ENGAGE.EU Learning Meeting

The ENGAGE.EU Learning Meeting will be held at Ramon Llull University Rectorate (c. Claravall, 1-3. Barcelona).

Ramon Llull University, located in Barcelona, comprises 8 prestigious institutions of higher education and research and 1 affiliated center. The main objective of the URL is to provide quality, person-centered training that responds to the needs of society. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs, and is known for its strong emphasis on research and internationalization.

REGISTRATION

ACCOMODATION

• Hotels near the meeting venue:
  Hotel Catalonia Mikado
  Hotel Catalonia Barcelona 505 
  Hotel Catalonia Diagonal centro
  10% of discount agreement applied in all Catalonia Hotels in Barcelona until 4 of May. Click directly to this link.
  
  Vilana Hotel – Hotel Barcelona | OHotels 
  10% discount agreement applied from 28th to 30th April. Click directly to the hotel website to book the room and, in the discount option, write: ENGAGE10).  
   
• Hotel with special prices:
  Hotel Atiram Arenas 140€
  Hotel Abba Garden 107€
  Hotel AC Victoria Suites 181,5€
  Hotel Hilton Barcelona 180€
  NH Group Hotels 15-20% discount 

They are all daily rate in single room, breakfast and VAT included, and according to availability at the time of confirming the reservation.

In all cases, each participant must contact the reservation department of the desired hotel, indicating that he/she is calling on behalf of Esade and that wants to benefit from the negotiated rate of Esade. 

In Barcelona, a City TAX of 6.88€ per night must be added. This tax is paid by the traveller at check-in.

LOCATION

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, located on the northeastern coast of Spain, by the Mediterranean Sea. The city lies between the Besòs River to the north and the Llobregat River to the south, with the Collserola mountain range to the west.

The city of Barcelona has become one of the first tourist destination of Spain, it has everything to please the majority of visitors: with a history among the oldest in Europe, a capital, Barcelona, which never sleeps and an inland full of charm not to forget beautiful beaches in La Costa Brava. The variety of artistic treasures, the Romanesque churches and the great names in modern art and architecture, Dali, Gaudi, Miro, Picasso...

Local time, hours and climate

Sited between the sea and the mountains, Barcelona has found a formidable balance: a foot in the traditional things and the other in the avant-garde. Barcelona has the reputation of being the most cosmopolitan, modern and avant-garde city in Spain and it has renewed for the 1992 Olympic Games.

In Barcelona, we have lunch and dinner much later than most of our European neighbors as well as a longer working day.

Barcelona's shops traditionally open from Monday to Saturday and are closed on Sundays, except in some of the tourist areas and for a series of Sundays throughout the year. It is usual for shops’ shutters and doors to open to customers between 9 am and 10 am and to close midday between 1 pm and 2 pm. They re-open in the afternoon between 4.30 pm and 5 pm and close for the day between 8 pm and 9 pm. They are also frequently closed on Saturday afternoons. These are the most usual opening hours in Barcelona. Depending on their business and type, some shops may stay open throughout the day, without closing in the afternoon.

Local time in Barcelona and the Spanish peninsula is an hour ahead of Greenwich mean time (UTC/GMT+1). Barcelona enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and warm summers. The average annual temperature is 15.5°C, with annual precipitation of approximately 614 mm. The rainiest months are September and October, while July is the driest.

Heritage and customs

The city boasts a rich architectural and cultural heritage, including masterpieces such as the Sagrada Família, Park Güell, and Casa Batlló, designed by Antoni Gaudí. The Gothic Quarter also stands out, with its Roman and medieval remains.

It's not customary to leave big tips. It's more a personal option to do with satisfaction for the service received. Service is included in the price in restaurants, so you can leave a tip if you’re satisfied.

Smoking is not allowed in restaurants, bars and other public spaces, including areas close to schools.

Culture and language

Barcelona is a vibrant cultural center with numerous museums, theaters, and concert halls. 

