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Barcelona Public Transport Guide + Travel Card List

03/01/2018 By: Ash10 Comments

barcelona public transport users on the metro

A local like me is still learning the Barcelona public transport system.

I can only imagine what tourists feel like stepping into the city cold turkey. The variety of options for getting around Barcelona can get downright confusing.

Let us depart on a journey together then shall we?

Here’s your guide to mastering the city’s public transit, seeing what you need to see, and most of all saving money using discount transport cards.

Index

1 – The metro
2 – Bus + night buses
3 – Taxis + ride sharing
4 – Hop on hop off bus
5 – Cable cars + funicular
6 – Scooter rental
7 – Bicycles
8 – Which discount transport pass?
9 – Airport transport
10 – Transport zones

Barcelona Public Transport

First off some advice: standard zone 1 single tickets go from €2.20 and up. It’s possible to cut this price in half by getting yourself an all-inclusive discount transport pass.

If you’ve got any questions about the passes write me in the comments below for custom advice.

The Metro

The metro is fast, efficient, and air-conditioned.

With 8 lines it’s almost impossible not to find a station near your apartment or hostel. You’ll always find access for people with disabilities. It’s intuitive and easy to navigate so basically… just take it!

Trains run every 2 to 3 minutes. On weekends you may wait 4 to 5 minutes for your train while nights after 10 o’ clock it runs at 7-8 minute intervals.

Barcelona Metro Map:

Complimentary maps are found in the stations as well as being plastered pretty much everywhere else. If you’re prone to getting lost make sure you pick one up.

You can also grab your Barcelona metro map in advance online.

Barcelona Metro Hours:

  • Sunday to Thursday from 5 am to 12 am.
  • Friday from 5 am to 2 am.
  • Saturday from 5 am and open all night.

Barcelona City Bus and Night-Buses

In Barcelona buses and night buses cover the entire city grid. It’s a great mode of transport because it allows you to see some of the city’s top attractions up close.

Keep in mind though there are some downsides:

  • You need an advanced sense of direction!
  • It’s slower than the metro.
  • You may have to stand.
  • Without a Barcelona transport card each ride will cost you €2.20.

Barcelona’s red buses run every 8-15 minutes from 5 am to 10 pm depending on the line. At night you’ll find the yellow nit bus (night bus) which runs every 20-30 minutes.

This website will help you find your bus but be careful setting the filters before your search.

Starting from January 2017 all Barcelona buses should have free wifi – but don’t expect supersonic speeds.

Taxis

I’m happy to report that taking a taxi in Barcelona is remarkably simple.

On main streets I rarely wait more than a minute. Barcelona taxis are black and yellow and a green light indicates a cab is available while a yellow light indicates they’re taken.

Prices are affordable. Consider €8.00 to €15.00 as the average price for rides within the city.

From the airport to the city center you’ll be charged about €35.00 to €40.00. Every driver must use a meter but it’s possible that at the end of the ride you’ll be charged a slightly higher price.

There may be an extra charge applied for rides to the airport, large luggage, or night fares.

MyTaxi

Starting in 2017 another transport option is to use Barcelona’s taxi booking app MyTaxi.

Never before has booking one of the city’s regulated black and yellow taxis been so easy – it’ll save you time hailing cabs and the odds of being taken for a ride are zero since the route is preplanned, like Uber.

Downloading the app is also a great chance to take advantage of my €5.00 reader discount. Simply insert the code “ashley.pil” upon sign up and you’re set to go.

For more information see how to sign up with MyTaxi.

The Tourist Bus

The best transport to see Barcelona if you detest walks or are traveling with kids.

This hop on hop off bus counts three different lines and will take you to pretty much every main attraction in the city. The roofless upper deck is a great place to get some sun and soak up the 360 degree view.

The free audio guide and app will make you a Barcelona expert in no time. And there’s WiFi.

You’ll also get €200.00 of vouchers toward attractions, shopping, restaurants, and more.

Prices start at €26.10.

For more information read my article on Barcelona’s famous Bus Turístic.

Cable Cars and Funicular

Montjuïc Cable Car

With unspoiled views from 184 metres above the city, the open-air architecture museum Poble Espanyol, and its famous castle no trip would be complete without a trip up Montjuïc and this is a great way to do it in style!

Float 84.5 metres above the city and take in the incredible city views as you ride the Montjuïc cable car. The 750 metre run leaves from Avenida Miramar and stops at Montjuïc park and Montjuïc Castle.

Unfortunately the Montjuïc cable car isn’t included with any Barcelona travel card: a return ticket costs €12.50 per for adults and €9.00 for children between 4 and 12.

If you buy tickets online the Barcelona Tourism Office will give you a 10% discount.

MONTJUIC CABLE CARBook Online Now

Just print out the vouchers that they email you and head straight for the cable car. To get there you’ll need to take other transport options like the funicular, the Bus Turistic, or bus #150.

