What you need to know about Barcelona. Barcelona - tips for tourists. Visit Europe's largest aquarium

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

WHY BARCELONA

Prices! Price tags in stores and assortment will please even the most experienced 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’s drive from Barcelona is the famous amusement park Port Aventura, a great reward for children’s patience! For children, shopping centers and outlets have equipped playgrounds, mother and child rooms, and nanny services.

Policytaxfree! Remember that the main condition for processing return documents is the purchase amount not less than 90.16 euros and a document certifying the citizenship of the buyer. VAT refunds are usually carried out at the airport after passing through customs and filling out the appropriate form. Refund amount may vary from 4 to 15% of the purchase amount- depending on the product category and taking into account commission deductions.

In some shopping centers and stores Barcelona return tax free they can do it for you immediately after payment for the purchase- and in cash euros. But it should also be remembered that small stores very often do not issue tax refunds and they don’t draw up documents for it.

WHAT TO BUY IN BARCELONA

Let's ignore souvenirs, cheese and Spanish wine - a lot has been written about them, and of course, you will also find all this in Barcelona. But, of course, it’s worth going to this city primarily for and clothing, shoes and accessories.

Spain is famous for its fashion brands- Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Mango, MaxMara, Desigual and many others. Stylish and high-quality clothes, comfortable shoes, a large selection of sizes and all this at prices that are significantly lower than in Russia.

So feel free to grab another empty suitcase and come to Barcelona for some 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 a wide variety of brands, from the most budget to the luxury segment.

WHEN IS THE SALE 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 remains 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 by the end of the period can reach 70-80%.

Bright inscriptions "Rebaixes"(“discounts”) appear in many storefronts in the city, and the excitement in their first days is unimaginable. 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 form an hour before opening. It’s impossible to put things off at the checkout at this time, there are queues and confusion in the fitting rooms.

That's why little secret from U.S- come a couple of days before the sales start, 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 significantly save you time and effort.

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

Well, if you don’t fall into the sales period, then you shouldn’t be upset. Throughout the year, in any case, you will be able to buy items of European quality and original design from famous designers and little-known Spanish brands at very attractive prices. in outlets or on short-term discount promotions in large stores - there are also many of them.

SHOPPING ROUTES IN BARCELONA

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

1. BY BUS

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

Maybe Several variants stops depending on tourists' requests: for example, “Gourmet”, “Independent designers”, “Exclusive stores”, etc..

Particularly popular route “Shops of the old town”, when during your 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 accessories for home and interior, cosmetics, things for children and high-quality Spanish shoes can all be found there.

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

2. BY YOURSELF - ON WALK OR BY TAXI

Second strategy- download a map to your smartphone (or pick it up) and walk around the city yourself. This option requires time, effort, and, most importantly, some knowledge. It’s the latter that 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 are Paseo de Gracia(Paceo de Gracia) and La Diagonal(or Avinguda Diagonal in Catalan).

The first route is connected to Paseo de Gracia and is pedestrian. The avenue is located in the historical part of the city. Let's say right away that the prices here will not be low, even taking into account the discounts.

This is where the concentration of all premium stores is located - Escada, Armani, Max Mara, Prada and others. Shopping mall BulevardRossa, sandwiched among houses, connects the avenue with the neighboring street.

While walking along the avenue from store to store, do not forget to pay attention to the architectural sights - famous Gaudi houses - Casa Batllo and Casa Mila. However, the entire avenue is impressive with its unique architecture. The Paseo has many small cafes located on the street - be sure to eat delicious tapas and a glass of sangria here.

As we already said, Paseo Avenue itself is not a cheap place. But on streets parallel to Paseo a lot of people huddle together less expensive than on the avenue itself, shops, including with local brands- and you should definitely look into them too.

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

Besides beautiful monuments located here multi-storey shopping centerElCorteIngles, 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 shopping center is quite expensive.

But on the same square, next to it, stands more affordable prices shopping mall - ElTriangle. Here are presented budget brands clothing, accessories, cosmetics and shoes, goods for children.

