Public transport in Barcelona — everything you need to know

Barcelona is a metropolis in Spain with well-developed public transportation. You can get around here by buses, metro, trams, cable cars, funicular, and trains. The city has a port from where ferries depart to the Spanish islands, as well as to Morocco and Italy. A large international airport is located 15 kilometers from the center. Those who do not want to depend on a strict schedule can use a taxi or rent a car.

Almost all public transport in the city of Barcelona is part of a single network, and you can pay for travel with one ticket. In this article, we will briefly tell you how to move around Barcelona comfortably, what features you need to know, where to buy travel passes, and their cost.

Buses

Barcelona’s bus system consists of more than 100 routes, covering both the city itself and the metropolitan area. This is one of the best ways to get around and travel around Barcelona. There are day, night, and commuter routes.

Each line’s operating hours are slightly different. On weekdays, traffic starts at 05:00-06:00 a.m. and ends around 10:00-11:00 p.m. On Saturday, transport can leave the route closer to 07:00 a.m., and on Sunday and holidays — another hour and a half later. You can find out the exact schedule, the price of a bus pass and see a map of each route on the official website of Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB).

Night buses run when daytime buses do not operate. In the system, they are designated by the letter N before the line number. Information on them is available on the Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB) resource.

An interesting feature of the Barcelona bus is the orthogonal network. It began to be implemented in 2012. It consists of clear lines — horizontal (indicated in blue, letter H, and even numbering), vertical (green, letter V, and odd numbering), and diagonal (purple, letter D, and numbering in tens). The system also includes one express line (black, letter X). This innovation made it possible to relieve bus traffic during rush hour.

To board this type of transport, you need to raise your hand while standing at the bus stop. It is customary to enter through the front door and exit through the others. To request a stop while on the bus, you need to press the red button.

Tourist bus

In Barcelona, there are red, open-top, double-decker tourist buses. They operate on a hop-on-hop-off system — passengers can board one bus, get off at any stop, leisurely sightseeing, and board another bus on the same network.

This is a rather unusual way of getting around Barcelona. Transport runs along two circular routes — blue (northern) and red (southern). The first one goes from Plaza Catalunya, through the Camp Nou stadium, past the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Mount Tibidabo, and the Pedralbes district. The second route also starts from Plaza Catalunya and then goes through Ciutadella Park, Diagonal Avenue, Plaza de España, Montjuic Mountain, and the Port Olympic marina.

Bus tickets are available for 24 and 48 hours. The first option for an adult (from 13 to 64 years old) will cost €29.70, and the second — €39.60 when purchased online on the official website. Preferential rates apply to children, pensioners, and people with disabilities. Children under 4 years old participate in the excursion for free. There are special Christmas tours in winter and overnight trips in summer.

Metro

The Barcelona metro system is one of the fastest and most convenient forms of transport. The network covers both the city center and the suburbs. Interestingly, the metro is operated by two companies — Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) and Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC). The stations of the first are indicated by a white letter M in a red diamond, and the second by two white lines in the shape of brackets on a light green background. TMB belongs to lines L1 to L5 and L9 to L11, and FGC belongs to L6, L7, L8 and L12. The branches do not have separate names, but they have their colors. The price of tickets in the Barcelona metro depends on the fare zones passed and the type of pass.

The local metro has one peculiarity, called the “Barcelona solution”. It consists of the fact that three platforms are being built at the station — two coastal and one island. This allows boarding and disembarking from both sides of the train at the same time, reducing the train’s dwell time and reducing crowds during peak hours.

Subway operating schedule

From Monday to Thursday and on midweek holidays, the BCN metro operates from 05:00 a.m. to midnight. On Fridays and evenings before holidays, trains run until 02:00 a.m. On Saturday, the metro opens at 05:00 a.m. and runs continuously for almost two days until midnight from Sunday to Monday. December 24 is the shortest working day in the metro — from 05:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. On New Year’s Eve, trains run until the morning. Barcelona subway ticket price can be found on the TMB website.

