Barcelona

Spain → Catalonia → Barcelona

Rules visitors often miss

Local rules in Barcelona, from the city's own pages.

• No walking around topless away from the beach

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  Allowed only on beaches or while doing sport.

  Fine up to €300

• No drinking alcohol from glass or cans in public spaces

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  Never allowed if it bothers residents or other people.

  Fine amount not stated by the source

• No buying alcohol on the street between 22:00 and 08:00

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  Applies to shops and online delivery too, except authorised venues.

  Fine amount not stated by the source

• Don't buy from unlicensed street sellers

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  Buyers can be fined as well as sellers.

  Fine up to €600

• No smoking on Barcelona's beaches

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  Follow the red and green flags and don't swim near breakwaters.

  Fine amount not stated by the source

• No wearing or displaying sexually explicit items in the street

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  Often seen on stag and hen parties.

  Fine up to €300

Health & emergencies

• Emergency: call 112

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  Free from any phone, 24 hours a day, for ambulance and medical emergencies.

  Call 112

• Not sure where to go? Call 061

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  Salut Respon gives health advice by phone and tells you whether you need A&E or a smaller urgent-care centre.

  Call 061

• Minor problems: start at a pharmacy

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  Pharmacists advise on non-prescription medicines. Duty pharmacies (farmàcies de guàrdia) open at night, weekends and holidays; some are open 24/7.

• EU visitors: bring your EHIC

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  It covers necessary care on the same terms as locals, including any co-payment. It doesn't replace travel insurance.

Useful apps

Free apps worth installing before you arrive in Barcelona.

• TMB App

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  Plan metro and bus trips, see waiting times and service alerts, and buy, load and validate T-mobilitat tickets on your phone.

  By Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona

  Get the app

• My112

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  Call 112 from the app and send your location to the emergency centre. Catalonia's 112 centre is connected.

  By Telefónica Soluciones

  Get the app

Money & paying

Paying in Barcelona, from official sources.

• Cash payments are limited by law

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  In Spain, a business cannot accept €1,000 or more in cash for one payment. The limit rises to €10,000 if you can prove you are not tax-resident in Spain (for example with your passport). Card or transfer is required above the limit.

• The currency is the euro (€)

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  Spain uses the euro. Exchange offices at the airport and in tourist areas usually offer worse rates than banks or ATMs.

Luggage storage

Where to leave bags in Barcelona, from official sources.

• Left luggage at El Prat airport

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  The airport has staffed left-luggage offices in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, so you can drop bags on arrival or before a late flight.

• Opening hours and price

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  Per the service operator: T1 arrivals 24 hours, T1 departures 06:00–21:30, T2 06:00–22:00. Storage from €19; pay on collection by cash or card. Hours and prices can change — check before you go.

Packing & bags

Bag rules worth knowing before you fly to Barcelona, from official sources.

• Liquids in hand luggage: 100 ml rule

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  Flying from El Prat, liquids in hand luggage must be in containers of 100 ml or less, inside one transparent 1-litre bag per person. Larger toiletries go in checked bags.

• Keep medication in your hand luggage

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  Aena recommends always carrying medication in your hand luggage, easily accessible — not in checked bags.