Barcelona enjoys a Mediterranean climate, and because of its proximity to the sea the weather is generally mild. The best time of year is early summer (May and June) when the heat and humidity are not yet oppressive and temperatures hover around 24C. Later in the summer (July and August) the humidity increases, and since there is rarely rain the city can become quite hot. Days are long, with daylight lasting up to ten hours a day. A daily weather report can be found at http://www.lavanguardia.es/meteo/.

With the Euro now in use, many Barcelona natives complain of a quickly rising cost of living. Exchange rates will vary, but in general prices here benefit travellers from the United States, Great Britain, Germany, Scandanavia, etc. Groceries, restaurants, bars, and clothing tend to be less expensive while electronics tend to be more expensive.

Euro bills come in denominations of 5, 10,20, 50, 100, and 500€, while coins are of 1, 2, 5, 10, and 50 centimos (1/100). The best exchange rates are usually found using a credit card or bank card, though there is often a 300€ withdrawal limit per day from bank machines. A list of current exchange rates can be found at http://www.euro.ecb.int/.

A good map with a street index is vital to fully take advantage of Barcelona... especially in the winding alleys of the older neighborhoods. Campsa prints a good large map, or you can find the taxi driver’s pocket map to the city sold in newspaper stands.

The 3 and 5 day passes end up being pretty bad deals unless you are travelling a lot on the metro. It is better to go with a T10 pass. If you show a passport or drivers licence you can buy an economical monthly pass (just don’t lose it because it is non-refundable!).