Barcelona is one of the most popular cities for shopping. This is not Milan or Paris with their “high fashion” stores, but a much more affordable option for any tourist who would like to spend sane money on really stylish things or accessories. About where, how and when to "shop" in Barcelona - in our article.

WHY BARCELONA

Prices! Price tags in stores and assortment will please even the most sophisticated shopaholic. In addition, in the summer there are really worthwhile sales with real discounts on branded items.

Situation! If you are traveling with your family, then your husband and children will certainly not be bored while you are shopping. Barcelona is a city of inexhaustible possibilities: stunning architecture, historical monuments, an aquarium, museums, zoos, restaurants and unique local cuisine will relieve fatigue after a run through shopping centers and entertain those who are not interested in shopping.

By the way, just an hour from Barcelona is the famous amusement park PortAventura, a great reward for the patience of children! For children, shopping centers and outlets have equipped playgrounds, mother and child rooms, and babysitting services.

Politicstaxfree! Remember that the main condition for processing documents for a return is the amount of the purchase. at least 90.16 euros and a document certifying the citizenship of the buyer. VAT refund is usually carried out at the airport after passing through the customs office and filling out the appropriate form. Refund amount may vary from 4 to 15% of the purchase amount- depending on the category of goods and taking into account the deduction of commissions.

In some shopping centers and stores Barcelona refund tax free you can do immediately after payment for the purchase- and cash euro. But it should also be remembered that small shops very often do not make tax refunds and do not issue documents for it.

WHAT TO BUY IN BARCELONA

We will bypass souvenirs, cheese and Spanish wine - a lot has been written about them, and of course, you will also find all this in Barcelona. But in this city, of course, it is worth going first of all but clothes, shoes and accessories.

Spain is known for its fashion brands- Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Mango, MaxMara, Desigual and many more. Stylish and high-quality clothes, comfortable shoes, big choice sizes and all this at prices that are much lower than in Russia.

So feel free to take another empty suitcase and come to Barcelona for shopping! However, you can also buy a suitcase here, as well as everything else - watches and bags, cosmetics, goods for men and women, children's clothing - of various brands, from the most budgetary to the luxury segment.

WHEN SALES IN BARCELONA

The ideal time for shopping in Barcelona is during sales periods. There are two main ones here. "Summer" - from July 1 until the end of summer(by the end august there is a small selection of sizes, but at very sweet prices), and "winter" - after January 7 and before the beginning of March. Discounts start from 20-50% and at the end of the period can reach 70-80%.

Bright inscriptions Rebaixes("discounts") appear in many shop windows in the city, and the excitement in their early days is unthinkable here. Literally everything is swept away - from inexpensive children's clothes to the latest models of branded bags and outfits in VIP-segment stores. It is worth remembering that Barcelona stores open half an hour or an hour earlier on the first day of sales, and queues for the most popular ones begin to gather an hour before opening. It is impossible to postpone things at the checkout at this time, there are queues and confusion in the fitting rooms.

So little secret from us- come a couple of days before the sale, slowly go shopping, try on everything you like, and on the day of the sale, calmly and purposefully take exactly what suits you. This will save you a lot of time and effort.

Take note of one more fact: in August, the Spaniards go on vacation and some of the small boutiques will be closed so it's better to come at the beginning of July to skim off the cream. Please note that on Sundays most of the shops are also closed and during the week the “siesta” in small shops has not been canceled for a rest break from 14.00 to 17.00.

Well, if you do not get into the sales period, then you should not be upset. During the year, in any case, you will be able to buy at very attractive prices things of European quality and original design from famous designers and little-known Spanish brands. in outlets or for short-term discount promotions in large stores - there are also many of them.

SHOPPING ROUTES IN BARCELONA

Can choose three main shopping strategies in Barcelona - depending on your strength, time availability and requests.

1. BY BUS

The first is to go along the “ready route” for shopping lovers. The authorities of Barcelona paid attention to the flow of tourists - "shoppers", and organized a whole bunch for them ring bus routes, united under the common name BarcelonaShoppingline. Buses run on them on weekdays, the routes include stops at the most popular places for shopping.

Maybe Several variants stops depending on the requests of tourists: for example, Gourmet, Independent Designers, Exclusive Stores, etc..

Especially popular is route "Shops of the old city", when during the trip you can not only hunt for exclusive things at a great price, but also enjoy the atmosphere of old Barcelona.

On the route you can see not only not only salons of world brands, but also local authentic spanish shops. Various home and interior accessories, cosmetics, things for children and high-quality Spanish shoes can all be found in them.

All routes start from Plaza Catalunya, that's where they end. Tickets can be bought from the bus driver once and ride all day, leaving at any stop and entering again.

2. BY YOURSELF - ON FOOT OR BY TAXI

Second strategy- download a map to your smartphone (or pick it up) and walk around the city yourself. This option requires both time and effort, and, most importantly, some knowledge. The latter is what we will now try to give you.

So in Barcelona two main and iconic streets for shopaholics, around which your "shopping route" can be built - these are Paseo de Gracia(Paceo de Gracia) and La Diagonal(or Avinguda Diagonal - in Catalan).

