City Information

GENERAL INFORMATION ON BARCELONA
THE CITY DURING THE CONGRESS

Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is located on the coast and bounded by the Collserola ridge and rivers Besós and Llobregat. The city is less than 150 km from the Pyrenees. Barcelona’s location on the shores of the Mediterranean means that it enjoys a warm, welcoming climate and pleasant temperatures all year round. Rainfall is occasionally heavy, with level of around 1,000mm per year. This helps to maintain the many green areas around the city.

In Barcelona, as in the rest of Catalonia, there are two official language: Catalan, the language of the region, and Spanish, the official language of Spain.

It is a city of renowned architectural interest, from its Roman walls to the new urban planning schemes of the eighties. Particular highlights are its modernista heritage and contemporary architecture.

Barcelona offers many cultural activities, such as museum visits, exhibitions, theatrical performances and other shows specially in summer. And very interesting are the visits at night: you van have a drink in the Terrace of la Pedrera while you listen to a group of Music or see a dance performance at the open air grec theatre among others.

The daytime temperature in the month of July is hot, about 26 degrees.

http://www.bcn.es

On line accommodation

On line booking accomodation will be able in this Conference web. A letter of confirmation of the deposit payed as a booking will be sent by the Conference secretariat.
Conference Secretariat will reserve accommodation in hotels and hall of residences of various categories that are located near the venue. The prices will be between 60 and 200 euros daily. More information will be available after summer 2005.

Meals

In Barcelona, as elsewhere in Spain, mealtimes are usually later than in the rest of Europe. Here, at home people usually have lunch between 2 and 3 p.m. and dinner between 9 and 10 p.m. Restaurant lunchtime hours, however, are adapted to the working schedule and lunch is served from 1 to 3 p.m. Dinner is served at restaurants between 9 and 11.30 p.m. Additionally, some restaurants are open all day long.

Shopping

The shops in Barcelona open between 9 and 10 a.m. and most close at lunchtime, that is, about 1.30 p.m. They open again in the afternoon between 4 and 5 p.m. and do not close for the day until 8 or 8.30 p.m. The department stores and hypermarkets do not close for lunch. All retailers, including both small shops and department stores, open on Saturdays and close on Sundays, except for a few establishments with special permits.

Banks

Banks open from 8.30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday to Friday. Some banks also open on Saturdays, from 8.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. A bank is always open at Sants Railway Station.

Credit cards, currency and foreign exchange

Most international credit cards are accepted. Foreign currency and traveller's cheques may be exchanged at banks and at most exchange offices. A large percentage of banks have automatic teller machines that accept most international credit and debit cards. The Spanish currency is the euro (€), as in most countries of the European Union. The euro is based on the decimal system, one euro being equal to one hundred cents.

V.A.T.

A value-added tax (V.A.T.) of 7 to 16% is applied to all products and services. In most cases it is included in the price. Whenever it is not included, however, it will be clearly specified.

Drinking water

The tap water in Spain is purified so it is suitable for drinking. Most people, however, drink bottled water because it tastes better and is moderately priced.

Electricity

The electrical voltage here is 220 Volts/50 Hz. Participants coming from North America with 110 V/60 Hz appliances should ensure they use an appropriate transformer.

General safety advice for visitors

Barcelona is a safe city and tourists and visitors may walk securely along its streets. As in all big cities, however, some basic precautionary measures should be kept in mind:

• Be careful with your luggage and especially with handbags, cameras, video cameras and mobile telephones, above all at the airport.
• If you are travelling by car and need to leave your luggage in the vehicle, it is better to use car parks with surveillance. Never leave objects in view.
• When you visit the most popular tourist areas, such as the Ramblas or the Gothic Quarter, be especially careful with handbags and wallets.

Medical care

The Spanish National Health Service may be used by all persons from European Union countries who have the E111 Form. This form should be obtained at the health service or post office of the visitor's home country before travelling to Spain. It is advisable for participants from countries outside the European Union to take out medical insurance before reaching Spain since they will be charged for access to the national health system.

Pharmacies

Pharmacies are easy to identify thanks to the green cross displayed outside. Medicines that do not require a medical prescription may be purchased directly over the counter. If you need advice, do not hesitate to ask the pharmacist. If you usually take some medicine in particular, it is advisable to bring a sufficient amount with you for your trip. There are duty pharmacies open 24 hours a day in most city districts. Outside all the pharmacies there is a list of the nearest duty pharmacies.

Tips

Tips are not obligatory in Spain, although people usually leave them at restaurants (for a maximum of 10% of the total amount of the bill). Hotel and airport porters will accept tips, depending on the luggage.

Tourist Information Offices

Plaça de Catalunya

Plaça de Catalunya, 17 (Underground)

Plaça de Sant Jaume

Carrer Ciutat, 2 (Barcelona City Hall)

Sants Railway Station

Plaça dels Països Catalans, s/n

Airport Terminals A and B

Websites for tourist information

You can visit the Barcelona City Council website: www.bcn.es

You can visit the Barcelona Official Guide website: www.bcn.es/guia/welcomea.htm 

And the web of the organisation Turisme de Barcelona: www.barcelonaturisme.com

Visa information

Citizens from some countries require a visa to enter Spain. You can consult the Embassies web site for further information. www.embajada-online.com

How to reach Barcelona

By air

Barcelona airport has daily flights to Europe's leading cities and extensive intercontinental connections. It is 14 km from the city itself and offers a bus service (Aerobus) to the city centre (Plaça Catalunya) with departures every 12 minutes (current price: €3.60). It is also linked to the city by train, with departures every 30 minutes (current price €2.40). The taxi service from the airport to the Congress hotels costs about 20 €.

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Some airline companies offer low-cost flights to Barcelona, and also to Girona and Reus, cities that are located 1 hour from Barcelona:

Girona airport lies 1 hour 15 minutes from Barcelona by bus. There is a bus after every flight and it takes you to Plaça Tetuan (fare: €11 single, €19 return).

Reus airport lies 1 hour from Barcelona by bus (fare: €9 single, €15 return) There is a bus always after a flight lands. It takes you to Sants Railway Station (Barcelona’s main railway station).