Hotels, motels and where to sleep
Restaurant, taverns and where to eat
Barcelona is a Spanish city, capital of the autonomous
community of Catalonia, of the homonymous province and of the Barcelonés
region. With a population of 1,636,193 inhabitants in 2022,7 it is the
second most populated city in Spain and the Iberian Peninsula after
Madrid, and the tenth in the European Union. The metropolitan area of
Barcelona has 5,575,204 inhabitants (2019), making it the fifth largest
urban agglomeration in the European Union.
It has a nominal GDP
of €142,223 million and a nominal GDP per capita of €30,619, which
represents a PPP GDP per capita of €36,240, being the second Spanish
metropolitan area in economic activity and the seventeenth in Europe
after London, Paris, Rhine-Ruhr, Amsterdam, Milan, Brussels, Moscow,
Frankfurt am Main, Munich, Madrid, Berlin, Vienna, Rome, Copenhagen,
Stockholm and Birmingham.
It is located on the shore of the
Mediterranean Sea, about 120 km south of the Pyrenees mountain range and
the border with France, on a small coastal plain limited by the sea to
the east, the Collserola mountain range to the west, the river Llobregat
to the south and the Besós river to the north. Because it was the
capital of the county of Barcelona, it is often referred to by the
antonomastic name of "county city."
The history of Barcelona
extends over 4,000 years, from the end of the Neolithic, with the first
remains found in the city's territory, to the present day. The
substratum of its inhabitants brings together the Iberian, Roman,
Jewish, Visigoth, Muslim and Christian peoples. As the capital of
Catalonia and the second most important city in Spain, it has forged its
relevance over time, from being a small Roman colony to becoming a city
valued internationally for aspects such as its economy, artistic
heritage, culture, sports and social life.
Barcelona has been the
scene of various international events that have contributed to
consolidating, developing and giving it global projection. The most
relevant have been the Universal Exhibition of 1888, the International
Exhibition of 1929, the 1992 Olympic Games and the Universal Forum of
Cultures 2004. It is also the headquarters of the secretariat of the
Union for the Mediterranean.
Currently, Barcelona is recognized
as a global city for its cultural, financial, commercial and tourist
importance. It has one of the most important ports in the Mediterranean
and is also an important communications point between Spain and France,
due to highway and high-speed rail connections. The Josep Tarradellas
Barcelona-El Prat Airport, located 15 km from the city center, was used
by more than 52.6 million passengers in 2019.
Barcelona consists of ten districts:
Ciutat Vella -
the old town with the medieval Gothic quarter and Barceloneta, the
historic fishing settlement.
Eixample - Newer district, known for its
Modernist style buildings.
Sants-Montjuïc - The hill with the former
Olympic site
Les Corts see Barcelona/West
Sarrià-Sant Gervasi see
Barcelona/West
Gràcia - formerly a working-class district, today a
middle-class settlement.
Horta-Guinardó see Barcelona/North
Nou
Barris see Barcelona/North
Sant Andreu see Barcelona/north
Sant
Marti
There are many legends about the origins of the city.
There is reliable evidence from the time of the Romans, who set up a
Barcino military camp in the old town area; remains from that time can
be found near the cathedral and in the MUHBA museum. Around 415 AD, the
area that is now Catalonia came under the rule of the Visigoths. The
Moors ruled in the 8th century, but the Franks soon conquered this area
and considered it the Spanish March.
In 1137, the County of
Catalonia united with the Kingdom of Aragon. This marked the beginning
of a golden age; Barcelona became the most important city in the western
Mediterranean. At that time, the construction of the cathedral began,
the Drassanes shipyard and several buildings such as the Palau de la
Generalitat and the La Lotja stock exchange were built. In 1298 the
Corts Catalanes was founded, a kind of parliament in which
representatives of the church, nobility and the estates were gathered.
From the 14th century onwards, Barcelona lost its importance due to
the plague and later due to the unification of the previously hostile
kingdoms of Aragon and Castile. While trade with the newly discovered
American continent flourished in Castile, Catalonia was kept out of it
and experienced economic decline.
Catalonia suffered from the
consequences of the Spanish-French War in the 17th century. In the
subsequent War of the Spanish Succession, the French conquered
Barcelona, as a result of which the fortress on Montjuïc was expanded,
another new citadel was built in the area of the Ribera district (Parc
de la Ciutadella), but this did not make the Catalans friends of the
government in the distance Madrid.
The situation changed with the
industrial revolution: initially the textile industry created a large
number of jobs, and other sectors of the economy such as heavy industry,
the production of cement and building materials also became more
important. The influx of workers caused overcrowding in the old town. In
the middle of the 19th century, the old city wall was torn down and the
city was expanded as planned: the new district of Eixample was created.
This new self-confidence was also evident in the implementation of
the World Exhibition in 1888. It took place largely on the grounds of
the Parc de la Ciutadella in the Ciutat Vella. Buildings such as the
Castell dels Tres Dragons or the Column of Columbus were built at that
time Built in the Modernism style, which still defines the cityscape
today.
The next major event was the 1929 World Exhibition on
Montjuïc. An Olympics was to be held there in 1936. The stadium was
completed on time, but the Olympics were awarded to Berlin in a runoff.
A People's Olympics was supposed to take place as a protest against the
Nazi regime, but this was prevented by the outbreak of the Spanish Civil
War. Nevertheless, Barcelona got its Olympics. It took place in 1992,
but in addition to the existing sports facilities on Montjuïc, there
were new facilities at the Olympic village in the Sant Marti district.
Since the Olympic Games, the city has experienced an immense tourism
boom, which continues unabated at the beginning of the 21st century. In
2014, Barcelona received 7.8 million visitors, representing an increase
of over 135% compared to 2000. The tourist infrastructure is
correspondingly well developed, offering hotels, hostels and guesthouses
for a wide range of requirements.
It's not just the Sant Martí
district that shows that Barcelona has changed a lot in the last few
decades, and this process is still in full swing. 22@Barcelona is the
name of this urban development, in the course of which the Poblenou
district along Avenida Diagonal is being transformed. A district is
emerging from the dilapidated Catalan city of Manchester in which
hyper-modern new buildings coexist peacefully next to traditional,
intact buildings. An example of this new conception is the area around
the Torre Agbar in Plaça Glòries.
Barcelona was fortunate to have
a number of first-class urban planners and architects. First and
foremost, Antoni Gaudí should be mentioned; his most important works
were recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1984; the Sagrada
Família, the main attraction, was also added to the list in 2005. The
works of the architect Lluis Doménech i Montaner have also been included
since 1997. Other important personalities who worked in the city include
Salvadore Dali, Joan Miro and Picasso, and there are museums dedicated
to them. Add to this the mild climate, the historic old town, the
picturesque surroundings, the numerous beaches and interesting harbors,
even the football club is worth a visit. Oh yes, tapas and flamenco.
Also typical tourist attractions. But they originally come from the
Spanish south. If tourists want it, it is offered. And the Catalans have
now also developed a taste for tapas. The extraordinary mix of cultural
tradition and avant-garde as well as the multifaceted inventory of
various sights contribute to the charm of the global metropolis with 1.6
million inhabitants. The medieval old town district of Barri Gotic,
icons of Catalan modernism such as the Sagrada Família or the Casa
Batlló, the flair of the Ramblas, the prestigious shopping mile on
Passeig de Gràcia and the exquisite cuisine in the former fishing
district of Barceloneta are just some of the tourist attractions in
Barcelona In addition to 66 museums, there are also 4.5km of attractive
sandy beaches and 86 parks and gardens.
