KNOW BARCELONA
Barcelona is the administrative and cultural capital of Catalonia. The city’s two thousand year history has left its mark in its architectural, artistic and cultural heritage. Its excellent international communications, its Mediterranean climate and its cosmopolitan atmosphere make it a privileged city indeed.
In here we put forward a series of general suggestions, which you will find to be useful if you are living in any of our cities.
Within this section we present a series of general advice useful in all our cities. You will find numbers, links and general contacts for Catalonia and also specific for Barcelona.
Mesures against Covid-19:
Barcelona International Welcome Desk
CLIMATE
Barcelona enjoys a Mediterranean climate with moderate, pleasant temperatures all year round. It is not a rainy city, with annual precipitation of around 1,000 mm. The seasons of the year follow a very regular pattern and extreme temperatures are unusual. January and February are the coldest months (average temperature: 10ºC). The highest temperatures are recorded in summer, in July and August (average temperature: 25ºC).
Website of the Meteorological Service of Catalonia: meteocat.com →
THE COST OF LIVING
The cost of living in Barcelona is similar to that of other European cities. It is cheaper than Paris, London or other cities in northern Europe, but more expensive than cities such as Lisbon and Athens.
The cost of living here is roughly similar to the cost of living in Rome. Monthly outgoings vary between €500 and €700, depending mainly on the type of accommodation chosen. You will require cash in the first few days, mainly to pay accommodation costs (including deposits), travel cards, etc.
BARCELONA WIFI
Barcelona WiFi is a Barcelona City Council service that enables you to connect to the Internet through WiFi access points, or hotspots, located in various municipal amenities and public access points. You can check the WiFi stations here →
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USER’S MANUAL
BANKS
Banks and savings banks open from Monday to Friday, usually from 08.30 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. some also open on Thursday evenings, except in summer, when they only open in the mornings. A number of currency exchange offices can also be found in the city centre and near to some tourist attractions. Foreign students, researchers and lecturers (both those who come from EU Member States and those from outside the EU) can open a non-resident account in the different financial institutions upon provision of a valid passport. Citizens of EU Member States can also open an account as residents. We would recommend that you ask about the conditions offered by the different banks and choose the one that is most appropriate to your needs.
WHAT DO I NEED TO OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT?
You will need a passport or NIE (from Member States: you have to ask for it at the Foreigners’ Office in Rambla Guipúscoa, 79. Barcelona: –prior appointment →-; others: you have to ask for it at the Foreigners’ Office in Passeig de Sant Joan, 189. Barcelona) and a letter of acceptance from the host university or research center or any document that proves you are studying or doing research in a centre in Catalonia.
MEALTIMES
In Barcelona, like in the rest of Spain, the custom is to eat late:
Breakfast: between 08.00 and 11.00 a.m.
Appetisers (or vermouth): at weekends it is typical to have a snack between 12.00 noon and 02.00 p.m.
This snack consists of small tapas accompanied by a soft drink or the classic vermouth.
Lunch:between 01.30 and 03.00 p.m.
Afternoon snack: between 05.00 and 06.30 p.m.
Dinner:between 09.00 and 10.30 p.m.
In general you should have no real problem finding somewhere to eat at any time of day. Restaurants are open at lunch and dinner times and if you want to eat outside of these times, you can always do so in a bar or cafe, where you can usually order sandwiches or tapas.
BUSINESS OPENING HOURS
From Monday to Saturday, the city’s businesses usually open between 09.00 and 10.00 a.m and close for lunch at 01.30 or 02.00 p.m, reopening for the afternoon between 04.00 and 05.00 p.m. They close for the evening between 08.00 and 09.00 p.m. Large shopping centres and many shops in the city centre are open right through from 10.00 a.m. until 09.00 or 10.00 p.m.
HEALTH
HOW CAN I ACCESS THE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM?
Due to exceptional measures derived from COVID-19, some healthcare centers have adapted services (with non-presential and telephone assistance), opening hours and, in some cases, there may be closures, mainly in local offices. Check to see if your center is affected.
The health card allows you to access the services of the public health system. All people registered, with a residence permit, can get the health card. You should go to the Center for Primary Care (CAP) in the neighborhood. You can also call 902 111 444.
PUBLIC HOSPITALS
Hospital Universitari General de la Vall d’Hebron:
Pg. de la Vall d’Hebron, 119 – Tel. 93 489 30 00 – 08035 Barcelona
vhebron.net →
Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau:
C/ Sant Quintí, 89 – Tel. 93 553 71 60 – 08041 Barcelona
santpau.es →
Hospital Dos de Maig:
C/ Dos de Maig, 301 – Tel. 93 507 27 00 – 08025 Barcelona
sanitatintegral.org →
Hospital Sant Joan de Déu:
C/ Sant Joan de Déu, 2 – Tel. 93 253 21 00 – 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat
hsjdbcn.org →
Hospital Clínic i Provincial de Barcelona:
C/ Villarroel, 170 – Tel. 93 227 54 00 – 08036 Barcelona
hospitalclinic.org →
Hospital del Mar:
Pg. Marítim, 25-29 – Tel. 93 248 30 00 – 08003 Barcelona
parcdesalutmar.cat →
Hospital de l’Esperança:
C/ Sant Josep de la Muntanya, 12 – Tel. 93 367 41 00 – 08024 Barcelona
parcdesalutmar.cat →
Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge:
C/ Feixa Llarga, s/n – Tel. 93 260 75 00 – 08907 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat
bellvitgehospital.cat →
SOCIETY
WHY DO I NEED TO REGISTER AND WHERE DO I HAVE TO GO?