Port Vell Cable Car

Not to be mistaken with the Montjuïc cable car, even if this one takes you on a magical ride high above Barcelona as well. This one was built in 1926 and its distinctly ‘antique’ cars are a dead giveaway of this.

It isn’t included in any of the travel cards either and has the disadvantage of being sold solely in person – you’ll have to line up at ticket counters to go. Tickets cost €11 one way and €16.50 return. Consult their departure schedules online.

The Port Vell Cable Car leaves from the Torre de San Sebastién, a few steps away from the beaches of Barceloneta and stops halfway at Torre di Jaime I (the port) and continues to Avenida Miramar at the foot of Montjuïc.

The Montjuïc Funicular

The good news? It’s valid with any Barcelona travel card. You won’t get a view since it’s more like a type of covered metro that slowly moves uphill, but we’re taking this for value anyway.

The funicular is caught at Parallel (green line L3) metro station and leaves you at Avenida Miramar where the Montjuïc cable car leaves.

Barcelona Scooter Rental

Can’t you just imagine yourself cruising around all Mediterranean-like by renting a scooter?

Cooltra is the highest ranking scooter rental agency on Tripadvisor and is known for its reliable service and rigorous safety and inspection standards. And you can get one for as little as €25.00.

Booking your scooter using my discount code ‘BARCELONAHACKS’ gets you a €10.00 discount.

RENT A SCOOTERBook Online Now

Bicycle

With a climate so mild getting around by bike is not only possible but suggested. The benefits of renting a bike in Barcelona are as follows:

  • It’s good exercise.
  • Better for the environment.
  • There are more than 200 km of bike lanes to take advantage of.
  • It gives you access to streets unreachable by public transport.
  • Prices start at just €5.00.

For the cheapest and most reliable service with flexible rental windows check out my article on Barcelona bike rentals.

Careful: the red and white bikes you’ll spot around the city (Bicing) are only for residents.

paella tasting menu discount bodega joan barcelona

Barcelona Transport Tickets

To figure out which Barcelona travel card is right for you I’ve made a list below – so you can spend more time planning a real Barcelona itinerary than worrying how you’re gonna pay for the bus.

These all-inclusive Barcelona public transport tickets include access to the following:

  • Metro.
  • City buses.
  • Ferrocarril (overground rail services).
  • Transport from the airport to the city center.
  • The Montjuïc funicular (not to be confused with the Montjuïc Cable Car).

Keep in mind if you’re traveling outside zone one (rare since zone one is massive) you’ll need to pay extra. Those of you with kids? You’ll be happy to know kids under four travel free.

The Hola BCN Card

The Hola BCN card is a discount tourist travel card with unlimited travel. You won’t have to worry about buying new tickets. It comes with a 48, 72, 96, or 120 hour validity and prices vary from €14.25 to €33.25.

You can buy your Hola BCN card online from the Barcelona Tourism Office and pick it up at either airport terminal or in Plaça Catalunya. Just print out the vouchers or show it on your smart phone.

If you buy in advance online you’ll save 5%.

HOLA BCN CARDGet a 5% Discount Now

The Barcelona Card

This one is for more than just getting around and that’s why I’ve dedicated an entire article to this popular Barcelona travel card.

On top of unlimited travel it also includes free entry and discounts on attractions, museums and other activities. If you’re here for culture or shopping or both this one is highly recommended.

Like the Hola BCN this card comes with a 48, 72, 96, or 120 hour validity and prices range from €19.00 to €57.00.

If you buy in advance online you’ll save 10%.

BARCELONA CARDGet a 10% Discount Now

The Online City Pass

The new player in the Barcelona travel card game. It includes tickets to Sagrada Familia and Park Guell – allowing you to skip hours of lines by having your entrance printed out in advance.

On top of this you’ll get return tickets on the best Barcelona airport transport with Aerobus, a one or two day pass on the Bus Turistic, and 20% discounts to virtually every main attraction in Barcelona including restaurants, museums, flamenco shows, and more.

It also gives you 20% off the Hola BCN public transport pass.

It’s the only ticket that allows you to have the whole holiday planned from the comfort of home – all the tickets including the 20% discounted ones can be bought online which means no lines.

ONLINE CITY PASSRegular Admission

The T-10

The mother of Barcelona public transport tickets among residents.

This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right one for you. T-10 tickets cost €10.20 and include 10 public transport rides with a 1 hour and 15 minute validity.

This card is not valid for the metro from the airport. The T-10 ticket doesn’t expire and is ‘interpersonal’ meaning a group of friends can share the same ticket by stamping it once for every person traveling. It can be bought at every metro or train station.

A comparison? The mathematics say if you’re going to travel more than six times a day (very probable) the Hola BCN is the transport card to get.

