Barcelona City Town Guide Barcelona has many faces: Gothic and trendy, fiercely Catalan, colourful and monumental. The commercial heart of Spain, Barcelona offers a unique cocktail of traditional good sense and designer folly. This is an open-minded city, from Las Ramblas to the Sagrada Familia; whether seen by the crystal clear light of the Mediterranean day or the electric atmosphere of the night time, Gaudi's city is one to be sampled and savoured just as you would a plate of tapas. Five ideas for discovering another side to the city -  Take a stroll from a turn-of-the-century bourgeois apartment to the roof terrace of the surreal and poetic Pedrera, a trip that will tell you everything about Gaudi, Barcelona's own architect. -  Take the opportunity to hear some of the finest bel canto artists perform in the recently restored Liceu auditorium, one of the most famous musical theatres in Europe. -  Profit from Barcelona's sunshine and balmy climate by visiting one of the beaches right by the city centre, such as San Sebastian or Barceloneta. -  Discover the finest in contemporary design, housed in the astonishing Modernist houses of Vinçon and the boutique BD. -  Drink in the night time ambience at La Fira, a quirky bar piled high with objects gleaned from fairgrounds - an atmosphere somewhere between Almodovar and Fellini. Time difference Barcelona is one hour ahead of GMT during winter and two hours ahead in summer. To call Barcelona Dial the international code followed by 34 for Spain, then 93 for Barcelone and the 7 digits of the person you are calling. Climate Average temperatures by season: - Spring: 20° C - Summer: 27° C - Autumn: 17° C - Winter: 13° C Holidays These holidays apply to the whole of Spain: - 1 January: New Year - Epiphany (1st Sunday of January) - Good Friday and Easter Monday (dates vary) - 1 May: Labour Day - 15 August: Assumption - 12 October: National Day - 1 November: All Saints Day - 6 December: Constitution Day - 8 December: Immaculate Conception - 25 December: Christmas Getting around Barcelona stretches from Montjuic to the Eixample, and on to the Olympic port, covering a wide area between the hills and the Mediterranean. The underground is the most practical method of transportation for visiting the city's different points of interest. You can buy a day pass. You can explore the Catalan capital on foot. You can also take a taxi to visit the city. Barcelona Tourism Office Barcelona Tourism Office: Place Catalunya, 17 S 08002-Barcelona Tel.: (international n° +34) 93 423 18 00 Fax: (international n° +34) 93 423 26 49 Barcelona on the Web http://www.barcelonaturisme.com See our Cultural calendar Back