Venues
Official Conference
Barcelona International Convention Centre (CCIB)
Plaça de Willy Brandt, 11-14, 08019 Barcelona
The 2024 Ocean Decade Conference will take place at the Barcelona International Convention Centre, located in Plaça de Willy Brandt, 11-14, 08019 Barcelona.
More information soon
Satellite Events
“On-site Satellite Events”
will take place in designated meeting rooms at the Barcelona International Conference Centre.
“Off-site Satellite Events”
will take place in a variety of locations around Barcelona.
Indicative list of venues for off-site Satellite Events:
- Barcelona Capital Nàutica Foundation
- Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC)
- Museu Marítim de Barcelona
- Institut Botànic de Barcelona
- Jardí Botànic de Barcelona
- Barcelona Biomedical Research Park
More information soon
About Barcelona
Language
The official languages of Catalonia are Spanish and Catalan. However, Barcelona is a multicultural city where you can easily speak in English or French.
Currency
The official currency is the Euro (€). It is not common to accept other currencies in cash in Barcelona. However, you can pay easily with a credit card, and ATMs are easily found throughout the city centre, as well as at the Barcelona Airport.
There is also a ‘Change Money’ service close to the University of Barcelona.
Shops and malls
The opening hours of shops and malls are typically 9.30 h – 21:00 h (with variations depending on the area).
Although these are the regular opening hours, you can find restaurants and stores open all day in more touristy areas.
Lunchtime in the city usually is between 13.30 pm and 15.30 pm and dinner between 20:00 h and 22.30 h. During the conference, lunchtime will be 12:45 to 14:30.
Useful emergency numbers
112 All emergencies
092 Local police
061 Medical emergencies
What to wear and bring
In April, the weather in Barcelona varies, which can offer everything from sunny days to clouds and rainfall, although usually, you will find more sunny days than rainy.
At this time of year, the temperature ranges from 12 to 20 degrees.
You can check the weather here.
Security
Barcelona is no more dangerous in terms of theft than any other large European city. However, please keep an eye on your bags and wallets and never put your bag on the back of a chair, on the table in a bar, etc. Take special care in the Metro and bus.
Health and safety
Check information about travelling to Spain to know more about requirements depending on your country of origin. You can also consult other practical information about protocols for COVID-19 when travelling to Catalonia. For COVID-19 test appointments, you can request it online here.
It is the responsibility of each participant to have insurance to cover expenses in case of accidents or illness. The organizers will in no case cover the cost of insurance or any costs associated with these eventualities. For medical services, Hospital del Mar is a public hospital close to the Barcelona International Convention Centre. Public hospitals in Barcelona are of high quality.
Socket
In Spain, the standard voltage is 230 V, and the frequency is 50 Hz. The plugs and sockets are type F. Be sure to bring a proper adaptor to plug in your electronic equipment as needed.
Getting around Barcelona - City / Public transport
For detailed information about routes, visits, tickets, etc. visit the Consortium of Tourism website.
Walking
Barcelona is perfect and well prepared for walking, and it is the best way to visit the centre: The Old Town, streets in the Gothic Quarter, Barceloneta and the beach, the fantastic Palau de la Musica Catalana, La Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, El Born district and La Ciutadella Parc.
Buses and Metro
The Metro is the best and fastest way to move around. You can buy a 24h unlimited ticket, T-DAY (ten trips for 10,50€) or a single ticket (2,40€) that you can buy on the bus or in the metro, with your credit card or cash. All metro tickets can be combined with the bus and train network.
Remember that public transport is the most sustainable system! See Barcelona public transportation website for detailed information. For more general sightseeing, we recommend the Tour Bus, which has two different routes and visits all the highlights of Barcelona.
Taxi
Otherwise, taxis are easy to find throughout the city. Other companies such as Cabify or Freenow are also available in the city through their telephone apps.
Participants reaching the city centre from BCN Airport
UNESCO participants will need to arrange their own transportation from the airport to the place they are staying in Barcelona.
OPTION A – AEROBÚS
AEROBÚS is the quickest option to reach Barcelona city centre, and the average trip is 30 minutes. A bus leaves the airport every 5 or 10 minutes from 5:35 h to 01:00 h, the single ticket costs 5,90 €, and the return ticket costs 10,20 €. There is an AEROBÚS stop at both terminals T1 and T2. You can buy the ticket online from the staff, bus driver, or ticket vending machines. The AEROBÚS service is not integrated into the fare system; you will need to buy another ticket once in the city centre if you require another means of transportation to reach your final destination.
OPTION B – METRO
Metro line L9 Sud connects the airport terminals T1 and T2 with the city of Barcelona every 7 minutes. The journey takes you 32 minutes and operates every day from Monday to Thursday (5:00 h to midnight), Fridays and eves of public holidays (5:00 am to 2:00 am), non-stop on Saturdays and from 5:00 h until midnight on Sunday. An airport ticket to Barcelona city centre costs 4,60 €. The Airport Metro station is not integrated into the fare system; you will need to buy another ticket once in the city centre if you require another means of transportation to reach your final destination.
OPTION C – City Bus 46
The Bus 46 (Plaça Espanya – Airport) routes between the airport, both terminals T1 and T2, and Barcelona city. The operating hours are from 4:50 h to 23:50 h, and the frequency varies throughout the day: they leave the airport every 15 or 30 minutes. A single ticket costs 2,20 €. You can buy the ticket from the bus driver or at ticket vending machines. City Bus 46 is integrated into the fare system; you can buy integrated tickets or the Hola Barcelona Travel Card at ticket vending machines.
OPTION D – Taxi
There is a taxi station central at the exit of both the terminals T1 and T2 at the airport. The price is around 35 €, and it takes 20 minutes to reach Universitat de Barcelona in the city centre.
The 2024 Ocean Decade Conference is co-organised by:
