✈️ TLV to Barcelona (BCN)
Spain
Barcelona
CityBCN
IATA3087.4 km
Distance4h 14m
Flight TimeCoordinates: 41.2971, 2.07846
Airlines:
About Barcelona
Weather in Barcelona
Talk
Barcelona's official languages are Catalan and Spanish . About a half prefer to speak Catalan, a vast majority understands it, and virtually everyone knows Spanish. However, most signs are indicated only in Catalan because it is established by law as the first official language. Yet, Spanish is also widely used in public transport and other facilities. Regular announcements in the Metro are made only in Catalan, but unplanned disruptions are announced by an automated system in a wide variety of languages including Spanish, English, French, Arabic and Japanese. On the other hand, FGC announcements – either regular or disruptions – will be made only in Catalan, and disruption announcements on RENFE's network will usually be made only in Spanish. As in most other cities, any attempt by visitors to use the native languages is always appreciated. Most locals are bilingual in Catalan and Spanish, and instinctively address foreigners in Spanish. Catalan is a separate Romance language, not a dialect, and sounds closer to Italian, Portuguese and French in many ways. Avoid referring to Catalan as a dialect, which will offend Catalans. You might find some locals answer in Catalan after being asked in Spanish, that's not because they are being rude but because they assume you are bilingual. In Catalonia, it's not uncommon to hear people code switching between different languages in the same conversation. In case you can't understand what they are saying, tell them you don't speak Catalan and politely ask them to repeat it in Spanish or English. The main cause of Spanish and Catalan social bilingualism in modern Catalonia is a large scale immigration process from the rest of Spain, which occurred over the 20th century, as Catalonia started a significant industrialization which demanded an increased workforce from elsewhere. 60% of the people in Catalonia use Spanish as their first language, and 40% use Catalan. The issues regarding language, national identity, and politics are like politics anywhere. In tourist areas, almost all shops and bars have some English speaking staff. People will generally make an effort to try to help you if you speak English. If you are a native English speaker, you will have few problems, as Barcelona hosts many tourists.
See
The most spectacular sights in the night are: Musical fountains , in Plaça d'Espanya. May-Oct: Th-Su 20:30. Each session lasts 30 minutes, with the last one starting at 23:00. Casa Batlló . Torre Agbar office tower, highlighted F-Su 19:00-23:00. City views from Montjuïc hill
Do
41.371004 2.172407 5 Aeri del Port de Barcelona ( Telefèric del Port ), C/ Taquígrafo Garriga, 97 – Esc.B -2º9ª , ☏ +34 934 304 716 , tebarsa@hotmail.com . Jun-Aug 11:00-20:00; Mar-May, Sep-Oct 11:00-19:00; Nov-Feb 11:00-17:30 . Have a ride at Port Vell Aerial Tramway. Port Vell Aerial Tramway is the 1450-metre-long harbour aerial tramway with red cars connects Montjuïc and Barceloneta . It starts in Barceloneta on the top of the 78-metre-tall 41.373178 2.187792 6 Torre San Sebastian tower, which has also a restaurant at its top accessible by an elevator. It has an intermediate stop at 41.372083 2.180121 7 Torre Jaume I tower (close to Columbus monument), which can be reached by elevator from ground – 107 metre tall tower, the second-tallest aerial tramway support tower in the world. The final point of the line is Miramar on the slopes of Montjuïc hill. Overall, the whole system is quite old (built in 1929, albeit restored a couple of times), and the car is packed with tourists during the daytime – particularly sensitive for a stroller or a wheelchair. But if you start from the Montjuîc side, there are fewer people waiting. single €11, return €16.50; it's not a part of Barcelona's integrated fare network . ( updated Oct 2015 ) La Rambla, Barcelona's main boulevard Stroll along the following famous streets in Ciutat Vella : 41.381389 2.173056 1 La Rambla ( Las Ramblas ), a gorgeous tree-lined pedestrian walkway, the busiest and most lively street of the city. Mostly occupied by tourists, expect to pay higher prices for food and drink. Avoid the groups of people supposedly betting on a game played on a cardboard table – they are thieves. Head off into some of the side streets for a cheaper, more local, and authentic experience of Barcelona. Often called Las Ramblas, because it is a series of several different streets each called 'Rambla de ____', the sections also have distinct feels. As you get closer to Plaça Catalunya, you find more street performers doing stunts. In the middle, you'll find street performers in costumes. Towards the pier, there are artists who will do pencil drawings, paintings, etc. 41.387031 2.170079 2 Plaça de Catalunya . Connecting all the major streets in the city, the Plaça is known for its fountains and statues, and the central location to everything in the city. A favourite meeting spot for locals. 