Barcelona is one of Spain’s most popular cities. Located directly on the mediterranean sea with its many progressive and art nouveau buildings, it is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Many would say this metropolitan city is a jewel of the mediterranean

It boasts one of the busiest seaports in the World. Many cruiseships dock here and visitors are abundant from all over the globe. Many foreigners decide to move to Barcelona after a few visits. The expat community in Catalunya is quite large and diverse. The options for working and living in this city are endless. Some decide to spend a few months a year here, when it is cold back North and others even stay full-time. Starting a business in Spain is very popular for foreign residents. You will see in our Business Directory that these range from friendly bars to highly professional consulting services.

American Express There are two American Express Offices in Barcelona: one at Passeig de Gràcia 101 (tel. 93-415-23-71), and the other at Les Ramblas 74 (tel. 93-301-11-66).

Area Codes The area code for Barcelona is 93.ATM Networks Maestro, Cirrus, and Visa cards are readily accepted at all ATMs. Business Hours Banks are open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 2pm. Most offices are open Monday through Friday from 9am to 6 or 7pm. In July this changes from 8pm to 3pm for many businesses, especially those in the public sector. In August, businesses are on skeleton staff if they are not closed altogether. In restaurants, lunch is usually from 2 to 4pm and dinner from 9 to 11:30pm or midnight. There are no set rules for the opening of bars and taverns. Many open at 8am, others at noon and most stay open until midnight or later. Major stores are open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 or 10am to 8pm; smaller establishments, however, often take a siesta, doing business from 9:30am to 2pm and 4:30pm to 8 or 8.30pm. Hours can vary from store to store.Drugstores To find an open pharmacy outside normal business hours, check the list of stores posted on the door of any drugstore. The law requires drugstores to operate on a rotating system of hours so that there’s always a drugstore open somewhere, even Sunday at midnight. Drugstores are called farmacia in Spanish and ones open for business are identified by a neon green cross.Electricity Most hotels have 220 volts AC (50 cycles). Some older places have 110 or 125 volts AC. Carry your adapter with you, and always check at your hotel desk before plugging in any electrical appliance. It’s best to travel with battery-operated equipment or just buy a new hair dryer in Spain.

Embassies & Consulates If you lose your passport, fall seriously ill, get into legal trouble, or have some other serious problem, your embassy or consulate can help. These are the Barcelona addresses and hours: The United States Consulate, Passeig de Reina Elisenda 23 (tel. 93-280-22-27; FGC: Reina Elisenda), is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 1pm. The Canadian Consulate, Carrer de Elisenda Pinós 10 (tel. 93-204-27-00; FGC: Reina Elisenda), is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 1pm. The United Kingdom Consulate-General, Diagonal 477 (tel. 93-366-62-00; Metro: Hospital Clinic), is open Monday through Friday from 9:30am and 3pm. The Republic of Ireland has a small consulate at Gran Vía Carles III 94 (tel. 93-491-50-21; Metro: María Cristina); it’s open Monday through Friday from 10am to 1pm. In the adjacent building is the Australian Consulate, Gran Vía Carles III 98 (tel. 93-490-90-13; Metro: María Cristina). It is open Monday though Friday from 10am to noon. Citizens of New Zealand have a consulate at Travesera de Gràcia 64 (tel. 93-209-03-99; FGC: Gràcia); it’s open Monday through Friday from 9am to 4:30pm and 4 to 7pm.

Emergencies For an ambulance tel. 061; or fire tel. 080.

Etiquette Contemporary Barcelona is the most relaxed and liberal of all Spanish cities. In Franco’s day, many visitors would be arrested for the skimpy, revealing wear worn around the city streets, but these days no one is going to bat an eyelid if you wear a pair of shorts and sandals down Les Ramblas, although in the interest of blending in with the locals consider reserving your resort wear for the beach. Church officials will not stop you visiting churches and cathedrals if scantily clad, but again, try and be as sympathetic as possible to local customs. Women can cover up when needed in the summer months by carrying around a light cardigan or shawl in their bag.

In spite of what you’ve heard in days of yore, when Spaniards showed up for appointments 2 or 3 hours late, most nationals now show up on time as they do in the rest of the E.U. countries. It’s always wise for men to wear a suit for business meetings. The familiar tú form is now widely used in Spain, a sign of the country’s shaking off of their old-school image. But to be on the safe side foreign Spanish speakers should address strangers, particularly older people, with the formal usted. Kissing on both cheeks is reserved for friends, or people your friends introduce you to. Handshakes are more the norm in business transactions. Catalan nationalism is an extremely sensitive subject and often avoided even amongst the Catalans themselves. Unless you are an expert on the topic, stay away from it. If you are invited into a private home for dinner, you are not expected to bring a bottle of wine although a small gift of chocolates or flowers will be appreciated. The Spanish and Catalans are extremely tactile. You should not be offended or feel uncomfortable when people touch you on the back, arms, and so on. I recommend reading Culture Shock! Spain: a Guide to Customs and Etiquette (Graphic Arts Centre Publishing).

