Tourist Information

Multilingual staff give out free maps and information at Barcelona’s main tourist office on Plaça de Catalunya. They also have a hotel booking service, a bureau de change, internet access and a souvenir shop. Other offices are located in Estació de Sants and on Plaça de Sant Jaume. For information on the rest of Catalonia, visit the Turisme de Catalunya. For information over the phone on everything from museum opening hours to bus routes, call 010 or the Turisme de Barcelona’s information line.

• Turisme de Barcelona, Pl de Catalunya 1

• www.barcelonaturisme.com

• 93 285 38 34

• Open 9am–9pm daily

Information Officers

In summer red-jacketed tourist information officers roam the city’s busiest areas giving out maps and advice. There are also information points in Las Ramblas, Estació del Nord and Plaça Espanya.

Magazines

The weekly Guía del Ocio covers the city’s nightlife (music, theatre, dance and film), has extensive restaurant listings and is available from all newsstands. Barcelona Metropolitan (free) is the city’s leading English-language monthly magazine, featuring culture, the arts and restaurant and nightlife listings. Time Out is another English-language monthly. b-guided gives the latest on trendy places to shop, eat and drink – in English and Spanish.

Consulates

Various nations have consulates in Barcelona.

UK

• Av Diagonal 477

• 93 366 62 00

US

• Pg Reina Elisenda 23

• 93 280 22 27

Australia

• Pl Gala Placidia 1–3, 1st floor

• 93 490 90 13

New Zealand

• Travessera de Gràcia 64

• 93 209 03 99

Canada

• C/Elisenda de Pinós 10

• 93 204 27 00

Ireland

• Gran Via Carles III 94

• 93 491 50 21

Institut de Cultura de Barcelona

Get the lowdown on cultural and arts events among others, from the Institut de Cultura in the Palau de la Virreina.

• La Rambla 99

• 93 316 10 00

• Open 11am–8pm Mon–Sat, 11am–2:30pm Sun

Websites

Numerous websites cover Barcelona, including the official tourist office site (www.barcelonaturisme.com). The in-depth www.bcn.es is another excellent source. The website of Turisme de Catalunya (www.gencat.es/probert) has extensive coverage of Catalonia.

Travel Bar

This friendly bar, with internet access and amiable staff, is a good source of information. The bar hosts guided walking (see Walking Tours) and bike tours, “intercambio” nights to practise your Spanish, and a popular bar crawl to the best bars of the old town.

• C/Boqueria 27

• 93 342 52 52

University Bulletins

If you’re after cheap, short-term accommodation or if you’re looking to practise your Spanish, peruse the university notice boards posted around the building’s cloisters.

• Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes

• 93 403 54 17

Libraries & British Institute

The city’s main library is the Biblioteca de Catalunya; bring your passport to apply for a one-day pass. The Institut Britànic houses a library of English books and newspapers.

Biblioteca de Catalunya

• C/Hospital 56

Institut Britànic

• C/Amigó 83

• Closed Aug

Disabled Travellers

Disabled access in Barcelona is limited – especially in old buildings. The Institut Municipal de Persones amb Disminució provides a list of places with wheelchair access and gives advice on getting around.

• Av Diagonal 233

• 93 413 27 75