Barcelona sites: attire
 

Not intending to set off a "what should I wear" thread, but . . .

are there any Barcelona sites where shorts and/or flip flops are not allowed? or perhaps not appropriate? I assume the covered shoulder rules apply to the churches as well.

Thanks.

Frankly, the only place I think flip flops should be seen are on the beach and I LIVE on the beach in Florida. But times change; nowadays we see folks in coats and ties and flip flops (seriously).

When I have attended performances at the Liceu I have not seen any shorts or flip flips....yet!

Just got back from Poland, Slovakia and Hungary and flip flops of all types everywhere. I can only wear shoes with firm support and I was definitely in the minority.

***I assume the covered shoulder rules apply to the churches as well.***
Not that I can remember.
But if you are afraid of begin turned away then dress within that code you deem fit.
I expect there will be fashion police along in a moment. Do not listen to them they are outside of their jurisdiction in Spain.
Some photos around the net to illustrate my point.
http://pher.ch/photos/cities/barcelo...amblas%201.jpg
http://hot-wallpaper.org/wp-content/...cf49d7d30c.jpg
http://www.barcelonayellow.com/image..._barcelona.jpg
https://thechiiilonicles.files.wordp...ia-inside1.jpg
http://www.visitebarcelona.com/fotos.../catedral2.jpg
http://www.barcelonaexperience.com/b...terior-100.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...._Interior.jpg

The attire rules for churches are not the same in Spain as in Italy - never seen any guards at the door of any cathedral.

As for shorts and flip flops it obviously depends on where you are going. If to an upscale restaurant, night spot, opera, concert, etc - really not appropriate.

was thinking day time activities primarily

Looks like our options are pretty open. Thanks for the feedback.

Would your children wear shorts and flip flops in NYC or SF ? Let them wear what they want. It will be a good lesson for them in appropriate dress.

Everyone is different, but I have weak ankles and my feet want some padding underneath. I do travel with sandals, but they are Ecco Yucatans which give me some protection and support. If I tried to sight see in flip-flops my feet would never forgive me and I would be limping. You will be doing a LOT of walking on unforgiving pavement. Plus, dirt.

no-one cares except you!

that said, i had some of the worst blisters on my feet that I have ever had from walking too far, so watch your feet. The metro is good but there are some very long "correspondences" which made me wish I'd just stayed above ground. So decent shoes or sandals [and dare I say socks?] might be better than flip-flops.

I've never been in any country in Europe where you needed "covered shoulders" to enter a church. I've heard reports that is true in Italy, of course, but I've never experienced it anywhere else in Europe (or the US, of course, or Mexico) and I've been in lots of Catholic churches in lots of countries, including Poland, France, CR and Spain. I attended a Mass in a Catholic church in France, and one of the members of the choir who was "on stage" up front near the altar (it was a special performance), was wearing a spaghetti-strap top and she was a regular member of the congregation, of course.

Some people do find flip-flops comfortable for all day wear when touring, I don't, but I know a lot of people do. Barcelona is a casual city, I can't imagine anywhere you can't wear that, other than places I'm sure you would have the common sense not to go (ie, fancy restaurants or a really nice concert/dance performance, etc) like that. I wouldn't go to Mass dressed that way, myself, but you can walk around viewing it as a tourist that way dur4ing off hours.

I recommend shoes with much better support than flip flops, even for the kids.

Barcelona can get very hot and VERY humid so I would dress accordingly and you will see all manner of dress in that city.

Another vote against flipflops -- nothing is worse when traveling, IME, than ending up with blisters or sore feet, and good support can make the difference between being too exhausted to move another step and being eager to take advantage of the next opportunity.

And another vote FOR common sense.


@ Christina: The Vatican and its museum still require covered shoulders, etc: "Access to Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, Vatican Gardens and Saint Peter's Basilica is permitted only to visitors dressed appropriately (no sleeveless blouses, no miniskirts, no shorts, no hats allowed)."
http://www.museivaticani.va/3_EN/pag..._Consigli.html

Kja - I'm guessing that you don't have children. My point was that sometimes one can't make them dress the common sense way. You gotta let them do their own thing and learn the hard way. To my mind, no flip flops for all the reasons above and no short shorts - who would want to sit on hot, dirty places with such shorts ? Not I.

@ bedar -- I wasn't trying to challenge your comment -- I thought there was wisdom in there! Nothing like learning from one's own mistakes....

You guys need to spring for some better flip flops. :D

hi,

there are many churches where you should covert your shoulders, including the cathedal of Barcelona. The easier way is wear a foulard with you and cover them with the foular during the visit...I'm not very sure about mini-shorts or mini-skirts, but I supose the same....

No problem with the flipflops...well by night, there are clubs where this kind of shoes are not admit neither :-)

Even in Italy, most parishes totally ignore the Vatican dress codes. I have a feeling that there are a few elderly cardinals in the curia who insist on those rules, and that they'll disappear when they go to their great reward.

In our rural, rather conservative, parish you can see men in shorts leading the prayers and women in spaghetti straps reading the scripture lessons. My husband goes to mass every Sunday, and from June through September he wears shorts. He's never been challenged anywhere.

FYI, today at least, they were turning people away at the Barcelona Cathedral for mid-thigh shorts and uncovered shoulders.

but did you get in, Indy_dad?

we need to know!