Transportation in Barcelona
Introduction
The public transportation system of
Barcelona is very good.
It consists of the metro, buses, trams, funicular, taxis and even bikes.
The public transportation system is activated by TMB
(Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona) company.
The different transportation means can take you exactly to the places you need to,
in any time and with great level of precision and convenience.
The public transportation in Barcelona is efficient and pretty cheap.
Most of its most popular sites of the city are in reasonable walking distance and to
the two hills which are dominates the city,
Montjuic
and
Tibidabo
, the most conviniance way to go there is by the public transportation, so there is no actual
reason why to rent a car inside the city.
(For those who what to rent a car, please read more in rent a car paragraph).
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Arriving Barcelona
In many cities in Spain there are international airports; one of those cities is the city of
Barcelona in which the international airport,
Aeroport del Prat, is located.
The airport located 13 kilometers south–west to the city an it probably will be the one in
which you, as travelers, will land in.
The airport has three terminals in it, terminals which are connected with internal transportation
between each other:
Terminal A – using for international flights and aviation companies.
Terminal B – using for Spanish aviation companies.
Terminal C – using for internal flights.
Note:
Those who are visiting Barcelona for a short time can easily find
hotels near Barcelona's airport.
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To and From the Airport
There are several possible ways to do the way from Barcelona airport into the city center and
from the city center back to the airport:
Taxi
The ride in a taxi from the airport to the city is very comfortable. This is the recommended
way to go out from the airport, especially if you are a group of people riding together, or
if you have heavy luggage.
The taxi station is located in the left side of the exit in the arrival terminal.
Taxis in Barcelona are painted in black and yellow.
The ride is lasting 20-30 minutes depend on traffic and on the hour in the day.
The price is expected to be around 25-30 Euro. Not so expansive relatively.
There is also a little addition for each suitcase. The exact tariffs are written in a
table displayed, according to the law, inside every taxi. It is not allowed to the taxi
drivers to charge you more than the meter is showing + the suitcase addition as it is written in the table.
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AeroBus
This is an express transportation service between the airport and the city center.
The Aerobus has two stops in the city. One in Catalonia Plaza and the other is in Plaza Espanya,
from which you will be able to switch to the metro and us it in order to go where ever you wish.
The bus is passing in each and every one of the three terminals of the airport.
Its driving frequency is every 15 minutes during the day.
The ride price is 3.90 Euro per person.
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Train
A train, of RENFE Company (the train company in Barcelona), is leaving the airport towards
Barcelona center each 30 minutes. Do not confuse with the metro. This is not a metro train
but it does have two stops in which it is possible to switch and move to the metro.
The stops are Sants station (the central train station in Barcelona from which trains are
going to all parts of Spain) or Catalonia station.
In order to reach the train pier it is required to walk few minutes in the airport area,
but in large part of the way there are conveyor belts that make it easier with the luggage.
It is recommended to check for an updated
train timetable from airport to Barcelona city.
The ride price is 2.40 Euro per person.
Note:
From the airport there is regular transportation also to places outside barcelona, to the near cities.
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Transportation inside the city
Metro
Barcelona's Metro is excellent and easy to use. The wagons are clean, roomy, comfortable and
air conditioned and the trains frequency is very high.
This is the best way to go from one place to another inside Barcelona and its city center.
The entrance to the metro stations can be recognized by the signs in which the "M" letter
is seen in white on red background.
The metro lines are spread in such a way that enables you to go quickly to almost any place in the city.
Five metro lines are serving the city. They are signed with different colors:
- L1, red line, from Hospital de Bellvitge to Fondo.
- L2, purple line, from Paral-lel to Pep Ventura.
- L3, green line, from Zona Universitaria to Canvelles.
- L4, yellow line, from Trinitat Nova to La Pau.
- L5, blue line, from Cornella Centre to Horta.
Note:
Lines L1 and L3 are crossing Catalonia Plaza and Espanya Plaza which are central stations in the
city center from where it is possible to get off and start the on foot tour in the city.
Barcelona metro lines map
and the locations of the stations in each line can be seen in each station,
where there are big and clear maps hanged on the walls, that can help you plan your route.
Still, it is recommended to have a small "Barcelona metro map" in your bag, a map you can get in
any manned metro station.
In any station there are entrances for both line directions and one should choose his ride direction
according to the name of the final station in the same direction.
The metro is active Monday-Thursday from 05:00 in the morning till midnight (lines L1 and L4 only till 23:00),
on Fridays and Saturdays the lines are active till 02:00 at night. On Sunday the metro is active from 06:00
in the morning till midnight, in all lines.
In most of the times, you will not be waiting more than 5 minutes for a train.
