Barcelona Sants © 2014 Mikestravelguide. All rights reserved.

Barcelona – Getting There and Getting Around

 

Chances are when arriving in Barcelona, you’ll be coming in via plane or train. And, once here, you may need to arrange further transportation to get around in the city. So, we’ve put together a bit of information to help you with your options.

Arriving by plane:

With almost 300,000 flights and over 35 million passengers passing through each year, Aeroport de Barcelona – el Prat or Barcelona Airport (BCN) is reportedly the second busiest airport in Spain. Since it’s located about 10 miles outside of the city, in the municipality of El Prat de Llobregat, getting from the airport to Barcelona proper will require a bit more planning. Transportation options include bus, taxi or train. We took the train (Rodalies/Renfe) from Barcelona-el Prat to the main train station (Barcelona Sants) and, though not the quickest way, it was fairly cheap and easy. However, once you arrive at the train station, you may need to take the Metro to your final destination, though depending upon your final destination, taking the bus (Aerobus) from the airport may be more convenient and a better deal.


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To get to the city from the airport by train, make your way to the rail area (via the sky bridge) where you can purchase your train tickets from the machine using cash or credit card.  There are train connections from the Barcelona Airport (El Prat) to Barcelona Sants Station every 30 minutes via  Rodalies de Barcelona. The trip takes about 20 minutes and costs a little over 4.00€ for a single one-way ticket.   (Valid only for use on the rail system R-Lines; bus, metro, and tram require separate tickets.)

Note about airports:  There are three airports serving the Barcelona area; Barcelona-el Prat, Barcelona-Girona, and Reus.  Be aware that some airlines (i.e. Ryanair) do not offer flights into Barcelona-el Prat from all points of departure.  Be sure to check your airline’s destination options, based on your point of departure, before booking your flight.   It’s possible your airline flies into Barcelona Girona or Reus airports; these are located farther outside of Barcelona and will require additional transportation arrangements and more travel time to get into the city.

Arriving by train:


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Of the four train stations in Barcelona, the modern Estació de Barcelona Sants or Barcelona Sants Station is the main railway hub, serving Regional, National and International Rail, including the AVE High-Speed Trains. Getting to the station, which is located about a mile west of La Rambla, gets you to the city, but it’s the Barcelona Metro, that will get you around in the city. Follow the signs for the TMB Metro (white M in a red diamond).

Taking the Metro:

Metro signs
Metro signs

Barcelona Metro system (TMB), with lines designated by the letter L followed by a number (i.e. L1, L2, L3), can get you to the major sites and attractions in the city. For instance, if you’re heading from La Rambla to Gaudí’s La Pedrera or Casa Battlò, you can take Metro L3 – Trinitat Nova from Liceu or Plaça de Catalunya direct to Passeig de Gracia. Or, for La Sagrada Familia, when you get to Passeig de Gracia you can transfer to Metro L2 – Badalona Pompeu Fabra.

The Metro is quick and fairly inexpensive, saving you time and money. A single journey ticket costs just over 2.00€, but if you’re making multiple trips on the Metro, and/or traveling with friends/family, consider purchasing the T-10 multi-person travel card. This is a good option with cost saving benefits and it’s simple to use: once one person goes through the turnstile with the ticket, he/she can then pass it back to the next person in your group so that he/she can go through the turnstile, and so on. The T-10 card is valid for 10 intermodal journeys and costs just over 10.00€ for 1 zone. T-10 tickets, part of the ATM Integrated fare system, allow transfers to other public transportation (valid on commuter rail, suburban rail, metro, bus, and tram.)

Tickets for the Barcelona Metro can be purchased from the ticket vending machines at the entrance to the Metro (look for the red machines with the TMB logo or watch our video below.) You can pay with cash, credit card, and some bank debit cards.

Here’s a look at the Barcelona Metro map.

Barcelona icon

Barcelona icon

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