Barcelona Hacks

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Barcelona Card – Save Money on Almost (!) Everything

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barcelona tourist card the barcelona card

You’re trying to plan the best Barcelona holiday possible but where exactly does one start?

Take some advice from the official Barcelona Tourism Office: the 85 attractions they’ve put together on the Barcelona Card will give great structure to your trip – and your wallet.

Yes, they even throw in unlimited transport and free admission to 25 museums.

In total there’s 115 discounts to be had on one simple card: here’s how you can take full advantage.

The Barcelona Card

The king of Barcelona discount cards is in reality a 3-in-1 transport card, museum pass, and discount voucher.

Grabbing one before you arrive is highly recommend because it gives you:

Below I’ll be doing some calculations to see how much money you can save but in the meantime check out the full list of Barcelona Card advantages.

Where to Buy the Barcelona Card

You can buy this Barcelona tourist discount card via the official Barcelona Tourism Office.

Clicking the button below gets you to their site for a special 10% online discount. Go ahead and click through to their site if you’re curious for more info, or get at me in the comments below.

BARCELONA CARDGet a 10% Discount Now

The Barcelona Card Express

The Barcelona Card Express is a 48 hours pass for those with little time to visit the city.

The only difference between this and other Barcelona Card options is there are no entrances included – only discounts for the main attractions (there’s a discount list here).

Clicking the button below gets you a 10% discount booking online with Barcelona Tourism Office.

BARCELONA CARD EXPRESSGet a 10% Discount Now

Barcelona Card Pickup Points

To claim your card simply print out the voucher and show it at the following locations:

  • Airport Terminal T1 and Terminal 2. Every day from 8:30 to 20:30.
  • Barcelona Airport Metro Stations (T1 and T2). 8:30 to 21:00.
  • Plaza Catalunya. Number 17-S near the Hard Rock Cafe and the giant ‘i’ with the underground escalator.  Every day from 8:30 to 20:30.
  • Sants Estació. Plaça Paisos Catalans. Every day from 8:30 to 20:30.
  • Placa Espanya. Every day from 9:00 to 15:00. Jun-Sept from 8:30 to 20:30.
  • Sagrada Familia. Every day from 9:00 to 15:00. Jun-Sept from 8:30 to 20:30.
  • The Columbus Statue. Plaça Portal de la Pau. Every day from 8:30 to 20:30.
  • Plaza Sant Jaume. In Carrer Ciutat 2. Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 20:30. Saturdays 9:00 to 19:00. Sundays and public holidays: from 9:00 to 14:00.

Note: the Barcelona metro station pickup points (L9S) are the best option for late arriving flights – at either station simply look for the Barcelona Turisme information point to pick up your Barcelona Card.

All Barcelona Card ticket offices are closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Barcelona Card Prices

Your Barcelona Card is valid anywhere from 48 to 120 hours so costs shift accordingly.

  • 48 hours (Express): €20.00 €18.00 (online)
  • 72 hours: €45.00 €41.40 (online) adults/€21.00 €19.80 (online) kids.
  • 96 hours: €55.00 €50.40 (online) adults/€27.00 €25.20 (online) kids.
  • 120 hours: €60.00 €54.90 (online) adults/€32.00 €29.70 (online) kids.

Kids are between 4-12 years old.

Keep in mind that validity only begins the second you use it for the first time. Example: if you use a 72 hour card for the first time at 8 pm on the 1st of the month the card will expire at 8 pm on the 4th of the month.

Adding the “Gaudi Bundle” For Sagrada Familia/Park Guell

As many of you have noted the Barcelona Card does not include discounts for Sagrada Familia and Park Guell – two of Barcelona’s most important attractions.

Since nobody would dare dream of missing these behemoths I’m giving you the link to get skip the line entrance to both these attractions using the same bundle – the “Gaudi Bundle”.

Grabbing this package through ticket giants Ticketbar includes:

  • Skip the line entrance at Sagrada Familia.
  • Skip the line entrance at Park Güell.
  • A Sagrada Familia English audio guide app for your smartphone.
  • A Park Guell English audio guide app for your smartphone.

