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Extra Streetwise
Price of a cup of coffee
From € 1.50 to € 2.50
Paying in cash
Paying in cash is generally untroubled in Barcelona. Though it can be worthwhile to check your change, as occasionally it might be less than you'd expect.
Tipping
Tipping is not required but welcome. Tips are typically around 10% of the bill.
Tap water
It is possible to drink tap water in Barcelona, but we would recommend buying bottled water. Bottled water is cheap and widely available.
Shopping
The timetable of shops in Barcelona is sometimes surprising. Bigger stores and malls close at 21h. Most small shops tend to close for siesta between 14h and 16h. All shops are closed on Sundays, except for the shopping mall Maremagnum (Sp), located in the port (see our map).
Public transport
Barcelona has an efficient metro network, consisting of regular metro lines and suburban trains called Rodalies (identifiable by an orange/white sign). These are perfect to reach about any point in the city. Another option, less used by tourists, is the bus.
A single ticket costs about € 2. If you buy a T-10 card, you will get 10 fares for an advantageous price of about € 10. Single tickets can be bought from bus drivers and at metro stations. T-10 cards are available at vending machines in metro stations.
Metro
The metro network operates from around 5:00h till midnight. On Fridays till 2:00h, and on Saturdays all night long. For more detailed information, see the official page of TMB.
Nightbus
The company Nitbus offers nightbuses in Barcelona. Most lines operate from before midnight until 5:00h (when the metro opens). All lines of Nitbus pass Plaça de Catalunya, except line N0.
Trains
The train network in Spain is of very high quality, offering high-speed trains as well. For searching and booking trains in Spain, we recommend the official website of RENFE.
From El Prat Airport to Barcelona
Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) has four terminals: T1, T2A, T2B and T2C. A free shuttle bus connects the terminals on frequent intervals, 24/7. The terminals T2A-C, are within walking distance from each other.
Aerobús
This convenient shuttle bus service connects Barcelona-El Prat Airport with the city centre (Plaça de Catalunya). Along the way to the city, there are also stops at Plaça d'Espanya, Gran Via-Urgell and Plaça de la Universitat. The bus runs frequently, every day of the year, but not during the night. The journey takes about 35 minutes, and costs about € 6. Tickets can be purchased at vending machines at the airport, or from the driver (no big notes). For more detailed information, see the official website of Aerobús.
When heading back to the airport, make sure you step on the right bus (direction terminal T1, or T2).
Metro
This is the cheapest option, and also the most challenging. The metro line 'L9 Sud' departs from terminal T1 (platform at floor 0), as well as from T2 (platform outdoors). To reach the centre of Barcelona, you'll have to switch lines once. You can switch lines at Torrassa to the red metro line (L1), or you can go for the blue metro line (L5) at Collblanc, or the green metro line (L3) at Zona Universitària.
Taxi
Official taxis are black-yellow colored, and line up outside the airport terminals. A ride to the city centre should be about € 30, and takes around half an hour. Using a taxi app like FREE NOW is also an option.
Have a look at the official website for more information about El Prat Airport and the various ways of getting there.
Events in Barcelona
Sant Jordi
The 23rd of April is in Barcelona the day where you give a rose or a book to your loved ones (tradition is that men receive a book and women a rose…). You will see stands with roses throughout the city, and particularly the Passeig de Gràcia and the Rambla de Catalunya transform into a huge rose/book market. The centre may get crowded on Sant Jordi, but the atmosphere is relaxed.
Sant Joan
The Sant Joan festival is celebrated on the evening of the 23rd of June, often referred to as the 'Night of Fire'. This night is one of the biggest, noisiest and craziest parties in Barcelona and is celebrated by the Catalans with fire, fireworks, Cava and cakes. Typically there are public fireworks at Plaça Sant Jaume around 19.30h, though most people celebrate the 'Nit de Sant Joan' on the beaches of Barcelona.
Sala Montjuïc
Sala Montjuïc is an open-air film festival in Barcelona celebrated in summer (mainly July), usually twice a week. On this festival you will get to see a 'blockbuster' in a relaxed atmosphere, together with some concerts, picnics and short films. You can bring your own chair, food and drinks or you can hire a chair and buy food and drinks on the spot. The festival takes place next to the old castle on top of Montjuïc Hill. There's a free shuttle from Plaça d'Espanya (in between the Venetian Towers), running from 20.15h till 21.30h. The entrance fee is around € 7. Check out the official website of Sala Montjuïc for the latest news.
La Fira del Poblenou
Every year during the second weekend of July there is a beer festival near the end of the Rambla del Poblenou, close to the beach. This means over 200 national and foreign beers, DJs and live music, guided tastings, and food trucks serving the best street food! Check out the official website for the latest news.
La Festa Major de Gràcia
Every year as of the 15th of August, the streets of Gràcia are decorated incredibly beautiful, because it’s time for Festa Major de Gràcia! Locals hope to win the prize for the best decorated street. The spectacular festival with its wonderful streets and live music, lasts one week, with the biggest festivities and parades on 15 August. Popular across Catalonia, it can get very crowded. For the latest news (in Catalan), see the official website.
