Barcelona Spain's Premier Smart City

While Barcelona many be admired for its history – from its gothic cathedral to the modernist masterpieces of Antoni Gaudí – it’s very much a city with an eye to the future. Ranked as the number one Smart City in Spain, the Catalan capital has integrated new technologies into nearly every aspect of its public life, from healthcare to transport, and it is introducing bold new measures to improve the quality of life of its 1.6 million residents.
You’d be forgiven if the first thing that came to mind when thinking about Barcelona was its history: the roughly ten million tourists that visit the city each year come mostly to admire the relics of Barcelona’s past. A stroll through the Gothic Quarter can leave you feeling transported in time (if you’re willing to squint your eyes a little and block out the shops selling Gaudí memorabilia on every street corner). And yet in many ways Barcelona is one of the most modern cities in Spain and Europe, pioneering the integration of new technology in its daily life.

The concept of a Smart City is a relatively new one, having only really emerged in the field of urban development in the last decade or so. According to its proponents, a Smart City is one that uses information and communication technology (ICT) to improve the quality of life of its citizens through the improved management and provision of public services. This technology is used across all fronts of public life: transport, healthcare, the environment, energy, public administration services, housing, business, and more.

Despite the appeal of the city to the growing number of tourists that visit each year, life for the city’s residents isn’t always as idyllic as it may seem. With an average of 15,779 inhabitants per square kilometer, Barcelona is the third most densely populated city in Europe, behind only Paris and Athens (London 1,510/km² and Berlin 3,944/km² to compare). And with such a concentration of people comes a concentration of noise: over 50% of Barcelona’s population is believed to be exposed daily to noise levels of 65 decibels and above – with anything above 55 decibels judged harmful.

Barcelona’s Portal de l’Àngel – the busiest high street in Europe

Managing the sometimes competing needs of its residents isn’t always easy, and yet new technology is making it easier for the city to do so. While noise-emitting traffic lights – which notify blind pedestrians of when it’s safe to cross – increase safety and autonomy, the constant beeping noise would simply add to the already unhealthy noise levels in the city. Barcelona’s Smart Traffic Lights are operated via a remote control given to the city’s blind residents and only emits a noise when a user activates it. They can also be operated remotely by the city’s emergency services so that the lights stay green on the route of a fire engine responding to an emergency call.

Managing the city’s traffic and transportation systems is an important task for the local authorities who are keen to promote green energy and to reduce pollution levels. Aside from the ongoing plan to reclaim large parts of the city as pedestrian-only areas, the city is also promoting the use of electric vehicles and has installed some 300 free charging stations across the city. It is also championing the use of electric-powered buses and taxis, as well as having launched a partnership with Siemens to develop hybrid public transport vehicles.

However, the aim is not just to improve existing services, but to offer new ones and new ways of improving the quality of life here in Barcelona. Take the free public Wi-Fi service as an example: it enables anyone with a smart-phone, tablet, or laptop to connect to the internet via one of 461 public access points across the city. All users need to do is enter their email address, and within seconds they are connected to the network, free to roam around the city. Or look at the Apps4Bcn project – a platform where users can find a list of apps designed for discovering and enjoying the city, from arts and entertainment, to healthcare and education.

While in the world of urban planning, critics of the Smart City worry about questions of surveillance and the collection of big data intruding into individuals’ private lives, for many in Barcelona the arrival of these new technologies has brought welcome progress to a city that at times has seemed to be a victim of its own success.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

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