Information about Girona
The SEPLN Conference will be held in the phenomenal cloister of the Faculty of Tourism.
Girona is a city in north-eastern Catalonia (Spain) with a population of 100,000. It is located 100 kilometres from Barcelona and 70 kilometres from the French border. It is situated at the confluence of four rivers (the Ter, Onyar, Güell and Galligants) and a large part of the surrounding area is classified as a protected area of natural beauty. Its proximity to the Costa Brava and the Pyrenees make it a popular tourist attraction and a place to practise outdoor sports. Girona is endowed with the services of a major city and the charm of a small town, and is especially renowned for its medieval monuments.
Girona Tourism Website
Climate
The climate is Mediterranean, characterized by hot, dry summers and mild winters. Average temperatures range between 13 and 17 °C.
Girona Weather Forecast
Time Zone
Girona is situated in the GMT+1 time zone, the same as Madrid, Paris, Rome, Brussels, Berlin, Warsaw and Copenhagen. As in most European countries, the official time varies during the year: the clock goes forward one hour on the last Sunday in March (from winter to summer time) and back one hour on the last Sunday in October (from summer to winter time).
Communications
Girona is very well connected with Europe and the rest of the world:
By plane: Girona Airport is 20 minutes from the city centre, Barcelona Airport is about 90 minutes away by motorway and Rivesaltes Airport, in France, is about a 60-minute drive from Girona.
AENA Website
By train: There is a high-speed railway line with international connections and a standard line offering services to Barcelona every half hour.
RENFE Websiste
By road: The AP7 motorway, which connects Barcelona to the French border.
By bus: Next to the train station is Girona's central bus station, with city, regional, national and international lines. Girona has 10 bus routes that allow visitors to reach all its districts with ease.
More info
Money
The local currency is the euro. It can be exchanged at banks and savings banks. In addition, in large towns and cities and major tourist resorts there are bureaux de change open every day.
Currency converter
Customs
At customs, citizens of countries outside the European Union must declare all purchases and gifts whose value exceeds €175.
Tax Free Shopping.
Non-European Union residents are entitled to a refund of value added tax (VAT) for any purchase over ¤90. This reimbursement is given in shops with the sign Tax Free Shopping.
Credit cards
It is very common to use a credit card to pay for purchases. Major international credit cards are accepted in most shops, shopping malls and department stores, as well as tourist establishments.
