Getting There

By plane: Barcelona's airport is 12km from the city centre. The easiest way to get to the city centre is via train (station is between terminals 1 & 2). A one-way journey to Plaça Catalunya costs €2.60.

By train: If you are travelling to the Catalonian capital your train will terminate in Estació Central-Sants, Plaça del Països Catalans, Barcelona's main train station.

By bus: Estació del Nord is the city's main bus terminal. It is just five minutes walk from the city centre and beside a metro station.

Getting Around

On foot: Using Placa Catalunya as your focal point, Barcelona is easy to get around. From here you can reach Barcelona's best known areas and buildings.

By metro: Comprising of 5 lines, Barcelona's metro system is efficient and easy to use. Each line is a different number/colour. Single journeys cost €1.25.

By bus: Most bus routes run through the city centre and, in particular, through Plaça Catalunya.

By taxi: Taxis are black and yellow. You know they're free when they've a green light in the front.

The beginning of the calendar year in Barcelona begins with a couple of chilly months, with temperatures hovering around 9°C-11°C. By March the days become far milder and in April the average temperature is approximately 15°C. Once summer arrives Barcelona becomes an extremely hot, clammy city and temperatures can stay at nearly 30°C for three months on end. It isn’t until the following October that the days start to become cool again until winter finally returns. The wettest months are May, September and October.

Consulates

USA: +34 93 280 22 27
UK: +34 93 366 62 00
Canada: +34 93 204 27 00
Australia: +34 93 490 90 13
South Africa: +34 91 436 37 80 (Embassy in Madrid)
Ireland: +34 93 491 50 21
Germany: +34 93 292 10 00
Italy: +34 93 467 73 05
New Zealand: + 34 93 209 03 99
France: +34 93 270 30 00

Travel Bar, C/ de Boqueria 27 If you're really broke, but still want a decent meal, locate this bar. Every night at either 7.30pm or 8.15pm you can get a particular meal (pasta, curry etc.) for a mere €1 (once you buy a drink to wash it down with). Open daily from 9am-3am.

Fresco, Ronda Universidad, 29 Specialising in 'all-you-can-eat' buffets, Fresco is great value for money. For €7.40 you can choose from an wide range of salads, while if you're looking for something a bit more substantial you can stuff yourself with pizza and pasta to your heart's content. Open from 12.30pm-1am; buffet €9.20 after 8pm/weekends.

Bar del Pi, Plaça Sant Josep Oriol 1 Even though the selection of tapas here is limited, this is one of Barcelona's most famous tapas bars. Most tapas are under €3 and if you're lucky a pianist will be tickling the ivory keys of the downstairs piano. Open Mon-Sat 9am to 11pm; Sun 9am to 10pm.

Organised Chaos Can Paixano, C/de la Reina Cristina, 7 Going for a bite to eat in this small champagne bar in La Barceloneta is extremely enjoyable but equally challenging. Specialising in cheap tapas and meat-filled bread rolls, hardly anything costs more than €3. Better still, they sell bottles of champagne for €4! Get down early. Open daily from 9am-11pm.

Primer Express, Ronda de Sant Antoni, 32 When you're looking for a quick breakfast in nice surroundings you can't go wrong in this small eatery five minutes from Las Ramblas. For just €1.60 you can get a white coffee and a croissant/donut. For an extra €3 you can get tea and traditional Spanish sausage. They also have tapas from €1.50. Open Mon-Sat from 8am-10pm.

Bosc de les Fades, Pasaje de la Banca If you've ever wanted to know what it would've been like to go out for a night with Frodo in Middle Earth you need to visit this unique drinking hole. In this bar tucked down a small alley at the bottom of Las Ramblas (look for the sign to the wax museum), it's not people you have to weave your way through, its trees you have to watch out for! Busy at the weekends, there is a good atmosphere here. Open daily from 10am-1.30am.

Borneo, C/del Rec, 49 While there are many bars located in Barcelona's trendy El Born district, this one sticks out from the rest of the bunch, even though (like so many bars in the Catalonian capital) it doesn't get going until after midnight. Once it does though, it attracts a cool clientele who enjoy laid back tunes while having a few beers. Open Tues-Sat from 7pm-3am.

Bikini, C/deu i Mata, 105 With three rooms to choose from, most people will find something to please them in one of Barcelona's biggest clubs. It has different themed nights also. BKN (the main room) is packed every night as thousands dance to the best tunes, while Arutanga is where you can get down to more traditional Spanish tunes. Open Tues-Sun midnight-5.30am; admission €14.

Bar Marsella, C/de Sant Pau, 65 If you like absinthe then this is where to go. 80% of people who drink here have the toxic liqeur in front of them. If you like paint, however, you should steer clear. It looks like it hasn't seen a paintbrush in years. This only adds to its 'rustic charm' I suppose. Open nightly from 10pm-2.30am.