Barcelona is very popular as a city break destination because it has several unique attractions. First and foremost, this is probably the architecture, especially that of Modernisme Català. The city's numerous museums and diverse cultural offerings are also very popular, and many visitors simply enjoy the flair of this Mediterranean metropolis.
The most famous attraction in Barcelona is probably
the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia,
the work of the architect Antoni Gaudí. It has been inscribed on the
World Heritage List. Its construction began in 1882, is financed almost
entirely by donations and has now been underway for more than 120 years.
Of the building's planned eighteen towers, eight have been completed so
far. Even though from the outside it is almost entirely a construction
site, the inside of the church can be viewed inside. You can also climb
two of the towers and you don't even have to be particularly afraid of
heights. From here you have a panoramic view over the whole of
Barcelona.
There are other buildings in the Modernist style to
visit: Palau Güell, Casa Milà (La Pedrera), Casa Batlló, and Park Güell,
which were also built by Gaudí. Gaudí was perhaps the most eccentric
representative of Catalan Art Nouveau, and there are other notable
modernist buildings in Barcelona, such as: B. the Palau de la Música
Catalana and the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau both by Domènech i
Montaner, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
If you
want to avoid long waiting times, you should buy tickets for the Sagrada
Familia, Casa Mila, Casa Batlló and Park Guell online in advance.
Visiting the historic old town (Ciutat Vella) is a
tourist must. The Barcelona Cathedral
is probably the most important building in the Barri Gòtic (Gothic
Quarter). By far the most popular with tourists is the famous La Rambla
with all its cabarets, florists and street cafes. Its striking end
points are the Columbus Column at the harbor and the lively Plaça
Catalunya traffic junction in the center of the city.
Also worth
seeing is the former fishing district of Barceloneta, which adjoins the
old port and has the 1 Platja de Barceloneta, the beaches of Barcelona,
stretching along a promenade on the sea side.
Another interesting
sight at the harbor is the 1,450 meter long Barcelona harbor cable car.
It begins at the 78 meter high Torre San Sebastia. You can reach the top
with an elevator. The cable car continues over the second highest cable
car support in the world, the 107 meter high Torre Jaume I, to the
Montjuïc cable car (Parc de Montjuïc).
On the edge of the
historic old town are the Arc del Triomf (Triumphal Arch) and the
Ciutadella Park.
There are countless museums in Barcelona. The most
important are probably:
The 10 Fundació Joan Miró (Fundación Joan
Miró), Parc de Montjuïc, s/n, 08038 Barcelona. Tel.: +34 934 439 470 .
on Montjuic.
Museu Picasso (Museo Picasso de Barcelona) . In the Born
district. Open: Tue-Sun 10am-8pm. Price: free entry every Thursday from
4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on the first Sunday of every month.
MACBA
and the CCCB in the Raval district
Camp Nou (Museo del Football Club
Barcelona) . Museum of the F.C. Barcelona.
National Museum of Catalonia Art (Museo Nacional d’Art de Catalunya)
. At the Parc de Montjuïc. Feature: wheelchair accessible. Payment
methods accepted: cash, debit card, credit card.
Blue Museum. Part of
the Natural Science Museum. It is located in the Parque del Fòrum, in
the Sant Martí district.
Pavilion Mies van der Rohe (Pabellón alemán,
Barcelona), Av. Francesc Ferrer i Guardia, 7 .
The Moco Museum for
modern and contemporary art, an offshoot of the Amsterdam Moco Museum,
opened in October 2021.
Montjuic Fortress (Castell de Montjuic)
The Montjuïc mountain is worth a visit just as a
viewpoint. From the Plaça Espanya at its feet you go up to the site of
the 1929 World Exhibition and the 1992 Olympics. Places worth seeing
include the Poble Espanyol, the Olympic Stadium and, in particular, the
Font Màgica de Montjuïc below the Palau Nacional. For details see
district article Sants-Montjuïc.
World Heritage
Barcelona owes
eight buildings to the two star architects of Catalan modernism, Antoni
Gaudí and Lluís Domènech i Montaner, which are registered by UNESCO as
World Heritage Sites: Casa Batlló, Casa Milà “La Pedrera”, Casa Vicens,
Cripta de la Colònia Güell , Sant Pau modernist, Palau Güell, Palau de
la Música Catalana,Park Güell and Sagrada Família. In addition, two
cultural specialties of Barcelona are registered as intangible world
heritage, namely the human towers called Castells on the one hand and
the Mediterranean diet on the other.
In the Sant Marti district you will mainly find sights
from the recent past.
Torre Agbar. Skyscraper.
the fish sculpture
“Peix” near the beach
The beach promenade leads past parks and modern
new buildings through the Olympic sports harbor, behind which is the
1992 Olympic village, to the new 2004 forum. This is a newly built
district on Diagonal Mar, whose landmark appears to be a futuristic
congress center
There are also attractions on the outskirts of
the city:
Tibidabo. The amusement park is located high above the city
and was built over 100 years ago on several floors right on the
mountain. Reachable in style with the nostalgic Tramvía Blau and a cable
car.
Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar
Viewpoint on the Columbus Column at the harbor at a
height of 51m
Stroll on the “Ramblas”, the liveliest street in
Barcelona (Plaça Catalunya to the Column of Columbus).
Visit to Plaça
Catalunya.
Visit to the zoo at the Parc de la Ciutadella
Visit to
the aquarium in Port Vell
Stroll for kilometers along the beaches
near Barceloneta.
Stroll through the narrow streets of the Barri
Gotic, the large, intact medieval city center.
Enjoy the nightlife in
one of over 200 squats.
Swimming on the beach of Barceloneta:
Font
Magica at night at Plaça Espanya
Ascent to Montjuïc with a visit to
the cactus garden Jardins de Mossèn Costa i Llobera (free) and past the
luxury hotel Miramar, then various viewpoints. At the top you can visit
the military museum.
Dia del Reis, Epiphany, is celebrated on January 6th.
The evening before there is the Cavalcada dels Reis Mags, the Epiphany
parade, with decorated floats and music.
The week-long festival
Festes de Santa Eulàlia around February 12th is celebrated with concerts
and human towers in honor of the patron saint.
The Diada de Sant
Jordi is a festival celebrated on April 23rd in honor of the Catalan
patron saint, Saint George. Since World Book Day is on the same day, it
has become common practice for men to give their loved ones a red rose
and women to give books in return.
Sant Joan is celebrated on June
24th, St. John's Day.
At the end of June and beginning of July, Pride
Barcelona takes place for a week with a parade.
The Festival Grec de
Barcelona in July is a theater and music festival.
Around August
15th, the Festa Major de Gràcia is celebrated with decorated streets,
music and dancing.
The Festes de la Mercè takes place every year
around September 24th in honor of the patron saint Mercè. It is the
largest city festival in Barcelona, 4 days of dancing, concerts and
fireworks.
Aeropuerto Internacional el Prat de Barcelona (Aeropuerto Josep
Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat, IATA: BCN) . With the Aeropuerto
Internacional el Prat de Barcelona, Barcelona has one of Spain's two
major air traffic hubs. The airport is about 12km southwest of the city.
Many airlines, including international ones, fly to it.