The cost of each package is as follows:

  • Adults: €33.50.
  • Children (12-18): €28.50.
  • Children (7-11): €8.00.
  • Children (0-6): free.

GAUDI BUNDLEBuy Now

A Few Barcelona Card Hacks

  • If you’re there for X days, get it for X days. Remember: public transport is included in the card and a day of normal public transport can really set you back.
  • Pick it up at the airport. You’re already there and I’ve heard of trouble finding other pick up spots.

Remember: to book tours with a 50% Barcelona Card discount you’ll need to send an email to [email protected] letting them know which day you’ll be touring.

You have to book at least one day in advance and take the tour during the validity of your travel card. You need to show your cards the day of the tour.

Barcelona Card FAQ

How much money can I realistically save using my Barcelona Card?

With average travel, airport transport, a few free entrances, and just a few discounts at places you’ll be seeing anyway in any half-decent 3 day Barcelona itinerary you can easily save €20.00-€50.00.

Can I skip lines with the Barcelona Card?

No.

To get your entrance discounts using this pass you’ll have to show up to ticket booths.

If you’re looking for a Barcelona tourist card that allows you to skip lines and book everything online then check out the Barcelona City Pass.

Is it better to get the Barcelona Card or the Hola Bcn Card?

They’re both different products. The Barcelona Card includes unlimited public transport and free entrance to certain attractions while the Hola Bcn offers only unlimited transport.

At any rate I’ve prepared a page explaining the difference between these two discount cards so you can make the proper decision based on your needs.

Is the Barcelona Card valid for airport transport from Girona or the Aerobus?

No, the transport pass applies to city and public transport services only.

Which Airport transport is included in the Barcelona Card?

With your Barcelona Card you’ll be able to take the metro, airport train, or bus 46 into the city. The bus is only recommended for late night or early morning departures/arrivals when the first/last train has already departed.

The first train departs from Barcelona Airport at 05:42 and the last one leaves at 23:38. There are two trains an hour with service to Barcelona Sants, Passeig de Gracia, and El Clot.

For your flight home the first train departs Passeig de Gracia at 05:13 with the last one departing at 23:07.

Which Airport transport is best for my hotel/hostel/Airbnb?

Leave me a message below with your hotel, hostel, or apartment and I’ll let you know how to get in quickly.

Do I have to book for the Picasso Museum?

No, regardless of what it says on the card the Picasso Museum has confirmed that Barcelona Card holders can show up at the ticket windows at 23 Carrer de Montcada where they’ll get express entrance.

Is the Barcelona Card valid for days or hours?

The Barcelona Card is valid for consecutive hours. If you validate a 72 hour pass at 6 pm on Friday that means you’ll have until 6 pm on Monday to take advantage of the deals and transport.

What do I need to pick up my Barcelona Card?

A printed out copy of the voucher sent at the moment of purchase + one piece of ID.

What happens if I buy a Barcelona Card for more than one traveller?

Only the booking party will have to enter their data on the web and show ID to pick them up.

What do I get in the free guide?

You’ll get all the information on Barcelona’s main attractions, a handy city and metro map, and a booklet full of coupons to redeem for free offers.

Can I split up the time?

No. The Barcelona Card is valid for consecutive hours and cannot be used in any other way.

Can my Barcelona Card discounts be combined with any other offers?

No.

Can my Barcelona card expire?

From the moment of purchase it is valid the calendar year plus the first six months of the next year.

Can I change/cancel my Barcelona Card?

All change and cancellation inquiries can be made to [email protected]

Is the transport valid in all of Barcelona?

In all of zone one yes. This is a huge area and you probably won’t be travelling outside it – not to worry.

What do you recommend for a young traveler or student?

For those lucky enough to be young this transport card may be slightly inconvenient.

Most Barcelona tourist discount cards can’t give you anything that doesn’t already apply to you (ie. Sagrada Familia gives a €2.00 youth/student discount) – as mentioned before, these discounts cannot be combined.

