Barcelona in one word

Barcelona
City and municipality
From the top: 22@ new business district, Sagrada Família, Camp Nou, Castle of the Three Dragons, Palau Nacional, W Barcelona hotel and beach
Flag Coat of arms
Nicknames:  Ciutat Comtal (Catalan) Ciudad Condal (Spanish) «Comital City» or «City of Counts» Cap i Casal de Catalunya (Catalan) ‘Head and Hearth of Catalonia’ Abbreviation(s): Barna, BCN
Location in the Province of Barcelona Location in Catalonia Location in Spain Location in Europe
Coordinates: 41°23′N 2°11′E / 41.383°N 2.183°ECoordinates: 41°23′N 2°11′E / 41.383°N 2.183°E
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Catalonia
Province	Barcelona
Comarca	Barcelonès
Districts	10 Ciutat Vella Eixample Gràcia Horta-Guinardó Les Corts Nou Barris Sant Andreu Sants–Montjuïc Sarrià-Sant Gervasi Sant Martí
Government
• Type	Ayuntamiento
• Body	Ajuntament de Barcelona
• Mayor	Ada Colau Ballano[1] (Barcelona en Comú)
Area [2]
• City	101.4 km2 (39.2 sq mi)
Elevation  (AMSL)	12 m (39 ft)
Population  (2018)[5]
• City	1,620,343
• Rank	2nd
• Density	16,000/km2 (41,000/sq mi)
• Urban	4,840,000[3]
• Metro	5,474,482[4]
Demonyms	Barcelonan, Barcelonian barceloní, -ina (Catalan) barcelonés, -esa (Spanish)
Postal code	080xx
Area code	+34 (E) 93 (B)
INE code	08 0193
City budget (2021)	€2.4 billion[6]
Official language	Catalan and Spanish
Main festivity	La Mercè
Patron saint	Eulalia of Barcelona
Website	www.barcelona.cat
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Barcelona ( BAR-sə-LOH-nə, Catalan: [bəɾsəˈlonə] (listen), Spanish: [baɾθeˈlona]) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within city limits,^[7] its urban area extends to numerous neighbouring municipalities within the Province of Barcelona and is home to around 4.8 million people,^[3] making it the fifth most populous urban area in the European Union after Paris, the Ruhr area, Madrid, and Milan.^[3] It is one of the largest metropolises on the Mediterranean Sea, located on the coast between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs, and bounded to the west by the Serra de Collserola mountain range.

Founded as a Roman city, in the Middle Ages Barcelona became the capital of the County of Barcelona. After joining with the Kingdom of Aragon to form the confederation of the Crown of Aragon, Barcelona, which continued to be the capital of the Principality of Catalonia, became the most important city in the Crown of Aragon and the main economic and administrative centre of the Crown, only to be overtaken by Valencia, wrested from Moorish control by the Catalans, shortly before the dynastic union between the Crown of Castile and the Crown of Aragon in 1492. Barcelona became the centre of Catalan separatism, briefly becoming part of France during the 17th century Reapers’ War. It was the capital of Revolutionary Catalonia during the Spanish Revolution of 1936, and the seat of government of the Second Spanish Republic later in the Spanish Civil War, until its capture by the fascists in 1939. After the Spanish transition to democracy in the 1970s, Barcelona once again became the capital of an autonomous Catalonia.

Barcelona has a rich cultural heritage and is today an important cultural centre and a major tourist destination. Particularly renowned are the architectural works of Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Domènech i Montaner, which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The city is home to two of the most prestigious universities in Spain: the University of Barcelona and Pompeu Fabra University. The headquarters of the Union for the Mediterranean are located in Barcelona. The city is known for hosting the 1992 Summer Olympics as well as world-class conferences and expositions and also many international sport tournaments.

Barcelona is a major cultural, economic, and financial centre in southwestern Europe,^[8] as well as the main biotech hub in Spain.^[9] As a leading world city, Barcelona’s influence in global socio-economic affairs qualifies it for global city status (Beta +).^[10]

Barcelona is a transport hub, with the Port of Barcelona being one of Europe’s principal seaports and busiest European passenger port,^[11] an international airport, Barcelona–El Prat Airport, which handles over 50 million passengers per year,^[12] an extensive motorway network, and a high-speed rail line with a link to France and the rest of Europe.^[13]

Names

The name Barcelona comes from the ancient Iberian Baŕkeno, attested in an ancient coin inscription found on the right side of the coin in Iberian script as ,^[14] in ancient Greek sources as Βαρκινών, Barkinṓn;^[15][16] and in Latin as Barcino,^[17] Barcilonum^[18] and Barcenona.^[19][20][21]

Some older sources suggest that the city may have been named after the Carthaginian general Hamilcar Barca, who was supposed to have founded the city in the 3rd century BC,^[22] but there is no evidence that Barcelona was ever a Carthaginian settlement, or that its name in antiquity, Barcino, had any connection with the Barcid family of Hamilcar.^[23]
During the Middle Ages, the city was variously known as Barchinona, Barçalona, Barchelonaa, and Barchenona.

Internationally,^{[citation needed]} Barcelona’s name is abbreviated colloquially to ‘Barça’ in reference to the football club FC Barcelona, whose anthem is the Cant del Barça («Barça chant»). A common abbreviated form used by locals for the city is Barna.

Another common abbreviation is ‘BCN’, which is also the IATA airport code of the Barcelona-El Prat Airport.

The city is referred to as the Ciutat Comtal in Catalan and Ciudad Condal in Spanish (i.e., «Comital City» or «City of Counts»), owing to its past as the seat of the Count of Barcelona.^[24]

History

Pre-history

The origin of the earliest settlement at the site of present-day Barcelona is unclear. The ruins of an early settlement have been found, including different tombs and dwellings dating to earlier than 5000 BC.^[25][26] The founding of Barcelona is the subject of two different legends. The first attributes the founding of the city to the mythological Hercules. The second legend attributes the foundation of the city directly to the historical Carthaginian general, Hamilcar Barca, father of Hannibal, who supposedly named the city Barcino after his family in the 3rd century BC,^[27] but there is no historical or linguistic evidence that this is true.^[23] Archeological evidence in the form of coins from the 3rd Century BC have been found on the hills at the foot of Montjuïc with the name Bárkeno written in an ancient script in the Iberian language. Thus, we can conclude that the Laietani, an ancient Iberian (Pre-Roman) people of the Iberian peninsula, who inhabited the area occupied by the city of Barcelona around 3 – 2 BC, called the area Bàrkeno, which means «The Place of the Plains» (Barrke = plains/terrace).^[28]

Roman Barcelona

In about 15 BC, the Romans redrew the town as a castrum (Roman military camp) centred on the «Mons Taber«, a little hill near the Generalitat (Catalan Government) and city hall buildings. The Roman Forum, at the crossing of the Cardo Maximus and Decumanus Maximus, was approximately placed where current Plaça de Sant Jaume is. Thus, the political center of the city, Catalonia, and its domains has remained in the same place for over 2,000 years.

Under the Romans, it was a colony with the surname of Faventia,^[29] or, in full, Colonia Faventia Julia Augusta Pia Barcino^[30] or Colonia Julia Augusta Faventia Paterna Barcino. Pomponius Mela^[31] mentions it among the small towns of the district, probably as it was eclipsed by its neighbour Tarraco (modern Tarragona), but it may be gathered from later writers that it gradually grew in wealth and consequence, favoured as it was with a beautiful situation and an excellent harbour.^[32] It enjoyed immunity from imperial burdens.^[33] The city minted its own coins; some from the era of Galba survive.

Important Roman vestiges are displayed in Plaça del Rei underground, as a part of the Barcelona City History Museum (MUHBA); the typically Roman grid plan is still visible today in the layout of the historical centre, the Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter). Some remaining fragments of the Roman walls have been incorporated into the cathedral.^[34] The cathedral, Catedral Basílica Metropolitana de Barcelona, is also sometimes called La Seu, which simply means cathedral (and see, among other things) in Catalan.^[35][36] It is said to have been founded in 343.

Medieval Barcelona

The city was conquered by the Visigoths in the early 5th century, becoming for a few years the capital of all Hispania. After being conquered by the Arabs in the early 8th century, it was conquered after a siege in 801 by Charlemagne’s son Louis, who made Barcelona the seat of the Carolingian «Hispanic March» (Marca Hispanica), a buffer zone ruled by the Count of Barcelona.^[37]

The Counts of Barcelona became increasingly independent and expanded their territory to include much of modern Catalonia, although on 6 July 985, Barcelona was sacked by the army of Almanzor.^[38] The sack was so traumatic that most of Barcelona’s population was either killed or enslaved.^[39] In 1137, Aragon and the County of Barcelona merged in dynastic union^[40][41] by the marriage of Ramon Berenguer IV and Petronilla of Aragon, their titles finally borne by only one person when their son Alfonso II of Aragon ascended to the throne in 1162. His territories were later to be known as the Crown of Aragon, which conquered many overseas possessions and ruled the western Mediterranean Sea with outlying territories in Naples and Sicily and as far as Athens in the 13th century.

Barcelona was the leading slave trade centre of the Crown of Aragon up until the 15th century, when it was eclipsed by Valencia.^[42] It initially fed from eastern and balkan slave stock later drawing from a Maghribian and, ultimately, Subsaharan pool of slaves.^[43]

The Bank of Barcelona or Taula de canvi, often viewed as the oldest public bank in Europe, was established by the city magistrates in 1401. It originated from necessities of the state, as did the Bank of Venice (1402) and the Bank of Genoa (1407).^[44]

Barcelona under the Spanish monarchy

The marriage of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile in 1469 united the two royal lines. Madrid became the centre of political power whilst the colonisation of the Americas reduced the financial importance (at least in relative terms) of Mediterranean trade. Barcelona was a centre of Catalan separatism, including the Catalan Revolt (1640–52) against Philip IV of Spain. The great plague of 1650–1654 halved the city’s population.^[45]

In the 18th century, a fortress was built at Montjuïc that overlooked the harbour. In 1794, this fortress was used by the French astronomer Pierre François André Méchain for observations relating to a survey stretching to Dunkirk that provided the official basis of the measurement of a metre.^[46] The definitive metre bar, manufactured from platinum, was presented to the French legislative assembly on 22 June 1799. Much of Barcelona was negatively affected by the Napoleonic wars, but the start of industrialisation saw the fortunes of the province improve.

The Spanish Civil War and the Franco period

During the Spanish Civil War, the city, and Catalonia in general, were resolutely Republican. Many enterprises and public services were collectivised by the CNT and UGT unions. As the power of the Republican government and the Generalitat diminished, much of the city was under the effective control of anarchist groups. The anarchists lost control of the city to their own allies, the Communists and official government troops, after the street fighting of the Barcelona May Days. The fall of the city on 26 January 1939, caused a mass exodus of civilians who fled to the French border. The resistance of Barcelona to Franco’s coup d’état was to have lasting effects after the defeat of the Republican government. The autonomous institutions of Catalonia were abolished,^[49] and the use of the Catalan language in public life was suppressed. Barcelona remained the second largest city in Spain, at the heart of a region which was relatively industrialised and prosperous, despite the devastation of the civil war. The result was a large-scale immigration from poorer regions of Spain (particularly Andalusia, Murcia and Galicia), which in turn led to rapid urbanisation.

Late twentieth century

In 1992, Barcelona hosted the Summer Olympics. The after-effects of this are credited with driving major changes in what had, up until then, been a largely industrial city. As part of the preparation for the games, industrial buildings along the sea-front were demolished and 3 kilometres (2 miles) of beach were created. New construction increased the road capacity of the city by 17%, the sewage handling capacity by 27% and the amount of new green areas and beaches by 78%. Between 1990 and 2004, the number of hotel rooms in the city doubled. Perhaps more importantly, the outside perception of the city was changed making, by 2012, Barcelona the 12th most popular city destination in the world and the 5th amongst European cities.^{[50][51][52][53][54]}

Recent history

The death of Franco in 1975 brought on a period of democratisation throughout Spain. Pressure for change was particularly strong in Barcelona, which considered that it had been punished during nearly forty years of Francoism for its support of the Republican government.^[55] Massive, but peaceful, demonstrations on 11 September 1977 assembled over a million people in the streets of Barcelona to call for the restoration of Catalan autonomy. It was granted less than a month later.^[56]

The development of Barcelona was promoted by two events in 1986: Spanish accession to the European Community, and particularly Barcelona’s designation as host city of the 1992 Summer Olympics.^[57][58] The process of urban regeneration has been rapid, and accompanied by a greatly increased international reputation of the city as a tourist destination. The increased cost of housing has led to a slight decline (−16.6%) in the population over the last two decades of the 20th century as many families move out into the suburbs. This decline has been reversed since 2001, as a new wave of immigration (particularly from Latin America and from Morocco) has gathered pace.^[59]

In 1987, an ETA car bombing at Hipercor killed 21 people. On 17 August 2017, a van was driven into pedestrians on La Rambla, killing 14 and injuring at least 100, one of whom later died. Other attacks took place elsewhere in Catalonia. The Prime Minister of Spain, Mariano Rajoy, called the attack in Barcelona a jihadist attack. Amaq News Agency attributed indirect responsibility for the attack to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).^[60][61][62] During the 2010s, Barcelona became the focus city^{[citation needed]} for the ongoing Catalan independence movement, its consequent standoff between the regional and national government and later protests.^[63]

Geography

Location

Barcelona is located on the northeast coast of the Iberian Peninsula, facing the Mediterranean Sea, on a plain approximately 5 km (3 mi) wide limited by the mountain range of Collserola, the Llobregat river to the southwest and the Besòs river to the north.^[64] This plain covers an area of 170 km² (66 sq mi),^[64] of which 101 km² (39.0 sq mi)^[65] are occupied by the city itself. It is 120 kilometres (75 miles) south of the Pyrenees and the Catalan border with France.

Tibidabo, 512 m (1,680 ft) high, offers striking views over the city^[66] and is topped by the 288.4 m (946.2 ft) Torre de Collserola, a telecommunications tower that is visible from most of the city. Barcelona is peppered with small hills, most of them urbanised, that gave their name to the neighbourhoods built upon them, such as Carmel (267 metres or 876 feet), Putget (es) (181 metres or 594 feet) and Rovira (261 metres or 856 feet). The escarpment of Montjuïc (173 metres or 568 feet), situated to the southeast, overlooks the harbour and is topped by Montjuïc Castle, a fortress built in the 17–18th centuries to control the city as a replacement for the Ciutadella. Today, the fortress is a museum and Montjuïc is home to several sporting and cultural venues, as well as Barcelona’s biggest park and gardens.

The city borders on the municipalities of Santa Coloma de Gramenet and Sant Adrià de Besòs to the north; the Mediterranean Sea to the east; El Prat de Llobregat and L’Hospitalet de Llobregat to the south; and Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Sant Just Desvern, Esplugues de Llobregat, Sant Cugat del Vallès, and Montcada i Reixac to the west. The municipality includes two small sparsely-inhabited exclaves to the north-west.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification, Barcelona has a hot summer Mediterranean climate (Csa), with mild winters and warm to hot summers,^[67] while the rainiest seasons are autumn and spring. The rainfall pattern is characterised by a short (3 months) dry season in summer, as well as less winter rainfall than in a typical Mediterranean climate. However, both June and August are wetter than February, which is unusual for the Mediterranean climate. This subtype, labelled as «Portuguese» by the French geographer George Viers after the climate classification of Emmanuel de Martonne^[68] and found in the NW Mediterranean area (e.g. Marseille), can be seen as transitional to the humid subtropical climate (Cfa) found in inland areas.

Barcelona is densely populated, thus heavily influenced by the urban heat island effect. Areas outside of the urbanised districts can have as much as 2 °C of difference in temperatures throughout the year.^[69] Its average annual temperature is 21.2 °C (70.2 °F) during the day and 15.1 °C (59.2 °F) at night. The average annual temperature of the sea is about 20 °C (68 °F). In the coldest month, January, the temperature typically ranges from 12 to 18 °C (54 to 64 °F) during the day, 6 to 12 °C (43 to 54 °F) at night and the average sea temperature is 13 °C (55 °F).^[70] In the warmest month, August, the typical temperature ranges from 27 to 31 °C (81 to 88 °F) during the day, about 23 °C (73 °F) at night and the average sea temperature is 26 °C (79 °F).^[70] Generally, the summer or «holiday» season lasts about six months, from May to October. Two months – April and November – are transitional; sometimes the temperature exceeds 20 °C (68 °F), with an average temperature of 18–19 °C (64–66 °F) during the day and 11–13 °C (52–55 °F) at night. December, January and February are the coldest months, with average temperatures around 15 °C (59 °F) during the day and 9 °C (48 °F) at night. Large fluctuations in temperature are rare, particularly in the summer months. Because of the proximity to the warm sea plus the urban heat island, frosts are very rare in the city of Barcelona. Snow is also very infrequent in the city of Barcelona, but light snowfalls can occur yearly in the nearby Collserola mountains, such as in the Fabra Observatory located in a nearby mountain.^[71]

Barcelona averages 78 rainy days per year (≥ 1 mm), and annual average relative humidity is 72%, ranging from 69% in July to 75% in October. Rainfall totals are highest in late summer and autumn (September–November) and lowest in early and mid-summer (June–August), with a secondary winter minimum (February–March). Sunshine duration is 2,524 hours per year, from 138 (average 4.5 hours of sunshine a day) in December to 310 (average 10 hours of sunshine a day) in July.^[72]

Demographics

According to Barcelona’s City Council, Barcelona’s population as of 1 January 2016 was 1,608,746 people,^[75] on a land area of 101.4 km² (39 sq mi). It is the main component of an administrative area of Greater Barcelona, with a population of 3,218,071 in an area of 636 square kilometres (246 square miles) (density 5,060 inhabitants/km²). The population of the urban area was 4,840,000.^[3] It is the central nucleus of the Barcelona metropolitan area, which relies on a population of 5,474,482.^[4]

Spanish is the most spoken language in Barcelona (according to the linguistic census held by the Government of Catalonia in 2013) and it is understood almost universally. Catalan is also very commonly spoken in the city: it is understood by 95% of the population, while 72.3% can speak it, 79% can read it, and 53% can write it.^[76] Knowledge of Catalan has increased significantly in recent decades thanks to a language immersion educational system.

