Fira Barcelona is one of the most important exhibition centres in Europe. We have prepared as usual guide on everything you need to know about Fira Barcelona. Find out its history, facilities and how to get their from the airport, train station or city centre.
Fira Barcelona: A Leading Trade Fair and Conference Venue
Fira Barcelona is one of the most important trade fair and conference venues in Europe. It has a history of over 90 years and a reputation for excellence and innovation. Fira organizes a wide range of events that cover the main sectors of the economy, as well as numerous corporate, social and cultural activities. There are two venues, Montjuïc and Gran Via, with a total exhibition area of 400,000 sqm. Both venues have state-of-the-art facilities and services.
The History of Fira Barcelona
The history of Fira Barcelona started when it was founded in 1932. However, its origins date back to 1888, when the Universal Exhibition was held in Barcelona,. It attracted millions of visitors and boosted the city’s economic and cultural development. Since then, Barcelona has hosted several international exhibitions, such as the International Exhibition of 1929. This gave rise to the Montjuïc venue, and the Universal Forum of Cultures in 2004, which led to the creation of the Gran Via venue.
Throughout its history, Fira Barcelona has been a driving force for the Catalan and Spanish economy. Fira has also served well as a platform for internationalization and business opportunities. It has also been a witness and a protagonist of the social and political changes that have taken place in Spain. Including such events as the Spanish Civil War, the Franco dictatorship, the transition to democracy, and into the European Union.
Some of the most emblematic trade show events that Fira Barcelona has organized or hosted include the Mobile World Congress, the world’s largest event for the mobile industry; Alimentaria, one of the leading food and beverage trade shows in the world; Hostelco, the reference event for the hospitality sector; Smart City Expo World Congress, the global summit on urban innovation and transformation; and Comic Barcelona, the largest comic and manga convention in Spain.
The Facts and Figures of Fira Barcelona
Fira Barcelona is a self-financed, public consortium that operates under the principles of efficiency, sustainability and social responsibility. It has a turnover of over 250 million euros and generates an economic impact of around 2.6 billion euros. An important source of wealth for Barcelona and its surroundings. It employs more than 400 people and collaborates with over 4,000 suppliers and partners.
The exhibition centre organizes and hosts around 150 trade fairs, congresses and other events each year. It attracts more than 30,000 exhibitors and 2.5 million visitors from more than 200 countries and regions. Fira also offers a range of services and solutions for event organizers, exhibitors and visitors. These include online registration, digital marketing, matchmaking, catering, security, cleaning, logistics, audiovisual, and more.
Fira is a member of several national and international associations and networks, such as the Spanish Association of Fairs (AFE), the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI), the European Major Exhibition Centres Association (EMECA), the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), and the Leading Venues of the World (LVW).
The Facilities and Services of Fira Barcelona
It is important to note that Fira Barcelona has two venues, Montjuïc and Gran Via,. Both venues are located in strategic areas of the city, close to the airport and connected to the public transport network. They offer modern and versatile spaces for all kinds of events, from large-scale trade fairs and congresses to small meetings and workshops.
The Montjuïc venue, situated on the emblematic hill of the same name. It has a total exhibition area of 150,000 sqm, distributed in eight halls. It’s facilities include a convention centre with a capacity for up to 2,000 people, a congress hall for 1,600 people, and several conference rooms and auditoriums. The venue is surrounded by gardens, fountains, museums and cultural attractions. These include the Magic Fountain, the National Art Museum of Catalonia, and the Olympic Stadium.
The Gran Via venue, designed by the renowned architect Toyo Ito. It has a total exhibition area of 240,000 sqm, divided into eight halls, connected by a walkway that channels visitors. IFira Gran Via has a convention centre with a modular and adaptable space for up to 12,000 people, and several meeting rooms and VIP lounges. The venue is located in a new business development area, near the Fira Barcelona City hotel, the Fira Barcelona Tower, and the Europa/Fira metro station.
Both venues have several facilities and services for the convenience and comfort of the event attendees. These include parking, restaurants, cafeterias, shops, banks, ATMs, lockers, cloakrooms, information points, medical services, Wi-Fi, and charging stations. They also have a commitment to sustainability, with measures such as waste management, energy efficiency, water saving, and carbon footprint reduction.
