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Weather in Barcelona
Given Barcelona’s location on the Mediterranean seaboard, the city enjoys a temperate climate with very pleasant temperatures all year round. Summers are usually fairly warm and muggy, even sometimes reaching temperatures of 35°C during the hottest months, although the normal temperature stays around 29ºC. Lying on the shores of the Mediterranean, Barcelona is guaranteed fresh sea breezes to cool off. During early summer and early autumn stormy and heavy downpours are fairly common. But generally, Barcelona is a sunny place and light clothing should be fine. Just be prepared for sudden showers as well as cooler evenings.

January is the coldest month of the year and although winters in Barcelona are generally fairly mild it is still a good idea to use warm and rainproof clothing.

Barcelona is best to visit during the months of March through to June and during September and October. This way, you avoid the discomfort of traveling in summer heat or during the cooler winter months.

Average Temperature

Events in Barcelona
In present times, Barcelona is definitely a cultural metropolis – ‘a cultural crossroad’ – with excellent, carefully organized events and festivals reflecting this diversity. Some of these include the Festival of the Three Wise Men, the Sonar Festival, the International Jazz Festival as well as the cultural event Forum Barcelona.

Día de Reyes (Festival of the Three Wise Men) (January 5 - 6): A family oriented event, especially ideal for children … the celebration begins with storytelling and recitals on the three wise men, followed by a slow parade through the city streets on wonderfully set up floats and in elaborate costumes. It is on this day that Spanish children receive presents, unlike our traditional Christmas in December where presents are opened on the morning of the 25th.

Sonar Festival (Music festival, mid-June): This festival organizes a whole range of concerts and performances featuring mainly electronic music such as house and techno. A great opportunity to see international DJ’s and other musicians. Experience both sides of the festival: Sonar by Day and Sonar by Night. For more information on this festival visit www.sonar.es

International Jazz Festival Barcelona (October-December): The most famous jazz players come together on the stages of Barcelona’s well-known international jazz festival. Some of these jazz greats include Bebo Valdés, Diego "el Cigala", Janson Mora as well as the Abbey Lincoln Quartet. However this is also a great place to discover new talent and also uprising Spanish jazz groups such as La Fábrica de Tonadas. Concerts take place in the Sala Luz de Gas, at the Auditorio Nacional as well as at the Palau de la Música. For more information on this festival visit www.the-project.net/jazz.htm

Forum Barcelona (Cultural Fair, May): At Forum Barcelona a whole range of different cultures are presented in a witty and entertaining way. Countless events and activities are offered as a way of bringing culture closer to people visiting the fair. The Forum is essentially about three things: cultural diversity, sustainable development and conditions for peace. The organization of this event is based on the Declaration of Human Rights and the principles set forth by the United Nations. For more information visit www.barcelona2004.org

Eating in Barcelona
As Barcelona has become such a multicultural metropolis, nowadays you’ll be sure to find all sorts of eating options here. There is an ever-increasing range of international cuisine which includes Indian, Pakistani, Japanese, Middle Eastern, Chinese and Thai cuisine, as well as Latin American and Italian food. Even so, this trend is catching on quite slowly and one’s best bet is to try out the experienced local cuisine.

Catalonian cuisine undoubtedly produces some of Spain’s finest cooking. With a port on the Mediterranean Sea, Barcelona naturally has access to the freshest seafood and fish. This together with other fresh Spanish produce such as fruits and vegetables, guarantee savoury and delicious dishes. Not only is the fish excellent here, but meat dishes are definitely worth a try. A normal meal here consists of a solid meat or fish dish, accompanied by plenty of fresh vegetables and salad. An absolute must in these hearty meals is the all important olive oil, as well as garlic to season.

Barcelona has made a name for itself when it comes to food and is on the cutting edge of modern cuisine: in 2002 a Gallic food guide, Le Guide des Gourmands, voted Barcelona Europe's eating capital.

Cafes and bars: There are bars to cater for all needs and tastes, whether they be regular bars, tapas bars, late bars, gay bars, and wine bars, just to name a few. Xampanyerías or champagne bars are very popular among those enjoying cava, the Catalan champagne. Cafés and bars provide good eating for moderate prices. Other interesting places for the budget oriented traveler include cerveseries/cervezerias (beer bars), tavernes/tabernas (taverns), tasques/tascas (snack bars) and cellers/bodegas (cellars).

Tapas bars or tascas: Instead of eating in a traditional restaurant or cafeteria and having a full meal, something different would be to have a succession of tapas (small snacks) or raciones (larger snacks) at a series of bars. This is referred to as bar crawling and is a very fun and interesting alternative. It's a great way to meet new people and sample the local specialties.

Sit-down Restaurants: Menjadores, menjarias or comedores are cheap eating establishments generally found at the back of bars. Typically in working class environments, portions are usually generous and very affordable. A meson also usually refers to a modest eatery while establishments of higher category simple call themselves restaurant/restaurant. Restaurants specializing in fish and seafood are referred to as marisquerias. The most exclusive restaurants are “five fork” restaurants. For international cuisine, look for the ethnic restaurants on Calle Verdi Park.

Shopping in Barcelona
It would be unheard of to miss out on shopping in this fashion conscious city. The shops and boutiques along Passeig de Graciathe Grand Avenue in the Eixample district, and the area around Diagonal, the avenue that cuts through the top of the city should keep even the most avid shopper busy for a good few hours.

