Barcelona Overview

Floooze in Barcelona - Montjuic

Fantastical Barcelona. Spain’s most cosmopolitan city welcomes innumerable travelers and expats from the US, South America, and nearly everywhere else. They come for the sun-soaked beaches, the wild clubs, the world-class food, and the legendary art. Picasso came from Barcelona. Gaudí and Miró did, too. Here, a bottle of good champagne is cheaper than a ham sandwich.

Barcelona doesn’t speak Spanish. This city is proud of its identity as the capital of Catalunya, which it has been since Classical Antiquity, when walls were laid around the Roman city of Barcino in the third century BC. Until Columbus’s voyage made the Atlantic the new Mediterranean, it was a major player in European trade. In Barcelona, pride in the history of the region and the city is as much a part of the culture as the siesta.

People will tell you that the 1992 Olympics were the turning point for Barcelona. Don’t believe them. It was the end of the Franco era in 1974 that catapulted Barcelona—and Catalan culture—to the forefront of a new Spain.

The result is a vanguard city squeezed between the blue waters of the Mediterranean and the green Tibidabo hills, flashing with such vibrant colors that you’ll see it long after you’ve closed your eyes.

Facts And Figures

Metro Area Population: 1,503,884
As Percent Of Spain’S Population: 2.6%
Percent Of Population That Is Not Roman Catholic: 10%
Length Of Longest Sausage In Catalunya: 5200m (World Record)
Annual Per Capita Pork Consumption: 55.78kg
Percentage Of Catalunyans Who Don’T Speak Catalan: 6.4%
Number Of Bars That Have Ancient Roman Walls: 7
Number Of Expats Arriving To Spain Per Year: More than 250,000
Length Of Barcelona’S Roman Name: 41 letters (“Colonia Faventia Julia Augusta Paterna Barcino”)
Number Of Years Since Construction Began On The Sagrada Família: 127
Number Of White Geese In Residence: 13 (visit the Cathedral).
Last Time Spain Placed In The World Cup Final Four: 1950
Percentage Of Population That Chain Smokes: 25%
Average Annual Rainfall: 1000m
Number Of Residents Who Are Famous For Walking Around Naked: 2

When To Go

Barcelona’s Mediterranean climate makes it an excellent destination no matter the season. The tourist season officially runs from the middle of June through late August, when the city is filled to ...more

Barcelona’s Neighborhoods

The first city built on the site of today’s Barcelona was the Roman city of Barcino, whose walls were laid in the AD third century. The Barcino of 1700 years ago is the “Barri Gòtic&rdquo ...more

Seasonal Highlights

For all of Barcelona’s idiosyncrasies, the city does share at least one thing with the rest of the country—it knows how to have fun. Festivals abound in this happening city; so be sure to know what ...more

Suggested Itineraries

Head out to the La Sagrada Família early in the morning to avoid fighting the crowds; grab some churros y chocolate at one of the nearby cafes. From there, make your way to the Pl. de Catalunya (Catalunya ...more

Planning Your Trip

Entrance Requirements Passport . Required for citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US. Visa. Required only for citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand ...more

Cultural Essentials

Barcelona, currently the second-largest city in Spain and the capital of the autonomous, nationalist region of Catalunya, has a history that stretches back over two millennia. One popular myth traces ...more

Practical Information

Barcelona’s layout is easy to visualize if you imagine yourself perched on Columbus’s head at the Monument a Colom (on Pg. de Colom, along the shore), viewing the city with the sea at your ...more