Travelling to Barcelona

[Margo276]

Hello:

I want to visit Barcelona in August and was wondering if it is safe to do so. Are the sites, restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs open? Will the city allow US Citizens to enter? Are there street performers on Las Ramblas? I also want to visit locales that are outside the city and would like to know if those areas accept tourists.

I appreciate any information.

Thank you,

Margo 

[Anonymous]

@Margo276   As of July 1, the EU is closed to non-EU residents traveling from the US. It's a temporary policy that is scheduled to be updated every two weeks. If the pandemic situation in the US makes a significant improvement in the coming weeks, the EU might set a timeline for re-opening tourism to Americans or add new exemptions. But given the current trends in the US infection rate, it is extremely unlikely that you'll be allowed to visit Barcelona as early as August.

For now, what I recommend is that you stream some films by Almodovar, find a nice Catalonian restaurant with outdoor seating or takeaway (Gaudir in Harlem is pretty good), try some wines from the Priorat region, and enjoy a bit of travel at home while researching a trip to Barcelona next year.

[Helen3]

@Margo276  as I'm sure you're aware COVID restrictions are changing constantly. Current because of the high incidence of COVID in the US, Europe is closed to US passport holders. But whether it will be in August is anyone's guess, personally I wouldn't risk it unless you are going to make arrangements fairly close to travel.

If you check government tourism sites for Spain and Barcelona you will be able to find out what's open and whether there will be street entertainers. 

Your government foreign office website should be your first port of call on advice as to any safety advice and Covid related travel restrictions for you.