BCN Tourist Office: A Public Concierge Service

There are two types of categories travelers fall into.

Type A: The traveler that scours book stores in search of the best travel guide about her destination, has done exhaustive online research and surveyed friends and friends of friends about the location of her upcoming vacation.

Then there is Type B: The traveler who blindly picks a location on a map. Asks a few friends about the destination getting advice on a place to stay, possibly. However for the most part plans on winging it when he arrives.

Regardless if you are traveler Type A or Type B, the Barcelona Tourist Office should be the first place you visit upon arrival. There is a wealth of information that will be helpful to you during your stay or if in fact you are looking for a place to rest your head they can assist you with accommodations as well. So don’t shrug off a visit because you believe you are either too informed or too cool for it.

The Tourist Offices of Barcelona go beyond offering you the basic touristy essentials like maps, city and transport information but also provides a limitless amount of information on cultural attractions, entertainment options, and booking services for hotels, shows and tours like the Barcelona Bus Turistic (open air bus tour of the entire city).

You will also come across a multitude of flyers and discount cards for just about anything and everything you can imagine. Many bars, restaurants, and shops distribute discount cards at the tourist offices in hopes of attracting new clients which is a huge benefit for you when it comes to enjoying all that the city has to offer without going broke.

Nevertheless in my opinion there is one discount card offered by the tourist office that is by far the best deal you will encounter during your stay. Before you trollop off to go site-seeing make your way to the main tourist office located in Plaça Catalunya and purchase a Barcelona Card.

Designed to make your stay carefree and convenient, the Barcelona Card allows you to travel freely on public transport, hearty discounts and free offers at museums, cultural venues, entertainment, leisure attractions, shops and restaurants. It’s like having a key to the city or being a VIP.

There are 5 main Tourist Board offices in the city you should be aware of. The largest offering the most extensive amount of information and services is the main office located in Plaça Catalunya or rather, under Plaça Catalunya. Although it’s the largest location and in the busiest plaza many tourists have difficulties finding it because its stationed underground. The easiest way to locate it is to look for two large pillars with an ‘’I’’ (for information) at the top. They are placed at either end of the plaza bordering El Corte Ingles marking the subterranean entrances to the main tourist office. After briefing yourself on the city you can visit the gift shop and load up on souvenirs to take back home.

The second largest tourist board office is located at Barcelona City Hall in Plaça St. Jaume. If you are staying in the Born neighborhood or the Gothic Quarter this would be the closest site. The services offered are similar to that of the Plaça Cataluyna office however it is a bit smaller and its opening hours are more limited.

The Columbus Monument tourist office mainly supplies leaflets and information about the port and cultural attractions. You can book a Barcelona Bus Turistic tour and buy the Barcelona Card however they don’t provide booking services like the two main offices.

There is another office located on Las Ramblas near the Liceu however it is different from all the others. Its sole purpose is to provide in-depth information on Barcelona cultural activities. Don’t come here if you want help with booking accommodations or tours. If you try your luck at asking the knowledgeable staff on anything other than cultural events they will promptly direct you to the main Plaça Cataluna tourist office.

As soon as you land at El Prat airport you can seek out tourist information booths located in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. In addition to providing you with the standard cultural and touristic information these two sites can advise you on options for transport to the Barcelona city centre and other destinations nearby.

There are other minor office locations that you might come across during your stay such as the one in the Sants train station or Diagonal. The Tourist Board also sets up pop-up booths at major tourist attractions, like the Sagrada Familia during the summertime manned by bi-lingual guides. The smaller, temporary tourist office locations are great in a pinch when you are in need of assistance while roaming the streets. If you happen to get lost, misplace your map, need suggestions for a nearby attraction, or the closet metro station, keep your eyes peeled for the red cube or the big ‘’I’’ logo painted in a white or red circle.

Plaça Cataluyna Tourist Office
Pl. de Catalunya 17 (underground)
Hours: 9am – 9pm
Closed: January 1st and December 25th

Barcelona City Hall Tourist Office
Plaça de Sant Jaume
Hours: Monday to Friday 9am – 8pm
Saturday 10am – 8pm
Sunday and Public Holiday 10am - 2pm
Closed: January 1st and December 25th

Columbus Monument Tourist Office
Pl. Portal de la Pau
Hours: November to April – daily, 10am – 6:30pm
May to October – daily, 9am – 8:30pm
Closed: January 1st and December 25th

Barcelona Tourist Office – Office of Barcelona Cultural Events
Las Ramblas 99
Hours: 10 am – 8pm daily

Barcelona Airport Tourist Information Office
Airport Terminal T1 and T2B
Hours: 9am – 9pm daily
Closed: January 1st, December 25th and December 31st