Since the
opening of the huge, hyper-modern Terminal 1 in the south of the airport
site in June 2009, traffic distribution has been reorganized. While
Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Swiss, Iberia and Vueling take off from
the new terminal, low-cost airlines such as Germanwings and easyJet fly
from the old Terminal 2 in the north of the site. There is a free bus
connection between the two terminals.
From Barcelona Airport or
El Prat de Llobregat, the name of the town where the airport is located,
there are several ways to get to and from Barcelona:
There are two separate lines: A1 and A2 after the two terminals T1
and T2. The buses run sometimes every 5 minutes from around 5:30 a.m.
until after midnight. Main stops in the city: Plaça d'Espanya (stop
opposite the Palau Nacional Palace) and the centrally located Plaça de
Catalunya (stop near the El Corte Inglés shopping center). There are
usually several blue buses ready for boarding, tickets are available
from the staff, payment is made in cash and, if possible, appropriately
(>20€ notes are not exchanged), alternatively also at the vending
machine (cash and credit card possible, operating language can be set to
German). There is sufficient storage space for luggage in the middle of
the interior, and there is a ramp for wheelchairs in the middle of the
bus. There are stops at terminals T1 (only with bus A1), as well as T2B
and T2C (only with bus A2), so it is important to get on the right bus
straight away for the return journey to the airport. Travel time 30 - 45
minutes, depending on traffic conditions; Single ticket €5.90 to/from
each stop, return ticket €10.20 (note, only valid for 15 days!), the
normal TMB tickets are not valid on the Aerobuses. (as of November 2016)
City bus: TMB line 46 runs from Plaça d'Espanya to the airport and back
approximately every 20 minutes from around 5:30 a.m. until shortly
before midnight. Stops there: T1, T2B and T2C. The normal bus tickets
apply, so one journey costs €2.15 or with the T10 ticket it costs just
over €1 per journey. The bus stops much more often on the way into the
city, depending on where you are staying it may be more practical to
take it. Disadvantage compared to Aerobus: the journey takes a little
longer, the storage options for suitcases are not that good.
He
drives at night
NitBus (website only in Spanish/Catalan)
N17 from
Terminal 1 and the N16 from Terminal 2 on almost the same route and also
every 20 minutes from around 10:00 p.m. to around 4:30 a.m. TMB tickets
are also valid here.
S-Bahn line R2, connection every 30 minutes. The
station is located at Terminal 2. Stops in the city include Estacio de
Sants Central Station (18 minutes), Passeig de Gracia (24 minutes) and
Clot (30 minutes). Free shuttle buses run between Terminals 1 and 2
every few minutes. The airport is in the same tariff zone as Barcelona.
For example, the T-10 metro ticket can be used for around 10€ for 10
trips by bus, train and metro in Barcelona. These cards are valid
throughout the city for trips of up to 75 minutes. It's worth taking the
T-10 straight away when you arrive. B. to buy in the tobacco shops in
Terminals 1 or 2B. Tickets are also available at (multilingual) machines
in the Terminal 2 S-Bahn station (payment in cash or with EC/credit
card). However, a single train ticket is not valid in inner-city local
transport, nor is a single metro ticket on the train (as of February
2015). Update November 2016: Due to the increase in prices as part of
the new L9 Sud metro line, it is possible that the expensive airport
tariff will now also apply for the R2 to Airport Terminal B, the
information was contradictory.
Metro line L9 Sud: A new metro line
was opened between Zona Universitària and the airport at the beginning
of 2016. Attention: Do not confuse it with the same numbered L9 Nord
between La Sagrera and Can Zam! The new line, for which almost 20km of
new tracks were laid, stops at both Terminal 2 and Terminal 1. However,
there is one drawback: the two airport stations (and only those) can no
longer be reached with the normal T10 ten-ticket , but only with an
expensive Aeroport single ticket, which puts Barcelona in the inglorious
ranks of cities such as Frankfurt am Main, Madrid and Brussels, which
artificially make journeys to the airport more expensive. The new metro
line L9 Sud is designed to be completely handicapped accessible, but the
transfers to other metro lines are not, with the exception of the
transfer to the L8 (Europa Fira), which can be very annoying when
traveling with luggage due to the mostly only stairs available.
Taxi
stands are located in front of each terminal. At night, when the train
and Aerobus are not running or you are traveling with a lot of luggage,
the taxi is the only real alternative. Please note: the taxi cannot be
hailed, instead you can queue and be assigned to a taxi. The fees are
made up of several components/surcharges and increase again after
midnight. There is also a minimum fee of €20, so even a short trip to
the nearby hotel will cost that much. Many hotels around the airport
also offer their own free or inexpensive transfer service.
There
are also two nearby airports in the Barcelona area, which are primarily
used by low-cost carriers:
Girona (approx. 70km and 1 1/4 hour by bus
to the north, without a train connection) is e.g. B. flown to by
Ryanair.
Reus (approx. 70km southwest)
is well signposted. The
bus takes about half an hour to cover the distance of around 15km, and
from there you have good connections to public transport. The “normal”
bus is cheaper, but it is not quite as comfortable.
There are two major train stations in Barcelona: Estació de
Barcelona-Sants, the main train station proper. Estació de França,
located close to the sea. This train station is of minor importance.
Barcelona is connected to the high-speed network of both Spanish
and French railways. A TGV runs twice a day from Paris Gare de Lyon
(via Nîmes and Montpellier) to Barcelona (journey time 6½ hours).
Other international connections are with the Spanish AVE from
Marseille (4½ hours) or Lyon (a good 5 hours).
From Germany,
the journey usually takes place with the French TGV with a stopover
in Paris. There you have to change train stations within an hour:
from Gare du Nord or Gare de l'Est to Gare de Lyon. The fastest
connection from Karlsruhe to Barcelona takes 10½ hours, from
Frankfurt a. M. a good 11½ hours, from Cologne just under 12 hours.
From Switzerland you can travel either via Paris or via Lyon and
Montpellier. The fastest connection from Basel to Barcelona takes
around 9 hours. There are no longer any night trains on the route.
Within Spain you can get to Barcelona from Madrid with the AVE
every hour in 2½-3 hours. Parallel to the Mediterranean coast,
Euromed trains (faster than an Intercity, but not quite as fast as
the AVE) run every two hours from Valencia via Tarragona to
Barcelona (3:15 hours in total), and four times a day from Alicante
(around 5 hours); In addition, there are slightly slower Talgo
trains on the same route. From Seville (5½ hours) and Málaga (5:45
hours) there are transfer-free AVE connections via Cordoba to
Barcelona twice a day. From northern Spain, Alvia or Intercity
trains from Bilbao, Gijón, Irun, Pamplona or Valladolid go directly
to Barcelona, otherwise you have to change in Zaragoza.
Night
trains (Trenhotel) connect Barcelona with Galicia (A Coruña, Vigo,
Ourense).
Traveling from Austria, Germany or Switzerland by bus is possible
(Eurolines operates a Europe-wide bus system), but it is very
time-consuming and not really cheap. It is advisable to plan a trip
early, taking into account cheap flight prices. There are two major
bus stations:
FLIXBUS long-distance bus connection N710
Düsseldorf ↔ Cologne North ↔ Bonn ↔ Mendig (Volcanic Eifel) ↔ Trier
↔ Luxembourg ↔ Metz ↔ Nancy ↔ Diyon ↔ Lyon ↔ Montpellier ↔
Barcelona.
FLIXBUS long-distance bus connection N728 Munich ↔
Barcelona. Barcelona North bus station.
