This article outlines the transportation options for travelling from Barcelona Airport to the city centre. The best choice for you depends on several factors: arrival time, the number of people in your party, which area of the city you are staying in, and your budget.
Please note that the information in this post refers to Barcelona’s main airport, also known as Josep Taradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport or simply BCN (the airport’s IATA location code). If your flight lands at Girona-Costa Brava or Reus airports, you should read this post.
Barcelona Airport
Barcelona Airport is located twelve kilometres southwest of the city centre and is well connected by public transport, including trains, metro, buses, and a fleet of black and yellow taxi cabs.
The airport has two terminals. Terminal one is the larger, more modern terminal and handles long international flights by major airlines and local flights by the Spanish airlines Iberia and Vueling. Terminal two, the older terminal, is used by low-cost airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair and handles mostly European and charter flights.
The airport terminals are connected by a free shuttle bus, which departs every five minutes throughout the day.
Barcelona Airport Taxi
A taxi from Barcelona airport to central Barcelona takes about thirty minutes and costs between €35 and €40.
All Barcelona taxis are metered; the exact price depends on a combination of distance and the time taken for the journey. There are supplements for airport pickups and journeys after 8 pm or on weekends. You can get more information about the tariffs in this post.
There are taxi ranks outside both terminals (T1 and T2)
Terminal 1 Taxi Rank
Exiting the baggage reclaim area, you pass through automated sliding doors and come to a metal barrier where people await arrivals.
On the other side of this barrier, there are two covered ramps that lead down to the taxi stands on either side of the Go Natural snack bar.
If you have booked your taxi in advance, you should take the ramp located to the right of the snack bar, where your taxi will be waiting for you.
If you haven’t pre-booked a taxi, you should take the ramp located to the left of the snack bar, which will take you to a second taxi stand, where you can queue for a taxi.
At the bottom of the ramp, white arrows on the ground will guide you to the taxi rank, where taxi wardens in high-visibility jackets will indicate the next available taxi.
Terminal 2 Taxi Rank
Terminal 2 is divided into three sections: A, B, and C. Taxis wait on the road directly outside sections B and C.
As you leave the luggage reclaim area and customs in terminal T2B, you’ll see a large open-plan snack bar called EAT. Just to the left of the snack bar, there is a large revolving door which takes you to the road outside the terminal building. Once outside the terminal, the taxi rank is to your right.
Please note that if you are arriving early in the evening on a weekday, the journey may take longer due to heavy after-work traffic entering the city.
There is also a small taxi rank outside Terminal 2C, although there are seldom very many taxis waiting there, and you may have to walk to the taxi rank outside Terminal 2B.
Aerobús (Express airport bus)
The Aerobús is a fast bus service between the airport and Plaça de Catalunya.
The Aerobús runs twenty-four hours a day, departing every 5 or 10 minutes from 5:30 am until 1 am. From 1 am to 5:30 am, buses run every twenty or thirty minutes. The fare is €6.75 one-way or €11.65 return.
The journey from Barcelona airport to the city centre takes approximately 30 minutes. There is free Wi-Fi onboard, so you can let your family and friends know that you have arrived safely, update your Facebook status, or do some last-minute trip planning.
Tickets can be purchased from vending machines at the Aerobús stops at both terminals or online in advance. Tickets purchased online are valid for one year from the date of purchase.
The Aerobús is also covered by this ticket bundle which includes the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell, allowing you to reserve timeslots and organize your airport transfer at the same time.
The buses stop at Plaça de Espanya, Gran Via (near the Urgel metro station), Plaça de la Universitat and Plaça de Catalunya.
To the Aerobus from Terminal 1
As you leave the baggage claim area, walk straight ahead so that you pass between the taxi ramp and the Go Natural snack bar.
As you pass the snack bar, you’ll see the large brown sign shown in the photo near the start of this post. Just before you draw level with the sign, you’ll see a pair of sliding doors to your right leading to an escalator and lift down to the Aerobús stop.
There’s more information and photos in this post.
To the Aerobus from Terminal 2
There are two Aerobus stops at Terminal 2.
The first is outside the arrivals area of Terminal 2B. To get there, as you leave the luggage reclaim area, you’ll see a large open-plan snack bar called EAT. To the left of the snack bar, there is a large glass revolving door which takes you to the road outside terminal two. Once outside the terminal building, if you look to the left, you’ll see the covered walkway to the train station. The Aerobús stop is located approximately midway between the revolving door and the covered walkway.
The second Aerobús stop at Terminal 2 is located outside Terminal 2C (used exclusively by easyJet). As you leave the terminal building, you’ll come to a small taxi rank. The Aerobús stop is located on the other side of the taxi rank, approximately twenty metres from the terminal building.
The Aerobús is NOT covered by TMB tickets or travel cards such as the T-casual or Hola Barcelona!
Barcelona Airport Metro
Barcelona airport metro (L9 sud) runs from both airport terminals to the south-west of the city and has 15 stops:
Airport T1, Airport T2, Mas Blau, Parc Nou, Cèntric, El Prat Estació, Les Moreres, Mercabarna, Parc Logístic, Fira, Europa-Fira, Can Tries-Gornal, Torrassa, Collblanc, Zona Universitaria.
The metro departs every 7 minutes (more frequently at peak times) from 5 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 5 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays, and non-stop from 5 a.m. Saturday to midnight Sunday.
Standard single-trip metro tickets and the T-casual travel card CAN NOT be used on the airport metro. Instead, there’s a special airport ticket that costs €5.50.
You can save money by purchasing a Hola Barcelona Travel Card, which offers unlimited travel on the metro, commuter trains, trams and TMB buses.
The L9 sud metro from Barcelona airport doesn’t connect directly to the city centre. Most visitors will have to transfer to another line at either Torrassa (L1) or Collblanc (L5), and you may have to make more than one change to get to your hotel. Depending on where you are staying, the journey will typically take between one hour and an hour and a quarter.
Download a FREE Map of Barcelona metro >>
Mobile World Congress participants will be interested to know that the journey time by metro from the airport to the congress takes 22 minutes.
