Getting around Barcelona
The best ways to get around Barcelona
The airport metro and Aerobús, the T-casual and the Hola Barcelona card, taxis, the hop-on bus and day trips by train. Here is how to get around Barcelona, with honest advice on which ticket pays off, the airport extras nobody mentions and finding your way to each sight.
See our 6 picks
The best way to get around Barcelona is on foot and by metro, with a T-casual ticket for 10 rides. It costs €13 in one zone. From the airport, metro L9 Sud takes about 32 minutes, but it needs the €5.90 airport ticket. You do not need a car in the city. Montserrat and Girona both have trains.
The 6 passes and hop-on buses we would book
Two travel cards and four hop-on bus tickets. All six show free cancellation on GetYourGuide.
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from €20 per person Our top pick 48 to 120 hours 4.5 (22,523) reviews on GetYourGuide
Hola Barcelona travel card
Unlimited rides on the metro, buses, tram, FGC and Rodalies trains in zone 1. It includes one metro trip from the airport and one back. It starts when you first use it.
Best for First-timers who ride a lot
Check availability: Hola Barcelona travel card on GetYourGuide -
from €59 per person 72 to 120 hours 4.4 (2,416) reviews on GetYourGuide
Barcelona Card
Free public transport plus free entry to more than 25 museums. It runs for 72, 96 or 120 hours from first use. The Aerobús and night buses are not included.
Best for Museum days plus transport
Check availability: Barcelona Card on GetYourGuide - from €33 per person
From Plaça de Catalunya
Hop-on bus, two routes
4.4 (24,973) reviews on GetYourGuide
Barcelona City Tour hop-on hop-off bus
Two routes on one ticket, from Plaça de Catalunya. The audio guide comes in 16 languages, and a host on board speaks several. The last bus leaves at 18:00 in winter and 19:00 in summer.
Best for A first sightseeing day
Check availability: Barcelona City Tour hop-on hop-off bus on GetYourGuide - from €33 per person
Every 10 to 25 min
Hop-on bus, two routes
About 2 hours per route 4.3 (12,046) reviews on GetYourGuide
City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus
Two routes of about 120 minutes each. Buses come every 10 to 25 minutes, from 9am to 7pm at Stop 1. You can use the ticket up to 3 months from the date you pick.
Best for Riders who want more buses
Check availability: City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus on GetYourGuide -
from €44 per person 1 or 2 days 4.3 (778) reviews on GetYourGuide
Hop-on bus plus a 1-hour sailing cruise
The City Tour bus plus one hour on a boat along the coast. If weather stops the cruise, you get another day or a part refund. It is not suitable for people with limited mobility.
Best for Bus and sea in one day
Check availability: Hop-on bus plus a 1-hour sailing cruise on GetYourGuide -
from €63 per person 1 or 2 days 4.3 (268) reviews on GetYourGuide
Hop-on bus plus Barcelona Aquarium
A 1 or 2 day bus ticket plus one entry to the Aquarium. Buses leave about every 30 minutes, from 9:00 to 19:00.
Best for Families
Check availability: Hop-on bus plus Barcelona Aquarium on GetYourGuide
Barcelona passes and hop-on buses compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hola Barcelona travel card | €20 per person | 48 to 120 hours | First-timers who ride a lot | The simplest way to stop thinking about tickets for two to five days. |
| Barcelona Card | €59 per person | 72 to 120 hours | Museum days plus transport | It pays off only if you plan to visit several museums. |
| Barcelona City Tour hop-on hop-off bus | €33 per person | Not stated | A first sightseeing day | The most-reviewed of the hop-on buses we list, with a host on board. |
| City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus | €33 per person | About 2 hours per route | Riders who want more buses | Much the same as the City Tour bus, with buses as often as every 10 minutes. |
| Hop-on bus plus a 1-hour sailing cruise | €44 per person | 1 or 2 days | Bus and sea in one day | The one ticket that adds the sea to a bus day. |
| Hop-on bus plus Barcelona Aquarium | €63 per person | 1 or 2 days | Families | A rainy-day backup built into a sightseeing day. |
€20 per person48 to 120 hours 4.5 (22,523)
Details
- Who it suits
- First-timers who ride a lot
- Why we picked it
- The simplest way to stop thinking about tickets for two to five days.
