Practical tips for riding in Catalonia

Meal times are late

• Lunch is the main meal, usually from 13:30 to 15:30. Many restaurants offer a fixed-price menú del dia on weekdays: two courses, dessert or coffee, bread and a drink. It is the best value meal of the day.
• Dinner starts at 20:30 or later. Outside Barcelona, many kitchens close by 22:30.
• Between meals, bars serve entrepans (sandwiches) and coffee almost all day.

Plan around Sunday and midday

• Small shops and supermarkets in villages often close from around 14:00 to 17:00, and most are closed on Sunday afternoons. Buy your snacks the day before.
• Bakeries and bars in larger towns usually open on Sunday mornings.
• In August, some businesses close for holidays. The route pack marks reliable stops.

Water

Tap water is safe to drink. Many villages have a public fountain, but in summer some dry up, so do not rely on them alone. Bars will usually fill your bottles if you ask, especially if you buy a coffee.

Money

Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including contactless. Carry some cash for small village bars and weekly markets.

Phone signal

Mobile coverage is good in towns and on most roads, but there are gaps in deep valleys and forests. Download the GPX and offline maps before each stage, and do not rely on streaming a map.

Language

People speak Catalan and Spanish, and many younger people speak English. A few words of Catalan go a long way: bon dia (good morning), si us plau (please), gràcies (thank you).

Emergencies

Call 112 for any emergency. It is free and has English-speaking operators.