In 1900, Barcelona had a population of 533,000,^[64] which grew steadily but slowly until 1950, when it started absorbing a high number of people from other less-industrialised parts of Spain. Barcelona’s population peaked in 1979 at 1,906,998, and fell throughout the 1980s and 1990s as more people sought a higher quality of life in outlying cities in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area. After bottoming out in 2000 with 1,496,266 residents, the city’s population began to rise again as younger people started to return, causing a great increase in housing prices.^[77]

Population density

Note: This text is entirely based on the municipal statistical database provided by the city council.

Barcelona is one of the most densely populated cities in Europe. For the year 2008 the city council calculated the population to 1,621,090 living in the 102.2 km² sized municipality, giving the city an average population density of 15,926 inhabitants per square kilometre with Eixample being the most populated district.

In the case of Barcelona though, the land distribution is extremely uneven. Half of the municipality or 50.2 km², all of it located on the municipal edge is made up of the ten least densely populated neighbourhoods containing less than 10% of the city’s population, the uninhabited Zona Franca industrial area and Montjuïc forest park. Leaving the remaining 90% or slightly below 1.5 million inhabitants living on the remaining 52 square kilometres (20 square miles) at an average density close to 28,500 inhabitants per square kilometre.

Of the 73 neighbourhoods in the city, 45 had a population density above 20,000 inhabitants per square kilometre with a combined population of 1,313,424 inhabitants living on 38.6 km² at an average density of 33,987 inhabitants per square km. The 30 most densely populated neighbourhoods accounted for 57.5% of the city population occupying only 22.7% of the municipality, or in other words, 936,406 people living at an average density of 40,322 inhabitants per square kilometre. The city’s highest density is found at and around the neighbourhood of la Sagrada Família where four of the city’s most densely populated neighbourhoods are located side by side, all with a population density above 50,000 inhabitants per square kilometre.

Age structure

In 1900, almost a third (28.9 percent) of the population were children (aged younger than 14 years). In 2017, this age group constituted only 12.7% of the population. In 2017, people aged between 15 and 24 years made up 9 percent of the population; those aged between 25 and 44 years made up 30.6 percent of the population; while those aged between 45 and 64 years formed 56.9% of all Barcelonans. In 1900, people aged 65 and older made up just 6.5 percent of the population. In 2017, this age group made up 21.5 percent of the population.^[78][79]

Migration

Largest groups of foreign residents in Barcelona[80]
Nationality	Population (2019)
Italy	36,276
China	21,658
Pakistan	20,643
France	16,940
Morocco	14,418
Colombia	12,290
Honduras	11,744
Peru	10,558
Venezuela	10,185
Philippines	9,439

In 2016, about 59% of the inhabitants of the city were born in Catalonia and 18.5% coming from the rest of the country. In addition to that, 22.5% of the population was born outside of Spain, a proportion which has more than doubled since 2001 and more than quintupled since 1996 when it was 8.6% respectively 3.9%.^[75]

The most important region of origin of migrants is Europe, with many coming from Italy (26,676) or France (13,506).^[75] Moreover, many migrants come from Latin American nations such as Bolivia, Ecuador or Colombia. Since the 1990s, and similar to other migrants, many Latin Americans have settled in northern parts of the city.^[81]

There exists a relatively large Pakistani community in Barcelona with up to twenty thousand nationals. The community consists of significantly more men than women. Many of the Pakistanis are living in Ciutat Vella. First Pakistani migrants came in the 1970s, with increasing numbers in the 1990s.^[82]

Other significant migrant groups come from Asia as from China and the Philippines.^[75] There is a Japanese community clustered in Bonanova, Les Tres Torres, Pedralbes, and other northern neighbourhoods, and a Japanese international school serves that community.^[83]

Religion

Most of the inhabitants state they are Roman Catholic (208 churches).^[84] In a 2011 survey conducted by InfoCatólica, 49.5% of Barcelona residents of all ages identified themselves as Catholic.^[85] This was the first time that more than half of respondents did not identify themselves as Catholic Christians.^[85] The numbers reflect a broader trend in Spain whereby the numbers of self-identified Catholics have declined.^[85] In 2019, a survey by Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas showed that 53.2% of residents in Barcelona identified themselves as Catholic (9.9% practising Catholics, 43.3% non-practising Catholics).^[86]

The province has the largest Muslim community in Spain, 322,698 people in Barcelona province are of Muslim religion.^[87] A considerable number of Muslims live in Barcelona due to immigration (169 locations, mostly professed by Moroccans in Spain).^[84] In 2014, 322,698 out of 5.5 million people in the province of Barcelona identified themselves as Muslim,^[87] which makes 5.6% of the total population.

The city also has the largest Jewish community in Spain, with an estimated 3,500 Jews living in the city.^[88] There are also a number of other groups, including Evangelical (71 locations, mostly professed by Roma), Jehovah’s Witnesses (21 Kingdom Halls), Buddhists (13 locations),^[89] and Eastern Orthodox.^[90]

Economy

General information

The Barcelona metropolitan area comprises over 66% of the people of Catalonia, one of the richer regions in Europe and the fourth richest region per capita in Spain, with a GDP per capita amounting to €28,400 (16% more than the EU average). The greater Barcelona metropolitan area had a GDP amounting to $177 billion (equivalent to $34,821 in per capita terms, 44% more than the EU average), making it the 4th most economically powerful city by gross GDP in the European Union, and 35th in the world in 2009.^[91] Barcelona city had a very high GDP of €80,894 per head in 2004, according to Eurostat.^[92] Furthermore, Barcelona was Europe’s fourth best business city and fastest improving European city, with growth improved by 17% per year as of 2009.^[93]

Barcelona was the 24th most «livable city» in the world in 2015 according to lifestyle magazine Monocle.^[94] Similarly, according to Innovation Analysts 2thinknow, Barcelona occupies 13th place in the world on Innovation Cities™ Global Index.^[95] At the same time it is according to the Global Wealth and Lifestyle Report 2020 one of the most affordable cities in the world for a luxury lifestyle.^[96]

Barcelona has a long-standing mercantile tradition. Less well known is that the city industrialised early, taking off in 1833, when Catalonia’s already sophisticated textile industry began to use steam power. It became the first and most important industrial city in the Mediterranean basin. Since then, manufacturing has played a large role in its history.

Borsa de Barcelona (Barcelona Stock Exchange) is the main stock exchange in the northeastern part of the Iberian Peninsula.

Barcelona was recognised as the Southern European City of the Future for 2014/15, based on its economic potential,^[97] by FDi Magazine in their bi-annual rankings.^[98]

Trade fair and exhibitions

Drawing upon its tradition of creative art and craftsmanship, Barcelona is known for its award-winning industrial design. It also has several congress halls, notably Fira de Barcelona – the second largest trade fair and exhibition centre in Europe, that host a quickly growing number of national and international events each year (at present above 50). The total exhibition floor space of Fira de Barcelona venues is 405,000 m² (41 ha), not counting Gran Via centre on the Plaza de Europa. However, the Eurozone crisis and deep cuts in business travel affected the council’s positioning of the city as a convention centre.

An important business centre, the World Trade Center Barcelona, is located in Barcelona’s Port Vell harbour.

The city is known for hosting well as world-class conferences and expositions, including the 1888 Exposición Universal de Barcelona, the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition (Expo 1929), the 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures and the 2004 World Urban Forum.^[99]

Tourism

Barcelona was the 20th-most-visited city in the world by international visitors and the fifth most visited city in Europe after London, Paris, Istanbul and Rome, with 5.5 million international visitors in 2011.^[100] By 2015, both Prague and Milan had more international visitors.^[101] With its popular tree-lined pedestrian street, Les Rambles (Las Ramblas), Barcelona is ranked the most popular city to visit in Spain.^[102]

Barcelona is an internationally renowned tourist destination, with numerous recreational areas, one of the best beaches in the world,^[103][104] mild and warm climate, historical monuments, including eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 519 hotels as of March 2016^[105] including 35 five-star hotels,^[106] and developed tourist infrastructure.

Due to its large influx of tourists each year, Barcelona, like many other tourism capitals, has to deal with pickpockets, with wallets and passports being commonly stolen items. Despite its moderate pickpocket rate, Barcelona is considered one of the safest cities in terms of security and personal safety,^[107] mainly because of a sophisticated policing strategy that has dropped crime by 32% in just over three years and has led it to be considered the 15th safest city in the world by Business Insider in 2016.^[108]

While tourism produces economic benefits, according to one report,^{[citation needed]} the city is «overrun [by] hordes of tourists». In early 2017, over 150,000 protesters warned that tourism is destabilizing the city. Slogans included «Tourists go home», «Barcelona is not for sale» and «We will not be driven out». By then, the number of visitors had increased from 1.7 million in 1990 to 32 million in a city with a population of 1.62 million, increasing the cost of rental housing for residents and overcrowding the public places. While tourists spent an estimated €30 billion in 2017, they are viewed by some as a threat to Barcelona’s identity.^[109]

A May 2017 article in the British online daily The Independent included Barcelona among the «Eight Places That Hate Tourists the Most» and included a comment from Mayor Ada Colau, «We don’t want the city to become a cheap souvenir shop», citing Venice as an example.^[110] To moderate the problem, the city has stopped issuing licenses for new hotels and holiday apartments; it also fined AirBnb €30,000. The mayor has suggested introducing a new tourist tax and setting a limit on the number of visitors.^[110] One industry insider, Justin Francis, founder of the Responsible Travel agency, stated that steps must be taken to limit the number of visitors that are causing an «overtourism crisis» in several major European cities. «Ultimately, residents must be prioritised over tourists for housing, infrastructure and access to services because they have a long-term stake in the city’s success», he said.^[111] «Managing tourism more responsibly can help», Francis later told a journalist, «but some destinations may just have too many tourists, and Barcelona may be a case of that».^[112]

Manufacturing sector

Industry generates 21% of the total gross domestic product (GDP) of the region,^[113] with the energy, chemical and metallurgy industries accounting for 47% of industrial production.^[114] The Barcelona metropolitan area had 67% of the total number of industrial establishments in Catalonia as of 1997.^[115]

Barcelona has long been an important European automobile manufacturing centre. Formerly there were automobile factories of AFA, Abadal, Actividades Industriales, Alvarez, America, Artés de Arcos, Balandrás, Baradat-Esteve, Biscúter, J. Castro, Clúa, David, Delfín, Díaz y Grilló, Ebro trucks, Edis [ca], Elizalde, Automóviles España, Eucort, Fenix, Fábrica Hispano, Auto Academia Garriga, Fábrica Española de Automóviles Hebe, Hispano-Suiza, Huracán Motors, Talleres Hereter, Junior SL, Kapi, La Cuadra, M.A., Automóviles Matas, Motores y Motos, Nacional Custals, National Pescara, Nacional RG, Nacional Rubi, Nacional Sitjes, Automóviles Nike, Orix, Otro Ford, Patria, Pegaso, PTV, Ricart, Ricart-España, Industrias Salvador, Siata Española, Stevenson, Romagosa y Compañía, Garaje Storm, Talleres Hereter, Trimak, Automóviles Victoria, Manufacturas Mecánicas Aleu.^[116][117]

Today, the headquarters and a large factory of SEAT (the largest Spanish automobile manufacturer) are in one of its suburbs. There is also a Nissan factory in the logistics and industrial area of the city.^[118] The factory of Derbi, a large manufacturer of motorcycles, scooters and mopeds, also lies near the city.^[119]

As in other modern cities, the manufacturing sector has long since been overtaken by the services sector, though it remains very important. The region’s leading industries are textiles, chemical, pharmaceutical, motor, electronic, printing, logistics, publishing, in telecommunications industry and culture the notable Mobile World Congress, and information technology services.

Fashion

The traditional importance of textiles is reflected in Barcelona’s drive to become a major fashion centre. There have been many attempts to launch Barcelona as a fashion capital, notably Gaudi Home.^{[citation needed]}

Beginning in the summer of 2000, the city hosted the Bread & Butter urban fashion fair until 2009, when its organisers announced that it would be returning to Berlin. This was a hard blow for the city as the fair brought €100 m to the city in just three days.^[120][121]

From 2009, The Brandery, an urban fashion show, was held in Barcelona twice a year until 2012. According to the Global Language Monitor’s annual ranking of the world’s top fifty fashion capitals Barcelona was named as the seventh most important fashion capital of the world right after Milan and before Berlin in 2015.^[122]

Government and administrative divisions

As the capital of the autonomous community of Catalonia, Barcelona is the seat of the Catalan government, known as the Generalitat de Catalunya; of particular note are the executive branch, the parliament, and the High Court of Justice of Catalonia. The city is also the capital of the Province of Barcelona and the Barcelonès comarca (district).

Barcelona is governed by a city council formed by 41 city councillors, elected for a four-year term by universal suffrage. As one of the two biggest cities in Spain, Barcelona is subject to a special law articulated through the Carta Municipal (Municipal Law). A first version of this law was passed in 1960 and amended later, but the current version was approved in March 2006.^[123] According to this law, Barcelona’s city council is organised in two levels: a political one, with elected city councillors, and one executive, which administrates the programs and executes the decisions taken on the political level.^[124] This law also gives the local government a special relationship with the central government and it also gives the mayor wider prerogatives by the means of municipal executive commissions.^[125] It expands the powers of the city council in areas like telecommunications, city traffic, road safety and public safety. It also gives a special economic regime to the city’s treasury and it gives the council a veto in matters that will be decided by the central government, but that will need a favourable report from the council.^[123]

The Comissió de Govern (Government Commission) is the executive branch, formed by 24 councillors, led by the Mayor, with 5 lieutenant-mayors and 17 city councillors, each in charge of an area of government, and 5 non-elected councillors.^[126] The plenary, formed by the 41 city councillors, has advisory, planning, regulatory, and fiscal executive functions.^[127] The six Commissions del Consell Municipal (City council commissions) have executive and controlling functions in the field of their jurisdiction. They are composed by a number of councillors proportional to the number of councillors each political party has in the plenary.^[128] The city council has jurisdiction in the fields of city planning, transportation, municipal taxes, public highways security through the Guàrdia Urbana (the municipal police), city maintenance, gardens, parks and environment, facilities (like schools, nurseries, sports centres, libraries, and so on), culture, sports, youth and social welfare. Some of these competencies are not exclusive, but shared with the Generalitat de Catalunya or the central Spanish government. In some fields with shared responsibility (such as public health, education or social services), there is a shared Agency or Consortium between the city and the Generalitat to plan and manage services.^[129]

The executive branch is led by a Chief Municipal Executive Officer which answers to the Mayor. It is made up of departments which are legally part of the city council and by separate legal entities of two types: autonomous public departments and public enterprises.^[130]

The seat of the city council is on the Plaça de Sant Jaume, opposite the seat of Generalitat de Catalunya. Since the coming of the Spanish democracy, Barcelona had been governed by the PSC, first with an absolute majority and later in coalition with ERC and ICV. After the May 2007 election, the ERC did not renew the coalition agreement and the PSC governed in a minority coalition with ICV as the junior partner.

After 32 years, on 22 May 2011, CiU gained a plurality of seats at the municipal election, gaining 15 seats to the PSC’s 11. The PP hold 8 seats, ICV 5 and ERC 2.

Districts

Since 1987, the city has been divided into 10 administrative districts (districtes in Catalan, distritos in Spanish):

• Ciutat Vella
• Eixample
• Sants-Montjuïc
• Les Corts
• Sarrià-Sant Gervasi
• Gràcia
• Horta-Guinardó
• Nou Barris
• Sant Andreu
• Sant Martí

The districts are based mostly on historical divisions, and several are former towns annexed by the city of Barcelona in the 18th and 19th centuries that still maintain their own distinct character. Each district has its own council led by a city councillor. The composition of each district council depends on the number of votes each political party had in that district, so a district can be led by a councillor from a different party than the executive council.

Education

Barcelona has a well-developed higher education system of public universities. Most prominent among these are the University of Barcelona (established in 1450) and the more modern Pompeu Fabra University.^[131][132] Barcelona is also home to the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, and in the private sector the EADA Business School (founded in 1957), which became the first Barcelona institution to run manager training programmes for the business community. IESE Business School, as well as the largest private educational institution, the Ramon Llull University, which encompasses schools and institutes such as the ESADE Business School. The Autonomous University of Barcelona, another public university, is located in Bellaterra, a town in the Metropolitan Area. Toulouse Business School and the Open University of Catalonia (a private Internet-centred open university) are also based in Barcelona.