€59 per person72 to 120 hours 4.4 (2,416)
Details
- Who it suits
- Museum days plus transport
- Why we picked it
- It pays off only if you plan to visit several museums.
Barcelona City Tour hop-on hop-off bus
€33 per person 4.4 (24,973)
Details
- Who it suits
- A first sightseeing day
- Why we picked it
- The most-reviewed of the hop-on buses we list, with a host on board.
City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus
€33 per personAbout 2 hours per route 4.3 (12,046)
Details
- Who it suits
- Riders who want more buses
- Why we picked it
- Much the same as the City Tour bus, with buses as often as every 10 minutes.
Hop-on bus plus a 1-hour sailing cruise
€44 per person1 or 2 days 4.3 (778)
Details
- Who it suits
- Bus and sea in one day
- Why we picked it
- The one ticket that adds the sea to a bus day.
Hop-on bus plus Barcelona Aquarium
€63 per person1 or 2 days 4.3 (268)
Details
- Who it suits
- Families
- Why we picked it
- A rainy-day backup built into a sightseeing day.
- None of the six picks you up at your hotel. The two cards are travel passes, and the four buses start at Plaça de Catalunya.
- All 6 offer free cancellation.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 25 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Getting around Barcelona at a glance
For most trips, the metro or a train is the best choice. The table shows each main route, with the time, cost and hassle the operator states.
Where the operator does not state a figure, we say so. Tours show the GetYourGuide price.
| Route | Option | Time | Cost | How often | Hassle | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airport to Plaça de Catalunya | Metro | about 32 min on L9 Sud, plus a change | €5.90 airport ticket | every 7 min | one change to reach Plaça de Catalunya; the airport ticket is valid on the metro only | TMB: metro to the airport |
| Train | not stated by the operator | integrated fare; amount not stated by the operator | every 30 min on weekdays | Terminal 2 only (free shuttle from T1); stops at Sants and Passeig de Gràcia, not Plaça de Catalunya | Rodalies R2 Nord | |
| Bus | not stated by the operator | not stated by the operator | 24 hours a day, every day; lines A1 and A2 | straight to Plaça de Catalunya, no change | Aerobús Barcelona | |
| Taxi | not stated by the operator | €21 minimum from the airport, supplements included; then €2.80 start + €1.35–€1.66 per km | on demand | door to door; the fare depends on traffic and the meter | AMB taxi rates 2026 | |
| Barcelona to Montserrat | Train | about 1 hour, then 15 min on the rack railway | €48.80 round trip, train and rack railway package | trains hourly from 8:26; rack railway every 20 min | leave from Plaça d'Espanya; change at Monistrol | Montserrat Visita: rack railway |
| Car | not stated by the operator | parking fee set each year | any time | the car park has limited spaces; you can park at Monistrol and ride up | Montserrat Visita: by road | |
| Tour | 5 to 7 hours | from €52 per person | pick a date | transport and the cog-wheel train included; no hotel pickup | GetYourGuide | |
| Barcelona to Girona | Train | not stated by the operator | not stated by the operator | first train from Sants at 6:55 | Avant and AVE trains from Barcelona Sants | Renfe: Barcelona to Girona |
| Tour | about 10 hours | from €61 per person | pick a date | Girona walk and the Dalí Theatre-Museum in one day; groups of up to 55 | GetYourGuide | |
| Barcelona to Figueres | Train | about 1 h 51 min on the R11 regional train | not stated by the operator | several a day | the regional train is slow; faster Avant trains use Figueres Vilafant station | Rodalies R11 timetable |
| Tour | about 10 hours | from €69 per person | pick a date | Girona walk plus Figueres; museum entry with the Dalí option; no hotel pickup | GetYourGuide | |
| Barcelona to Sitges | Train | not stated by the operator | not stated by the operator | 2 trains an hour each way (February 2026 notice) | R2 Sud from Sants or Passeig de Gràcia; check for works notices | Rodalies R2 Sud notice |
| Barcelona to PortAventura | Train | 1 h 15 min to 1 h 30 min | free round trip with a park ticket | one or two trains about every half hour | R17 or RT2 to the PortAventura World station | PortAventura World: how to get there |
| Bus | not stated by the operator | coach and park ticket packages, 10% off | not stated by the operator | book as a package | PortAventura World: how to get there | |
| Tour | about 11 hours | from €69 per person | pick a date | return coach and park ticket in one booking; no guide | GetYourGuide |
Read from the operators' own pages on 25 October 2026. Fares and timetables change; check before you travel.