Barcelona Nord bus
station, between the Arc de Triomf and Marina metro stations.
Important transfer station. Lockers for luggage, but very expensive.
Sants bus station, located behind Sants train station
The motorway network around Barcelona is dense and mostly tolls (e.g.
Valencia-Barcelona around €20), but free in the immediate vicinity of
the city. In principle, getting to your destination in the city center
with your own vehicle is relatively easy: thanks to the chessboard
structure and the usually good view of the Tibidabo, it is always clear.
However, traffic jams in the city center are more the rule than the
exception. The prevailing driving style is a bit sporty and impatient,
but still fair. A significant part of the road network is designed as a
system of one-way streets, alternating in opposite directions, which
often leads (older) navigation systems astray.
If you want to
travel by motorhome, you should use the city's “Park & Ride” offer and
park outside the city center. Parking spaces in the city center are very
limited and the many underground car parks are only usable for cars and
are also quite expensive at €5 to €8 per hour and from €25 per day. The
police take strict action against illegal parking.
Safety note:
Lock the doors when driving within the city: There are a lot of moped
drivers on the road whose passengers, when stopped at a traffic light,
quickly open a rear car door, steal some items and then drive away
unhindered.
The shipping company Trasmediterránea operates an at least daily
ferry connection to Palma de Mallorca from the Estació Marítima,
mostly at night.
Sailors and yacht owners are turned away in the
harbor and instead find themselves in the marina in the Olympic
harbor.
There is a return ferry service from Barcelona to Genoa,
Italy three times a week.
Cruise ships like to stop in Barcelona
(the city is the fourth most visited port in Europe), they (rarely)
moor at the old port of Port Vell and the World Trade Center (WTC)
terminals, but more at the cruise terminals (Quai Adossat) terminals
(A to D), preferably 2-3 at a time. They are further away and the
container ships are unloaded opposite, but there is a shuttle bus
("Blue Bus" with the inscription "Cruiser", one trip €3, return €4,
as of January 2018) into the city center to the Columbus monument,
which is only 1 minute away from the Rambla and has the Drassanes
(L3) metro station nearby (but the L2 with Paral·lel and the L4 with
Barceloneta are also not far). There is also a stop for the
sightseeing tourist bus at the end of the shuttle line.
For the
start/end of a cruise from Barcelona and arrival/departure by plane,
either intensive use of public transport is necessary (Aerobus from
the airport to Placa Catalunya, from there Metro L2 to Drassanes and
walking to the Blue Bus) or you have to pay a taxi (but this charges
extra for the journey to the cruise terminal). Traveling to a cruise
with your own car requires more logistical effort for long-term
parking and costs at least €15 per day, even at special rates for
cruisers.
The Italian Grandi Navi Veloci operates ferries between
Sète in France and Nador in Morocco (38 hours), some with a stop
here.
Exploring Barcelona on foot is not a particularly good idea. The
paths are good, but also quite long. If you have accommodation near the
old town, it may still be fine for you, but everyone else should get
used to public transport. All you have to do is follow the clearly laid
out signposts from the metro stations. Fortunately, the city has an
excellent, inexpensive and easy-to-use metro, tram and bus system that
makes getting from A to B quick and easy.
A one-way trip in
Barcelona costs €2.15 (as of January 2016). The ticket is valid for 75
minutes and allows you to change trains (as long as you do not leave the
metro station).
It's cheaper with the T-10, which is now called
"Casual", a ten-card for €11.35. These prices apply to Zone 1, which is
valid for practically all of Barcelona including the airport. Only those
who want to go on a trip to the surrounding area (e.g. Monserat
Monastery) need additional tickets. The ten ticket is no longer
transferable since 2021 and is only valid for one person. There is now
the “Familiar” ticket for this. When entering the metro station or on
the bus, you will have to be stamped or the ticket must be inserted into
the transit gates (metro) (which requires a little patience). You can
get out of the buses or metro stations without a ticket or without
having to put it back into the machine.
If you want an all-round
carefree package, you should buy a Hola Barcelona Travel Card. It is
available for 2 (48h), 3 (72h), 4 (96h) and 5 (120h) days at a price of
€16.30, €23. 70 €, 30.80 € or 38 € (as of 11/2021). In contrast to
previous day tickets, they are valid from the first use for the
specified number of hours and no longer according to calendar days. They
also include the subway to the airport, which is otherwise subject to a
surcharge (U9 Sud, otherwise €5.15 each way). If purchased online early
and sent to your home or picked up at the machine using a voucher, these
are 10% cheaper.
In principle, single, multiple and day tickets are
valid on buses, metro, tram and regional train lines. What you have to
pay extra for are the Aerobus, the cable car to Montjuic (Teleferic),
the cable car across the harbor, the tramvia (on weekends) to Tibidabo
and the double-decker sightseeing bus. The metro to the airport is also
subject to a surcharge
There are free apps for Android and iPhone
that provide information about lines, schedules, prices, disruptions and
news. To do this, search for the term "TMB".
If you want to visit
a lot of museums, you should consider the Barcelona Card (3 days per
adult €45, 4 days €55, 5 days €60, online minus 10%), as it gives you
unlimited public transport rides for a fixed price , free entry to
attractions and also discounts at many other sights (and also on the
double-decker bus). In addition, the long queues for museums can often
be shortened because this card is considered an online ticket. However,
it is only worth it if you visit at least 1-2 museums every day. The
Barcelona Card Express, valid for 2 days, costs €20. Apart from
transport, it does not offer free entry, only discounts.
The Bus
Turistíc double-decker bus with an open top continues on a total of
three interesting routes (red-the city, green-the coast and blue-the
north) through Barcelona - ideal for getting from one sight to the other
in peace and without being too uncomfortable on your feet. It is
possible to change from one line to the other at several stations, the
buses now have free WiFi, and the travel times are adjusted to the
number of tourists (5-20 minutes). Nevertheless, there can be long
queues at famous stations (such as the Sagrada Familia) (Wikivoyage tip:
get on one station earlier/later). The price is €28 for a 1-day ticket
and €39 for 2 (consecutive!) days, and there are online discounts here
too. The first trips start at 9:00 a.m., the last ones in winter at 7:00
p.m. and in summer at 8:00 p.m. Audio commentary via the provided
headphones is available in 11 languages, including: German, too. The red
and blue routes take around 2 hours for a complete round (without
getting out), the green route takes around 40 minutes. Tickets are
available on the bus, at the tourist office and in many hotels.
An alternative is the bicycle, because the city has some
excellent cycle paths; they are usually located on the edge of the
multi-lane main roads, separated by a parking strip, and a former
car lane has often been converted for both directions of cyclists
and marked/demarcated accordingly on the ground . The city has a
good rental system with Bicing, which is primarily used by locals.
Renting bikes from Bicing is almost impractical for tourists because
you have to register first and then get access after a few days -
although several hotels now also offer the system. Other rental
companies:
Born Bike Tours Barcelona, Marquesa nº 1. Tel.:
+34 933190020, Email: info@bornbikebarcelona.com.
Rent your bike
for €7 from bike tours for €26 From Gothic to Modern
Baja Bikes.
Barcelona city tour.
Budget bikes. Four shops and rental stations
in the city area.
bicimetro. Near Sants train station.
Further information can also be found in the district articles.
Segway Barcelona Tours Day, en Rull 2 08002. Tel.: +34 608 408 112,
email: info@barcelonasegwayday.com. Barcelona Segway Day. Open:
9-21. Price: 29-49.