Hot Lines Call the city hall information service at tel. 010 for opening and closing times of attractions, special events, and other hard-to-find info.

Internet Access Internet access is plentiful, both in cybercafes and more and more frequently in hotels.

Language Their are two official language in Catalonia; Castilian Spanish (Castellano) and Catalan. After years of being outlawed during the Franco dictatorship, Catalan has returned to Barcelona and Catalonia with the language and its derivatives spoken throughout the Països Catalans (Catalan Countries), namely Catalonia, Valencia, the Balearic Islands (including Majorca, even though natives there will tell you they speak Mallorquín), and pockets of Southern France and Aragon. Although street signs and much of media are in Catalan, no tourist is expected to speak it, although you will be met with delight if you can at least master a few phrases. Descriptions in museums are in both Catalan and Spanish with some also in English. Most restaurants have an English menu.

Laundromats There are a few self-service and serviced laundromats in the Old Town, including Tigre, Carrer de Rauric 20, and Lavamax, Junta de Comerç 14. Some dry cleaners (tintorerías) also do laundry.

Lost & Found Be sure to tell all of your credit card companies the minute you discover your wallet has been lost or stolen and file a report at the nearest police precinct. Your credit card company or insurer may require a police report number or record of the loss. Most credit card companies have an emergency toll-free number to call if your card is lost or stolen; they may be able to wire you a cash advance immediately or deliver an emergency credit card in a day or two. Visa’s U.S. emergency number is tel. 800/847-2911 or 410/581-9994 and emergency number in Spain is tel. 90-099-11-24. American Express cardholders and traveler’s check holders should call tel. 800/221-7282 in the U.S. or tel. 90-237-56-37 in Spain. MasterCard holders should call tel. 800/307-7309 or 636/722-7111 in the U.S. or tel. 90-097-12-31 in Spain. For other credit cards, call the toll-free number directory at tel. 800/555-1212.

If you need emergency cash over the weekend when all banks and American Express offices are closed, you can have money wired to you via Western Union (tel. 800/325-6000; www.westernunion.com).

Identity theft or fraud are potential complications of losing your wallet, especially if you’ve lost your driver’s license along with your cash and credit cards. Notify the major credit-reporting bureaus immediately; placing a fraud alert on your records may protect you against liability for criminal activity. The three major U.S. credit-reporting agencies are Equifax (tel. 800/766-0008; www.equifax.com), Experian (tel. 888/397-3742; www.experian.com), and TransUnion (tel. 800/680-7289; www.transunion.com). Finally, if you’ve lost all forms of photo ID call your airline and explain the situation; they might allow you to board the plane if you have a copy of your passport or birth certificate and a copy of the police report you’ve filed.

Liquor Laws The legal drinking age is 18. Bars, taverns, and cafeterias usually open at 8am, and many serve alcohol to midnight or later. Generally, you can purchase alcoholic beverages in almost any market.

Mail Airmail letters to the United States and Canada cost 1.30€ ($1.50) up to 20 grams, and letters to Britain or other E.U. countries cost .50€ up to 20 grams; letters within Spain cost .25€ (29¢). As well as post offices, stamps can be bought at estancos (tobacconists). Postcards have the same rates as letters. Allow about 8 days for delivery to North America, generally less to the United Kingdom; in some cases, letters take 2 weeks to reach North America. Rates change frequently, so check at your local hotel before mailing anything. As for surface mail to North America, forget it. Chances are you’ll be home long before your letter arrives.

Newspapers & Magazines Foreign newspapers and magazines are available on the newsstands along Les Ramblas. Catalonia Today is a free newsletter in English published by the Catalan newspaper El Punt. Barcelona Metropolitan is a monthly magazine in English with loads of information on events as well as features on Barcelona living. You can pick it up in bars and pubs. The Guía del Ocio is the most comprehensive “What’s On.” There is a small section at the back in English.

Passports For Residents of the United States: Whether you’re applying in person or by mail, you can download passport applications from the U.S. State Department website at http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html. To find your regional passport office, either check the U.S. State Department website or call the National Passport Information Center toll-free number (tel. 877/487-2778) for automated information.

For Residents of Canada: Passport applications are available at travel agencies throughout Canada or from the central Passport Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ottawa, ON K1A 0G3 (tel. 800/567-6868; www.ppt.gc.ca).

For Residents of the United Kingdom: To pick up an application for a standard 10-year passport (5-year passport for children under 16), visit your nearest passport office, major post office, or travel agency or contact the United Kingdom Passport Service at tel. 0870/521-0410 or search its website at www.ukpa.gov.uk.

For Residents of Ireland: You can apply for a 10-year passport at the Passport Office, Setanta Centre, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2 (tel. 01/671-1633; www.irlgov.ie/iveagh). Those under age 18 and over 65 must apply for a 3-year passport. You can also apply at 1A South Mall, Cork (tel. 021/272-525) or at most main post offices.

