Spain
Barcelona
Essential facts
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Language
Spanish and Catalan
Time zone
Central European Time · UTC +1 (UTC +2 in summer)
Typical weather
Mediterranean climate. Warm, dry summers around 26–30°C and mild winters around 9–15°C. May, June and September are the most comfortable months.
Plug type
Type F and Type C · 230V
Getting around
An extensive metro network covers most of the city, with buses filling the gaps. Buy a T-casual multi-journey ticket for value. The Aerobús links El Prat airport to Plaça de Catalunya.
Local customs
Lunch is typically eaten between 2pm and 4pm, and dinner rarely starts before 9pm. Cover shoulders and knees when visiting churches. Catalan identity is strongly felt — a few words of Catalan are appreciated.
Travel tips
Pickpocketing is common on La Rambla, the metro and around busy attractions — keep bags closed and in front of you. Book Sagrada Família and Park Güell tickets well in advance.
Entry requirements for British citizens
- Visa
- British citizens can travel without a visa for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area as a whole.
- Passport
- Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the date you enter, and be valid for at least 3 months after the day you intend to leave.
- Return ticket
- You may be asked to show a return or onward ticket.
- Accommodation
- You may be asked to show proof of where you are staying.
- Health
- No specific vaccination requirements for entry. Check the latest health guidance before travelling.
- Customs
- Duty-free and cash declaration limits apply when entering from outside the EU.
Always check before you travel