Telephone, Post
Postage stamps are on sale in post offices and tobacconists. Telegrams can be sent from hotels by telephone and from post offices. Phone calls can be made from special telephone offices or from phone boxes. Phone cards are on sale at telephone offices and tobacconists. General enquiries 118118, International enquiry 11825.
Entry formalities
No special entry formalities are required of travelers crossing the frontier between France and Spain. When entering Spain from Andorra, citizens of the European Union must show their identity card or passport, and citizens of other countries must show a valid passport. When entering Spain through airports and ports, travelers arriving from countries which have signed the Schengen Treaty (Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal) are not required to go through passport control. Travelers arriving from other countries in the European Union have to show their passport or identity card. Travelers arriving from countries, which do not belong to the European Union, must show a valid passport.
Currency and exchange
The Spanish currency unit is the euro (€). There are coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents and 1 and 2 €, and notes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500€. Currency exchange is available at any bank or savings bank, as well as at major hotels, campgrounds, exchange agencies and travel agencies. Banking hours are usually from 8.30 am to 2 pm from Monday to Saturday. In the summer, banks are closed on Saturday.
Climate
Catalonia is a land of many climates and microclimates created by the wide variety of geographical conditions. The Pyrenees and Pyrenean foothills have a typical high mountain climate, with winter temperatures below 0ºC, annual rainfall of over 1.000 mm, heavy snowfalls in winter and relatively cool summers. Along the Mediterranean coast and in the adjoining inland areas, the climate is mild and temperate. The hinterland, far away from the sea, has a continental climate with cold winters and hot summers.
Transport
Air:
International Airports: Barcelona, Girona-Costa Brava, Reus
Road:
The road network is formed by roads, dual carriageway and motorway. Tolls are charged in motorways.
Maximum speeds: cars and motor cycles 120 km/h on motorways, 100 km/h on main roads, 90 km/h on local roads
Rail:
Railway lines through Catalonia link up with the French railways at the stations of Portbou and Puigcerdà. There are two railway companies in Catalonia: RENFE, which serves the whole of Spain, and Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat.
Sea:
The ports of Barcelona and Tarragona are the largest in Catalonia, in terms of both cargo and passengers (cruises). The only regular passenger services are to the Balearic Islands (Compañía Transmediterránea). There are 40 marinas situated along the Catalan coast.
Long-distance buses:
Numerous regular bus services link nearly all towns and cities in Catalonia.
The main operators are:
SARFA Barcelona-Costa Brava
Alsina Graells Barcelona-regió de Lleida
Hispano-Igualadina Barcelona-Igualada
Sagalès Barcelona-Vallès-Osona
Hifesa Delta de l’Ebre
Julià Montserrat i Europa
Hispania Tarragona-Reus
