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Barcelona GENERAL INFORMATION

Barcelona airport information, getting around Barcelona, opening times, banks, communication, visas for Spain... basically we have put it upon us to provide you with some additional information that will ensure that your stay in Barcelona is a relaxed one!

Tourist Information Service

There are several information centres all over Barcelona that provide all kind of services you may need, such as tourist information, money exchange, gift shop, etc. Contact tel. 807 117 222 [From Spain, costs 0.39 a minute including VAT] 0034 93 285 38 34 [International calls] E-mail: teltur@barcelonaturisme.com

Playa de Catalunya, 17-S. Open every day of the year from 9 to 21 h. Closed on 25th December and 1st January.

Playa dels Palos Catalans, Monday to Friday 8-20 h, Saturday, Sunday and holidays 8-14h, Summer, daily 8- 20 h. Closed on 1st Janary, 25th and 26th December.

Playa Sant Jaume. C/ Ciutat, 2. Open Monday to Friday 9-20 h, Saturday 10- 20 h, Sunday and holidays 10-14 h

Opening Hours: Almost everything in Catalunya - shops, museums, churches, tourist offices - closes for a siesta of at least two hours in the middle of the day. Basic working hours are 9.30am-1.30pm and 4.30-7.30pm, though some shops do now stay open all day.

Getting to Barcelona from the Airport

All flights land into the El Plat de Llobregat airport, 12km southwest of Barcelona. There's public transport into the city centre from the airport.

Train: The main train takes you from Terminals A, B and C and direct to Plaza de Catalunya, Las Ramblas. It will take about 40 minutes and departs every 15 minutes. Trains run Monday through Friday, from 6 am through to 00:00 and on Saturday/Sunday, it runs 6:30am-00:00. The cost is 3.45 Euros.

Bus: For those having to go to or from the airport after midnight, the bus provides the only transportation. The bus runs from Pl. de Espanya to the airport.

Taxi: A taxi from Barcelona's airport to or from the city centre will cost around 30 euros.

Getting AROUND Barcelona

Apart from the medieval area of town Barrio Gotic, you'll need to use Barcelona's excellent transport system to make the best of the city.

Barcelona has the metro, buses, trains and a network of funiculars and cable cars: to sort it all out, pick up a free public transport map available at: the Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona [TMB] office in Universitat metro station [Mon-Fri 8am-8pm], at any of the tourist offices; the map is also posted at bus stops and metro stations.Detailed information is also available by telephone [tel 010].

Ciutat Vella is a warren of narrow streets with centuries-old buildings and great accommodation. It is covered on both sides by Las Ramblas. Barri Gotic which is the Gothic Quarter is at the centre and is on the lower east part of the area. To the west is El Raval. La Barceloneta is the old sailors' quarter has an excellent aquarium and two marinas. The beaches stretch northeast and are home to many lively bars and restaurants.

Money and banks in Barcelona

Currency: Spain is located in the Euro-zone and the currency used is the Euro.

Banks: Normal banking hours in Barcelona are Mon-Fri 8.30am-2pm, although most banks are also open Thursday 4-6.30pm or Saturday 9am-1pm [except from June to Sept when banks open only Mon-Fri 8.30am-2pm]. Outside the official hours you can use one of several exchange offices ,as well as banks with special opening hours. If you're in difficulties, it's usually possible to change cash at larger hotels [generally bad rates] or with travel agents, who may initially grumble but will eventually give a rate with the commission built in - useful for small amounts in a hurry.

ATMs and Money Machine: ATMs are found almost everywhere and almost all machines accept all major credit cards. American Express is not as widely accepted but most banks will allow you to take cash advances out. Make sure you have a personal identification number [PIN] that's designed to work overseas.

Traveller's Checks: Travellers' cheques are no longer the cheapest nor most convenient option and most people use bank cards now. However you can change up travellers checks pretty much everywhere and the usual fee for buying travellers' cheques is one or two percent. Buying cheques in Euros is the best option, since these can be cashed without incurring exchange service charges. Sterling and American dollars cheques will be accepted in all change establishments, but Canadian and Australian denominations may have their rates pegged to the US dollar [which means that two "exchanges" may be calculated].

Communications in Barcelona

Post Offices: In Catalunya, post offices are open from 8am to noon and again from 5 to 7.30pm, though the main post office in Barcelona and big branches in larger towns and resorts have considerably longer hours; check the text for details.

Telephone Services: The country code for Spain is +34. Dial +34, then the area code and the subscriber's number. Spanish public phones work well and have instructions in English; you'll find plenty of cabinas on the street. They accept coins and phonecards, which you can buy in tobacconists - the phones display instructions to help you as you go. Avoid using the old-style green-coloured phones which you'll find in many bars and hotels, their rates are higher and you can't make anything except for a simple coin call.

Internet: There are also plenty of Internet cafes in Barcelona.

Barcelona Emergency Numbers

If you are unlucky enough to be the victim of a crime, you should report the incident as soon as possible at the nearest police station or comisaria. If you report a crime you will be asked to make a denuncia, an official statement, which is essential if you wish to make an insurance claim.

Main Emergency Number: Tel 112

Police: There are four types of police in Barcelona, Policia Nacional, Policia Municipal, and Guardia Civil, and the Mossos d'Esquadra. In an emergency all of the police forces will help.

» Policia Municipal: Tel 092
» Policia Nacional: Tel 091
» Guardia Civil: Tel 062
» Mossos d'Esquadra: Tel 93 300 2296
» Ambulance: Tel 061
» Fire service: Tel 080
» Public transport: Servei de Troballes, c/Cuitat 9, tel 93 402 3161

About Visas FOR SPAIN

All visitors entering Spain must have a valid passport.

Citizens of the following countries, with an ordinary passport, valid for a minimum of 3 months, who wish to stay in Spain for tourist or business purposes for up to 90 days do not need a visa: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Boliva, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Slovakia, South Korea, Costa Rica, Chile, Cyprus, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, IsraelL, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mexica, Monaco, Nicaragua, Norway, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Croatia, Slovenia, Romania, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Switzerland, Uruguay, Venezuela, Hong Kong, Macao, USA and citizens of The European Union.