Transport in Barcelona, Spain

Getting There

By air: Barcelona’s airport at El Prat de Llobregai is located 14km south of the city centre. Both international and domestic flights arrive here. Trains link the airport to Estació Sants and Catalunya stations every half an hour and take 15-20 minutes. Buses also link the airport to the city but take a bit longer.

By train: Trains from international destinations arrive in Estació de França, while trains from within Spain stop at Estació Sants. Trains leaving and arriving in Barcelona do so from Estació Sants.

By bus: Estació Nord at Carrer d’Alí Bei 80 is where nearly all domestic and international buses arrive.

Getting Around

By bus: Barcelona is served well by public buses and there are over 50 lines circulating the city and its suburbs. The majority of buses operate daily from 6.30am-10pm, with night buses operating until approximately 4am and serving the city’s busier districts. The city uses a user-friendly colour system – red buses serve the city centre during the day, with yellow buses doing so at night. A one-way fare costs approximately €1.

By underground: The underground in Barcelona consists of five lines and is a more efficient mode of public transport in comparison to the city’s bus service. Two commuter trains service the city and other suburbs not covered by the underground network. Trains operate from 5am-11pm Mon-Fri, 5am-1am on Saturdays and 6am-1am on Sundays and bank holidays.

By ferry: These travel between any of the eight passenger terminals on Barcelona’s harbour.

By taxi: Taxis in Spain’s second largest city are yellow and black. Each one bears the letters SP (Servicio Público) on both ends of the car. When the cab is free for use you should be able to see a green light on the roof or in the front window stating “Libre”.

Cable cars
Cable cars link the upper part of the Montjuoc funicular with Castell de Montjuoc. The Montjuïc telèferic (cable car) runs from Barceloneta to Montjuïc.