Below 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 performers and musicians surprise the public with their skills.

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

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

As a rule, it shocks our tourist with its selection of fruits, sausages and cheeses, and the aromatic smells of fish and meat aisles. Despite the fact that this is a “market”, prices here are higher than in supermarkets. But the market is good as a tasting tourist attraction - it will leave you with vivid impressions and no less juicy photos.

And here is the second of the possible routes for shopping will take much more effort and time from you, as a pedestrian - it involves walking along Diagonal Avenue (La Diagonal). Therefore, to move here, unlike Paseo, better to use a car, because the distance is very decent - the length of this avenue, crossing the entire city, is 11 kilometers, and, hopefully, there are a lot of shopping bags.

Here they prevail stylish expensive stores of famous world brands.

On it are also located huge shopping centersElCorteIngles,Glories andL'Illa- you can spend the whole day in them. In addition to shops, this avenue contains many city attractions, churches and monuments - for example, Agbar Tower, "House with Spires" and others.

3. RAIDS TO Shopping Centers AND OUTLETS: WHERE AND WHAT

The third shopping strategy in Barcelona - “raids in shopping centers” - is suitable for those who do not have much energy and time to thoroughly study the shopping streets.

Large shopping centers many in different areas of Barcelona. They are usually organized according to one, fairly standard scheme. On the underground floors there is a parking lot, bank offices and a tax free (!) refund office - this, by the way, is a good purchasing strategy in a shopping center. By the way, Please pay attention in advance to the conditions for processing a tax free return.- in shopping centers El Corte Inglés networks you can buy goods in various departments and check out one return receipt taking into account different receipts.

On the floor above, as a rule, there is a grocery supermarket. On the “zero” floor, where the entrance is usually stores of cosmetics, bags and accessories. And then, floor by floor, there are departments of clothing and footwear for children, women, men, office equipment, goods for the home and garden. On the top floor there is, as in Moscow, 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 half-open shopping center with squares and original sculptures.

Cafes and restaurants here - right below open air, unobtrusive music and a small number of people will allow you to shop in a relaxed atmosphere. There are few tourists here, but there are a sufficient number of shops. This shopping center is dominated by shops of little-known local brands, but there are also famous brands.

Finally, there is in Barcelona and outlets. And they are an excellent way out of the situation 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 time. Outlets are usually located outside the city, and for the convenience of guests are provided buses that follow a schedule from several stops in Barcelona.

Barcelona outlets sell last year's collections at big discounts all year round. Brands Mango, Desigual, Custo, Hello Kitty, Bosa Nova in Barcelona they have own outlets.

The most famous outlet near Barcelona - LaRocaVillage- decorated 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 brands here, VIP-segment stores predominate, but the prices are quite tempting and this is an excellent option to buy yourself 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 exploration of the shops it is better to stop days for 5, so that without haste and fuss you can choose the best in a variety of shops in the city and outlets. Moreover, it is not necessary to have a large amount of money credit card or in your wallet - during sales periods you can save a lot here, the main thing is to know the places!

We tried to tell you about the most famous places for shopping, but this, of course, is not all, and a discerning tourist who has been to Barcelona many times will undoubtedly add his own advice. They work in Barcelona more than 35,000 stores- and on every street and in every district of the city you will definitely find your favorite stores.

Barcelona is waiting for its guests! Moreover, sales start - very soon!

Barcelona from A to Z: map, hotels, attractions, restaurants, entertainment. Shopping, shops. Photos, videos and reviews about Barcelona.

Last minute tours to Spain
Tours for the New Year Worldwide

Proud, narcissistic, explosive, full of geniuses and mediocrities, falling in love and in love, tiring and tired... all this is about Barcelona - one of the most beautiful cities not only in Europe, but in the whole world. When Muscovites are asked what the capital is missing, 9 out of 10 answer - seas! So, Barcelona is Moscow with the sea, it’s the frantic energy of Dali, the amazing architecture of Gaudi, stunning outfits of the LGBT community, active cycling traffic, awesome parties and endless sangria. It would be madness to begin listing at least some of its attractions in the introduction to the Catalan capital: they are found here literally at every step, the ancient Roman port breathes history, every stone is ready to tell its own legend, and everything modern monuments worthy of at least an anthem or ode. In short, Barcelona is a city of art. Coming here grey, boring, tired and devastated, you leave the city of love with such a charge of creative energy, sun, strength and good mood that the border guards at the airport squint their eyes warily. The glow of Barcelona will remain with you for a long time, illuminating cozy Russian evenings with a Mediterranean flair.