Brief description of metro lines

• L1 (red). It runs from west to east from Hospital de Bellvitge to Fondo and consists of 30 stations.
• L2 (purple). Connects Paral·lel and Badalona Pompeu Fabra stations. There are 18 stops on the route in total. It goes from south to east.
• L3 (green). Consists of 26 stations, the outermost of which are Zona Universitària and Trinitat Nova. The line runs from the north of Barcelona to the south and turns east.
• L4 (yellow). It includes 22 stations from Trinitat Nova to La Pau and runs from the northeast of the city to the south and then back to the east.
• L5 (blue). Runs from Cornellà Center in the west to Vall d’Hebron in the north. There are 27 stops on the route.
• L6 (lilac). Runs from Pl. Catalunya to Sarrià, connecting the southern and northern parts of the city, and consists of 8 stations.
• L7 (brown). Also comes from Pl. Catalunya in the south to Av. Tibidabo in the north, almost repeating route L6. Includes 7 stations. On Pl. Catalunya and Provença share the same track with the L6 line.
• L8 (pink). Starts with Pl. Espanya is in the center and goes to Molí Nou-Ciutat Cooperativa in the west of Barcelona. Includes 11 stations.
• L9 (orange). Consists of two parts. In the west of the city, it runs from Airport T1 to Zona Universitària and has 15 stations. In the east, the line runs from La Sagrera to Can Zam and makes 9 stops. The connecting part of the line is under construction.
• L10 (light blue). Like L9, it is still unfinished, so it consists of two parts. The first connects Collblanc and ZAL-Riu Vel in the west of Barcelona and has 11 stops, the second runs from La Sagrera and Gorg in the east of the city and includes 11 stations.
• L11 (light green). It has only 5 stops and runs from Trinitat Nova to Can Cuiàs in the northeast of the city.
• L12 (light purple). Another tiny line with two stops: Sarrià and Reina Elisenda. Located in the north of Barcelona.

Trams

Local trams belong to two networks — Trambaix and Trambesòs. The first operates the T1, T2, and T3 transportation lines from the BCN western suburbs to the city center. The second is responsible for routes T4, T5, and T6, connecting the central areas of Barcelona with the eastern suburbs. All vehicles have the same white and green colors. At the stops, there are electronic signs also in the company’s green color.

Tram operating schedule

From Monday to Thursday and Sunday, electric transport runs from 5:00 a.m. to midnight. On Friday, Saturday, and evenings before public holidays, trams carry passengers until 02:00 a.m.

Description of tram lines

• T1. It goes from the Bon Viatge stop in the municipality of Sant Joan Despí to Francesc Macià in the center of Barcelona. The length of the route is 9.8 kilometers (21 stops).
• T2. It also goes to Francesc Macià, but from the Llevant-Les Planes stop in the municipality of Sant Joan Despi. The route has 24 stations and its total length is 11.6 kilometers.
• T3. Like previous lines, it goes to Francesc Macià and starts from the Sant Feliu/Consell Comarcal stop in the municipality of Sant Feliu de Llobregat. The distance between the endpoints of the route is 10 kilometers. The total number of stops is 20.
• T4. Runs from Ciutadella/Vila Olímpica in the center of Barcelona to Sant Adrià de Besòs station in the municipality of Sant Adrià de Besòs. There are only 14 stations on the route, and the distance is 6.4 kilometers.
• T5. It goes from the Glòries station in Barcelona to the Gorg stop in the municipality of Badalona. The length of the route is 7 kilometers, and the number of stops is 13.
• T6. Runs from Glòries to Sant Adrià de Besòs station in Sant Adrià de Besòs. This is the shortest line — only 4.4 kilometers and 11 stops.

Funiculars and cable cars

This is a popular and the most unusual form of transport in Barcelona. In addition to its practical function, it also has an entertaining function — when ascending or descending, you can enjoy the mesmerizing panorama of the city.

In case of strong winds, the operation of the cable car may be stopped

Montjuic Cable Car (Teleférico de Montjuic)

The Montjuïc cable car leads to the top of the mountain of the same name. The lower station of Parc Montjuic is located in the park, and the upper Castell is near the castle. When going down, the gondolas pass by the Mirador intermediate station. The total length of the path is 752 meters, and the travel time is 10 minutes.

