How can I get from Barcelona airport to the city centre?

One of the most common questions asked by new visitors to Barcelona is how to get from Barcelona airport to the city centre. There are a few options available to make a trip from the airport into the city by public transport or private hire. To help you make a decision we’ve put together a comprehensive guide outlining all the options available to you.

Barcelona Airport Options

Barcelona El Prat Airport, commonly referred to as Barcelona Airport, is an international airport located just 12km south of the city centre and is a major transport hub in Barcelona. It is serviced by a variety of companies offering different transport options for travelling into the city centre.

Transport Options

Public Transport

Public transport is the quickest and most affordable option for getting from Barcelona airport to the city centre. There are a variety of public transport modes available from the airport including the Aerobus, metro, train, bus, taxi and private hire services.

Aerobus

The fastest way to travel from the airport into central Barcelona is by taking the Aerobus Express Shuttle Service. This is a direct transfer service which goes from both Terminals 1 and 2 at Barcelona El Prat Airport to Barcelona’s main hub Plaça Espanya. The journey takes around 35 minutes and services run every 5-10 minutes from 6am-1am. Tickets can be purchased on board at €5.90 for a single journey, or you can pre-purchase tickets online beforehand. Aerobus Express Shuttle Service offers more information on timetables, fares and ticket sales.

Metro

The metro is another fast and convenient way to get from Barcelona Airport to the city centre. There are two metro lines which service the airport: Lines L9 Sud and L9 Nord. These lines connect directly with Plaça Espanya, Passeig de Gràcia and Sants Estació making it convenient for visitors to travel directly to their destination. Costing around €4 per single journey and running every 5-10 minutes from 5am-12am, this is an easy and affordable way to get from the airport. For more information on metro journeys visit TMB.

Train

The most affordable option available for travelling from Barcelona Airport to the city centre is by taking the train. This is one of the cheapest but slowest modes of transport as it takes around 35 minutes in total depending on your destination. There are two stop options: Clot which serves destinations in north-east Barcelona and Sants Estació which serves destinations around central and south Barcelona. A single journey costs €2.15 and services run from 5am-12am during weekdays and 6am-12am on weekends. For more information on timetables and ticket prices visit Rodalies.

Bus

There are a range of buses which service Barcelona Airport which take directly into central locations in downtown Barcelona including Plaça Catalunya, Plaça Espanya, Diagonal and Sagrada Familia. A single fare costs €2.15 and services run from 5am-12am during weekdays and 6am-12am on weekends. For more information on timetables and ticket prices visit TMB.

Taxi

There are plenty of taxis available just outside both Terminals 1 and 2 at Barcelona Airport offering a fixed price transfer service into destinations in the city centre including Plaça de Catalunya, Plaça d’Espanya and Sants Station for €30 one-way (daytime tariff). Fares can be much higher if you’re travelling in the evening so make sure to confirm your rate before getting into the taxi. It takes around 25 minutes to reach downtown Barcelona depending on your destination and traffic but can take much longer if there is a lot of traffic so factor this into your journey planning.

Private Hire Services

Private hire services such as chauffeur driven car rental or Uber are also available when travelling from the airport into central locations in Barcelona. This option should only be considered if you have a large party or if you want extra convenience as fares can be much more expensive than public transport options- especially when there is high demand which may result in surge pricing. It is advisable to research your rates upfront to avoid paying more than you need to- usually private hires operate at €40 one-way (daytime tariff) from Barcelona Airport into downtown Barcelona depending on traffic conditions at the time.

Summary

Overall, there are a variety of options available for getting from Barcelona Airport to the city centre with something to suit different needs and budgets. Although public transport options are the quickest and cheapest way to travel from the airport, private hire services provide an extra level of convenience if needed. Make sure you factor in journey times as they can vary significantly depending on traffic conditions at the time of travelling and always research your fares upfront before getting into a taxi or private hire service to avoid paying more than you need to.