Search for flights to Barcelona

Neighborhoods of Barcelona

Barcelona is divided into 10 administrative districts. All the main attractions are concentrated in three: the Old Town (aka Gothic Quarter), which is the historical center of the capital of Catalonia; The Eixample, or New Town, built in the 19th century and showcasing Gaudi's major works, and the Montjuic district, located on the slopes of the hill of the same name. It is impossible to explore the most interesting places to visit and visit museums in one day. It's best to come here for a week.

The heart of the city is Plaza Catalunya, from which the main pedestrian street and also a local landmark, La Rambla, runs towards the sea. This boulevard is the border between two quarters: Gothic and Raval. A great many attractions are concentrated around the central square: the monument to Columbus and the medieval shipyards of Drassanes (now Maritime Museum), Barcelona Exhibition Center, National Palace, Marcet Palace.

The heart of Barcelona is Plaça Catalunya.

Those with plenty of time should check out the atmospheric Gràcia district, home to Barcelona's artists and students. This area is strikingly different from the rest of Barcelona with narrow streets with a chaotic layout and many small cozy places where you can take a break. The famous Park Güell is located in the northern part of Gracia; In addition, the area is famous for the annual city festival "Fiesta Major", which takes place here during the last two weeks of August.

Transport

IN common system public transport Barcelona ATM includes metro, buses, trams, Rodalies urban trains (RENFE) and FGC trains. For most tourist routes There is enough metro in Barcelona. But by purchasing a general ATM pass, you will be able to use all the types of transport listed above within the tariff zone indicated on it. This pass actually saves not only money, but also nerves, since it’s easy to get confused on Barcelona trains alone.

Metro

Getting around Barcelona by metro is very convenient. It opens at 5:00 and closes at 24:00, on Friday at 2:00, and from Saturday morning it works continuously until 0:00 on Sunday. The only inconvenience for city visitors is that most lines are operated by TMB, but lines 6,7 and 8 are operated by FGC, and for transfers between lines different companies requires additional passage through turnstiles and an entrance fee unless you use a travel pass.

The cost of a one-way trip is 2.15 EUR, so it is more profitable for a tourist to purchase a ticket for 10 trips (T-10) for 11.55 EUR for tariff zone 1, in which most attractions are located. The same tickets can be used on buses, trams, Catalan railway FGC and main RENFE trains. Also convenient are single passes for 2-5 days, which give the right to an unlimited number of trips on the metro and bus and cost from 12 EUR. Prices on the page are as of September 2018.

Travel cards of the T-10 and T-50/30 types imply limited time for transfers within one trip. For example, in the tariff zone, one transfer is considered to be a change of transport within 1 hour 15 minutes after activating the ticket: then it will be a new trip.

City trains

Besides the metro, there are other options in Barcelona railway transport. This is sometimes confusing because they often also use underground stations, although they are not part of the metro system. Such stations are marked at the entrance not with the letter M, but with the logos of management companies - FGC or Rodalies. It makes sense to use these trains not so much for exploring the city, but for traveling around the surrounding area. For example, there is a coastal railway line that goes through many resort suburbs to Blanes ( tariff zone 6), owned by Rodalies.

For the first time in Barca: what is definitely worth seeing | Caution: very beautiful!