The city has a network of public schools, from nurseries to high schools, under the responsibility of a consortium led by city council (though the curriculum is the responsibility of the Generalitat de Catalunya). There are also many private schools, some of them Roman Catholic. Most such schools receive a public subsidy on a per-student basis, are subject to inspection by the public authorities, and are required to follow the same curricular guidelines as public schools, though they charge tuition. Known as escoles concertades, they are distinct from schools whose funding is entirely private (escoles privades).

The language of instruction at public schools and escoles concertades is Catalan, as stipulated by the 2009 Catalan Education Act. Spanish may be used as a language of instruction by teachers of Spanish literature or language, and foreign languages by teachers of those languages. An experimental partial immersion programme adopted by some schools allows for the teaching of a foreign language (English, generally) across the curriculum, though this is limited to a maximum of 30% of the school day. No public school or escola concertada in Barcelona may offer 50% or full immersion programmes in a foreign language, nor does any public school or escola concertada offer International Baccalaureate programmes.

Culture

Barcelona’s cultural roots go back 2000 years. Since the arrival of democracy, the Catalan language (very much repressed during the dictatorship of Franco) has been promoted, both by recovering works from the past and by stimulating the creation of new works. Barcelona is designated as a world-class city by the Globalization and World Cities Study Group and Network.^[133] It has also been part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a City of Literature since 2015.^[134]

Entertainment and performing arts

Barcelona has many venues for live music and theatre, including the world-renowned Gran Teatre del Liceu opera house, the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya, the Teatre Lliure and the Palau de la Música Catalana concert hall. Barcelona also is home to the Barcelona Symphony and Catalonia National Orchestra (Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya, usually known as OBC), the largest symphonic orchestra in Catalonia. In 1999, the OBC inaugurated its new venue in the brand-new Auditorium (L’Auditori). It performs around 75 concerts per season and its current director is Eiji Oue.^[135] It is home to the Barcelona Guitar Orchestra, directed by Sergi Vicente. The major thoroughfare of La Rambla is home to mime artists and street performers. Yearly, two major pop music festivals take place in the city, the Sónar Festival and the Primavera Sound Festival. The city also has a thriving alternative music scene, with groups such as The Pinker Tones receiving international attention.^[136] Barcelona is an international hub of highly active and diverse nightlife with bars, dance bars and nightclubs staying open well past midnight.^[137]

Media

El Periódico de Catalunya, La Vanguardia and Ara are Barcelona’s three major daily newspapers (the first two with Catalan and Spanish editions, Ara only in Catalan) while Sport and El Mundo Deportivo (both in Spanish) are the city’s two major sports daily newspapers, published by the same companies. The city is also served by a number of smaller publications such as Ara and El Punt Avui (in Catalan), by nationwide newspapers with special Barcelona editions like El País (in Spanish, with an online version in Catalan) and El Mundo (in Spanish), and by several free newspapers like 20 minutos and Què (all bilingual).

Barcelona’s oldest and main online newspaper VilaWeb is also the oldest one in Europe (with Catalan and English editions).

Several major FM stations include Catalunya Ràdio, RAC 1, RAC 105 and Cadena SER. Barcelona also has a local TV station, BTV, owned by city council. The headquarters of Televisió de Catalunya, Catalonia’s public network, are located in Sant Joan Despí, in Barcelona’s metropolitan area.

Sports

Barcelona has a long sporting tradition and hosted the highly successful 1992 Summer Olympics as well as several matches during the 1982 FIFA World Cup (at the two stadiums). It has hosted about 30 sports events of international significance.^{[citation needed]}

FC Barcelona is a sports club best known worldwide for its football team, one of the largest and the second richest in the world.^[138] It has 74 national trophies (while finishing 46 times as runners-up) and 17 continental prizes (with being runners-up 11 times), including five UEFA Champions League trophies out of eight finals and three FIFA Club World Cup wins out of four finals. The club won six trophies in a calendar year in 2009, becoming one of only 2 male football teams in the world to win the coveted sextuple, apart from FC Bayern Munich in 2020. FC Barcelona also has professional teams in other sports like FC Barcelona Regal (basketball), FC Barcelona Handbol (handball), FC Barcelona Hoquei (roller hockey), FC Barcelona Ice Hockey (ice hockey), FC Barcelona Futsal (futsal) and FC Barcelona Rugby (rugby union), all at one point winners of the highest national and/or European competitions. The club’s museum is the second most visited in Catalonia. The matches against cross-town rivals RCD Espanyol are of particular interest, but there are other Barcelonan football clubs in lower categories, like CE Europa and UE Sant Andreu. FC Barcelona’s basketball team has a noted rivalry in the Liga ACB with nearby Joventut Badalona.

Barcelona has three UEFA elite stadiums: FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou, the largest stadium in Europe with a capacity of 99,354; the publicly owned Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, with a capacity of 55,926; used for the 1992 Olympics; and Estadi Cornellà-El Prat, with a capacity of 40,500. Furthermore, the city has several smaller stadiums such as Mini Estadi (also owned by FC Barcelona) with a capacity of 15,000, Camp Municipal Narcís Sala with a capacity of 6,563 and Nou Sardenya with a capacity of 7,000. The city has a further three multifunctional venues for sports and concerts: the Palau Sant Jordi with a capacity of 12,000 to 24,000 (depending on use), the Palau Blaugrana with a capacity of 7,500, and the Palau dels Esports de Barcelona with a capacity of 3,500.

Barcelona was the host city for the 2013 World Aquatics Championships, which were held at the Palau San Jordi.^[139]

Several road running competitions are organised year-round in Barcelona: the Barcelona Marathon every March with over 10,000 participants in 2010, the Cursa de Bombers in April, the Cursa de El Corte Inglés in May (with about 60,000 participants each year), the Cursa de la Mercè, the Cursa Jean Bouin, the Milla Sagrada Família and the San Silvestre. There’s also the Ultratrail Collserola which passes 85 kilometres (53 miles) through the Collserola forest. The Open Seat Godó, a 50-year-old ATP World Tour 500 Series tennis tournament, is held annually in the facilities of the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona. Each year on Christmas Day, a 200-meter swimming race across the Old Port of Barcelona takes place.^[140] Near Barcelona, in Montmeló, the 107,000 capacity Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya racetrack hosts the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix, the Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix, the Spanish GT Championship and races in the GP2 Series. Skateboarding and cycling are also very popular in Barcelona; in and around the city there are dozens of kilometers of bicycle paths.^{[citation needed]}

Top sport clubs in Barcelona:

Club	League	Sport	Venue	Established	Capacity
FC Barcelona	Primera División	Football	Camp Nou	1899	100,000
RCD Espanyol[141]	Primera División	Football	Estadi Cornellà-El Prat	1900	40,500
CE Europa	Tercera División	Football	Nou Sardenya	1907	7,000
FC Barcelona Bàsquet	Primera División	Basketball	Palau Blaugrana	1926	7,585
FC Barcelona Handbol	Primera División	Handball	Palau Blaugrana	1942	7,585
FC Barcelona Ice Hockey	Primera División	Ice hockey	Palau de Gel	1972	1,256
FC Barcelona Hoquei	Primera División	Roller hockey	Palau Blaugrana	1942	7,585
FC Barcelona Futsal	Primera División	Futsal	Palau Blaugrana	1986	7,585
FC Barcelona Rugby	Primera División	Rugby union	CDMVdHT	1924	no data
Barcelona Dragons	World League	American football	Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys	1991 (withheld)	56,000
Barcelona Búfals	Primera División	American football	Camp Municipal Narcís Sala	1987	6,550

Squatter’s Movement

Barcelona is also home to numerous social centres and illegal squats that effectively form a shadow society mainly made up of the unemployed, immigrants, dropouts, anarchists, anti-authoritarians and autonomists.^[142] Peter Gelderloos estimates that there around 200 squatted buildings and 40 social centres across the city with thousands of inhabitants, making it one of the largest squatter movements in the world. He notes that they pirate electricity, internet and water allowing them to live on less than one euro a day. He argues that these squats embrace an anarcho-communist and anti-work philosophy, often freely fixing up new houses, cleaning, patching roofs, installing windows, toilets, showers, lights and kitchens. In the wake of austerity, the squats have provided a number of social services to the surrounding residents, including bicycle repair workshops, carpentry workshops, self-defense classes, free libraries, community gardens, free meals, computer labs, language classes, theatre groups, free medical care and legal support services.^[143] The squats help elderly residents avoid eviction and organise various protests throughout Barcelona. Notable squats include Can Vies and Can Masdeu. Police have repeatedly tried to shut down the squatters movement with waves of evictions and raids, but the movement is still going strong.

Transport

Airports

Barcelona is served by Barcelona-El Prat Airport, about 17 km (11 mi) south-west of the centre of Barcelona. It is the second-largest airport in Spain, and the largest on the Mediterranean coast, which handled more than 50.17 million passengers in 2018, showing an annual upward trend.^[144] It is a main hub for Vueling Airlines and Ryanair, and also a focus for Iberia and Air Europa. The airport mainly serves domestic and European destinations, although some airlines offer destinations in Latin America, Asia and the United States. The airport is connected to the city by highway, metro (Airport T1 and Airport T2 stations), commuter train (Barcelona Airport railway station) and scheduled bus service. A new terminal (T1) has been built, and entered service on 17 June 2009.

Some low-cost airlines, also use Girona-Costa Brava Airport, about 90 km (56 mi) to the north, Reus Airport, 77 km (48 mi) to the south, or Lleida-Alguaire Airport, about 150 km (93 mi) to the west, of the city. Sabadell Airport is a smaller airport in the nearby town of Sabadell, devoted to pilot training, aerotaxi and private flights.

Seaport

The Port of Barcelona has a 2000-year-old history and a great contemporary commercial importance. It is Europe’s ninth largest container port, with a trade volume of 1.72 million TEU’s in 2013.^[145] The port is managed by the Port Authority of Barcelona. Its 10 km² (4 sq mi) are divided into three zones: Port Vell (the old port), the commercial port and the logistics port (Barcelona Free Port). The port is undergoing an enlargement that will double its size thanks to diverting the mouth of the Llobregat river 2 kilometres (1 mile) to the south.^[146]

The Barcelona harbour is the leading European cruiser port and a very important Mediterranean turnaround base.^[147] In 2013, 3.6 million pleasure cruise passengers used the Port of Barcelona.^[145]

The Port Vell area also houses the Maremagnum (a commercial mall), a multiplex cinema, the IMAX Port Vell and one of Europe’s largest aquariums – Aquarium Barcelona, containing 8,000 fish and 11 sharks contained in 22 basins filled with 4 million litres of sea water. The Maremagnum, being situated within the confines of the port, is the only commercial mall in the city that can open on Sundays and public holidays.

National and international rail

Barcelona is a major hub for the Spanish rail network. The city’s main Inter-city rail station is Barcelona Sants railway station, whilst Estació de França terminus serves a secondary role handling suburban, regional and medium distance services. Freight services operate to local industries and to the Port of Barcelona.

RENFE’s AVE high-speed rail system, which is designed for speeds of 310 km/h (193 mph), was extended from Madrid to Barcelona in 2008 in the form of the Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line. A shared RENFE-SNCF high-speed rail connecting Barcelona and France (Paris, Marseilles and Toulouse, through Perpignan–Barcelona high-speed rail line) was launched in 2013. Both these lines serve Barcelona Sants terminal station.^[148][149]

Metro and regional rail

Barcelona is served by an extensive local public transport network that includes a metro system, a bus network, a regional railway system, trams, funiculars, rack railways, a Gondola lift and aerial cable cars. These networks and lines are run by a number of different operators but they are integrated into a coordinated fare system, administered by the Autoritat del Transport Metropolità (ATM). The system is divided into fare zones (1 to 6) and various Integrated Travel Cards are available.^[150]

The Barcelona Metro network comprises twelve lines, identified by an «L» followed by the line number as well as by individual colours. The Metro largely runs underground; eight Metro lines are operated on dedicated track by the Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB), whilst four lines are operated by the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) and some of them share tracks with RENFE commuter lines.

In addition to the city Metro, several regional rail lines operated by RENFE’s Rodalies de Catalunya run across the city, providing connections to outlying towns in the surrounding region.

Tram

The city’s two modern tram systems, Trambaix and Trambesòs, are operated by TRAMMET.^[151] A heritage tram line, the Tramvia Blau, also operates between the metro Line 7 and the Funicular del Tibidabo.^[152]

Funicular and cable car

Barcelona’s metro and rail system is supplemented by several aerial cable cars, funiculars and rack railways that provide connections to mountain-top stations. FGC operates the Funicular de Tibidabo up the hill of Tibidabo and the Funicular de Vallvidrera (FGC), while TMB runs the Funicular de Montjuïc up Montjuïc. The city has two aerial cable cars: the Montjuïc Cable Car, which serves Montjuïc castle, and the Port Vell Aerial Tramway that runs via Torre Jaume I and Torre Sant Sebastià over the port.

Bus

Buses in Barcelona are a major form of public transport, with extensive local, interurban and night bus networks. Most local services are operated by the TMB, although some other services are operated by a number of private companies, albeit still within the ATM fare structure. A separate private bus line, known as Aerobús, links the airport with the city centre, with its own fare structure.

The Estació del Nord (Northern Station), a former railway station which was renovated for the 1992 Olympic Games, now serves as the terminus for long-distance and regional bus services.

Taxi

Barcelona has a metered taxi fleet governed by the Institut Metropolità del Taxi (Metropolitan Taxi Institute), composed of more than 10,000 cars. Most of the licences are in the hands of self-employed drivers. With their black and yellow livery, Barcelona’s taxis are easily spotted, and can be caught from one of many taxi ranks, hailed on street, called by telephone or via app.^[153][154]

On 22 March 2007,^[155] Barcelona’s City Council started the Bicing service, a bicycle service understood as a public transport. Once the user has their user card, they can take a bicycle from any of the more than 400 stations spread around the city and use it anywhere the urban area of the city, and then leave it at another station.^[156] The service has been a success, with 50,000 subscribed users in three months.^[157]

Roads and highways

Barcelona lies on three international routes, including European route E15 that follows the Mediterranean coast, European route E90 to Madrid and Lisbon, and European route E09 to Paris. It is also served by a comprehensive network of motorways and highways throughout the metropolitan area, including A-2, A-7/AP-7, C-16, C-17, C-31, C-32, C-33, C-60.

The city is circled by three half ring roads or bypasses, Ronda de Dalt (B-20) (on the mountain side), Ronda del Litoral (B-10) (along the coast) and Ronda del Mig (separated into two parts: Travessera de Dalt in the north and the Gran Via de Carles III), two partially covered^[158] fast highways with several exits that bypass the city.

The city’s main arteries include Diagonal Avenue, which crosses it diagonally, Meridiana Avenue which leads to Glòries and connects with Diagonal Avenue and Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, which crosses the city from east to west, passing through its centre. The famous boulevard of La Rambla, whilst no longer an important vehicular route, remains an important pedestrian route.

Main sights

The Barri Gòtic (Catalan for «Gothic Quarter») is the centre of the old city of Barcelona. Many of the buildings date from medieval times, some from as far back as the Roman settlement of Barcelona. Catalan modernista architecture (related to the movement known as Art Nouveau in the rest of Europe) developed between 1885 and 1950 and left an important legacy in Barcelona. Several of these buildings are World Heritage Sites. Especially remarkable is the work of architect Antoni Gaudí, which can be seen throughout the city. His best-known work is the immense but still unfinished church of the Sagrada Família, which has been under construction since 1882 and is still financed by private donations. As of 2015, completion is planned for 2026.^[159]

Barcelona was also home to Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona Pavilion. Designed in 1929 for the International Exposition for Germany, it was an iconic building that came to symbolise modern architecture as the embodiment of van der Rohe’s aphorisms «less is more» and «God is in the details.»^[160] The Barcelona pavilion was intended as a temporary structure and was torn down in 1930 less than a year after it was constructed. A modern re-creation by Spanish architects now stands in Barcelona, however, constructed in 1986.

Barcelona won the 1999 RIBA Royal Gold Medal for its architecture,^[161] the first (and as of 2015, only) time that the winner has been a city rather than an individual architect.