La Mercè Festival
Every year on 24 September (with actual festivities starting already a couple of days beforehand), Barcelona holds its largest street party La Mercè. The festival – already celebrated for more than a century – bids goodbye to summer with a bang and welcomes the cooler months of autumn. The festival coincides with the BAM festival, full of concerts. The citypage of Barcelona provides more info about La Mercè and BAM.
Eat Street
Eat Street invites you to taste new and delicious food creations in an urban city ambiance. A world-wide variety of food creations is served from food trucks, by chefs de cuisine or passionate hobby chefs, it is all possible at Eat Street. This food event usually takes place the second Saturday of the month, in Nau Bostik on Ferrán Turné 11 (near Metro Sagrera). Occasionally they also organize events at other locations. Have a look at the official website (Sp) for the latest updates.
Magic Fountain
A spectacular fountain show, located beautifully in between Plaça d'Espanya and Museo Nacional. The show is very popular due to its amazing water splashing, sounds and lighting. 2,600 liters of water are pumped through this great fountain per second, in three concentric pools. The shows are typically held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings (in summer season also on Wednesday and Sunday). Check out the official citypage for a detailed schedule of shows.
More cultural events
Barcelona is every week full of cultural and music events. If you're looking for more suggestions and options, take a look at the following local pages (in Spanish!): BCNMés or Lecool.
Local pages
Bicycle rental / Bike tours
The weather is often perfect for a bike ride in Barcelona, while the traffic and the hills can make it rather challenging. A bike rental that we can recommend is located in the Gothic Quarter, called Green Bikes. Another recommendation is Cruising Barcelona, located near La Rambla. Both companies also offer guided bike tours.
Bus tours
Barcelona BusTurístic and City Tour Barcelona are well-known bus tours through Barcelona, good to get a quick idea of the city, and hop-off at any station. There are some different routes to choose from. All buses pass Plaça de Catalunya.
Taxi
Official taxis in Barcelona are black-yellow colored. A taxi app like FREE NOW works fine in Barcelona.
Tourist office
Barcelona has a number of tourist offices, amongst others at Plaça de Catalunya and Plaça Sant Jaume. For a list of all of their offices or for more information about Barcelona, see the official website.
Getting to Tibidabo (landmark)
The top of Tibidabo Hill offers spectacular views over Barcelona. Besides the impressive Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, you will find an amusement park there and restaurants.
The easiest way of reaching the top is with bus T2A from Plaça de Catalunya (in front of Desigual store).The bus runs (just in summer season!) every 20 minutes, for about € 3 for a single ride.
The most impressive way to get to the top of Tibidabo is with the Funicular del Tibidabo, from the ground station at Plaça Doctor Andreu. For more information about Tibidabo and getting there, see the official website.
Getting to Carretera de les Aigües (green space)
This path of roughly 4 kms at about 400m above sea level, offers beautiful views over Barcelona and the sea. The path is located against the South slope of Tibidabo Hill.
Reaching the path is easiest by getting off at station Carretera de les Aigües on the Vallvidrera Funicular.
It is also possible to reach the path from the other side, near the Tibidabo Funicular, but please note that this involves a 15-minute walk uphill aside a road. In this case you'll essentially walk from the ground station of the Tibidabo Funicular up to Parking Aigües, a small parking lot which then functions as the starting point of the Carretera.
Getting to Montserrat
Montserrat is a multi-peaked rocky range (tallest point at 1,236 meters) with a beautiful monastery, located in the surroundings of Barcelona. It is perfect for hiking, or just spending a day in nature.
To reach the foot of the mountains of Montserrat, you can take an FCG train (R5) from Plaça d'Espanya, departing every hour. The train ride takes about an hour. You need to get off at station Aeri de Montserrat, if you want to reach the monastery by Cable Car. Get off at station Monistrol de Montserrat if you prefer to go up with the scenic Rack Railway. Another adventurous (and rather exhausting) option you have, is hiking all the way up to the monastery.
For more information about Montserrat and getting there, see the official website.
Beaches outside Barcelona
Badalona
North of Barcelona you’ll find Badalona, a wide beach which is less touristy and less crowded. You can get there by taking metro L2 and getting off at Badalona Pompeu Fabra. From the metro station it is a 10-minute walk to the beach.
Castelldefels, Garraf and Sitges
Nice beaches south of Barcelona can be found in Castelldefels, Garraf and Sitges. Castelldefels offers big wide beaches with nice restaurants with terraces. Garraf is a small beach located inside a bay. Sitges has 17 small beaches along with a picturesque city centre.
Get there by taking the R2 S train from the Passeig de Gràcia suburban train station (it's an underground station near Casa Batlló). In 30 minutes you are in Castelldefels, in 40 minutes in Garraf, and in 45 minutes in Sitges.
Trains run frequently, for the timetables check out the official website of RENFE. Tickets can be bought at the departure station, and have to be 'validated' beforehand.
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