My advice is buy single discounted tickets online and use the Hola BCN for transport.

Can I use it on the Montjuïc Cable Car or the Tram Blau?

No. Transport to Montjuïc via the cable car or Tibidabo are not included.

If you want to get to Montjuic you can access the funicular using the Barcelona Card by connecting at Paral-lel metro station.

What is the full Barcelona Card museums list?

Free: CCCB, Fundació Antoni Tàpies, Fundació Joan Miró, MACBA, MNAC, Museu Picasso, El Born Centre Cultural, MUHBA, Cultures of the World Museum, Design Museum, Ethnological Museum, Frederic Marès Museum, CaixaForum, CosmoCaixa Science Museum, Natural Science Museum, Music Museum, Chocolate Museum, Catalan Modernism Museum, Egyptian Museum, Museum of Olympics and Sport.

Discounts (20%-30%): Archaeology Museum, Catalan History Museum, Wax Museum, Sex Museum, Perfume Museum, Maritime Museum, European Modern Art Museum, Motorcycle Museum.

Hit Me Up in the Comments Below

If you’re still not sure about the Barcelona Card then write me with any questions below.

Don’t be afraid to join the discount card discussion in my new Facebook group called I’m Off to Barcelona – here you can ask any questions, air out grievances, chat with fellow travelers, and more – anything goes!

And as always I’m here to answer any question in the comment section below that you have about your Barcelona holiday, no question is too ridiculous!

Happy travelling 🙂

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Comments

  1. Hi Ash! This is a great website. Our trip to BCN isn’t until the summer, where I realized it would be peak season. I’ve been reading a lot on discount cards and came across the Barcelona Pass (not the City Pass): https://www.barcelonapass.com/what-you-get/how-it-works.html

    This pass actually covers most of the attractions we want to see except for Sagrada and Guell, which I plan to purchase separately. (Question: Looks like the Gaudi Bundle doesn’t save you much; it’s actually a euros more than buying each separately on TicketBar — is this correct?)

    Anyway, I’m torn between the City Pass and Barcelona Pass – what are the pros and cons of buying one versus the other? Do you have to line up to get your tickets for the free attractions on the Barcelona Pass? Their website doesn’t offer much info on individual attraction ticket pick-up. We’re only in Barcelona for full 4 days, so we want to skip lines and save time as everyone else who is in the city for a short stay. Thanks in advance for your advice.

    Ciel

    Reply

    • Hi Ciel,

      I don’t promote the Barcelona Pass simply because according to most of my readers it’s a bit too “busy” in that it contains a lot of attractions (which you have to visit to get value) which are considered B list attractions or throw in attractions… most people don’t see Casa Punxes, the Aquarium, or Poble Espanyol… I promote the City Pass because it gets most travelers their top two attractions and gives flexibility with the 20% discount code.

      Also, there’s less flexibility because it is day dependent and not hour dependent… if your flight gets in at 4 pm and you go visit La Pedrera at 7 pm suddenly you’ve only got a couple hours to jam in the other stuff or you risk blowing the first day on only one place.

      I’m not sure about the pick up process, and I haven’t found anything either 🙁 All I can say is the City Pass can be all booked online and you’ll be able to show your tickets all on your smart phone.

      If I were really set on a big chunk of those attractions I don’t see how you couldn’t extract some value out of it… I just find it a bit clumsy and not as flexible as the city pass.

      It is indeed up to you however 🙂

      Ash

      Reply

  2. Hi Ash,
    I am thrilled to have found your blog. I’m still not sure how to get to the hotel from the airport (BCN), which metro stops are near by, is there anything close by, and which transportation card is best. This trip is for 2 adults in their 40s.

    Hotel is at Avenida Diagonal 589-591.
    Arrive mid day Wed, Feb 20, 2019 from Austin.

    Sun, Feb 24, we need to get to a Norwegian cruise ship at the port.

    Plans are to see major attractions and shop a bit.

    Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

    Thank you.

