Public Transportation in Barcelona | All You Need to Know
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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.