How to get to Fira Barcelona using public transport
Fira is one of the most important trade fair and exhibition centres in Europe, hosting hundreds of events every year. If you are planning to visit Fira Barcelona, you might be wondering how to get there from the airport, the train station, or the city centre. In this article, we will explain the different options you have to reach Fira Barcelona by public transport, using the aerobus, metro, train, and bus.
How to get to Fira Barcelona from the airport
If you arrive at Barcelona airport (BCN), you have several options to get to Fira Barcelona. This will depend on which terminal you land at and which venue you want to go to. Fira Barcelona has two main venues: Fira Montjuïc and Fira Gran Via.
Fira Montjuïc
Fira Montjuïc is located near Plaça Espanya, in the heart of the city. To get there from the airport, you can take the following options:
- Aerobus: This is a shuttle bus service that connects the airport with the city centre. You can catch the Aerobus from Terminal 1 or 2 and get off at Plaça Espanya. The journey takes about 35 minutes and costs €6. You can buy the ticket online or on board. From Plaça Espanya, you can walk to Fira Montjuïc in about 10 minutes.
- Metro: You can take the metro line L9S from the airport to Fira station, which is right next to Fira Montjuïc. The journey takes about 25 minutes and costs €6. You can buy the ticket at the metro station or online. The metro runs every 10 minutes from 5:00 to 24:00 on weekdays, until 2am Fridays and 24 hours Saturday night to Sunday morning.
- Bus: You can also take the bus from the airport to Fira Montjuïc. There are two bus lines that stop near Fira Montjuïc: 46 and H12. The bus 46 runs from Terminal 1 and 2 to Plaça Espanya, where you can walk to Fira Montjuïc in about 10 minutes. The bus H12 runs from Terminal 2 to Amadeu Torner, which is a short walk from Fira Montjuïc. The bus journey takes about 40 minutes and costs €4. You can buy the ticket on board or with a T-Casual card, which you can buy at the airport or any metro station.
Fira Gran Via
Fira Gran Via is located in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, a neighbouring city of Barcelona. To get there from the airport, you can take the following options:
- Metro: You can take the metro line L9S from the airport to Fira station, which is right next to Fira Gran Via. The journey takes about 20 minutes and costs €6. You can buy the ticket at the metro station or online. Take the metro with trains running every 10 minutes from 5:00 to 24:00 on weekdays, 2am Fridays and an all night service Saturday night.
- Bus: You can catch the bus from the airport to Fira Gran Via. There are two bus lines that stop near Fira Gran Via: 46 and H16. The bus 46 runs from Terminal 1 and 2 to Amadeu Torner, which is a short walk from Fira Gran Via. The bus H16 runs from Terminal 2 to Av. Granvia – Centre Comercial, which is also close to Fira Gran Via. The bus journey takes about 25 minutes and costs €4. You can buy the ticket on board or with a T-Casual card, which you can buy at the airport or any metro station.
How to get to Fira Barcelona from Barcelona Sants train station
If you arrive at Barcelona Sants train station, you have several options to get to Fira Barcelona, depending on which venue you want to go to.
Fira Montjuïc
To get to Fira Montjuïc from Barcelona Sants train station, you can take the following options:
- Metro: Make sure you take the metro line L3 from Barcelona Sants Estació to Espanya station, which is right next to Fira Montjuïc. The journey takes about 10 minutes and costs €3. You can buy the ticket at the metro station or online. The metro runs every 5 minutes from 5:00 to 24:00 on weekdays and 24 hours on weekends.
- Bus: Another option is to take the bus from Barcelona Sants train station to Fira Montjuïc. There are two bus lines that stop near Fira Montjuïc: 94 and 109. The bus 94 runs from Plaça dels Països Catalans – Estació de Sants to Plaça Espanya – FGC, where you can walk to Fira Montjuïc in about 10 minutes. The bus 109 runs from Plaça dels Països Catalans – Estació de Sants to Pg Zona Franca – Foc, which is also close to Fira Montjuïc. The bus journey takes about 15 minutes and costs €3. You can buy the ticket on board or with a T-Casual card, which you can buy at the train station or any metro station.
Fira Gran Via
To get to Fira Gran Via from Barcelona Sants train station, you can take the following options:
- Metro: Take the metro line L5 from Barcelona Sants Estació to Collblanc station, and then change to the metro line L9S to Fira station, which is right next to Fira Gran Via. The journey takes about 25 minutes and costs €5. You can buy the ticket at the metro station or online. The metro runs every 5 minutes from 5:00 to 24:00 on weekdays, 2am Friday’s and 24 hours on Saturdays.
