This guide on how to get from Barcelona Airport to downtown, will help you make the transfer to your hotel or the city in the most comfortable and cheap way.
If you arrive in Barcelona by plane you will land at the Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport which is one of the busiest in Europe with more than 50 million passengers per year.
The airport, located just over 10 kilometers away, has the T1 terminal where most major international companies and flights land, while the T2 is destined for low-cost companies such as Ryanair or Easyjet. The two are connected by a free bus that runs 24 hours and has a frequency of about 5 minutes during the day and 20 minutes at night.
Based on the experience of our numerous times that we have landed in Barcelona, in the last we wrote this guide to Barcelona in 4 days, we show you all the options to make the transfer from the airport to the center of Barcelona, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs. We start!
Airbus
The Aerobús bus is the most comfortable way to get from Barcelona airport to downtown (Plaza Catalunya) in public transport.
This bus that runs from 5:30 a.m. to 1 a.m., leaves from the two terminals every 5 or 10 minutes and travels in just over half an hour, depending on traffic. The price of the ticket is 5.90 euros the way or 10.20 if you buy the round trip. You can book tickets online in advance, buy them at the vending machines or directly from the driver.
In addition to Plaza Catalunya, on the outward journey the aerobus stops at other interesting places such as Plaza España, Plaza Universitat and at the intersection of Gran Via with Urgell street.
On the return buses, which depart from 5h to 0: 30h, you have to take into account that they stop only in Plaza Catalunya, Plaza España and Sepúlveda street with Urgell, in addition you have to be careful to take the correct line since the A1 goes to terminal 1 and A2 to terminal 2.
Once in Plaza Catalunya (lines 1, 3, 6, 7) or Plaza España (lines 1 and 3) you have a good metro connection to get closer to your hotel.
Airbus
We recommend staying at the Caledonian, located 5 minutes walk from Plaza Universitat and 10 minutes from Plaza Cataluña. In addition to its excellent location, the hotel has a 24-hour reception, a full breakfast, parking, terrace and one of the best quality / price ratios in the city.
Transfer from Barcelona airport to the center by train
The fastest option to go from Barcelona Airport to downtown It is to take the Rodalies R2 train in Terminal 2, which takes 20 minutes to reach Sants Station and 27 minutes to Paseo de Gracia (stop near Casa Batlló).
The train that runs from 6 am to 11:30 pm, has a frequency of half an hour and a price of 4.20 euros.
To travel around Barcelona, we recommend you buy T-Castual (old T10), a one-person card valid for 10 trips on public transport in the city (train, subway, bus and tram). Airport transfer is not included.
Another good option is to buy the Hola BCN Card that has unlimited use of public transport or book the tourist bus that stops at the main points of interest in the city.
For more information you can consult this quick guide to transport in Barcelona.
Catalunya Square
Urban bus
The city bus 46 travels from Barcelona airport to Plaza España In less than half an hour.
This bus, leaving every 15 minutes from the two terminals, operates from 5:30 a.m. to 0:00 a.m. and costs 2.40 euros (included in the T-Casual card).
If you arrive at Barcelona at dawn you can make the transfer from Barcelona Airport to the center with the night lines N16 (Terminal 2), N17 (Terminal 2) and N18 (Terminal 1 and 2) that will leave you at the Plaza Catalunya bus stop with Ronda Universitat.
These buses usually run from 11:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. and have a frequency of 20 minutes.
Urban bus
Meter
Metro line 9 will take you in half an hour and for 4.5 euros (not included in the T-Casual) from the two terminals of the airport to the University Zone, located between the Camp Nou and the Royal Palace of Pedralbes.
To get to the center you will have to take in this same station the metro line 3 (green color) that will take you to Plaza Catalunya in about 20 more minutes.
Despite having a frequency of about 5 minutes, it is an option only recommended if you are staying in the University Zone.
Barcelona metro
Cab
The taxi travels from Prat Airport to the center of Barcelona in about 25 minutes for an average fare of about 30 euros.
Unlike many cities the price is not fixed and has a minimum of 20 euros that increases by 3 euros at night, so we recommend to be attentive to the meter and bring a GPS to control the route.
Another option if you want to know the exact price is to use Cabify (Uber is not operational).
How to get from Barcelona Airport to downtown by taxi
Private transfer
The more comfortable way to go from Barcelona Airport to downtown or to your hotel It is to book this private transfer, which above all will be profitable if you are several people.
When hiring this service a driver will be waiting for you at the exit of the terminal, raising a sign with your name, and will take you directly to the door of your hotel.
The price of 3-seater tourism is 37.50 euros and the price of 6 places for 60 euros.
Once the issue of transfer from the airport to the center of Barcelona and accommodation, you can prepare your routes around the city with these personalized guides according to the days you have:
