Why visit
Barcelona pairs Gaudí's Sagrada Família, Park Güell, and Casa Batlló with Gothic Quarter alleys, a walkable beach, and one of Europe's strongest food cities.
Barcelona at a glance
City population
1.7 million
Metro: 5.6 million
Elevation
12 m
39 ft
Time zone
UTC+1 (UTC+2 DST)
Europe/Madrid
Airport
BCN
Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat
Founded
c. 15 BCE (Barcino)
Getting around
Metro (8 lines), trams, buses, bike share
Signature dish
Pa amb tomàquet, crema catalana, fideuà, esqueixada
Neighborhoods for travelers
Gothic QuarterEl BornGràciaPoble-sec
Spain at a glance
Country center
40.0°, -4.0°
Coast
Has coastline
Country area
505,992 km²
195,365 mi²
Country population
47.9 million
95/km²
Subregion
Southern Europe
Currency
Euro (€)
EUR
Dial
+34
Language
Spanish
Demonym
Spanish
Internet
.es
UN
Member state
ISO code
ES / ESP
Where in the world
40.0° · -4.0°
Spain
Open in Google Maps ↗
Click the map to open in Google Maps. Outline via svg-maps/world · CC BY 4.0
Did you know
- La Sagrada Família has been under construction since 1882 and is still unfinished: target completion 2026.
- Barcelona's "Eixample" district is a perfect grid of octagonal blocks designed by Ildefons Cerdà in 1860.
- Gaudí designed his buildings using hanging-chain models inverted: natural physics for structural beauty.
- Spain has the second-most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world.
- La Tomatina: the giant tomato fight: happens in Buñol on the last Wednesday of August every year.
Bordering Spain
Traveler notes
- Sagrada Família tickets online weeks in advance
- La Boqueria market and Eixample tapas routes
- Day-trip to Montserrat for a monastery + ridge hike
Plan checks
- Build a three-day plan before extending. Most travel cities are easy to undersell to yourself.
- Check seasonal timing: high season can triple costs on some coastal destinations.
- Verify swim safety, ocean conditions, and water-quality reports by month.
- Reserve top restaurants 2–4 weeks out and plan two standout meals per city.
Explore more
Frequently asked about Barcelona
What currency is used in Barcelona?
Barcelona uses the Euro (€), ISO code EUR.
What languages are spoken in Spain?
The primary language is Spanish.
What is the international calling code for Spain?
The calling code is +34.
When is the best time to visit Barcelona?
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. Check current weather and local events before booking.
What airport serves Barcelona?
Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat (IATA: BCN).
Other Europe destinations
Krakow
Kraków is Poland's medieval capital. Main Square (Europe's largest), Wawel Castle, Kazimierz Jewish Quarter, and Auschwitz-Birkenau 90 minutes out.
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a walled medieval city on the Adriatic. Stradun's polished limestone, city walls you can walk, and ferries to Lokrum and the Elaphiti islands.
Split
Split's Old Town is inside Diocletian's Palace. The Roman emperor's retirement home still occupied 1,700 years later. Ferry hub for the Dalmatian islands.
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki is Greece's second city. Byzantine walls, Rotunda (Roman mausoleum), Ano Poli's old town, and the country's most celebrated food scene.
Santorini
Santorini is the caldera island. Oia's whitewashed church domes, Fira's cliff-edge restaurants, red and black volcanic beaches, and Akrotiri's Bronze Age ruins.
Geneva
Geneva is Switzerland's most international city. UN headquarters, CERN, Lake Geneva's Jet d'Eau, and easy access to Chamonix and Mont Blanc.