Cafe de l'Opera, Las Ramblas 74 There are many places to enjoy a beer or coffee on Las Ramblas, but this one opposite the Liceu Opera House is the best of the bunch as there isn't a nicer place to people watch on Barcelona's famed strip. Open daily from 8.30am-2am.

Camp Nou, Av. Arístides Maillol Home to Barça, one of the world's most famous football clubs, Camp Nou (or the 'Nou Camp') one of the world's most amazing football stadiums. Whether you visit for a game, or just to do the tour and visit the museum, no visit to Barcelona is complete without going to it. Museum open Mon-Sat 10am-6.30pm, Sun 10am-4pm; admission €7.50 (€11 with tour).

An Unfinished Masterpiece La Sagrada Familia, C/de Mallorca 401 La Sagrada Familia is not just Barcelona's number one attraction but also Gaudi's most famous work. Ironically, the building isn't finished and Gaudi neither started nor finished building this temple. It is said that it will be completed in 2010. Open daily from 9am-6pm (until 8pm from April to Sept); admission €8.

Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter) It's easy to forget you are in a bustling city as you wander round the maze of streets that make up Barcelona's Gothic Quarter. Located on the east side of Las Ramblas, in the heart of the district is the city's cathedral, while other highlights include Plaça de Sant Jaume.

Casa Batlló/La Pedrera, Passeig de Gracia Both these buildings, two of Barcelona's and Gaudi's best known, are within 5 minutes walking distance of each other. The former was described as "a house of sea forms, representing waves on a stormy day" by Dali. The latter is where you will find the most photographed chimney tops in the world. Open from 9am-8pm (Pedrera from 10am); admissions vary.

Montjuïc Montjuïc is a huge mountain which overlooks the city and where you can find some of the city's best museums and parks. Some of the views from the vantage points are breathtaking. Access to Montjuïc is via funicular or cable car.

January - Festes del Tres Tombs To honour St Anthony, patron saint of domestic and carraige animals, hundreds of horsemen and carraiges march down Ronda de Sant Antoni and Las Ramblas with various bands to accompany them.

February - Carnival If you're lucky enough to be in Barcelona in February you'll be treated to ten days of parades, parties and more.

March - Barcelona Marathon Athletes from all over the world travel to Barcelona to run in this 26 mile race. To keep up the spirits of the runners, the streets along the route are lined with street entertainers and musicians.

April - Dia de Sant Jordi Falling on April 23rd, Dia de Sant Jordi is like Catalunya's very own Valentine's Day. Men all over the city give women roses and in return they get, eh, a book. Charming.

June - Barcelona Pride Barcelona's annual gay festival is one of the biggest in Europe. For many the best part of the festival is the outlandish parade which marches through the city centre.

July - European Balloon Festival This hot-air balloon festival 50km inland from Barcelona in the town of Igualada is worth the trip to see over forty hot-air balloons soar into the sky.

August - Festa Major de Gracia The northern suburb of Gracia is the home to one of Barcelona's biggest festivals every August. Over the festival's seven days over one million people join in the festivities making it one not to miss.

September - Festes de la Merce This, the largest festival on the Catalonian capital, has been compared to Rio's carnival in the past! During the event parades march through the city streets while parties pulsate the squares.

September/October - Festa de la Barceloneta A real local affiar, if you like the sound of partying on the beach you're guaranteed to enjoy yourself at this annual festival in the suburb of Barceloneta.

November - Barcelona Jazz Festival This annual festival is one of Europe's longest-running and attracts top jazz acts from both home and abroad.

December - Fira de Santa Llúcia A large Christmas market is set up at the cathedral for this festival which marks the beginning of Christmas.

easyInternetcafé, Ronda Universitat 35 This easyInternetcafé enjoys a fantastic location, perched just off the northern end of Plaça Catalunya. As there are over 200 PCs to choose from you can be guaranteed that you will get a free terminal any time of the day. Open daily from 8am-2am; €1.50 per hour, minimum purchase €1.

Bornet, Barra de Ferro, 3 If your visit to Museu Picasso inspires you and you want to let friends and family back home know about it, this is where to go to do it as it's just across the road. There are also some very smart pictures on the wall to distract you as you type. Open Mon-Fri 10am to 10pm, Sat & Sun 12pm-10pm; 90c for 15mins, extra 20c for every 5 minutes thereafter.

inetcorner, C/Sardenya 306 According to this cybercafé, this is where you will find the 'fastest internet connection in Barcelona'. It has a total of 13 PCs to choose from and it enjoys a great location beside La Sagrada Familia. Best of all, if the typing is making you peckish you can eat one of the free apples on offer! Open Mon-Sat 10am-10pm, Sun midday to 8pm; €1.80 for 20 mins, extra 5c for every 5 mins thereafter.