The first of the routes is connected with Paseo de Gracia and is pedestrian. The avenue is located in the historical part of the city. Let's just say - the prices here will not be low, even with discounts.

It is here that the cluster of all premium stores is located - Escada, Armani, Max Mara, Prada and others. Shopping center boulevardRossa, sandwiched among the houses, connects the avenue with the neighboring street.

Walking along the avenue from store to store, do not forget to pay attention to architectural sights - Gaudí's famous houses - Casa Batllo and Casa Mila. However, the whole avenue impresses with its unique architecture. There are many small cafes on the Paseo, taken out into the street - be sure to refresh yourself here with delicious tapas and a glass of sangria.

As we have already said, Paseo Avenue itself is not a cheap place. But on streets parallel to Paseo many huddle less expensive than on the avenue itself, shops, including with local brands- and they are also worth a look.

Gradually going down the avenue, you will come to Plaza Catalunya.

In addition to beautiful monuments, there is multi-storey shopping center ElCorteingles, where you can buy almost everything - from lipstick or cheese to clothes and shoes of prestigious brands and equipment for the office or home. This mall is quite expensive.

But on the same square, nearby, stands more democratic prices shopping center - Eltriangle. Presented here budget brands clothes, accessories, cosmetics and footwear, goods for children.

Down from the square going down to the sea, there is a famous pedestrian La Rambla (LaRamblas- an analogue of our Old Arbat. Here, local (and not only) artists exhibit their paintings and souvenirs for sale, and street artists and musicians surprise the public with their mastery.

The La Rambla area is a treasure trove for antique dealers and flea market lovers. In the neighboring streets Gothic Quarter hidden original antique shops, where you can unexpectedly find a unique item in your collection - be it a book, engraving or antique lace.

Well, here we are: a five-minute walk along the Rambla, on the right side, is located the famous Boqueria food market. Small cafes nestle around its perimeter, offering snacks, desserts and wine, while the market itself is located in a covered pavilion.

He, as a rule, shocks our tourist with his choice of fruits, sausages and cheeses, fragrant smells of fish and meat rows. Despite the fact that this is a "market", the prices here are higher than in supermarkets. But as a tasting tourist attraction, the market is good - it will leave you vivid impressions and no less juicy photos.

And here is the second possible route for shopping will take you, as a pedestrian, much more time and effort - it involves a walk on Avenue Diagonal (La Diagonal). Therefore, to move here, unlike Paseo, it's better to use the car, because the distance is very decent - the length of this avenue, which crosses the whole city, is 11 kilometers, and, hopefully, there are a lot of shopping bags.

Here prevail stylish expensive stores of famous world brands.

On it are also huge shopping mallsElCorteingles,Glories andL'Illa- You can spend the whole day in them. In addition to shops, many city attractions, churches and monuments are located on this avenue, for example, Agbar tower, "House with spiers" other.

3. SCREENING AND OUTLETS: WHERE AND WHAT

The third shopping strategy in Barcelona - "raids in the shopping center" - is suitable for those who do not have much time and energy to thoroughly study the shopping routes.

Big shopping centers many in different areas of Barcelona. They are usually organized in one, fairly standard pattern. On the underground floors there is a parking lot, bank offices and a tax free return office (!) - this, by the way, is a good purchase strategy in the shopping center. By the way, pay attention to the tax free return policy in advance- in shopping centers El Corte Ingles networks you can buy goods in various departments and arrange one receipt for a refund, taking into account different checks.

The floor above, as a rule, is a grocery supermarket. On the “zero” floor, where the entrance is, there are usually shops for cosmetics, bags and accessories. And then floor by floor - departments of clothing and footwear for children, women, men, office equipment, goods for home and garden. On the top floor, as in Moscow, there is a food court with cafes and restaurants.

Outside the main transport routes Barcelona also has original and relatively inexpensive shopping centers. For example, shopping center LaMaquinista designed as a semi-open shopping center with squares and original sculptures.

Cafes and restaurants here are right under the open sky, unobtrusive music and not a large number of people will be allowed to shop in a relaxed atmosphere. There are few tourists here, but there are a sufficient number of shops. This mall is dominated by stores of little-known local brands, but there are also famous brands.

Finally, there is in Barcelona and outlets. And they are a great way out for those who come outside the discount season or those who would like to cover all the fashion stores in the city, but do not have the time. Outlets are usually located outside the city, and for the convenience of guests are provided buses that follow the schedule from several stops in Barcelona.

In Barcelona outlets all year round items from last year's collections are sold with big discounts. Brands Mango, Desigual, Custo, Hello Kitty, Bosa Nova in Barcelona have own outlets.

The most famous outlet near Barcelona - LaRocaVillage- designed in the form of a small cozy village. More than 200 shops, restaurants and cafes are located in the open air. There are no budget stamps here., VIP-segment stores prevail, but the prices are quite tempting and this is a great option to buy a new thing from a prestigious company.

