Tourist Office Information
We always recommend stopping by the tourist office as soon as you get to town. They are always packed with flyers for free and discounted events as well as free maps and guides to the city. From July to September, tourist office representatives donning red vests are spread all over the Barri Gotic between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.
The main tourist office, the "Informatico Turistica Placa Catalunya" is easily located at Plaça Catalunya, 17S, below Plaça Catalunya. Multilingual advice, maps, pamphlets, transportation passes, hotel information and reservations, currency exchange, email kiosks, telephone cards and souvenirs are all waiting for you.
Informacio Turistica Placa Sant Jaume, located at Plaça Sant Jaume 1, off Calle Ciutat, offers fewer services and personnel than the main office. In Terminal B of the Aeroport El Prat de Llobregat, a small tourist office offers goodies for tourists just outside the baggage claim area. English speaking agents offer information on Barcelona and Catalunya, including maps, transit pass information, and hotel and tour reservations. This location and the main office are are open daily from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. The Sant Jaume location is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays.
For more information, visit the official site of the Barcelona Tourist Board.
Museum Prices
Here are admission prices for some of the most popular museums:
Museu Picasso: €9 (adults); €5 (reduced)
La Sagrada Familia: €8 (adults); €5 (reduced). Guided tours are an additional €3.50 euro, and the lift is €2.00
Catedral de Barcelona: €4;free (on certain days)
MACBA (Modern art museum): €7.50 (adults); €4 (reduced)
Museum of Chocolate: €3.90
Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya: €8.50
Many museums offer admission free to children. Some museums set the free admission bar at the age of 6 while others set the limit at 10. Most also offer a student discount. And if you plan on visiting several musuems, you may want to pick up an Articket BCN for €20 that gives you entrance to seven of the major art centers in Barcelona, most of which we mentioned above.
The Barcelona Card
Cheapos have a friend in the Barcelona Card, a wonderful way to tour the city at a discount. The Barcelona Card offers free public transportation and all sorts of discounts at museums, nightclubs, entertainment facilities, shops, and tourist restaurants. The Barcelona Card covers the Metro or bus and unlimited travel on all public transport. You can pick one up at the tourist offices at the airport, at Sants train station and in the Plaça Catalunya at the "Oficina de Informacio de Turisme de Barcelona." A two-day card for adults runs €24, a three-day card runs €29, a four-day card runs €33, and a five-day card runs €36. For children, the two-day Barcelona Card costs €20, the three-day card costs €25, the four-day card costs €27, and the five-day card costs €31.
Free Sights
Many museums in Barcelona are open to the public for free.
All city museums are free on the first Sunday of each month, except the City History Museum, which is free on the afternoon of the first Saturday of the month. Museums are also free to groups using the visit for study on Wednesday afternoons. (Make an appointment ahead of time.)
Some museums allow European Union citizens free admission at specific times on certain days.
Never underestimate the entertainment factor of just walking around Barcelona. A leisurely stroll through the Parc Guell, Las Ramblas, or Parc Cuitadella can easily be more memorable than a forced tour through a museum. The sights and sounds of the Catalan capital are enticing. In the summer, Barcelona's beach is another perfect spot to people watch and catch some rays while you're at it.
Senior Discounts
Visitors over the age of 60 qualify for reduced admission to theaters, museums and other attractions as well as discounted fares on public transportation. Members of the AARP get discounts on hotels, airfares and car rentals. They can be reached in the United States by telephone at 1-800-424-3410 and online at the AARP website. Be sure to ask about a discount if you do not see one listed, as many discounts simply are not advertised.
Student Discounts
The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is the most widely accepted form of student ID and provides discounts on sights, accommodations, food and transportation. Many museums in Amsterdam offer admission discounts of 20-50% to ISIC members. Applicants must be working toward a degree at a secondary or post-secondary school and must be at least 12 years of age. The card costs US$22 and is valid until the end of the year issued. All cardholders have access to a 24-hour emergency helpline. In the US call 1-800-223-7986 or visit ISIC online.
For non-students 25 years and younger, the International Youth Travel Card, IYTC, also offers many of the same benefits as the ISIC. The card costs US$22 and is valid for one year.
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