Barcelona - Know Before You Go

In the taxi from Barcelona airport is not the time to start having your first thoughts about what you might need to explore this fantastic city - so here are a few thoughts.
Sensible clothesAlthough Barcelona doesn't (normally) have the scorching heat of inland Spain or Andalusia, it can still be seriously hot in the peak summer months. If you're visiting on business during that period, take lighter clothes. Yes, offices are typically air-conditioned (though not all are, surprisingly), but you will not be inside when you are waiting for your taxi from Barcelona airport - and you won't want to arrive drenched in sweat.
ShoesLike many of the major cities, isn't easy to get around by car at peak times. If you're visiting for leisure, exploring on foot is by far the best way to get about so make sure you have sensible walking footwear designed for warm weather. If you're on business, remember that Northern European formal business shoes might be a nightmare if it's hot.
HoursThings are changing rapidly in Spain in this respect, particularly in major city centers; but even so, you may need to be prepared for long gaps in the afternoon where things are closed down to avoid the peak of the heat. If you don't plan around that, it can be frustrating if you're still running on North American or Northern European timetables.
PricesSpain is still very reasonably priced, on the whole, compared to most other EU countries.
Of course, Catalonia and Barcelona are major tourist centres and the capital is also a major centre of trade and economics. That means that if you're budget-conscious, you may find identical things considerably cheaper if you look around off the main tourist streets/locations and in the shops used by local people.
CuisineEven in the taxi from Barcelona airport, you may be looking forward to sampling the famous Catalan cuisine; but Catalan and Spanish eating habits are different to those in Northern Europe. Breakfasts may be lighter but supplemented with mid-morning snacks. Lunches may be broadly familiar, though they may go on for longer and people may still go home for some hours afterwards - starting work again later in the afternoon (though the term 'Siesta' is now frowned upon by many!). Some may actually eat their largest meal at lunch and eat lightly in the evening - this depends upon their work and family positions. There is sometimes a small 'teatime' meal in the very early evening, perhaps consisting of some olives or other snacks with a little bread and a drink. The main family meal tends to start late - perhaps around 9pm or even later and can go on until very late in the evening.
So, be prepared and all you'll need to do in that taxi from Barcelona airport is to anticipate all the good things waiting for you in this fabulous city.