    Reply

    • Hi Sherry,

      To get to your hotel from the airport or get the metro l9 to Zona Universitaria and then change for the green line of the metro and take that to Maria Cristina station. It’ll be a quick walk from there.

      To get to the cruise port you can grab that same green line down to Drassanes station and from there grab the port bus to your terminal. Or of course you could take a taxi for about €20.00.

      Since you’ll be doing a lot of transport due to your location and I don’t know your exact attraction intentions I’d simply recommend getting an Hola BCN Card since it will cover your airport transport and give unlimited transport all over the city.

      Ash

      Reply

  3. Hello Ash! So happy I found your site. We are arriving at El Prat on Monday February 18 at 7am and staying at the H10 Casa Mimosa on Carrer de Pau Claris, 179. We leave on Thursday February 21 at 2:15pm.

    I’ve spent the afternoon trying to decide if we should get the Barcelona Card or Barcelona Pass. We plan to see most of the major sites, do a lot of walking and eating, and take public transport whenever possible. I’ve made a list of at least 12 attractions/museums/parks that we’d like to visit! And we are definitely using your 3 days in Barcelona as a guide:)

    What is the best way to get to our hotel from the airport? If we buy a 3-day card with the travel pass and start the clock when we arrive, it will expire before we need to get to the airport on Thursday.

    Thanks in advance for your advice,
    Janet

    Reply

    • Hi Janet,

      Thank you so much for the kind words 🙂

      Let’s see, if you’re doing most of the major sites and staying 3.5 days what you can do is this: grab the City Pass and with this get the 48 hour Barcelona Card… it’ll help you get through the big transport days at the beginning, but as you get more oriented and used to the city you can switch over to a T10 card for the third day (and a half).

      It’s got a one year validity so no issues there, it’s interpersonal so you can use it in a group, and you’ll be able to use it for any transport you want. And best of all it only costs just over €10.00 for 10 rides.

      The City Pass will cover the Aerobus which is good for you… you’ll take it to the terminus station at Plaça Catalunya and from here it’s either a 20 minute walk or you can take the green line of the metro up to Diagonal. From here it’s just a couple minutes walk to your hotel.

      Ash

      Reply

  4. Hi Ash,
    Thanks in advance for your feedback.
    My wife and I (Ages 61 & 57) are arriving at 8.40 am from Miami to Barcelona El Prat airport on Feb 16th and returning on 23rd (Dep 1.30pm). We have a timeshare reserved at Estival Park, Calle Cami del Reco, La Pineda, Vilaseca La Pineda, Tarragona.
    In between we are spending 2 nights (19th & 20th) in Barcelona City at The Four Seasons Sheraton on Avenida Diagonal 161-163 Barcelona 8018.
    Need your guidance on
    1) getting to Estival Park from the airport on 16th and when going back on 23rd.
    2) getting to Barcelona Hotel from Estival Park on 19th and back on 21st)
    3) Round trip for the day from Estival Park to Barcelona City back on one or 2 other days.
    4) Ideal way to get around the city to experience it, visit La Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Boqueria Market, Gaudi buildings, Picasso Museum and may be one other museum. A Flamenco show in the night, some places to walk around, people watch, etc.

    Thanks a ton!
    Pendy

    Reply

  5. Hi – We are traveling with two kids (ages 8 and 10). Looks like their entrance is free at most museums. Does it make sense to buy the Barcelona Card just for the adults and then buy separate transport tickets for the kids? Is there a child fare on the bus/metro? Having a hard time figuring that out! Thanks for all your helpful advice!!

    Reply

    • Hi HT,

      You’re exactly right with your read on this… since it’s hard to gather up much value for this kids using these cards (assuming the museums you’re going to are already free) I would grab the two Barcelona Cards for the adults and then simply use alternate means for the kids.

      In my article on visiting Barcelona with kids I’ve got some transport tips:

      https://www.barcelonahacks.com/barcelona-with-kids/

      If you give enough advance notice you can even get them free transport cards (instructions there)… otherwise I would simply just get an interpersonal T-10 card which is good. There is no child fare only that kids under 4 go free.

