The Rough Guide to Barcelona 8 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)

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Churches
Apart from the cathedral (La Seu) and the
Sagrada Família – the two churches you’re
most likely to visit, which have tourist-friendly
opening hours – other churches are usually
kept locked, opening only for worship in the
early morning (around 7–8am) and the
evening (around 6–9pm). For all churches,
“decorous” dress is required, with no shorts
or bare shoulders.
Costs
Barcelona is not a particularly cheap place to
visit and it’s more expensive on the whole
than other major cities in Spain. However, it
still rates as pretty good value when
compared with the cost of visiting cities in
Britain, France or Germany, especially when
it comes to dining out or getting around on
public transport. Hotel prices are the main
drain on the budget, and they have increased
considerably over the last few years. Realisti-
cally, you’ll be paying from €70 a night for a
room in a simple pension, and from €100 for
a three-star
one-day pub
freedom of
museums an
few of the showpiece attractions have higher
entry fees). A set three-course lunch goes for
around €9–15, and dinner from around €20,
though of course the Michelin-starrred desti-
nation restaurants are much pricier – even
so, at up to €100 a head, they’re still a far
better deal than the equivalent places in
London or Paris.
Electricity
The electricity supply is 220v and plugs
come with two round pins – bring an adaptor
(and transformer) to use UK and US
cellphone chargers, etc.
Embassies and
consulates
Most countries have their embassies in
Madrid and maintain a consulate in Barcelona.
You’ll need to contact them if you lose your
passport or need other assistance. Most
consulates are open to the public for enquiries
Mon–Fri, usually 9am–1pm & 3–5pm, though
the morning shift is the most reliable.
Foreign consulates in Barcelona
Australia Pl. Gala Placidia 1–3, Gràcia, oDiagonal/
FGC Gràcia T934 909 013,W .
le,oHospital
.
rià, FGC Reina
.
III 94, Les
Corts, oMaria Cristina/Les CortsT934 915 021.
New Zealand Trav. de Gràcia 64, Gràcia, FGC
Gràcia T932 090 399, W .
USA Pg. de la Reina Elisenda 23, Sàrria, FGC Reina
Elisenda T932 802 227, W .
Budget Barcelona
Here’s how to keep costs to a minimum in Barcelona.
• Eat your main meal of the day at lunchtime, when the menú del dia offers
fantastic value.
• Buy a public transport travel pass, which will save you around forty percent on
every ride.
• Purchase one of the useful city discount cards or packages.
• Visit museums and galleries on the first Sunday of the month, when admission is
usually free.
• Drink and eat inside cafés – there’s usually a surcharge for terrace service.
• Bring along any student, youth or senior citizen card you’re entitled to carry, as
they often attract discounts on museum, gallery and attraction charges.
• Take advantage of the discount nights at the cinema (Mon & sometimes Wed), and
at the theatre (Tues).
• Go to the Ramblas, La Seu, Santa María del Mar, Parc de la Ciutadella, Parc de la
Collserola, Port Vell, Port Olímpic, city beaches, Els Encants flea market,
Diagonal Mar/Fòrum, Olympic stadium, Caixa Fórum and Parc Güell – all free.
BASICS
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Travel essentials