First date etiquette in Barcelona

Splitting is common and completely normal in Barcelona. Many people take turns: one pays the first round, the other the next. Offering to pay is kind; insisting against someone's wish isn't. Tipping is small here: rounding up or leaving a few coins is usual, not a percentage.

About an hour for a drink is a good first date. If it's going well, extend it with a walk or a bite nearby. If it isn't, one drink is an easy, polite ending.

Barcelona dresses casual but put-together. Clean trainers and a nice shirt or top fit almost everywhere. If you're walking up to a viewpoint, wear shoes you can walk in and bring a layer for the evening breeze.

• Dinner starts late, often after 9 pm. An early-evening drink is a date on its own.
• Greeting with two kisses on the cheek is common, but a smile and hello is always fine. Follow the other person's lead.
• Many people speak Catalan and Spanish. A few words in either are appreciated, but English is widely spoken in the centre.
• Check the metro's closing time on TMB before a late date, so you both know how you're getting home.

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