Arriving in Barcelona, ​​even for a couple of days, you can replenish your wardrobe with stylish things, but for a full-fledged shopping experience, it’s better to stop days for 5 to choose the best in the many shops in the city and outlets without haste and fuss. Moreover, it is not necessary to have a large amount on a credit card or in your wallet - during the sales period you can save a lot here, the main thing is to know the places!

We tried to talk about the most famous places for shopping, but this, of course, is not all, and a corrosive tourist who has been to Barcelona many times will undoubtedly supplement it with his advice. Work in Barcelona over 35,000 stores- and on every street and in every district of the city there are sure to be your favorite shops.

Barcelona is waiting for its guests! Especially since sales start - very soon!

Barcelona, ​​despite all its mystery, ranks first in Europe in the number of pickpocketing and various other tourist scams. You need to be careful if you walk around the old city of Barcelona, ​​​​in particular, the Gothic Quarter, as well as the street so much loved by tourists La Rambla with narrow streets adjacent to it. The old city with its dark corners is especially dangerous at night, when it is completely empty from tourists and police.

2. Telephone conversations in Barcelona

Mobile communications in Barcelona, ​​like in Spain in general, are incredibly expensive. When you arrive in Barcelona, ​​then immediately connect to one of the local mobile operators ( Amena, "TelefonicaMovistar", Vodafone, "orange"). Connection can be made in the branded stores of these operators. For about 20 euros you can buy cellular telephone with built-in SIM card. Sending SMS messages will cost you much less than the calls themselves. It is better to top up your phone balance at the checkout in any grocery supermarket in Barcelona.

A fairly inexpensive form of telephone communication in Spain is street pay phones that “eat” both coins and cards. One minute of conversation inside Barcelona will cost 15 cents, a call to Russia costs a little more - 18 cents. An interesting feature of street machines is that they even accept incoming calls, the main thing here is to know the number.

Barcelona has an interesting metro layout, there are buses, and there are many taxis. A taxi in the capital of Catalonia is extremely in demand, so you don’t need to call it by phone, but just go out into the street and immediately catch it, there will be no problems with this. All taxi cars in Barcelona are painted in the same black and yellow colors and have lights on the roof or in the corner of the windshield: if it is green, it means you can get into the car, if it is yellow, then it is usually considered that the car is busy.

A large number of Barcelona residents move around the city on bicycles and scooters. This is extremely convenient due to the compact layout of the city and the weather, because rain in Barcelona is an extremely rare occurrence. On the streets you can see dozens and hundreds of parked bicycles and scooters. Those who do not have their own bike can use a special bike rental service "Bicing". It works very simply: on the streets of Barcelona there are large parking stands with bicycles of the characteristic appearance and colors (red and white). To take a bike, you must first register in the Bicing system and buy a card there. The use of bicycles is practically very cheap and in some cases even free, but due to comparative competition from other tourist transport offers, public transport such as bicing for tourists is limited.

4. Accommodation in Barcelona

Eat private room- a very common and profitable way of life in Spain and in Barcelona in particular. It is used in large numbers by visitors, students, migrants, young people who want to live separately from their parents, as well as people who do not have their own apartment. Housing prices vary greatly depending on the location of the apartment, nearby attractions, the number of residents in the apartment, and so on. In the Old Town of Barcelona, ​​you can rent a very inexpensive room, but it is better not to settle in this area, as it will not be safe to return home late through the alleys of the old city.

I would like to point out some interesting facts about apartments in Barcelona. Many houses have a rather strange layout, which differs from the usual Russian houses, and you should not be surprised when you see windows overlooking a stairwell or a deaf courtyard right from the room. In Spain, it is customary to build buildings with narrow and permanently shaded blind openings for ventilation, cool air intake, drying clothes, etc. In addition, in such apartments there is no heating system that is familiar to us, it is useless there, in addition, it will be a difficult task to find at least a light blanket in a Spanish apartment during the hot season: in summer the Spaniards often sleep without them.

Barcelona is the largest tourist center in Europe, which is located on the Mediterranean coast. But in order to fully enjoy beach holiday, it is best to take a train and travel a few minutes to the nearest small towns, such as Gava, Castelldefels or Sitges. The problem is that the beaches of Barcelona, ​​despite being carefully cleaned and washed every night, are quite dirty, and the water in the sea also leaves much to be desired.

The most accessible beach in Barcelona is Barceloneta (metro station Barceloneta or VilaOlympica). It is equipped with toilets, showers, rescue towers, you can rent sun loungers. Same as Russian Black Sea coast sellers of hot corn walk around, Arabs almost run along the beach of Barceloneta and offer mineral water, beer, cigarettes, hashish. If the opportunity arises, they can also steal things left unattended. Therefore, you need to be careful. The masseuses of Asian appearance will gladly give you a massage.

Toilet hours are limited. In Barceloneta, both toilets and lifeguards are open until 19:00. Changing rooms, by the way, are not provided at all on the entire Barcelona coast. So don't be surprised if you don't find any changing rooms on one of Barcelona's most crowded beaches.