Work schedule:

• January-February — from 10:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m.;
• March-May — from 10:00 a.m. to 07:00 p.m.;
• June-September — from 10:00 a.m. to 09:00 p.m.;
• October — from 10:00 a.m. to 07:00 p.m.;
• November-December — from 10:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m.

During holidays, the schedule may vary.

The price of a return ticket for this public transport in Barcelona for an adult is €16.00, for a child from 4 to 12 years old — €11.60. When purchasing online, you can save 10% of the cost of the pass.

Read also: Montjuic Cable Car — everything you need to know before visiting

Funicular de Montjuic

The Montjuic funicular operates like a metro and travels through a tunnel inside the mountain. It has two stations — Paral·lel, which connects to the L2 and L3 metro lines, and Parc de Montjuïc, located on Montjuic mountain. The last stop connects to the cable car. The track length is 758 meters, the trip lasts only two minutes.

From November to March, the funicular operates according to the following schedule: Monday-Friday — from 07:30 a.m. to 08:00 p.m., weekends and holidays — from 09:00 a.m. to 08:00 p.m. From April to October, opening hours increase to 10:00 p.m.

Cable car Aeri del Port

Aeri del Port is an air tram in the coastal part of Barcelona. It connects the Montjuic mountain with the Barceloneta area. Its length is 1303 meters and the journey takes approximately 10 minutes. On the mountain there is the Miramar station, then there is Torre Jaime I, and on the coast is Torre San Sebastián.

The one-way fare for this type of Barcelona public transport is €12.50, and the two-way fare is €20.00.

In January-February the cable car is open from 11:00 a.m. to 05:30 p.m., in March-May — from 10:30 a.m. to 07:00 p.m., from June to mid-September — from 10:30 a.m. to 08:00 p.m., in the second half of September and October — from 10:30 a.m. to 07:00 p.m., and in November and December — from 11:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m. Aeri del Port is closed on Christmas Day (25 December).

Read also: Barcelona Port Cable Car — everything you need to know before visiting

How to pay for travel

In Barcelona, there are a large number of passes and tickets for city public transport. You can purchase them in a variety of ways — online, at kiosks, self-service machines, ticket offices, newsstands, excursion sales points, and tourist offices. The integrated Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) network includes the metro, Montjuïc funicular, buses, zone 1 trains (city and suburbs), and trams, for which you can buy single tickets. So how do you pay for public transport in Barcelona?

One-way bus ticket

The simplest type of travel card in Barcelona is one-way bus tickets. They cost €2.55 and can be paid inside the bus at a special terminal using a bank card.

One-way ticket

A one-way ticket is similar to the bus ticket described above. They have the same price. The difference is that this pass applies not only to Barcelona buses but also to the metro (except airport stations) and the Montjuïc funicular. You can buy it at self-service machines in the metro and TMB client offices.

Airport ticket

An airport ticket is a one-way ticket from Barcelona underground stations Aeroport T1 and Aeroport T2 to any station on any line. It’s cost — €5.50. It is sold in self-service machines in the metro.

T-dia

T-dia is a travel pass that allows you to make an unlimited number of trips within 24 hours of composting. Valid for all modes of transport in zones 1-6. Includes one Barcelona underground ride to or from any airport terminal. The prices depend on the areas you will be traveling through. For the first zone, it is €11.20, the second — €17.10, the third — €21.50, the fourth — €24, the fifth — €26.85, the sixth — €30.05. You can purchase a travel pass at self-service machines and TMB customer centers.

T-familiar

The T-familiar card is ideal for a family or group of friends, as it can be used by several people. It allows you to make 8 trips within 30 days. Not valid for airport stations. It can only be purchased on the TMB Tickets website or the TMB App. For the first zone, the cost is €10.70, the second — €20.30, the third — €28.80, the fourth — €37.35, the fifth — €42.70, the sixth — €44.85.

T-grup

T-grup is another group card. It is designed for 70 trips within 30 days. Sold on the TMB website or app. The cost for the first zone is €84.80, the second is €167.40, the third is €227.90, the fourth is €292.90, the fifth is €336.65, the sixth is €357.95.