Transportation From the Airport

One of the most common questions I get is how to get from the airport to the city centre.

The main options are the Aerobus, the metro, the bus, and the airport train from Terminal 2. The metro is more suited to residents on the outskirts and is not connected to the centre.

The other options run to Sants Estacio, Plaça de Espanya, Plaça d’Espanya, and Passeig de Gracia.

I suggest looking at my article on airport transport to find the right one suited to you.

Barcelona Public Transport Zones

With 6 zones covering nearly 300 different towns things are a bit confusing at first.

The good news? The odds of you going outside zone 1 are virtually zero unless you’re going to beach side towns like Sitges. None of Barcelona’s major attractions are found outside this area.

Check out this Barcelona public transportation zone map just to be sure.

Get at Me in the Comments Below

You must be exhausted after all that reading, how did you find it?

Let me save you even more time – if you’ve got any questions about travel cards, Barcelona public transport, or anything else regarding your holiday in Spain get at me now in the comments below.

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MORE FROM MY SITE:

  • Get Unlimited Rides Cheap on this Barcelona Travel CardGet Unlimited Rides Cheap on this Barcelona Travel Card
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  • 5 Ways to Get From Barcelona Airport to City Centre Fast5 Ways to Get From Barcelona Airport to City Centre Fast
  • The Barcelona City Pass that Saves You 3 Hours of LinesThe Barcelona City Pass that Saves You 3 Hours of Lines

Comments

  1. Sathya says

    29/03/2018 at 3:39 PM

    Hi Ash,

    We are coming tomorrow and staying at Castelldefell with two children for 8 nights! From your blog I understand it would be best to get the Hola BCN and the city pass to get the discounts on attractions.

    Have I got this right?

    You have definitely hacked a number of Barcelona loving hearts:) Fantastic resource!!

    Many Thanks

    Sathya

    Reply
    • Ash says

      29/03/2018 at 3:54 PM

      Hi Sathya,

      Thank you so much for the very kind words, that’s amazing! I am glad I can help 🙂

      You’re certainly right about the City Pass + Hola BCN (which will have a 20% discount) for the visit. Especially over long visits like 8 days you can really rack up the savings.

      You’ll be doing a lot of traveling back and forth to Castelldefels and luckily it’s still in Zone 1 so the Hola BCN works.

      Any more questions I am here!

      Ash

      Reply
  2. Allison says

    20/03/2018 at 5:30 PM

    I have just found your website and it has been invaluable in planning my short 2 day stay in Barcelona. One question I have that I can not seem to find the answer to that I was hoping you could help me with. We will be staying at the Hilton Diagonal Mar (Passeig del Taulat, 262-264, 08019) and I can not seem to determine if this falls in Zone 1 for the metro. I am trying to determine if buying a T-10 card or Barcelona Transport Card would be beneficial as we plan to spend most of our days near the main attractions in City Center, however, if our hotel is outsize of Zone 1, I don’t know that there is much of a point. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated!

    Reply
    • Ash says

      20/03/2018 at 5:34 PM

      Hi Allison,

      Your hotel is most definitely in Zone 1 as it extends way out beyond the Parc del Forum area and essentially starts up the coast in a small town! No worries at all 🙂

      Ash

      Reply
  3. chrissy says

    17/03/2018 at 3:56 AM

    I don’t understand. For the T-10 ticket, what does it mean when it says “10 public transport rides with a 1 hour and 15 minute validity.”

    Reply
    • Ash says

      17/03/2018 at 11:14 AM

      Hi Chrissy,

      It simply means you can use it 10 times on either bus, metro, or tram and that you’ll only use up one ride every 75 minutes. For example, if you take the metro then get off and present the ticket to board the tram within the time frame, it’ll be counted as one ride and not two.

      Ash

      Reply
  4. DJR says

    07/11/2016 at 6:15 AM

    Last Jan. 2016 my wife and rode the Port Vell cable car. It was cool looking at all the yachts and a couple of military ships however it was akin to riding in a coors beer can suspended by twine not for the faint of heart.

    Reply
    • Ash says

      07/11/2016 at 12:15 PM

      haha! Yes, certainly it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but for me the fear is half the fun 😉

      Reply
  5. AL says

    26/09/2016 at 10:14 AM

    I strongly recommend NOT to use buses. We tried a bus and went in the wrong direction for one stop and the bus terminated. The bus would then be going in the correct direction being a circular bus route(150). The bus driver rudely forced everyone off bus and told us to buy new tickets. Even Spanish tourists were shocked by his behavior as we weren’t the only ones to make that mistake.

    Reply
    • Ash says

      26/09/2016 at 10:39 AM

      indeed, with such wide metro coverage in the city centre buses are usually a last resort kind of thing, sorry to hear this! 🙁

      Reply

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