Note that the The Biocities Forum collaborates with the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona.
Be sure to follow our registration instructions to be able to enter the venue!
Venue
Located just 3 kilometers from Barcelona’s historic city center, the venue Fira Gran Via is ideally situated in a newly redeveloped business district. The expansive and modern venue is conveniently linked by the local public transport network to both the metropolitan downtown and nearby El Prat International Airport (12 km). For your access to the venue, kindly use the South Access as marked to the map below. The 2018 Biocities Forum takes place in the room CC4/ 4.1.
Public transportation to the venue
Line 9 Sud runs from the airport to Fira Gran Via, and into the city of Barcelona. It connects with three other major Metro lines, so nearly every area of city has a simpler way to get to Fira Gran Via. The main station in the venue is called Fira.
More information on your access to the event venue will be available at the Expo website after your registration to the Smart City Expo.
Travel
Travelling to Barcelona
Barcelona is an international hub and major destination in Europe with direct connections to many European and extra-European destinations. We recommend travelling directly to Barcelona El Prat Airport where possible, or via Madrid (with a flight connection) if direct flights are not available.
Barcelona Airports
Barcelona main airport is Barcelona El Prat Airport, which is located 12 km southwest of the city centre. We recommend travelling to this airport. The Airport has two terminals, T1 and T2.
Barcelona is also served by two other minor airports, Girona Airport (85 km to the north) and Reus Airport (110 km to the south). These airports are mainly served by low cost operators and are connected to Barcelona city only by bus service (1.5 hours).
Transport between Barcelona airport and the city centre
There are several options when travelling to and from Barcelona El Prat airport.
Taxi: Taxi fares from the airport to the city cost approx. 30 € and the trip takes around 25 minutes. Taxis ranks are located near the arrivals halls.
Airport bus: There is a frequent bus connection service between the city centre (Plaza Catalunya) and Barcelona Airport T1 and T2. For schedules, please visit their website. Please check your terminal when travelling from the city centre (Plaza Catalunya), since the bus for T1 is labelled as Aerobus A1, and that for T2 is labelled Aerobus A2. The bus fare is c. 6 € one-way (cash only).
Train: For those arriving at T2, an excellent alternative to the bus transfer would be the train. This terminal has a train station, with direct trains departing every 15 min. to central Barcelona (Paseo de Gracia Station or Sants Station). The fare is in the region of 5 € one-way.
Once in the city, if you plan to use public transport (metro, bus etc) you can buy a carnet of 10 trips. This ticket is called T10 (zone 1 only) and it has to be validated each time you travel. This is the most cost-effective way of moving around the city.
Visa requirements
The entry to Spain of foreign nationals is subject to the Schengen Acquis. As a rule, foreign nationals who need an entry visa are requested to apply for one at the diplomatic mission representing Spain in their home country.
Accommodation
Participants are requested to arrange their own accommodation.
Barcelona offers a wide range of solutions from basic hostels to high-end hotels as well as short-term apartments, to cater for all preferences and budgets. Some participants will prefer to stay in the vicinity of the venue, Fira Barcelona, while others might prefer to stay closer to the city centre or in other areas of the city.
Due to a global event like the Smart City Expo World Congress it is advisable to book your accommodation as soon as possible. You can check options for your accommodation at their website here: http://www.smartcityexpo.com/en/the-event/practical-information