilia, 286 / Phone : 00 34 932073031

La Pedrera : An impressive Gaudi building at the Passeig de Gracia
Address : C. Provença, 261-265. / Phone : 00 34 93 484 59 00

Santa Maria del Mar : XIV century Gothic Church with famous stained glass windows.
Address : Plaça de Santa Maria

MACBA : Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona
Address : Pl. dels Angels, 1. ( el Raval) / Phone :00 34 93 412 08 10

Picasso Museum (La Ribera, El Born)
Address : C. Montcada, 15-23 / Phone : 93 319 63 10

Areas to walk & visit

Las Ramblas & Gothic Quarter

Port Vell, Barceloneta & Port Olimpic

Shopping in Barcelona

Barcelona Spain shopping offers around 35,000 shops. The city is also home to the famous 5 KM shopping line. The shopping line stretches from the top of the Ramblas, through Placa de Catalunya along Passeig de Gràcia and up Avenue Diagonal. Much of the shopping line is pedestriansed making it a pleasant experience to wonder from shop to shop without worrying about traffic.

Opening times: most of the shops and shopping centers are open from 10.00 (10am) to 20.30 (8:30pm) or 21.30 hours (9:30pm). Traditional shops open from 10.00 (10am) to 14.00 hours (2pm) and from 16.30(4:30pm) to 20.30 hours (8:30pm)
Sales: the winter sales generally begin in the second week of January and last until the end of February and the summer sales begin on 1st July and last until the end of August.
How to pay: most people pay in cash or with a credit card, when you must show your passport or identity card.

Going out

A night out in Barcelona is a long-distance race. Be sure to start slowly so that you are able to face the exuberant party-scene until the early morning. As everything else in Barcelona, also nightlife sets off a few hours later. Start your evening out in one of the numerous bars or cafes in Barcelona before going to a club. Be aware that bars generally close at 3:00 am. It also does not make any sense to go to a club in Barcelona before 12:00 pm. Or why not spend time on the beach during the evening? Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere while drinking a cold beer on the -still crowded- but much cooler beach of Barcelona during summer nights.