      Ash

      Reply

  6. Hi, Ash!
    We are one over 65 year old, one student and two let’s say “normal” adults. We’ll arrive on Feb 6 just after 11pm and we have booked an apartment on the corner of Gran Via and C. de la Calabria. I think Aerobus is the best to get to our apartment that late. We have 3 full days in Barcelona and we would like to visit Sagrada, Parc Güell, Casa Mila, Casa Batllo, Barcelona Cathedral and Picasso museum for sure and maybe Columbus Monument, Santa Maria Del Mar and MNAC if there’s enough time (we don’t want to rush!) What kind of discount card would you suggest? And transportation – it seems like pretty much we can reach on foot?

    Thank you in advance

    P.S. sorry for my bad English

    Reply

    • Hi Hannes,

      I would take the Aerobus to Gran Via/Urgell (the second stop) and from there you’ll have just a short walk. From this hotel you’ll be able to walk to Casa Mila and Casa Batllo and even the Cathedral (but about 25/30 minutes)… you will need some transport but not a ton of it.

      If the Bus Turistic seems like something you’d like I would suggest getting the Barcelona City Pass because it’ll get you all your attractions plus 20% off of some others.

      If not however there’s no shame simply buying your tickets individually online as you’ll get the cheapest prices.

      And don’t worry! Your English is perfect 🙂

      Ash

      Reply

  7. Hello Ash,

    My wife, 2 kids (ages 14, 9), aunt, and I are going to be in Barcelona from Mar 25-30. Our AirBnB is located near Europa Fira train stop. Is it easier for us if we take the train from the airport or the airport transfer bus? I am not quite sure where the bus is going to stop. We plan to purchase the Barcelona City Pass with Sagrada Familiar Tour and Park Guell. We also plan to take advantage of the hop on/off bus to soak in what Barcelona has to offer. We are probably going to purchase Hola BCN…how many days do you think we are going to need to get the full on Barcelona experience? Thanks for what you do and your insights are always appreciated.

    Sincerely,

    Ed

    Reply

    • Hi Ed,

      Honestly the bus will be a bit quicker but this is only if you catch it right away… since it has less frequency I would just grab the metro, also because it’s much easier to find. You should be able to get there in about 40 minutes or less.

      Since you’re stay a bit far out an Hola BCN sounds like the right call… and at 20% off using the City Pass it’s good value. That said, I’d simply get a 72 hour pass for the travel heavy full days, then once you’ve got your bearings simply switch over to a T-10 (which is interpersonal) as it’ll be a bit cheaper.

      My two cents 🙂

      Ash

      Reply

  8. Hi Ash!

    Thanks for all the info they’re really helpful.

    I’ll be staying in ‘Hostalin Barcelona Gran Via’ next week – could you advise me on how to get there from the airport?

    Also I only have 2 full days, as I arrive around 1pm on the first day.. so that’s about half day gone after settling in and stuff. Plan to visit the musts – Sagrada Familia, Casa Batllo, Casa Mila, Park Guell, Las Ramblas + Gothic Quarter, Montjuic. So far only these

    Is this ok 2 days? Do you think I would need any passes? just got myself the guided tour ticket for Sagrada too.

    Thank you!

    Reply

    • Hi Fie,

      To get to your hostel I would take the Aerobus to Plaça Catalunya (the last stop) and from there it’s about a 10 minute walk. Simple as.

      For your sights I would say that this is the perfect amount without getting too rushed… since you’re not grabbing the Bus Turistic and already have Sagrada booked I wouldn’t recommend the City Pass. Also, since you don’t appear to be interested in any museums you won’t get enough value out of the Barcelona Card.

      I would simply book the attractions individually and then use a T-10 for transport (bought at any of the metro machines).

      Ash

      Reply

  9. i will stay in Barcelona Airport Hotel on November 16, 2019, I know hotel will provide shuttle bus. I will stay in Barcelona for 2 days, pls advise which pass should i pick? I need to go to Barcelona cruise terminal the second day, pls advise if I can take public transport from my hotel to cruise terminal?

