Useful information about Barcelona

Barcelona is located along the Mediterranean coast, magical Barcelona opens its doors to the world from land and sea.

As regards the main Spanish cities, it is 621 kilometers from Madrid. It also has a high-speed train link with Madrid, the AVE, and is linked to other major cities in Spain by inter-city trains. Barcelona is also one of the Spanish cities closest to the main European capitals, as it is only 154 kilometers from the French border (at La Jonquera). Since Barcelona holds the leading port in transit of cruise ships across the Mediterranean as well as air transit, the recently renovated and modern Barcelona El Prat airport welcomes more than 37 million visitors a year and is easily accessible – just 20 minutes by train from the center of the city.

Useful information

Catalan medicine enjoys an excellent reputation worldwide and has been a pioneer in several scientific fields. Barcelona offers the best and most complete range of private medicine and healthcare facilities in southern Europe. Not only is the city at the cutting edge of private healthcare, it also offers a high-quality national health system making Barcelona an excellent and prestigious medical tourism destination.

Hospitals

Hospital General de la Vall d’Hebron (932 746 000) Hospital Clínic i Provincial (932 275 400) Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau (932 919 000) Hospital del Mar (932 483 000) Hospital Sant Joan de Déu (932 532 100).

The main telephone numbers for any eventuality or emergency. Help is just a phone call away.

Emergencies phones

Guàrdia Urbana [city police] (092) Mossos d’Esquadra [Catalan regional police (088) Policia Nacional [Spanish national police] (091) Guàrdia Civil [Civil Guard] (062)

Health (061) All emergencies (112) Fire (080)

Information services

Barcelone Information — from Barcelona (010)

Barcelone Information — from outside the metropolitan area (807 117 700)

For people with hearing difficulties (901 558 855)

Turisme de Barcelona (932 853 834)

Youth Advice and Information Centre (CIAJ) (934 422 939)

Transport

Metropolitan public transport (010)

FGC [Catalan Railways] (012)

RENFE [Spanish Railways] (902 240 202)

Airport (information) (902 404 704)

Balearics ferry terminal (932 959 100)

Barcelona Nord bus station (902 260 606)

Taxis adapted for people with reduced mobility (934 208 088)

Lost cards

Visa – Master Card-Servired (902 192 100) American Express (902 375 637) Dinner’s Club (900 801 331) 4B card (902 114 400 – 913 626 200) El Corte Inglés card (901 122 122) Citibank Spain (902 241 200)

How can you reach the city

By sea

If you come to Barcelona by sea you will come to the port, one of the biggest on the Mediterranean coast. Where the regular shipping lines dock along with the ferries that link the city to national destinations like Majorca, Minorca and Eivissa (the Balearics) and foreign destinations like Genoa (Italy). The port of Barcelona is also a very important terminal for cruise liners and one of the main ones for European cruise liners. If you arrive on board your own boat, you can contact the Reial Club Marítim de Barcelona, which has moorings available throughout the year for vessels visiting the city.

By air

Barcelona airport is at Prat de Llobregat, welcomes more than 37 million visitors a year and is easily accessible. Just 12 kilometers from the city but with excellent connections to the city center.

From Barcelona airport: A train leaves the airport for Barcelona every 20 minutes and takes 30 minutes to reach the city center (Barcelona Sans Station). Another way to get to the city is by bus. The service, which runs from 6am to 1am, with several stops in the city, is called Aerobús and you will find the times and fares at this link. There is also a night bus, the N17, which goes to Plaça de Catalunya and runs every 20 minutes between 10pm and 5am.

Another option is to take one of the official city taxis. These are yellow and black in Barcelona and a green light on the roof indicates they are available. If you prefer to go to the city by yourself, the following major car rental companies are at the airport or book a private city transfer.

By land

If you want to travel over land to Barcelona, there are a number of options. You can come by train, bus or road, if you have your own vehicle or decide to rent one. Depending on your choice of transport.

Barcelona has a number of tourist offices, located at strategic points around the city. Turisme de Barcelona is at your disposal wherever you are, and to offer you help to discover the city. Here you will find: Barcelona Turisme. Tourist and cultural information about Barcelona in a number of languages provided by our front-desk staff. Distribution and sale of tourist leaflets and brochures.

Sources | Barcelona Turisme, Ayuntamiento de Barcelona, Renfe, Generalitat de Catalunya