T-jove

T-jove is a card for people from 17 to 30 years old that allows you to make an unlimited number of trips within 90 days from the first use. Like T-familiar, it can only be purchased on the website or in the app. When registering, you will need to verify your age using your country’s passport or ID card. The pass will cost €42.70.

T-casual

T-casual — a pass for 10 trips on any type of transport. It replaced the T-10 ticket in Barcelona. Not valid for airport stations. Like the aforementioned similar passes, it can only be purchased online — on the TMB Tickets website or the TMB App. The price for the first zone is €12.15, the second is €23.90, the third is €32.55, the fourth is €41.85, the fifth is €48.10, the sixth is €51.15.

T-usual

T-usual is the last card from this series that we want to mention. The method of purchasing it is the same — via the Internet. It is designed for an unlimited number of trips within a month. For the first zone, the pass will cost €21.35, the second — €28.75, the third — €40.35, the fourth — €49.40, the fifth — €56.65, and the sixth — €60.70.

Hola Barcelona Travel Card

The Hola Barcelona TravelCard is a popular travel pass. It is designed for 48, 72, 96, or 120 hours. Its price is €17.50, €25.50, €33.30 and €40.80 respectively. The card covers the entire metro network, including the airport, Montjuïc funicular, buses, commuter and regional trains, and trams. Time is counted from the start of the first trip. The most convenient way is to purchase a card online. You can do this at home before the start of the trip, thereby deciding in advance the issue of moving around Barcelona.

Barcelona Card and Barcelona Card Express

Unlimited travel is provided by two cards created specifically for tourists. The Barcelona Card is valid for 72 hours (€55.00), 96 hours (€65.00), and 120 hours (€77.00). It includes travel on integrated public transport, free admission, or discounts on admission to the city’s main museums and attractions. For example, you do not need to pay for entry to the Picasso Museum, Botanical Garden, or Chocolate Museum. Houses built by Gaudí can be visited with a discount of up to 25%, and the discount on excursions reaches 50%. You can easily purchase a card online in a couple of minutes.

There is also Barcelona Card Express. It lasts 48 hours and costs €27.00. This price includes unlimited travel and the same discounts as the Barcelona Card. This card does not include free admission to attractions. You can also buy it online in a couple of clicks.

Sea transport

Since Barcelona is a large coastal city, there is a port. Part of it is reserved for cargo transportation, another serves as a stop for huge cruise ships, and the third receives passenger ferries. For the latter, the terminals Grimaldi Terminal Barcelona, Ferri Terminal Barcelona, and Port Nou Terminal are intended.

From Barcelona, you can go to the Spanish islands: Mallorca (Alcudia, Palma), Ibiza, Menorca (Maon, Ciutadella) and Formentera. There are also flights to the Italian cities of Porto Torres, Livorno, Savona, Civitavecchia, and Genoa. Another available destination country is Morocco. From Barcelona, ferries go to Tangier and Nador.

Tickets can be purchased on numerous specialized resources.

Railway transport

The city’s main train station is Barcelona Sants. It accepts commuter, regional, and long-distance routes. From here there are trains to Paris, Madrid, Marseille, Lyon, Seville, Malaga, Alicante, Valencia, Bilbao, Murcia, Cartagena, and Vigo.

The company Rodalies de Catalunya is responsible for suburban transport. As with the metro, the system consists of numbered lines covering 203 stations in Catalonia.

