Barcelona rooftops and the Sagrada Familia seen from Park Guell

Barcelona

Gaudi landmarks, a working port city and a beach at the end of the metro line.

Photo: M McBey (CC BY 2.0)

Currency
EUR
Emergency number
112
Police, Ambulance, Fire
Advisory level
High degree of caution
Global Affairs Canada
Language
Spanish
Local transport
Metro & bus
TMB, contactless
Yellow High-temperature Warning issued for Spain - Prelitoral sur de Tarragona

Moderate high-temperature warning · Area: Prelitoral sur de Tarragona · From 2026-08-12T11:00:00+00:00 · until 2026-08-12T18:59:59+00:00

Yellow High-temperature Warning issued for Spain - Prepirineo de Barcelona

Moderate high-temperature warning · Area: Prepirineo de Barcelona · From 2026-08-12T11:00:00+00:00 · until 2026-08-12T18:59:59+00:00

Yellow High-temperature Warning issued for Spain - Albarracín y Jiloca

Moderate high-temperature warning · Area: Albarracín y Jiloca · From 2026-08-12T11:00:00+00:00 · until 2026-08-12T18:59:59+00:00

Good to know

You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes Spain, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period…

Spain follows Schengen area rules. Your passport must: have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it might have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago,…

The European Union’s (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES) is now being implemented across the Schengen area…

There are strict rules about what goods can be taken into and out of Spain (PDF). You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty…

Exercise a high degree of caution. Latest change: Entry and exit requirements section – updated information on the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).

Spanien: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise

The Aerobus reaches Placa Catalunya from El Prat in about 35 minutes. Metro L9 Sud is cheaper but needs a change.

A T-casual card gives 10 metro journeys at roughly half the single fare and can be shared between travellers.

Gracia and Sant Antoni give you neighbourhood prices within 15 minutes of the centre.

A city tourist tax is added per person per night on top of your accommodation rate.

Local knowledge

Contributed by guides, operators and creators on the ground. Community advice, kept separate from official sources.

See Gaudi without the queue

Book the first Sagrada Familia slot of the day. The morning light comes through the east windows and the nave is nearly empty for the first 20 minutes.

Tour operator
Beach that locals actually use

Skip Barceloneta and take the metro to Bogatell or Mar Bella. Same sea, half the crowd, better chiringuitos.

Local guide

Book an experience

Verified operators in Barcelona, booked direct through KLNK.

Frequently asked questions

You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes Spain, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This applies if you travel: (UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, for British citizen passport holders)

Spain follows Schengen area rules. Your passport must: (UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, for British citizen passport holders)

For details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Spain guide. (UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, for British citizen passport holders)

There are strict rules about what goods can be taken into and out of Spain (PDF). You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. (UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, for British citizen passport holders)

Global Affairs Canada currently states: “Spain: Exercise a high degree of caution” (advisory level 2 of 4). Always check the original advisory before travelling.

Currency: EUR. Languages: Spanish. Capital: Madrid.

Sources and freshness

Travel information last reviewed 12 August 2026. Compiled from European Commission Newsroom, IATA Timatic, Open-Meteo and datakyte Travel Intelligence. Always confirm entry rules and safety guidance with official government sources before you travel.

Advisories, entry rules and alerts apply to Spain as a whole.

Aggregated from official sources. Content is never rewritten — always display the publisher, publication time and original source link.

Photography: M McBey (CC BY 2.0); Canaan (CC BY-SA 4.0); essetefano (CC BY 3.0).