Other types of urban transport

There are only 6 fairly long tram lines in Barcelona. Trams operate almost according to the metro schedule, they are fast and cover one stop on average in a couple of minutes. With buses, the situation is not so simple: their schedule depends on the day of the week, there are a lot of routes and they are quite confusing. In addition, you have to catch the buses with your hand at the stop and stop them with the press of a button if you need to get off. Despite the fact that many have boards indicating stop numbers, tourists are highly recommended to stock up on the appropriate buses to use Barcelona buses. mobile application. In general, the bus network starts operating at 5:30 and stops at 22:30, although there are a few night buses. The cost for the metro, buses and trams is the same.

Taxi

Taxis in Barcelona are not difficult to find: they are black and yellow cars that are found everywhere. There are 4 tariffs for traveling around the city, depending on the hour of the day and day of the week. The starting price is about 2.10 EUR (it increases for taxis booked in advance). Then the cost of the trip is calculated using a meter in increments of 1.30 EUR. The vast majority of Barcelona taxi drivers are honest, but to be absolutely sure, you can tell them in advance when getting into the car that you will need a receipt. A taxi from Barcelona airport to the city center will cost 35-40 EUR.

Bicycles

You can rent a bicycle in Barcelona from one of the private companies (the Barcelona Bicing bicycle system operates in the city, but it is not available to tourists). Prices vary greatly depending on the location of the rental company, the type of bike and rental conditions; on average, you can find a bike for 9 EUR per day. You can also find an electric bike for about 16 EUR. Some rental companies organize bike tours around the center lasting 3-4 hours and costing from 40-50 EUR.

Barcelona Tourist Bus

Perhaps the best chance to explore and imagine the city, its architecture and areas is provided by tourist bus. By purchasing a ticket for 1 or 2 days (27 and 38 EUR, respectively), a tourist gets the opportunity to travel non-stop from 9:00 to 20:00 along three routes located almost throughout Barcelona - from Montjuic to the Olympic Port and from Tibidabo to Old cities. The bus makes stops at the most famous attractions (National Palace, Sagrada Familia, Miro Foundation, etc.), where you can get off and on the bus as many times as you like throughout the day (or two). The repetition frequency is 5-10 minutes. In addition, along the way you can listen to an audio guide in Russian using free headphones, which are also given when purchasing a ticket (and this does not count the map and discounts on museums and restaurants).

Rent a Car

What to try

In Barcelona restaurants you will find absolutely incredible seafood in abundance. More often than other species you will find cod, anchovies, whiting, flounder and angler. In addition to seafood delicacies, Catalans highly respect meat, especially grilled meat and especially pork. As in Valencia, rice is held in high esteem in Catalonia: rice with herbs, rice with meat, rice with fish or shellfish. The most famous local rice dish does not come from Catalonia at all - we are, of course, talking about paella. But “black rice” with cuttlefish ink is a Catalan dish.

Tapas can be found everywhere in Barcelona, although they are not a local invention, but an Andalusian invention (the Catalan equivalent of tapas is called pintxos). But such popular delicacies among tourists as dry-cured ham “jamon”, spicy sausages with red pepper “chorizo” or homemade pork sausage “fuet” with noble white mold, are easier to buy in the store. Real Catalan cuisine consists of simple, even crude dishes that are quite difficult on the stomach. If this doesn’t scare you, try the traditional village sausage “butifarra” with beans.

Along with ice cream, street stalls in Barcelona sell the traditional soft drink "horchata" made from the "chufa" plant - a plant analogue of milk that has a rather specific taste.

Cafes and restaurants in Barcelona

Guides in Barcelona

Entertainment and attractions

Barcelona is an architectural wonder of Spain, whose attractions attract great amount tourists throughout the year. This is an open-air museum where Gothic masterpieces of the Middle Ages, experimental buildings in the Art Nouveau style and modern trends in art, such as high-tech, are surprisingly harmoniously combined.

The main attractions of Barcelona are concentrated in three areas: Old city, Eixample and Montjuic.

