Explore and enjoy the many things Barcelona has to offer, it will change your way of life and you will make lasting new international friends!

The weather in Barcelona
The weather in Barcelona is pleasant most of the year round. However you'll experience the absolute best weather from May to the end of July. September is also a good month. August can be hot during the day (sometimes peaking around 34°C, 95F ) so if you love saunas then this is the time of the year for you!

The weather in October and November is still pleasant but starting to get a little cooler (21°C down to 15°C, 69 to 59F). You won't find sunshine every day though, so be prepared for days when it could be overcast with a little rain. From November to February the temperatures are cooler averaging around 12°C or 53F. It doesn't tend to rain a lot here in Winter so even though it may be cooler, often times you'll have some sunny days too. But do be prepared for some overcast and rainy days.

Food & eating in Barcelona
As Barcelona has become such a multicultural metropolis, nowadays you’ll be sure to find all sorts of eating options here. There is an ever-increasing range of international cuisine which includes Indian, Pakistani, Japanese, Middle Eastern, Chinese and Thai cuisine, as well as Latin American and Italian food. Even so, this trend is catching on quite slowly and one’s best bet is to try out the experienced local cuisine.

Catalonian cuisine undoubtedly produces some of Spain’s finest cooking. With a port on the Mediterranean Sea, Barcelona naturally has access to the freshest seafood and fish. This together with other fresh Spanish produce such as fruits and vegetables, guarantee savoury and delicious dishes. Not only is the fish excellent here, but meat dishes are definitely worth a try. A normal meal here consists of a solid meat or fish dish, accompanied by plenty of fresh vegetables and salad. An absolute must in these hearty meals is the all important olive oil, as well as garlic to season.

Barcelona has made a name for itself when it comes to food and is on the cutting edge of modern cuisine: in 2002 a Gallic food guide, Le Guide des Gourmands, voted Barcelona Europe's eating capital.

What to do in the evenings in Barcelona
There is something for everyone in Barcelona by night. And with so much to choose from the only problem you may encounter is deciding on what to do. To begin an evening, it may be a good idea to go for soft drinks at one of the city’s many cafes or sample a great meal at a local restaurant.

FOR OUR OLDER STUDENTS: what follows depends on the energy you have. If dancing is on the cards, you’ll find an endless list of possible discos and nightclubs to try out. Dancing is very popular here and the nightclubs usually close in the early hours of the morning. Excellent theatre shows offer other more relaxed forms of entertainment, as do the movies. Also very common in Barcelona, are live music clubs, featuring a broad range of styles, from jazz and blues to flamenco, African and even classical music.

The “atmosphere” of the bars and clubs you go to will vary depending on the area of the city you are in. For example, the Barri Gótic combines the old, romantic charm of times gone by with the creative new designs and decorations of its bars and cafes – don’t expect to run into any wild crazy partying here - this area is better for having drinks with friends and simply hanging out; for more energetic nights, visit the Maremagno, Montjuïc and Port Olimpic areas – on the waterfront and especially popular in the summer, these places are filled with mainly students and tourists. Natives tend to head for the Eixample area to for their dancing and clubbing. For a slightly different mood, Poble Nou offers mainly hard rock and alternative music in restored abandoned warehouses.

Go Shopping!
It would be unheard of to miss out on shopping in this fashion conscious city. The shops and boutiques along Passeig de Graciathe Grand Avenue in the Eixample district, and the area around Diagonal, the avenue that cuts through the top of the city should keep even the most avid shopper busy for a good few hours.

This stylish city offers an endless display of anything that comes into mind, from artwork to haute couture, books, jewelry, designer furniture, antiques and leather goods. Shopping in Barcelona will have you visiting individual stores, large department stores, such as El Corte Ingles, FNAC, Heron City, Centre Comercial de les Glories, Pedralbes Shopping Centre, Maremagnum Shopping Centre and El Triangle, among many others, and also street markets on some of the squares around town. Barri Gotic is a great place with many different markets including an arts and crafts market, an antiques market, and a coin and stamp collectors’ market, just to name a few.

For great shopping in central Barcelona, aside from the areas already mentioned, take a stroll down Barri Gotic streets such as Carrer de la Portaferrissa, Carrer de la Boqueria, Carrer del Call, Carrer de la Llibreteria and Carrer de Ferran, and around Placa de Sant Josep Oriol. The Bulevard Rosa arcade just north of Carrer d'Arago also has great choices.

When planning a shopping trip, remember that almost all shops in Barcelona close at midday for at least two hours (from around 2 PM to 4 PM) The only exceptions are large supermarkets and the department-store chain El Corte Inglés. Opening hours are usually around 9 AM and closing times vary between 9 PM and 10 PM.

Be sure to keep an eye open for bargains. Sales are often held in January, July and August as stores wish to get rid of their winter and summer stock. Look out for these words on shop windows: rebajas (Spanish) or rebaixes (Catalan) – that way you’ll know their merchandise is on sale.

Money
Your course includes the cost of classes, accommodation and other items however depending on your tastes and plans you will need to bring additional money. We recommend that you bring a combination of US dollars and US dollar-denominated travelers checks. The monetary unit in Spain is the Euro. Automated Teller Machines connected to the Cirrus and Plus systems are located throughout Spain and are the fastest and cheapest way to get Euros. Be sure to bring your 4 digit PIN number.

Credit cards, especially Visa and MasterCard, are accepted in many stores, restaurants and in all larger hotels. You can also obtain cash advances on your credit card in banks or at ATM machines if you have a PIN number. Traveler's checks can be cashed at banks, and at retail establishments in larger cities.

A Value-Added Tax (called IVA in Spain) of 7% is added to all purchases. If staying less than 180-days, non-European Union citizens can be reimbursed at the airport for purchases. Just ask the store where you made the purchase for a tax return form. Tax on accommodations and other services is not refundable.

Tipping
A 5-10% tip is customary in restaurants, hotels, guides and taxis. In some cases a service charge is already added to your restaurant bill and you need to tip only if the service was particularly good.

Safety
Petty theft and con-artists may be a problem in Spain, particularly in the big cities. Pickpockets are in abundance in crowded places in larger cities and in tourist areas, especially on crowded buses, bus stops or train stations. Don't carry all your valuables on your person.

Take the same precautions you would in any large city. Women should not walk alone after dark, don't wear expensive jewelry, be careful with handbags, etc. Use only official taxis or radio taxis if available. For females, unsolicited comments from strangers (male) are part of the culture.

Language
There are four official languages in Spain. Castilian is the main language of business and government. The other spoken languages are Catalan, Galician, and Euskera (Basque).

Come explore Barcelona this summer, make friends & learn Spanish!

TEENAGER SUMMER PROGRAM IN BARCELONA:

E-mail: info@teenagersabroad.com
Tel: NORTH AMERICA: 1 800 219 9924 or WORLDWIDE: +1 416 925 2112