Barcelona Province Travel Guide

No doubt you will either have visited, or certainly know about, the city of Barcelona. However Barcelona is also a province. It’s one of Catalonia’s four provinces – the other three are Tarragona, Girona and Lleida. Located in a central, easterly position within Catalonia, the province has a population of 5,540,925, as of 2013. Around 30% of the population live within the administrative limits of the capital city, which is Barcelona. Discover other parts of the wonderful province in this Barcelona Province Travel Guide.

Barcelona Province Travel Guide

Barcelona is an amazing city – I’ve yet to meet someone who doesn’t love it! It’s a favourite destination, which frequently makes it into the top 5 on various travel lists. It’s an avant garde, vibrant seaside town, that is drenched in artistic, cultural and historical heritage. Of course it’s also a hugely important foodie destination. In fact because it has so much to offer, many travellers don’t venture out of the city to discover the wonderful range of offerings that the province of Barcelona has dotted all over it.

The immense charms of Barcelona city continue in different ways throughout the entire province. The province is blessed with plenty of villages and towns with a delightful range of cultural, historical and artistic heritage. Right throughout the year, there are fiestas happening in the province of Barcelona. Traditionally many of these were religious in nature, whereas nowadays they tend to combine some religion, along with traditions and often plenty of partying.

Apart from the best-known seaside destinations of Barcelona and Sitges, the province also has a good few seaside towns with their own charms. A couple of these are especially focused on families.

Languages In The Province Of Barcelona

There are two main official languages, which are Catalan and Castellaño, which is what we know as Spanish. Generally as a visitor if you try to speak Spanish that’s acceptable, because they realise that you’re a foreigner. However the Catalans have many reasons to be proud, and some of them may not be receptive to the Spanish language, even when it’s spoken by a foreigner.

Depending on where you visit some people may speak a good level of English. Generally speaking you can take it that in the towns which have a higher saturation of tourism, there will be more English spoken.

Apart from these languages, two others are officially recognised. Catalan sign language is now also officially a language and in Catalonia, in the province of Lleida, Aranese which is spoken in the valley of Aran is also an official language. This language is a dialect of Occitan.

Counties Within The Province

In Spain each province is divided into comarques. However the Catalans don’t agree with that term, and as an English speaker it can be easier just to see these areas as counties.

The following counties are fully included in the province of Barcelona:

Alt Penedès
Anoia
Bages
Baix Llobregat
Barcelonès
Garraf
Maresme
Vallès Occidental
Vallès Oriental

These counties are partially included in the province of Barcelona:

Berguedà (the municipality of Gósol isn’t included)
Osona (all municipalities with the exception of Espinelves, Vidrà and Viladrau)
Selva (Fogars de la Selva is the only muncipality which is part of the province of Barcelona)