Views of charming Barcelona

Old Town and Gothic Quarter

Any list of the best attractions in Barcelona will include the oldest quarter of the Old Town with the telling name Gothic. Most of the buildings here date back to the 14th and 15th centuries. In addition, here you can find buildings from the times of the ancient Romans. Main attraction - Cathedral, or the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and St. Eulalia, which is considered one of the most beautiful not only in Barcelona, but throughout Spain. It was built from the end of the 13th century to the mid-15th century, and today it is this, and not the Sagrada Familia, that serves as the residence of the archbishop. The Picasso Museum is on Via Montcada in the Old Town. The exhibition occupies 5 Gothic buildings and includes many works by the great artist. In particular, those that relate to the “blue period” in his work.

10 things to do in Barcelona

On the very first day, climb to the observation deck of the Sagrada Familia Cathedral and take an inquisitive look at the surroundings.
Take a sip of water from the fountain in Plaza Catalunya and be sure to come to magical Barcelona again.
Watch mimes on the streets, not forgetting about the reward.
Try young Spanish wine (2-3 EUR per bottle) and be pleasantly surprised.
Visit the best aquarium in Europe (yes, it is located in Barcelona!)
Spend a day on the fine sand of the beach near the El Maresme-Forum metro station - there are fewer people than on Barceloneta, and the sea is magical.

Eixample

The Eixample district was designed in the 19th century, when it became clear that the city needed to be expanded. A rectilinear layout had never been used in Barcelona before, and thanks to it, the architects were able to achieve not only convenience, but also external effects. Nowadays, Eixample houses a large number of unique buildings, among which Gaudi’s buildings have become famous. Its famous Sagrada Familia, 170 m high, is one of the symbols of the city.

Sagrada Familia and Gaudi

Antonio Gaudi began building the multi-towered Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) cathedral in 1883, but the construction of the temple has not yet been completed, which does not prevent it from remaining the most famous architectural structure in the city. Gaudi himself is rightly considered the most famous and truly outstanding architect of Spain, being also a prominent representative of Catalan Art Nouveau. The unique buildings he created are one of the most colorful faces of Barcelona. Such creations of the great Gaudí as the Palacio Güell on Carrer Nou de la Rambla and the park of the same name, the Sagrada Familia, Casa Vicens, Casa Batlló on Passeig de Gracia and Casa Mila, nicknamed “The Quarry”, are under UNESCO protection and are a must-see for everyone who comes to Barcelona. Among other things, the Calvet mansion and the elegant lanterns of the Plaza Real stand out. Read more on the Gaudi and Barcelona page

The city's tourism office invites everyone to join unusual tours of cinema Barcelona in Spanish and English, which start every Saturday at 17:00 from the Columbus Monument in Portal de la Pau. The range includes: a walk “together” with Pedro Almodóvar, Woody Allen or Manuel Huerga through the most cinematic places in the city, entertaining stories about the filming of such films as Perfume by Tom Tykwer, Salvador by Manuel Huerga, The Spanish Inn by Cedric Klapisch, Vicky Cristina Barcelona by Woody Allen and All About My Mother by Pedro Almodóvar.

Duration of the excursion: 2.5 hours. Cost - 14.50 EUR, children under 8 years old - free. You can book a ticket on the website of the tourist office or purchase it at the group meeting point no later than 15 minutes before the start of the excursion.

Port Aventura, one of the best in Europe. You can get there by first taking the train to Salou in less than 2 hours, and then taking the bus to the park itself in 10-15 minutes.

The greatest concentration of places of interest to children in Barcelona is observed near the port. Firstly, there is an aquarium with a tunnel for observing sharks. Secondly, there is a zoo where they hold a dolphin show. Thirdly - the Chocolate Museum and the Maritime Museum. Another equally rich place is northern Barcelona: the amusement park on Mount Tibidabo and the entertaining science museum CosmoCaixa. In principle, Park Güell also falls into the category suitable places for children, if you don't go too deep into it.