From the airport to the city: metro, train, bus or taxi
- €5.90
- airport metro ticket
- 32 min
- metro L9 Sud
- €21
- minimum taxi fare
The metro is a quick, low-cost way into the city. Line L9 Sud takes about 32 minutes and runs every 7 minutes.
The airport metro ticket costs €5.90. It is valid on the metro only. The Hola Barcelona card does include one airport trip each way.
The R2 Nord train leaves from Terminal 2 only. From Terminal 1, a free shuttle takes you there. Trains run every 30 minutes on weekdays and stop at Sants and Passeig de Gràcia.
The Aerobús runs 24 hours a day, every day, on lines A1 and A2. It goes straight to Plaça de Catalunya. Its own site showed no fares or journey time when we read it.
A taxi adds a €4.60 airport supplement. The minimum fare from the airport is €21, with all supplements.
Getting around the city: metro, tram, bus and walking
Public transport in Barcelona is one network. The metro, buses, trams and local trains share the same tickets.
With an integrated ticket, you can change between metro, bus and tram within 75 minutes in one zone. A single ticket is different: it costs €2.90 and works on the metro and TMB buses only.
The metro runs from 5:00 to midnight Monday to Thursday and on Sunday. It runs until 2:00 on Fridays and all night on Saturdays.
The center is easy to walk. To plan a day around Casa Batlló, check the nearest metro stop before you set off.
The tram lines T1 to T6 use the same fares as the metro and bus. The Bicing city bikes are for residents, not visitors. Visitors are pointed to bike rental shops.
Passes and the city card: which one pays off
For most visitors, the T-casual pays off. It gives 10 rides for €13 in one zone, and you can share it, one person at a time.
A single ride costs €2.90, so the T-casual saves money from the fifth ride. A T-dia day ticket costs €12 in one zone.
| Ticket | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Single ticket | €2.90 | One ride, metro and TMB bus only |
| T-casual | €13 | 10 rides, shareable one person at a time |
| T-dia | €12 | A day ticket |
| Hola Barcelona card | from €20 on GetYourGuide | Unlimited rides for 48 to 120 hours, airport metro both ways |
| Barcelona Card | from €59 on GetYourGuide | Transport plus free entry to 25+ museums |
Which Barcelona public transport pass to buy
Take the Hola Barcelona card if you ride a lot and arrive by air. It covers the metro trip from the airport and back. It starts when you first use it, and an unused card stays good until 28 February of the next year.
Take the Barcelona Card only for museum days. It adds free entry to more than 25 museums. For art alone, the Articket BCN costs €38 for six art centers, such as the Museu Picasso.
No transport pass gets you into the basilica. So buy Sagrada Familia tickets online for a set time. The basic adult ticket is €26.
Hop-on hop-off and tuk-tuk tours
A hop-on bus is the easiest way to see the far-apart sights in one day. Both main buses start at Plaça de Catalunya and run two routes.
The City Tour bus has a host on board and an audio guide in 16 languages. The City Sightseeing bus runs every 10 to 25 minutes. Both stop running in the early evening.
Two combo tickets add a 1-hour sailing cruise or an Aquarium entry to the bus.
We do not list a tuk-tuk tour. If you want a guide who tells the story, see our Barcelona tours.
Day trips on your own: train, bus or car
Most day trips are easy by train. Montserrat is the classic one.
Montserrat: FGC trains leave Plaça d'Espanya every hour from 8:26. The ride takes about 1 hour. At Monistrol, the rack railway takes 15 minutes to the top and leaves every 20 minutes. The cable car is the other way up: 5 minutes, €15 return.
Girona: Avant and AVE trains leave from Barcelona Sants. The first one leaves at 6:55. Renfe gives no price or time on its route page.
