Living costs in Barcelona are similar to those found in other European cities. In comparison with Paris, London or other cities in northern Europe, Barcelona is relatively cheap. Living expenses amount around 1,000 € a month, depending mainly on the type of accommodation. During the first days it is necessary to allow for a certain amount extra, to meet expenses such as accommodation (including deposits) and public transport passes.
Climate
Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate, and extremes of temperature during the academic year are not common. The monthly averages through the year are as follows (degrees Celsius): January, 9; February, 10; March, 12; April, 14; May, 17; June, 21; July, 24; August, 24; September, 21; October, 17, November, 13; and December, 10.
Leisure time and culture
Barcelona offers a wide range of cultural options. Information about cultural activities can be found in the entertainment sections of the newspapers, in leisure guides such as “La Guía del Ocio”, on sale in all newsagent’s, as well as at the Cultural Information Office at the Palau de la Virreina (La Rambla, 99. phone: 93 301 77 75). Alternatively, you can call the metropolitan information telephone service (010).
Getting around the city
The most advisable way to get around the city quickly is by underground or bus.
Underground: Barcelona has five metro lines (L1, L2, L3, L4 and L5), the entrances to which are marked with a red diamond, plus the underground lines of the Generalitat de Catalunya (FCG). The nearest station to the school is that of the FCG at Muntaner.
Plans of the network are clearly displayed in the stations. The trains run from 5.00 a.m. to 12.00, Monday to Thursday and from 5.00 a.m. to 2.00 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and days before public holidays; and from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. on Sundays and on public holidays.
Bus: The routes followed are displayed at each bus stop. The timetable is different for each line, but is generally from about 6.00 a.m. to about 10.30 p.m. Some lines have a night service, running (generally) from 10 p.m. to 4.00 a.m. Maps of the bus routes are available in the commercial offices of Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona, which are located in the underground stations of Sants Estació, Plaça Universitat, Diagonal and Sagrada Família.
Types of tickets/passes for public transport: Single ticket: 1.10€. Better value are integral tickets which permit combined journeys on metro, FCG, bus and local train lines within the city: T-10 pass (10 journeys on the underground, FCG, buses or local trains): 50/30 pass (50 journeys in 30 days as of the date of the first journey); T-Mes pass (unlimited journeys for 30 days); under-23s three month pass.
Banks and savings banks
Banks and savings banks are generally open from 8.30 a.m. to 2.00 p.m., Monday to Friday. Some banks are open on Saturday mornings, and savings banks open on Thursdays from 4.30 to 7.45 p.m., except from June to September. In the city centre and at places of tourist interest there are several banks that are open every day, especially in the summer, for foreign exchange.
Postage
Stamps can be bought at post offices and tobacconists. Parcels can only be sent, however, from post offices. Post boxes are to be found all around the city, and are painted yellow for ordinary mail and red for urgent mail. The current postage rates for sending a standard letter (normal size, and weight up to 20 g) are as follows: Spain 0.28 € / Europe 0.53 € / Rest of the World 0.78 €.
Arriving in Barcelona
Arriving by air: Barcelona Airport is located12 km from the city. There are various ways of getting from the airport to the city centre.
Rail: Trains leave from the airport every 30 minutes from 6.13 a.m. to 11.40 p.m. The fare is 2.40€ single (you can use integrated metro-bus tickets). Journey times Sants - 20 minutes, Plaça Catalunya - 25 minutes.
Bus: The Aerobús leaves the airport every 12 minutes from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m., Monday to Friday, and from 6.30 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The fare is 3€ (VISA is accepted). The bus terminates in Plaça Catalunya, in the centre of Barcelona.
Taxi: The black-and-yellow taxis can be hired on the spot. They are unauthorized to carry more than four passengers. If they are free for hire, the green light on the roof is lit up and they have a sign visible inside which reads LLIURE or LIBRE. The fare from the airport is approximately 20€ to Sants Station, and around 26€ to any other point in the city centre. There is a supplement for each bag carried and an additional tariff for journeys to and from the airport. |