World Heritage Sites

Barcelona is the home of many points of interest declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO:^[162]

Name	Park Güell	Palau Güell	Casa Milà	Casa Vicens
Code, year	320–001, 1984	320–002, 1984	320–003, 1984	320–004, 2005
Coordinates	41°24′59.6″N 2°09′07.9″E / 41.416556°N 2.152194°E	41°22′45″N 2°10′28″E / 41.379183°N 2.174445°E	41°23′51.3″N 2°09′46.9″E / 41.397583°N 2.163028°E	41°24′13″N 2°09′04″E / 41.40361°N 2.15111°E

Name	Sagrada Família	Casa Batlló	Palau de la Música Catalana	Hospital de Sant Pau
Code, year	320–005, 2005	320–006, 2005	804–001, 1997	804–002, 1997
Coordinates	41°24′19.8″N 2°10′30.2″E / 41.405500°N 2.175056°E	41°22′00.3″N 2°09′59.0″E / 41.366750°N 2.166389°E	41°23′16″N 2°10′30″E / 41.38778°N 2.17500°E	41°24′50″N 2°10′30″E / 41.41389°N 2.17500°E

Historic buildings and monuments

• Minor basilica of Sagrada Família, the symbol of Barcelona.
• Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau, designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, included in the UNESCO Heritage List in 1997.
• Works by Antoni Gaudí, including Park Güell, Palau Güell, Casa Milà (La Pedrera), Casa Vicens, Sagrada Família (Nativity façade and crypt), Casa Batlló, crypt in Church of Colònia Güell. The first three works were inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1984. The other four were added as extensions to the site in 2005.
• The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and St. Eulalia (Gothic)
• Gothic basilica of Santa Maria del Mar
• Gothic basilica of Santa Maria del Pi
• Romanesque church of Sant Pau del Camp
• Palau Reial Major, medieval residence of the sovereign Counts of Barcelona, later Kings of Aragon
• The Royal Shipyard (gothic)
• Monastery of Pedralbes (gothic)
• The Columbus Monument
• The Arc de Triomf, a triumphal arch built for entrance to 1888 Barcelona Universal Exposition.
• Expiatory church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the summit of Tibidabo.
• The Historic Building of the University of Barcelona

Museums

Barcelona has a great number of museums, which cover different areas and eras. The National Museum of Art of Catalonia possesses a well-known collection of Romanesque art, while the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art focuses on post-1945 Catalan and Spanish art. The Fundació Joan Miró, Picasso Museum, and Fundació Antoni Tàpies hold important collections of these world-renowned artists, as well as the Can Framis Museum, focused on post-1960 Catalan Art owned by Fundació Vila Casas. Several museums cover the fields of history and archaeology, like the Barcelona City History Museum (MUHBA), the Museum of the History of Catalonia, the Archeology Museum of Catalonia, the Maritime Museum of Barcelona, the Music Museum of Barcelona and the privately owned Egyptian Museum. The Erotic museum of Barcelona is among the most peculiar ones, while CosmoCaixa is a science museum that received the European Museum of the Year Award in 2006.^[163]

The Museum of Natural Sciences of Barcelona was founded in 1882 under the name of «Museo Martorell de Arqueología y Ciencias Naturales»^[164][165] (Spanish for «Martorell Museum of Archaeology and Natural Sciences»). In 2011 the Museum of Natural Sciences ended up with a merge of five institutions: the Museum of Natural Sciences of Barcelona (the main site, at the Forum Building), the Martorell Museum (the historical seat of the Museum, opened to the public from 1924 to 2010 as a geology museum), the Laboratori de Natura, at the Castle of the Three Dragons (from 1920 to 2010: the Zoology Museum), the Historical Botanical Garden of Barcelona, founded 1930, and the Botanical garden of Barcelona, founded 1999. Those two gardens are a part of the Botanical Institute of Barcelona too.

The FC Barcelona Museum is the third most popular tourist attraction in Catalonia, with 1,51 million visitors in 2013.^[166]

Parks

Barcelona contains sixty municipal parks, twelve of which are historic, five of which are thematic (botanical), forty-five of which are urban, and six of which are forest.^[167] They range from vest-pocket parks to large recreation areas. The urban parks alone cover 10% of the city (549.7 ha or 1,358.3 acres).^[65] The total park surface grows about 10 ha (25 acres) per year,^[168] with a proportion of 18.1 square metres (195 sq ft) of park area per inhabitant.^[169]

Of Barcelona’s parks, Montjuïc is the largest, with 203 ha located on the mountain of the same name.^[65] It is followed by Parc de la Ciutadella (which occupies the site of the old military citadel and which houses the Parliament building, the Barcelona Zoo, and several museums); 31 ha or 76.6 acres including the zoo), the Guinardó Park (19 ha or 47.0 acres), Park Güell (designed by Antoni Gaudí; 17.2 ha or 42.5 acres), Oreneta Castle Park (also 17.2 ha or 42.5 acres), Diagonal Mar Park (13.3 ha or 32.9 acres, inaugurated in 2002), Nou Barris Central Park (13.2 ha or 32.6 acres), Can Dragó Sports Park and Poblenou Park (both 11.9 ha or 29.4 acres), the Labyrinth Park (9.10 ha or 22.5 acres), named after the garden maze it contains.^[65] There are also several smaller parks, for example, the Parc de Les Aigües (2 ha or 4.9 acres). A part of the Collserola Park is also within the city limits. PortAventura World, one of the largest resort in Europe, with 5,837,509 visitors per year, is located one hour’s drive from Barcelona.^[170][171] Also, within the city lies Tibidabo Amusement Park, a smaller amusement park in Plaza del Tibidabo, with the Muntanya Russa amusement ride.

Beaches

Barcelona beach was listed as number one in a list of the top ten city beaches in the world according to National Geographic^[103] and Discovery Channel.^[172] Barcelona contains seven beaches, totalling 4.5 kilometres (2+3⁄4 miles) of coastline. Sant Sebastià, Barceloneta and Somorrostro beaches, both 1,100 m (3,610 ft) in length,^[65] are the largest, oldest and the most-frequented beaches in Barcelona.

The Olympic Harbour separates them from the other city beaches: Nova Icària, Bogatell, Mar Bella, Nova Mar Bella and Llevant. These beaches (ranging from 400 to 640 m (1,310 to 2,100 ft) were opened as a result of the city restructuring to host the 1992 Summer Olympics, when a great number of industrial buildings were demolished. At present, the beach sand is artificially replenished given that storms regularly remove large quantities of material. The 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures left the city a large concrete bathing zone on the eastmost part of the city’s coastline. Most recently, Llevant is the first beach to allow dogs access during summer season.

Other sights

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  The Roman and Medieval walls

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  Barcelona’s beach promenade in La Barceloneta and Somorrostro Beach

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  Barcelona’s old Customs building at Port Vell

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International relations

Twin towns – sister cities

Barcelona is twinned with:^[173]

Suspended twin towns / sister cities agreements

Partnership and friendship

Barcelona also cooperates with:^[173]

Notable people

See also

• Outline of Barcelona
• Architecture of Barcelona
• Urban planning of Barcelona
• Street names in Barcelona
• List of markets in Barcelona
• List of tallest buildings in Barcelona
• Public art in Barcelona
• Mobile World Congress
• OPENCities

References

Citations

Sources

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). «Barcelona». Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
• «Barcelona». Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana. Barcelona: Ed. Enciclopèdia Catalana S.A.
• Busquets, Joan. Barcelona: The Urban Evolution of a Compact City (Harvard UP, 2006) 468 pp.
• McDonogh, G. W. (January 2011). «Review Essay: Barcelona: Forms, Images, and Conflicts: Joan Busquets (2005)». Journal of Urban History. 37 (1): 117–123. doi:10.1177/0096144210384250. S2CID 149302217.
• Marshall, Tim, ed. Transforming Barcelona (Routledge, 2004), 267 pp.
• Ramon Resina, Joan. Barcelona’s Vocation of Modernity: Rise and Decline of an Urban Image (Stanford UP, 2008). 272 pp.

External links

• Official website of Barcelona
• Official website of Barcelona in Spain’s national tourism portal

English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

• Barcelonia (obsolete)

Etymology[edit]

From Catalan Barcelona.

Pronunciation[edit]

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌbɑːsəˈləʊnə/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌbɑɹsəˈloʊnə/, /ˌbɑɹsɪˈloʊnə/

Proper noun[edit]

Barcelona

1. The capital city of Catalonia, Spain.
2. A province of Catalonia, Spain.
3. A municipality of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
4. A hamlet in Pelynt parish, Cornwall, England.
5. A municipality of Sorsogon, Philippines.
6. An unincorporated community in Crawford County, Arkansas, United States.
7. The capital city of the state of Anzoátegui, Venezuela.

Derived terms[edit]

• Barcelonan, Barcelonian

Translations[edit]

Bikol Central[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from Spanish Barcelona, originally from Catalan Barcelona.

Pronunciation[edit]

• Hyphenation: Bar‧ce‧lo‧na
• IPA^(key): /baɾseˈlona/

Proper noun[edit]

Barcelona

1. Barcelona (the capital city of Catalonia, Spain)
2. Barcelona (a province of Catalonia, Spain)
3. Barcelona (a municipality of the province of Sorsogon, Philippines)

Catalan[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Iberian Barkeno, attested in an ancient coin inscription, found in Greek Βαρκινών (Barkinṓn) and Latin Barcino, Barcelo, and Barceno.

Pronunciation[edit]

• (Balearic) IPA^(key): /bəɾ.səˈlo.nə/
• (Central) IPA^(key): /bər.səˈlo.nə/
• (Valencian) IPA^(key): /baɾ.seˈlo.na/
• Rhymes: -ona

Proper noun[edit]

Barcelona f

1. Barcelona (the capital city of Catalonia, Spain)

   Synonym: (informal) Barna

2. Barcelona (a province of Catalonia, Spain)

Derived terms[edit]

• barceloní, barcelonina
• barcelonès, barcelonesa
• Barcelonès
• Barça
• barcelonisme, barcelonista
• Barna

Czech[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): [ˈbart͡sɛlona]

Proper noun[edit]

Barcelona f

1. Barcelona (the capital city of Catalonia, Spain)
2. Barcelona (a province of Catalonia, Spain)

Derived terms[edit]

Further reading[edit]

• Barcelona in Kartotéka Novočeského lexikálního archivu
• Barcelona in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého, 1960–1971, 1989

Danish[edit]

Proper noun[edit]

Barcelona

1. Barcelona (the capital city of Catalonia, Spain)
2. Barcelona (a province of Catalonia, Spain)

Dutch[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

• Barcelone (obsolete)

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from Spanish Barcelona.

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /ˌbɑrsəˈloːnaː/
  • (Belgium) IPA^(key): [ˌbɑrsəˈloːna]
  • (Netherlands) IPA^(key): [ˌbɑrsəˈloʊ̯na]

Proper noun[edit]

Barcelona n

1. Barcelona (the capital city of Catalonia, Spain)

German[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /ˌbaʁsəˈloːna/, (seldom also) /ˌbaʁt͡səˈloːna/

Proper noun[edit]

Barcelona n (proper noun, genitive Barcelonas or (optionally with an article) Barcelona)

1. Barcelona (the capital city of Catalonia, Spain)

Hungarian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Catalan Barcelona.

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): [ˈbɒrsɛloːnɒ]
• Hyphenation: Bar‧ce‧lo‧na
• Rhymes: -nɒ

Proper noun[edit]

Barcelona

1. Barcelona (the capital city of Catalonia, Spain)
2. Barcelona (a province of Catalonia, Spain)

Declension[edit]

Inflection (stem in long/high vowel, back harmony)
	singular	plural
nominative	Barcelona	—
accusative	Barcelonát	—
dative	Barcelonának	—
instrumental	Barcelonával	—
causal-final	Barcelonáért	—
translative	Barcelonává	—
terminative	Barcelonáig	—
essive-formal	Barcelonaként	—
essive-modal	—	—
inessive	Barcelonában	—
superessive	Barcelonán	—
adessive	Barcelonánál	—
illative	Barcelonába	—
sublative	Barcelonára	—
allative	Barcelonához	—
elative	Barcelonából	—
delative	Barcelonáról	—
ablative	Barcelonától	—
non-attributive possessive — singular	Barcelonáé	—
non-attributive possessive — plural	Barcelonáéi	—

Possessive forms of Barcelona
possessor	single possession	multiple possessions
1st person sing.	Barcelonám	—
2nd person sing.	Barcelonád	—
3rd person sing.	Barcelonája	—
1st person plural	Barcelonánk	—
2nd person plural	Barcelonátok	—
3rd person plural	Barcelonájuk	—

Derived terms[edit]

• barcelonai

Occitan[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /baɾseˈluno/

Proper noun[edit]

Barcelona f

1. Barcelona (the capital city of Catalonia, Spain)
2. Barcelona (a province of Catalonia, Spain)

Polish[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from Catalan Barcelona.

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /bar.t͡sɛˈlɔ.na/
• Rhymes: -ɔna
• Syllabification: Bar‧ce‧lo‧na

Proper noun[edit]

Barcelona f

1. Barcelona (the capital city of Catalonia, Spain)
2. Barcelona (a province of Catalonia, Spain)

Declension[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Further reading[edit]

• Barcelona in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• Barcelona in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Portuguese[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Catalan Barcelona.

Pronunciation[edit]

• Hyphenation: Bar‧ce‧lo‧na

Proper noun[edit]

Barcelona f

1. Barcelona (the capital city of Catalonia, Spain)
2. Barcelona (a province of Catalonia, Spain)

Romanian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Catalan Barcelona.

Proper noun[edit]

Barcelona f

1. Barcelona (the capital city of Catalonia, Spain)
2. Barcelona (a province of Catalonia, Spain)

Slovene[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Catalan Barcelona.

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /bart͡sɛlóːna/

Proper noun[edit]

Barcelọ̑na f

1. Barcelona (the capital city of Catalonia, Spain)

References[edit]

• “Barcelona”, in Slovarji Inštituta za slovenski jezik Frana Ramovša ZRC SAZU, portal Fran

Spanish[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from Catalan Barcelona.

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): (Spain) /baɾθeˈlona/ [baɾ.θeˈlo.na]
• IPA^(key): (Latin America) /baɾseˈlona/ [baɾ.seˈlo.na]

• Audio (Latin America)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ona
• Syllabification: Bar‧ce‧lo‧na

Proper noun[edit]

Barcelona f

1. Barcelona (the capital city of Catalonia, Spain)

   Synonyms: Barcino, Barna, BSN, Ciudad Condal

2. Barcelona (a province of Catalonia, Spain)
3. the letter B in the Spanish spelling alphabet

Derived terms[edit]

See also[edit]

• Barça

Further reading[edit]

• “Barcelona”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014

Swedish[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /baʂɛ²loːna/

Proper noun[edit]

Barcelona n (genitive Barcelonas)

1. Barcelona (the capital city of Catalonia, Spain)

Tagalog[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from Spanish Barcelona.

Pronunciation[edit]

• Hyphenation: Bar‧ce‧lo‧na
• IPA^(key): /baɾseˈlona/, [bɐɾ.seˈlo.nɐ]

Proper noun[edit]

Barcelona (Baybayin spelling ᜊᜇ᜔ᜐᜒᜎᜓᜈ)

1. Barcelona (the capital city of Catalonia, Spain)
2. Barcelona (a province of Catalonia, Spain)
3. Barcelona (a municipality of the province of Sorsogon, Philippines)
4. a surname from Spanish

Statistics[edit]

According to data collected by Forebears in 2014, Barcelona is the 448th most common surname in the Philippines, occurring in 19,656 individuals.

From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository

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Barcelona is a huge city with several district articles that contain information about specific sights, restaurants, and accommodation.

Barcelona^{[dead link]} is Spain’s second largest city, with a population of nearly two million people, and the capital of Catalonia. A major port on the northeastern Mediterranean coast of Spain, Barcelona has a wide variety of attractions that bring in tourists from around the globe. The many faces of Barcelona include the medieval Old Town, and the unique street grid resulting from 19th-century urban planning. The city has long sandy beaches and green parks on the hills, pretty much side-by-side. It is also famous for a number of prominent buildings, of which the most-known are by the architect Antoni Gaudí, including his Sagrada Família, which became Barcelona’s symbol to many.

Founded more than 2,000 years ago as the ancient Roman town Barcino, Barcelona is as historic as it is modern, with a constant flow of projects changing the face of the city and long-standing penchant for design and innovation. Thanks to the wealth of attractions, a very well-developed accommodation base, a lively nightlife and a robust transportation system, Barcelona has become one of Europe’s, and pretty much the world’s, most popular tourist destinations.

Districts[edit]

Understand[edit]

When to visit[edit]

August is probably the busiest time for tourists in Barcelona. However, many shops and restaurants are closed from early-August to early September. During this time, you will find the most expensive hotel rates (outside of conference times such as the Mobile World Congress), and the city is devoid of locals, as the vast majority of residents go on vacation in August and leave the heat and humidity to the hordes of arriving tourists. This is also one of the highest periods of home break-ins, as criminals know that many places are unoccupied for an entire month.

While Barcelona has decent, albeit crowded beaches, the locals will be very appreciative if visitors do not consider Barcelona a beach resort and absolutely do not wear beachwear when visiting churches, restaurants, etc. If you only want a beach, and a good beach at that, head south to Costa Daurada, north to Costa Brava or out to sea for the Balearic Islands.

Barcelona can be visited off-season and despite the cold weather, is a lovely city even in the winter months of January and February, as long as the possibility of rain is low. Given the high humidity, 19–23 °C (66–73 °F) is considered comfortable weather, which is usually the temperature from May to June, and from late August to October. These are the best times to visit the city. Anything warmer than this can feel too hot, and the period from November to April is quite chilly and at times gloomy.

With children[edit]

Toddler happiness is considered a public responsibility in Spain. In any public place, people around you will make every effort possible to make your toddler happy: whenever he or she looks bored or is crying, everyone does their best to entertain or to calm them. You will find a great list of things to do with children during your Barcelona visit.

Visitor information[edit]

• 1 Tourist office at Plaça de Catalunya, Plaça de Catalunya, 17-S (Metro: L1, L3. Bus: 9, 22, 28, 42, 47, 58, 66, 67, 68. Train: R4). 08:30-20:30. This is the main tourist office in the city. (updated Oct 2015)
• Tourist office at Plaça de Sant Jaume, Ciutat, 2 Ajuntament de Barcelona (City Hall). M-F 08:30-20:30, Sa 09:00-21:00, Su and public holidays 09:00-14:00. (updated Dec 2017)
• Tourist office at Estació de Sants, Plaça dels Països Catalans (Metro: L5,L3. Bus: 63,68). Daily 08:00-20:00. (updated Dec 2017)
• Tourist office at Aeroport del Prat (Terminal 1 and 2.). Daily 09:00-21:00. (updated Dec 2017)

All tourist offices are closed on 1st January and 25th December. For a full list of tourist information points check the link above.

