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Barcelona Transport

Metro, Trains, Trams and Buses – Airport Buses & Trains

The transport system throughout Spain is very good, and coming from England I find it cheaper and so much more efficient in comparison. Here's a guide to getting around Barcelona on public transport.

The system allows you to buy a variety of tickets which cover all forms of transport in the city: Metro, Bus, Tram, and Train (Renfe and Ferrocarrils).

Tickets

There are six zones, but zone 1 covers pretty much all of the city and includes the airport.

PDF map of Barcelona's six transport zones.

T-10

The T10 is probably the most commonly used and allows you 10 combined journeys on any form of transport. The current price is 7.20 euros for zone 1.

The other tickets available are:

T-Dia

This ticket currently costs 5.50 euros for zone 1 and can be used for an unlimited number of journeys in one day.

T-Mes

Lasts for 30 days from the date of purchase and allows unlimited journeys during that period. Currently 46.25 euros for zone 1.

T-Trimestre

This card is valid for 90 days for unlimited journeys Currently costs 122.00 euros for zone 1. Unlike the other tickets above, this one can only be used by the purchaser.

For all these tickets you are allowed 15 minutes between changing metro lines or transport for the two trips to be counted as one journey.

Full information on all Barcelona transport tickets.

Tourist Tickets

There are various other tickets aimed at visitors to the city:

• Travel card 2-days
• Travel card 3-days
• Travel card 4-days
• Travel card 5-days

All offer unlimited travel on all forms of transport for the number of days stated.

Barcelona Tourist Bus

This ticket is only valid for the Tourist buses which continually circle Barcelona stopping at the many places of interest. You can get on and off wherever and when ever you like.

Available as 1- and 2-day tickets, with discounted prices for children.

Other Transport Links

Ferrocarrils – Catalan railway.

Renfe – Map of local rail network around Barcelona.

Night Bus – Night buses and map of routes.

Airport Bus – Timetable and route map of the Airport shuttle bus.

Tram – City tram website, with routes and timetables.

Transport Zone Map - Shows the Barcelona travel zones that you need to know when buying a T ticket for multiple journeys.

Barcelona Buses

There is a comprehensive bus service in Barcelona that runs throughout the day. From the main bus stations you can pick up a map of the bus routes, but there is a bus map of all the city routes at every bus stop, including more detailed maps of the buses that stop at each particular bus stop.

You can find online maps for all the Barcelona bus routes online at the TMB website.

And, if you're not sure which route you need there is also a route finder if you know the name of the street you need to get to: Bus Route Finder.

During the night there is also a bus service which runs frequently(Nitbus): http://www.emt-amb.com/Principales/BusquedaNitBus.aspx

Regional Buses

There is a very useful bus service that runs to the Costa Brava (there are no trains to the Costa Brava) called Segalés. The website is in English, Catalan and Spanish: www.sagales.com

Transport to Barcelona Airport

Barcelona Airport Bus

There are regular buses from Barcelona centre to Barcelona Airport (El Prat) and they run every 7 - 15 minutes depending on the time of day. The times vary slightly depending on which route you take, but roughly they run from 0605 - 0105 from Plaza Catalunya to the airport, and 0605 - 0105 on the return journey.

They leave from Plaza Catalunya and Plaza España and a few other routes, including one which leaves from Castelldefels. It takes about 30 minutes from Plaza Catalunya to the airport and the cost is 5 euros for a single and 8.65 euros return.

Barcelona's New Airport Terminal – Terminal 1

Barcelona has a new terminal building now (2009), and if you're travelling via Terminal 1 (the new terminal) then the bus is a good option as it goes to both terminals. If you take the train to the airport it arrives at terminal 2, and you then have to take the shuttle bus to Terminal 1.

Bus route from Barcelona to the airport terminal 1. (New terminal)

Bus route from Barcelona to the airport terminal 2 (A, B & C). (Old terminal)

Going by Train to Barcelona Airport

Trains run every 20 minutes from the main railway stations in Barcelona, including Sants and Passeig de Gracia and arrive in about 20 minutes at Barcelona Airport Terminal 2. There are regular shuttle buses running between the railway station and Terminal 1.

Transport to Other Airports

Girona Airport Bus

If you're flying in or out of Girona-Costa Brava airport with Ryan Air, rather than Barcelona (BCN) then the best way of commuting to Barcelona is by bus. There is a train service but it goes directly to Girona where you then have to take a bus back out to the airport in the direction of Barcelona.

Girona is roughly 64 miles from Barcelona (Girona airport is nearer, about 58 miles) and the bus ride takes just over an hour. Please note, Girona is also sometimes spelt Gerona (Catalan spelling).