To the Metro from Terminal 1
As you leave the baggage claim area, go straight ahead so that you pass between the taxi ramp and the Go Natural snack bar. Keep walking straight ahead; you will see red metro signs above the escalator, which leads to the underground metro station (see photo above).
To the Metro from Terminal 2
The metro stop at terminal 2 is located underground next to the train station. Follow the directions below, and when you arrive at the train station, you will see the entrance to the metro to the left.
More information about the Barcelona Metro here >>
Barcelona Airport Train
Trains run every 30 minutes from the airport train station, which is located at Terminal 2.
The journey time is 20 to 25 minutes, depending on which of Barcelona’s train stations you choose to get off at. The first train departs at 5:42 a.m., and the last departs at 11:38 p.m.
Depending on where you are staying, you may have to transfer from the airport train to the metro. If your flight lands at Terminal 2, the journey will take between 45 minutes and an hour.
Check the R2 airport train timetable here.
Tip: If you purchase a T-casual multi-trip ticket, you can combine the airport train with the metro and bus as one journey for €1.22 (the T-casual costs €12.15 for ten journeys).
A single train ticket from the airport to the city centre costs €4.60 and doesn’t allow you to transfer to other modes of transport.
Alternatively, you can purchase a Hola Barcelona Transport Pass, which gives unlimited travel on the metro, TMB buses, trams and commuter trains within zone 1 (including the airport train and metro).
Download a FREE Map of Barcelona metro and train stations
To the Train Station from Terminal 1
A free shuttle bus runs from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2. The journey takes under ten minutes, but you should allow about twenty minutes in total to get from Terminal 1 to the train station.
As you leave the baggage reclaim, walk straight ahead so that you pass between the taxi ramp and the Go Natural snack bar. You will then see a sign guiding you to the ramps and the buses. It is best to take the ramp to the right (just before the Europcar car rental desk) for the shuttle bus.
On arrival at Terminal 2, you should follow the green line painted on the ground. As you enter the terminal building, turn back on yourself and go up the escalators. You then walk for a couple of minutes along the covered bridge leading to the train station. There are also lifts available.
Train tickets can be purchased from the machines on the right-hand side as you enter the station. The machines accept credit cards or cash (Euros).
More information about Barcelona transport zones >>
To the Train Station from Terminal 2
There’s a covered bridge linking Terminal 2B to the train station.
If you arrive at Terminal 2B, turn left as you exit baggage claim and follow the signs to the train station. A yellow line on the ground leads to a pair of escalators up to the covered bridge, where a sign directs you towards the train station.
Once across the bridge, you come to some metal stairs and an elevator back down to ground level. The train station is to the left, just after you descend the stairs.
From T2A, turn right as you leave baggage claim and follow the signs to the train station. As you leave the terminal building, you’ll see the covered bridge which leads from T2B to the train station. Turn right underneath the bridge and enter the terminal building before doubling back on yourself and taking the escalator up to the bridge.
From Terminal 2C, walk past the taxi rank and bus stops to Terminal 2B. Enter the building via the large revolving doors, and you will see signs and a yellow line on the ground directing you to the escalators mentioned above.
Which Barcelona Train Station?
Upon Arrival
The airport train stops at the following train stations in Barcelona:
- Aeroport
- El Prat de Llobregat
- Bellvitge
- Barcelona Sants
- Passeig de Gracia
- El Clot
Which station you should choose when travelling from Barcelona airport to the city centre depends on where you are staying:
Barcelona Sants – This station is close to Plaça Espanya and Montjuic and connects to metro lines L5 and L3. It is also Barcelona’s main train station, with AVE, long-distance, middle-distance, and commuter trains serving all of Spain.
Passeig de Gràcia – This station is the closest to the centre of Barcelona (Plaça de Catalunya and the Gothic Quarter) and connects with metro lines L2, L3 and L4.
El Clot – This train station is convenient for Poblenou, Clot and the northernmost part of the Eixample (especially if you plan to take a taxi from the train station to your hotel). It connects with metro lines L1 and L2 and some local train lines.
Going to the Airport
Barcelona El Prat Airport is the last stop on the line – Aeroport
Barcelona Airport Bus
From 5 am to 11:50 pm, bus 46 runs from both airport terminals to Plaça d’Espanya.
Unless you’ve purchased a T-casual or Hola Barcelona Travel Card online, the journey costs €2.40.
This is slightly cheaper than the Aerobus but has the disadvantages of being slower, less frequent (2 per hour) and not having a dedicated space for luggage.
Route Map and Timetable Bus No. 46
The Night Bus
If you are on a tight budget and arrive in Barcelona after the metro has stopped running, you could take the night bus.
Bus route N16 takes you from T1 and N17 from T2 to the city centre.
The fare is €2.40, and buses depart every 20 minutes.
I do not recommend the night bus unless you are staying near Plaça de Catalunya or one of the other stops on the route. If you have to connect to another night bus, your total journey time could be very long.
Other Public Bus Routes
There are also buses from the airport to Castelldefels, Sant Boi, Sant Joan de Llobregat and Cornella, as well as further afield, including Lleida, Tarragona, Cadaqués and other towns on the Costa Brava.
Check out this post for more information about buses from Barcelona Airport >>
Rideshare Apps
Several rideshare companies operate in Barcelona, although local bylaws stipulate that you must book the journey from the airport at least fifteen minutes in advance.
Although I do sometimes use ride-hailing apps, when travelling from the airport, it makes more sense to catch a cab from the taxi rank. If you decide to use an app, the driver will normally meet you at one of the following locations:
Terminal 1: at the meeting point in Module C, second floor.
Terminal 2: there are meeting points outside terminal T2B and T2 C buildings.
The driver will normally contact you via the app to confirm the location.
Uber
Uber operates in Barcelona using regular taxis, and you can choose between paying a price fixed in advance or the tariff shown on the taximeter at the end of the journey.
Cabify
Cabify is available in Barcelona, but local bylaws require that you reserve the journey at least 15 minutes before travelling.
Lyft
Lyft doesn’t currently operate in Barcelona.