• R1 (blue). Molins de Rei — Maçanet-Massanes.
• R2 (green). Castelldefels — Granollers Centre.
• R2 North (light green). Airport — Maçanet-Massanes via Granollers Centre.
• R2 South (dark green). Barcelona Estació de França — Sant Vicenç de Calders via Vilanova i la Geltrú.
• R3 (red). L’Hospitalet de Llobregat — Puigcerdà via Vic.
• R4 (orange). Sant Vicenç de Calders — Manresa via Vilafranca del Penedès.
• R7 (light lilac). Barcelona-Fabra i Puig — Cerdanyola Universitat.
• R8 (dark lilac). Martorell Central — Granollers Center via Cerdanyola Universitat.
• R11 (dark blue). Barcelona Sants — Portbou via Granollers Center i Girona.
• R12 (yellow). L’Hospitalet de Llobregat — Lleida via Manresa.
• R13 (pink). Barcelona Estació de França — Lleida via Valls.
• R14 (purple). Barcelona Estació de França — Lleida via Tarragona i Reus.
• R15 (brown). Barcelona Estació de França — Reus — Riba-roja d’Ebre.
• R16 (dark red). Barcelona Estació de França — Tarragona — Tortosa/Ulldecona.
• R17 (dark orange). Barcelona Estació de França — Salou — Port Aventura.
• RG1 (dark blue). L’Hospitalet de Llobregat — Figueres/Portbou via Mataró i Girona.
• RT1 (turquoise). Tarragona — Reus.
• RT2 (hot pink). L’Arboç — Salou — Port Aventura.
• RL3 (olive). Cervera — Lleida Pirineus.

The fare depends on the number of tariff zones passed. One zone — €2.55, two — €3.00, three — €4.10, four — €4.90, five — €5.90, six — €7.40. You can purchase a ticket at the station at the ticket office or a self-service machine. At the beginning of your trip, your Barcelona rail pass must be validated.

You can find out the boundaries of tariff zones, check the schedule, and plan your route on the official website of the Rodalies de Catalunya carrier.

Transfer from Barcelona to the airport and back

Barcelona-El Prat Airport is located 15 kilometers from the center of the capital of Catalonia. Josep Tarradellas (BCN), where international flights arrive.

You can get from Barcelona airport to the main attractions of Barcelona in the city center by several means of transport:

• Metro. The airport is the terminus of the western part of the L9 line. From there, at the Torrassa and Zona Universitària stops, you can change to the L1 line, passing through Plaça Catalunya.
• Train. From BCN airport to the city center of Barcelona, namely Barcelona Sants train station, trains run on the R2 North line.
• Airbus. A special shuttle bus runs from both Barcelona Airport terminals to Plaza Catalunya. Flights operate around the clock at intervals of 5-20 minutes. A one-way ticket costs €6.75, and a two-way ticket costs €11.65. You can purchase them in advance on the official Aerobús Barcelona website. Validity period: 90 days from the date of purchase. Children under 4 years old travel free of charge.
• City buses. From Plaza Espanya in Barcelona to the airport there is autobus 46, as well as night services N17 and N18.
• Taxi. El Prat has a dozen parking lots for the city taxi service, Metrapolitan Taxi Institute. A daytime trip to Plaça Catalunya or back from Barcelona city to the airport costs around €30 during the day on weekdays. At night and on weekends the amount will be higher by a few euros. You can also leave the airport by Uber.
• Car rent. This is the most comfortable way to travel from Barcelona airport to the city. The following rental offices operate in El Prat: Avis, Enterprise, Europcar, Goldcar, Hertz-Thrifty, Sixt, Record Go, and Firefly. Their offices, except for the last one, are located in both terminals, and Firefly is only in Terminal 2. It is better to rent a car in advance via the Internet so as not to linger at the airport after a tiring flight.

Taxi

The city taxi service Metrapolitan Taxi Institute operates in Barcelona. You can catch a car by raising your hand while standing near the road, or you can find it in special parking lots located throughout the city. An even simpler and more convenient option is to call through the AMB Mobility app.

On weekdays from 08:00 a.m. to 08:00 p.m., taxi fares are as follows:

• order acceptance — €2.60;
• price per kilometer — €1.27;
• waiting hour — €25.60.

On weekdays from 08:00 p.m. to 08:00 a.m., weekends, and holidays, the price per kilometer increases to €1.56. Additionally, you need to pay €4.50 if a taxi is called from/to the airport or to the Moll Adossat pier, and also if the number of passengers is 5-8 people. When calling a taxi to or from Barcelona-Sants station, the surcharge is €2.50.

In addition, in Barcelona, there are Uber and Bolt services, which can be easily accessed through mobile applications, even without knowing the exact address.

Car rent

There are numerous representative offices of international car rental companies in Barcelona. You need to decide on the type of transport and rental period. You can arrange everything without leaving your home, even before arriving in the city, and pick up the car right at the airport, without wasting time.

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