41.38646 2.17196 3 Portal de l'Àngel . Large pedestrian walkway with many new and stylish shops in which to browse. Cruise miles of beachfront boardwalk starting from Barceloneta, or get a tan on the beach. Eat good seafood and rice dishes at La Barceloneta neighbourhood Sit on a wooden bridge to Maremagnum in Ciutat Vella and cool your toes at the water's edge with a book, sandwich, or just for a short rest. Wander the Barri Gotic in Ciutat Vella , the largely intact medieval centre of the city and visit the Cathedral and its wonderful cloister. Enjoy your Sangria at La Plaça Reial in Ciutat Vella , near La Rambla Street. Great place to sit, relax, and drink. (People from Barcelona do not drink sangria, it's just a tourist drink! But you can enjoy it anyway!) Walk in El Born neighbourhood in Ciutat Vella , a former very popular area with great restaurants and places to have a few drinks. If your accommodation is on Rambla, El Born is a great place to enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere, and find more creative shops and craftsmen. El Born means jousting field, and its history and stories can fill one of those huge books stored in old libraries. There are interesting and quirky details to uncover while walking around, such as the name given to its streets, the medieval signs to brothels, and remnants of the secession war of the end of the 18th century. Indulge yourself at Hofman or Bubó bakeries and make sure you visit the Santa Maria del Mar church. Visit a Flamenco Show in a real tablao. One of the best is Tablao de Carmen in Sants-Montjuïc . A cheaper alternative is in the jazzclub Jazz Si in Ciutat Vella . (Although Flamenco is mostly just a touristy activity, Catalan people are not into flamenco. It's a dance and music from Andalucía, the south-east region in Spain) Cable car . Ride the Cable Way to get from the sea front to Montjuïc mountain in Sants-Montjuïc . €12.78 . ( updated Dec 2022 ) Sit and sip on a coffee in Plaça dels Àngels in Ciutat Vella , while admiring the whiteness of the MACBA and the best street skate tricks in town. Catch a performance at the beautiful Teatre del Liceu or the Palau de la Musica Catalana , both in Ciutat Vella . Rent a bike, or join a bike tour, and see the highlights of the city in a different way. Ride from the magic beaches of the Mediterranean to Gaudí's modernist buildings through the medieval atmosphere of the Gothic Quarter. Sail 3 hours to see Barcelona from the sea. Mail boats serve almost all populated in Barcelona, and are among the cheapest way to reach many areas, though far from the fastest or most comfortable. The government has a mailboat schedule of routes online, which may or may not reflect reality. Sail on a classic yacht [dead link] . Enjoy a day trip sailing along the Barcelona coastline on a classic yacht. Walk in Gracia neighbourhood, a very popular area with a great variety of restaurants, cafés and terraces where you can still feel the local ambiance that has already been lost in El Born. For good views over Barcelona: visit Park Güell, Tibidabo, Montjuïc or Carmel's bunkers. Artoba Tours , ☏ +34 656 855 866 , toll-free: +1 888 538 7377 , info@artobatours.com . City and day tours of Barcelona and Catalonia led by a professional archaeologist. €54–200 pp, depending on tour . ( updated Feb 2020 ) Spanish Civil War tours , info@spanishcivilwartours.com . Walking tour of Barcelona visiting key sites relating to the Spanish Civil War, covering themes such as Anarchism, the International Brigades, George Orwell and the realities of daily life and bombing during the war. €30 pp . ( updated Feb 2024 ) 41.381389 2.173056 1 La Rambla ( Las Ramblas ), a gorgeous tree-lined pedestrian walkway, the busiest and most lively street of the city. Mostly occupied by tourists, expect to pay higher prices for food and drink. Avoid the groups of people supposedly betting on a game played on a cardboard table – they are thieves. Head off into some of the side streets for a cheaper, more local, and authentic experience of Barcelona. Often called Las Ramblas, because it is a series of several different streets each called 'Rambla de ____', the sections also have distinct feels. As you get closer to Plaça Catalunya, you find more street performers doing stunts. In the middle, you'll find street performers in costumes. Towards the pier, there are artists who will do pencil drawings, paintings, etc. 41.387031 2.170079 2 Plaça de Catalunya . Connecting all the major streets in the city, the Plaça is known for its fountains and statues, and the central location to everything in the city. A favourite meeting spot for locals. 41.38646 2.17196 3 Portal de l'Àngel . Large pedestrian walkway with many new and stylish shops in which to browse.