Figueres: the R11 regional train takes about 1 hour 51 minutes from Sants.
Sitges: the R2 Sud train stops at Sants, Passeig de Gràcia and Sitges, about twice an hour.
PortAventura: R17 and RT2 trains take about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes. A park ticket includes a free round-trip train ticket.
If changing trains sounds like work, the day tours out of Barcelona include the transport.
When a rental car makes sense, and when it does not
You do not need a car in Barcelona itself. The metro covers the city and runs late.
A car makes sense for slow days out with several stops, such as the Costa Brava or wine country. For Montserrat, the train is easier: the car park at the top has limited spaces.
In the 2026 Barcelona Travel Cost Study, 3 car rental sites we read put a typical day's rental in Barcelona between €22 and €52.
Hire a car at Barcelona airport
If you rent a car, pick it up at the airport on the day you leave the city. Then you skip city traffic and parking.
Parking in Barcelona
Street parking in the center is paid by the hour. In blue zones, you pay Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 20:00, and in the center on Saturdays too. Signs set the longest stay, often 1 or 2 hours.
The price depends on the car's environmental label. In the central blue zone, the city's parking site lists €3.25 an hour for a label C car. It also notes a €2 an hour extra charge, but does not say if the table includes it.
You pay with the SMOU app or at the meters.
For a slow day on the Costa Brava or in wine country with several stops, a car gives you the most freedom.
Taxis, ride-hailing and getting around at night
Taxis run on a meter. The Barcelona metropolitan area's 2026 taxi rates (AMB) start at €2.80.
Each kilometer costs €1.35 on weekdays from 8:00 to 20:00. Evenings, Saturdays and holidays cost €1.66. A trip from Sants station adds €2.55.
We found no official page on ride-hailing apps to quote, so we stick to taxis here.
At night, the metro runs until 2:00 on Fridays and all night on Saturdays. NitBus night buses cover the city, and almost all lines pass Plaça de Catalunya.
That makes an evening out easy. Our food tours are a good way to spend one.
Plan your trip: getting to and from Barcelona
Fast trains to Girona leave from Barcelona Sants. The R2 Nord train links the airport with Sants and Passeig de Gràcia.
Coming off a cruise ship? A taxi between the airport and the cruise port (Moll Adossat) has a fixed fare of €46.
Pick a hotel near a metro stop and you can skip taxis on most days. Our guide shows which area to stay in.
Tips for getting around Barcelona
Buy the airport ticket for the metro
From the airport, the metro needs the €5.90 airport ticket. It is valid on the metro only, not on buses or trains.
If your plans change
All six picks show free cancellation on GetYourGuide. Check the deadline on the listing before you book.
Start the Hola card when you need it
Its hours count from the first time you use it. An unused card stays good until 28 February of the next year.
Share one T-casual
Two people can use one T-casual, one after the other. You cannot both ride on it at the same time.
Plan late nights for Friday and Saturday
The metro runs until 2:00 on Fridays and all night on Saturdays. On other nights it stops at midnight.
Getting around Barcelona: questions and answers
How do I buy bus tickets in Barcelona?
How do I use public transport in Barcelona?
How much does public transport cost in Barcelona?
Is public transport in Barcelona good?
Is it easy to drive in Barcelona?
How much is parking in Barcelona, and how do I pay?
More Barcelona passes and transfers, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
See every tour with today's prices and open dates on GetYourGuide.
Browse all on GetYourGuideSources (21), facts checked on 25 October 2026
- TMB: ticket fares
- TMB: T-casual
- TMB: Hola Barcelona travel card
- TMB: metro to the airport
- TMB: metro and bus hours
- Rodalies: R2 Nord
- Rodalies: R11 timetable
- Rodalies: R2 Sud notice
- Aerobús Barcelona
- Aerobús: fares page
- AMB: 2026 taxi rates
- Bicing: questions and rules
- Àrea Verda: blue area
- Montserrat Visita: rack railway
- Montserrat Visita: by road
- Aeri de Montserrat: times and fares
- Renfe: Barcelona to Girona
- PortAventura World: how to get there
- Barcelona Card
- Articket BCN
- Sagrada Família: prices
Written by the Things to Do in Barcelona editorial team.