Los Tarantos: what to expect

Finding the entrance

Los Tarantos is at Plaça Reial 17, under the arcades of the square, in the Gothic Quarter next to La Rambla. The square is ringed by arched walkways, with palm trees and a fountain in the middle, so it is easy to recognise once you are in it. Look for the arcade where number 17 sits and for the venue's name over the door. Give yourself a few extra minutes to find it on a first visit, since the arcades look alike from a distance. The metro stations are the usual starting points, and from either one you walk into the old streets of the Gothic Quarter.

The Gothic Quarter around you

The Gothic Quarter is the historic centre of old Barcelona, part of the Ciutat Vella district, and it runs from La Rambla to Via Laietana. Its street plan is labyrinthine, with small streets opening onto squares, and most of it is closed to regular traffic, so you will walk the last stretch whatever you travel on. Plaça Reial is one of its landmarks, a short walk from La Rambla, which is why most visitors reach the venue on foot. The quarter also holds the cathedral and remains of the Roman wall, so a short walk before the show is worth the time if you are early.

By metro and bus

The venue lists line L3 of the Barcelona metro, with Liceu and Drassanes as the nearest stations. Liceu sits under La Rambla, between the Liceu opera house and the Boqueria market. Several bus routes and night buses also stop nearby, and the venue lists their numbers on its FAQ page. There is no parking at the venue, and it recommends not arriving by car. Check the operator's live service notices before you travel, because lines are occasionally closed for works. From Plaça de Catalunya you can also walk down La Rambla to Plaça Reial instead of taking the metro.

Arriving and getting a spot

Seats are first come, first served and part of the room is standing, so aim to arrive before the time on your ticket. The venue recommends it to secure a good spot. Your ticket is a mobile ticket that can be validated on your phone, so have it open and the screen bright before you reach the door, and keep your phone charged for the walk. If you are with a group, arrive together, because latecomers are the ones who end up at the back. The venue also sells tickets at the door, but a booking in advance spares you the question of whether a session has space.

Inside the room

The venue describes an indoor, air-conditioned space with both seated and standing areas, and the performance takes place close to the audience. Some visitors describe it as a club-style room, with a stage rather than a theatre's raked seating. There is no cloakroom, so bring only what you can hold or keep at your feet. The toilets are inside, and the staff on site can point you to them, so you do not need to leave the building during the show. Because the room has both seated and standing areas, where you end up depends on when you arrive.

What to wear

There is no formal dress code, with a few exceptions: sports-team shirts or emblems, flip-flops and beachwear are not allowed. Anything comfortable and neat works, especially since you might stand for the whole show. The evening air on the square can be cooler than a sunny afternoon, but the room itself is air-conditioned, so a light layer that you can carry is more useful than a heavy coat that you cannot hang up. Comfortable shoes matter more than smart ones if you end up standing for the whole 40 minutes.

What you will hear and see

Expect about 40 minutes with a singer, guitar, percussion and dancers. In a typical flamenco piece the guitarist opens with a short introduction that sets the key, the rhythm and the tempo. Then the singing and the dancing follow, and hand-claps, called palmas, mark the beat. The line-up of artists changes through the year, so what you hear depends on the date. You do not need to know the names of the styles to follow the changes in mood and speed. UNESCO adds that the singer is usually seated and sings without backing singers, so the voice is the part to listen to first.

Read next: Flamenco for first-timers

Photos and filming

You can take photos and share them. Flash, professional equipment and tripods are not allowed, and the venue asks you to take care not to disturb other guests when you shoot. Treat the show as a performance in a small room: keep the phone low, keep the screen dim, and put it away when the dancing is at its fastest, because the people behind you are watching as well. If you want a clean video, ask yourself whether the memory is worth missing the moment.

Children and access

The venue sets no minimum age. It says the room has access and areas equipped for reduced mobility and baby carriages. At about 40 minutes the show is short enough for many families, though it is live music in an intimate room, so judge it by how your child copes with a standing crowd and a loud guitar. If you need step-free access or a specific seat, ask the venue before you visit rather than at the door.

Before or after the show

The square replaced a Capuchin convent that was demolished in 1835, and it was laid out by the architect Francesc Daniel Molina i Casamajó. The square's lampposts were designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. Restaurants and bars fill the arcades, so a meal beside the square suits either side of the show. La Rambla is a minute away: it runs about 1.2 kilometres from Plaça de Catalunya to the harbour, and the Liceu opera house, which opened in 1847, stands on it.

Who this isn't for

If you need certainty about step-free access, contact the venue before you book, because the details are on its own pages. If you want a quiet, seated concert, a possible standing area and a busy square outside will not suit you. And if you are after a late-night flamenco session, this is a short show in the late afternoon and evening, not an all-night gathering. If someone in your party needs to sit throughout, check before you commit, because seats are first come, first served.