- Bus: You can also take the bus from Barcelona Sants train station to Fira Gran Via. There are two bus lines that stop near Fira Gran Via: 94 and H12. The bus 94 runs from Plaça dels Països Catalans – Estació de Sants to Pl Europa, which is a short walk from Fira Gran Via. The bus H12 runs from Plaça dels Països Catalans – Estació de Sants to Amadeu Torner, which is also close to Fira Gran Via. The bus journey takes about 30 minutes and costs €3. You can buy the ticket on board or with a T-Casual card, which you can buy at the train station or any metro station.
How to get to Fira Barcelona from the city centre
If you are in the city centre of Barcelona, you have several options to get to Fira Barcelona, depending on which venue you want to go to.
Fira Montjuïc
To get to Fira Montjuïc from the city centre, you can take the following options:
- Metro: Opt for the metro line L1 or L3 from any station in the city centre to Espanya station, which is right next to Fira Montjuïc. The journey takes about 15 minutes and costs €3. You can buy the ticket at the metro station or online. The metro runs every 5 minutes from 5:00 to 24:00 on weekdays and 24 hours on weekends.
- Bus: You can consider also taking the bus from the city centre to Fira Montjuïc. There are many bus lines that stop near Fira , such as 13, 23, 37, 50, 65, 79, 91, 109, 150, and H12. You can check the bus routes and timetables on the Tmb website. The bus journey takes about 20 minutes and costs €3. You can buy the ticket on board or with a T-Casual card, which you can buy at any metro station.
Fira Gran Via
To get to Fira Gran Via from the city centre, you can take the following options:
- Metro: You can take the metro line L1 or L3 from any station in the city centre to Torrassa station, and then change to the metro line L9S to Fira station, which is right next to Fira Gran Via. The journey takes about 30 minutes and costs €5. You can buy the ticket at the metro station or online. The metro runs every 5 minutes from 5:00 to 24:00 on weekdays and 24 hours on weekends.
- Bus: You can also take the bus from the city centre to Fira Gran Via. There are many bus lines that stop near Fira Gran Via, such as 46, 65, 79, 94, 109, and H16. You can check the bus routes and timetables on the Tmb website. The bus journey takes about 40 minutes and costs €3. You can buy the ticket on board or with a T-Casual card, which you can buy at any metro station.
The General Information for Event Attendees attending Fira Barcelona
If you are planning to attend an event at Fira Barcelona, here are some useful tips and information to make the most of your experience:
- Check the event website for the dates, opening hours, location, program, exhibitor list, and registration process. You can also download the Fira Barcelona app to access all the information and services on your mobile device.
- Book your accommodation and transport in advance. Barcelona is a popular tourist destination and can get busy during peak seasons. A good idea is to use the Fira Barcelona travel agency. This offers special rates and packages for event attendees, or search for other options online.
- Plan your visit and agenda, as there are many events and activities to choose from. Use the online tools and platforms provided by Fira Barcelona, such as the exhibitor directory, the floor plan, the agenda builder, and the matchmaking system, to find the most relevant and interesting opportunities for your business or professional interests.
- Arrive early and avoid queues, as some events can attract thousands of visitors. Find the online registration and check-in system. This allows you to print your badge at home or at the venue, or use the mobile ticket, which you can scan at the entrance with your smartphone.
- Enjoy the event and network with other attendees. Fira Barcelona is a great place to meet potential clients, partners, suppliers, or colleagues. Visit the networking areas, the business meetings, the social events, and the digital platforms to connect and interact with other professionals from your sector or field.
- Explore Barcelona and its attractions. The city has a lot to offer in terms of culture, gastronomy, leisure, and entertainment. Make sure you visit the iconic landmarks, such as the Sagrada Familia, the Park Güell, and the Casa Batlló. Also discover the hidden gems, such as the Gothic Quarter, the Montjuïc Castle, and the Santa Caterina Market. You can also enjoy the Mediterranean cuisine, the nightlife, and the festivals that take place throughout the year.
Conclusion
If you are visiting a trade show for business, or attending another event, you will find that Fira is a modern and well-organised place. Before you travel to Fira, it is best to plan everything ahead. A common mistake is for people to arrive at the wrong venue, Montjuïc instead of Gran Via pr vice versa. Make sure you check your which Fira centre your event is at and your book hotels well in advance. When there is a major trade show at Fira, hotel prices tend to increase.