Barcelona has an excellent metro and rapid transit (Cercanias)
system. The metro lines run at least every 5 minutes during peak times.
Since the trains are air-conditioned, the stations are hot and stuffy.
Similar to London, changing trains can sometimes be a bit annoying with
long corridors and lots of stairs. This is not recommended for people
with walking difficulties.
The individual price per trip is
comparatively high at €2.15 - we recommend buying a ticket for 10 (for 1
zone: T10 for €9.95, for 2 zones: €19.60; as of January 2016) - one The
journey can take up to 75 minutes; changing is permitted. Day or
multi-day tickets are only worthwhile for frequent travelers. Zone 1
covers the entire urban area of Barcelona. The local transport system
has a total of 6 tariff zones. For detailed information, including on
individual (bus) lines, see
Mapa Metro Barcelona.
RENFE. Most visitors will be pretty indifferent as to who exactly is
behind which line, as long as the ticket is valid for the chosen means
of transport. And it won't matter to them whether the track gauge of the
trains is standard gauge or Iberian broad gauge (L1) or even whether it
has a different format (L8). Of the 11 metro lines, only lines 6, 7 and
8 are operated by the FGC, the others belong to the TMB. There are also
a few Rodalies (local trains) that run on the metro network, but do not
stop at every station. Basically, the metro lines are signposted with
their colors and numbers as well as the end stations as directions.
Metros run on weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to midnight, on Fridays and before
public holidays from 5:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. the following day, on
Saturdays from 5:00 a.m. to Sunday, and on Sundays from midnight to
midnight :00 p.m.
The funiculars to Montjuïc and Vallvidrera are
integrated into the metro system, which means normal tickets can be
used. The Funicular del Tibidabo is not one of them (even if it is shown
on the metro maps) and requires a separate ticket. The same applies to
the cable cars (Teleferic) up Montjuïc and across the harbor.
Barcelona has modern trams. However, it is possible to visit the city
and not notice anything about it. This is due to the modest line system.
Lines T1, T2 and T3 are located in the west of the city and the comarca
Baix de Llobregat, hence the name Trabaix. Lines T4, T5 and T6 run in
the east of the city; the company is called Trambesòs after the town of
Sant Adrià de Besòs. There is currently no connection between these
routes. However, they are well connected to the metro network, even if
the distances to the transfer stations are not exactly short. Normal
local transport tickets apply to these trams.
However, the
Tramvia blue makes an exception. It connects the terminus of the line
with the funicular to Tibidabo (mountain with amusement park). This
purely tourist tram only runs on weekends at special times and special
tickets must be purchased. Therefore, the tourists are mostly among
themselves in this line. Locals use the parallel bus route.
Bus
routes
In recent years, the city has reorganized its local transport
system according to parallel streets and squares. This Nova Xarxa (new
network) consists of easy-to-understand lines,
vertical lines
(green), (e.g. Gran Via Corts Catalanes)
horizontal lines (blue),
(e.g. Passeig Gràcia, Passeig Sant Joan)
diagonal lines (purple),
(streets: Diagonal, Paral.lel, Meridiana)
Some transport hubs
will then become central transfer stations. This concerns:
Plaça
Espanya, Monumental Valley, Passeig Meritim, Prat de la Riba, Ernest
Lluch and Alfons X.
This concept is currently being implemented and
expanded gradually (2012-2015). Current information available at Nova
Xarxa de Bus. On the website of the transport company TMB you will find
a search engine with which you can search for the individual bus routes
on the way from A to B. There you will also find more information about
the individual bus routes and a map of the bus routes. There is also
this bus map on the back of every bus stop. You can also get a map (TMB
Map) on the website, e.g. B. as part of the connection search or
location search. For larger squares (e.g. Plaza Espanya or Catalunya)
this makes a lot of sense, as clicking on the individual stop (red B)
opens information about which bus line serves this stop.
In principle there are enough taxis in the city. You can read on the taxi sign whether it is "Lliure" (free) or not and in which zone it is currently operating. This means anyone can check from the outside whether the taxi driver is cheating or not. This means that the prices are easy to calculate and tourists are rarely ripped off.
The city of Barcelona has adapted to the wishes of its many visitors
and offers a whole range of tours, from the usual hop-on-hop-off tours,
including at night, to architecture tours or e-bike tours to walking
tours for gourmets. Tickets for this are available from
Barcelona-Touristik in the shops or on the website. Given the variety of
tours on offer, it's worth taking a look at the offers. A few examples:
Barcelona Bus-Turistic, adult day ticket from €28, there are 3
routes that can be combined (red-blue-green) that lead to practically
every attraction. Double-decker buses, changing to another route, audio
guide, app for smartphone
Gaudí tour with visit to the Sagrada
Família and Casa Battló
Las Golondrinas: harbor tours or trips from
the harbor along the coast to the forum
GoCar Tours, two-seater city
vehicles equipped with a small gasoline engine and GPS
Twizy, the
more environmentally friendly electric two-seater version with GPS for
€60 per day
Private Barcelona Tours, private city tours tailored
entirely to the customer
Guided city tour on foot (also in German),
with a rented (electric) bike (in a group or individually), with a
scooter, on the water, etc.
The MetroWalks offer material for you to
explore yourself, each geared towards the start/end points of metro
stations
Barcelona Segway Ride a Segway through the city and explore
Barcelona from €29.
See also the district articles. When making larger purchases in
stores, non-EU citizens should first ask whether the “Reemborsament
d'IVA” (VAT refund) is worth it.
Groceries
The Mercat La
Boqeria, right next to La Rambla, is a must on any visit (open Mon-Sat 8
a.m.-8:30 p.m.). The selection is huge, there is always something
extraordinary to discover alongside the everyday. Fruit, fish, meat,
there is something for every taste. There are also other markets in
other parts of the city. Supermarkets: often just small shops with a
modest selection, not everyone carries fruit. Many are closed during
siesta (12:00-4:00).
Shopping malls
There are of course also
several large shopping malls, including the Mare Magnum in the old port
and Spain's largest shopping center, the Center Comercial Diagonal Mar.
El Corte Inglés cannot be overlooked at all; the chain is represented
several times, including a large department store in the city center.
El Corte Inglés, Pl. de Catalunya 14.
La Maquinista (Westfield La
Maquinista) . Large mall outside the center.
La Roca Village. Large
outlet village outside the city, there are shuttle buses for €20 per
person.
Fashion and accessories
A wide range of shops can be
found in the “Shopping Line”. It stretches from Pedralbes along Avinguda
Diagonal and from Passeig de Gràcia to Plaça Catalunya and further along
Rambla to the port.
Souvenirs
If you like unusual souvenirs,
you might enjoy a figure that belongs to a Catalan Christmas nativity
scene: a Caganer. It's about the shit, a person who isn't exactly at the
center of Christmas events with his pants down. Such figures are
available for purchase, among other things: in the Sagrada Família shop
and in a shop opposite the Palau Güell.
The city charges an overnight stay tax in addition to that of the
region, amounting to €3.25/N. (As of: Apr 2024)
Since
Barcelona is now a very popular travel destination, there are a lot
of different types of accommodation available. There are numerous
hotels, hostels, guesthouses and also private apartments.