This stylish city offers an endless display of anything that comes into mind, from artwork to haute couture, books, jewelry, designer furniture, antiques and leather goods. Shopping in Barcelona will have you visiting individual stores, large department stores, such as El Corte Ingles, FNAC, Heron City, Centre Comercial de les Glories, Pedralbes Shopping Centre, Maremagnum Shopping Centre and El Triangle, among many others, and also street markets on some of the squares around town.

Barri Gotic is a great place with many different markets including an arts and crafts market, an antiques market, and a coin and stamp collectors’ market, just to name a few. For great shopping in central Barcelona, aside from the areas already mentioned, take a stroll down Barri Gotic streets such as Carrer de la Portaferrissa, Carrer de la Boqueria, Carrer del Call, Carrer de la Llibreteria and Carrer de Ferran, and around Placa de Sant Josep Oriol. The Bulevard Rosa arcade just north of Carrer d'Arago also has great choices.

Sports In Barcelona
Barcelona is a great city for professional sports. The great climate makes it ideal for outdoor activities. Since hosting the Olympic Games in 1992, the city has enjoyed the top quality sporting infrastructure built for the important event. Some of these sporting complexes include athletic and football stadiums, a velodrome, swimming pools, ice rinks and sporting marinas.

The absolute favorite sport in Barcelona is football (soccer). Practically a religion, many of the locals eat, sleep and breathe the sport. The local team, Barca, is one of the best ranked teams in Europe. It competes in the first division of the Spanish Football League. The team really belongs to the sports club called Barca, which actually has teams in different sports. Pau Gasol, a present-day NBA star came from the Barca basketball team. This team also won the 2003 Euroleague.

Barcelona is famous for its castells or human castles. This traditional sport of the Catalan region consists of building human towers that reach amazing heights. The Catalan people are very proud of this custom and consider it a reflection of what teamwork, perseverance and endurance can achieve. Castell contests are a sight to behold.

In Catalonia, bullfighting is not a great favorite, as in the rest of Spain. Sporadic bullfighting events may be staged on the odd Sunday afternoon, but only during the summer.

Transport to and around Barcelona
By plane: Those arriving in Barcelona by plane will land at Barcelona Airport, El Prat de Llobregat, coded BCN in the international aviation codes. An important international travel destination, Barcelona Airport receives many incoming flights from the USA and other European cities. The airport is 13 km (8 miles) away from central Barcelona to the southwest and there are several traveling options for getting from the airport to the city.

Taxi: taxis abound outside the airport’s three terminals and will also take around 20-30 in getting to central Barcelona along the C-246 highway - Autovia de Castelldefels. Fares depend on your destination but expect a minimum of €15. Be sure to consult the driver on the possible fare to get an idea of what the trip will amount to.

Bus: A bus service is available for those going to central Barcelona. Buses leave the airport every 15’ from all three terminals and take you to Plaza Cataluña. The service is available from 6 AM to 12 midnight. Expect a 30’ ride into Barcelona. The fare is €3.30.- • Train: The airport is connected to a train station, providing transportation every 30’ to 4 destinations, namely Barcelona Sants, Placa Catalunya, Arc de Triomf and Clot-Arago. Trains run from 6:13 AM to 11:40 PM.

By bus: although this is another possibility, it is a fairly slow way of getting to Barcelona and therefore not popular. Various bus service companies can arrange for travel between Barcelona and several European destinations. These include Eurolines Limited, Enarcar, Linebús, and Julià Via.

By train: Traveling by rail is much faster and more comfortable. Trains depart from Barcelona’s main train station Estació de França, just minutes away from Ciutadella Park, the Barcelona zoo, to all major cities within Spain. International destinations are also catered for, with many cities on mainland Europe such as Paris, Zurich, Milan, and Geneva. Generally connections will be required at some point in France. Major trains include the Barcelona-TALGO, the Pau Casals and TALGO Catalán.

By ferry: getting to Barcelona through the port is another option. Transmediterránea provides the ferry service to and from Majorca and Minorca.

Moving around Barcelona: The fastest and cheapest way of moving around Barcelona is using public transport. The easiest of all to use is the metro – with 5 different lines (identified by a different color each) running from 5AM to midnight on Mondays-Thursdays and Sundays and from 5AM to 2AM on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays. A one-way fare will cost around 1€. Tickets will be checked before boarding and it may be a good idea to get a deal on the multiple-trip tickets.

Barcelona’s suburban train service, the FCG, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya, is also a wise travel option with 2 lines in Barcelona and 4 others going to towns close by. Trains run from 5:45 AM to 12:05 AM on Mondays through Thursdays, from 5:50 AM to 2:15 AM on Fridays and Saturdays and from 5:50 AM to 12:02 AM on Sundays. The fare is also around 1€.

The bus, while being a much slower form of transportation (due to traffic at rush tour), is not a bad option considering the city’s extensive bus network (over 70 lines). It is also a great way of seeing the city. Different routes have different schedules and fares are also around 1€.

A taxi is the most comfortable way of getting around the city but also the most expensive. Identifiable by their black and yellow coloring, taxis show a green light when available. Prices must be displayed inside the cab and meters (which are compulsory in all cabs) will indicate the fare.

A fun and novel alternative include bikes, which are ideal for touring the city at one’s own leisure. These can be hired at Scenic www.scenic.es.