    Reply

    • Hi Kitty,

      Can you let me know which attractions you’re planning on visiting? Only then could I advise you on the best pass for saving money etc. What I can tell you is that you’ll need to take one or two buses to get from your hotel to the cruise port… I have done the search via Google maps and you can consult which is best here.

      Regards,

      Ash

      Reply

    • Thanks for your info. Can I know if I buy hop on off bus, how far from my hotel to the nearest stop of their blue and red line? How do I take public transit ?

      Reply

  10. Hello Ash

    Thanks for all this useful info on Barcelona. We will be visiting Barcelona this Saturday and staying at Avenida Diagonal 578, Sarrià-St. Gervasi.
    What would be the best way to get there from the airport (we will be arriving in the afternoon)?

    Muchas gracias

    Reply

    • Hi Samantha,

      Thanks for your thanks! I’m glad to help 🙂

      Honestly your hotel is in a bit of a dead spot and as such there is no real direct option. Unless you take a taxi you’re going to need to take at least two different buses or a combination of train plus bus or metro plus tram.

      I would opt for the two buses option simply because there is more frequency.

      You can take the A1 or A2 bus (Plaça Catalunya) from the airport to the Gran Via – Comte Borrell stop and then change to the V11. From here it’s just 4 stops to Casanova – Diagonal. This leaves you just a 2-3 minute walk to your hotel.

      The journey should take about 45-50 minutes.

      Ash

      Reply

      • Thanks Ash. Seems like a bit of a nightmare. So we might just get a taxi.

        Feliz Navidad!

        Reply

        • Indeed, even though you’re actually quite central it’s somewhat of a transport dead spot 🙁 Enjoy the trip, and a feliz navidad to you as well!

          Reply

  11. Hello Ash
    thank you for the useful information provided on Barcelona. i will be staying in AC Hotel Irla. Can you advise on the transportation to this hotel from El-Prat airport? we will be arriving at 7am. am planning to get the barcelona card.

    thanking you in advance.
    Leanne

    Reply

    • Hi Leanne,

      Thanks for the kind words 🙂

      With the Barcelona Card I would take the R2 train from the airport and get off at Sants Estacio. From here you can grab bus 27 and get off at the Travessera de Gracia stop (it should only be about 6-7 minutes)… from here it’s a quick walk.

      Ash

      Reply

  12. Hola Ash!
    Great info and very appreciative of your help. My family and I will be in Barcelona from Sat. Nov 24 to Wed. Nov 28… two adults, 3 children ages 5,7,9. We are staying in Passeig de Gracia— we want to see Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Casa Mila and try to do some city tours; go to Picasso museum, museum Catalunya, and possibly the gothic tour — there is so much I want to see (in 4 days) i’m Overwhelmed! And it may not be possible to see everything with the kiddos…. We need airport and daily transport… which card or city pass is better to include those things and can I buy the Gaudí bundle pass for just myself and my husband, along with Barcelona Card? Or is city pass better option? (We aren’t doing the zoo or aquarium) Thank you for your time and dedication to this website!

    Reply

    • Hi Tiffany,

      Thanks for writing in and your very kind words 🙂

      Since you’re saying you want to see so much I’m going to have to recommend the City Pass because it’ll just give you a ton of flexibility and 20% off many things you’ve mentioned. You get Sagrada and Park Guell covered skipping the line, The Bus Turistic is one of the best city tours, really educational, and kids love it. Also includes the best airport transport in the Aerobus that takes you right to Passeig de Gracia.

      Honestly I think if you’re staying at Passeig de Gracia you’re going to be walking distance to so much stuff so the daily transport isn’t the most important – if however you do need it the City Pass includes a 20% discount for the Hola BCN. You may just want to grab the 48 hour version to get your bearings in the city then walk the last two days. Could save a bit of money.

      Anyway, hope this helps! Make sure to check out my list of best things to do in Barcelona with kids if you haven’t already.

      Ash

      Reply

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