Información General

Barcelona, the Host city

Situated in a privileged position on the north-eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula and with its stretch of Mediterranean shoreline, Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, 1 of the 17 Autonomous Communities that make up Spain. There are two official languages which you will hear spoken in the city: Catalan, generally spoken in the whole region of Catalonia, and Spanish.


Rambla de Mar-Port Vell © Turisme de Barcelona/Espai d’ Imatge

Barcelona is also the second largest city in Spain in both size and population. The city of Barcelona has a population of 1.510.000, but this number spirals to more than 4.000.000 if the outlying areas are also included.

In 1992, the Olympic Games were held here and the changes made to the city at this time reflect its modern attitude and reveal how it has evolved over time. The Barcelona we enjoy today is an innovative city, open to diversity and yet faithful to its Mediterranean traditions, with its face to the sea and its arms open to other cultures and peoples.
Barcelona carries the marks of several different cultures, and has an internationally-acknowledged cultural heritage. In fact, Barcelona is more than just a single city; It is a collection of multi-faceted and diverse neighbourhoods or barrios. The visitor unfamiliar with its history might be surprised that such a modern and enterprising city preserves its historic Gothic centre almost intact, or by the curious contrast between the maze of narrow streets in the Barrio Gótico and the grid-like layout of the Eixample, the urban planning "Enlargement" project from the end of the 19th century.

One of the most striking aspects of the city is the multitude and magnitude of its visible modernist architecture. UNESCO has designated seven properties built by the architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) as World Heritage Sites in or near Barcelona: Parc Güell, Palau Güell, Casa Milà, Casa Vicens, Gaudí’s work on the Nativity façade and Crypt of the Sagrada Familia cathedral, Casa Batlló, and the Crypt in Colonia Güell represent an eclectic, as well as a very


Park Güell-Banc Ondulat © Turisme
de Barcelona/J. Trullàs

personal style which was given free reign in the design of gardens, sculpture and all decorative arts, as well as architecture. .

Also World Heritage Sites, the Palau de la Música Catalana and the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau are two of the finest contributions to Barcelona's architecture by the Catalan art nouveau architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner. The Palau de la Música Catalana is an exuberant steel-framed structure full of light and space, and decorated by many of the leading designers of the day

In addiction to the impressive cityscapes and vibrant bustling streets of Barcelona, the city is also within easy reach of places for those who enjoy outdoor activities and beautiful natural landscapes. Mediterranean beaches, fishing villages and the fascinating mountains of Montserrat are all fairly easily reached by train from the city centre, and are especially scenic in the warm September sunshine.
There is no doubt that this is yet another reason to visit

a city that is so willing to share its hospitality, landmarks, culture and surroundings with the rest of the world.

To read more about the city, Turisme Barcelona  is a good place to start.
Getting to the conference

Getting to Barcelona - for information on low-cost airlines from your country click here

Getting into the city -

• By public transport to the Conference Venue (NH Constanza): click here for further details.
In case you need to go from the airport to a different address, click here

In the section “Where I am” you will have to choose the option “From L´Hospitalet " on the drop down menu and then click “Tell us a place” and write “Airport”. You can use the right hand section to write your destination address.

• By taxi: You will find taxi stops outside terminals A, B and C.

Approximate rates from the airport on working days (from 07.00 to 21.00):
to Plaza España, 20 €;
to Plaza Catalunya, 25 €;
to Sagrada Familia, 30 €.

Approximate rates on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays and at night (from 21.00 to 07.00):
to Plaza España, 25€;
to Plaza Cataluña, 30 €;
to Sagrada Familia, 35 €.

These rates include the airport supplement.
The luggage supplement is 0.90 € per item.
The cost payable is as indicated on the meter.
Users are advised to request a receipt

• By Bus: The aerobus shuttle takes you to the city center (Plaça Catalunya) in 30 minutes approximately.

Operating times:

First departure from pl. Catalunya: mon-sat, sun/bank holidays: 5.30am
Last departure from pl. Catalunya: Mon-Fri: mon-sat, sun/bank holidays: 00.15am
First departure from the airport: mon-sat, sun/bank holidays: 6.00am
Last departure from the airport:: Mon-Sun/holidays:01.00 am

Frequency:

From 5.30 to 7.00 every 15 minutes
From 7.00 to 7.32 every 12 minutes
from 7.32 to 9.28 every 7-10 minutes
From 9.28 to 21.22 every 6 minutes
From 21.22 to 22.15 every 8 minutes
From 22.15 to 01.00 every 15 minutes

Fare: Purchase the ticket on the bus.

One way ticket: 3,75 €
Return ticket: 6,45 €

Stops:

From Plaça Catalunya to the Airport:
- Plaça Catalunya (in front of El Corte Inglés, just in front of the ‘Tomb Bus’ stop)

- Passeig de Gràcia/Diputació
- Av. Roma/Comte d'Urgell
- Estació de Sants
- Pl Espanya/Creu Coberta
- Airport (terminal A)
- Airport (terminal B)
- Airport (terminal C)

From the Airport to Plaça Catalunya the Aerobus stops at:

- Plaça Espanya (torres venecianes)
- Gran Via Corts Catalanes/Comte d'Urgell
- Plaça Universitat
- Plaça Catalunya

VISA and "Targeta 6000" credit cards accepted.
This line provides buses adapted for disabled people.
For more information on how to get from the Airport to Barcelona, please click here
Getting around Barcelona


Mobility and Transport
Moving in Barcelona
Turism in Barcelona
www.tmb.net

List of telephone numbers for taxi companies:

ASSOCIACIÓ RÀDIO TAXI MIRAMAR
 934 331 020
BARNA TAXI  933 577 755 - 933 002 314
COOPERATIVA DE RÀDIO TAXI 
METROPOLITANA DE BARCELONA		 932 250 000
FONO TAXI 933 001 100
RÀDIO TAXI 033 933  033 033
TAXI AMIC 934 208 088  -  46 Vehicles adapted for people with mobility difficulties

Program on Substance Abuse - DG Public Health - Government of Catalonia
buildingcapacityconference@gencat.net | Phone +34 93 551 36 10 | Fax: +34 93 551 75 14