The city

Barcelona, with a population census of 1,605,602, is divided into ten administrative districts: Ciutat Vella, Eixample, Sants-Montjuïc, Les Corts, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Gràcia, Horta-Guinardó, Nou Barris, Sant Andreu and Sant Martí. This division of the city has its roots based on the history of the city. Ciutat Vella is the old centre of the city and the Eixample is where the city expanded after the city walls were knocked down. The other districts correspond to municipal areas which were around the old city, outside the walls, and which became part of Barcelona during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Language

In Barcelona, and throughout Catalonia, there are two official languages: Catalan, the language of the Catalans, and Spanish, the official language of Spain.

Climate

Barcelona enjoys warm humid Mediterranean weather, so visitors can enjoy the sun regardless of the time of year, and relish in the warm welcoming climate. Temperatures are warm in the summer and mild in the winter and during the day there is very little variation in temperature.
Average monthly temp: September – 22 °C / October 18 °C

Time

Clocks are one hour ahead of GMT in winter and two in summer and are adjusted twice a year, going forward one hour in winter and back an hour in summer.

Currency

Spain is in the Eurozone and the euro is its official currency. Foreign currency can be exchanged at savings banks, or ‘Caixes’ and banks (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 2pm and Saturday, 8.30am to 1pm). Bureaux de change also open every day in Barcelona city centre, and at the main railway stations and the Estació del Nord bus station, where they have longer opening hours.

Getting around

The working day in Barcelona usually begins at 8 or 9 in the morning and ends around 6 or 7 in the evening, with a one- or two-hour break for lunch at 2pm.
Lunch and dinner are usually eaten a little later than in the rest of Europe. Most restaurants open from 1pm to 4pm, and from 8pm until 11pm. Tipping isn’t obligatory, but people usually leave 5% if they are satisfied with the service.
Shops have long opening hours, from 10am to 2pm and from 4.30 to 8 or 8.30pm.
In Barcelona city centre, most shops don’t close at lunchtime and large shopping centres and department stores open until 10pm in summer.

Barcelona is served by a comprehensive local public transport network that includes a metro, a bus network, two separate modern tram networks, a separate historic tram line, and several funiculars and aerial cable cars

Barcelona is a city of art which supports the arts. The Barcelona Turisme Creatiu (Barcelona Creative Tourism) platform, which has been set up to help develop art and culture exhibitions and projects in the city by artists from around the world, is a result of the artistic concerns that have always characterised the city.