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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 Cercanías and Ferrocarrils). Renfe Cercanías are the local trains and the Ferrocarrils are the Catalan trains.

Tickets

There are six zones, but zone 1 covers pretty much all of the city and includes the airport. Prices quoted below are for a zone 1 ticket only, but you can purchase the same tickets for all the different zones.

PDF map of Barcelona's six transport zones.

T-10

The T10 is probably the most commonly used and allows you 10 journeys. The current price is 7.95 euros for zone 1.

If you use the ticket for a journey – say one stop on the metro - you have 1 hour and 15 minutes when you can use the ticket for a further journey without being charged again. This time limit varies depending on the type of ticket you buy, but the more expensive the ticket the longer period of time you have.

The other tickets available are:

T-Dia

This ticket currently costs 6.00 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 49.30 euros for zone 1.

T-Trimestre

This card is valid for 90 days for unlimited journeys Currently costs 135.00 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.

T-Jove

The T-Jove is a ticket for young people aged under 25 years. It gives unlimited journeys for 90 days on all forms of transport. The 90 day period starts when you first use the ticket and it currently costs 115.00 euros for zone 1.

T-Familiar

This is a family ticket or muti-person ticket. It gives 70 journeys in total over a period of 30 days, activating on the first journey. It costs 46.75 for zone 1.

Tarjeta Rosa

The Tarjeta Rosa is a ticket for people aged 60 years and over. However, you have to have registered at your local Ajuntamiento in order to purchase one - to be 'empadronado'. It gives free or reduced travel.

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.

Book Your Barcelona Transfer Online

You can now book your airport transfer to and from Barcelona online, and you can even book a private airport transfer. Transfers include not only to and from Barcelona's El Prat airport but also from the cruise ship terminal, which is a little way out of the centre of the city.

Pay online, and have all your transfers set up well before you travel: Book Barcelona Transfers.

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