Buy
Most shops and shopping malls are closed on Sundays because of law restrictions. In Ciutat Vella you will find plenty of small fashion shops, souvenir shops and small supermarkets open on Sundays. The souvenir shopping scattered throughout the Barri Gotic and all along La Rambla are tourist traps, none of them sell Catalan or Spanish products but the typical array of Chinese general souvenirs, they should be avoided. Moreover on the Port Vell, right at the end of The Ramblas there is Maremagnum, a shopping mall that stays open all Sundays. If you see people selling items on the street on a blanket, do not buy from them. The products are often of dubious origin and low quality, and are often the result of human trafficking. Secondhand English books in Gràcia . Design lovers head for Gràcia . El Corte Inglés . Spanning several floors and several buildings, and in several locations around town, many in Eixample and Inland Suburbs and a couple also in Ciutat Vella . You can find anything and everything in this department store, from food to pneumatics. Tax return checks are made on a separate floor of the store. See review for the whole chain in the Spain article . La Boqueria 41.381944 2.172111 1 La Boqueria ( Mercat Sant Josep ). In Ciutat Vella . Large public market with a diverse range of goods and produce. Enjoy freshly squeezed organic fruit juices for €1.5 per cup. If you go near closing time (20:00) sellers will make you a special price (2 or 3 for €2). Closed Sundays. Stamps are actually sold in 'Tabacs' or tobacconists. Once you know what they look like, you'll notice them on every block or so. To post your mail, you need to find one of the rare yellow letter boxes along the sidewalks. Records For vinyl records, try the wonderful shop Discos Revolver at 13 Carrer dels Tallers. Supermarkets are spread across the city. BonÀrea, Bonpreu and Condis are the most popular supermarket chains from Catalonia. Mercadona, Consum, and Dia are other popular chains from the rest of Spain. All of them are a cost-effective way to purchase grocery items. There are also organic/specialty supermarkets like Casa Ametller or Veritas which are pricier. Small corner stores are the most visible on city streets, but tend to mark up prices in exchange for convenience.
Eat
As with all cities which welcome large numbers of tourists, Barcelona's cuisine is inconsistent in quality, but there are plenty of restaurants serving excellent food at very reasonable prices, if you know where to look. The usual rules of thumb apply: to save money and get better food, look for places off the beaten track used by fellow travellers, and seek out cafés and restaurants which the locals frequent. In practice, this usually involves searching out eateries in residential districts away from the main sightseeing attractions. Avoid restaurants with touts outside, and have a basic understanding of the traditional foods served in restaurants, as well as the local drinks. One slightly crafty way of sussing a place's authenticity at a glance is to take note of how they spell a certain word: a menu board advertising tap a s , written the Spanish/international way, is likely to be somewhere which primarily caters to tourists, whereas somewhere offering tap e s , using Catalan spelling, is in all probability a venue frequented by locals. Some districts to check out include Gràcia , which is a hub of quality, affordable Catalan cooking of both the traditional and more avant-garde varieties, and the Eixample , whose chic boulevards have upscale restaurants aplenty worthy of your splurge money. The fishing quarter of Barceloneta (in Ciutat Vella ) is an example of a neighbourhood where it pays to be picky: closer to the gentrified seafront, a slew of mojito beach bar-style places serve up expensive tourist tapas; for the real thing, head into the backstreets, where many traditional bars are still tucked away. In all cases, be prepared to "promenade" in search of the most attractive-looking menu; that's what the locals do, after all. The majority of restaurants and cafes are closed 16:00-20:00 for migdiada . If you failed to plan for that, here are some places you can eat during this period: tapas in bars international chains food stands in market halls Set menus (menú del migdia / menú del día) Most restaurants (and some bars) offer a menú del migdia / menú del día (menu of the day), which usually means a three course meal (a first plate often a salad or rice-based or pasta-based dish, a second plate usually a meat or fish, and a drink; plus a dessert or coffee), 3 or 4 options for each course, for €12 to €20, depending on the restaurant. The portions may be quite generous, or rather small. During the week, some smart restaurants offer lunch specials from 14:00 to 16:00. The savvy traveller will try the hip places for a fraction of the price during the day. If you're looking for a place where everyone can choose their own meal, ask for restaurants that serve platos combinados , which is the closest thing to an American/Northern European meal. Smoking is not permitted inside bars and restaurants since 2011, but it's usually allowed in terraces.
