BEFORE TRAVELING TO CATALONIA

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International borders state of affairs:  

At the moment, Catalonia has decreed a perimeter closure and only passengers with justified reasons are allowed to enter. For more questions, consult the official recommendations of your government or consulate.

Countries with allowed entry:

 

• Travelers from the rest of the European Union (EU) are allowed to enter without quarantine requirements. 

• Apart from the EU, travelers from states associated with the Schengen area (Iceland, Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and United Kingdom), Andorra, the Vatican, Monaco, San Marino, Australia, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapur, South Korea, Thailand, Georgia, and China are also allowed to enter.

• A period of ten days has also been decreed for quarantined persons in the following countries either with or without intermediate stops:

• The Federal Republic of Brazil, Republic of South Africa, Republic of Botswana, Union of the Comoros, Republic of Ghana, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Mozambique, United Republic of Tanzania, Republic of Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe, Republic of Peru, and the Republic of Colombia.

• This may be suspended on the seventh day if the person performs a diagnostic test for active infection with a negative result.

• For the time being, these restrictions are still in force for those living in other countries who have already been vaccinated.
   

HOW TO GET TO CATALONIA

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Arrivals in Catalonia can be done by plane, through the international airports Josep Tarradelles Barcelona El Prat, Girona-Costa Brava, and Reus, as well as by rail and road.

At the moment, the Josep Tarradelles Barcelona-El Prat Airport has all its activity concentrated in Terminal 1. More information can be found at this link. 

You can find more information on Catalonia's airports at the AENA website.

Currently, ships and cruises are not allowed to enter into Catalan ports. For further information, please can check the official website of the Port of Barcelona.

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Access control measures at entry points of the country

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1. All travelers coming from outside Spain, by air or sea transport, must fill in an electronic public health form before starting their journey. This can be found at the following link or through the SPAIN TRAVEL HEALTH-SpTH application (Android and Apple). Once completed, a QR code will be sent to the traveler that must be presented upon arrival in the country. All companies or selling-tickets agents must inform travelers at the beginning of the sales process of the obligation to present the public health form at the airport or port of destination.

2. It is also mandatory to present a PCR or TMA test for SARS-CoV-2 with a negative result (in English, French, German or Spanish) performed within 72 hours prior to the start of the trip for all those passengers arriving from countries considered a risk area. This requirement applies also to all travelers arriving by land (road or train) from France, starting March 30.
   
   In this sense, are considered risk areas: 
   - Europe: regions and countries with a cumulative incidence and a percentage of contagion in accordance with the provisions of Council Recommendation (EU) 2020/1475 of October 13th, 2020. You can consult on these maps the incidence status in EU countries and Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway.
   - Rest of the world: all those territories and states with a cumulative incidence of cases greater than 150 per 100.000 inhabitants in the 14-day projection.
    

3. Before entering the country, passengers arriving by air or sea must pass a documentary check, a visual check of the passenger's condition, and a temperature check that will be done routinely to identify those with a temperature of 37.5ºC or higher.

4. Travelers suspected of COVID symptoms or other transmission pathologies, based on the public health form or the control carried out, will be subjected to a new health assessment to determine if they present a risk to public health. If confirmed, health alert protocols will be activated to refer the traveler to the appointed health center.

HOW CAN I TRAVEL AROUND CATALONIA

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The entry and exit of people from Catalonia are currently restricted due to the perimeter closure decreed by the Catalan government. In addition, county confinement has been decreed in order to reduce mobility except for justified reasons. 

Moreover, there is also a restriction on night mobility that does not allow the movement of people between 10 pm and 6am. 

 

 

 

You can see the exceptions to these limitations at this link.

In parallel, it should be noted that masks are mandatory inside vehicles, such as cars, buses, or trains, as well as in train and bus stations.

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Trains  

Train lines throughout Catalonia operate normally.

 

 

Taxis 

They function normally, although in areas outside major cities, some restrictions might be found. 

