From the airport to the city centre Barcelona
There are several options for getting to the city center from the airport: aerobús, metro, train and, of course, cab. The journey is relatively short and inexpensive: on average, it takes 30 minutes to get to the city center, whichever means of transport you use. For the metro, you need to buy a special ticket (€4.60) for the airport. Line 9 South, currently being extended, links terminals T1 and T2 at the airport with 3 stations in central Barcelona: Torrassa (L1), Collblanc (L5) and Zona Universitària (L3). The train (€4.20) is a good option for those arriving at terminal 2. Generally speaking, the aerobús (€5.90) is the most convenient option for getting to Plaça Catalunya. Cabs cost around €30.
Arrival by train Barcelona
Trains from France arrive at Sants station, in the heart of Barcelona. Metro line L3 (green) takes you directly to the old town, while line L5 (blue) takes you to Diagonal station in just a few stops.
Public transport Barcelona
Barcelona's public transport network is modern and relatively inexpensive. On weekdays, subways generally run from 5 a.m. to midnight, until 2 a.m. on Fridays and without interruption on Saturdays and the eves of public holidays. City buses operate on average from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., with Nitbus (night buses) taking over from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Hola Barcelona" unlimited transport passes (www.holabarcelona.com) are an economical option for a stay in the city. They provide access to the metro, buses, streetcars and FGC and Rodalies trains in zone 1.
Bike, scooters & co Barcelona
With almost 200 km of cycle paths, Barcelona is a very pleasant city to discover by bike. The historic center and beaches are flat and therefore perfectly suited to bicycle traffic. Like all major European cities, Barcelona has a self-service bicycle system, Bicing (www.bicing.cat), only available with a yearly subscription. For short stays, the easiest and most economical option is to rent a bike by the day. Many brands offer attractive rates (on average €15 per day). The use of electric scooters by private individuals is growing at breakneck speed. They can travel at speeds of up to 25 km/h, but never on sidewalks or other areas reserved for pedestrians. Self-service scooter rental is also a great success.
With a driver Barcelona
Colored yellow and black, with a little green light when they're free (lliure), cabs are cheaper than in France, but not much less: count €10 to cover a distance of 3 or 4 metro stations. The big name in VTCs, Uber, has not been operating in Barcelona since the start of 2019, due to overly restrictive legislation that requires users of chauffeur-driven vehicles to book their journey at least fifteen minutes in advance. Only Cabify seems to be holding out for the time being...
By car Barcelona
Like any major metropolis, Barcelona is not immune to traffic jams. You'll have trouble parking in the city center and around tourist attractions. It's best to take out a parking pass and leave your car there, and use public transport during your stay.
Accessibility Barcelona
Transport, places to visit, accommodation: Barcelona is a city well suited to people with reduced mobility. The barcelona-access.com website (available in French) contains a wealth of useful information on adapted sightseeing tours, contact details for adapted cabs, transport information and much more. The ajuntament.barcelona.cat/accessible site is also useful for consulting accessible beaches, specialized travel agencies and various digital resources.
Tourist traps Barcelona
Beware of the bike cabs that ply the main tourist sites and the coastline: most of them are unlicensed and therefore illegal!