Areas to eat
Depending on where you are in the city, there may be restaurants galore, or none at all. The following areas tend to be restaurant "hubs", with a large variety of restaurants to choose from: Barceloneta : A popular quarter for locals, where you can try fish based dishes, such as Paella (a name that may hide many different kinds of rice concoctions) or Arròs negre ( Black Rice ), that takes its colour because it is made using squid ink. Barceloneta is a very good place to eat tapas as well. Sant Antoni is the new addition to the culinary scene in Barcelona where old and trendy cuisine mingle. Eixample Esquerra (between Gran Via and Mallorca) Barri Gòtic (especially for tapas) "El Born" (next to Barri Gòtic) Around Plaça Catalunya there are dozens of restaurants serving tapas . One should be careful with the tourist traps as the area is highly populated with tourists. For budget eating you may choose "menú del migdia" in small bars on the Avinguda del Parallel for €9-11 per person. Be aware that sometimes the menu and the staff are only in Spanish. The large cafes that line the Passeig de Gràcia and the Rambla Catalunya, just north of the Plaça Catalunya, offer a variety of acceptable tapas. This part of the town is quite touristy and a bit expensive.
Sleep
Barcelona offers a great range of accommodations, from cheap, decent apartments, hostels and guest-houses to five-star hotels. Every district has plentiful offerings, and thanks to the efficient public transportation you can stay comfortably in any of them, depending on your budget and preferences. During festivals (see Festivals and events above), especially during Mobile World Congress , which is a major trade show at the Fira, accommodation in Barcelona and especially near the Fira is much more difficult to find and more expensive than usual. Ciutat Vella offers a mix of luxury hotels and cheerful hostels within a dense urban environment. Staying there means being at the heart of Barcelona's nightlife - which is both lively and noisy. Eixample and Gràcia and Sants-Montjuïc are calmer, but quite as dense, and popular due to closeness to attractions. You will find more mid-market properties there. Sant Martí contains most of Barcelona's beaches and a string of very modern hotels along the Diagonal The suburbs are not as far away as you may think thanks to the metro and local railway. Some hillside hotels offer great views, but may be far away from public transit though. See the district articles for detailed listings of accommodation opportunities.
Go next
Day trips from Barcelona include: Canet de Mar – Small enough to walk almost anywhere. See the historical centre, the churches and cathedral, and visit many architectural works of Lluís Domènech i Montaner. Canet is the smallest town in Catalonia with many historical and modernist buildings. It also has a lot of blue flag beaches, recognised at the European level for their quality. Colònia Güell — A tiny settlement famous for its modernist architecture. It is on the railway to Montserrat . Costa Brava – The coast North of Barcelona has rocky cliffs and a mix of pebble beaches and sandy beaches. Figueres – Home of the most impressive Salvador Dalí museum. Girona – A quiet town with an ancient Jewish section, narrow streets, imposing walls and plenty of cafes. See directions to the north airport above. Montseny – UNESCO Biosphere Reserve 40 km (25 mi) north-east of Barcelona. Go there by car or bus/train Montserrat – Visit the monastery nestled high in the mountains to see the Black Madonna or hike to the peak to earn a fantastic view of the surroundings. 50 km (31 mi) from Barcelona. Parc del Garraf – Large natural area south-west of Barcelona. Many hikes can be reached by train. Be sure to bring sun protection and plenty of water. (An eleven mile hike, with some decent elevation gain: Take train to Castelldefels station, head up to Castel de Castelldefels, follow trail about 5 miles to La Morella, where you can take in some great views. Trace your steps back half a mile, then continue south-west towards Playa Garraf. Playa Grarraf is right by the Garraf train station, allowing easy access back to Barcelona.) Pyrenees – A mountain range around 150 km (93 mi) north from the city. Sant Cugat del Vallès – Has one of the most interesting Romanesque cloisters in Catalonia, with many interesting carvings. The town itself is full of expensive villas. Sitges – A traditional beachside destination for the locals. Full of fashion shops open on Sundays. Is a popular gay destination too. Castelldefels – Another typical beachside destination for the locals. It is very popular for its wide range of gastronomy. Tarragona – Old Roman period capital of eastern Spain, and today small seaside city off the tourist trail compared to Barcelona. The Nature parks in Barcelona province .