The department store El Corte Ingles publishes a free street map for tourists. You can pick a copy at the store, or at one of the many hotels in the city.

The Turisme de Barcelona site might be helpful.

Barcelona Card[edit]

Barcelona City Pass. a package that combines preferential skip the line tickets and transport tickets in Barcelona. This official city pass package could save you money during your visit if you heavily use it. €83.50+. (updated Dec 2022)

Barcelona Card. This card gives free entry to more than 25 museums and other sites in Barcelona. For over 70 moresites it offers various kinds of discounts. It also includes a travel pass for public transport in Barcelona (for details see Hola BCN! card below). The card is available for purchase for periods of 2 to 5 days. If you don’t plan to see lots of museums every day, then it may be cheaper to buy transport-only tickets (see below), and if you spend a lot of time in the largest museums, the Barcelona Art Passport may be better value. This card cannot be used on the cable cars or funiculars (except for Montjuïc). In general, if you plan to see only the famous highlights and don’t visit museums, this card is not worth the hefty price or the hassle. Plenty of travel websites recommend and promote these kind of discount cards because they receive a commission. For transportation, get the T10 instead. From €22 for a Barcelona Card Express (2-day), up to €63 for a 5-day card (5% discount if bought online in advance); a version for children is available as well.. (updated Oct 2015)

Talk[edit]

Barcelona’s official languages are Catalan and Spanish. About a half prefer to speak Catalan, a vast majority understands it, and virtually everyone knows Spanish. However, most signs are indicated only in Catalan because it is established by law as the first official language. Yet, Spanish is also widely used in public transport and other facilities. Regular announcements in the Metro are made only in Catalan, but unplanned disruptions are announced by an automated system in a wide variety of languages including Spanish, English, French, Arabic and Japanese. On the other hand, FGC announcements -either regular or disruptions- will be made only in Catalan, and disruption announcements on RENFE’s network will usually be broadcasted only in Spanish. As in most other cities, any attempt by visitors to use the native languages is always appreciated. Most locals are bilingual in Catalan and Spanish, and instinctively address foreigners in Spanish. Catalan is a language, not a dialect, and sounds closer to Italian, Portuguese, and French in many ways. Avoid referring to Catalan as a dialect, which will offend Catalans.

You might find some locals answer in Catalan after being asked in Spanish, that’s not because they are being rude but because they assume you are bilingual. In Catalonia, it’s not uncommon to hear people code switching between different languages in the same conversation. In case you can’t understand what they are saying, tell them you don’t speak Catalan and politely ask them to repeat it in Spanish or English.

The main cause of Spanish and Catalan social bilingualism in modern Catalonia is a large scale immigration process from the rest of Spain which occurred over the 20th century, as Catalonia started a significant industrialization which demanded an increased workforce from elsewhere. 60% of the people in Catalonia use Spanish as their first language, and 40% use Catalan. The issues regarding language, national identity, and politics are like politics anywhere.

In tourist areas, almost all shops and bars have some English speaking staff. People will generally make an effort to try to help you if you speak English. If you are a native English speaker, you will have few problems, as Barcelona hosts many tourists.

Get in[edit]

By plane[edit]

The main airport is 1 Barcelona El Prat (BCN ^IATA). Some low-cost carriers, notably Ryanair, use the airports of Girona (GRO ^IATA), nearly 100 km (62 mi) to the north, or Reus (REU ^IATA), around the same distance to the south, instead. Since Ryanair started operating at BCN, you should check carefully where your flight goes. The three-letter IATA code should be part of your booking process.

Barcelona International Airport[edit]

Main article: Barcelona El Prat Airport

Barcelona International Airport (BCN ^IATA), also known as El Prat, is a major transport hub, with flights from all over Europe and beyond. To get to the city centre, there are different options. Both terminals have a metro station and the ticket machines before the turnstiles will print you a designated airport ticket to anywhere in the city for €5.20. You can also reach Barcelona’s city centre by train or by bus with a T1 card. This costs €10.20 for 10 journeys on any metro, tram, or bus in the metropolitan area of Barcelona, and can be shared by more than one person. It is also much cheaper than the Aerobus (€5.90 for a single journey). The train leaves from Terminal 2, and there is a free shuttle from Terminal 1 to terminal 2. Trains run every 30 minutes until around midnight. If you arrive on a late flight, you can get into Barcelona using the N18 night bus, which stops at Plaça d’Espanya on its way to Plaça Catalunya.

Girona–Costa Brava Airport[edit]

The Barcelona Bus service runs a shuttle bus from Estació del Nord (which is walking distance to the Arc de Triomf metro stop) in Barcelona to Girona Airport, synchronised with various flight times. A one-way ticket costs €16 and a return ticket costs €25. The journey takes approximately 1 hour 10 minutes. Timetables are available online.

Reus Airport[edit]

The easiest way is to get there is to take the bus run by Hispano Igualadina from the Barcelona Sants bus station to the airport. Bus departures are synchronized with Ryanair plane departures/arrivals. One way ticket costs €13 and a return ticket costs €24. The journey takes from 1 hr 30 min to 1 hr 45 min, depending on the traffic on the motorway. Timetables are available online^{[dead link]}. A slightly cheaper, yet longer option is to take a train from Barcelona Sants station to Reus and then the local bus no. 50 to the airport. The train costs €7.25 and then the bus costs €2.5. This takes about 2½ hours. Train timetables can be checked at Renfe’s website and the bus timetable is available at the website of Reus public transport.

By train[edit]

Barcelona is well-connected to the Spanish railway network, and to the rest of Europe. High-speed trains run frequently from main station 2 Barcelona Sants (in the southwest of the city) to Madrid, Seville and Malaga. There are also regular long-distance connections that partially use high-speed infrastructure to all major Spanish cities.

The historic 3 Estació de França now mostly serves regional trains.

Direct regular high-speed train service^{[dead link]} goes to destinations in France. In addition to two daily TGV services from Paris (travel time ~7 hr to Barcelona), there is a daily service from Lyon (5 hr), and a daily service from Marseille (4 hr). Prices start at €39, so even though the train could take longer than a flight, it is often a cheaper, more relaxed alternative and less climately harmful option.

The former Talgo trains from Montpellier to Barcelona and Cartagena via Portbou ceased to run when direct high speed services started. It is still possible to travel via Cerbère/Portbou using local trains, but it’s cumbersome, painfully slow and timetable coordination at the border is awful; however it may be the only alternative if all TGVs are fully booked. Also, if booked in advance, TGV can be way cheaper than using these local trains. However, for travelers using Eurail and Interrail passes these local routes are a useful way to avoid the high additional reservation fees on the international TGVs, which can be almost as high as an advance-booked standalone ticket on some of the longer routes.

There is also a less-known rail line over the Pyrenees to Toulouse. There is roughly one train every 3 hours on the Spanish side and one every two or four on the French side, including an sleeper train from Paris (with a branch to Portbou which splits at Toulouse: check all timetables to see whether route is faster, it greatly depends on waiting times at the border). Purchasing tickets for this route can be tricky. The Spanish line is considered a commuter line despite being far away from Barcelona and does not appear in any global European timetable, so it is impossible to get an international CIV ticket, every portion must be purchased separately. Also, for southbound travel, the Latour-de-Carol station only sells SNCF tickets so the Spanish portion must be bought directly at the ticket inspector, cash only. The journey takes 7–8 hours (including transfer) and costs roughly €30.

The launch of the high-speed service spelled the end of the overnight sleeper-car service called Trenhotel between Barcelona and Paris. Trenhotels still do, however, run between Barcelona and Granada, A Coruña and Vigo.

The security checkings are taken seriously and may take some time. Arrive in advance, and do not bring anything that could be interpreted as potential weapon as it may be destroyed (knife, tools…).

By boat[edit]

The city’s port is one of the busiest on the Mediterranean.

Large cruise ships dock 1–2 km (0.62–1.24 mi) to the southwest. Many of them offer bus-shuttles to locations at the south end of La Rambla. The ferries dock almost directly on the Ramblas.

There are regular ferry connections with the Balearic Islands (Alcúdia, Ciutadella de Menorca, Ibiza City, Sant Antoni de Portmany, Mahón, Palma de Mallorca), Italy (Genoa, Porto Torres and Civitavecchia for Rome) and Tangier, in Morocco. From Rome (Civitavecchia) it is actually cheaper to take the ferry than a bus.

Some of the largest shipping companies includes Baleària, Grimaldi Lines and Trasmediterranea but there are several smaller companies as well.

By bus[edit]

All bus connections are at 4 Barcelona del Nord (Barcelona Nord, Estacion del Norte) station (☏ +34 902 260 606). This includes national (e.g. 18 buses per day from Madrid) and international routes.

Megabus runs coach services between Barcelona Nord and London Victoria Coach Station, via Paris and Toulouse. They also connect to Amsterdam, Cologne, Brussels and many UK cities. They can be very cheap, but be prepared for a 24-26 hour coach ride from London! There is a £0.50 booking fee. There may or may not be plug sockets or Wi-Fi on board. Megabus recommend that you be at your departure point at least 30 minutes before departure time (except London Victoria where you are required to arrive 60 minutes before departure).

By car[edit]

Several main roads connect Barcelona to France and to the rest of Spain. Traffic is usually relatively light outside of peak hours. Free parking spaces can be found a few metro stops from the center of the city.

Blue parking spaces are paid M-Sa 09:00-14:00 and 16:00-20:00. At some crossroads, the pay time starts at 08:00. Anyone can use a blue space, but they aren’t that easy to find. You pay at the meter and put the ticket on the dashboard. Green parking spaces are for residents only. White parking spaces are free at all times, but there aren’t any in the city centre.

City car parks are found throughout the city.

Get around[edit]

By public transport[edit]

The public transport in the city and the surrounding area managed by Autoritat del Transport Metropolità (ATM) consortium. The whole area is covered by the Integrated Fare System, which is divided into 6 zones. This system includes the most of the public transport in the area: metro, city and intercity bus, tram and commuter trains.

The city limits of Barcelona are completely inside zone 1. The public transport in the city is mostly managed by Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB). They have a separate site dedicated for tourists. The other two operators in Barcelona are Rodalies de Catalunya^{[dead link]} and Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya^{[dead link]} (FGC).

Tickets and travel cards available:

• Single ticket. A non-integrated ticket is valid only for single mode of transport of a specific operator: either bus, metro or funicular, etc. €2.40. (updated Oct 2022)
• Hola BCN! cards by TMB. For unlimited number of journeys for 2, 3, 4 or 5 days. They are valid for TMB metro and bus, tram, FGC and regional trains in the city and metropolitan area. You will find the T-10 and its sister cards better value. 2-day card €16.40. (updated Oct 2022)
• Integrated for a fixed number of journeys. T-10, T-50/30, T-70/30. These cards are single-person for 10, 50 or 70 single journeys respectively. During each journey it’s possible to make up to three transfers. The whole duration of a journey must be no more than 1hr 15min and within zone 1. The T-10 is the best option for common tourists to the city. It’s more convenient than buying single tickets. It’s better value than the single tickets for more than 5 trips. It’s far cheaper than the various discount cards with free transportation option. And finally, it doesn’t bind one to specific routes like the hop-on-hop-off buses. T-10 for Zone 1 €11.35. (updated Oct 2022)
• Integrated for an unlimited number of journeys for a number of days. T-Dia (1 day), T-Mes (30 days), T-Trimestre (90 days). These cards are non-transferable, i.e. they must be used by a single person. T-Dia for Zone 1 €8,40. (updated Sep 2017)

Travel cards are excellent value in comparison with a single ticket. Be sure to look after them well as bent or damaged cards will not be read by the ticket machines. Such cards can be replaced at one of TMB’s customer service centres.

TMB also offers a few route planners on their website: versions for desktop, for mobile browser and mobile apps for Android and iPhone. Another route planner^{[dead link]} is available on the ATM site.

By Metro[edit]

The Metro (subway) is an efficient way of getting around town. Operation times are 05:00–24:00 (M–Th), 05:00–02:00 (F), and continuous service from Saturday at 05:00 until Sunday at midnight. Stations are marked <M> on most maps; every station has a detailed map of exits to the city. Trains are fast, often coming in two minute intervals. However, on holidays and weekends trains only run every 6-8 minutes and can get easily packed. Announcements are made only in Catalan, though signs and ticketing machines generally include Spanish and English too.

Pay attention to the fact that to get from metro lines operated by TMB ( L1 ,  L2 ,  L3 ,  L4 ,  L5 ,  L9 / L10  and  L11 ) to the ones operated by FGC ( L6 ,  L7  and  L8 ), or vice versa, you need to exit and then enter through a new pay-gate. In this case, if you had a one-journey ticket, you need to get a new one. If you used a multiple journey ticket you won’t be charged for a second time when changing lines as long as you are within the stated travel time for a single journey. Also, you can’t repeat operator, so you can’t use a FGC ride to make a shortcut. For instance: changing to L9S to L1 via L8 using Fira and Espanya will charge you with two journeys, you should go via Torrassa instead although its way longer. All trains are air-conditioned.

Take also care when travelling to the airport: while the T-10 is valid for Renfe services, it is not accepted at Metro. If you get to the airport by metro using a T-10, you’ll be forced to pay the full fare, which is €4.50, and the ticket you’ve used will not be refunded.

By bus[edit]

The bus network in Barcelona is pretty extensive. Perhaps the best option in planning your route is to consult with one of the route planners mentioned above.

A major reorganisation of bus lines was completed in November 2018, so disregard old bus schedules and recheck routes. For example, bus line 92 to Park Güell, used by many tourists to get there after a visit to the Sagrada Familia, has been suspended, and a new line V15 stops there but takes a different route through the city centre (Passeig de Sant Joan).

Here are some tips for bus line codes:

• Hxx lines run parallel to the coastline, low numbers run on the high side, high numbers on the sea side.
• Vxx lines run from the beach to the hills, high numbers on the northern side (Besòs), low numbers on the southern (Llobregat).
• Dxx lines run in a somewhat diagonal path, although interestingly none of these cover neither Diagonal or Meridiana avenues, the main oblique streets.
• Mxx lines are found at the outer perimeter of metro coverage and link a metro stop to a neighbourhood lacking metro service.
• Bxx lines run on the northern area outside Barcelona or linking Barcelona to neighbouring municipalities in the metropolitan area, B stands for Besòs river.
• Lxx lines run on the southern area alike Bxx lines, L stands for Llobregat river.
• Some municipalities have lines fully inside the town limits with two letters and a digit, theses two letters are reminiscent of the town name. Examples: BDx for Badalona, LHx for L’Hospitalet…
• Nxx lines run only at night when all other lines do not run, roughly from 23:00 to 6:00.
• Cxx lines link Barcelona tho various northern coastal Maresme towns up to Mataró.
• Exx lines are express buses from / to Barcelona to various municipalities from 10–60 km (6.2–37.3 mi) outside of the metropolitan area.
• Lines with one or two digits without any letter follow historical routes from before the H-V-D schema.
• Lines between 100 and 199 are usually very local lines served with low-capacity cars and poor frequency, 30′ or worse. Notable cases are line 111 to the Tibidabo amusement park, line 120 through Ciutat Vella, and line 150 to Olympic venues and the Montjuïc castle; others are mostly useless for tourists.
• Line numbers from 200 upwards are used for some routes going outside the metropolitan area, while some others of the same kind have no number at all.

Buses H-V-D run about every 6-12′ minutes weekdays, 15-20′ weekends. N buses run every 20′ all nights. Other lines may run as frequent as 5′ or as few as just one service per hour or less.

Take note that some lines have special fare restrictions: Barcelona cards (unlimited travel for 2 to 5 days) are valid only on Hxx, Vxx, Dxx and line numbers below 200. Any fare 1 travelcard is not valid for Cxx, Exx and line numbers above 200 — in fact, trips fully inside fare zone 1 are not permitted on these lines no matter which ticket is used, if you board any of these buses inside fare zone 1 you won’t be able to get off until reaching another fare zone.

• Barcelona Bus Turístic. This bus has three routes (map provided as you board), including a northbound and a southbound line that leave from opposite sides of the Plaça de Catalunya. Each takes 1–2 hours. The hop-on/hop-off format lets you get-off at any interesting stop, see what interests you, then get back on any later bus at that or any other stop. One approach is stay on for an entire route, then continue while getting off at locations that interested you earlier. Buses are double-decked, with the open-air upper deck offering much better views… sunscreen is essential in summer months, jackets in winter/early spring/late fall. Earphones are offered when you first get on so you can hear the commentary as you drive by significant locations. Outlets near every seat let you choose among many languages and playback volumes. The buses are very frequent. For a cheaper option with more flexibility in routes opt for the metro and the T-10. 1 day ticket €27, 2 days €38; tickets can be bought at the bus stops, some hotels, etc. or online with 10% discount. (updated Oct 2015)

By scooter[edit]

Except for deliveries, electric scooters are forbidden on sidewalks and all pedestrian walks throughout Barcelona. Doing so may subject one to hefty fines, as well as frequent, audible disdain from pedestrians. Electric scooters are permitted in bicycle lanes, and may share the road with automobiles.

• Mattia46 scooters for rent: 50cc to 200cc.
• GoCar is a two-seater, 3 wheeled vehicle that runs with a 49cc engine. It is legally classified as a scooter to drive on the roads. The GoCars were created with the purpose of being rented to tourists as a different way to see a city.
• Cooltra Motos Scooter rental. You can rent a moped for 1 day up to 1 month. You can also take a part in private or group tours.
• BookYourMoto Scooter and motorcycle rental in Barcelona. Cheap motorbike hire in Barcelona.

