Barcelona Service
With only 1.6 million inhabitants, Barcelona is one of Europe's smaller major cities. However Spain's second city more than makes up for this with a huge amount of things to see and do. Situated on the 'Wild Coast' on the Costa Brava, Barcelona offers white hot beaches in the summer along with countless shopping and sightseeing opportunities, and of course a fantastic nightlife. Around the city there are quiet areas and more touristy areas, such as the sandy and stony beaches, and for the more adventurous, the Pyrenees and the border with France are only 120km away.
Tourist information
info(at)barcelonaturisme.com
www.barcelonaturisme.com
Information points
Pl. de Catalunya, 17-S;
Pl. Països Catalans, s/n;
Àrea de servei Montseny-Sud, Km 117 Motorway AP-7/E-15;
Pl. Portal de la Pau s/n;
Ciutat, 2 (Barcelona City Hall);
Airport Terminals A and B;
La Rambla, 115
Airports
El Prat de Llobregat Airport
A small and easy to access airport. The airport lies in the south of the city and is within easy reach of the city centre. Trains connecting the airport and the centre depart at regular 20 minute intervals, and from the city centre you can connect to the underground and the bus network. Taxis are another possibility, departing from all terminals of the airport and taking about 25 minutes to reach the city centre. The aerobus is a cheaper alternative, costing around €3.50 for a 40 minute trip to either the Placa España or the Placa de Cataluña.
RENFE train:
www.renfe.es/horarios/index.html
www.emt-amb.com/links/bus.htm
Barcelona-Gerona Airport
This airport is located around 70km north east of Barcelona. A shuttle bus service connects the airport directly to the city centre, costing around $12 for a journey of around 70 minutes. The most comfortable option is the Barcelona Bus, which runs according to the arrival times of flights. The service runs to the city's central bus station, from where you can catch the underground from the nearby Arc De Triomph station to the city centre. The taxi should only be considered as a last resort, since the distances involved will cost a huge amount of money.
Reus Airport
This airport is around 110km away from Barcelona. The Hispano Igualadina Society bus is the easiest way to reach the city centre, and departs according to flight times. If you're travelling with several others or a lot of luggage, hiring a car may be a good idea. A branch of Avis rent-a-car is available in the airport building.
www.igualadina.com
Flight information and times
Girona Barcelona Airport: +34 97 218 6708
Official website of Spanish airports: www.aena.es
Train
The Barcelona Metro is run by Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB). The Metro consists of five underground lines and three overground lines, and is one of the quickest and most comfortable ways of getting round Barcelona.
Underground: www.tmb.net/ca_ES/home.jsp
Metro: www.fgc.cat
Bus
Travelling by bus is relatively cheap in Barcelona. Single tickets cost €1.25, and anyone planning on using the bus more than five times can get a T10 card (for 10 journeys) for €6.90. Night buses run from 10pm to 5am from Plaça Cataluña to take people back to their hotels or to popular clubbing destinations.
Car
Like in most major cities, travelling through Barcelona by car is quite stressful. Stick to public transport if possible, especially during rush hour.
Avis: www.avis.co.uk
Hertz: +34 93 298 36 37
Europcar: +34 90 210 50 55
Atesa: www.atesa.es
www.easyrentacar.com
Important numbers and websites
Police: 091 (national) oder 092 (lokal)
Fire service/emergency doctor: 112
Ambulance: 061
Emergency dentist service: 93 487 83 29
Consulate:
Consolat General d'Alemanya
Pg Gràcia, 111, 11A
T: 932 921 000
F: 932 921 002
www.barcelona.diplo.de
reg1(at)barc.auswaertiges-amt.de
Official website of Barcelona: www.bcn.es
Taxis
Taxis are a relatively cheap way of getting around, but as it's difficult to get around the city by car in rush hour, buses and trains make a better alternative at peak times.
Radiotaxis: +34 933 033 033
Servi Taxi: +34 93 330 03 00 oder +34 93 339 92 62
Fono Taxi: +34 93 300 11 00
Currency
US$ 1.578 = EUR 1 (1st of July 2008)
International (local) dialling code
+34 (93)
Timezone
GMT +1
Main daily newspapers
La Vanguardia
El País
El Periódico
Cinco Dias
City magazines
Guia del ocio
BCN Inside
Barcelona Connect
