Barcelona Airport — a short guide

Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN) is the largest in Catalonia and the second largest in Spain. It is located 15 kilometers west of the center of Barcelona in the municipalities of El Prat de Llobregat, Viladecans, and Sant Boi de Llobregat. The airport is a hub for Iberia, Level, Air Nostrum, and Vueling airlines. It began operations in 1916 and has since been expanded and modernized several times. It received its current name in 2018 in honor of the first President of Catalonia per the new Spanish constitution.

Barcelona Airport is located by address 08820 El Prat de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. On its official website, you can see maps of Barcelona El Prat Airport and find out where lounges and restaurants are located.

What flights does Barcelona Airport serve?

Barcelona-El Prat Airport consists of two terminals. The first is designed for large aircraft, and the second — for smaller ships. Free shuttles run between them.

Terminal 1 (T1) opened in 2009 and welcomes flights from all over the world. It is divided into five modules. Module A serves planes from Madrid, module B — flights from the Schengen area, module C — Air Nostrum routes, module D — non-Schengen European flights, and module E — non-Schengen and non-European planes.

Terminal 2 (T2) receives flights from low-cost airlines. These are mainly EasyJet and Ryanair.

El Prat accepts flights from the following countries: Denmark, UAE, Italy, Jordan, Netherlands, Algeria, Greece, USA, Romania, Gambia, Switzerland, China, UK, Serbia, Norway, Germany, Colombia, Belgium, Hungary, Argentina, France, Morocco, Moldova, Ireland, Poland, Senegal, Qatar, Croatia, Egypt, Turkey, Sweden, Portugal, Finland, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Georgia, Kuwait, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Canada, Czech Republic, Latvia, Chile, Brazil, South Korea, Singapore, Estonia, Israel, Albania, Tunisia, Austria, Lithuania and, of course, domestic flights from Spain.

How to get from El Prat Airport to nearby cities

Most people arriving at Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN) are heading to Barcelona city centre. There are several ways to go this route.

• Metropolitan. The airport is the terminus of the western part of the L9 line. From here, at the Torrassa and Zona Universitària stops, you can change to the L1 metro line, passing through Plaça Catalunya.
• Railway transport. From El Prat Airport, trains take the R2 North line to Barcelona Sants Central Station, which is located in the city center. In the same way, you can get from the Barcelona city center to the airport.
• Airbus. There is a shuttle bus from the El Prat terminals to Plaza Catalunya. It runs 24/7 at intervals of 5-20 minutes. A one-way ticket will cost €6.75, and a two-way ticket will cost €11.65. You can buy passes to and from the airport on the official Aerobús Barcelona website. The ticket must be used within 90 days from the date of purchase. Children under 4 years old do not pay for travel.
• City buses. From Barcelona Airport to Plaza España there is autobus 46 and night services N17 and N18.
• Taxi. El Prat has several stops for the city’s taxi service, the Metrapolitan Taxi Institute. A trip from Barcelona airport to the city centre or back during the day on weekdays will cost €30. At night and on weekends — a little more expensive. From Barcelona Airport it is also easy to call Uber and Bolt cars through their respective apps.

Once you reach Barcelona Sants Station, you can change trains to other destinations in Catalonia, as well as to Paris, Madrid, Marseille, Lyon, Seville, Malaga, Alicante, Valencia, Bilbao, Murcia, Cartagena and Vigo.

In addition, you can travel from Barcelona airport into other cities by bus. From here there are flights to Lleida, Valencia, Balaguer, Val d’Aran, Terres del Ebre, Peñiscola, Teruel, Granadella, Tarragona, Girona, Figueres, Maresme, Blanes, and the municipalities of the Costa Brava. There are also buses from El Prat to France, Andorra, and Switzerland.

There are several offices of car rental companies at the airport: Avis, Enterprise, Europcar, Goldcar, Hertz-Thrifty, Sixt, Record Go, and Firefly. All of them, except for the last one, are located in both T1 and T2 of Barcelona Airport. Firefly operates only in Terminal 2. To avoid wasting precious time when booking a rental in El Prat, you can quickly and conveniently do it online. Upon arrival, the selected car with a full tank will already be waiting for you at the specified location.

Where to stay near Barcelona airport

Within a radius of nine kilometers near Barcelona-El Prat Airport there are several hotels of different categories with good guest ratings.

• Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower. Five-star hotel of a famous international chain. It consists of 29 floors and provides guests with impressive panoramic views. The hotel features a gourmet restaurant, Terrum, where you can dine in, enjoy a brunch buffet, and enjoy an immersive Le Petit Chef dining experience using 3D technology. Guests can also enjoy a lobby bar, Azimut Restaurant serving breakfast, a top-floor cocktail club, and a 24-hour convenience store selling baked goods, snacks, coffee, beer, and wine. The hotel has a swimming pool and fitness center.
• Hotel Barcelona Aeropuerto, affiliated by Meliá. A four-star hotel that is closest to the airport and provides a free shuttle to it. There is a Mediterranean restaurant with an outdoor terrace, a gym, and rooms for business meetings.
• Novotel Barcelona Cornella. Fashionable hotel with a four-star rating. The rooms here are designed in a minimalist style with bright color accents. Guests appreciate the Binomio restaurant, Sibar bar, and large outdoor swimming pool. In addition, the hotel has a fitness center and conference rooms.
• Ibis Barcelona Aeropuerto Viladecans. This one-star hotel is one of the most popular near the airport. Despite the small number of stars, the service here is no worse than in other accommodation options. The rooms have a modern design. Breakfast is served as a buffet. There is also a Mediterranean restaurant and bar on site.
• Mucha Masia Hostel Rural-Urbà. The hostel captivates with its open courtyard with crushed stone instead of asphalt, numerous tables, and hammocks hanging in the shade. On-site there is a shared kitchen, a lounge with a TV, books, and board games, a vending machine with drinks, and mini bicycle parking. This is one of the most cheap hotels near Barcelona airport.
• Airhostel BCN. Another hostel with a more modern, minimalist design. Gray, white, and black colors predominate here, complemented by bright yellow elements. Guests have access to vending machines with coffee, snacks, and drinks, a well-equipped kitchen, laundry facilities, a terrace, relaxation areas, and a gym.

Barcelona-El Prat Airport Josep Tarradellas on the map

Frequently asked questions about Barcelona Airport

Is BCN the same as El Prat?

The airport is officially named Barcelona-El Prat Airport. Josep Tarradellas. BCN is the international airport code.

How many airports are there in Barcelona?

The only airport in Spain that is near Barcelona is El Prat Airport. However, two more airports — Girona Costa Brava (GRO) and Reus (REU) — are approximately 120 kilometers close to Barcelona.

How many terminals are there at Barcelona-El Prat airport?

Josep Tarradellas Airport has two terminals.

Is it possible to walk from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2?

The terminals are located four kilometers apart. This path cannot be completed on foot, but you can take the free shuttle.

Is El Prat considered a big airport?

El Prat is the closest airport to Barcelona and the second largest in Spain after Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suarez International Airport.

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