Prior appointment is required to ensure safety and hygiene measures arising from the COVID-19 health crisis.
The registration allows being a resident of the city of Barcelona. All people, with or without residence permits have to register. You need to prove residency in the municipality in procedures related to the Aliens Act and access to public services. You should go to a Citizens Advice Bureau (OAC) or call 010.
Oficina d’Atenció Ciutadana de la Marina:
– Pg. Zona Franca, 185-219 Sants-Montjuïc
Oficina d’Atenció Ciutadana de la Plaça Sant Miquel:
– Pl. Sant Miquel, 3 Ciutat Vella
Oficina d’Atenció Ciutadana de Zona Nord:
– C/ Costabona, 3-5 Nou Barris
Oficina d’Atenció Ciutadana del Districte de Ciutat Vella:
– C/ Ramelleres, 17 Ciutat Vella
Oficina d’Atenció Ciutadana del Districte de Gràcia:
– Pl. Vila de Gràcia, 2 Gràcia
Oficina d’Atenció Ciutadana del Districte de l’Eixample:
– C/ Aragó, 328 Eixample
Oficina d’Atenció Ciutadana del Districte de les Corts:
– Pl. Comas, 18 Les Corts
Oficina d’Atenció Ciutadana del Districte de Nou Barris:
– Pl. Major de Nou Barris, 1 Nou Barri
Oficina d’Atenció Ciutadana del Districte de Sant Andreu:
– C/ Segre, 24-32 Sant Andreu
Oficina d’Atenció Ciutadana del Districte de Sant Martí:
– Pl. Valentí Almirall, 1 Sant Martí
Oficina d’Atenció Ciutadana del Districte de Sants-Montjuïc:
– C/ Creu Coberta, 104 Sants-Montjuïc
Oficina d’Atenció Ciutadana del Districte de Sarrià-Sant Gervasi:
– C/ Anglí, 31 Sarrià-Sant Gervasi
Oficina d’Atenció Ciutadana del Districte d’Horta-Guinardó:
– C/ Lepant, 387 Horta-Guinardó
TRANSPORTS
MOBILITY
Due to the coronavirus, it is mandatory to wear a mask on public transport.
There are different forms of transport for getting around Barcelona city centre and the outskirts: metro, bus, train (Rodalies de Catalunya and Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya) and tram, as well as taxi.
We recommend you have a look at the website of the Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB)
WHICH CARD CAN YOU RECOMMEND ME TO TRAVEL BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT?
Here you can check the integrated travel cards (for travelling by metro, bus, FGC, Tram and Rodalies de Catalunya): tmb →
SAFETY TIPS
Catalonia is a European country that has achieved high levels of peaceful coexistence, constituting itself as a safe society where all citizens can fully enjoy the free exercise of their rights.
Ensuring a welcoming and peaceful society is a shared responsibility between institutions and citizens, that in a cooperative way, favors the configuration of a free and comfortable society for everyone.
Given that individual participation in the management of safety, we recommend that you follow the basic tips that are exposed here and which will provide the appropriate means and resources to give you solutions to problems that may arise over your visit to our country.
Moreover, before starting a journey, it is advisable to collect the information that may become relevant. So, it is desirable that you record addresses, phone numbers of institutions and services that in certain situations can be very helpful
WHERE CAN I LEARN SPANISH?
Escola d’Idiomes Moderns – UB:
eim.ub.edu →
UAB Idiomes:
uab.cat →
Merit School UPC:
meritschool.com →
UPF Idiomes:
upf.edu →
WHERE CAN I LEARN CATALAN?
Consorci per a la Normalització Lingüística:
cpnl.cat →
intercat.cat →
parla.cat →
UPF Idiomes:
upf.edu →
Institut Ramon Llull:
llull →
SPORTS
WHERE CAN I PLAY SPORTS?
Esports UB:
ub.edu →
SAF UAB:
uab.cat →
UPCesports:
upc.edu →
E! Esports UPF:
upf.edu →
Esports URL:
url.edu →
Servei d’Esports UVic-UCC:
uvic.es →
Servei d’Esports UIC:
uic.es →
Servei d’Esports UAO CEU:
uaoceu.es →
Centros deportivos municipales de Barcelona:
guia.bcn.cat →
TELEPHONE COMPANIES
WHAT ARE THE MAIN MOBILE PHONE AND INTERNET COMPANIES?
Movistar: movistar.es →
Vodafone: vodafone.es →
Orange: orange.es →
Amena: amena.com →
Yoigo: yoigo.com →
Simyo: simyo.es →
Jazztel: jazztel.com →
Ono: ono.es →
Parlem: parlem.com →
ESTUDIES
WHERE I CAN GET MY FOREIGN DEGREE APPROVED/VALIDATED?
You should go to
Area of High Inspection of Education →
C/ Bergara, 12, 1r. Barcelona.
Tel. 93 520 96 03
USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Emergency: 112
Health Emergency: 061
Guardia Urbana de Barcelona: 092
Duty courts BCN: 935 673 140
Duty pharmacies BCN: 934 810 060
CONTACTS OF INTEREST FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
Node Català de Suport a la Mobilitat →
Virtual Office of the Barcelona City Council →
Consulates in Barcelona →
FIND SCHOOL FOR YOUR CHILDREN
In Barcelona you can find public schools, private subsidized and private.
Consorci d’Educació de Barcelona
Barcelona International Welcome