6. Nutrition

Spanish cuisine is extremely rich and incredibly tasty. Cafes and restaurants are located at every turn, and the streets and squares of Barcelona, ​​beloved by tourists, are simply overflowing with establishments where you can eat deliciously. But where there are tourists, there are high prices - this is the basic law of tourism and the tourism business. For those who do not want to overpay, we can advise you to look for good establishments within a 5-10 minute walk from such places. The most acceptable catering option in Barcelona is cafes that are owned by immigrants, for example, the Chinese. They cook Spanish dishes no less tasty than the Spaniards themselves, and their cost is several times lower.

7. Language

The people in Barcelona are very friendly. Do not be surprised if even strangers greet you. If you need any help, for example, you do not know how to get to the Sagrada Familia, then you can very easily turn to any passer-by. But keep in mind that not everyone in Barcelona owns English language. Those with whom you can speak in English are young people or tourists just like you. Therefore, before the trip, it is advisable to learn some baggage of elementary phrases in Spanish.

The main language of Barcelona is Catalan. It is a cross between classical Spanish (Castilian) and French. In Barcelona, ​​it is considered polite to duplicate important information in both Catalan and Spanish, such as phrases on metro signs.

8. Shopping

Shopping is a favorite pastime of most modern tourists. Places to shop in Barcelona are plentiful, and stores are teeming with big discounts and sales. The largest shopping centers in Barcelona are CorteInglés, L`Illa, Maremagnum, BulevardRosa. PasseigdeGracia and LaRambla are full of high-end boutiques, while Pelai is home to inexpensive shops that students from the Central University of Barcelona like to visit.

In the tourist spots of Barcelona, ​​you can see black young people who sell at first glance expensive handbags, but ask for very little for them. Fake handbags famous brands they stand neatly on the mats, and ropes are tied to the four corners of the mats, the ends of which the sellers hold tightly in their hands. The trick is that when the police appear, these beddings sharply work into knots, which are rapidly carried away to the nearest doorway along with their cunning owner.

The nightlife in Barcelona is very exciting and varied. In Spain, people from young (but not before +16) to old love to walk and hang out. Moreover, the Spaniards, according to an unwritten tradition, start on Thursday - already on Thursday evening, people, without waiting for the official holidays, fill their favorite bars, cafes and pubs. Unlike our country, in Spain, bars are considered a common meeting place for friends and acquaintances who can meet there almost daily without even calling in advance. There are countless such establishments in Barcelona: somewhere you can sit with friends at a table, somewhere you can stand at a table, and in some bars you can just take a drink, take it outside and chat with your friends standing up - this is what predominantly most of the youth, who after that very often returns the empty glass to the bartender. It is bars and pubs that are replacing the clubs that are familiar to Russians for the Spaniards. Discos with modern dance music, of course, are enough, but not only they are the key to a positive night party. Famous discos in Barcelona are LuzdeGas, CostaBreve, GetBack, Trauma, SalaBikini, SalaAppolo, Taboo and Pachá. Some of the clubs that are located in Puerto Olímpico are also popular among tourists - Opium and Catwalk, although it must be said that they are not the cleanest of the establishments in terms of the contingent that visits them, and the Spaniards are not too often seen there. The addresses of these, as well as various numerous establishments, are easy to find by entering the names of clubs in the search bar of any search engine. The most party days of the week in Barcelona during the warm season will be all days except Monday and Tuesday, although these days you can also find club movements in the city.

10. Currency

When planning a trip to Spain, it is best to buy euros in advance in order not to look for banks and exchange offices in Barcelona that accept rubles. by the most right decision will open a foreign currency account in euros in one of the Russian banks and get a bank card for this account. Thus, the commission charged by Spanish ATMs for the cash withdrawal operation will be small, and in some cases it may not exist at all.

If you have such a useful thing as a plastic card attached to a ruble account, then you can also use it to withdraw euro cash at any of the city's ATMs, but in this case, the amount of money issued will directly depend on the euro exchange rate against the ruble set by Spanish banks.

In Barcelona, ​​and in general in Catalonia, banks are divided into two types: savings banks (Caixa) and banks proper (Banco). Each Caixa (kaisa) has a specific name: LaCaixa, CaixaTarragona, CaixaCatalunya, etc. The number of ATMs in Barcelona slightly exceeds the number of streets, and each of them, regardless of whether it belongs to a bank or a savings bank, can dispense cash cash to anyone who wishes.

When going on a trip, I want to foresee all the details so as not to get into a mess because of an annoying little thing. Forewarned is forearmed. Let's go to Barcelona fully armed!