By bicycle[edit]

• Donkey Republic. The orange bikes of Donkey Republic are placed all around the city. Tourists can rent and unlock the bikes via the company’s app 24 hours a day, which can lock and unlock the bike without internet connection. Bikes start at €12 per day.
• Barceloneta Bikes. Close to the harbour and the beaches, this company has different kinds of bikes you can choose to rent.
• Biking in Barcelona. Backed by Biciclot, a cooperative that promotes the use of bicycles in Barcelona.
• Budget Bikes. Quality Dutch bicycles on hire. Offers group reductions.
• e-bikerent. Electric bike rental from €7-20 per day.
• Mattia46 bikes & motos hire. Bikes and motors, 1 day (24 hr) on bike for €6.
• Terra Diversions. Big selection of city bikes, mountain bikes, hybrid bikes, road bikes and children bikes in different sizes.

Barcelona also has its own shared bike system, called BiCiNg. However, this appears to be only accessible for locals.

By segway[edit]

• Barcelona Segway Day, Rull 2 08002, ☏ +34 608 408 112. Visit Barrio Gotic and Barceloneta. from €29. (updated May 2015)

On foot[edit]

Barcelona is a very walkable city. It takes little over an hour to walk from Port Vell at the seaside to Park Güell at the foothills of the mountain range at the northeastern end of the city, and you can see a range of attractions, including La Rambla and Sagrada Família, on your way. There are opportunities all around to sit down and enjoy a drink or a meal everywhere. If you are fit, you can pretty much explore the city by foot alone, unless the heat beats you in the warmer months (and then you can always resort to the air-conditioned metro).

By car[edit]

Parking around all major tourist destinations is expensive (€3/hour, €20-36/day) and the spaces are difficult to navigate, as there are several classes of public parking spaces, with complicated rules for each class. Barcelona is plagued with the same problems that plague other major European cities; massive traffic jams and extremely narrow streets in some areas, coupled with a very complicated road system. As such, driving yourself around is not recommended for tourists, especially those with no driving experience in large cities. Public transport will get you to all the major areas, and you should use that as your main mode of transport.

Having a driving map is essential — plan your route before you set off. Navigating with an average tourist map is frequently misleading: many streets are one-way; left turns are more rare than rights (and are unpredictable). As an example, Gran via de Les Corts Catalanes is actually a one-way northbound street between Espanya and Marina, the opposite direction is reserved for buses and taxis only.

Some free parking spots reported by travelers are:

• Near Moll de Sant Bertran (which is south-west from Museu Maritim) — driving at B–10, exit to WTC and make a complete round at roundabout, heading to warehouses — and park next to its employees cars.
• Somewhere near Guell Park.
• Near Font Màgica, in Plaça Espanya and the Montjuïc hill.

Getting around by car makes sense if you plan to spend much more time driving outside the city borders than inside it — and ideally if you don’t plan to park overnight at all. Otherwise, for purely in-city transportation, consider renting a scooter, or using public transportation instead.

By taxi[edit]

As of January 2019, ride-sharing services such as Uber require at least one hour’s notice. For less than one hour’s notice, you need to call a regular taxi.

See[edit]

Individual listings can be found in Barcelona’s district articles

The old city[edit]

Walk around the winding streets and hidden squares, fountains and palaces in the Barri Gòtic (Ciutat Vella). Highlights include the 1 Catedral , the Museu d’Història de Barcelona (formerly known as the Museu d’Història de la Ciutat), and 2 Plaça Reial .

Modernist architecture[edit]

Since 1984 seven buildings by the architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) in or near Barcelona have been listed as «Works of Antoni Gaudí» on the UNESCO World Heritage List: the basilica of 3 Sagrada Família , 4 Casa Milà (La Pedrera) and 5 Casa Batlló in Eixample, 6 Palau Güell in Ciutat Vella, 7 Parc Güell and 8 Casa Vicens in Gràcia, the 9 crypt of the Church in Colònia Güell.

The works by the Catalan art nouveau architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List: 10 Palau de la Música Catalana in Ciutat Vella and 11 Hospital de Sant Pau at the border of Eixample.

The Ruta del Modernisme run by Modernisme Centre (Pl. de Catalunya, 17, subterráneo; phone +34 933 177 652) is a guidebook and discount voucher book that costs €12. It takes you to all the best Modernisme (art nouveau) buildings in Barcelona. The main part of the route can be walked in a couple of hours, if you don’t stray too far from the main routes. The Tourist Offices offer a pack that includes discounted tickets to many attractions such as La Pedrera and La Casa Batlló. All can be seen from the outside for free.

With children[edit]

• Museum of Natural History in the Forum — Museu Blau
• CosmoCaixa: Museum of Science Amazing museum for kids from 4-5 upwards. Adults will really enjoy it also.
• Zoo and Parc de la Ciutadella.

Do[edit]

Individual listings can be found in Barcelona’s district articles

• 5 Aeri del Port de Barcelona (Telefèric del Port), C/ Taquígrafo Garriga, 97 – Esc.B -2º9ª, ☏ +34 934 304 716, tebarsa@hotmail.com. Jun-Aug 11:00-20:00; Mar-May, Sep-Oct 11:00-19:00; Nov-Feb 11:00-17:30. Have a ride at Port Vell Aerial Tramway. Port Vell Aerial Tramway is the 1450-metre-long harbour aerial tramway with red cars connects Montjuïc and Barceloneta. It starts in Barceloneta on the top of the 78-metre-tall 6 Torre San Sebastian tower, which has also a restaurant at its top accessible by an elevator. It has an intermediate stop at 7 Torre Jaume I tower (close to Columbus monument), which can be reached by elevator from ground—107 metre tall tower, the second-tallest aerial tramway support tower in the world. The final point of the line is Miramar on the slopes of Montjuïc hill. Overall, the whole system is quite old (built in 1929, albeit restored a couple of times), and the car is packed with tourists during the daytime — particularly sensitive for a stroller or a wheelchair. But if you start from the Montjuîc side, there are fewer people waiting. single €11, return €16.50; it’s not a part of Barcelona’s integrated fare network. (updated Oct 2015)
• Stroll along the following famous streets in Ciutat Vella:
  • 1 La Rambla (Las Ramblas), a gorgeous tree-lined pedestrian walkway, the busiest and most lively street of the city. Mostly occupied by tourists, expect to pay higher prices for food and drink. Avoid the groups of people supposedly betting on a game played on a cardboard table — they are thieves. Head off into some of the side streets for a cheaper, more local, and authentic experience of Barcelona. Often called Las Ramblas, because it is a series of several different streets each called ‘Rambla de ____’, the sections also have distinct feels. As you get closer to Plaça Catalunya, you find more street performers doing stunts. In the middle, you’ll find street performers in costumes. Towards the pier, there are artists who will do pencil drawings, paintings, etc.
  • 2 Plaça de Catalunya . Connecting all the major streets in the city, the Plaça is known for its fountains and statues, and the central location to everything in the city. A favourite meeting spot for locals.
  • 3 Portal de l’Àngel . Large pedestrian walkway with many new and stylish shops in which to browse.
• Cruise miles of beachfront boardwalk starting from Barceloneta, or get a tan on the beach. Eat good seafood and rice dishes at La Barceloneta neighbourhood
• Sit on a wooden bridge to Maremagnum in Ciutat Vella and cool your toes at the water’s edge with a book, sandwich, or just for a short rest.
• Wander the Barri Gotic in Ciutat Vella, the largely intact medieval center of the city and visit the Cathedral and its wonderful cloister.
• Enjoy your Sangria at La Plaça Reial in Ciutat Vella, near La Rambla Street. Great place to sit, relax, and drink. (People from Barcelona do not drink sangria, it’s just a tourist drink! But you can enjoy it anyway!)
• Walk in El Born neighbourhood in Ciutat Vella, a former very popular area with great restaurants and places to have a few drinks. If your accommodation is on Rambla, El Born is a great place to enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere, and find more creative shops and craftsmen. El Born means jousting field, and its history and stories can fill one of those huge books stored in old libraries. There are interesting and quirky details to uncover while walking around, such as the name given to its streets, the medieval signs to brothels, and remnants of the secession war of the end of the 18th century. Indulge yourself at Hofman or Bubó bakeries and make sure you visit the Santa Maria del Mar church.
• Visit a Flamenco Show in a real tablao. One of the best is Tablao de Carmen in Sants-Montjuïc. A cheaper alternative is in the jazzclub Jazz Si in Ciutat Vella. (Although Flamenco is mostly just a touristy activity, Catalan people are not into flamenco. It’s a dance and music from Andalucia, the southeast region in Spain)
• Cable car. Ride the Cable Way to get from the sea front to Montjuïc mountain in Sants-Montjuïc. €12.78. (updated Dec 2022)
• Sit and sip on a coffee in Plaça dels Àngels in Ciutat Vella, while admiring the whiteness of the MACBA and the best street skate tricks in town.
• Catch a performance at the beautiful Teatre del Liceu or the Palau de la Musica Catalana, both in Ciutat Vella.
• Rent a bike, or join a bike tour, and see the highlights of the city in a different way. Ride from the magic beaches of the Mediterranean to Gaudí’s modernist buildings through the medieval atmosphere of the Gothic Quarter.
• Sail 3 hours to see Barcelona from the sea.
• Mail boats serve almost all populated in Barcelona, and are among the cheapest way, to reach many areas, though far from the fastest or most comfortable. The government has a mailboat schedule of routes online which may or may not reflect reality.
• Sail on a classic yacht. Enjoy a day trip sailing along the Barcelona coastline on a classic yacht.
• Walk in Gracia neighborhood, a very popular area with a great variety of restaurants, cafés and terraces where you can still feel the local ambiance that has already been lost in El Born.
• For good views over Barcelona: visit Park Güell, Tibidabo, Montjuïc or Carmel’s bunkers.
• Artoba Tours, ☏ +34 656 855 866, toll-free: +1 888 538 7377, info@artobatours.com. City and day tours of Barcelona and Catalonia led by a professional archaeologist. €54–200 pp, depending on tour. (updated Feb 2020)

Sports[edit]

• Football: the city has two soccer teams playing in La Liga, Spain’s top tier.
  Their local Derbi barceloní has political undertones, as FC Barcelona is associated with the Catalan independence movement, while Espanyol is seen as pro-Spanish unity and anti-Catalan independence.
  These clubs are active also in other sports, such as handball and basketball.
  • FC Barcelona are the famous club, playing at Camp Nou (capacity 99,000), 1 km west of Sants railway station. Nearest Metro is Palau Reial. Their highly politically-charged rivalry with Real Madrid is one of the most famous and intense in the world, and matches between the two are guaranteed to draw partisan sell-out crowds.
  • RCD Espanyol play at RCDE Stadium (capacity 40,500) at the western edge of the city. No metro, take a bus towards Ave del Baix Llobregat.
• 4 Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is a motor-racing circuit hosting Grand Prix / Formula One and other big events. It’s in the northern suburb of Montmeló. The next F1 races are 2-4 June 2023.

Festivals and events[edit]

Barcelona hosts a number of annual fiestas, many of which are unique to Catalonia and offer an insight into its distinctive culture.

• Sónar. An annual three-day music festival. It is described officially as a festival of Advanced Music and Multimedia Art. Music is by far the main aspect of the festival. The festival runs for three days and nights, usually starting on a Thursday in the third week of June. There is a day location and a night location. €52 daypass, €76 night entry, €199 festival pass on internet booking, higher fees for entrance passes.  
• Monegros Desert Festival. The most famous and biggest one day/night electronic music festivals in Spain is in the desert of Fraga, 200 km (120 mi) from Barcelona. More than 40,000 people gather every July to celebrate electronic music with the best DJs representing styles from house, electro, minimal, techno, to drum&bass, dubstep, and hiphop. 20 hours nonstop, it is a unique desert experience.  
• Festes de la Mercè. Barcelona’s main annual festival around 24 September, encompassing many events such as human towers (castellers), free live music events on the streets, firework displays, and processions of wooden giants. It is a holiday and the city offers a lot of activities to have fun. Enjoy a fountains and fireworks show at the base of the Montjuïc hill.  
• 5 Festes de Gràcia. The Festes de Gracia is a Catalonian celebration, held around 15 August each year to commemorate the Assumption. During the week of festivities that mark one of Barcelona’s most important fiestas, the city of Gracia explodes with fun, excitement, color, and fireworks. Many streets are decorated by neighbours, and there is live music, food in the streets, and the parties continue all night.  
• Festes de Sants. Similar to Gracia’s event, but smaller and later on in August. If you can’t go to Gracia’s event, try to go to this festival.  
• Sant Jordi. 23 April. Considered to be like Valentine’s Day. People give roses and books around the streets. Traditionally, men give women roses and women give men books. It is one of the most popular and interesting celebrations in Catalonia. 
• Corpus. Late in May (Corpus Christi day). An egg is put over the fountains (most of them in the churches, and decorated with flowers), and it «magically dances» over the water. Most of the churches are in the city center: Cathedral’s cloister, Santa Anna, Casa de l’Ardiaca, Museu Frederic Marés, and over 10 more fountains. 
• Fira de Santa Llúcia. From 2/3 December to 23 December, to commemorate Sta. Llúcia (13 December). During this time, in front of the Cathedral, Christmas objects are sold. Some places sell Christmas trees, but most of them sell elements for making the pessebres (Nativity scenes). These include small sculptures, wooden pieces, and moss used to simulate grass.

  :13 December is the feast day of Santa Llucia, patron saint of fashion designers and blind people, who gather at the Santa Llucia chapel in the cathedral to pay their respects.

   

• Barcelona Jazz Festival. A brighter way to celebrate the colder Autumn days, the annual Jazz festival has been running for nearly 50 years now and runs roughly from the last week in October and all the way through November Tickets prices differ for each event. 
• Revetlla de Sant Joan. This is the midsummer solstice celebration. It is celebrated on 23 June every year and is signified by the fireworks (there are frequent and loud amateur fireworks all night long, which may make it hard to sleep) that are permanently on display during this time. 
• Fira de Barcelona. There are trade events all year round in Barcelona.  

Learn[edit]

For those wishing to make a real attempt at learning the language, there are plenty of Catalan and Spanish language schools in Barcelona.

• 2 University of Barcelona, ☏ +34 934 035 478.  
• 3 Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, ☏ +34 93 581 13 25.  
• 4 Pompeu Fabra University, ☏ +34 93 542 14 17.  
• Universitat Ramon Llull, ☏ +34 93 602 22 00.  
• 5 ESADE Business School.  
• Don Quijote. You can take 4–6 hours of courses a day. All courses including beginner courses are taught entirely in Spanish. 
• Linguaschools Barcelona. Organizes Spanish courses for foreigners. The school is open all year round. 5 min. from Plaza Catalunya. 
• Olé Languages Barcelona, Av Mistral 14-16 Local 6, ☏ +34 93 185 15 18. 
• Versión Original Barcelona, Gran Vía / Passeig de Gracia, ☏ +34 93 412 45 76. 
• FreeDa Language Space. Intensive Spanish and Catalan courses for foreigners. 
• Barcelona Escuela Mediterráneo, Carrer Santa Mónica 2, 08001 Barcelona. School that is specialised in teaching Spanish as a foreign language. 

Buy[edit]

Individual listings can be found in Barcelona’s district articles

Most shops and shopping malls are closed on Sundays because of law restrictions. In Ciutat Vella you will find plenty of small fashion shops, souvenir shops and small supermarkets open on Sundays. The souvenir shopping scattered throughout the Barri Gotic and all along La Rambla are tourist traps, none of them sell Catalan or Spanish products but the typical array of Chinese general souvenirs, they should be avoided. Moreover on the Port Vell, right at the end of The Ramblas there is Maremagnum, a shopping mall that stays open all Sundays.

If you see people selling items on the street on a blanket, do not buy from them. The products are often of dubious origin and low quality, and are often the result of human trafficking.

• Secondhand English books in Gràcia.
• Design lovers head for Gràcia.
• El Corte Inglés. Spanning several floors and several buildings, and in several locations around town, many in Eixample and Inland Suburbs and a couple also in Ciutat Vella. You can find anything and everything in this department store, from food to pneumatics. Tax return checks are made on a separate floor of the store. See review for the whole chain in the Spain article. 
• 1 La Boqueria (Mercat Sant Josep). In Ciutat Vella. Large public market with a diverse range of goods and produce. Enjoy freshly squeezed organic fruit juices for €1.5 per cup. If you go near closing time (20:00) sellers will make you a special price (2 or 3 for €2). Closed Sundays.  
• Stamps are actually sold in ‘Tabacs’ or tobacconists. Once you know what they look like, you’ll notice them on every block or so. To post your mail, you need to find one of the rare yellow letter boxes along the sidewalks.
• Records For vinyl records, try the wonderful shop Discos Revolver at 13 Carrer dels Tallers.
• Supermarkets are spread across the city. BonÀrea, Bonpreu and Condis are the most popular supermarket chains from Catalonia. Mercadona, Consum, and Dia are other popular chains from the rest of Spain. All of them are a cost-effective way to purchase grocery items. There are also organic/specialty supermarkets like Casa Ametller or Veritas which are pricier. Small corner stores are the most visible on city streets, but tend to mark up prices in exchange for convenience.

