Advice on what to bring with you to Barcelona
Barcelona enjoys many warm and sunny Winter days, but temperatures at night can be cool. At worst, weather in Winter can be similar to that in Britain, although temperatures very rarely drop to freezing and rain is far less common. Very heavy showers of short duration are normal in Spring and Autumn, whilst summers are usually hot and dry, with temperatures frequently reaching over 30 degrees during the day. Humidity levels in July and August can be uncomfortably high.
Mosquitoes are very common throughout the year, with only February and March being relatively bug-free. Mosquitoes bites can cause a severe allergic reaction for some people. Cover arms and legs in the evening, use repellent and a mosquito plug-in liquid repellent burner whilst asleep. These can be purchased in the UK and used in Spain with an approved plug adaptor.
Wet weather clothing, sun protection items and mosquito repellent are therefore essentials to bring for much of the year.
Student and Staff Check List
- Passport and photocopy; passports should be left with other valuables in the hotel safe. The passport photocopy should be carried at all times.
- UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). You can apply online at www.ehic.org.uk or via a form from any Post Office.
- Changes of clothing: appropriate, respectful clothing for urban fieldwork. Trousers and/or jeans for leg protection at fieldwork sites. Long sleeve clothing helps to prevent mosquito bites. Old clothing is essential for work at 'dirty' sites such as recently burned zones.
- Comfortable shoes/trainers as there is likely to be a lot of walking.
- Strong shoes/hiking boots if undertaking volcanic activity or glaciation work.
- Wellington boots/old trainers/water shoes if undertaking river work.
- Wet weather clothing.
- Strong shoes/boots.
- Sun cream, hat, sunglasses, water bottle.
- Mosquito repellent.
- Mosquito plug-in liquid repellent burner for use in the hotel room.
- Plug adaptor for U.K. appliances such as a hair dryer.
- Fieldwork notebook.
- A laptop or tablet computer is recommended to access our online and offline apps and for student fieldwork follow-up. Most of our apps can be accessed online with a smartphone.
- Pens, pencils, ruler, protractor, compass, calculator, rubber, pencil sharpener. Pencil sharpeners and compasses should not be carried in hand luggage.
- Camera.
- Binoculars for use in the Llobregat and Ebro deltas and the Garrotxa Volcanic Natural Park.
- Money for incidental purchases.
- Essential prescribed medicines if appropriate.
- Flip flops for use around the swimming pool or on the beach.
Staff should bring a list of student names, passport numbers, emergency contact telephone numbers, details of travel insurance including procedures for medical repatriation and appropriate dietary and medical information.