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Barcelona El-Prat Airport (BCN)

Barcelona El-Prat Airport is an international airport located approximately 7.5 miles southwest of Barcelona city center. A free shuttle service that runs every 5 – 10 minutes, 24 hours a day, connects the various terminals of the airport as well as the long-stay car parks. There are several ways to travel from the airport into the city.

Buses

Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona operates Aerobús, the official shuttle bus service connecting Barcelona Airport’s terminals 1 and 2 with Plaça Catalunya in the city center. The ride takes approximately 35 minutes and a one-way ticket costs €5.90 EUR. Buses depart every 5 minutes, and stop at other key locations including Plaça Espanya, Gran Via-Urgell, and Plaça Universidad. From Terminal 1, you can take Aerobús route A1, while from Terminal 2 you can choose route A2. Another option that connects both terminals with the city center location of Plaça Espanya is route 46. If your flight arrives at night, you can choose night bus route 18, which stops at both terminals 1 and 2 and travels to Plaça Catalunya. You also have the option of night bus route N17 from Terminal 1 and night bus route N16 from Terminal 2.

Taxis

You can find taxis at the taxi ranks opposite the arrivals areas of terminal T1, T2 A, T2 B, and T2 C. Fares are metered. There is an additional €3.10 EUR surcharge applicable for rides to and from the airport. Minimum fare from the airport, including all additional charges is €20.00 EUR. A typical fare from BCN to the city center is between €23.00 EUR – €28.00 EUR depending on traffic and the day of the week. To travel from the airport to the Cruise Port, taxis charge a flat fare of €39.00 EUR.

Car rentals

A handful of car rental companies are present at the airport. You can also plan ahead and check for deals on car rentals with momondo.

Barcelona’s magnificent architecture and the local attractions in the old city area are best experienced on foot. With narrow streets and regular traffic jams, try to avoid driving in the city. Instead, rely on the fast and efficient public transportation options for getting around in Barcelona.

Public Transportation

Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) operates an extensive network of underground rail (Metro) and local buses that connect all parts of the city. A single fare ticket costs €2.15 EUR, and is valid on the metro as well as the bus. You can also purchase an integrated ticket called T-10, which allows multi-person travel for up to 10 journeys on the bus and/or metro. This costs €9.95 EUR for travel within Zone 1.

Tour buses

To access the popular sights and attractions, consider booking a tour with Barcelona Bus Turistic, which operates open top, double decker, hop-on hop-off buses. The buses offer 45 stops and 3 routes that cover all the popular sights and attractions. A 1-day adult ticket costs €29.00 EUR, and a 2-day ticket costs €39.00 EUR.

Taxis

Metered black-and-yellow taxis are available throughout the city, and can be hailed on the streets. The meter starts at €2.15 EUR followed by €1.13 EUR for every 0.6 miles after, and a waiting charge per hour of €22.10 EUR.

Citizens of the United States with a valid passport can visit Spain for a maximum of 90 days without having to apply for or obtain a Schengen visa. For foreign nationals, please check the Schengen Visa Info website.

Things to do and places of interest in Barcelona

A hip, urban destination, Barcelona offers plenty of history and architecture, culture and festivals, gastronomy and nightlife. With a ton of landmarks, monuments, parks, markets, museums and beaches to explore, a single trip may not be enough to see everything that Barcelona offers. Here are a few suggestions on what to include in your itinerary to truly experience this vibrant city.

• Spend time on the sandy shores of the city’s spectacular beaches to swim, sunbathe, people-watch and catch a glorious sunset. Some of the notable beaches include the bustling Barcelona Beach for beach activities and entertainment, Nova Icaria Beach for watersports, Bogatell Beach and Ocata Beach for calmer, pristine, shores, and Mar Bella Beach for weekend late-night rave parties.
• Tour some of the key architectural landmarks of Barcelona, including the Antoni Gaudí-designed Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, La Pedrera, and Casa Batllo. Don’t miss a visit to Park Güell, an enchanting space that emulates an English garden city.
• Enjoy a leisurely stroll through impressive parks such as Parc de la Ciutadella, Parc de Joan Miró, and the Montjuïc castle. Stay for a show at the Font Mágica Fountain, which take place in the evening at half-hour intervals each weekend and are extended during the summer season.
• Visit museums such as the Museu Picasso for a great collection of Pablo Picasso’s paintings, the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC) for Catalan art and Romanesque frescoes, the Museu d’Historia de Barcelona (MUHBA) for Barcelonian history, and Fundació Joan Miró, one of the largest art and sculpture museums in the world.
• Football fans should experience a live match at Camp Nou, the home stadium of the Premier League team FC Barcelona. On non-match days you can opt for a behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium.
• Browse through a wide range of local and international produce, fresh seafood, flowers, and meats at the famous Mercat de la Boqueria market.
• Attend live music performances at the ornate Gran Teatre del Liceu concert hall, or the architecturally rich Palau de la Música Catalana concert hall.
• Stroll along the tree-lined La Rambla street for a glimpse into Catalan history and culture. Visit the magnificent Catalan Gothic-style La Catedral in the heart of the Gothic Quarter. Enjoy watching the buskers and street artists, and shop for souvenirs from scores of hawkers in the area.
• Wander around the El-Born area for inspiring street art in the alleyways, quaint, handmade ceramics shops, and trendy bars and clubs. Stop to admire the gorgeous stained-glass windows of the Gothic-styled Basilica of Santa Maria Del Mar.

Tips and tricks for visiting Barcelona

Try a Pintxos bar

In a city that promises heaps of gastronomic delights, don’t miss a visit to a Pintxos bar, a culinary trend in Barcelona. While essentially this is Basque tapas, tradition calls for choosing your Pintxos with toothpicks. At the end of the night you are charged for the number of toothpicks used. Euskal Etxea restaurant at Plaça de Montcada is one of the best places to try this. Some of the other must-try tapas bars include Quimet i Quimet, La Esquinica and El Jabali.

Cover up!

Many of the religious attractions, such as the Catedral de Barcelona and Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, require visitors to cover up their knees and shoulders when stepping inside. Visitors without the proper attire are strictly not admitted. Make sure you dress appropriately or carry shawls, scarves etc. to cover up with, so you don’t miss out on these grand sights and attractions.