Hotel, hostel and guesthouse: knowing the difference means saving
money. Hostal and guesthouse are two different names for the same
type of accommodation! Hostals are very similar to hotels and are
more or less the same as a guesthouse in the German sense. Hostals
can offer the same and sometimes even better quality of
accommodation as hotels at the same price range. In general, it can
be said that hostels in Barcelona are significantly cheaper than
hotels with comparable offerings. Prices vary greatly, but hostels
can be up to 50% cheaper than equivalent hotels. Hostals are mostly
small family businesses - very similar to private apartments - with
a friendly, informal atmosphere - if you are planning a stay longer
than two days, hostals or apartments are worth it! If you live in
Barceloneta, you should insist on heating (calefacció) for the
winter months. Hostals are therefore not youth hostels. The name for
youth hostels in Barcelona is albergs juvenils.
The prices of
many hotels vary with the season. So it's quite possible that the
two of you pay €65 for a double room in a mid-range hotel, and the
same room costs over €100 a month later. Hotel rooms are roughly
available from €30/person/night for the undemanding, but apartments
(for 2-4 people/night) are also available in the same price
category. Tip: Skip the breakfast in the hotel - which has to be
paid for separately - and have the esmorzar like a Catalan in one of
the many morning bars! This is how you can experience the flair of
Barcelona and at truly ridiculous prices!
There are many
agencies that offer apartments in Barcelona. It is important to pay
attention to whether they are reputable (seal of quality, detailed
contact details, etc.). Barcelona is a lively city and the inner
city districts such as Born, Gotico and Raval are particularly
popular nightlife areas in the evenings. This means that these
neighborhoods are not necessarily the quietest. However, the old
town of Barcelona has a special flair and it's nice to wake up in
it.
Some accommodations:
1 guesthouse Alamar. The Alamar
guesthouse is located in the heart of the city, in the Gothic
Quarter. The guesthouse is located in a quiet side street
(pedestrian zone) off Las Ramblas. Services include: kitchen,
heating, air conditioning, telephone, living room TV.
2 Silver
Apartments
3 Residencia Martí-Codolar. Well suited for groups and
school classes.
4 Barcelona City North
5 Albareda Youth Hostel
6 Hotel Lloret Ramlas
7 The Urban Suites
8 Alternative
Creative Youth Home Hostel
9 Sleep Green ECO Youth Hostel
Barcelona
Barcelona30. Simple and central accommodation for €30
per night.
Details about these houses and other accommodations
are listed in the district articles.
Catalan cuisine is diverse - but above all rich. From small
delicacies, tapas, to opulent fish dishes or hearty steaks,
everything is possible. In the Chinese quarter you can taste
authentic Asian dishes.
The prices in the restaurants are
generally lower than in Austria or Germany, but depend heavily on
the location in which the restaurant is located and are generally
quite a bit higher than in the rest of Spain. In and around the
Ramblas, Placa Catalunya and Passeig de Gracia as well as in the
places that are highly visited by tourists, the price goes up and
the quality goes down.
At lunchtime you can look for the menu
del dia - traditionally this consists of a starter, main course and
dessert as well as 1/2 liter of wine per person. The price should be
between €15-20 (peak summer season). Tip: You shouldn't judge the
restaurant by its appearance, but by the guests! Locals look at the
floor of unknown bars. The more there is around, the more there is
going on - so the bar is recommended. Especially in the Barri Gotic,
the open-minded traveler can experience a culinary miracle! Smoking
is prohibited in the restaurants, although it may be tolerated in
the outdoor area in some places.
The Spaniard often doesn't
go to lunch until 2 p.m. and doesn't go to dinner until very late.
The restaurants are usually open from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and
again from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Of course there is fast
food everywhere (Mc Donald's, kebab), but it's not really cheap in
the long run.
The main courses are:
tapas
rice
Sliced cod
Catalan cream
Chocolate & Churros
Fredolic's
soup
Zarzuela
Lobster and chicken
Barcelona-style
cannelloni
Bread with tomatoes
Hard Rock Café Barcelona, at
Placa Catalunya.
Café Zurich, at Placa Catalunya. Known as a
meeting point like the Berlin World Clock.
Cheap
Txirimiri. The entire counter of Txirimiri is full of pintxos, which
is the Basque version of tapas, a piece of white bread with a
topping and a toothpick, around 30 to 50 different types. You take
one plate per table, go to the counter and load it up. You are
charged based on the number of toothpicks you collect.
Egipte,
Ramblas 79. Egipte is always busy and offers excellent menus for 16
euros (ask for the menu, otherwise there is just the normal menu).
The service is very attentive and quick.
Upscale
Els
Pescadors. Off the beaten tourist path, on a small side street in a
square with wide, ancient trees.
Barcelona is generally safe, but is considered the “pickpocket
capital” due to the extremely high risk of theft. Pickpockets along Las
Ramblas are particularly active during peak travel times. In this
context, attention should also be drawn to the ever-increasing number of
child deceptions: one child is a distraction, another child steals what
is not safe (purse, camera, etc.). Unfortunately, in such a case, the
chances of getting your belongings back are very slim. At the airport
you can be approached by people who pretend to be non-Spanish and claim
to have been robbed on the train or similar and only need €50-100 for
the ticket home.
Plaça Real and Barri Xino (the triangle from
Columbus Column to Carrer Nou de la Rambla) are unsafe areas. You should
avoid these areas at night! Even in isolated areas of Montjuïc it is
better not to walk alone.
The metro is chronically overcrowded at
peak times, there are hardly any seats and you are jostled from all
sides. In the vast majority of cases this happens by chance and is
harmless. However, it can also be an attempt to change the ownership of
valuables. Carry valuables on your body, possibly in a neck pouch, even
if the effect of the outfit sometimes suffers as a result.
You
should also pay attention to the things on the beach - to be on the safe
side, one person should always stay on land to keep an eye on
everything. In general, don't take anything of value with you that you
don't absolutely need - there's also a safe in the hotel or hostel!
In general, anyone who behaves conspicuously or openly carries
valuables with them attracts the attention of thieves.
Cars are
also frequently broken into. If you rent a car, you should make sure to
remove stickers from the rental company (with their permission),
otherwise you will immediately be recognized as a tourist.
Bluetooth/Wifi should be switched off for devices that are in the car,
as they can be scanned from the outside and can therefore be found even
if they cannot be seen visually. It is advisable to park underground or
guarded.
If you want to report a theft or something similar, you have to take
into account that some police officers are unable (or unwilling) to
speak English, although the official theft reporting form is available
in English, Spanish and German. It is important that there are several
very differently organized police forces in Spain.
In general,
when looking for police, you should try to go to the Mossos d’Esquadra
(Catalan National Police) or Guàrdia Urbana (City Police). The Guardia
Urbana is recognized by the blue and white checkered stripes on its
vehicles and uniform and specializes in assisting tourists.
The
Guardia Civil is the wrong place to deal with concerns of almost any
kind; this paramilitary police force consists of police officers with
the ranks and status of professional soldiers. The Guardia Civil
performs sovereign tasks. The Policía Nacional has similar tasks to the
Guadia Civil, but is not organized militarily.
German-speaking doctors can be found in the German-speaking medical
association DÄG, among others. with a German-speaking general
practitioner, in the "Clinica del Remedio", Carrer Escorial 148
(Gracia), Tel.: 666 688311, www.dagbcn.com
Dental Clinic Center,
Passeig de Gracia 8, 2/2a, in Eixample. Tel: 934 121695.
Official languages in Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, are
Catalan and Spanish. The signs and signposts in the city are mostly in
Catalan. In many tourist places, young people in particular also speak
English, but also French or German.