Trains to Barcelona

• There are three railway stations in Barcelona. For two of them - Barcelona-Sants and Passeig de Gracia- both local trains arrive (from the resorts of the Costa Brava and Costa Dorada), and long-haul, including high-speed ones (from other regions of Spain and EU countries). The third station Estacio-de-Franca– accepts only long-haul trains
• Passeig-de-Gracia is located in the very center, Barcelona-Sants and Estacio-de-Franca are remote from the center, but connected to it by metro lines, so the journey takes no more than 7-10 minutes

Barcelona Sants Railway Station, Barcelona

Intercity buses

• Intercity buses of local lines arrive at Plaza Catalunya (from Costa Brava, Costa del Maresme, Costa del Garraf and Costa Dorada)
• The Estacion del Norte bus station connects Barcelona with all of Europe (France, Sweden, Switzerland, England and other countries)

Flights to Barcelona

• Barcelona International Airport El-Prat-de-Llobregat receives flights from almost anywhere in the world
• Inexpensive European low-cost airlines often fly to Girona (a city on the Costa Brava 120 km from Barcelona) - however, you will have to get there with two transfers, but perhaps the price of a ticket from a low-cost airline will justify these torments

international Airport Barcelona "El-Prat-de-Llobregat", Terminal T1

Sea connection to Barcelona

• Barcelona is the largest international port, where almost all ships cruising the Mediterranean stop.
• There are regular ferry connections to Italy (Genoa, Rome, Sardinia) and France (Marseille). A ferry ticket from Italy is cheaper than a train or air flight

Barcelona Passenger Port

Where to stay in Barcelona

Hotel or apartment rental?

• Pros of staying in a hotel: reception staff are ready to help on any issue; You don’t have to deal with a bunch of household issues: cleaning, washing, cooking
• Cons of staying in a hotel: price (most hotels in Barcelona are very expensive); the presence of neighbors (all hotels in Barcelona have very thin walls and good audibility); the need to respect general rules(you can’t make noise after 23:00, you can’t oversleep in a restaurant for breakfast, you can’t take guests to your room, etc.); you can’t save on food (there are no kitchens in hotel rooms)

• Pros of living in a rented apartment: significant savings in price compared to a hotel; you can live according to the usual schedule; you can cook yourself and save on food; there is a great opportunity to see the life of Barcelona "from the inside" and not from the window of the hotel
• Cons of rented apartments: you will have to deal with all the questions yourself (how to turn on the stove, get to the center where to buy washing powder); all household issues need to be taken care of (laundry, cleaning, cooking)
• you need to know at least a few phrases in Spanish or Catalan (take a phrasebook), otherwise the neighbors and apartment owners may not understand you (not everyone knows English)

Center or outskirts of Barcelona?

• The central part of Barcelona (Las Ramblas, Plaza Catalunya, Eixample) is very convenient for sightseeing (almost everything is within walking distance)
• In the center the highest prices for housing, products, services; during the season there are too many people in the center; if you plan to live longer than three days, you will quickly get tired of the noise and hustle
• Areas remote from the center are relatively cheap, calm and comfortable to live in, but the need to spend time and money every day on the road can quickly tire and “eat up” a large part of the budget

• Areas along the waterfront are only good in summer. From November to March, a cold piercing wind often blows from the sea, and the panorama of the beaches in gray rainy weather looks completely unattractive. In winter, it is worth settling away from the sea
• A lot of people from Arab countries, India and Pakistan traditionally settle in the Rawal area. Living there can be uncomfortable and unsafe at night
• The Gothic quarter is also unsafe in places and not attractive in terms of cleanliness and smells.
• The main thing to consider when choosing a hotel not in the center is the proximity to the metro. If you have to get to the nearest metro station by local transport with transfers, you risk undermining your nerves or getting lost
• A good option for inexpensive accommodation is the suburbs of Costa del Garraf and Costa del Maresme. here hotels and apartments are much cheaper, and trains run to Passeig-de-Gracia station in the very center of Barcelona

Transport in Barcelona

Barcelona Metro

• The Barcelona metro is open from 5:00 am to midnight, on public holidays and weekends the opening hours are extended until 2:00 am. The subway lines are alphanumeric, for example, L2, and in addition, each is highlighted in its own color. Pointers in addition to the name of the station contain the branch code and are painted in the appropriate color

• Tickets can be purchased at the station from vending machines (they accept cash and bank cards) or from the cashier (if necessary, he can give a free metro map - “mapa”). Tickets are of several types, the most convenient option- ticket T-10 (that is, a ticket that gives the right to 10 trips, while several people can go on one ticket - one trip will be written off for each)

• The ticket should be carried carefully, as the turnstiles do not read wrinkled and damaged tickets. If the machine does not accept your ticket, you can contact the station employee with a request to replace it

• At the entrance to the subway, there is usually a map showing the station where you are now and the direction of movement from this station. To pass through the turnstile, you need to insert the ticket into the side front slot and wait until the machine issues it through the hole in the top cover of the turnstile.

Taxi in Barcelona

• Taxis in Barcelona are relatively inexpensive, but are only convenient for moving to remote areas. There are often traffic jams in the center, so the subway is a much more convenient way to get around.
• Barcelona's official taxis are painted yellow and black. If a green light is lit on the roof or windshield, then the car is free. Payment is charged strictly according to the meter, tips are not obligatory and remain at the discretion of the passenger
• At the airport and train stations, the car can be found at special parking lots. On the streets of the city, you can stop a free taxi with your hand, call by phone or order via the Internet.