The bus service is timed to coincide with the Ryan Air flights at the airport and leaves from Barcelona North Bus Station (Estació d'Autobusos Barcelona Nord). Make sure you get the airport bus not the Girona town bus. The nearest metro station to the bus station is Arc de Triomf on the red line (line 1).

Girona Airport Bus Timetable

The Girona airport bus is run by a company called Sagalés. Please use this link to go directly to their website to view the airport bus timetable.
http://www.sagales.com/index.php?Origen=cp316&Desti=15&secc=cerca

A return ticket will cost you 21 euros, and a one way 12 euros which you buy from the bus station.

Train from Barcelona to Girona

The trains run regularly from Barcelona Sants, Passeig de Gracia and Clot-Arago stations. Once in Girona you need to catch the airport bus – visit this link for the timetable:
http://www.sagales.com/index.php?Origen=cl65&Desti=315&secc=cerca

Reus Airport Bus

Ryan Air also fly into Reus airport, which is south of Barcelona. You need to get the train from Barcelona to Reus town, then take the shuttle bus which runs between Reus and Reus airport (Linea 50). Reus Airport Shuttle bus.

General Airport Information

Barcelona El Prat airport website

Information Line: Tel: 902 101 564

Car Hire from Barcelona airport

Avis – Tel: 932 983 600
Europcar – Tel: 932 983 300
Hertz – Tel: 932 983 637
National – Tel: 932 983 433

Airport Taxi Service

http://www.aerotaxibcn.com

Girona-Cosa Brava Airport Information.

Reus Airport Information.

Driving in Spain

Driving licences

If you have an EU photo driving licence or a paper licence that was issued from 1990 onwards you can legally drive in Spain.

If your licence was issued before 1990 you must obtain an official Spanish translation of the licence, which you can get from the Spanish Embassy in London or from the Real Automóbil Club de Espana if you're already in Spain.

To be honest, if your licence was issued prior to 1990, it's probably easier to apply for a new EU licence through the DVLA. The plastic photo part can be used as an ID card in Spain. By law you must always carry photo ID in Spain, and you are always asked for photo ID when paying by credit card, so it's very useful to have, and saves you having to carry your passport all the time.

If you are living permanently in Spain the UK Government advise you to apply for a Spanish driving licence. This is because they will not issue a UK licence with a overseas address on it, nor will they post a UK licence renewal or application overseas. (Spanish driving licences are valid when driving in the UK.)

This means, unless you have an address in the UK, that if you lose your UK driving licence you will not be able to apply for a replacement in the UK. Also, if you incur a driving penalty in Spain, you will be forced to apply for a Spanish driving licence in order to have points deducted from your licence. (In Spain points are deducted rather than added for diving offences.)

How to apply for a Spanish driving licence

To apply for a Spanish driving licence contact the Jefatura Provincial de Trafico in your area. In Barcelona this is at:

Gran Vía de les Corts Catalanes 184, Barcelona 08071
Tel: 932 986 539 / 932 986 548 / 932 986 567 / General info: 060
Fax: 934 228 843

For other regions visit this website to find your local office: www.dgt.es

For many none EU residents the driving licence is valid for the first six months of living in Spain, after that you must apply for a Spanish licence.

Taking your driving test in Barcelona

There are two parts to the Spanish driving test, theory and practical. Now, you can take the theory part in English. Autoescuela Corsa, based in Sant Gervasi, run courses in English, and you can choose from an intensive course or a weekly course.

You can also take lessons for the practical part of the test in English, although the practical exam will most certainly be in Spanish:

Autoescuela Corsa
Calle Mandri 41, Barcelona
Tel: 93 253 1370

There is also a driving school in Gracia that runs courses in English. Autoescuela Mayor de Gracia offer their lessons in packs of different hours including mock tests.

Autoescuela Mayor de Gracia
Calle Gran de Gracia 73, Ent
Barcelona
Tel: 93 237 6149
www.mayordegracia.com

Importing a Car to Spain

A UK national can bring a car into Spain, as long as they have owned it for more than six months and they must have paid VAT on the car, otherwise you need to pay the VAT tax in Spain. If you take up official residence in Spain you don't pay import tax.

However, you can only drive the car for six months a year! You must also register the car with the local authorities, and they will give you permission to drive the car with UK plates.

If you are living permanently in Spain, it's best to apply for Spanish registration plates. The Real Automóvil Club de España can give you help and advice on this, or you can contact the official office in Madrid:

Directorate-General of Customs in Madrid
Dirección General de Aduanas, C/ Guzmán el Bueno 137, 28003 Madrid
Tel: +34 91 553 02 00
Fax: +34 91 553 52 42

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