Getting from Barcelona airport to the city centre is easy and affordable. In this post, I will explain the various transportation options available, including the metro, train, bus, taxi, and private transfer.
Barcelona El Prat Airport handles around 50 million passenger movements annually and is Spain’s second busiest airport.
With its two terminals, three runways and excellent passenger infrastructure, you can commute the 15 kilometres from Barcelona Airport to the city centre smoothly and safely in less than 30 minutes.
Capital of the Catalunya region of Spain, Barcelona attracts more than ten million visitors a year, with many arriving via Barcelona El Prat Airport.
If you are planning to be one of those visitors, have a look at this post about the best things to do in Barcelona and this one about the best places to stay in Barcelona. They will be very useful in preparing for your visit.
This article covers the available transport options to get you from the airport to where you want to be as quickly and smoothly as possible.
How to get from Barcelona Airport to city centre
1. Aerobus, a fast, smooth airport shuttle service that operates 24/7
Operating from terminals 1 and 2, the Aerobus is a highly popular transport option for most singles, couples, families and groups of travellers wanting to get from Barcelona Airport to the city centre as hassle-free as possible.
Two Aerobus routes operate out of Barcelona Airport, A1 from Terminal 1 and A2 from Terminal 2. Both routes from the airport terminate at Barcelona’s main square by the large Corte Inglés superstore and close to the Metro station.
However, for your return journey to the airport, be sure to board the right coach. A1 for terminal 1 and A2 for terminal 2.
Aerobus stops are clearly signed and located outside the arrivals hall of both terminals. With AEROBUS splashed down both sides of the coach, they are difficult to miss.
Operating 24 hours a day, Aerobus runs every five to ten minutes and between 20 and 30 minutes through the night for late arrivals.
Tickets can be bought from vending machines and kiosks in the airport arrivals, downloaded to your phone or from the driver using low denomination notes or coins.
Intermediate stops that you might be interested in from Barcelona Airport to the city centre are, Gran Via-Urgell, Pl. Espanya, Pl. Universitat, and Pl. Catalunya with a journey time of around 35 minutes.
A single ticket costs €7,25 euros and a return (valid for 15 days) €12,50. Children under four years travel free.
More info: https://aerobusbarcelona.es/
2. Commuter TMB Bus Routes no.46 and N17, N18 and N19
Route 46 and the night route N17 can get very busy during early morning or evening commuter hours. Nonetheless, for those travelling light or who like to live it like a native, they are a good and cheap way to get from Barcelona Airport to the city centre.
Line 46 operate from 5:30 am until 11:50 pm, and buses depart from both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 of the airport every 15 minutes.
With numerous drop-off/pick-up stops along the way, journey time to the city centre can be double that of the Aerobus, 40 minutes to one hour, depending on traffic.
These buses get very busy during work commuting hours and with minimum storage space are not really suitable for those with large suitcases or other bulky items.
A single ticket available from vending machines, kiosks, or the driver costs €2.55.
There are two main night time bus services operating out of Barcelona Airport:, N17 operating from T1 and N18 operating from both terminals.
Journey times to the city centre for N17 are approximately one hour, and for N18, around 45 minutes.
Operating times are:
- Nº46 from Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 operates from 5:30 am until 11:50 pm
- N17 from Terminal 1 operates from 21:55 pm until 04:45 am
- N18 from Terminal 1 operates from 00:18 am until 04:33 am
A single one-way ticket for the night lines costs €2.55.
More info: http://www.ambmobilitat.cat/Principales/BusquedaNitBus.aspx
3. Consider an Airport Taxi
Official Barcelona taxis are painted black with yellow doors and boot (trunk) and a TAXI sign on the roof. They also all operate on meters.
A taxi is a popular option from Barcelona Airport to the city centre because it is a door-to-door service wherever you stay in Barcelona. Meaning no humping and bumping of hefty bags or suitcases around the city streets.
Taxi ranks can be found outside Terminals 1 and 2 (follow the signs) and are managed by airport personnel who will call you up from the queue.
Most cabs are licenced to carry four passengers. Should you require a six-seater people carrier, mention it to the rank manager (who will normally be wearing a high-vis jacket), and he will organise it.
Barcelona taxis, from the airport and around the city, operate 24/7, 365 days a year.
Standard Barcelona taxis cannot accommodate visitors using electric disability chairs.
If you or any of your travelling companions fall into this category, contact this company, which specialises in disability transport: https://www.taxiamic.cat/en/ You can pre-book these taxis online.
Taxi fees are notoriously difficult to tie down due to the various supplements you are likely to be charged. For instance:
- Supplement for starting your journey from the airport €4.50
- Supplement from 08:00 to 20:00 per kilometre €1:27
- Supplement from 20:00 to 08:00 €1.56 per kilometre
Additional charges include public holidays, Christmas, New Year, extra luggage and any toll roads you might travel on. That said, no toll roads exist between Barcelona Airport and the city centre.
The average cost of going from Barcelona Airport to the city centre by taxi, depending on where you are staying, will generally be between €30 and €40.
Those who prefer to do everything on their smartphone can download several taxi apps.
4. Private transfers, for those looking for a premium service
No matter how well-organised an airport is, with hundreds of visitors arriving every minute from around the world you’re going to get bottlenecks. Queues build at taxi ranks, bus stops, and metro and train platforms, and the stress levels begin to rise.
But there is a better way to get your visit off to a flying start. Long the choice of international business people who want to get from A to B as quickly as possible, private transfers are becoming increasingly popular with vacation visitors wishing to get to their hotel quickly and easily with minimum fuss and holdups.