Weather

Average monthly temperature, °C day and night, water

1 /1

5. What can you visit for free?

Barcelona often hosts various events, and the city's museums hold weekly open days. Here are just a few that you can visit for free if you know when to come:

Science Museum in Barcelona (CosmoCaixa) - on the first Monday of the month admission is free (on other days - €3.80).
Center for Contemporary Culture of Barcelona (Centre De Cultura Contemporània De Barcelona) - every Sunday from 15:00 to 20:00 (on other days - €6-8).
Picasso Museum in Barcelona - every first Sunday of the month and every Sunday from 15:00 ( standard price tickets - from €15).
Palace Güell (Palau Güell) - the first Sunday of every month, as well as April 23 and May 8 (on other days you will have to pay from €12).
Virreina Palace (Palacio de la Virreina), which today houses the Museum of Decorative Arts and hosts exhibitions of contemporary artists, has free admission every day.

6. Where can you experience the local flavor?

Many travelers and locals recommend attending flamenco evenings. You can view the schedule of performances on this website. Tickets should be purchased in advance, at least a week in advance, because the shows are very popular, and seats are already sold out on the day of the performances.

7. Where to try Catalan cuisine?

Let's move from spiritual food to worldly food! It’s probably not worth saying that establishments in tourist center Barcelona are increasing prices? They are especially overpriced in cafes and restaurants on the famous pedestrian street Rambla.

Almost every establishment has a so-called “menu del dia” - a menu of the day (like business lunches that are familiar to us). It runs from approximately 13:00 to 15:00 and includes first and second courses (your choice), as well as a drink and dessert. Such a set will cost you only €8-20, depending on the class of the restaurant.

1 /1

Briefly about Barcelona for tourists: the most interesting and necessary things

For those who are planning to spend their holidays in Barcelona and its surroundings, or are just considering this option, we will inform you about the most important and most interesting things about this magnificent city.

Basic information

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after its capital Madrid. The population is 1.6 million people. (together with the suburbs about 5 million people) and this is tenth place among the countries of the European Union.

The city is located 120 km from the border with France, 200 km from Andorra. Washed by the waters Balearic Sea related to the water area Mediterranean Sea.

Barcelona is the capital of the autonomous region of Catalunya.

Historically, Catalonia and its people have strong nationalist ideas, called Catalanism. On this moment The Catalans managed to achieve autonomy, official status for the Catalan language and recognition of the Catalans as a nation separate from the Spaniards. Attempts are being made to completely separate from Spain and create an independent state. Polls among the population of Catalonia show that 80% favor independence. A referendum is planned to be held in the near future. However, the Spanish authorities are categorically against the secession of Catalonia, they say that they will not recognize any results of the referendum and will not allow the region to secede from the Kingdom of Spain.

A Brief History of Barcelona

The history of Barcelona dates back more than 2000 years and its origins are shrouded in various myths and legends. One of them, for example, attributes the founding of the city to Hercules.

A more plausible version is that around the 3rd century BC. The Carthaginian military leader Hamilcar Barca set up a military camp on the site of the modern Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, which was called Barsino (Barzino). This marked the beginning of the founding of the city. Until the 2nd century AD, the city's importance was small, since the larger Tarraco (Tarragona) was located next door, but it was eventually pushed into the background.

In the Middle Ages the city came into the possession of the most different countries, it was conquered by the Romans, Visigoths, and Moors (Arabs). Barcelona absorbed the culture and architecture of a wide variety of peoples. When the city grew, it received the name Barsinova (as the Visigoths called it), and later it was transformed into a softer one - Barcelona. For several centuries, Barcelona actually belonged to the Kingdom of Aragon, which occupied the coastal territories of the western Mediterranean Sea in the 10th-15th centuries. In 1516, Aragon and Castile united to form the Kingdom of Spain, thus ending the reconquista - a long process of reconquest by European Christians (Spaniards and Portuguese) of the lands of the Iberian Peninsula occupied by the Arabs.

After the end of the Reconquista, the Kingdom of Spain began its conquest of America and soon became the most powerful state in Europe. Barcelona was largest port in the kingdom and played a huge strategic role. Barcelona is still the most important and largest port on the Mediterranean coast.

In 1888 and 1929, Barcelona hosted the World Exhibition (Expo), and in 1992 the city became the site of the Summer Olympic Games. Thanks to these events, many famous attractions appear in Barcelona, the city becomes a popular tourist destination.

