Melo Villareal
How to Get From Barcelona Airport to the City Centre
Welcome to the city of Barcelona! It is well known for its rich history, unique culture, and fantastic displays of art and architecture. But before you get to see all this elegant city has to offer, you will have to find your way to its heart first. Thankfully, the city has many well-established public transport services, making it exceptionally easy for any tourist or resident to get around. Here are all the best ways to reach the center of Barcelona from the El Prat Airport.
Aerobus
This is the fastest and one of the more affordable ways to reach Barcelona via a form of public transportation. These express buses are spacious and can take you from either of the Airports terminals to four key areas in the City, including Plaça España, Gran Via – Urgell, Plaça Universitat, and Plaça de Catalunya. They also stop near metro stations, making it easy for your to get closer to your final destination.
Taxi
If you’re traveling with a larger group or if you are carrying a lot of heavy luggage, taking a taxi will be the most convenient way to reach the city center. A trip from Terminal 1 to the Center will take anywhere between 20-25 minutes, while a trip from Terminal 2 will take about 25-30 minutes.
Keep in mind that they may add surcharges to your fare depending on when you use their services. The average cost will be around €25.00 to €35.00.
Metro
The metro is slightly cheaper than an Aerobus ticket, but it takes much longer. It’s a great choice if you would like to save a bit of money and aren’t in a hurry. One specific metro line that serves both airport terminals is the L9 South, which is also linked with the city center.
You will have to make one or two transfers to reach downtown Barcelona, which totals your travel time to an average of 30 to 50 minutes, depending on where exactly you’d like to go.
Commuter Train
This is another cheap way to reach the city. The R2 North line on the Renfe commuter train can take you from Terminal 2 to the main train stations in the city, Barcelona Sants Station, and Paseo de Gràcia in 20 to 30 minutes.
You’ll have to note that while the trains don’t service Terminal 1, there is a free bus service that travels between the two terminals every few minutes.
Urban Bus
If you would like to take the most leisurely way to the city for the lowest price, the urban bus can pick up passengers at Terminal 1 or 2 and reach Plaza España in an hour. You will have to wait about 30 minutes for the bus to arrive.
This isn’t recommended for those who have quite a bit of luggage as this bus is part of the city’s urban network, making many stops and picking up many regular residents during their daily commute.
Barcelona Travel and Tour Packages
To help you plan out your visit to Barcelona, we listed places to visit and things to do for your itinerary. We also listed some of the best Barcelona travel and tour packages, as well as excellent flight deals and accommodation.
Tripadvisor has a list of the best Barcelona vacation packages. You may check out Airbnb listings in Barcelona for cheap but high-quality accommodation.
Searching for the best Barcelona hotels, resorts, and affordable flights in the nearby Cities? Check out our list of affordable Barcelona hotels and resorts via Agoda, or you may also see available Airbnb properties in the city.
Want more updates about new tourist spots and other interesting attractions in Barcelona, Spain? Follow #TeamOutofTown, on Facebook, and Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest for more travel ideas.
Also read:
- Brilliant Streets and Genius Architecture: Two Days in Barcelona, Spain
- Top Five Things To Do When Visiting Barcelona
- Barcelona Hotels with the Highest Traveler Ratings
- Barcelona in Pictures
- Barcelona grabs your heart from the first glance
