BARCELONA, SPAIN
CITY OF BARCELONA, SPAIN
Barcelona, Spain
Out of all of Spain’s wonderful cities, Barcelona seems to be one of the most popular. From coastal views to the rich art and architectural heritage, you’ll quickly see why.
Barcelona is well worth staying an extra night or two either before and/or after your cruise. Barcelona is architecturally stimulating and the entire experience of Barcelona's bustling streets, various barrios and diversity is reason enough to spend several days enjoying its beauty, dining, shopping and sights.
Las Ramblas, the main tourist street, is the hive of Barcelona’s cultural district. This is a great place to sit and enjoy a glass of sangria, a beer, or even try out some tapas with fresh local ingredients. Beyond Las Ramblas, you can also walk the Barri Gothic, Barcelona’s old medieval town, or pay a visit to Art Montfalcon, a souvenir shop that is noteworthy for having what seems to be just about one of everything.
Ships dock right in the outer harbor of Port Vell. It is only a 5-minute taxi ride over the bridge to the foot of Las Ramblas, The airport is approximately 30 minutes to the northwest of the docks. Taxis are widely available and reasonably priced, however be sure to negotiate your fare before making the commitment to secure the taxi's service if they are not metered.
General Information
Entry Requirements:
All visitors need a valid passport. No visa is required. Spanish law requires that you have photographic identification with you at all times. A photocopy of your passport is sufficient.
Language
The official language is Spanish, but locals also speak Catalan. English is very widely spoken in the city.
Currency
The official currency is the Euro. Dollars are not widely accepted, but Visa, MasterCard and American Express are. Use the abundant ATM's to withdraw Euros rather than exchanging dollars. There is more information on money in the Tips link.
There are no ATM's at the cruise port but there are many in the tourist areas of the city.
NOTE: IF YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE A PURCHASE WITH A CREDIT CARD, YOU MUST SHOW A PICTURE ID.
Dress Code
As at many churches in Europe, a modest dress code is sometimes required to enter. This means no bare shoulders or shorts allowed.
Airport information
Do not use the ATM's at the airport. The rate of exchange is very poor. Bring a few Euros with you. Get more Euros at an ATM in the city. They are easy to use and give a fair exchange rate.
There will be many taxis at the airport to take you to your hotel or to the ship.
Airport Departure
If you are leaving on a Saturday, be at the airport at least 3 hours before departure. Because many cruise ships depart on Saturday, the airport will be very busy.
The airport has some interesting shops on lower level. However, once you go through the passport line to your terminal, you can’t go back. So if you want to grab some last minute souvenirs, just make sure get them BEFORE you get in the passport line.
Iif you have already done online check in, there is a separate counter at the end for bag drop off only. Then, go through security screening, passport control ( they just stamp your passport ) and to the gate. They don’t make boarding announcements, so pay attention to the boarding time.
Staying in Touch While in Barcelona
There is no Internet cafe (or even wireless access) at the cruise terminal in Barcelona, though Internet cafes are plentiful in the city itself. A convenient option is "EasyInternet Café" on Las Ramblas (the main Tourist Street). If you’re toting your own laptop or PDI, Hard Rock Cafe and Starbucks outlets (throughout the city) offer access.
There are many WiFi hotspots where you can get free internet in Barcelona, like in all major cities around the world. In many cafes, bars and hotels you will be able to connect with your laptop or phone to the internet for free, with their open WiFi, although some places charge a small fee in order to connect to their internet service. However if you’re not traveling with your home office in your suitcase and need a computer provided to connect to the internet you wont have any problems either as there are plenty of internet cafes in Barcelona. If your hotel doesn’t provide internet access for you then there are plenty of traditional internet cafes or ‘locutorios’ where you will be able to check your emails and Facebook accounts. Often these places will also provide other services such as money exchange or cheap international calls. The rates are cheap for internet access. It wont cost you more than 3€ an hour.
Shopping Information
Best Souvenirs
Barcelona is famous for leather goods. There are many stores selling leather purses and other leather items.
First, head to Las Ramblas, a long pedestrian street chock full of restaurants, markets, department stores, shops and boutiques. One of the main shopping attractions along Las Ramblas is La Boqueria, a wonderful open air market that dates back several centuries. It is considered as one of the most colorful in Europe and is well worth a visit. It is also a great place to get a reasonable meal.
El Corte Ingles is Spain’s largest department store chain. It is located in the heart of the city, and offers an immense variety and is a real Spanish experience.
If you negotiate the entire length of Las Ramblas, it terminates at a large square (Placa de Catalunya). Turn to the right and then right again at the first street and you will find a major shopping street intersected by many smaller shopping streets. This is one of the entrances to the Gothic district. Throughout the Gothic district, you will find quaint little boutiques, specialty shops, souvenir stands, restaurants, and bars all offering all types of unique goods and services.
Wine
Go to El Corte Ingles, a nine-floor department store. It is located off the Plaza Catalunya. It has a gigantic grocery store in the basement. They have a nice selection of wine.
Recommended wine: Spanish Riojas are excellent. One of the favorite Spanish reds is Marques de Caceres Red Rioja Crianza.
Shopping Hours
Most of the shops in the tourist area and shopping centers are open from 10 AM to 8:30 PM or 9:30 PM in the evening. Traditional shops open from 10 AM to 2 PM and from 4:30PM to 8:30 PM.