Private Transfer
If you prefer to have someone waiting for you when your flight arrives, then you may like to pre-arrange a private transfer with Book Taxi Barcelona.
By booking your transfer in advance, you benefit from a fixed fare paid up-front via Paypal or credit card. Your driver will then track your flight and wait for you in the arrivals area, holding a board with your name on it.
They also offer additional services such as bag drops, children’s booster seats, minibuses and vehicles adapted to carry electric wheelchairs or scooters, as well as private transfers to/from the cruise port and other cities nearby.
Book your private airport transfer online
Car Rental
There are several car hire companies at Barcelona airport, including Europcar, Avis and Hertz.
I do not recommend hiring a car to get to your hotel. A car will be of little use during your stay in the city. Even if you plan to spend a night in Barcelona and then leave the next morning, I would still recommend that you pick up your hire car on the day you depart.
It’s important to consider that most rental companies charge a premium for picking up a car at the airport. Generally, if you do need a rental car, it will be more cost-effective to pick the car up from the rental company’s offices in downtown Barcelona, even after factoring in a taxi from the airport. I recommend that you compare prices on DiscoverCars.com before making a decision.
Which To Choose?
There is really no single best way to get from the airport to Barcelona city centre.
Which is best depends on things like budget, time of arrival, where you will be staying, how many people are travelling in your group, how much luggage you carry, and personal preference.
Generally speaking:
- Staying near Plaça de Catalunya, Plaça de la Universitat or Plaça de Espanya? Take the Aerobús.
- Staying anywhere else in the city and without too much luggage? Take the train and/or metro.
- Arriving late at night/in a hurry/bulky or heavy luggage/prefer to be dropped right in front of your hotel? Take a Taxi.
All prices and fares mentioned in this post were checked and updated in March 2024.
Let me know if you have any questions in the comments section below.
Hi Richard.
We would like to take the train (three of us) from the airport to Santa Susanna which is zone 5. What would be the cheapest way of doing this?
Hi Lawrence.
As you say, Santa Susanna is in zone 5.
Will you also be returning to Barcelona airport by train? If so, depending on how many journeys you will be taking it might be worth buying a pass like a T10 or bonotren.
The difference between the Bonotren and the T-10 is that the Bonotren is only valid for RENFE trains whereas the T-10 can also be used on buses, trams and metro (excluding the airport metro).
Prices are as follows:
Single train ticket (BCN to Santa Susanna) €5
Bonotren (10 journeys): €34.35
T-10 5 zones (10 journeys): €40.50
Take the R2 Nord train from the airport train station at terminal 2 to Barcelona El Clot Aragó (5th stop) from here take the R1 northbound to Santa Susanna.
The train from the airport arrives at platform 2 at Barcelona El Clot Aragó station and the R1 northbound departs from platform 4.
Don’t go through the ticket barriers at Barcelona El Clot Aragó, just change from one platform to the other (there are escalators and lifts).
Not all northbound R1 trains go as far as Santa Sussana, some terminate at Mataró or Calella.
Look out for R1 trains with final locations of Maçanet Massanes, Malgrat de Mar or Blanes as well as RG1 trains to Figueres or Portbou (all of which stop at platform 4 in Barcelona El Clot Aragó train station).
If you accidentally catch one of the R1 trains which terminate at Calella or Mataró just wait on the platform for the next northbound train (platform 1 in both stations).
Thank you ever so much, You really know your stuff! Yes we will return by train. The last time we went to Barcelona we spent almost the entire day locked in a church for our own safety. So this is an important holiday for us. I really wanted to explore Barcelona and your site is really helping me.
Hi Lawrence,
You’re welcome.
I’ve just noticed an error in my previous comment and gone back and edited it. Nothing serious, just bad maths on my part. As you can see from the prices listed, the break-even point between the bonotren and single train tickets for this route is 7 journeys. If you will just be taking the train from and to the airport then individual train tickets will work out cheaper. If you will also be taking the train into Barcelona for visiting the sights (which is sounds like you will be) then either a bonotren or a T-10 could be a better choice.
Hopefully things will go more smoothly than the last time you were here! If you have any more questions just ask and I’ll do my best to help.
Hi. i get into Barcelona at 23.55 on the wednesday 28/08/19 we are trying to book a car for the four days holiday but its so more expensive to pick up car after 00.00 and very cheap in the morning so we thought we could possibly get a bus to hotel and then get our hire car delivered to hotel in the morning to possibly save 100 euros,we need to get a bus from the airport to CARRER DE JOSEP TRUETA 2 08970 BARCELONA but we don’t know what bus to get and where from, please help
Hi Rodney,
Arriving at that time of night I’d probably take a taxi which would cost around €35 but you could also catch the night bus N18 to the city and from there take the N15 which stops close to your hotel.
Hello Richard,
i want to know from where i can get T10 multi-trip ticket at the airport or near the airport, because i understood that this kind of ticket cannot be collected from the metro ticket machines at the airport. From where can i collect it when i arrive at the airport.
Thanks in advance!
Hi Ivan,
You can purchase the T-10 cards from the ticket machines at the train station at terminal 2 or from the tobacconist at terminal one.
The location of the tobacconist is indicated on this map from the airports official website.
We are coming to Barcelona next week, staying at Aragon 415 near Sagrada Familia. Am I right to say Aerobus from airport then metro to Sagrada Familia and walk to apartment. Thank you in anticipation
Gordon
Hi Gordon,
You could do it that way but it wouldn’t be my first choice, especially not if your flight lands at terminal 2.
Landing at terminal 2 it would be faster and cheaper to take the train to Barcelona Sants followed by the L5 metro to the Sagrada Familia.
If you purchase a T-10 travel pass this journey would cost you just €1.02 and take about 45 minutes (depending on connections becasue the train from the airport departs every 30 minutes). If there’s more than one of you youy can share one T-10 between you. Theres more info about the T-10 in this post
If you are arriving at Terminal one then you could take the free shuttle bus to terminal 2 and do the same as above or you could take the airport metro which would cost €4.60 per person and take about an hour which (depending on connections) is about the same time as taking the shuttle bus plus train plus metro.