The big plus with Private Transfer is everything can be organised online. Vehicle choice ranges from modern, well-maintained saloons (sedans), minivans for those with extra luggage, to people carriers (minibuses) for larger parties and top-of-the-range limos for those who want to do it in style.
With all details completed, you can look forward to a Meet-and-Greet service with a professional English-speaking driver, and the company will monitor your flight to ensure your vehicle is waiting whether you land early or late.
Although a little more expensive than a standard taxi, the extra is repaid with a smooth, holdup-free ride to your hotel.
With everything completed, the final price is fixed, with no hidden extras. What you see is what you pay. The cost of high-end limousines will vary depending on the vehicle.
Check some deals here: Barcelona: El Prat Airport (BCN) Private Transfer
5. Using the Metro to get from Barcelona Airport to the city centre
For backpackers and those travelling light, the Metro is a cheap, fast, clean and efficient way to get from Barcelona Airport to the city centre.
El Prat Airport has two metro stations: Airport 1, located on the ground floor of Terminal 1, and Airport 2, located just outside Terminal 2, next to the train station. Follow the Metro signs in the arrival halls.
The Orange Metro line, L9, is split into L9 Sud (south) and L9 Nord (north). It is only L9 Sud that stops at the airport.
The stops on this line are as follows: Aeroport T1, Aeroport T2, Mas Blau, Parc Nou, Centric, El Prat Estacio, Les Moreres, Mercabarna, Parc Logistic, Fira, Europa, Fira, Can Tries, Gornal, Torrassa, Collblanc and Zona Universitaria.
Depending on your final destination, you may have to change lines during your journey.
The orange L9 Sud stops at both terminals and departs at seven-minute intervals. Journey time into the city centre is just over 30 minutes.
Operating times of the airport metro are:
- Monday through Thursday and Sunday. 05:00 – 00:00
- Fridays and Public Holidays. 05:00 – 02:00
- Saturdays. 05:00 and right through the night
A one-way ticket on the Metro from Barcelona Airport to the city centre will cost €5.50. Tickets are available from vending machines and kiosks in the metro stations.
Numerous integrated transport tickets are also available from kiosks, machines on the concourse, or as downloads and are a good option if you intend to explore Barcelona by public transport during your stay.
However, care needs to be taken when choosing which to purchase, as not all include the cost of the return metro ticket to the airport, and an additional ticket will need to be bought.
6. Getting to Barcelona centre by Train
In addition to using the metro, visitors can get from Barcelona Airport to the city centre by train, although some caveats apply. During peak travelling times the trains get very busy with commuters and visitors, many having to stand in the aisles along with any luggage.
The train station is 200m from Terminal 2 and connected by an overpass and escalator suitable for people with disabilities and those with heavy luggage.
If you land at Terminal 1, a free, 24/7 shuttle bus connecting T1 to T2 runs every five minutes.
You will find ticket offices and train ticket vending machines in the terminals and the train station that accept cash and credit/debit cards. A single journey ticket costs €4.90, and children under four travel free.
Trains begin operating from the airport station at 05:42 am through to 11:38pm. Departing every 30 mins, the journey time to central Barcelona is approx. 25 minutes.
There are 21 stops on the journey to the city, and if you’re staying in the city area, the following may be where you need to alight.
- Barcelona -Sants: The main station. Good if you’re staying around Placa Espanya, Montjuic or further afield in Spain.
- Passeig de Gracia: For those staying around the city centre or Eixample.
- El Clot-Arago: Serving areas of Clot, Poblenou and northern areas of Eixample.
- Estació de França: Central Barcelona, close to the Barceloneta district, Born and Ribera district and a few museums and the aquarium.
7. Do it by Uber
After protests by taxi drivers and several court cases, Uber re-started operations in Barcelona in 2018 under the app UberX.
Uber is not allowed to wait at official taxi ranks in the airport. When you book your ride, you will receive instructions on where to find your driver’s pick-up point. This may not be your nearest exit, so be ready to do a little walking with your luggage.
Most users assume an Uber ride is cheaper than a taxi ride, but this is not necessarily the case.
Uber are a supply and demand organisation, so should they be busy (because all taxis are busy), your fare will likely be similar or even a little more expensive than a registered taxi.
So, to get from Barcelona Airport to the city centre, assume a similar charge of between €30 to €40. The price will be displayed on the app, and of course, you can choose whether or not to accept it.
8. Car Hire from Barcelona Airport to city centre
Hiring a car just to get from Barcelona Airport to the city centre is not recommended. However, pre-booking a hire car is a good option if you plan to spend a night or two in the city and the remainder of your holiday exploring other areas of Catalunya.
Car hire desks are located in both terminals, are easy to find, and are manned from 07:00 until midnight.
Pre-booking online is highly recommended to get the best deals and to ensure the car you’ve booked is waiting at the airport on the day of your arrival.
There are a few points worth mentioning before you book your vehicle.
In Spain, they drive on the right-hand side, and although most road signs are similar in design to those on UK roads, driving styles can be somewhat different.
With this in mind, it is worth considering liability waiver insurance should your vehicle get a bump on the road or when parked, to avoid having to pay the insurance excess.
Car owners in mainline Spain don’t have to pay road tax. Instead, Spain has more toll roads on which to tax drivers. Payment options tend to vary on different toll roads.
On some, you can pay by debit/credit card. On others using cash (Euros only), so make sure when out and about you have a pocket of small change for the barriers.
Finally, when hiring your car, check with the company whether they put a mileage limit in the contract and what it is. If you exceed the mileage, you will be liable for an excess surcharge.
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