In each station there is an electronic display showing the time left for next train to arrive.
Single ride ticket will cost 1.15 Euro per person. For those who know that they are going to use
the metro 5-6 times in the city center during his/her stay in Barcelona, in is more worthy to buy
a 10 rides ticket for region number 1 (city center).
This ticket is named T10 and it gives you the right to ride the metro, bus and the RENFE train.
It cost 7 Euro per person, which means a significant saving. This ticket is not personal and
can be used by number of people.
There are other types of tickets too. For example: Family ticket for 70 rides will cost 43.65 Euro.
It is important to know that with the T10 ticket it is possible to combine between different
transportation means, for example a train and bus, and that is in one condition: the total ride
duration should not exceed 75 minutes, and in region number 1 of course.
If you know in advance that you will need an advance use of the metro (and buses) you can buy
daily tickets for unlimited rides, in reasonable price. There are 1 day, 2 days,
3, 4 and 5 days tickets.
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Buses
The bus system of Barcelona is good and efficient. Tourists have the option to use a
special tourist bus that moves in a predefined fix courses, but this is the reason that
it is not being used by many people.
Whoever need, can read more info about the
bus courses in Barcelona.
Red Buses:
White Buses
Blue Buses
Bus Turistic
TibiBus
Night Buses
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Taxis
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TRAM
There are three modern tram lines being active in Barcelona.
The price of a single ride is 1.15 Euro.
Look the internet for
Barcelona’s tram courses and stops.
Additionally, there is another old tram line in the north of the city, named “The blue Tram” (Tramvia Blau),
which is being used by all those who seek to go to the top of the Tibidabo hill.
This tram is very interesting – it is old but renovated. The railway was set up 100 years ago,
in the beginning of the 20ty century, and the section to the Tibidabo hill is the last section that
is still active and functioning.
The tram is still being activated due to nostalgia. It is a little leap, but the ride is a very
nice experience, due to the fact that the route is beautiful. The train route is passing through
beautiful villas and rich people houses built in different styles, which so popular in Barcelona.
The tram is going from the Jon Kenedy plaza to the Dr. Andreo plaza, from which it is possible
to take the funicular going up to the Tibidabo hill.
“The blue Tram” line is active every day between 07:45 in the morning and till 20:50 in the evening.
The driving frequency is every 20 minutes, and the price for one direction ride is 2.10 per person.
Buying round ride ticket will cost 3.10 Euro.
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Funicular
There are two types of funiculars in Barcelona with three ride courses in them.
One type of funicular is some kind of “aerial train” – a wagon driving on a cabal stretched in
the air from Barceloneta area near the port, till the Montjuic hill, and in the opposite direction too.
This is defiantly a joyful experience for those who wants to see Barcelona from above, almost like
from an airplane. The sight is beautiful but the experience is not recommended for those who are
afraid from heights.
The driving frequency is every 15 minutes, and the price for one direction ride is 7.5 per person.
Buying round ride ticket will cost 9 Euro.
In Montjuic hill there is also a regular funicular which climbs to the top of the hill.
The driving frequency is every 15 minutes, and the price for one direction ride is 1.15 per person.
The funicular is active every day between 08:00-20:00. On Saturday it starts at 09:00. In this ride,
the view is beautiful too. A unique experience.
Tibidabo hill has its own regular funicular too. The funicular goes from the point in which you get off
from the blue tram, and goes up to the top of the hill every 30 minutes.
The price for one direction ride is 2 per person. Buying round ride ticket will cost 3 Euro.
The funicular is only active on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays during all year, between 10:45-19:15,
and additionally it is active also during particular days every month. But without any order or consistent
that can be described here.
Ask the tourist information booths for updated timetables while you are visiting Barcelona, or in the
website specifying the
funicular additional working days.
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Bikes
Bicycles are an expanding transportation mean that become wider in Barcelona.
Riding bicycles is a wonderful way to know the city while combining it with sport activity.
Addition to the fact that bicycles are an environmental friendly transportation means, it
is a really good solution inside big cities, which offer public transportation solutions that
not always fit for everybody.
It is possible to rent bicycles in Barcelona for one day, half a day or on an hourly basis.
All the info about the places for renting bikes, bikes courses and parking services can be
read at the following links:
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Tickets purchase
Where can the different tickets can be purchased?
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Car Rental
Here are recommended and reliable websites, which works with all the international car rental companies,
in which you can easily make a reservation:
1) CarDelMar
2) Holiday Cars Car Rental
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Tips & Recommendations
Some Tips/Recommendations related to transportation in Barcelona, all from personal experience and
accumulated experience of many other tourists:
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