Insolit, Maremàgnum Local 111 This cybercafé only has 5 terminals to choose from but it does boast wonderful surroundings due to its location in Maremagnum. As it is also a restaurant you can grab a bite to eat before/after you browse. Open daily from 12 noon-midnight; €2 per hour.

Las Ramblas If you're feeling a tad lonely on your travels, or your travel buddies are beginning to get under your skin, you may feel like you need a new companion. If so, this is where to find him/her. All along Las Ramblas there are stalls selling pigeons, cockerels, budgies - even lizards!

Mercat de Sant Antoni, Ronda de Sant Pau Dating back to 1882, this market sells all kinds of everything. Stalls in one half sell clothes such as bikinis, ties and shoes while the other half is where you'll find foods of every colour and description. Open Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun from 10am-8pm.

Ave del Portal de l'Angel Thanks to stores such as Zara, Benetton and other well-known brands, this broad pedestrianised street is one of the most popular shopping streets in Bacelona's city centre. Running parallel to Las Ramblas, it begins at the eastern side of Plaça Catalunya.

El Corte Inglés El Corte Inglés, Plaça de Catalunya With seven floors to choose from, you can find pretty much anything you're looking for in this department store which sells everything from sports goods to books, CDs to stationary. Open daily from 10am-10pm.

El Mercadillo, C/de la Portaferrissa 17 Sneakily tucked down a small lane, El Mercadillo is a small market where different outlets share the same shop floor. Most clothes here are a lot cheaper than those on the high street. Open daily from 11am-9pm.

C/de la Porlaferrissa / C/dels Boters If you've got money to burn, and you're looking for some of Barcelona's trendiest shops in which to burn it in, this is where you need to go to do it.

Buy a T-10 for public transport A single journey on Barcelona's metro/bus network costs €1.25. As you'll need to use some mode of transport at least three times, rather than paying for single journeys, buy a T-10 (ten journeys) for €6.90. It gives ten journeys for less than the price of six.

Chill out in Parc Guell/Parc de la Ciutadella If you need a break from the crowds in the city centre, Barcelona's best known parks are a great place to chill out. The former is Gaudi's park just outside the city centre while the latter is located just ten minutes walk from Las Ramblas.

Visit Catedral de la Seu, Plaça de la Seu Found in the heart of the Barri Gotic, this cathedral was built between the 13th and 15th centuries, although the spire and façade weren't added until the late 19th century. While the interior of the cathedral is breathtaking, make sure to visit Capella de Lepanto in the same grounds where you'll find a pond of white geese. Open daily from 8.30am-1.30pm & 4pm-7.30pm; admission free.

Ramble along Las Ramblas One of Europe's most famous streets, there is something going on along the Ramblas twenty four hours a day. Pet stalls, flower sellers, human statues, buskers, magicians and other street entertainers make it one of the liveliest streets in the world.

The Works of Antoni Gaudi It may cost up to €10 or more to gain entry to some of Gaudi's best known buildings, but it costs nothing to gaze at them. The eccentric architect's work can be seen at 14 locations around the Catalonian capital. The most central of these are the street lights in Placa Reial, and Palau Guell (both just off Las Ramblas). Not far from here are Casa Batlló and La Pedrera.

Begin your day at Barcelona's number one attraction, La Sagrada Familia. The stroll through it is fascinating as you learn the story behind this unfinished temple.

Make your way to Passeig de Gracia to check out Casa Batlló and La Pedrera, two of Gaudi's most fascinating buildings.

Soak up the atmosphere along Las Ramblas! Walking towards the port, take a left up C/de la Boqueira, then another left up to Placa de St Josep Oriol. Go for lunch in Bar del Pi.

Explore the atmospheric Barri Gotic. Try not to get lost in its labyrinthine streets. Check out Cathedral de la Seu, one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Western Europe.

Make your way back to Las Ramblas. Veer off into Plaça Reial, grab a coffee and admire Gaudi's lamposts.

Walk down to the waterfront, one of Barcelona's newest developments. This is where you will find the city's aquarium, IMAX theatre, plus endless shops and restaurants.

Not far from the waterfront (and Barceloneta metro station) is Can Paixano (see 'Cheap Eats'). Begin your night here with some cheap food and even cheaper champagne!

Things don't really get going until after midnight so before moving on to the livelier bars, sip a bottle of wine with some friends in Plaça de Santa Maria del Mar.

Finish off the night bar hopping in the city's trendy 'El Born' district. Whether its cocktails or beers you're after, you'll find it here!