You can order a taxi by calling 933-993-737, 932-783-000, 934-331-020 or leave a request on the Taxi Barcelona website

Barcelona Card

• The card provides free travel on all types of public transport, as well as a discount on entrance tickets to the most popular museums in Barcelona, ​​a discount on the purchase of tickets to the Philharmonic and Opera, small discounts for card holders are provided in some souvenir shops and restaurants
• Along with the card, you will be provided with a metro map, a map of Barcelona attractions and a detailed list of services available to the card holder free of charge. Cards are issued for 2,3,4 and 5 days
• Cards cannot be transferred to third parties, as the name of the owner is indicated on them. The number of days is automatically counted from the card activation date indicated on the back, regardless of whether you used it or not

Should I rent a car in Barcelona?

• In Barcelona, ​​renting a car is the most expensive and inconvenient mode of transport because
  there are no free parking lots, and the cost of paid guarded parking is quite high
• In the center of Barcelona (especially during periods of influx of tourists) find free place just unrealistic, you have to spend hours to solve the problem
• Leaving the car outside the parking lot - a guaranteed fine for parking in the wrong place, in the worst case, paying a parking fine (from 200 euros and more)
• Cars driven by foreigners are a tasty prey for car thieves. Your car will not be stolen, but gutted thoroughly

Tourist buses in Barcelona

• There are 3 popular sightseeing routes in Barcelona with tour buses that stop near the main attractions
• Each route is marked with its own color: red, blue, green. Buses are painted in the same color.
  Tickets are on sale for 1 and 2 days
• The ticket entitles you to free travel on the entire route during the dates indicated on it. You can enter and exit the bus at any stop an unlimited number of times. The price includes the use of an audio guide, the tourist can listen to background information about the tourist site, which is located at the next stop
• In good weather, seats are open on the upper tier of the bus
• Routes operate all year round except for two days a year - Christmas and New Year. Buses run from 9 am to 7 pm. The driving time is approximately half an hour.

Barcelona City Buses

• Ordinary daytime buses have rather complicated routes and can be successfully replaced by the subway for movement in the center
• Bus stops look the same as in Russia (roof, bench, sign and a flock of waiting passengers). To stop the bus you need, you should give the driver a sign with your hand
• Fare is paid when boarding the bus directly to the driver, so you should always enter the bus through the front door

• Do not linger at the entrance, as there is usually a small, impatient queue at the boarding
• To get off the bus, before the desired stop, you need to press one of the bright red STOP buttons located in the middle and at the end of the cabin on the turnstiles before exiting
• Barcelona has night buses, which is very convenient, since the rest of the city's tarsport stops moving at night. All night routes start from Plaza Catalunya in the city center

Dining in Barcelona

There are several chain restaurant brands in Barcelona where meals are organized as self-service, the food is much healthier than fast food, and the prices are about the same. So for those who want to save money, such restaurants are an ideal option.

The price of lunch in a restaurant is fixed - around 8-12 euros. This price includes salad, soup, main course, drink and dessert. For each type, a choice of several dishes is offered, which are displayed in a transparent showcase. Customers move along the showcase and choose their own dishes. At the end of the showcase, a settlement is made with the cashier.

Self-service restaurants in Barcelona

• Fresco restaurant chain. The Fresco restaurant closest to the center is located in the Maremagnum shopping complex in the port of Barcelona. Addresses of all Fresco restaurants in Barcelona can be viewed

• Chain of restaurants Lactuca. The closest restaurant to the center is Latuca opposite the Sagrada Familia at Carrer de Prevenca, 427

• Restaurant chain La Paradeta(seafood dishes). Here, visitors choose not ready-made dishes, but raw freshly caught seafood and a cooking method (there are not many options - fry, stew and eat raw)
• While the visitor chooses drinks, dessert and pays for the order, the chefs prepare the dish. At the checkout, a receipt with the order number is issued, which the chefs shout out as soon as the dish is ready. The cost of lunch ranges from 20-25 euros per person
• The nearest restaurant to the center is located near the House of Leo Morera on Paseo de Gracia, full list restaurants can be viewed

• Another type of relatively inexpensive restaurants are local eateries "tapas"". There are a great many of them in Barcelona, ​​it is better to choose those that are not located on the main streets, but a little away

• AT fast food restaurants lunch of a hamburger, french fries and a drink will cost 10-12 euros

• In small Mediterranean restaurants and food courts in large shopping centers, a hot drink and a drink will cost around 15-20 euros per person

• Dinner or lunch in a classic restaurant in the center will cost 40-50 euros per person (salad, hot, water and wine)

Shopping in Barcelona

• The sales season in Barcelona happens 2 times a year: from January to mid-February and from mid-July to the end of August
• Discounts on goods at the beginning of the sales season start from 10-15% and reach their peak of 70-80% by the end of the sales. True, the choice in February and August is already small, but an experienced shopaholic will always find the right thing for such ridiculous money.
• The most fashionable and expensive brands of European clothing are sold on Passeig de Gracia. This is the most pretentious street in Barcelona with the most pretentious boutiques

• There are many shops in the Gothic Quarter fashion clothes can be found in the Placa de Sant Josep Oriol area and adjacent streets
• During the sales season, a special Tomb bus departs from Plaza Catalunya every hour, which takes everyone to the most important places. outlets Barcelona
• There are quite a lot of branded stores of famous European clothing brands on Diagonal Avenue: Armani, Versace, Zara and others.