Or, as you said you could take the Aerubus to Plaça de la Universitat followed by the metro L2 to Monumental (your hotel is almost exactly half way between the Monumental and Sagrada Familia metro stops) this woulod also take about an hour but would cost slightly more.
Personally I’d take the train, arriving at terminal 2 it’s the cheapest and the fastest option.
Arriving at terminal one it’s the cheapest and takes about the same time or maybe slightly longer than the other 2 options.
Hello! Thank you for this informative article. But I have a question about the opposite:
“How do you get from the city to the airport?”
I’m staying beside Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia. The nearest station is either Gràcia (FGC) or Diagonal (Metro).
Common sense tells me that I just need to do the reverse of what’s written here. But I don’t want to assume then realize my mistake to miss my flight. All of the articles I saw are always about “from the airport” but there’s none about “going to the airport”.
The Aerobus sounds nice, but Plaça de Catalunya is far away from Gràcia. Besides, does it go to the airport from Plaça de Catalunya?
If not the Aerobus, how about taking the Metro L5 from Diagonal to Collblanc, and then the L9S to the airport? Is it just one ticket, or two tickets?
What is your advice for the most convenient (time/money)? Thank you!
Hi Roland,
The best way and cheapest way depends partly on which terminal you will be departing from and whether or not you have already purchased a travel pass (T-10 or Hola Barcelona!)
Anyway, the two ways that you mention are pretty good options, both would take about an hour to get from your hotel to the airport.
If you decide to take the metro then you just need to purchase an Airport metro ticket which costs €4.60 and covers you for both legs of the Diagonal – Collblanc – Airport journey (no need to buy a second ticket).
This is also covered by the Hola Barcelona card but not by the T-10 pass.
The airport bus would take about the same length of time (1 hour more or less) but cost you slightly more. You’d need to take the FGC train to Plaça de Catalunya (cost €2.20) then the Aerobus to the airport (cost €5.90 one way)
The FGC train is covered by both the T-10 and the Hola Barcelona! Card. The Aerobus isn’t covered by either.
There’s a third option which is to take the L3 metro from Diagonal to Passeig de Gràcia followed by the R2 Nord train to the Airport (terminal 2).
If your flight leaves from terminal 1 then you will need to catch the free shuttle bus from terminal 2 to terminal 1.
If your flight departs from terminal 2 this will be faster than the previous 2 options BUT you should check the train timetables to make sure because trains depart every 30 minutes ( metro every 5 or 7 minutes depending on time of day).
If your flight departs from terminal one then the other options will be faster.
If you have either of the travel passes mentioned above, then this entire trip is covered (counts as one journey on the T-10) if not then the metro part will cost €2.20 and the train €4.40.
Alternatively, if you haven’t got much luggage, it would only take about 20 minutes or so to walk from your hotel to Passeig de Gràcia train station.
Hello Richard, I am looking for the best way to get to Melia Barcelona Sarria. I will arrive at terminal 1 and would like to take public transportation. Our flight on will arrive at 3:00 pm. Thanks.
Hi Rose,
There’s no direct connection to that location by public transport, you’ll have to change modes of transport at least once.
I recommend that you take the Aerobus from the airport to Plaça d’Espanya (1st stop €5.90) followed by a taxi to your hotel (about €7 to €8).
Hi Richard my wife and I will be travelling from Madrid to Barcelona and we have not decided whether to fly or take train. What is your advice. We will be staying in El Barri Gotic what is the easiest way to get there from both the airport and Sants train station
Hi Michael,
I prefer the AVE high-speed train for this route. At first glance the flight might look cheaper but by the time you add the extra cost of checking in luggage and getting to and from the airports then they cost about the same.
Also time-wise, the AVE takes about 2 hrs 45 whereas the flight takes 1 hour 15 but you have to arrive at the airport at least an hour before the flight departs and then wait about half an hour to collect your luggage from the carousel. Not to mention the fact that both airports are outside the city whereas the train stations are fairly central (saving time and money).
AVE train tickets are cheapest if you purchase them as soon as they go on sale on the http://www.renfe.com website, normally about 60 days in advance. If there are no tickets available for your planned dates yet you can get an idea of prices by checking earlier dates and then keep checking back until the days you want to travel come available. The renfe site isn’t very user friendly so if you have any problems making a booking let me know and I’ll try and help if I can.
How to get from the train station to the Gothic Quarter?
The easiest way will be to catch a taxi from the train station to your hotel. Depending on where you will be staying this will cost between €10 and €15.
If your hotel is near Plaça de Catalunya you can take advantage of the free commuter train tickets which are included with your AVE ticket and catch the train. R1, R3 and R4 trains all stop at Plaça de Catalunya and Sants station. The same applies in Madrid, more information in the post I linked to.
We are a party if 8 adults and one child age 8 traveling from the aiport to clot train station on Sunday 7th April arrival time is around 7pm
What is the best transport cars for me to buy to get us that journey please
Hi Stacey,
For that journey I’d purchase a T-10 which will cost €10.20 from the ticket machines at the airport train station.
You can share one T-10 between the 9 of you, with one journey left over on the card. You have to validate the ticket once per person by passing it through the ticket barriers before boarding the train.
There are 2 trains per hour from the airport to Barcelona El Clot Aragó station. If your flight lands at terminal 2 you might just catch the 19:38 train, if not then the 20:08. El Clot Aragó is the 5th stop and the journey takes approx. 30 minutes.
If your flight lands at terminal 1 there is a free shuttle bus to terminal 2 (more information in the article above).
Depending on what your plans are during the rest of your stay. Since you are a large group it might be worth considering the T-70/30 might work out slightly cheaper if you will be using public transport a lot (and can also be shared between the 9 of you).
Hi, Im Fatin from Malaysia. I will arrived at Barcelona Airport around 1.00 am midnight. How can i get a public transport to Vilanova I La Geltru. Can you give me a suggestion ? Thanks in advance :)
Hi Fatin,
At that time of night you will need to catch the night bus (N16, N17 or N18) from the airport to Plaça d’Espanya followed by the N30 from there to Vilanova i la Geltrú.
Check the timetables before you set out because the N30 is very infrequent.
Alternatively a taxi will cost about €70.
Or you could wait for a few hours at the airport and then catch the fist R2 Nord train from T2 to El Prat de Llobregat (departs at 5:42) followed by the R2 Sud to Vilanova i la Geltrú.
Hi Richard,
My t-10 ticket has just run its’ course earlier. Could I purchase a single ticket to get on the Metro and change to the Renfe R2 train to the airport with the same ticket?
Appreciate the advice.
Hai Shai,
No, unfortunately single metro tickets don’t allow you to transfer to the train.
Hello
Thanks for doing this you’ve made our trip a lot easier
I have a question, how do we combine the ticket from the airport with the t-10 for 1 euro ? (detailed steps if you can please)
Can we do the same thing on our way back from the city center to the airport ?
Hi Aassem,
To be able to give you detailed instructions I need you to tell me which terminal your flight lands at, what time of day and where will you be staying in Barcelona?
Thank you for being responsive,
my flight lands at T2
(I was planing to use the t-10 as my tickets for barcelona then i read in the app that the airport is no longer included in them) we can use google maps for public transports routes we just don’t want to buy airport tickets for 4,6 euros that’s why i was intrigued by the combination that only costs 1 euro added to the t10
We’re staying at the ibis hotel near la sagrada familia
Hi Aassem,
You can’t use the T-10 on the metro to/from the airport but you CAN use it on the train to/from the airport and on the rest of the metro system.
The airport train station is at terminal 2. To get to the train station follow the instructions in the section To the Train Station from Terminal 2 above then after you walk down the steps from the covered bridge you will see the entrance to the train station. At the entrance to the station there are ticket machines where you can buy the T-10.
You can share one T-10 ticket between 2 or more people but you must remember to validate it once per person when travelling (going through the ticket barriers).
From the airport you take the train to Barcelona Sants (the third stop). From here you change to the metro Line 5.
To transfer from the train to metro, take the escalator up from the platform. At the top of the escalator turn left and go through the ticket barriers. You are now in the main concourse of the station, you should see a row of ticket windows to your left. Walk straight ahead past the shops (on your right) to the end of the concourse where there are stairs that lead down to metro. You don’t need to leave the station, it’s in the same building. If in doubt ask someone.
Take the L5 metro (blue on the signs and maps) going in the direction of Vall d’Hebron 5 stops to the Sagrada Familia metro stop.
Finally. Yes you can do the same thing when returning to the airport. Just reverse the instructions above.
Hello,
We’re looking to stay at hotel Viladomat, which is the best/easiest whay to get to our hotel from the airport? We’re not sure on the price of taxis there
Hi Chloe,
A taxi will be the easiest way and will cost around €30
Hi , what is the best way for our group to take ( taxis, bus , train )from BCN airport to Centric Garcia Apartment . Our group has 26 peoples
Hi Metta,
The “best way” is always subjective
The most comfortable and fastest way would be to grab 5 large 6 seater taxis from the Taxi rank (tell the wardens at the taxi rank that you are travelling together so that they put you in the minivan style taxis). Depending on the time of day and how much luggage you have I estimate that this would cost approximately €175 for all of you (taxis are metered and you pay the price on the meter plus the relevant supplements for airport pickup, luggage etc.).
You could pre-book a private transfer by minivan / coach but I think that it would work out more expensive.
Alternatively, that location is pretty easy to get to by public transport which, apart from being cheaper, would mean that you can all travel together.
The cheapest option would be to take the airport train from terminal 2 to Barcelona Passeig de Gràcia followed by the green line (L3) metro from there to Fontana. Depending on connections, this would take about 45 minutes, your apartments are a ten minute walk from the metro station.
If you purchase 3 T-10 travel cards and share them between you (don’t forget to validate them once for each person) it would cost just over €1 per person. If you are arriving at terminal 1 there is a free shuttle bus from T1 to T2 which adds about 10 minutes to the journey.
Hi Richard,
What is the economic way of transportation from Centric Garcia Apartment to La Rambla Street ( for group of 26 peoples) and how to get back from La Rambla Street to Centric Garcia Apartment ? Thank you so much for your previous information. It will help us a lot !
Best Regards,
Metta
Hi Metta,
The most economic way to get from your apartment to La Rambla would be to walk. This would take about half an hour following a very scenic walk along Passeig de Gràcia past some of Barcelona’s most emblematic buildings.
If you don’t fancy walking so much then you could catch the L3 metro (green line) from the Fontana metro station which is a short walk (5 or 10 minutes) from your hotel and has 3 stations located at different points along the length of Las Ramblas: Plaça de Catalunya, Liceu and Drassanes. With the T-10 pass this would cost €1.02 per person.
It would make sense to catch the metro to Plaça de Catalunya and then walk the length of La Rambla before catching the metro back to your apartment from Drassanes.
Hello,
I just discovered your blog and it’s very helpfull for those who wants to discover Barcelona. As many in need, I am looking also for your advice: arriving Saturday morning on El Prat Airport, Terminal B (around 9 am), just with a pack bag, I need to get to Calle Consell de Cent, 476, SM Hotel Sant Antoni. Besides the Aerobus, what would be the other/s way/s to get in the city center? I want to buy a T10 (line 1) Card and use it during my 4 days stay. Can I use this card to get to Camp Nou Stadium also ( I am attending a match Sunday evening)? Thanks in advance for your advices.
Best regards,
Aura
Hi Aura,
The cheapest way would be to purchase the T-10 at the airport train station and use it to take the train and metro to your hotel (counts as one of the 10 journeys).
Take the train from the airport to Barcelona El Clot Aragó train station and then catch the metro from there to Monumental metro station (L2, purple line, 3 stops) which is near your hotel. The metro and train stations at El Clot are connected, there’s no need to leave the station (follow the signs).
Note that the T-10 is for transport zone 1 not line 1 as you wrote in your comment.
You can use the T-10 on the metro to Camp Nou, there are 3 metro stops near the stadium. There’s more information about how to get to the ground in this post.
Hi Richard,
Thanks a lot for all the info. Sorry for my mistake, i wanted to write zone 1, not line 1. A lot of info in my head at that moment.
All the infos will help me a lot!
Best regards,
Aura
Hi Aura,
No need to apologize, I guessed that you probably meant zone 1 but thought that I’d clarify just in case.
Enjoy your stay in Barcelona and if you have any more questions feel free to ask.
Hello Richard,
We are travelling to Barcelona on 21st dec18 and will reach BCN airport at 9:00am.
We a family with 2 adults and one 6-year-old Kid.
It would be great help ,if you could let us know the reasonable and best transport to reach from BCN airport to Ciutat Vella.
Place where we will be staying: Plaça Reial, 11,Ciutat Vella,08002 Barcelona.
Regards
Sunil
Hi Sunil,
Unfortunately there is a train strike and some political demonstrations planned for the 21st of December.
So far nothing’s been confirmed but I imagine that there will be less trains running than usual due to the strike and that the political demonstrations will probably block or at least slow traffic entering the city meaning that taxis and buses from the airport could take a very long time.
Because of these 2 factors I recommend that you take the metro from the airport to your hotel.
Take the L9 sud metro from the airport to Zona Universitaria (14 stops) then take the L3 (11 stops) to Liceu. Your hotel is a short walk from the metro station (300m).
Apart from messing up transport, you don’t need to be too concerned about the demonstrations, they happen quite often at the moment and are normally peaceful and well organized. Apart from making the journey from the airport to the hotel a bit slower than usual, they shouldn’t affect your holiday.
As soon as I have more information about the demonstrations and strike I’ll share it via my twitter account @BCNLowdown
If you have any questions / concerns feel free to ask.
Hi Richard,
We are flying into BCN at 9am local time in 10 days and staying at Catedral Bas Apartments, with 3 large suitcases, stroller, 2 adults, 8-yr old and 23-month old. Could you please advise the best method to get into town? We weren’t planning on dragging along a car seat, is that required? Also, reception doesn’t open until 10am and we can only leave our luggage their to wait for 3pm check-in anyway. Thank you.
Hi Natalie,
Normally for that location I’d recommend the Aerobus which stops a 5 minute walk from your apartment. The bus has space for pushchairs / wheelchairs with a seat-belt to restrain them.
However, I think that for 2 adults with 3 large suitcases, an eight year old and a small child in a stroller this is going to be out of the question right?
Which takes us on to the next option, taking a taxi. For journeys in urban areas, children are allowed to travel in taxis without a booster seat or car seat.
So no, from a legal point of view, a car seat isn’t required. Having said that, despite the fact that the journey from the airport to the city centre is considered urban, it’s along a busy 3 lane highway.
It’s up to you but personally I wouldn’t travel with a child which wasn’t properly (safely) secured.
There are plenty of larger taxis at the airport which will have enough room for you and your luggage and some of them have integral booster seats and ISOFIX connectors. However, it’s unlikely that there you’ll find one with a seat for your smaller child (you could ask one of the taxi marshals).
If you don’t want to bring a seat with you for your smaller child, I think that your best choice will be to book a private transfer. It’ll be more expensive but you’ll be able to book a vehicle with a child seat for your youngest child and a booster seat (if needed) for your older child.
Hi Richard
Would you know the best method of getting from the airport to the abba garden hotel via public transport.
Also I am hoping to take a hop on hop off bus on the first day we arrive. Would you know the best method of public transport that could take me to the starting location of the hop on hop off bus tour.
Thanks so much for all your prenvious information. It is really helpful ☺
Hi “Visitor 1”,
There are no direct public transport routes from the airport to Hotel Abba Garden and if I were you (especially if there are several of you travelling together) I’d probably take a taxi which would take about 15 minutes.
The most direct route that I’ve found using public transport would be to take the L77 bus from the airport to Av. Barcelona Rius i Taulet followed by the number 78 to Parc de Cervantes. This will take about an hour and 20 minutes. I’ve not taken this route myself but looking at the bus timings it seems like your best bet.
The starting point of the Hop On Hop Off buses is Plaça de Catalunya in the centre of downtown Barcelona but you don’t have to catch the bus from there. You can start and finish from everywhere you choose along the routes.
If you purchase your tickets online here, you benefit from a 2 Euro discount and can catch the Hop On Hop Off bus from the stop next to Palau Reial which is fairly near to your hotel. Route map here.
To get from your hotel to the centre of Barcelona, you can either catch the number 63 bus from Parc de Cervantes to Plaça de la Universitat or catch the L3 metro from Zona Universitaria to Plaça de Catalunya.
Hi Richard
I am staying near the sagrada familia, what would be the best route for me from T2
Thank you
Carl
Hi Carl,
If I were you I’d take the train from the airport to Barcelona Sants train station followed by the L5 metro (blue line) to Sagrada Familia.
If you purchase a T-10 travel pass this will cost €1.02 and should take about 45 minutes.
Thanks Richard. Much appreciated
You’re welcome!
Dear Richard,
Thanks for the effort in keeping this thread alive and posting useful infos. I have a question here:
We are a family of 4 and have to travel to EL-PRAT on Tuesday from Sant Pau | Dos de Maig metro station. Could You kindly tell me if the T10 card is a valid option to travel to the airport. I currently see people posting that one needs to buy the relatively expensive airport ticket than the T-10 ticket to get to the airport.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187497-i44-k11015707-Hola_Barcelona_Card-Barcelona_Catalonia.html
Is it true that one needs to swipe the card while coming out of the metro station at the airport terminal ?
Many Thanks,
Hi Domenico,
The airport ticket is only needed if you will be taking the L9 metro to the airport. As you say, you need to validate your ticket at the exit from the airport metro station.
On the other hand, if you take the train then you can use the T-10.
From Sant Pau Dos de Maig you should take the L5 (blue line) to Sants Estació followed by the R2 nord train to the airport T2. In addition to being cheaper than taking the L9 metro, it is also usually slightly faster.
If your flight departs from terminal 1, there is a free shuttle bus from terminal 2 to terminal one (more info in the article above).
We’re arriving in Barcelona on December 24th at around 11 am. We need to go to Urgell metro station- Is the Aerobus our best option? Thank you!
Hi Ivy,
Yes, the Aerobus would be my choice for this location. The Urgell metro station is next to the second stop on the Aerobus route.
The other public transport options take longer because they’re not direct so you have to change lines.
What is the best way to get to the corner of Mallorca and Girona from the airport?
Hi Greg,
Which terminal will you be arriving at?
If you arrive at terminal 2 then you could take the airport train to Barcelona Passeig de Gràcia and then the L4 metro (yellow line) 2 stops to Verdaguer metro stop which is a 2 minute walk from that address.
From terminal 1 then you’d need to catch the free shuttle bus to terminal 2 then do as above.
If you purchase a T-10 travel card this will cost just €1.02
Hi. We are flying into Barcelona airport on Mon 24 mid day. I have looked at transport. We are staying at Hotel Rec near arc de triomf. We are going to take the aerobus from T2 to Placa de Catalunya and then walk 15 mins to our Hotel. Would this be ok? We have chosen this as it seems we don’t have to change onto metro or train. We do not mind the walk! This seems the simplest as I can’t find a train or bus that takes us straight to arc de triomf. Also mid way through the week we are moving on to Sitges, which is the easiest route for us from hotel rec?
Thank you
Hi Theresa,
As you’ve already worked out, there’s no direct route by public transport from the airport to your hotel without changing.
As you say, if you don’t want to change trains then the Aerobus to Plaça Catalunya takes you the closest that you will get. If you haven’t got too much luggage then it’s quite a nice walk and easy to find your way.
The way which I normally recommend from terminal 2 to Arc de Triomf using public transport is to catch the R2 Nord train from the airport to Barcelona Sants and then catch another train from there to Arc de Triomf. Train lines R1, R3 and R4 all stop at Arc de Triomf so you just need to catch whichever arrives first.
To get from your hotel to Sitges you also need to change at Barcelona Sants. Take the train from Arc de Triomf to Barcelona Sants (lines R1, R3 or R4) and then The R2S from Sants to Sitges.
Hi
Great info found it very useful. Just a question as me and my husband arrive in Barcelona on 21st December and leave 24th December, will there be different running times on these dates with it being so close to Christmas?
Hi Kelly,
Based on previous years:
The 22nd and 23rd public transport will run to the normal weekend schedule (less frequent than during the week).
The 24th will be normal service during the day but will wind down and finish earlier than usual so that staff can be at home with their family. Unlike the UK, the big Christmas meal here is eaten in the evening on Christmas Eve.
Bear in mind that lots of people will be traveling home to be with their families at this time so, to be on the safe side, you should allow more time than usual.
Hi Richard,
Greetings!
I will be taking Ryan Air from Brussels to Barcelona BCN airport and will reach there at 11:00 AM on 22 Sep and my return flight is at 6:15 AM on 24th September Monday morning. My stay is near Liceu metro.
Can you please advise what is best way to reach my hotel on 22nd and back to the airport early in the morning around 4:30 AM on 24th.
Regards,
Arun
Hi Arun,
Since you are flying with Ryanair, I’m assuming that you will be arriving at terminal 2 right?
If so, on arrival I’d take the R2 Nord train from the airport train station to Passeig de Gràcia followed by the L3 metro (green line) 2 stops to the Liceu metro station.
For the return trip, arriving at the airport at 4:30 am, I recommend you take a taxi. If you want to use public transport then you could catch the night bus N16 from Plaça Catalunya to terminal 2 or N17 to terminal 1.
Hello Richard, I am arriving on 4 September at 1745 at Terminal 2C, Barcelona Airport. I will be staying at the Hotel EuroPark, Eixample District. Can you please advise the best route/ticket to use. Many thanks.
Hi Angela,
For that location, I’d take the R2 nord train from the airport to Passeig de Gràcia followed by the L4 metro (yellow line) one stop to the Girona metro stop which is one block away from your hotel.
If you purchase a T-10 travel pass from the ticket machines at the airport train station this will cost just €1.02.
To get to the train station from terminal 2C go straight ahead as you leave the terminal building then follow the signs to the footbridge at T2B which takes you to the train station.
Note that, although your ticket says T2C, you may end up arriving at T2B anyway which is a shorter walk. It takes about 5 minutes to walk from T2B to the train station or 10 minutes from T2C. Trains depart every 30 minutes at **:08 and **:38
Hi, Richard. We plan to take the R2 Nord train from terminal 2 to the Passeig de Gracia station as our hotel is right on the Passeig de Gracia. Do you know if there’s a lift to the street level at the Passeig de Gracia train station?
Thank you.
Hi Paul,
Yes there is, check this map from the ADIF website which shows where lifts and escalators are located.
Hello Richard,
Thank you in advance for your help/reply.
I arrive in BCN Terminal 1. How do I use Metro to get from the airport to Barceloneta station? Based on the Metro map, looks like I have to first take the “dark” Yellow Metro to the “dark” Blue Metro to the Red Metro and finally to the Yellow Metro. Is that correct?
Thank you again.
Jerry
Hi Jerry,
Not quite, there are 2 options, both of which involve 2 changes (instead of 3 as you described above). Both options take about an hour.
Option 1:
Take the L9 sud metro (orange) from the airport to Torrassa where you change to the L1 (red) line to Urquinaona metro where you change to the L4 (yellow) metro to Barceloneta.
Option 2:
Take the L9 sud (orange) metro to Collblanc where you change to the L5 (blue) metro line to Verdaguer where you change to the L4 (yellow) metro to Barceloneta.
Hi Richard,
we are 6 people 3 adults and 3 kids travelling to Bracelona on 6 august, flight landing at 21:05 pm.
the place we will be staying is Jaume Giralt, Barcelona, 5, 4, 2, Barcelona, Spain.
what would you suggest us taking a taxi or any other mode of transport.
Thanks.
Hi Sydney,
I think that a taxi would be a good choice for you and your family. There are normally plenty of 7 seater taxis available at the airport. The cost at that time of day for six people will be about €40.
