VENUE AND TRAVEL

The conference will take place at the Occidental Atenea Mar Hotel in Barcelona, Paseo García Faria 37-47, 08019 Barcelona , Cataluña, España

REGISTRATION

PROGRAMME

SPEAKERS BIO

VENUE & TRAVEL

ABOUT
  • BARCELONA
  • SPAIN

Barcelona is the capital city of the autonomous community of Catalonia in the Kingdom of Spain, as well as the country’s second most populous municipality, with a population of 1.6 million within city limits. Being the sixth-most populous urban area in the European Union after Paris, London, Madrid, the Ruhr area and Milan. It is the largest metropolis on the Mediterranean Sea, located on the coast between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs, and bounded to the west by the Serra de Collserola mountain range, the tallest peak of which is 512 metres (1,680 feet) high.

It is a major cultural and economic centre in southwestern Europe and has a rich cultural heritage being today an important cultural centre and a major tourist destination. Particularly renowned are the architectural works of Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Domènech i Montaner, which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The city is known for hosting the 1992 Summer Olympics as well as world-class conferences and expositions and also many international sport tournaments. The city attractions include Barcelona Cathedral, Santa Maria del Mar, Parc de la Ciutadella, Casa Batlló, Palau Nacional, CaixaForum Barcelona, Magic Fountain of Montjuïc, Montjuïc Castle, Camp Nou, Palau de la Música Catalana, Tibidabo Amusement Park, Casa Milà, Park Güell, Sagrada Família, Barcelona Aquarium, Arc de Triomphe and many more.

SAFETY

Despite being a big city, Barcelna is still very safe and crime rate is relatively lower. Still it is always good to keep valuable items, credit cards and extra cash out of sight. It is also advisable to be aware of pick-pockets usually in crowded areas or at famous tourist sites.

USING CREDIT CARDS IN SPAIN

Higher quality restaurants, hotels, and shops will accept widely recognized credit cards (Visa, American Express, Eurocard and Mastercard), though it is good to have cash in reserve for minor transactions.

ELECTRICITY

Spain uses European continental plugs (two-pin, 230 volts).

WEATHER

Temperatures in September range between 15 – 25 centigrades. On average the weather is sunny, temporary rains are possible.

CURRENCY AND CURRENCY EXCHANGES

The Euro is the Spanish unit of currency. ATMs are plentiful and will allow you to withdraw euros with your credit or debit card.

TIPPING ETIQUETTE

In Barcelona, tipping is always accepted to appreciate good service or food, but it is not obligatory.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN BARCELONA

Despite Barcelona’s size, it is easy to move around quickly and comfortably with public means of transport. The metro, buses and trains of the FGC (the public transport system of Barcelona) are incorporated in an integrated transport system, thus tickets are valid in almost all the different means of transport.

You can buy tickets at any metro station and FGC station at the vending machines and at the pay booths. The vending machines have different language settings. In buses, you can only buy one-way tickets from the driver.

Taking a taxi is a good alternative to going by bus or metro, especially at night when the metros don’t run anymore. There are numerous taxis which are rather low-priced compared to other European countries.

ACCOMMODATION

There is a choice of many hotels nearby the conference venue:

  • Occidental Atenea Mar Hotel in Barcelona, Paseo García Faria 37-47, 08019 Barcelona , Cataluña, España