Spain

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Barcelona

Gaudí, tapas and the sea

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Best time to visit: May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Currency: EUR
Time zone: UTC+1
Country: Spain

Photo: Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 4.0

Gaudí's buildings, medieval lanes, a city beach and some of Spain's best food.

Largest cities

Madrid
Barcelona
Valencia
Seville
Málaga

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: Spain
Capital: Madrid
City population: 1.7M
Population of Spain: 48.6M
Country area: 505,990 km²
Official language: Spanish
Currency: Euro (EUR) · 1 USD ≈ 0.8929 EUR
Time zone: UTC+1
Calling code: +34
Drives on the: Right
Elevation: 12 m
Plugs: C / F · 230V
Emergency numbers: 112
Best time to visit: May, Jun, Sep, Oct

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	14°	15°	17°	19°	22°	26°	29°	29°	26°	22°	18°	15°
Low	5°	6°	8°	10°	13°	17°	20°	20°	17°	14°	9°	6°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$78
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$172
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$415

Plan a trip to Barcelona

Top things to do

≈ $30
Sagrada Família
Gaudí's basilica, still being completed; entry only with a timed ticket, often sold out days ahead.
- Half day
- Eixample
- Good for kids
- Indoors
≈ $20
Park Güell and Gràcia
Gaudí's mosaic park above the city (timed ticket), then the village squares and cafés of Gràcia.
- Half day
- Gràcia
- Good for kids
Free
Gothic Quarter and El Born
Medieval lanes around the cathedral, the Santa Maria del Mar church and tapas bars in El Born.
- Half day
- Gothic Quarter and El Born
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
Free
La Rambla and La Boqueria market
The famous boulevard and its food market, best early in the morning. The market is closed on Sundays.
- Half day
- Gothic Quarter and El Born
- Good for kids
- Closed: Sunday
≈ $40
Passeig de Gràcia: Casa Batlló and La Pedrera
Two of Gaudí's houses on the city's grand avenue; visit one inside and see the other from the street.
- Half day
- Eixample
- Indoors
- Good in the evening
≈ $15
Montjuïc: MNAC and the cable car
The National Art Museum of Catalonia, gardens and views over the port from the castle.
- Half day
- Montjuïc
- Indoors
Free
Barceloneta beach
The city beach and seafront promenade, with seafood restaurants in the old fishermen's quarter.
- Half day
- Barceloneta
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $35
Day trip: Montserrat
A mountain monastery among jagged peaks, reached by train and rack railway or cable car in about 90 minutes.
- Full day
- Montserrat

Before you go

Entry and visas

Spain is in the Schengen area: up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Many nationalities, including Indian and Saudi citizens, need a Schengen visa; visa-exempt visitors are registered at the border in the EU Entry/Exit System (EES).

Official website

From the airport

From El Prat airport, the Aerobús runs to Plaça de Catalunya, and the L9 metro and R2 train also link Terminal 1 and 2 to the city.

Getting around

The metro, buses and trams cover the city; multi-trip T-casual tickets or contactless cards save money. The centre is very walkable.

Local tips

Book Sagrada Família, Park Güell and the Gaudí houses in advance.
Barcelona is known for pickpockets on La Rambla, the metro and beaches; keep bags closed and in front.
Lunch is usually 2 to 4 p.m. and dinner from 9 p.m.
Hotels add a regional and city tourist tax per person per night.