Malls and outlets in Barcelona

• Corte Inglés (El Corte Inglés)- the most famous shopping center in Barcelona, ​​located on Plaza Catalunya

• Maremagnum (Maremagnum)- shopping and entertainment complex next to the Aquarium in the old port of Barcelona

• Glories (Les Glories)- shopping center on Diagonal Avenue near the Sagrada Familia

• Barcelona Arena a former bullfighting stadium, which was converted into a shopping center after the introduction of a ban on bullfighting in the country. Located on the Plaza de España near the singing fountains

• Diagonal- a large shopping center at the beginning of Diagonal Avenue near El Maresme and Forum metro stations

Barcelona beaches

• Despite the fact that Barcelona is a huge metropolis, its beaches can be considered ideal in terms of cleanliness. The beach strip starts from the Barceloneta area and stretches north for several kilometers
• There are a total of 11 beaches in the area. Most of the equipped beaches are located near the metro stations Barceloneta, Ciutadella, Bogatell, Llacuna and Pable-nou
• Wild beaches are located closer to the outskirts of the city near the metro Selva de Mar, El Maresme and Forum

Safety rules in Barcelona

• There are many pickpockets in the crowded tourist spots in the city center. Bags and gadgets left unattended are often stolen
• Also, tourists often become victims of thieves in the subway and suburban trains during rush hour.
• Be especially careful if one of the locals suddenly shows an unexpected interest in you or offers disinterested help (shake off your dirty back, ask about some nonsense): pickpockets often work in pairs, and while one distracts, the second clears pockets and bags from money
• Carry bags and backpacks so that they cannot be pulled off your shoulder on the go: this is sometimes done by motorcyclists on the sidewalks along the roads

• Do not open bags and pockets in a large crowd of people. Often, tourists begin to rummage through their pockets in search of a travel card, small things to pay, a phone, and so on. At this point, they become very easy prey for scammers.
• Do not leave things unattended on the beach
• Avoid visiting the Gothic quarter (especially the part closer to the sea) and the Raval area at night
• In rental cars, always lock the doors if you are driving in a traffic jam. Do not keep valuables in the back seat of the car, do not leave things in the cabin when you leave the car, even if it is in a guarded parking lot

Choose a restaurant tastier and not get into trouble.

We are not local...

Catalans and Spaniards are very friendly people, open in their desire to help a lost tourist. In addition, leisurely locals (15 minutes is not late) almost always have time to help. Do not be surprised if in response to the question “Where is the metro?” you will be taken by the hand and literally brought to the entrance to the nearest station. On the way, they will tell you about the weather, complain about the traffic light and scold the sloppy driver at the pedestrian crossing. And yes, it will all be in Spanish, so just smile and in no case think that something bad is being said about you.

In addition to the usual passers-by who will direct you to the right place, in Barcelona, ​​as well as in any city and some villages, there are special information centers for tourists "Information tourism", which are usually denoted by the Latin letter "i". Here you will be answered in good English or even Russian to all questions, they will tell you what you can see in the city today, which museums are worth visiting. And finally handed free map cities and several avenues about the sights of Barcelona.

Free admission

Few tourists and residents of Barcelona know that some museums are sometimesdo not charge entry fees . Most often it is Saturday or Sunday after 15:00 or certain days of the year: September 11 and 24 and May 18.

CosmoCaixa Science Museum (CosmoCaixa) combines permanent and temporary exhibitions. The motto of the museum is "Touch everything!", so children love this museum, where you can have fun and learn new things at the same time. The entrance is free:

• teenagers under 16;
• clients of La Caixa bank.

For lovers of more modern art Design Museum (Museo del diseño de Barcelona), entrance to which is free:

• first Sunday of the month;
• Sundays after 15:00;
• February 12, 13, 14, September 24;
• teenagers under 16 years old.

Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Pedralbes- Gothic monastery built in 1327. The three-story patio is amazing. There are usually few visitors, so you can safely enjoy the peace and quiet. Admission is free on Sundays after 15:00.

In addition to museums in Barcelona, ​​there are observation decks that deserve a visit and are absolutely free. Also in the city center you can often see performances by street musicians or artists. And you can arrange yourself a tour of the freak bars of Barcelona.

Not far from the Glòries metro station is one of the oldest markets in all of Europe - Mercado Encants Vells de Barcelona, which can be translated as "the charm of old Barcelona." Its history began in the 14th century when it was a simple medieval fair. Now the Mercado Encants-Wels is a mixture of a flea market and individual shops. There is something to see, and you can choose a souvenir for memory.

On a large scale in Barcelona celebrate national holidays. For more information on the holiday schedule, please visit Barcelona city hall official page . Since 1872, the most important holiday in Barcelona -La Merce. This holiday honors Our Lady (Mare de Déu de la Mercè) as the patroness of the city. It lasts for several days, during which there are more than 600 different events, including processions of giant puppets, open-air concerts, casteller performances, devil dances and fire shows in the streets of Barcelona. The holiday program can be obtained at the tourist information center or downloaded at official website.

