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Public Transportation in Barcelona | All You Need to Know

BarcelonaTravel GuideTransportation



Explore Tickets for Public Transport in Barcelona

Hola Barcelona Travel Card Pass: 2 to 5 Days
Free Cancellation
Instant Confirmation
Flexible Duration
More details
Barcelona All Inclusive Card: 25+ Museums & Transportation
Free Cancellation
Instant Confirmation
Mobile Ticket
Flexible Duration
Transfers Included
More details
iryo One-Way Tickets: Barcelona Sants to/from Madrid Atocha
Instant Confirmation
Mobile Ticket
2 hr. 30 min. - 2 hr. 45 min.
Transfers Included
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Turbopass Barcelona City Card: 25+ Attractions & Public Transport
Free Cancellation
Flexible Duration
Guided Tour
Transfers Included
More details

The city of Barcelona is a delight to explore. The beautiful climate, pristine beaches, and the simplicity of the old city make Barcelona a haven for tourists.  There are many UNESCO world heritage sites that are scattered around the city, such as the Sagrada Familia, one of Antoni Gaudi’s principal works. 

Whenever you visit a foreign country, one of the principal concerns is commuting. Oftentimes traveling in and around cities can be ridiculously expensive. This guide to the Barcelona public transport system in Barcelona will illuminate why it is one of the cheapest cities to travel in. The perks of having a great network of trains, buses and metro rail spread across the city, is it allows you to spontaneously plan trips. All modes of Barcelona public transport are incredibly reliable and it also depends on your budget, timing, and preference. Read on to learn more about the Barcelona Public Transport system:

Best Ways to Get Around Barcelona

Value for Money
To Save Time
Explore the City
Sightseeing

Metro and Bus

When it comes to value for money, the metro and bus systems offer a great deal for your money.

Subway

If time constraints are a concern, the subway is your best bet. The system avoids all sorts of traffic and gets you to your destination on time.

Buses and Trams

If you want to soak in the sights and sounds of the city, buses and trams are the way to go.

Trains

If you are looking for a more wholesome sightseeing experience, the train system is your best bet.

Getting Around with Barcelona Public Transport

Taxi

Taxi

When you need to get to a place in a hurry, taking Barcelona public transport may not be the best idea, hence taxis serve their purpose. 

The biggest benefit of having a robust transport system is that other modes of transport cannot have a very high price. This is why taxis in Barcelona have a relatively affordable price.  Services such as Radio Taxi run 24/7 and Taxi Amic provides specialized taxis for wheelchair users. 

Average fare

 The average base fare starts from 2.16 Euros and the price per kilometer after is 1.4 Euros. 

Contact

  • Radio Taxi: +34 933 033 033
  • Taxi Amic: +34 934 208 088
Metro

Metro

Almost every attraction in and around the city is linked by metros and they come and go at a very fast pace. Your waiting times are minimal and connections are frequent as the train runs in a tight cycle of 1 minute and 30 seconds. When you enter a station, all you need to know is the general direction of where you need to go. Each line in the metro has the direction it is headed towards indicated on it.

Timings:

  • Mondays-Thursdays: 5:00 AM to 12:00 AM
  • Fridays: 5:00 AM to 2:00 AM
  • Saturdays to Sundays: Continuous operation
  • Sunday and holidays: 5:00 AM to 12:00 AM
  • The L9s line which goes to the airport operates daily from 5:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
Suburban Rail

Suburban Rail

The suburban trains in and around Barcelona are operated by the FGC or Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya and Renfe. The train system runs along Costa Brava to Blanes, to the airport and along the coast via places such as Castelldefels and Sitges to Tarragona.

The train system joins the subway once you enter the city and the connectivity is virtually the same as the one you get with metros.

Bus

Bus

The bus network in Barcelona is one of the most well-constructed in the world and is the backbone of all city operations. The TMB currently operates over 230 lines and the busses can get you to any corner of the city. 

There is also NitBus a night bus service. As it is run by a private company called AMB, the Barcelona Card and the Hola BCN tickets are not valid for it. 

Timings:

  • Buses ply between 5:00 AM to 2:00 AM 
  • Night buses: 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM
Airport

From the Airport

All modes of transport are available from the airport. We recommend taking the AeroBus from the airport to the city center. The Aero Bus has two separate lines that connect Terminal 1 and 2 with Placa Catalunya. 

You can also take a train from Terminal 2 of the Airport to the city center every thirty minutes.

Guided Tour

Guided Tours

Two sightseeing tours run throughout the city. The travel time for the bus is 2 hours and the green route is around 70 minutes. As they are hop-on hop-off, you can get off at any stop and get on another bus. 

Timings: 

  • The buses start at 9:30 AM and run till 8:00 PM
  • These buses leave every 5-15 minutes

Barcelona Transport Passes 

Given the intricacy of the transport system in Barcelona, you can bet that there are multiple variations of tickets you can choose from. Here are the best options at your disposal:

Barcelona Card

The Barcelona Card is the go-to option for all tourists. Apart from offering access to the Barcelona public transport system, the ticket also offers access to many of Barcelona’s famous landmarks. You also get a discounted entry to other landmarks not included in the ticket. The card is available in three variants: the 3-day, 4-day, and 5-day pass. 

Single Ticket

This is the best deal you can snatch for a day! The pass allows you unrestricted access to all forms of public transport in a day for the price of 2.15 Euros. You can purchase this ticket from bus drivers, vending machines outside subway stations, and from any ticket office.

T-10

A unique card that allows up to 10 individuals to utilize the Barcelona public transportation and comes in six zones. The card allows up to six transfers. You can use the card on ten journeys in a day. The six zones of tickets depend on the validity of the card, ranging from 1 hr 15 minutes for zone 1 to 2 hr 30 minutes for zone 6. The cost of the ticket also ranges from 10.20 Euros to 43.05 Euros.

Hola BCN

This ticket offers full connectivity, including the connection between the airport and the city center, which none of the other passes offer. This is the best pass available and allows you to explore the city like a true local. You can opt for a 2-day, 3-day, 4-day or 5-day variant. This pass gives you unlimited access throughout the day.

FAQs

Q. What is the best way to get around Barcelona? 
A. There are various modes of public transport in Barcelona. A combination of trains, subway and buses are considered to be the best way to get around the city. 

Q. How much is the metro ticket in Barcelona? 
A. The single ticket costs 2.10 Euro

Q. Where can you purchase the T10 ticket from Barcelona? 
A. You can purchase it from a vending machine at the entrance to the RENFE train or from the attendant at the entrance to the train. 

Q. Is the metro safe at night? 
A. The train is completely safe from harm at night, however, be careful of pickpockets at Sant station. 

Q. Is the Barcelona Metro open 24 hours? 
A. No, the metro only runs between 5:00 AM and 2:00 AM. 

Q. Is Barcelona a walkable city? 
A. Yes, the city has wide pedestrian boulevards and you can experience Barcelona by foot.  

Q. Is it easy to get a taxi at the Barcelona airport? 
A. Yes, it is. You can get taxis that transfer into the city within half an hour from both T2 and T3. 

Q. How far is the train station from Barcelona airport?
A. The total distance from Sants Train station to Barcelona airport is 15kms.  

Q. Is there a metro station at Barcelona airport? 
A. There is a link between the city center and the airport called the L9 Sud. 

Q. Can you get a train from Barcelona airport to the city center?
A. Yes, the RENFE train service runs every 30 minutes to and from the airport to the city center.