For Residents of Australia: You can pick up an application from your local post office or any branch of Passports Australia, but you must schedule an interview at the passport office to present your application materials. Call the Australian Passport Information Service at tel. 131-232, or visit the government website at www.passports.gov.au.

For Residents of New Zealand: You can pick up a passport application at any New Zealand Passports Office or download it from their website. Contact the Passports Office at tel. 0800/225-050 in New Zealand or 04/474-8100, or log on to www.passports.govt.nz.

Smoking Smoking is not allowed in airports, banks, post offices, and other “public” buildings. Nonsmoking sections in bars and restaurants are rare. Most good hotels have nonsmoking rooms.

Police The national police emergency number is tel. 091, although most tourist-related matters are dealt with by the local police force, the Guardia Urbana (tel. 092).

Restrooms In Catalonia they’re called aseos, servicios, or lavabos, and are labeled caballeros for men and damas or señoras for women. If you can’t find one, go into a bar and order something.

Taxes The internal sales tax (known in Spain as IVA) ranges between 7% and 33%, depending on the commodity being sold. Food, wine, and basic necessities are taxed at 7%; most goods and services (including car rentals) at 13%; luxury items (jewelry, all tobacco, imported liquors) at 33%; and hotels at 7%.

If you are not a European Union resident and make purchases in Spain worth more than 90€ ($104), you can get a tax refund. To get this refund, you must complete three copies of a form that the store will give you, detailing the nature of your purchase and its value. Citizens of non-E.U. countries show the purchase and the form to the Spanish Customs Office. The shop is supposed to refund the amount due you. Inquire at the time of purchase how they will do so and discuss in what currency your refund will arrive.

Telephones If you don’t speak Spanish, you’ll find it easier to telephone from your hotel, but remember that this is often very expensive because hotels impose a surcharge on every operator-assisted call. In some cases it can be as high as 40% or more. On the street, phone booths (known as cabinas) have dialing instructions in English; although very few actually take coins. Instead, purchase a tarjeta telefónica from a newsstand or tobacconist. If you need to make a lengthy overseas call, a locutorio (call center) is the best bet. Located throughout the Old Town, these call centers offer the best rates and booths are provided for privacy. Locutorios also sell phone cards supplied by private operators. You can purchase as much as three hours of call time to the U.S. for as little as 6€ ($6.90), although you will pay the connection fee (the cost of a local call) on top. These cards can be used from both fixed and mobile phones and must be used within a month of the first call.

When in Spain, the access number for an AT&T calling card is tel. 800/CALL-ATT. The access number for Sprint is tel. 800/888-0013.

More information is also available on the Telefónica website at www.telefonica.es.

For directory assistance: Dial tel. 11818 for numbers within Spain, and 11825 for the rest of the world.

For operator assistance: If you need operator assistance in making an international call, dial tel. 1008 for Europe and 1005 for the rest of the world.

Toll-free numbers: Numbers beginning with 900 in Spain are toll-free, but calling a 1-800 number in the States from Spain is not toll-free. In fact, it costs the same as an overseas call.

In Barcelona, most smaller establishments, especially bars, discos, and a few informal restaurants, don’t have phones. Further, many summer-only bars and discos secure a phone for the season only, then get a new number the next season. Many attractions, such as small churches or even minor museums, have no staff to receive inquiries from the public.

In 1998 all telephone numbers in Spain changed to a nine-digit system instead of the six- or seven-digit method used previously. Each number is now preceded by its provincial code for local, national, and international calls. For example, when calling within and to Barcelona must dial 93, then the old seven-digit number. If you have a number that does not have a 93 in front of it, add it on and dial before you discount it as erroneous.

To call Spain: If you’re calling Spain from the United States:

1. Dial the international access code: 011.

2. Dial the country code for Spain: 34.

3. Dial the city code for Spain and then the number. So the whole number you’d dial would be 011-34-93-000-0000.

To make international calls: To make international calls from Spain, first dial 00 and then the country code (U.S. and Canada 1, U.K. 44, Ireland 353, Australia 61, New Zealand 64). Next you dial the area code and number.

Time Spain is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the United States. Daylight saving time is in effect from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.

Tipping More expensive restaurants add a 7% tax to the bill and cheaper ones incorporate it into their prices. This is NOT a service charge and a tip of 5% to 10% is expected in these establishments. For coffees and snacks most people just leave a few coins or round up to the nearest euro. Taxis do not expect tips.

Although tipping is not mandatory for hotel staff, you should be aware that wages in the hospitality industry are extremely low so any supplement will be more than welcome. Tip hotel porters and doorman between .80€ ($1) and 1€ ($1.15), and maids about the same amount per day.

Useful Phone Numbers U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory, tel. 202/647-5225 (manned 24 hr.); U.S. Passport Agency, tel. 202/647-0518; U.S. Centers for Disease Control International Traveler’s Hot Line, tel. 404/332-4559.

Water Although the water in Barcelona is safe to drink, most people find the taste unpleasant and instead buy bottled water.