Transportation in Barcelona: how to get around in Barcelona?

How to move to Barcelona effectively thanks to the different transport of the city? In this mini-guide, we explain how to move to Barcelona!

The second most populous city of Spain and the eleventh largest city in the European Union, Barcelona is an attractive, buzzing, fascinating and perpetual renewal city. A major tourist destination, it enjoys a unique cultural heritage with monuments listed in UNESCO World Heritage, as the famous UNESCO Park Güell .

Great and beautiful, the city welcomes millions of visitors every year. Fearing a path can then seem complicated to you. Fortunately for travellers, the city is well served by public transport and you will have no trouble moving to Barcelona!

The essential: the pass transport

To move to Barcelona easily, we can only recommend the Hola BCN card. This individual transport pass allows you to make an unlimited number of trips for a period of 2, 3, 4 or 5 days in zone 1.

The latter covers the entire metropolitan network, that is, Barcelona and its suburbs. You can use unlimited trains, including the R2 from the airport in the centre of Barcelona, metros, TMB buses, trams and even the funicular of Montjuic.

Benefits in detail

For a successful stay, having an all-inclusive transport card with unlimited trips is obviously essential! Travelers have opted for the Hola Barcelona map for years for the following reasons:

• Unlimited public transportation,
• Turnover easy from and to the airport by train, metro or bus 46,
• Easy removal from the map to the Airport, Terminal 1 and 2 or Plaça Catalunya,
• You don’t have to constantly buy metro tickets,
• No stress on arrival at the airport or in the first metro station,
• A cheap card!

Prices

Here are the rates for each Hola Barcelona card:

• 48 hours (2 days) : 16,30 € at the counter, 14,67 € online
• 72 hours (3 days) : 23,70 € at the counter, 21,33 € online
• 96 hours (4 days) : 30,80 € at the counter, 27,72 € online
• 120 hours (5 days) : 38,00 € at the counter, 34,20 € online

To buy your Hola BCN card, we recommend you go directly to the official website of the office or on a platform specializing in tours and activities.

Where to remove his pass Hola BCN?

Once purchased, you can then withdraw your card upon arrival at El Prat Airport. The information booth Barcelona Turisme is right in front of the arrivals. It is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (except Christmas and January 1st).

Information points Barcelona Turisme is also located in the metro stations Airport (T1 and T2). There are also several information points in town in Plaça Catalunya, Sants Estació, Plaça Sant Jaume, the statue of Christopher Columbus, Plaça Espanya and the Sagrada Família.

On site, you only have to show the coupon received by email and printed, as well as an ID. The office will finally give you your travel card, a map of the city’s tourist sites and a list of attractions not to be missed!

Other solution: Map for Public Transport

The "Common Transport Map" is a complete map that gathers:

• Barcelona public transport, valid for 3 days (metro, bus, tram and train)
• Private taxi transfer from the airport to your accommodation (one way)

Other solution: T-dia

To move to Barcelona easily, you can also opt for the T-dia Metro Card. It allows you to travel unlimitedly and throughout the day from the moment you validated it until the end of the service. It costs 10,50€ .

The fastest: the metro

The Barcelona Metro is the fastest and most cost-effective way to get around Barcelona. The metro network consists of 180 stations and 12 lines that extend over 146 kilometres. With this means of transport, you will easily get to most important places in the city. We advise you to use it for your current trips across Barcelona.

The most comfortable: taxis

To move to Barcelona comfortably, you can also opt for taxis. Although it is not the most economical means of transport, it is obviously the most convenient option especially at night or if you have luggage. Moreover, if you opt for the taxi when you arrive at the airport, the platform TaxiTender Make the transfer. After booking, a driver will pick you up directly at the arrival before dropping you to the address of your choice.

You can take the black taxis at yellow doors to stops intended for this effect or stop them in full circulation. Uber, as well as other VTC applications, is also available in the city.

Here are the official taxi rates:

• Minimum price : €2.20.
• Rate per kilometer from Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 20:00 : 1,17€.
• Price per kilometer from Monday to Friday between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., Saturday, Sunday and public holidays : €1.40.
• Supplement on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from 00:00 to 06:00 : 2€.
• For a suitcase greater than 55x35x35 cm : 1€.
• For the airport : €2.10.

Note : the airport support service has a minimum cost of 20€ including all supplements.

Most available: Metro and tram

The most available transport is obviously the metro and tram. Barcelona Metro is on service from Sunday to Thursday, from 05:00 to 00:00. On Friday, the metro schedules are extended until 02:00 in the morning. On Saturday, the subway works for 24 hours.

As for the trams, they circulate every day between 05:00 and 00:15. The schedules also extend until 02:30 or 03:00 on Fridays and Saturdays for certain lines. Attention, however, these times vary depending on the time of the year.

From Barcelona Airport

Don't panic! Barcelona Airport is very well connected to the city centre of Barcelona by many means of transport. Most transfers occur in only 40 minutes. To reach the centre, you have three options:

• Aerobus A1 and A2 : for each terminal, it connects in 35 minutes and for 5,90€ the airport to Plaça Catalunya. They work all year round with a start every 5 minutes.
• The train at Terminal 2 : the most economical way to reach Barcelona (2€ per ticket). Note that a free shuttle connects the two terminals. The journey lasts an average of 30 minutes.
• The two T1 and T2 terminals at Barcelona Airport : they are connected to the metro network of the city of Barcelona. Line 9 departs from each terminal. You will have to change to Torrassa to take the red line to Universitat or Plaça Catalunya. Change to Collblanc for the blue line to Provença, Diagonal or Sagrada Familia.

Map of transport in Barcelona

To travel to Barcelona, here are several useful applications:

• Barcelona Offline Map & Guide Ulmon offers detailed maps, with tourist descriptions, recommendations from restaurants or shops.
• The official Barcelona guide Barcelona Turisme is the cream of the cream to discover the city. Developed by the tourist office, it gives access to maps and plans.
• TMB App is the official application of public transport in Barcelona. It allows you to plan your various bus or subway routes by choosing the fastest.