USING THE PHONE

The prefix for all Barcelona numbers is 93. British (and other European) mobile phone calls can be made with SIM cards from your mobile company, but expect high additional charges. For phone calls to England and other European destinations, we recommend acquiring prepaid cards (for landlines, mobiles and public phones, there are various suppliers and range from €5-30 credit). They can be obtained at newsagents, locutorios (telephone shops), tobacco shops ("estancos") and various tourist shops. Locutorios are usually located in the narrow streets of the Raval, Barri Gótic and Gràcia. Phone calls are charged at reasonable prices.

Spanish mobiles / prepaid phone cards: For anyone planning to stay longer in Spain, we recommend purchasing a Spanish SIM card. There are three principal suppliers in Spain: Orange, Vodafone and Telefónica Movistar. They can be purchased without ID. (Tip: Look for special offers, sometimes mobile phones are given away with the card). Rechargable cards are available in many places (mobile phone shops, tobacco shops, tourist shops, news stands). Attention: Prepaid mobile phones usually have a SIM card block, preventing the use of SIM cards from other companies. Some phone shops – e.g. along San Pau street in the Raval district – will "unblock" some types of mobile phones for a small fee.

Mobile contract: This only pays off for those who intend to stay in Spain for at least one year. Typically, you will need a Spanish bank account and an N.I.E. (Identification number for foreigners, see also Long-Term Stay). However, for foreigners without a Spanish bank account or N.I.E, Bright, a tailored call plan service can help you get a phone line and contract.

Sending a standard letter or a post card within the EU costs €0.53, to all other countries €0.78. (Within Spain, sending a standard letter or post card costs €0.28. More info on the Spanish post website Correos) Stamps can be obtained from tobacconists and post offices as well as in some tourist shops when purchasing post cards. A standard letter from Barcelona to any destination in Europe will take around 4 working days on average to arrive, 1 week for overseas.

Those who want to send a few emails and surf the Net will find no shortage of internet cafes throughout Barcelona. International Internet chain Easy Internet Cafe has a branch on La Rambla 31 (Metro L3 Drassanes). Charges vary according to the time of the day generally between €1 and €2.50 per hour. NavegaWeb is another Internet cafe relatively hidden on La Rambla 88-94 in New Park on the ground floor. Charges: Around €1 per hour, printing €0.25 per page. They offer a fax and copy service and facilities for international calls (€0.15-0.20 per minute).

WiFi

Barcelona is freeing laptop users from the binds of cable connection. Several city-centre hotels offer WiFi to their guests, as all Barcelona hotels of the NH Hotel Group , as well as Kynoto Sushi Lounge in the Barri Gotic (free connection, address: C/ de la Ciutat 5). Infoespai, a social and communications centre in Gràcia district, also offers free internet and wireless access (open daily 10am-10pm, Plaça de Sol 19-20, ground floor, Tel. +34 93 390 72 36).

Factbox&Feedback

More info about WiFi hot spots in Barcelona at: Wi-Fi FreeSpot and Wi-Fi Meetup Group

Corrections, updates and comments are most welcome: feedback@miniguide.es