For further information on the state of taxis in the area of Barcelona and its surroundings, please check this link.  

 

 

Public transport in Barcelona 

Public transport in Barcelona runs with normality.

 

 

Bus

Bus lines function with normality, although in specific lines, some limitations or changes in schedules should be expected. 

 

Relevant health indications and recommendations:  

 

 

• Mandatory use of masks. 

• Avoid using public transport if someone is unwell.

• Avoid rush hours whenever possible.

• When exiting a place, wash your hands with soap or hydroalcoholic gel at the earliest chance.

• Keep the safety distance and avoid sitting in seats facing other users.   

• When standing in line in a queue, at a stops or stations, make sure to respect the safety distances and order. Should the vehicle reach its maximum occupancy, please wait for the next one to come. 

• Bus drivers do no longer sell tickets at the bus. You need to buy them in advance.

 

 

 

 

STATE OF CATALONIA´S TOURIST OFFER AND MEASURES

 

At the moment, Catalonia in a period of constant review of restrictions, linked to the permanent control of the epidemiological situation, so its measures are reviewed in order to reduce, maintain or increase them, according to the evolution of the pandemic in its territory.

Accommodation  

 

All accommodations can open and the Government of Catalonia and the Spanish Institute for Tourist Quality have provided them with the respective protocols to ensure safety and the relevant health measures.

Restaurants and Bars

Bars and restaurants are allowed to open and serve customers for indoor dining from 7.30 am until 5 pm. Outside those hours, customers will not be allowed inside the establishment.

During breakfast and lunchtime, must be maintained a maximum occupancy of the interior spaces of 30% and 100% in the case of the terraces.

The minimum distance between tables must be 2 meters and no more than 4 people per table are allowed except in those cases where they are from the same coexistence bubble.

Commerce

Shops can open from 6:00 am to 9.30 pm, weekends included, with a maximum capacity of 30%. This applies to shops and shopping centers as well as to larger retail establishments under 800 m2. 

They can also normally open shops that offer necessities such as food and hygiene products.

Visits to museums, monuments, other cultural venues, and events 

It is allowed to open to the public museums and exhibition halls up to 50% of its capacity, as well as cinemas, theaters, auditoriums, and concert halls also up to 50% of its maximum capacity and never exceeding a maximum of 500 people or 1000 if optimal ventilation can be guaranteed.

The activities of fairs and theme parks, leisure spaces such as casinos, bingo and recreational spaces, congresses, conventions and major festivals of the municipalities are suspended. 

 

 

MEASURES REGARDING SAFETY DISTANCES, MASKS, MEETINGS OR CAPACITY

 

Related to the measures listed below, people who have already been vaccinated are not exempt from compliance. The restrictions of COVID-19 remain in force for the entire population as prevention and in favor of the common good.

Safety distance:

 

It is requested to maintain a safe distance between people of 1.5m and safe space of 2.5m2 per person.

Distances of less than 1m cannot be held indoors, except between people who travel in a group, or that have close contact on a regular basis.

Masks: 

The use of face masks is mandatory for everyone over 6 years old when outside on the street and outdoors as well as in any public space outdoors or indoors and while using public transportation. 

The use of face masks is not mandatory for those suffering from any type of respiratory illness or difficulty that may be exacerbated by the use of such face masks. 

There are some exceptions while practicing sports, while eating or drinking, while at the beach or swimming pool and while you are surrounded by the people in your household.  

For additional information, please check the website of the health department of the Catalan Government.

Meetings and gatherings:

 

 

Meetings and gatherings are allowed as long as they do not involve crowds or exceed the maximum allowed capacity. It is recommended to limit social gatherings outside the groups of coexistence and meetings cannot exceed the maximum of 6 people.

Tobacco consumption and the like:

Smoking is not allowed on public roads or in outdoor spaces when a minimum distance of 2 meters between people cannot be respected.

 

You can find more information about the measures at this link.

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