33 / 344
31
available. The city hall (Ajuntament,
W
www
.bcn.cat) and regional government (General-
itat,
W
www.gencat.cat) websites are also
absolute mines of information about every
aspect of cultural, social and working life in
Barcelona, from museum opening hours and
festival dates to local politics and council
office locations; they both have English-
language versions. For arts and events
listings, the websites of the local newspapers
and magazines (see next section, “The
media”) are also pretty useful.
Information offices
Barcelona Informació
(Oficina d’Atenció als
Ciutadans) Pl. de Sant Miquel, Barri Gòtic,
o
Jaume I
T
010,
W
www.bcn.cat (June–Sept Mon–Fri
8.15am–2.15pm, Sat 9am–2pm, Oct–May Mon–Fri
8.30am–5.30pm, Sat 9am–2pm).
Citizens’ information
office, around the back of the Ajuntament in the new
building. It’s not really for tourists, but invariably helpful
(though you can’t count on English being spoken).
Centre d’Informació de Catalunya
Palau Robert,
Pg. de Gràcia 107, Eixample,
o
Diagonal
T
932
388 091,
W
www.gencat.cat/palaurobert (Mon–Sat
10am–7pm, Sun & hols 10am–2.30pm).
It has
information about travel in Catalunya and provides
maps, guides, details of how to get around and lists of
places to stay. Also exhibitions and events relating to
all matters Catalan.
Centre del Modernisme
T
933 177 652,
W
www.rutadelmodernisme.com. Offices inside the
Turisme de Barcelona tourist office at Pl. de
Catalunya,
o
Catalunya (Mon–Sat 10am–7pm, Sun
& hols 10am–2pm); at Hospital de la Santa Creu i
Sant Pau, c/Sant Antoni M. Claret 167, Eixample,
o
Hospital de Sant Pau (daily 10am–2pm); and
Pavellons Güell, Avgda. de Pedralbes 7, Pedralbes,
o
Palau Reial (Mon & Fri–Sun 10am–2pm).
The
staffed information desks provide details of visits to
the city’s
modernista
buildings and monuments, and
sell the Ruta del Modernisme package.
Institut de Cultura
Palau de la Virreina, Ramblas
99,
o
Liceu
T
933 161 000,
W
www.bcn.cat
/cultura (Mon–Sat 10am–8pm, Sun 11am–3pm).
Cultural information office, with advance information
on everything that’s happening in the city, from
events and concerts to exhibitions and festivals; you
can also buy tickets here. The website portal has
daily updated cultural news and web TV previews, or
pick up the free “Cultural Agenda” (in English), a
useful free monthly what’s on listings guide.
Turisme de Barcelona
T
807 117 222 if calling
from within Spain,
T
932 853 834 if calling from
Discount cards and packages
If you’re going to do a lot of sightseeing, you can save yourself money by buying
one of the widely available discount cards.
•
Barcelona Card
(2 days €25, 3 days €30, 4 days €34 or 5 days €40, full details
on
W
www.barcelonaturisme.com). Free public transport, plus big discounts at
museums, venues, shops, theatres and restaurants. It’s available at tourist offices,
points of arrival and other outlets, though there’s a ten percent discount if you
buy online.
•
Articket
(€20, valid six months,
W
www.articketbcn.org). Free admission into
seven major art centres and galleries (MNAC, MACBA, CCCB, Museu Picasso,
Fundació Antoni Tàpies, Fundació Joan Miró, and Centre Cultural Caixa Catalunya
at La Pedrera). Buy at participating galleries, or at Plaça de Catalunya and
Barcelona Sants tourist offices.
•
Arqueoticket
(€17, valid calendar year). In the same vein as Articket, offers free
entry into five historical museums (Museu d’Arqueologia de Catalunya, Barbier-
Mueller, Egipci, Historia de la Ciutat and Maritim), available at participating
museums and tourist offices.
•
Ruta del Modernisme
(€12, valid one year,
W
www.rutadelmodernisme.com). An
excellent English-language guidebook, map and discount-voucher package that
covers 115
modernista
buildings in Barcelona and other Catalan towns, offering
discounts of up to fifty percent on admission fees, tours and purchases. It’s also
packaged with
Let’s Go Out
, a guide to
modernista
bars and restaurants (total
package €18), with both available from the Centre del Modernisme desk at the
main Plaça de Catalunya tourist office.
BASICS
|
Information