Getting around · Barcelona · Spain
Getting around Barcelona
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: essetefano, CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
Barcelona is compact and walkable, with the old town, the Eixample and the beach all within about 3 km. The TMB Metro, FGC suburban trains, trams and buses share an integrated fare system, and the T-casual card covers ten journeys with free transfers within 75 minutes. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Metro
- Airports
- BCN, GRO, REU
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- T-casual
Ways to get around
Metro
Colour-coded Metro lines reach most sights, including the Sagrada Família (L2, L5), Passeig de Gràcia (L2, L3, L4) and Barceloneta (L4). Trains run late on Fridays and through the night on Saturdays.
Keep bags zipped and in front of you on L1 and L3 around Catalunya, Liceu and Sagrada Família, where pickpockets work the crowds.
Walking
The Gothic Quarter, El Born and Barceloneta are best explored on foot; Plaça de Catalunya to the beach is about 30 minutes' walk.
Bus
TMB buses fill gaps the Metro misses, such as Park Güell and the upper slopes of Montjuïc, and the Nitbus network runs overnight.
Train
FGC trains from Plaça de Catalunya and Plaça d'Espanya serve upper Barcelona, Tibidabo and Montserrat, and Rodalies trains run to Sitges and the airport.
Taxi
Black-and-yellow taxis are plentiful and metered, with supplements for airport trips and late nights.
Cycling
The Bicing bike-share is for residents, but rental shops in the old town and Barceloneta hire bikes for the seafront cycle lanes.
Cable car
The Montjuïc cable car climbs to the castle, and the Port cable car crosses the harbour from Barceloneta to Montjuïc with views over the waterfront.
Tickets and passes
T-casual
A ten-journey card for one person, valid on Metro, buses, trams and FGC within zone 1, with free transfers within 75 minutes.
Hola Barcelona Travel Card
Unlimited public transport for two to five consecutive days, including Metro trips to and from the airport.
From the airport
From El Prat, the Aerobús reaches Plaça de Catalunya in about 35 minutes; Metro line L9 Sud links both terminals with the city network (a special airport ticket is needed), and Rodalies R2 Nord trains from Terminal 2 reach Sants and Passeig de Gràcia in about 25 minutes. Taxis take about 30 minutes. Girona and Reus airports are each about 1–1.5 hours away by coach.
Do you need a car?
No. The city is compact, public transport is good and parking is expensive. A car only helps for exploring the Costa Brava or inland Catalonia at your own pace.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Montserrat | About 1 hour 15 minutes by train | FGC R5 from Plaça d'Espanya, then the rack railway or cable car |
| Sitges | About 40 minutes by train | Rodalies R2 Sud from Sants or Passeig de Gràcia |
| Girona | About 40 minutes by high-speed train | High-speed train from Sants to Girona |
| Figueres and the Dalí Theatre-Museum | About 55 minutes by high-speed train | High-speed train from Sants to Figueres Vilafant, then a walk or taxi |
| Tarragona | About 1 hour by train | Regional or Rodalies train from Sants or Passeig de Gràcia |
| Tossa de Mar | About 1 hour 30 minutes by coach | Coach from Barcelona Nord bus station |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Barcelona?
No. The city is compact, public transport is good and parking is expensive. A car only helps for exploring the Costa Brava or inland Catalonia at your own pace.
+How do you get from the airport to Barcelona?
From El Prat, the Aerobús reaches Plaça de Catalunya in about 35 minutes; Metro line L9 Sud links both terminals with the city network (a special airport ticket is needed), and Rodalies R2 Nord trains from Terminal 2 reach Sants and Passeig de Gràcia in about 25 minutes. Taxis take about 30 minutes. Girona and Reus airports are each about 1–1.5 hours away by coach.
+What is the best way to get around Barcelona?
Metro: Colour-coded Metro lines reach most sights, including the Sagrada Família (L2, L5), Passeig de Gràcia (L2, L3, L4) and Barceloneta (L4). Trains run late on Fridays and through the night on Saturdays.