What is interesting about Barcelona?

Barcelona is unique European city, successfully combining both cultural and historical tourism and resort tourism. There are practically no similar analogues in Europe. A 5-kilometer sandy beach stretches along the city, free to visit. Here are located such famous beaches of Barcelona as Barceloneta, San Sebastian and others. In the suburbs, on the Costa Brava and Costa Dorada, there are many popular beach resorts around the world: Blanes, Sitges, Lloret de Mar, etc.

Thanks to rich history city and region, Barcelona is a paradise for lovers of architecture and art. Dozens of museums, art galleries and incredible sights - Barcelona is not inferior in its beauty and cultural significance to Paris, Rome and other European tourist centers.

Sights of Barcelona

As mentioned above, the most popular attractions of the city are the creations of Antoni Gaudi. The most famous of them is business card Barcelona - Temple of the Holy Family (Sagrada Familia).

A fairly popular site is also Park Güell. The Gothic Quarter, the oldest area of the city, today reflects Gothic architecture and a touch of Roman.

Very picturesque place is the Old Port of Barcelona, near which stands the Monument to Christopher Columbus.

The Montjuic hill hosted the Olympic Games in 1992 and since then it has housed various sports facilities, the main one of which is, of course, the Olympic Stadium. On the same hill are the National Palace and the Magic Fountain of Montjuic, popular among tourists. beautiful fountains in Europe.

And football fans will certainly find it very interesting to visit Camp Nou, the stadium of the famous Barcelona football club. This is far from full list sights of Barcelona.

Climate and weather in Barcelona

Thanks to southern location, Barcelona's climate allows tourists to admire the cultural and historical heritage of the city all year round. In winter, the daytime temperature, as a rule, does not drop below +10. But the most popular time to visit, of course, is summer, when holiday season. From May to October, daytime temperatures remain above +20. The sea warms up to comfortable temperatures in June and lasts until the end of September.

How much does a trip to Barcelona cost?

The Spanish budget airline Vueling operates direct flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Barcelona. Ticket prices average 7-9 thousand rubles one way. The domestic low-cost airline Pobeda also flies to Barcelona and sometimes during promotions you can buy tickets for 5-6 thousand rubles.

Find flights to Barcelona

For 60-80 euros in Barcelona you can quite find a comfortable classic Double Room in a hotel or rent an apartment. For connoisseurs budget holiday you can find a modest room for 40-50 euros. Where to stay in Barcelona?
More about the organization independent trip to Barcelona

Spending on food, souvenirs, sightseeing and other expenses - as you know, is a very subjective question. There are many temptations in Barcelona and there is something to spend money on, but, in general, the prices are not high. And the price tag in local supermarkets generally pleasantly surprised us. If you rent an apartment with a kitchen and cook your own food without eating out, you can save a lot. We did not have such an opportunity, and we ate, as a rule, either in tapas bars or in fast foods. On average, we spent 60 euros per day for everything for two. On the blog you can read ours.

Religion and population

The vast majority of Barcelona residents consider themselves Catalans and, like all Spaniards, profess Catholicism.

As has been mentioned several times above, the Catalans managed to achieve recognition of the Catalan language as the official language. It is, of course, similar to Spanish in many ways, but there are still slight differences in pronunciation and spelling. In Barcelona, as throughout Catalonia, there is powerful propaganda of the Catalan language. All menus in cafes/bars/restaurants, signs and signs are written, first of all, in Catalan, and only then can be duplicated in Spanish or English language. If you learn a few phrases in Spanish before your trip, you will, of course, be perfectly understood.

English proficiency among the population of Barcelona, as it seemed to us, is at a relatively low level. Of course, if there is a professional guide or administrator in front of you large hotel or a waiter at a prestigious restaurant, he will speak excellent English, but if we are talking about a small tapas bar owned by the average local resident, then be prepared that he may not understand English at all, even at the level of a C student: )

The cuisine of Barcelona is mainly traditional Spanish cuisine with a mixture of local, Catalan dishes. Gazpacho, seafood paella, sangria, jamon - these are the typical gastronomic representatives of Barcelona.