Eat[edit]

As with all cities which welcome large numbers of tourists, Barcelona’s cuisine is inconsistent in quality, but there are plenty of restaurants serving excellent food at very reasonable prices, if you know where to look. The usual rules of thumb apply: to save money and get better food, look for places off the beaten track used by fellow travellers, and seek out cafés and restaurants which the locals frequent. In practice, this usually involves searching out eateries in residential districts away from the main sightseeing attractions. Avoid restaurants with touts outside, and have a basic understanding of the traditional foods served in restaurants, as well as the local drinks. One slightly crafty way of sussing a place’s authenticity at a glance is to take note of how they spell a certain word: a menu board advertising tapas, written the Spanish/international way, is likely to be somewhere which primarily caters to tourists, whereas somewhere offering tapes, using Catalan spelling, is in all probability a venue frequented by locals.

Some districts to check out include Gràcia, which is a hub of quality, affordable Catalan cooking of both the traditional and more avant-garde varieties, and the Eixample, whose chic boulevards have upscale restaurants aplenty worthy of your splurge money. The fishing quarter of Barceloneta (in Ciutat Vella) is an example of a neighbourhood where it pays to be picky: closer to the gentrified seafront, a slew of mojito beach bar-style places serve up expensive tourist tapas; for the real thing, head into the backstreets, where many traditional bars are still tucked away. In all cases, be prepared to «promenade» in search of the most attractive-looking menu; that’s what the locals do, after all.

Set menus (menú del migdia / menú del día) Most restaurants (and some bars) offer a menú del migdia / menú del día (menu of the day), which usually means a three course meal (a first plate often a salad or rice-based or pasta-based dish, a second plate usually a meat or fish, and a drink; plus a dessert or coffee), 3 or 4 options for each course, for €12 to €20, depending on the restaurant. The portions may be quite generous, or rather small. During the week, some smart restaurants offer lunch specials from 14:00 to 16:00. The savvy traveller will try the hip places for a fraction of the price during the day.

If you’re looking for a place where everyone can choose their own meal, ask for restaurants that serve platos combinados, which is the closest thing to an American/Northern European meal.

Smoking is not permitted inside bars and restaurants since 2011, but it’s usually allowed in terraces.

Dishes[edit]

You can get food from any part of the world in Barcelona, but make sure you try some Catalan food.

See Catalan cuisine section in the Catalonia article.

The selection of seafood is consistently great, although not a lot of it is local (this part of the Mediterranean is pretty well fished-out).

A treat to try that no travel guide mentions is waffles sold at street stands. They will tempt you with their mouth watering smell and taste.

Tapas restaurants are now all over the city (although tapas originated in Andalusia in the south of Spain). Each Spanish region has its native tapas; signature ‘Catalonia’ tapas is delicious. Some Catalans eat a more French-style three course meal (appetizer, main dish and dessert) and would more likely go for a pre-meal beer/vermouth and some snacks (olives, chips, etc.); others go for a meal entirely of tapas. This pre-meal snack is called ‘fer el vermut’ or ‘making the vermouth’. As you travel to smaller towns in Catalonia outside of Barcelona, it is less likely that you will find tapas and more likely you’ll see restaurants serving traditional Catalan food in three courses.

Beyond Catalan food, there is no shortage of durum or shawarma stands in Barcelona, offering tasty beef or chicken and salad in toasted flatbread for around €5. Gyros are delicious! You can also consider the Asian selection, with a lot of Chinese, Japanese and Indian restaurants. As with anywhere else, there are plenty of Italian restaurants, while Latin American offerings, particularly Argentine and Mexican, are well-represented too.

Food tours[edit]

If you feel lost in the variety of food choices there are – Catalan, Basque, Spanish, and beyond – it may be helpful to do a food tour to quickly get oriented. Many independent tour operators run food and wine tours in the city.

• Barcelona Eat Local Food Tours, Hurtado 28 Barcelona, 08022, ☏ +1 800 656 0713. A family-owned business that showcases the best of Catalan gastronomy in off-the-beaten districts of Barcelona. (updated Apr 2017)

Areas to eat[edit]

Depending on where you are in the city, there may be restaurants galore, or none at all. The following areas tend to be restaurant «hubs», with a large variety of restaurants to choose from:

• Barceloneta: A popular quarter for locals, where you can try fish based dishes, such as Paella (a name that may hide many different kinds of rice concoctions) or Arròs negre (Black Rice), that takes its colour because it is made using squid ink. Barceloneta is a very good place to eat tapas as well.
• Sant Antoni is the new addition to the culinary scene in Barcelona where old and trendy cuisine mingle.
• Eixample Esquerra (between Gran Via and Mallorca)
• Barri Gòtic (especially for tapas)
• «El Born» (next to Barri Gòtic)

Around Plaça Catalunya there are dozens of restaurants serving tapas. One should be careful with the tourist traps as the area is highly populated with tourists.

For budget eating you may choose «menú del migdia» in small bars on the Avinguda del Parallel for €9-11 per person. Be aware that sometimes the menu and the staff are only in Spanish.

The large cafes that line the Passeig de Gràcia and the Rambla Catalunya, just north of the Plaça Catalunya, offer a variety of acceptable tapas. This part of the town is quite touristy and a bit expensive.

This page uses the following price ranges for a typical meal for one, including soft drink:
Budget	Up to €10
Mid-range	€10–€25
Splurge	€25 and up

Groceries[edit]

In several supermarkets you can find a wide stall with a great selection of ready-to-eat dishes. You can get a two-course lunch for less than €5.

Restaurants[edit]

Individual listings can be found in Barcelona’s district articles

• Comer y no Bombas (Location is variable). Shares free vegan food. 
• Juice bars. More and more the city is being populated by bars that serve organic/vegan food and cold-pressed juices.
• El Glop. Three locations, in Eixample and Gràcia. Excellent mid-range Catalan meals. Allow about €20 per person, although you could get out of there for half of that if you let the price dictate your choice of dishes. 

Drink[edit]

Individual listings can be found in Barcelona’s district articles

Cafes[edit]

Try a «café con hielo» an espresso served with a glass of ice cubes on the side in any local ‘cafeteria’. Cafes are found on each corner in Barcelona, and these days a conscious movement in favour of top quality coffee is changing the scene in the Catalan capital with a new trend in terms of coffee houses.

Bars[edit]

• Chupitos are found in several locations throughout the city, including one in Barceloneta. Chupitos is Spanish for «shots» and offers hundreds of unique shots including the «Harry Potter» (a shot that sparks as cinnamon is sprinkled over it), and «Monica Lewinsky» (a variety of flaming shots) among others. As much a show as it is a place to get a drink, it’s a fun night out.

Sleep[edit]

Barcelona offers a great range of accommodations, from cheap, decent apartments, hostels and guest-houses to five-star hotels. Every district has plentiful offerings, and thanks to the efficient public transportation you can stay comfortably in any of them, depending on your budget and preferences.

During festivals (see Festivals and events above), especially during Mobile World Congress, which is a major trade show at the Fira, accommodation in Barcelona and especially near the Fira is much more difficult to find and more expensive than usual.

• Ciutat Vella offers a mix of luxury hotels and cheerful hostels within a dense urban environment. Staying there means being at the heart of Barcelona’s nightlife — which is both lively and noisy.
• Eixample and Gràcia and Sants-Montjuïc are calmer, but quite as dense, and popular due to closeness to attractions. You will find more mid-market properties there.
• Sant Martí contains most of Barcelona’s beaches and a string of very modern hotels along the Diagonal
• The suburbs are not as far away as you may think thanks to the metro and local railway. Some hillside hotels offer great views, but may be far away from public transit though.

See the district articles for detailed listings of accommodation opportunities.

Connect[edit]

Barcelona has 5G from all Spanish carriers. Wi-Fi is widely available in public places and on transport.

Stay safe[edit]

Pickpockets[edit]

Pickpocketing is the most pressing issue for visitors to Barcelona. Never keep your wallet, cash or important documents in trouser pockets or in bag pockets: a money belt is an easy and inexpensive way to prevent being robbed. You will almost certainly be scoped out several times during your trip if you’re in a tourist area or clearly don’t fit in as a local, and it only takes a single momentary slip-up to lose your possessions. As always, be alert in crowded places, such as public transport, train and bus stations, La Rambla and Raval. If you are in a crowd, beware of anyone suspiciously or with no intention deliberately coming close to you.

Pickpockets usually work with more than one people, with one person using all kinds of tricks to distract you as their accomplices take action. The following are a few common methods:

• At certain tourist hotspots, there are people who will try to show you a ‘magic trick’. This involves tying a piece of string around your finger. While you are distracted (and your arm is effectively disabled), your wallet is stolen.
• A milky or unpleasant liquid might be thrown on you. Strangers will come out of nowhere to help you clean it up. If this happens, immediately walk away, you are being pickpocketed.
• East Asian visitors are interrupted by touts, who will showcase their «martial arts» on you by kicking your leg. While you are distracted, you will have been pickpocketed.
• These people may also pose as a person looking for spare change, policemen who wishes to check your wallet for ID, or as tourists asking for directions.
• Male travelers may be grabbed in the testicles by prostitutes or young female thieves. They will grab valuable possessions at the same time.
• In the subway, a group of men will come out of seemingly nowhere while you attempt to enter a subway car and block your entrance and exit in a coordinated manner, effectively pinning you against the doors. They will act as if the car is just crowded and they are trying to get on as well, but, in reality, they have already gone through your pockets. They will quickly return to the platform just as the doors are closing, making you effectively trapped in the departing train. A more serious crime includes a person deliberately jamming the entry gate by inserting his subway card just as you are about to pass. His accomplice tries to ‘help’ you as the others are on your back snatching your items.
• Under no circumstances should you leave your items unattended. While you are eating outside, a guy may babble near you asking for change with an unreadable poster in his hands and getting closer and closer to your smartphone until he eventually picks it up and passes it to a second guy that will run away with it. If you have a backpack or bag, don’t place it on the ground without wrapping the loops around your leg or attaching it to the table using an S-Hook. Do not ask your friends to watch your luggage, thieves see ripe targets in people carrying too many bags, and will grab a carry-on bag and run.

If you need a police report to make an insurance claim for your stolen possessions, you can file a report online if you have no leads or witnesses. Police services generally expect you to provide a valid serial number to substantiate a theft allegation for electronic devices.

Scams[edit]

See also: Common scams

People in Barcelona are often very friendly and love to practice their English, so don’t be unfriendly. That said, you should be suspicious if someone approaches you in a touristy area speaking your language and asking you for help. This should put your guard up immediately. Do not be tempted to sign their petition, give them directions, or help them with their problem. You don’t know anything about where you are, since you’re a tourist, so you won’t be able to help them in any case.

Professional scam artists exhibiting a high degree of coordination are active in many areas of the city. Be careful in tourist areas. A variety of methods are employed, including the No-change trick. A common scam involves fake cops who will show up ask to see your passport, then take your belongings at the first opportunity. The story varies, but they are almost certainly not real ones. When it happens, the best strategy is to just walk away instead of starting any sort of conversations with them. Another trick is that one seemingly confused person will ask you for directions, diverting your attention and then suddenly fake police will appear asking for your ID. This is a co-ordinated move to divert the attention and steal whatever is possible. If such incident happens, just walk away, without listening to any of their conversation. Stay alert, especially in busy tourist area near the Sants station and Plaça d’Espanya.

Another popular scam happens in the metro. A group of scammers (often middle-aged women) will take advantage of the fuss while people are entering the metro and surround a tourist, frantically asking for directions. Most tourists won’t know what to say while one of the scammers empties their pockets. They will try to confuse the tourist while the metro stays in the platform, and will get out just before the doors are closed. When you realize you’ve been scammed, the train will have already left and they will be safely outside with your belongings.

The bird excrement scam is also common. One or more accomplices will secretly spray or throw a smelly liquid on you. When you look up thinking a passing bird has pooped on you, they will run up to you and tell you that they saw a bird poop on you. They will offer to help you clean up, and while you are cleaning they will go through your pockets and any bags you have set down. It is wise to beware of anyone who is attempting to touch a complete stranger.

A version of Three Card Monte is one of many common scams played on Les Rambles. There are also people holding petitions to install a wheelchair lift in locations with a lot of stairs. Once your signature is obtained they will then aggressively ask for a donation. Sometimes there can be crowds of children demanding money with hardly anyone else in the area, making it difficult to get away.

Violent crimes[edit]

In 2019 there was a surge in violent crimes around Barcelona: in just the summer, there were almost as many violent deaths as there were for the whole previous year. While tourists are only occasionally targeted (and almost exclusively simple robberies), this should be not a going concern, many of these deaths are either drug-related or take place during drunken fights, so you are best advised to avoid such situations.

Football[edit]

Local club FC Barcelona (also known as «Barça», a term used by locals to refer strictly to the club and not the city) is seen as a symbol of Catalan nationalism, and has a very heated and politically-charged rivalry with Real Madrid, which is seen as a symbol of the Spanish state and ruling establishment, and violent confrontations between the supporters of both clubs have been known to occur. Avoid wearing Real Madrid shirts while you’re in Barcelona, especially on matchdays, as that could result in you being singled out for violence by local fans. On the other hand, wearing an Atlético Madrid (the other Madrid club) shirt might get you some stares and some harmless teasing, but certainly no violent reactions.

Furthermore, the local Derbi barceloní between FC Barcelona and Espanyol is also a politically-charged one, as FC Barcelona is typically supported by Catalan independence supporters, while Espanyol is typically supported by those who wish to remain part of Spain. If you hear Barça and Espanyol fans having an argument, be careful, as things can quickly escalate.

ATMs[edit]

Barcelona offers ATMs in many locations. Many provide a wide range of services (withdrawals, transfers, mobile credit recharges, ticketing, etc.), and most accept ATM/debit/credit cards of various banks. Choose an ATM in a secure or highly-public space (e.g., in a bank lobby or airport terminal) to avoid machines modified by criminals to skim/video your card data or where you might be robbed after use. Ensure early in usage that the ATM supports a language you understand. For a full discussion of safe/effective charge/debit/ATM card usage and their cost trade-offs, see Money.

Areas of caution[edit]

Be very careful in the Barcelona Sants train station where thieves prey on new arrivals, even on the platforms. In general, try to stay away from suburban trains (cercanias in Spanish or rodalies in Catalan) late in the evening, as you may encounter young louts that disturb passengers, smoke, break windows and vandalize equipment. Don’t rely too much on the railway security staff, as they prefer not to get involved, and by all means avoid messing with those troublemakers.

Women travelling alone should exercise caution while exploring the more isolated parts of Montjuïc. The city beaches, particularly the ones adjoining Barceloneta, have proven to be quite lucrative for bag snatchers. Anything that you would rather not lose is best left, locked, in your accommodation

Men traveling alone should expect the prostitutes on Les Rambles, St. Antoni, and Raval in the early hours to be very aggressive and in league with pickpockets and robbers.

Also, people need to be careful when leaving the bars of the Olympic Port late as there are many pickpockets around.

Be wary of wearing exposed jewelry such as gold chains and necklaces. People walking down a street may be attacked from behind by a snatch-and-run thief. Be especially careful of seedy looking men on bicycles, as snatch-and-run assaults can occur.

In the event of such a robbery, you will need to find the local police station to report the incident, especially if you are going to make a travel insurance claim. Don’t expect any police action beyond the report, though, as these types of events are par for the course and arrests, even when made, almost never lead to prosecution due to a slow, antiquated, and overburdened legal system.

Parts of Barcelona are covered by closed circuit TV surveillance, but only the more popular spots.

Anti-tourism movement[edit]

Many Barcelona residents have the impression that there are too many tourists in Barcelona and that it has increased living costs, as landlords prefer to rent to tourists and not to locals to make more profit. Also, a lot of local shops have closed to make way for souvenir spots, so many locals feel they are being expelled from areas they have lived their whole life. In some areas, particularly the ones next to the beach where drunken tourists often stroll in swimming suits, there were anti-tourism demonstrations by locals, which had the backing of the Mayor of Barcelona. By October 2019, this movement had nearly disappeared.

Cars[edit]

Tourist drivers may attract special attention, such as Red light bag snatch or Flat tire scams

Public transportation[edit]

Besides being a particular pickpocket hot spot, there are plenty of fare evaders who will stick to you when crossing a fare barrier. Do not even attempt to block their way and let them pass, as many of them can be quite aggressive. Although stations are full of surveillance cameras, they are seldom used to either enforce fare payment or as a proof for filed assault charges, except in the most severe cases. Lack of staff in many stations and few ticket inspections effectively mean carte blanche for them. The fare evasion fine is just €50 if paid on spot, no matter how many times the culprit has previously been caught, and many fines remain unpaid because payment enforcement is legally cumbersome.

Reporting crimes[edit]

If you need to report a crime (for example, to claim on travel insurance), be prepared for the reality that in the downtown police station, officers generally do not speak English, even though the theft report form is in English, Spanish, and Catalan. The police station most often used to report theft is the one underneath Plaça Catalunya beside metro station, where they have some translators for common languages.

Cope[edit]

Hospitals[edit]

EU citizens can get free or reduced cost medical treatment on presentation of an EHIC card and passport.

• Hospital Clinic I Provincial De Barcelona, C/ Villarroel 170 (Metro Stn Hospital Clinic (Line 5)), ☏ +34 932 275 400. 

