Barcelona Information

Hosting City: Barcelona, Spain (View Overview in PDF)

Barcelona was founded over two thousand years ago, on the Mediterranean coast, between two rivers. It is located in the north east of the Iberian Peninsula, just a short distance from France. Since its beginnings, the city has been the traditional gateway to Spain. Romans, Arabs and Christians passed through it, as did the diverse cultures which came to enrich its heritage. The traces of this history and diversity can be found as you walk through the city; through its Gothic Quarter built on the Roman ruins; through its art-nouveau Eixample district, which is dominated by Gaudí’s exuberant architecture, yet at the same time reveals an ordered and rational urban layout. Diversity and harmony also flourish in the character of the Barcelona people, who are enterprising and hard-working, have a hedonistic streak, and are, in particular, civic-minded and lovers of culture.

Collserola

Geography

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, an autonomous community located on the northeastern coast of Spain just south of the French border. It is bounded by the Collserola ridge and the Besòs and Llobregat rivers. The city is less than 150 kilometers from the Pyrenees and due to its location on the shores of the Mediterranean, Barcelona enjoys a warm, welcoming climate and pleasant temperatures all year round. Rainfall is occasionally heavy, with levels of around 1,000 mm of rain per year. This helps to maintain the many green areas around the city.

Language and Customs

In Barcelona, as in the rest of Catalonia, there are two official languages: Catalan, the language of the region, and Spanish, the official language of Spain. Here are some of the most frequent Catalan expressions translated into Spanish, English and French, which will help you get around the city: vocabulary list (pdf).

Following daylight saving time, the clocks are an hour ahead of Greenwich Meridian Time (GMT) in winter, and two hours ahead in summer. In Barcelona mealtimes are usually a little later than in the rest of Europe. Breakfast is between 8 am and 10 am and is similar to that of other countries on the continent. Lunch is served in restaurants between 1 pm and 3 pm and dinner from 9 pm until midnight.

Business Hours

Opening hours for most shops are approximately from 9 am to 1 pm and from 4:30 pm to 8 pm. Some department stores, shopping centers and individual shops—particularly in the city center—remain open at lunch time. Opening hours for banks are from 8 am to 3 pm, from Monday to Friday.

Currency

As of 2002 the euro is the official currency of Spain. You can change money at the banks as well as at exchange offices (canvi) located in the city center and at tourist attractions. In general banks are open from Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 2 pm. All major credit cards are accepted. ATMs/cash machines are widely available. For currency conversion rates, see Oanda.

Telephones and Mail

To call any phone number in Barcelona from abroad you must first dial +34 and then the desired number. Calling any foreign number from Barcelona requires dialing 00 followed by the destination country's code and the desired number. Stamps can be bought in post offices and tobacco shops. Ordinary mail may be dropped off in yellow mail boxes, which are located throughout the city.

Electricity

As in most of Western Europe, in Barcelona the standard power supply is 220 V 50 Hz. Power plugs normally found are Type F (Type C plugs are also common).

Medical Assistance

You will receive immediate emergency medical help if needed. Travelers from EU countries will also receive medical treatment in Spain thanks to reciprocal European Union agreements. For other travelers, though emergency treatment will be given, it is a good idea to have some kind of medical insurance. The telephone number for emergencies is 061.

Climate and Weather

Barcelona’s location on the shores of the Mediterranean means it enjoys a warm, welcoming climate, with pleasant temperatures all the year round. It has five kilometers of beaches with every amenity, which are used by Barcelona’s inhabitants all the year round, and an Olympic marina which meets all requisites in order to enjoy nautical sports throughout the year.

Rainfall, which is occasionally heavy, averages 1.000 mm a year, making it possible to maintain the many green areas around the city.

Barcelona enjoys sunshine during all the seasons of the year. You can eat at open-air restaurants or enjoy a drink at any of its many pavement cafés, always on the shores of the Mediterranean.

For furhter information: The weather in Barcelona.

Public Transportation

Further Information