‘Visit just looking (inside) €5 x person, thank you.’ That’s what the sign says at the entrance of Queviures Múrria, a historic deli in Barcelona that has been in business for over 100 years. Yes, you read that right: the owners have had enough of tourists overcrowding the deli for a picture without making any purchases.
As ridiculous as it may sound to some, the deli hasn’t actually charged anyone (yet). According to the deli manager, Toni Merion, the intention here isn’t to actually charge curious onlookers but to prevent peering tourists from disrupting the deli’s work and business.
Taxis in Barcelona are cheap compared with those in other major European cities. They are another good way to get around when time is tight.
Don’t go shopping in your swimsuit. This is an absolute no-go in Barcelona — plus you might end up with a fine.
“Visit just looking (inside) €5 x person, thank you,” reads the new sign, reports the i.
Although no one has been charged as of yet, the number of tourists coming in just to snap a selfie has plummeted, according to shop manager Toni Merino.
“We have not charged any money from people who just want to come in and have a look, but that is not the point,” he told the i.
Barcelona has intoduced numerous policies to combat overtourism in recent years.
At the beginning of this year, the Catalan capital announced it would be increasing its municipal tourist tax, with the amount five-star hotel guests pay set to rise from €5.25 to €6.75 per night by 2024.
Airbnb maintained that its rentals do no harm to the city, and that half of its hosts in Barcelona rely on the income to pay their bills and stay in their homes.
“In Barcelona, the absence of clear rules for hosts who share a room in their home has no impact on our business, but we are concerned about the negative impacts of City Hall’s proposals on local families,” said Patrick Robinson, Airbnb’s head of policy for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “We are confident that we can work with the authorities on a better way forward.”
One store in Barcelona, Spain, recently put up a sign for you.
If you happen to pass by Queviures Múrria, a historic deli and retail store, you’ll see a poster hanging in the window that reads, “Visit just looking (inside) €5 x person, thank you,” iNews reported.
As one of the oldest delis in Barcelona, Queviures Múrria sits inside a building with a 1920s facade that may make you feel like a time traveler thanks to the original mahogany furniture, fire-tinted glass, and a vintage clock, according to the Barcelona City Council. So it’s no wonder that tourists want a selfie inside.
Compared with those in most other metropolitan European cities, the prices are lower in Barcelona, and you can expect to find good deals in every neighborhood.