Most maps/plans are not
north-oriented, but are usually mountain (top)/sea-side (bottom)
oriented. There is not always a north arrow.
Tourist information.
Tel: +34 932 853 834, Email: info@barcelonaturisme.com. Tourist
information can be found at the airport terminals, at the Estació de
Sants train station and at the cruise terminal. Other places are in the
old town at the Columbus Monument and the Rambla, at the Sagrada
Familia, at Plaça Catalunya and at Plaça Espanya.
Articket BCN. The
price of €38 includes the entrance fee to the following museums:
Fundació Joan Miró, MNAC-Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, CCCB-Centre
de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona, Fundació Antoni Tàpies,
MACBA-Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona.
Barcelona Card. The
cards are available for 72 - 120 hours as BCN 3 (€53) - BCN 5 (€75). The
price includes the use of public transport and many museums (including
most of the Articket BCN museums). The Barcelona Card Express for 2 days
(20 €) does not have free entries, only discounts.
However, there is
more than just the official Barcelona Card, which is only suitable for
museums and public transport. Other Barcelona passes also grant free
entry to the Sagrada Família as well as other Gaudí attractions. The
selection has now become quite confusing and not every City Card is
suitable for every traveler. Here is a Barcelona Card comparison that
explains several City Cards/City Passes in detail.
You can usually
get stamps where you can buy postcards. At least that applies to the
tourist information shops. The mailboxes bear the inscription Correos.
The main post office is near the port at Plaça Antoni López (Via
Laietana), it is open on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
The surrounding area of Barcelona also offers many interesting
destinations.
The Sierra de Montseny Natural Park, about half an
hour's drive from Barcelona, is worth a detour. On small roads you can
quickly reach heights of 1,000 meters or more. A bit of nerve and, above
all, a calm driving style are necessary when a steep mountain wall rises
up to the left of the road, the road to the right of the road goes down
just as steeply (without there being any guardrails), and the road - if
at all - is just wide it's enough that two cars can meet each other and
you have a sharp left turn in front of you. But you are compensated with
a beautiful landscape, beautiful views and good hiking opportunities.
Figueres is a good hour's drive from Barcelona. Salvador Dalí was
born in this small town and is buried in the Teatre-Museu Dali, which he
designed himself.
On the way to Figueres you pass the small
Catalan town of Girona with its impressive and manageable medieval old
town.
If you follow the motorway from Barcelona towards Lleida,
you will reach the Sierra de Montserrat, where the monastery of the same
name, located in the mountains, is worth a visit. Montserrat is known
for its black Madonna "La Moreneta", the patron saint of Catalonia. You
can also reach Montserrat by train from Pl. Espanya Station in about 1.5
hours. There are combination tickets from 26.60 euros, which include
access by metro, the train (to Monistrol de Montserrat station), the cog
railway to the monastery (Cremallera) and two funiculars (funicular)
from the monastery. As an alternative to the rack railway, you can also
take a cable car (teleférico) to the monastery (get off one stop
earlier).
The Colonia Güell with its crypt is a place of
pilgrimage for fans of the architect Antonio Gaudí. It is located about
20km southwest of Barcelona and can be reached from Plaça Espanya with
lines S33, S4 and S8.
Tarragona is located on the Costa Daurada,
approximately 100 kilometers southwest of Barcelona. In Roman times,
Tarragona was one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire under
the name Tarraco and an important starting point for the Romanization of
the Iberian Peninsula. In Tarragona you will find many remains of Roman
buildings, including the amphitheater and the forum. The city is very
easy to reach from Barcelona by train.
Between Barcelona and
Tarragona lies Penedes, which is known for its cava production. The
best-known wineries are Codorniu and Freixenet.
South of
Barcelona lies Sitges, a popular seaside resort with a beautiful beach
and hardly any development. Sitges can be reached from Barcelona (e.g.
Barcelona Sants) in about 40 minutes by suburban train (Cercanias).
The origin of the name Barcelona is unknown and there are various
theories and legends that try to explain it. It is known that there was
an original Iberian city, from the Layetan tribe. It was later conquered
by Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus, and was later converted into a Roman
colony, placed under the protection of Gaius Julius Caesar and Octavius
Augustus, which received the name Colonia Iulia Augusta Paterna Faventia
Barcino. The name evolved during the Middle Ages, when the city was
known by the names of Barchinona, Barcalona, Barchelona and Barchenona.
Archaeological evidence in the form of coins found at the foot of
Montjuic and minted in the 3rd century BC. C. shows the name Bárkeno
written in an ancient Iberian language spoken by the Layetani. We can
conclude that the Layetani or Laietani - an ancient pre-Roman Iberian
people who inhabited the area that the city of Barcelona occupies today
- called the place Bàrkeno, which means "Place of the Plains" (Barrke =
plains/terrace)
One of the legends about the origin of Barcelona
alludes to a hypothetical foundation by the Carthaginian general
Hamilcar Barca after conquering the Iberian enclave after his landing in
Iberia, while another version is attributed to his son Aníbal, who
occupied the territory during the Second Punic War in its advance to the
Pyrenees.
However, there is no documentary evidence of this link
between the names of the Carthaginian Barca family and the city known as
Barcelona. There are other explanations for the name of the city, such
as the one that maintains that it comes from the Phoenician period, a
theory supported by the inscription in Iberian writing Barkeno in
Iberian writing ("barkeno") found on a coin.
There is also a
legend that gives a mythological explanation to the name of the city.
According to this legend, Hercules joined the Argonauts after finishing
his fourth labor to help them search for the Golden Fleece, but when
passing near the current Catalan coast a storm dispersed the boats that
made up the expedition, and at the end the ninth was missing. . Hercules
searched for it and finally found the wreck of the Barca Nona (the ninth
boat) next to the current Montjuic. The crew had found the place so
welcoming that, helped by Hermes (god of commerce and arts), they
decided to found a city to which they gave the name Barcanona.
The shield of Barcelona has its origin in the Middle Ages and appears
for the first time, in the same layout as the current one, in 1329. The
shield is divided into four quarters where the cross of Saint George
appears in the first and fourth. in gules on silver, and in the second
and third quarters with the four sticks of gules on gold (shield of the
royal family of Aragon).
Numerous variants have also been found
with one, two, three, or even five vertical bars in each quarter. The
shield is headed by a crown, a symbol of the sovereignty of the monarchs
of the Crown of Aragon over the city. The flag derives directly from the
shield, so it has the same composition, although without the crown.
During the Franco dictatorship, two gules sticks were carried in
each barracks, following previous representations of some medieval
versions and even from the 19th and early 20th centuries, and which were
criticized by some sectors of the population for simplifying the royal
sign and They attributed it to an assimilative intention towards the
Spanish flag. In 1996, a process began that lasted several years to
conveniently make the symbols official, but without restoring the
original, but rather a logo inspired by that shield was made official.
The Catalan Society of Genealogy, Heraldry, Sigil·lografia,
Vexil·lologia i Nobiliària initiated a dispute denouncing that the
process had not followed the procedure in accordance with the law to
make symbols official, which it won, and forced the City Council to make
the symbols official in accordance with heraldry and vexillology. It
also uses an isotype derived directly from the historical shield.