Attitude towards Russians

Barcelona is one of the largest tourist centers in Europe and the local population has long been accustomed to endless streams of tourists from all over the world. The attitude towards Russian tourists is exactly the same as towards representatives of other nations. We can say that Barcelona residents do not succumb to Russophobia, which, as we know, the authorities are trying to propagate European countries through the media. Or they just learned to behave with restraint and keep their opinions to themselves :)

Many of our compatriots went to Barcelona for permanent residence, and if suddenly the bartender, waiter, reception worker or owner who rents your apartment turns out to be Russian, you shouldn’t be surprised.

Many of our compatriots, by the way, when moving to Barcelona, delve into the study of the history of the city and country and retrain as tourist guides - conduct interesting excursions in Russian.

Spain is a member of the European Union, currency unit– euro.

Some rules for finding cheap air tickets can be found in this article.

Cheap housing

Every traveler, of course, wants to optimize their costs and find good hotel(or apartments) in terms of price/quality ratio. Thus, the more options you are offered, the more likely you are to find the best one. Therefore, your search can be greatly facilitated by the Hotellook service, which searches for the most the best systems accommodation reservations.

You don't need to compare prices on different services yourself - Hotellook will do it for you!

Insurance

To obtain a Schengen visa, as is known, the list of required documents includes an insurance policy for those traveling abroad.

When traveling to other countries where a visa is not required, taking out an insurance policy for the safety of you and your family members will also not be amiss, especially if you are traveling with children.

Excursions

The best way to get to know a new city are excursions from local residents. To do this, many travelers use services such as Sputnik8.

Choose a tastier restaurant and avoid getting into trouble.

We are not locals ourselves...

Catalans and Spaniards are very friendly people, open in their desire to help a lost tourist. In addition, leisurely local residents (15 minutes is not late) will almost always have time to help. Don’t be surprised if in response to the question “Where is the metro?” They will take you by the hand and literally lead you to the entrance to the nearest station. On the way, they will talk about the weather, complain about the traffic lights and scold the careless driver at the pedestrian crossing. And yes, all this will be in Spanish, so just smile and under no circumstances think that they are saying something bad about you.

In addition to ordinary passers-by who will direct you to the right place, in Barcelona, 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 they will answer all your questions in good English or even Russian, tell you what you can see in the city today, which museums are worth visiting. And finally they will give free card city and several brochures about the sights of Barcelona.

Free admission

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

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

teenagers under 16 years of age;
to La Caixa bank clients.

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

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

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 tranquility. Admission is free on Sundays after 15:00.

In addition to museums, Barcelona has observation decks that are worth a visit and are absolutely free. Also in the city center you can often see performances by street musicians or artists. And you can take yourself on a tour of Barcelona's freak bars.

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 dates back to the 14th century, when it was a simple medieval fair. Now Mercado Enkants-Vels is a mixture flea market and individual stores. There is something to see, and you can also choose a souvenir as a souvenir.

On a grand scale Barcelona celebrate national holidays. You can see more details about the holiday schedule at official page of Barcelona City Hall . Since 1872, the most important holiday in Barcelona isLa Mercè. This holiday honors Our Lady (Mare de Déu de la Mercè) as the patroness of the city. It lasts several days, during which more than 600 different events take place, 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 from the tourist information center or downloaded from official website.

Don’t forget about the “most national” holiday - Day of Catalonia, which is celebrated on September 11th. Usually on this day, supporters of Catalan independence organize large marches and flash mobs. For example, in 2013, 1.6 million Catalans formed a 400-kilometer line from France to Valencia.

You can't go hungry

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

Secondly, almost any restaurant or bar that serves food has a menu of the day - “Menu del Dia” (Menú del día), which includes a first course, second course, 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”).

Well, thirdly, choose places where you see more visitors, and local residents. A line waiting for a table is the most reliable guarantee that the food here is delicious and inexpensive.

It might be useful to read: