barcelona
from the airport to the city
barcelona
from the airport to the city
Barcelona airport to city
TOP TIPS FOR YOUR JOURNEY TO BARCELONA
Barcelona isn’t as big as some of the other cities in Europe. And the airport isn’t as far out of the city centre as it is in Paris, Rome and London. But it’s still a good idea to plan ahead and consider the different ways of getting from the airport to the city centre before you travel.
Some hotels will offer to arrange your transport from the airport for you. That may not be the cheapest option, but it’s definitely the easiest.
We’ve gathered everything you need to know about getting from the airport to the centre of Barcelona right here, so you can work out which is the best option for you.
HERE’S WHAT
YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TRAVEL
- Barcelona has just the one airport with two terminals – Barcelona-El Prat Airport. It’s located just to the southwest of the city centre in the municipality called El Prat de Llobregat.
- Terminal 1 is bigger and more modern than the old terminal, which is now known as Terminal 2 and mainly used for easyJet (Terminal 2C) and charter flights. Make sure you check which terminal you’ll be flying into. But you’ll be pleased to hear that our top tips generally apply to both terminals.
How to get from barcelona airport to city?
Our tips
Easy with the Aerobús airport bus
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comfortable with a taxi
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cheap with the train
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Driverless with the metro
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like a local with a bus
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The Aerobús is super practical because it heads into the city centre every five minutes, and you can rely on it to be running, no matter what time your flight is. The bus runs 24/7 on 365 days! And that’s for both, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 (that includes Terminal 2C for easyJet flights).
You can’t miss the bus – you’ll be able to spot the good old blue Aerobús logo as soon as you walk out in front of either of the terminals.
Don’t forget to get on the bus heading to the right terminal (T1 or T2) when you’re on your way back to the airport. Each bus only goes to one of the terminals.
How much does it cost?
EUR 6.75 for a single ticket (EUR 11.65 for a return)
Journey time: 35 minutes
Stops: The Aerobús stops at Plaça Espanya, Gran Via-Urgell and Plaça de la Universitat before terminating at Plaça Catalunya. It’s worth checking where exactly you need to be in the city so you can work out which of the stops is going to get you the closest.
Tip: You can buy the Aerobus ticket from Tiqets for your selected date right now. But they add a fee for this service.
Singel Ticket: EUR 9.75 / return Ticket: EUR 14.75
The good thing is, that you can head directly to the bus with it, while others have to buy their ticket at a Ticket machine on site.
High season: long lines at those machines…
tip 1
Aerobús airport bus
You’ll be able to spot the signs for the taxi ranks at both terminals. It’s all very organised, with staff on hand to assign people to taxis.
Most of the taxis can take up to four people. If you’re travelling as a group of five or more, let a member of staff know. Bigger taxis arrive every so often.
Journey time: 30 minutes or so, depending on where exactly you’re going and what the traffic is like
How much does it cost? A taxi to the city centre will cost you about EUR 35–45. You’ll pay extra at night, and you’ll be charged for your luggage on top. You can see the rate you’re being charged to the left of the price on the taxi meter and compare it against the price list stuck inside the back window. We’d recommend double-checking as some taxi drivers can be a bit dodgy!
You can give a tip if you like, say by rounding up, but there’s no going rate as such.
You can pay by card.
Want my advice?
If you would rather book online and receive a confirmation email, this is the taxi service for you. I was really pleased when I tried it out in Paris and Rome. Your driver will be holding up a card with your name on at the airport. The cars don’t look like taxis from the outside, and you end up feeling like you’re being driven around in a limousine. You’ll have a bottle of water waiting for you in the car, and your driver will give you a public transport pass if you booked one in advance.
The journey will cost you a bit more – EUR 57 – but you’ll feel like a VIP without a care in the world. You have to pay the driver directly.
Tip 2
Grab a taxi
You can only take the train from Terminal 2. If you fly into Terminal 1, you’ll have to hop onto the free shuttle bus and look out for the Renfe signs for the Spanish train company.
The train travels through the city, stopping at the following stations: Estació de Sants, Passeig de Gràcia and Estació de França. The train is on the R2 Nord line.
It’s a great option if you’re staying anywhere near one of those three stations, or somewhere outside the city centre that you can get to by taking another train. Otherwise, it can be a bit complicated and take too long – especially if you arrive at Terminal 1.
If you’re planning to take the train back to the airport, make sure you get on the R2 Nord heading in the right direction. The R2 train (without Nord) doesn’t go to the airport.
How much does it cost? EUR 4.60
If you’re planning to use the bus and metro while you’re in Barcelona, it’s worth buying a T-Casual ticket for ten journeys. Just remember that the ticket is non-transferable, so the journeys can’t be used by more than one person.
The Hola Barcelona travel card and Barcelona Card (for three days or more) are valid.
Also, there is a Barcelona Transport Pass for Hola Card/Aerobus for EUR 33.
Journey time: 30–40 minutes, depending on which station you’re travelling to
Tip 3
Fast and cheap? Travel by train
Both terminals (T1 and T2) at the airport in Barcelona are connected to the underground network, which is called the metro 🙂.
You’ll have no problem spotting the signs for the underground stations, which are at the exits for terminals T1 and T2. The T1 station is just outside the arrivals’ hall. If you’re flying into Terminal 2, you’ll have to walk for ten minutes or so from the arrivals’ hall. Whichever terminal you’re at, just follow the red M signs for the metro.
The underground isn’t actually as convenient as you might expect it to be because Line 9 (L9 Sud) doesn’t go directly to the city centre. It ends at the Zona Universitària station near the university campus on the outskirts of the city.
You could always change at Torrassa and take the red line L1 to the university in the city centre or Plaça Catalunya. Or you could change at Collblanc and take the blue line L5 towards Provença, Diagonal or Sagrada Família.
Whichever way you look at it, you have to change to travel into the city centre on the metro. This could still be a good option, though, if you happen to be staying near one of these metro stations.
This metro line is fully automatic. Stand right at the front for an exciting journey through the tunnel.
How much does it cost? EUR 5.15
Buy your tickets from a ticket machine or order them online (Airport Ticket): www.tmb.cat
Journey time: It takes around 30 minutes to get the end of the L9 Sud line. Then you have to add the time it takes you to change and travel into the city centre.
Tip 4
Super speedy on the metro
The regular bus is the cheapest but slowest way to get to the city centre. The 46 bus (or N16/N17/N18 if you need a night bus) stops in front of both terminals. There are plenty of signs to help you find the bus stop you need.
The bus terminates at Plaça Espanya, so you might have to take another form of transport (bus or metro) to get to even more central parts of the city (El Born, El Gòtic or Gràcia).
We’d definitely only recommend taking the bus to the city centre if you have plenty of time, are on a tight budget and are staying near Plaça Espanya.
How much does it cost? EUR 2.40
Important info: You can only pay by card on the bus.
If you’re planning to use the bus and metro while you’re in Barcelona, it’s worth buying a T-Casual ticket for ten journeys. Just remember that the ticket is non-transferable, so the journeys can’t be used by more than one person.
The Hola Barcelona travel card and Barcelona Card are valid.
Also, there is a Barcelona Transport Pass for Hola Card/Aerobus for EUR 33.
Journey time: Approximately 50 minutes
Tip 5
Super slow on the bus
QUICK
SUMMARY
The Aerobús is a great option because it’s so cheap and convenient. If there are at least three or four of you, or you’re travelling with a lot of luggage, it could also be worth getting a taxi. With the cost divided between enough people, the price per person isn’t that much more than the Aerobús.
You probably don’t want to worry about taking the train, bus or metro if it’s your first time in Barcelona. But they can be good options if you’ve been to the city a few times before, and you’re starting to know your way around.
Wherever you go and however you travel in the city, just remember to watch out for pickpockets! They tend to target tourists who look like they’re distracted on packed public transport 😉
P.S. All of the prices and information shared on this page were correct as of November 2022. We can’t guarantee that these details won’t change!
Text and image rights: © Celine Mülich, 2021 – 2024
With support from Jacqueline Glarner
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