Public transport system

  • Home
  • Transport
  • Barcelona

Barcelona's easy-to-use metro system (TMB Metro; 93 298 70 00; www.tmb.net) has 11 lines.
TMB buses run on most city routes every few minutes from 5:00 and 18:30 to 22:00 and 23:00.
There are several tram lines in the city. All standard tickets can be used in any form of transport. The tram blau (blue tram) is a scenic varint of the trip, which runs up to the foot of Tibidabo.

Barcelona transport hubs

The main stations and the transports hub are Plaza Catalunya (Plaça de Catalunya), Sants Bus Station (Estació d'Autobusos de Sants), and Plaza Spain (Placa de Espania).

Plaça de Catalunya

Plaça de Catalunya is a large square in central Barcelona that is generally considered to be both its city centre and the place where the old city (see Barri Gòtic and Raval, in Ciutat Vella) and the 19th century-built Eixample meet. Some of the city's most important streets and avenues meet at Plaça Catalunya: Passeig de Gràcia, Rambla de Catalunya, La Rambla, and Portal de l'Àngel, in addition to Ronda de Sant Pere, Carrer de Vergara, and Carrer de Pelai. The plaza occupies an area of about 50,000 square metres. It is especially known for its fountains and statues, its proximity to some of Barcelona's most popular attractions, and the flocks of pigeons that gather in the centre.

Estació d'Autobusos de Sants

The offices of the bus companies operating services in Spain and abroad are located next to Barcelona-Sants railway station.

Placa de Espania

One of the city's biggest squares, it is the junction of several major thoroughfares: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, Avinguda del Paral·lel, Carrer de la Creu Coberta and Carrer de Tarragona, and leads to the Palau Nacional through Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina, which houses one of Catalonia's finest museums, the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC). It was designed by Josep Amargós. The fountain at the centre of the square was designed by Josep Maria Jujol, a collaborator of Antoni Gaudí, while Miquel Blay designed the statues. The buildings were designed by Nicolau Maria Rubió i Tudurí.

Barcelona Getting to

Most travelers enter Barcelona via El Prat Airport. Some low cost airlines use Girona-Costa Brava Airport or Reus Airport.
Flights from North America take about eight hours from the east coast (usually 10 to 13 hours, including a stopover); from the west coast you should count on 13 or more hours, including a stopover. Flights from London take about two hours; from Western Europe three hours aprox.
Traveling by train is a more expensive, but very interesting way to get to Catalonia from other European cities. The trip on TGV takes about seven hours from Paris to Barcelona. Long-distance trains arrive at Estació Sants, whitch about 2.5 km west of Rambla.
Long-distance buses arrive at Estació del Nord.

El Prat Airport

Barcelona’s El Prat airport (902 404704; www.aena.es) lies 17km southwest of Plaça de Catalunya at El Prat de Llobregat. The airport has two main terminal buildings: the T1 terminal and the older T2, itself divided into three terminal areas (A, B and C). In T1, the main arrivals area is on the 1st floor (with separate areas for EU Schengen Area arrivals, non-EU international arrivals and the Barcelona–Madrid corridor). Boarding gates are on the 1st and 3rd floors. The main tourist office (www.barcelonaturisme.com; h8.30am-8.30pm) is on the ground floor of Terminal 2B. Others on the ground floor of Terminal 2A and in Terminal 1 operate the same hours. Lockers come in three sizes; on the 1st floor of T1. Lost-luggage offices can be found by the arrivals belts in Terminal 1 and on the arrivals floor in Terminals 2A and 2B.

A1 Aerobús

The A1 Aerobús (902 100104; www.aerobusbcn.com; Plaça d’Espanya; one way/return €5.90/10.20; h5.05am-12.35am) runs from Terminal 1 to Plaça de Catalunya (30 to 40 minutes depending on traffic) via Plaça d’Espanya, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes (corner of Carrer del Comte d’Urgell) and Plaça de la Universitat every five to 10 minutes from 6.10am to 1.05am. Departures from Plaça de Catalunya are from 5.30am to 12.30am and stop at the corner of Carrer de Sepúlveda and Carrer del Comte d’Urgell, and at Plaça d’Espanya.

A2 Aerobús

The A2 Aerobús from Terminal 2 (stops outside terminal areas A, B and C) runs from 6am to 1am with a frequency of between 10 and 20 minutes and follows the same route as the A1 Aerobús. Buy tickets on the bus or from agents at the bus stop. Slower local buses (such as the No 46 to/from Plaça d’Espanya and two night buses, the N17 and N18, to/from Plaça de Catalunya) also serve Terminals 1 and 2.

Train Renfe

Train operator Renfe runs the R2 Nord line every half-hour from the airport (from 5.42am to 11.38pm) via several stops to Barcelona’s main train station, Estació Sants (www.adif.es; Plaça dels Països Catalans; mSants Estació), and Passeig de Gràcia in central Barcelona, after which it heads northwest out of the city. The first service from Passeig de Gràcia leaves at 5.08am and the last at 11.07pm, and about five minutes later from Estació Sants. The trip between the airport and Passeig de Gràcia takes 25 minutes. A one-way ticket costs €2.50. The airport train station is about a five-minute walk from Terminal 2. Regular shuttle buses run from the station and Terminal 2 to Terminal 1 – allow an extra 15 to 20 minutes.

Reus Airport

Reus airport (902 404704; www.aena.es) is 13km west of Tarragona and 108km southwest of Barcelona. The tourist office and lost-luggage desks are in the main terminal building.

Hispano-Igualadina buses

Hispano-Igualadina buses (93 339 79 29; www.igualadina.com; Carrer de Viriat; mSants Estació) run between Reus airport and Estació d’Autobusos de Sants (902 432343; www.adif.es; Carrer de Viriat; mSants Estació) to meet flights (one way €16, 1½ hours). Local bus 50 (www.reustransport.cat) serves central Reus (€3, 20 minutes), and other buses run to local coastal destinations.

Girona-Costa Brava Airport

Girona-Costa Brava airport (www.aena.es) is 12km south of Girona and 92km northeast of Barcelona. You’ll find a tourist office, ATMs and lost-luggage desks on the ground floor

Bus Sagalés

Bus Sagalés (902 130014; www.sagales.com) runs hourly bus services from Girona-Costa Brava airport to Girona’s main bus/train station (€2.75, 30 minutes) in connection with flights. The same company runs direct Barcelona Bus (902 130014; www.sagalesairportline.com; mArc de Triomf) services to/from Estació del Nord bus station in Barcelona (one way/return €16/25, 1¼ hours).

Train Regular Renfe

Regular Renfe (91 232 03 20; www.renfe.es) train services run between Girona and Barcelona (€8.40 to €12.25, around 1¼ hours). Speedier Avant trains get there in 38 minutes (one way €10 to €17).