Do not forget about the "most national" holiday - Day of Catalonia which is celebrated on September 11th. Usually on this day, supporters of the independence of Catalonia organize large-scale processions and flash mobs. For example, in 2013, 1.6 million Catalans formed a 400-kilometer line from France to Valencia.

You can't starve

If you want to taste local cuisine, then it is better to be guided by several principles for choosing a place.

First, move away from tourist routes. The restaurant opposite the Sagrada Familia is designed for tourists who have come and gone. But the bar in the courtyard on a lost street in the quarter at the foot of Montjuic is likely to be regularly visited by locals, so you will be offered the same as their regular customers. back side medals - the menu in Russian or English is not always guaranteed, stock up on a dictionary or hope for your luck.

Secondly, in almost any restaurant or bar that serves food, there is a menu of the day - "Menu del dia" (Menú del día), which includes a first, second, coffee or dessert of your choice, as well as wine or soft drinks. . Such a menu will cost much less than ordering individual dishes from the menu ("de la carta").

And, thirdly, choose places where you see more visitors, and it is local residents. The queue waiting for a table is the most reliable guarantee that the food here is tasty and cheap.

I bring to your attention 10 simple rules that make it more enjoyable independent trip in the capital of Spain, Barcelona.

1. Get there right

Every journey starts with a road. In order for it to be a pleasant adventure, and not an exhausting event that took all your strength, you need to choose the right airport of arrival. If you are planning a trip to Barcelona, ​​then this should be only the airport of this city. Don't be fooled by tempting offer tour operators who will offer Girona or Reus. Undoubtedly, it is cheaper. However, it will take them four to five hours to get to the coveted capital of Catalonia.

2. Pay attention to tourist maps

In Barcelona, ​​the tourist infrastructure is developed not only well, but very well. The number of museums can make any traveler, even a worldly-wise traveler, dizzy. In order to visit each of them and not go broke, you can purchase one of the tourist cards - Barcelona Museum Pass or Bacelona Card. The first gives you the opportunity to get a discount on entrance tickets to the 7 most popular museums in the city. The second - at 18, but less well-known.

3. Save on public transport

If going to museums does not attract you too much, and the main purpose of the trip is walking around the city, then it is unlikely that you will be able to do without public transport. It costs a lot in Barcelona, ​​but even here you can save money. It is enough to purchase a special card for several trips, at least 10. It can be used by one or several people at the same time.

4. Choose the right days to visit museums

If even with a discount card visiting museums seems to be an unbearable financial burden for you, then you should pay attention to other information. Almost every one of them has free days once a month. So, for example, in the Picasso Museum everyone is welcome on the first Sunday of the month, in an exhibition dedicated to contemporary art Barcelona - on the first Wednesday. The only drawback of excursion programs on such days is a large number of people who want to see immortal creations and interesting exhibits. If the main thing for you is to enjoy the beautiful in solitude and silence, then you will not be able to avoid disappointment.

5. Keep track of your belongings

Barcelona is famous not only for its beautiful architecture and numerous museums, but also for pickpockets. They act skillfully and are able to leave almost anyone without a livelihood. Therefore, never keep all your money in one place and try not to take large sums with you. Better to leave them in the hotel safe.

6. Don't overpay at Boqueria Market

Boqueria, although it is a market, is actually a popular tourist destination. Accordingly, the prices here are focused on guests of Barcelona. For example, a glass of juice that costs two euros here will be half the price on the next street.

7. Take a trip to Figueres

This city is best known for the legendary Salvador Dali. To this day, everything here seems to be saturated with his spirit. You can walk the streets endlessly, so when planning an independent trip, get ready for the fact that it will take a whole day.

It can take a lot of time to buy a ticket to one of the most unusual museums in the world - Salvador Dali. Few people know that the tour costs literally a couple of euros more than a free visit. Having overpaid, you do not have to waste time getting into the coveted cashier. In addition, there will be an opportunity not only to enjoy the works of the artist, but also to learn a lot about them. And the freed time is sure to be spent on something in this city.

Barcelona seems to be explored by tourists inside and out. However, in this city there are corners that guests rarely look into. For example, when going to the legendary Sagrada Familia, you can get off not at the corresponding metro station, but a little later, at the next one. The walk will surely give you a lot of positive emotions and vivid impressions. In addition to the Sant Pau hospital, you will see the Sagrada Familia from a completely different side, not the way it opens to most.

9. Get a bird's eye view of the Rambla

This is not so difficult to do, just climb the monument to Columbus. The platform on its top is considered one of the best viewing points in Barcelona. At the same time, the entrance ticket costs very democratically - only two euros. The only downside to this place is the long queues. There are always a lot of people who want to look at the coast and the legendary Rambla, but there are few places at the top.

10. Remember: cheap does not mean bad

In Barcelona, ​​this applies to business lunches. At lunchtime, eating in expensive cafes can be significantly saved. Business lunches are mainly aimed at local residents, so at this time the chefs are especially trying. At the same time, as a rule, national dishes are served. The real national ones, those that the Catalans are used to eating every day.