If you want to have an authentic cultural experience in Barcelona, you can look for local events that embrace Catalan traditions like the parades of giants, human tower (castellers) gatherings, sardana dance circles and the correfoc fire parades.

The city is bilingual, with Catalan and Spanish as official languages. Additionally, many residents speak English and other international languages.

Communications and urban transport

Barcelona has an extensive public transport network, including metro, buses, and trams. The city also has bike-sharing services and a wide network of bike lanes. 

• Transport Cards
  T-Casual: This is a single-person transport card that offers 10 integrated trips on Barcelona’s public transport network. It costs €12,55 for one zone.
  2 day Hola Barcelona Travel Card (48h): includes unlimited journeys on Barcelona public transport over 48 hours after the first validation. It costs €18,10 for one zone. It covers travel between the airport and the city centre on public transport. Changeovers between different travel operators: metro and bus (TMB), Montjuïc funicular, urban railway (FGC, Zone 1), tram (TRAM) and Barcelona regional mainline trains (Rodalies de Catalunya, Zone 1). Montjuïc Cable Car not included.
  3 day Hola Barcelona Travel Card (72h): same as for 2-day Hola Barcelona Travel Card. It costs €26,30 for one zone.
  4 day Hola Barcelona Travel Card (96h): same as for 2-day Hola Barcelona Travel Card. It costs €34,40 for one zone.
  5 day Hola Barcelona Travel Card (120h): same as for 2-day Hola Barcelona Travel Card. It costs €42,10 for one zone.
• Where to Buy
  You can buy Hola Barcelona Travel Card online and get 10% off. If so, change your voucher for travel cards at machines in the metro. 
  You can start using your Hola Barcelona Travel Card at any time of day and get unlimited journeys over 48 hours on Barcelona public transport. Cards are valid for one person only. To use your card, validate it at the beginning of every journey.
  You can buy it at metro stations (automatic ticket vending machines), TMB points (customer service centers), and through the TMB app (Play Store, App Store).
• How to get there
  Barcelona is well connected with the rest of Europe by air, sea, and land. Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat International Airport offers direct flights to many European cities. You can also reach Barcelona by high-speed train (AVE) from France and other parts of Spain, as well as by bus and car.

TRANSPORTATION FROM THE AIRPORT TO TOUR ACCOMMODATION

• Taxi
  Taxis have a rate of approximately 35-40€ from the airport to the center of the city of Barcelona. All rates are calculated trough meters. 
  Taxis ara available at the airport arrival gate; near the central exit, you will find a dispatcher who will help you. It is not necessari to make reservations. The payment method can be in cash (euros) or credit card.
• Bus
  Aerobús is the official shuttle service that connects the Barcelona Airport (Terminal 1 and Terminal 2) with the city center (Pl. Catalunya) in 35 minutes. It has stops at strategic points in Barcelona: Pl. Spain, Gran Via-Urgell, Pl. Universidad and it operates 365 days a year with departures every 5 minutes. From 7,25€.
• Metro
  The metro line L9 Sud connects the airport with Zona Universitària.
  Metro station 'Aeroport T1'. Terminal T1, floor 0
  Metro station 'Aeroport T2'. Terminal T2, exterior

VENUE

The ENGAGE.EU Learning Meeting will be held at Ramon Llull University Rectorate (c. Claravall, 1-3. Barcelona):

The Rectorate of Ramon Llull University is located in an annex of the Santa Maria de Valldonzella Monastery. This historic building provides a unique and inspiring environment for the university's administrative and academic activities. The present building is the work of the architect Bernardí Martorell I Puig in the most modern style of the era, nowadays called ‘Catalan Modernism’. It is a style with reminiscences of medieval art. It appears in the era of romanticism during the second half of the 19th century, having its main importance at the end of this century and at the start of the 20th century.

CONTACT

Marta Busquets Calopa
URL institutional coordinator at ENGAGE.EU
Vice-Rectorate for International Relations and Students
Tel. 93 602 22 05
mbusquets@rectorat.url.edu