Consulates[edit]

Go next[edit]

Day trips from Barcelona include:

• Canet de Mar — Is small enough to walk almost anywhere. See the historical centre, the churches and cathedral, and visit many architectural works of Lluís Domènech i Montaner. Canet is the smallest town in Catalonia with many historical and modernist buildings. It also has a lot of blue flag beaches, recognised at the European level for their quality.
• Colònia Güell — is a tiny settlement famous for its modernist architecture. It is on the railway to Montserrat.
• Costa Brava — The coast North of Barcelona has rocky cliffs and a mix of pebble beaches and sandy beaches.
• Figueres- Home of the most impressive Salvador Dalí museum.
• Girona — A quiet town with an ancient Jewish section, narrow streets, imposing walls and plenty of cafes. See directions to the north airport above.
• Montseny — UNESCO Biosphere Reserve 40 km (25 mi) northeast of Barcelona. Go there by car or bus/train
• Montserrat — Visit the monastery nestled high in the mountains to see the Black Madonna or hike to the peak to earn a fantastic view of the surroundings. 50 km (31 mi) from Barcelona.
• Pyrenees — A mountain range around 150 km (93 mi) north from the city.
• Sant Cugat del Valles — Has one of the most interesting Romanesque cloisters in Catalunya, with many interesting carvings. The town itself is full of expensive vilas.
• Sitges — A traditional beachside destination for the locals. Full of fashion shops open on Sundays. Is a popular gay destination too.
• Castelldefels — Another typical beachside destination for the locals. It is very popular for its wide range of gastronomy.
• Tarragona — Old Roman period capital of eastern Spain, and today small seaside city off the tourist trail compared to Barcelona.

Барселона (Испания) — самая подробная информация о городе с фото. Главные достопримечательности Барселоны с описанием, путеводители и карты.

Город Барселона 

Барселона — город на северо-востоке Испании, столица Каталонии. Это крупнейший мегаполис на берегу Средиземного моря с населением более полутора миллионов человек и второй по величине в стране. Барселона — это оживленный приморский город и порт с великолепным культурным и историческим наследием, уникальной атмосферой и очаровательной архитектурой. Центр Каталонии привлекает своим мягким климатом и расслабленным образом жизни, сюрреалистичными зданиями — шедеврами Гауди, пляжами и морем, вкусной едой и развлечениями на любой вкус. 

Достопримечательности Барселоны охватывают почти 2000 лет её истории и включают: средневековый старый город, уникальную сетку улиц, которая отражает тенденции городского планирования 19 века и множество интересных, необычных и даже немного сказочных сооружений, из которых особенно выделяются архитектурные изыски Антонио Гауди. На улицах столицы Каталонии легко можно встретить древние раритеты римского прошлого, средневековые кварталы и соборы, скульптурные и архитектурные шедевры модернизма и современности. Барселона — это город, где черпали вдохновение Пабло Пикассо и Джоан Миро, где можно бесцельно бродить по его улочкам, натыкаясь на очаровательные уголки, слушать уличных музыкантов или приятно провести время в уютных кафе.

Районы:

• Ciutat Vella (Старый город) — старейшая часть Барселоны, центральный район прямо на побережье Средиземного моря. Это главное место притяжения, где сосредоточено большинство исторических достопримечательностей города. 
• Eixample — модернистской квартал, квадраты зданий и геометрия улиц. 
• Gràcia — расположен в северной части Барселоны. Этот когда-то отдельный город (основан в 17 веке) был присоединен к столице Каталонии в 20 веке. 
• Sants-Montjuïc — южная окраина города. Здесь расположен порт. 
• Sant Martí — восточная окраина города. 
• Inland Suburbs — пригороды. Здесь расположен знаменитый стадион Камп Ноу и самая высокая точка Барселоны. 

1. География и климат
2. Информация для туристов
3. Лучшее время посещения
4. История
5. Как добраться
6. Покупки
7. Еда
8. Достопримечательности
9. Видео
10. Карта
11. Комментарии

География и климат

Барселона расположена на территории Иберийского полуострова на средиземноморском побережье в 120 км от границы с Францией. С юга город ограничен горами Кольсерола и рекой Льобрегат, а с севера — рекой Бесос. Высочайшей точкой является Тибидабо. Сам город лежит на пяти холмах, которые дали название городским районам.

Климат — средиземноморский, с сухим и влажным летом и тёплой и сухой зимой. Самый жаркий период — июль и август. Самый холодный — январь. Хотя даже зимой средняя температура около +10 градусов. 

Информация для туристов

1. Население — 1.62 млн человек.
2. Площадь — 101.4 квадратных километров.
3. Язык — испанский и каталонский (или каталанский). 
4. Валюта — евро.
5. Виза — шенгенская.
6. Время — центральноевропейское UTC +1, летом +2.
7. 62% жителей Барселоны являются каталонцами.
8. 50% населения исповедует католицизм.
9. Избегайте прогулок в одиночестве в районах El Raval и La Rambla поздней ночью.
10. Кредитные карты принимаются в большинстве отелей, магазинов и ресторанов.
11. Чаевые, если Вам понравилось обслуживание, принято оставлять в размере 3-5 % от счета.
12. Туристические офисы расположены по следующим адресам: Plaça Sant Jaume, площадь Каталонии, Estació de Sant и в центре готического квартала Col·legi d’Arquitectes de Catalunya.
13. НДС составляет 21%. Tax free можно вернуть с покупки в 90 евро.
14. Курение в общественных местах запрещено.
15. Праздники: 1 января — Новый год, 6 января — день трёх королей, страстная пятница и пасха, 1 мая — всемирный день труда, 24 июня — праздник св. Иоанна Крестителя, 15 августа — Успение Богородицы, 11 сентября — национальный праздник Каталонии, 12 октября — национальный праздник Испании, 1 ноября — день всех святых, 6 декабря — день Конституции, 25 и 26 декабря — Рождество.
16. Барселона имеет сеть метро, которое состоит из 11 линий. Также общественный транспорт включает автобусы и трамваи. На холмы Монжуик и Тибидабо можно добраться на фуникулере. 
17. В общественном транспорте действует единый билет. Стоимость одной поездки 2.2 евро. Билеты можно купить в автобусах и на станциях метро. 

Лучшее время посещения

Самый высокий туристический сезон — июль и август. В это время город отдан на «растерзание» туристам. Местные, в основном, уезжают из города. Часть ресторанов и магазинов закрыта, а цены на отели «кусаются». Самое комфортное время для посещения Барселоны — межсезонье. В это время здесь тепло, но не жарко. Можно приехать в столицу Каталонии и зимой. В этот период здесь немного туристов, достаточно тепло и сухо. 

История

Существует несколько легенд основания города. Одна из них приписывает основание Барселоны легенде мифов — Гераклу, другая — карфагенянам. Доподлинно известно, что здесь жили иберийцы. Их город был завоёван римлянами в 2 веке до нашей эры. Римляне построили здесь укрепление, центр которого располагался возле площади св. Иакова. Благодаря расположению и выходу к морю город рос, богател и укреплялся, пока не был завоёван вестготами в 5 веке. Интересно, что остатки древних римских укреплений и сооружений до сих пор можно встретить на улицах Барселоны. 

После завоевания вестготами здесь некоторое время располагалась столица их королевства. В начале 6 века в окрестностях Барселоны произошла битва между вестготами и остготами, в которой победили последние. В 8 веке Барселону взяли берберы. В самом начале 9 века город завоевал сын Карла Великого и сделал его столицей Испанской марки. В конце 10 века после набега Аль-Мансура Каролинги потеряли контроль над столицей Каталонии, которая обрела независимость.

В 12 веке Каталония объединилась с Валенсией, образовав Арагонское королевство, которое просуществовало до 15 века. В 1410 веке контроль над городом перешёл к кастильской династии. В второй половине 17 веке после падения Каталонской республики Барселона была разграблена. В начале 18 веке Каталония была завоёвана Испанией, в составе которой она остаётся до сих пор. В 19 веке в Барселоне наблюдается промышленный бум, который способствует росту города. В 20 веке столица Каталонии превращается в один из самых значимых и крупнейших городов Испании. Несмотря на это, исторически в регионе сильны националистические настроения и тенденции к политической автономии. 

Как добраться

Международный аэропорт Барселоны является одним из крупнейших в Европе. Он расположен примерно в 12 км от города и состоит из двух терминалов. Терминал Т1 — новый, он принимает ряд крупных международных и европейских авиакомпаний. Терминал Т2, который, в основном, предназначен для небольших перевозчиков и чартеров. Добраться из аэропорта в центр Барселоны (площадь Каталонии) можно на автобусе А1(из Т1) и А2 (из Т2). Поездка займёт 30 минут. Автобусы ходят с 5.30 до 1.00. Более дешёвый вариант — автобус 46, который обслуживает оба терминала и идёт до остановки площадь Испании. Аэропорт также связан с городом метро (линия 9) и линией природных поездов. 

Барселона имеет развитое железнодорожное сообщение с Ниццей, Парижем, Марселем, Миланом, Цюрихом, Мадридом и др. городами Европы. Автобусное сообщение имеется с большинством крупных городов Испании и европейских стран в т.ч. Лондоном, Амстердамом, Кёльном, Брюсселем, Парижем и т.д. По морю в Барселону можно добраться из Рима, Сардинии, Генуи, Ливорно, Алжира. 

Покупки

Барселона — один из главных центров шопинга в Испании. В столице Каталонии насчитывается более 30 000 магазинов. Главная торговая улица — пешеходная Las Rambla. Большинство магазинов и торговых центров закрыты по воскресеньям. Из рынков выделяется огромный La Boqueria, расположенный в Ciutat Vella. В этом же районе расположены самые модные магазины и бутики. Сувениры можно купить в Готическом квартале и Las Rambla.

Еда

Каталонцы гордятся своей кухней, но чтобы найти хорошее и недорогое заведение рекомендуем свернуть с туристических троп. В Барселоне распространена традиционная баскская кухня, а также испанская и итальянская. Каталонская кухня — это разновидность средиземноморской кухни, которая включает супы, салаты, мясо, рыбу и морепродукты. Их традиционных блюд стоит попробовать паэлью, pa amb tomėquet (хлеб с помидорами), хамон, бутерброд с анчоусами (anchoas de L’Escala), ризотто с чернилами кальмара (Arros negre), паста с чесноком (El allioli), колбаски на гриле с фасолью (La butifarra), бобы с кровяной колбасой (Las habas a la catalana), каннелони (Los canelones). Помимо этого в Каталонии делают отличное вино! 

Из лучших ресторанов с традиционной кухней можно выделить:

• Can Pineda — Carrer de Sant Joan de Malta, 55
• Ca l’Isidre — C / Flors, 12
• Petit Comitè — Passatge de la Concepció, 13
• Can Vallès — Aragó, 95 
• Òsties Pedrín — Jerusalem 30 
• Bar Angel — Ocata, 2 bis 
• El Sortidor de la Filomena Pagès

Барселона славится своей ночной жизнью. Почти в каждом районе города есть свои бары и клубы. Но главным местом концентрации таких заведений является портовый район. 

Достопримечательности

Главные достопримечательности Барселоны сосредоточены в следующих районах: Старый город (Ciutat Vella), Эшампле и порт с холмом Монжуик. Старый город — старейшая часть каталонской столицы. Здесь можно найти свидетельства более чем двухтысячелетней истории города: от античного римского периода до Средневековья. Порт и холм Монжуик — приморская часть столицы Каталонии, где расположены верфь и большой парк. Эшампле — новый город, спроектированный в 19 веке.

Старый город — историческое ядро Барселоны площадью около 500 гектар. До середины 19 века он был окружён крепостными стенами. Фрагмент оригинальных городских укреплений можно найти у средневековой верфи, в стенах которой расположен морской музей. Район состоит из четырёх частей.

Центральная часть старого города — Готический квартал. Это центр города с римских времён. Здесь можно увидеть развалины римских сооружений и окунуться в лабиринт узких средневековых улочек. В Готическом квартале можно открыть очаровательные атмосферные места и живописные тихие скверы, оживленные эмоциями людей и звуками гитар, а в причудливых двориках посидеть в небольших симпатичных кафе с террасами.

Основные достопримечательности Готического квартала:

• Собор св. Креста и св. Евлампии — кафедральный собор Барселоны, основанный в 13 веке, шедевр готики. Собор строился на протяжении 6 веков. Здание храма было построено на месте раннехристианской церкви, разрушенной Аль-Мансуром. От древнего здания сохранился только баптистерий. Главный фасад и колокольня были полностью закончены в конце 19 века в неоготическом стиле. Внутри собор очень впечатляет: от великолепного хора и кафедры до склепа, где покоятся мощи св. Евлампии. 
• Санта-Мария-дель-Пи — красивая готическая базилика 14 века. Сводчатый потолок является одним из самых высоких в Испании, а четыре витража являются оригинальными (работа Хосепа Равеллы). Собор имеет высокую 54-метровую башню, которая является самым высоким средневековым сооружением Старого города. 
• Ратуша — здание на площади Сан-Жауме, основанное в 14 веке. Расположена на месте древнего римского Форума. Ратуша имеет неоклассический фасад, скрывая свое готическое прошлое.
• Барчино — скульптурная композиция из 7 гигантских букв, расположенная напротив римской стены. Изображает древнее название столицы Каталонии.
• Церковь Сан-Фелипа Нери — небольшое религиозное сооружение, спрятанное на небольшой площади с романтической атмосферой.
• Римская стена и древний акведук (Casa de l’Ardiaca) примыкает к Пласе Нова. Здесь с 12 века находилась резиденция церковной епархии.
• Сант Жуст и Пастор — считается старейшей церковью Барселоны. Была основана в 9 веке после франкского завоевания. От романской и готической церкви, к сожалению, не осталось практически ничего.
• Площадь Ramón Berenguer el Gran и улица Laietana — участок римской стены с готической часовней Санта-Агата. Этот район представляет собой величественную смесь двух разных эпох: римской и средневековой. Первоначально укрепления города имели 74 башни. Стены была 16 метров в высоту. Королевская часовня Санта-Агата была построена в 14 веке.
• Пласа-дель-Рей — одна из самых очаровательных площадей Барселоны, настоящий ансамбль готики. Здесь расположен величественный королевский дворец, который был резиденцией правителей Каталонии с 13 по 15 век, и сторожевая башня короля Марти.

Ла-Рамбла — знаменитый пешеходный бульвар, который делит исторический центр на две части. Это самая оживленная улица Барселоны. Она была заложена в 18 веке следуя контурам средневековых стен. 

На Ла-Рамбле расположены впечатляющие исторические здания, множество магазинов, величайший театр Барселоны и впечатляющий рынок Бокерия.

Ла Рибера — очаровательный район, который облюбовала богема. В прошлом здесь жили самые богатые жители Барселоны. Теперь здесь расположены музеи, художественные галереи, рестораны и винные бары.

Порт Велл — средневековая верфь и порт. Здесь расположена отправная точка для прогулочных судов. В здании из красного кирпича Palau de Mar находится один из самых интересных музеев Барселоны — музей истории Каталонии.

Парк цитадели построен в 19 веке на месте военной крепости для всемирной выставке.

Саграда-Фамилия (собор святого семейства) — символ Барселоны и шедевр Гауди, впечатляющая базилика и одна из самых необычных церквей Европы. Включена в список объектов Всемирного наследия ЮНЕСКО. Является одним из самых знаменитых долгостроев Европы. Церковь была начата Гауди в конце 19 века, но так и не достроена до сих пор.

Расположена в северной части Барселоны в районе Эшампле. Саграда-Фамилия — прекрасный образец сюрреалистической архитектуры в стиле арт-нуво. При строительстве у Антонио Гауди не было чётких идеи и проекта. Он изменял облик базилики в процессе работы. Знаменитый каталонский архитектор планировал закончить работу за 10-15 лет.

Парк Гуэль — ещё одна визитная карточка Барселоны. Этот весёлый и красочный парк создан Гауди и включен в список объектов Всемирного наследия ЮНЕСКО. Виадуки, гроты, колоннадный зал, извилистые лестницы и другие очаровательные места разбросаны по всему пространству. Эти творческие структуры украшены разноцветными керамическими фрагментами. С террасы парка открывается красивый вид на город и море. Сам Гауди очень любил этот район. Здесь также находился его дом.

Каса-Мила — жилой дом в стиле авангард в районе Эшампле, построенный в начале 20 века. Является самым известным светским зданием Гауди и включен в список объектов Всемирного наследия ЮНЕСКО. Каждая линия фасада этого удивительного здания из натурального камня изогнута, с закругленными окнами и металлическими балконами, скручивающимися в форме растений. Даже крыша имеет волнистую форму, дополненную декоративными дымоходами.

Дом Бальо — ещё один шедевр Гауди и одно из самых красивых зданий Барселоны. Является замечательным примером архитектуры модернизма и включено в список объектов Всемирного наследия ЮНЕСКО. Фантастический особняк был спроектирован как частная резиденция для крупного текстильщика Хосепа Бальо. С свободно размахивающимися формами и декоративным фасадом, это сказочное здание выглядит как замок из сюрреалистической сказки. Большинство деталей его дизайна полностью отходят от любых архитектурных тенденций.

Монжуик — холм возле порта с крупнейшим парком Барселоны — Тибидабо и старым еврейским кладбищем. В красивом дворце расположен национальный художественный музей Каталонии с коллекциями искусства с 10 по 20 век.

Monestir de Pedralbes — монастырь 14 века, прекрасный пример каталонской готики. Расположен в живописном маленьком парке. В монастырском музее расположена великолепная коллекция средневекового искусства с 14 века.

Камп Ноу — один из величайших футбольных стадионов мира, домашняя арена ФК «Барселона». 

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