Hi Richard!
Greetings from warm Bucharest:)
We leave in almost a month to Barcelona.
Can you please, help us with details regarding how to get from El Prat Airport to Sunotel Aston (Paris, 101, Eixample, 08029)?
From Moovit seems like there is no direct subway to Hospital Clinic station, which the hotels mention as being close to them.
Is there any direct subway or we need to go by bus also, not just subway?
All the best,
Catalina
Hi Catalina,
You can take the subway line L9sud from the airport to Collblanc and then change to the L5 to go to Hospital Clinic.
Hi Richard,
I am going to land in Barcelona this Thursday and terminal 2. I have read your post and would like to thank you for putting all this information on here for everyone. If you are free and can tell me what’s the best way and cheapest way for 7 adults to get from the airport to gran via de Corte Catalanes 558. And from there to teatre Victoria. Mind you we land at 19.00pm.
Thank you in advance for your help
Garry
Hi Garry,
The cheapest way (and also a pretty good way) to get to that location would be to take the train from the station at terminal 2.
If you purchase one T-10 ticket from the machines at the station the journey will cost just €1.02 per person.
Take the R2 Nord train from the airport to Passeig de Gràcia then the metro L2 (purple line) one stop from Passeig de Gràcia to the Universitat metro stop. From here it’s a short walk (2 blocks) to your hotel/apartment.
To get to the Theatre, take the metro L2 2 stops to Paral.lel which is right next to the theatre.
Hi Richard.Arriving at Barcelona Airport with Vuelling.How do we get to Santa Susanna via train?
Hi Paul,
I think that Vueling flights normally land at terminal 1 so you should first catch the free shuttle bus from terminal 1 to terminal 2.
Once at terminal 2, walk over the bridge to the train station and take the R2nord train to Barcelona el Clot Aragó train station. Here yo transfer to the R1 northbound to Santa Susanna.
The train from the airport arrives at platform 2, the train to Santa Susanna departs from platform 4.
Note, not all R1 trains go as far as Santa Susanna. If you find that you’re on one of the trains which terminate at Calella, Arenys de Mar or Mataró just wait there for the next train which goes further north. Trains which stop at Santa Sussana will have a final destination of Maçanet or Portbou.
Hi Richard,
How about from The airport, terminal 2 to Hotel Santa Marta, Carrer del general Castanos # 14. Two adults will arrive at 4 pm. We are ok taking public transportation and walking carrying baggage.
Thank you,
Saul
Hi Saul,
For that address, the best option is to take the train. If you purchase a T-10 travel pass from the machines at the airport train station it works out at just €1.02 each and takes about 45 minutes.
Catch the R2 Nord from the airport to Barcelona Sants (3rd stop), then transfer to the R2 Sud to Barcelona Estació de França (2nd stop). Your hotel is about 100m from the Estaió de França train station.
Hi Richard, what about Novotel on avenida Diagonal, barcelona city? From BCN 4 adults and 4 kids 7-12yo. Thanks!
Hi Marina,
The cheapest way would be to purchase a T-10 travel pass (one can be shared between the 8 of you) and catch the R2 Nord train from terminal 2 to Barcelona El Clot Aragó train station then take the metro line 1 (red line) one stop to the Glòries metro station which is a few metres from your hotel.
When you arrive at the Glòries metro station, it’s best to take the Pl de les Glòries Catalans exit because it’s slightly closer to your hotel.
When boarding the train at the airport, try and sit at the rear of the train (the end nearsest to the ticket barrier) because the escalators and lifts at Barcelona el Clot Aragó train station are at this end of the platform.
The metro station is connected to the train station. After you exit the ticket barriers at the train station, you will see 2 short flights of stairs (3 steps each) followed by an escalator. At the top of the escalator, turn right and follow the passage to the metro station. There are also ramps and lifts if needed.
Hi!
I am wondering which is the best mode of transport to get to the Gothic Quarter form the airport?
Hi Rachael,
It really depends on where you will be staying in the Gothic Quater.
In order to be able to give the best possible answer I need you to tell me:
The name / address of your hotel or hostel.
Which terminal your flight lands at.
What time of day you will arrive.
How many people are you travelling with.
Are you OK with walking a bit and carrying your luggage?
Hello,
We are going to be staying in Mataro (Hotel Atenea Port Barcelona) and are trying to figure out the best method of transport. I have read that we can take trains (transfer at Barcelona Saints) or take an Aerobus + R1. Would you recommend one over the other? Also, do you need to validate train tickets the way you need to in Italy?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Joanne,
I recommend that you catch the R2 Nord train from the airport to Barcelona El Clot Aragó train station (2 stops after Barcelona Sants) and then change trains there to the R1 to Mataró.
It’s more convenient to transfer at El Clot Aragó because it’s a smaller station than Sants.
The train from the airport arrives at platform 2, you then just need to go up the escalator to the vestibule then down the stairs to platform 4 where the trains depart to Mataró.
There are also elevators so you don’t need to struggle with your bags. All R1 and RG1 trains heading north from platform 4 stop at Mataró.
Upon arrival at Mataró, turn left as you leave the station. At the end of the train station building, there are some stairs which lead down to a subway (underpass). At the bottom of the stairs, turn back on yourself and follow the tunnel which leads beneath the train tracks towards the beach. At the end of the tunnel take the right-hand set of stairs up to street level. Facing the port / out to sea, you will see the hotel Atenea to your right about 30m away. You can’t miss it.
Lastly, yes you need to validate your ticket at the barriers at the airport train station and then again when you exit the station at Mataró.
Wow, thank you for the detailed directions! I had emailed the hotel and not gotten a response. :-P
I’m sure I’ll have more questions as I go through your wonderful blog. Thanks again!
You’re welcome!
Hi Richard,
We leave in a few days for our trip and I was going through some info regarding the train tickets and wanted to clarify, am I able to purchase a T10 Zone 3 and use it for the route above?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Joanne,
Yes, you can purchase a 3 zone T-10 from the ticket machines at the airport train station and use it for the route described above.
Thank you! :-)
You’re welcome!