Barcelona - transport

Airports

Barcelona is served by 3 airports: El Prat, Girona and Reus - however, when traveling by plane, note that the latter two are quite far from Barcelona city center. The best option is El Prat de Llobregat Aeropuerto, as you can easily find flights to it from Poland (especially from budget airlines) and many other countries, and most importantly, it is located close to Barcelona city center (13km) and you can easily get from it to the city by public transport.

How to get from El Prat airport to the city center

El Prat airport is located about 13 km from Barcelona city center and is very well connected to the city. You have several options to choose from, here are a few:

R2 Nord Train (Renfe) - located about 300m from the terminal and goes to the city center: Estació de Sants and Passeig de Gràcia. Travel time is about 25 min. and departs approximately every 30 min. Ticket - cost 4.90€

Metro line L9 Sud - direct metro connection from both terminals Aeroport T1 and Aeroport T2. Operates daily and runs every few minutes. Ends at Zona Universitària, so to get to the center you need to transfer. Travel time is approx. 30 min + transfer to center. Ticket: – you need to buy a separate Airport Ticket - 5.50€ – or use Hola Barcelona Card Regular T-Casual and T-Familiar do not work

Aerobús - airport bus from terminals 1 and 2 going to the city center - Plaça Catalunya. Travel time is 30-35 min, and the price is 7.25€.

Taxi - convenient and fast, but more expensive. Price: 30-35 € Travel time: approx. 25-30 min (depending on traffic) Bolt / Uber / Free Now - alternative to classic taxi - similar or slightly lower prices. In Barcelona they only operate as orders with licensed VTC driver, not 'private cars'.

How to get around by public transport

Barcelona has a very well-developed metro network, thanks to which you can easily get to the main attractions. Although we personally prefer to walk around the city to discover various corners, in such a large city you need to use public transport. We would advise against driving a car there. All the more so because public transport is very well developed. It includes such means as: buses, trains, metro, trams, and also cable cars - the so-called Funicular.

Metro - the fastest and most convenient way to get around the city, always marked with the letter "M" on a red background, includes as many as 12 lines marked with numbers and colors (e.g. L1 – red, L3 – green), of which 8 are operated by TMB (Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona) and 4 by Barcelona Regional Railway FGC (Ferrocarriles de la Generalitat de Catalunya). Lines under TMB are L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L9 (line to and from the airport), L10, L11, while FGC lines are L6, L7, L8 and L12. However, don't be discouraged, because getting around by metro is actually very simple and intuitive. The signage is also clear and transparent, there are many maps at stations, so you should find the right direction without any problem. If you decide to stay outside the center, consider traveling by train, tram or bus. More information and maps for individual lines can be found on the official TMB website - link to website https://www.tmb.cat/

Metro map, source: https://www.tmb.cat/ca/transport-barcelona/mapa-metro-bus#

Types of tickets

Single ticket - only works for one journey by metro, bus or Montjuïc railway and does not include any transfers. Price - 2.65€.

T-mobilitat covering such variants as: T-Casual, T-Familiar or period tickets:

You can buy a physical card at special points and machines, as well as in electronic version through the TMB App (however, this is a more complicated process and requires even several hours of verification). In both cases, there is an additional fee for issuing the card. The T-mobilitat card can be topped up multiple times.

Tickets as part of the Hola Barcelona Card mentioned later in the article.

Airport tickets - both from and to the airport on line L9 Sud. Not all tickets allow travel on this line. Then you need to get a special airport ticket, which costs - 5.70€.

Where to buy tickets

Barcelona Card

This is an official tourist card offering unlimited public transport around the city, free entry to 25 museums, and discounts to many other attractions in Barcelona. It mainly includes:

Barcelona Card, source: https://www.barcelonacard.com/barcelona-card/

The card is ideal for those who plan to actively explore the cultural and historical side of Barcelona and focus largely on museums. It comes in 3-day, 4-day and 5-day variants. Current prices and detailed terms can be found on the official website: link to website https://www.barcelonacard.com/

By buying the Card online in advance through the official website, you can get a 10% discount and pick it up at a selected point at the airport or another selected tourist point.

Barcelona Card Express

If you're planning a two-day trip to Barcelona and want to see the most popular attractions in a quick and convenient way, consider buying the Barcelona Card Express. The card is only available in a 2-day variant

Detailed information can also be found on this website: link to website https://www.barcelonacard.com/

Hola Barcelona

The best option if you don't want to worry about transport and want to move around the city comfortably. This card offers:

It works well if you intend to use public transport a lot when moving around the center. You can choose a variant from 2 to 5 days.

Link to the official website where you can buy the card: link to website https://www.tmb.cat/

Prices for 2025 are:

Buying online gives a 10% discount

It can also be purchased on site, at special machines at the airport and at metro stations, as well as at TMB points or tourist information.