The city of Barcelona is located on the Mediterranean coast of the
Iberian Peninsula, right in the center of the river deltas of the
Llobregat rivers, to the southwest, and Besós, to the northeast. Its
municipal boundary borders, from south to northeast and clockwise, with
the municipalities of: El Prat de Llobregat, Hospitalet de Llobregat,
Esplugas de Llobregat, San Justo Desvern, San Feliú de Llobregat, Molins
de Rey, San Cugat del Vallés, Sardañola del Vallés, Moncada and Reixach,
Santa Coloma de Gramanet and San Adrián de Besós. The first two and the
last two are the municipalities with which the city maintains closer
contact, with a continuous dense urban mesh that unites them, on the
contrary San Cugat del Vallés and Sardañola del Vallés are very
separated from Barcelona, since the Litoral mountain range and the
Sierra de Collserola natural park act as natural barriers.
Barcelona has a small part of its municipal territory on the Llobregat
slope of the Collserola mountain range. These are Vallvidrera and Les
Planes, which are somewhat interned within the Collserola natural park.
It is also part of its municipal term Santa Cruz de Olorde, riding
between the Vallés Occidental and the Bajo Llobregat.
In this
way, Barcelona is the capital of the Barcelonés region, which is made up
of the municipalities of Barcelona, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Badalona,
Santa Coloma de Gramanet and San Adrián de Besós. This county borders
the Vallés Occidental to the north, the Vallés Oriental and Maresme
counties to the northeast, the Mediterranean Sea to the east and
southeast and the Bajo Llobregat county to the west.
Located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, Barcelona sits on a
gently sloping plain formed between the river deltas of the rivers
Llobregat, to the southwest, and Besós, to the northeast. It is bordered
to the southeast by the coastline, and to the northwest by the
Collserola mountain range (with the summit of Tibidabo at 516 m above
sea level as its highest point), which is parallel to the coastline,
enclosing the city in a very limited perimeter.
Barcelona's
coastline has changed over time to the point that in prehistoric times
it reached where today's Plaza de Catalunya is located. The land on
which La Barceloneta was built did not exist a century and a half before
the construction of this neighborhood. These lands are the result of the
accumulation of sand sediments carried by the sea currents coming from
the north and which would be contained by the breakwater of the port
built in 1640, and which ended up joining the old island of Mayans
(where the station of France) with mainland, forming the base language
of La Barceloneta.
The part of Barcelona closest to the coastal
mountains is dotted with small peaks, some of which are urbanized, and
others crowned by parks, such as Carmelo (265.6 meters), Monterols
(127.3 meters), Putxet ( 182.7 meters), Rovira (206.8 meters) and Turó
de la Peira (138 meters). But the best-known peak of Barcelona, just
above the coastline and separating the city from the Llobregat delta, is
Montjuic mountain (184.8 meters). Finally, mention the promontory of
only 16.9 m where it houses the historical core of the city, Mount
Táber.
One of the attractions that Barcelona has incorporated since the last
years of the 20th century is its beaches. Thanks to the regeneration of
the coast carried out in 1992 on the occasion of the Olympic Games,
Barcelona now has nine beaches and a bathing area that occupy more than
4.2 linear kilometers of coastline. The beaches are fully central,
connected to the center and located a few minutes from anywhere in the
city. All are equipped with the most complete services: showers,
surveillance, Red Cross and, in some cases, changing rooms, hammock
rentals, beach bars, etc. The beaches are cleaned every day throughout
the year, and all of them have the blue flag of the European Union that
approves their excellence.
According to data from the Barcelona
City Council, they receive more than seven million bathers each year.
Although most are concentrated in the months of good weather, between
May and September, citizens and visitors can also enjoy the beaches the
rest of the year, since they are equipped to play tennis, beach
volleyball and other sports.
On the beach of La Barceloneta, next
to the Hotel Arts, there is a modern municipal thalassotherapy center,
the Polideportivo Marítimo, equipped with seawater pools, and which
allows the enjoyment of sports and health services throughout the year.
The ten beaches are, from south to north, the beach of San Sebastián,
San Miguel, La Barceloneta, Somorrostro, Nueva Icaria, Bogatell, Mar
Bella, Nueva Mar Bella, Levante and the Fórum baths. On the Mar Bella
beach there is a space reserved for nudism.
The city of Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate with maritime
influences. According to the criteria of the Köppen-Geiger
classification, the city is close to a transition zone from the
subtropical climate of dry and hot summers Csa (Mediterranean climate)
to a humid subtropical climate Cfa.
Temperatures are mild during
winter and very warm in summer, with little daily temperature variation,
which is around 8°C on average. The annual thermal amplitude is around
15 °C, being lower than in other areas of the interior of the peninsula
due to the maritime condition of the city. The average temperature in
Barcelona is around 18 °C due to the heat island effect in urban areas,
being warmer than in other neighboring areas that are not so densely
urbanized and being lower in the mountainous areas of the municipality
due to the altitude. , which can exceed 500 m above sea level. n. m.
(meters above sea level) in Tibidabo.
Winters are mild, with an
average of around 12°C in January, the coldest month. Frost is
exceptionally rare within the city and snowfall is very rare in urban
areas, with an average of approximately one day of snow every 2-3 years
on the outskirts of the city, although it is more frequent in the
mountainous areas of the municipality due to altitude, as occurs in the
Fabra Observatory located at an altitude that exceeds 400 m above sea
level. n. m. (meters above sea level), which has an average of two days
of snow per year. There was a heavy snowfall in the city in March 2010
and another in February 2015. Another big snowfall that is remembered in
the city dates back to 1962.
Summers are warm, with an average of
26°C in August, the warmest month. The maximum temperatures are very
warm in this month, reaching between 28 and 29 °C on average. However,
the average minimum temperatures are around 23 °C, with the feeling of
being hot due to the high humidity at night.
The average annual
rainfall is around 600 mm, with a maximum rainfall at the end of summer
and beginning of autumn (exceeding 90 mm on average in October), which
is often caused by the phenomenon known as gota. cold, which has
exceeded 100 mm in one day on numerous occasions. On the contrary, the
minimum occurs at the beginning of summer, reaching the average slightly
above 20 mm in July. The average annual humidity is high due to the
maritime conditions of the city, being between 69 and 70% and varying
little throughout the year.
Below are three tables with the
climatological values of the meteorological observatories located in the
center of the city (although it is true that this is not an official
station of the AEMET, but of the Generalitat of Catalonia), the Josep
Airport Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat and at the Fabra Observatory. The
Airport observatory does not belong to the municipality of Barcelona,
but to the municipality of El Prat de Llobregat, however it serves as a
reference due to its proximity to the municipality of Barcelona and the
altitude of 4 m above sea level. n. m. similar to that of the urban area
of the city, although influenced by a strong thermal inversion due to
being close to a large industrial and urbanized area. The Fabra
observatory does belong to the municipality of Barcelona, however it is
located on the outskirts of the city, at a considerable altitude, 412 m
above sea level. n. m., and therefore registers climatological values
significantly different than those of the urban area.
Below are
some of the extreme climatological values recorded at the Fabra
Observatory meteorological station at 412 m above sea level. n. m.
located within the municipality of Barcelona, taken from 1920 for
precipitation, from 1926 for temperature and from 1976 for wind: the
absolute maximum temperature of 39.8 °C recorded on July 7, 1982 and the
absolute minimum temperature of −10 °C recorded on 11 February 1956, the
maximum rainfall in one day of 196 mm recorded on 6 December 1971 and
the maximum wind gust of 144 km/h recorded on 29 April 1984 .