As someone who lives in Barcelona, I've flown in and out of Barcelona-El Prat Airport dozens of times.
I’ve used all the transport methods to get to the city centre from the airport and in this post, I’ll explain them to you and share some insider tips as well.
I have my own feelings about the best ways to get to the airport, but I know that my needs may not be the same as yours.
If you are like me and want the cheapest option, use Barcelona’s excellent public transportation system (metro, bus and suburban trains).
You’ll pay between €2.40-€5.15! This is very cheap compared to other cities in Europe and my tour guests are always pleasantly surprised by the price.
The metro runs only during the day (5 am - 12 am), but until 2 am on Fridays and round the clock on Saturdays.
When my flights arrive after those hours, I take the night bus which is just as cheap.
If you purchase either a Hola BCN Card or a Barcelona Card, you can save money on these already cheap ways to get to the airport.
To learn more about these money-saving cards take a look at our post on navigating the Barcelona public transportation system.
As a local tour guide, many tour guests of mine over the years have asked me about options besides public transportation.
I tell them about using private transfers, taxis, and Uber. Below I’ll explain these to you as well.
No matter how you plan to reach your destination in Barcelona, you can expect each airport transfer to take between 30-45 minutes.
METRO TO THE CITY
Barcelona’s metro service is one of the easiest ways to reach the city centre (Plaça de Catalunya, Plaza de España).
The system is extensive, which is great for getting around, but I think you should get a head start by learning about it in advance of your trip.
Our post Navigating Barcelona’s Public Transportation System goes over it all in great detail.
Since I live here I am completely comfortable using the metro.
Fortunately for 1st-time visitors to the city, using the metro from the airport is very straightforward.
There is currently just one metro line that services the airport – the L9 Sud (Orange) line.
How great! No confusion figuring out which line to get on!
The L9 Sud runs every 7 to 10 minutes and it takes around 30 minutes to reach the end of the line, Zona Universitària.
From the L9, you can transfer from a number of stops to other metro, tram, and bus lines that go to popular neighbourhoods in Barcelona (see the route line above).
The L9 runs during these hours:
- Mon - Thur | 5 am - 12 am (midnight)
- Fri & Holidays | 5 am - 2 am
- Saturday | 24 hours
- Sunday | 5 am - 12 am (midnight)
Tickets for the metro airport transfer are €5.15 one way and €10.30 round trip.
TIP: If you plan to use public transportation for even a few additional rides you might want to consider a travel pass instead of buying single tickets.
The Hola BCN Card is a travel pass that can cost as little as €8.20 per day, depending on which version you get.
It includes unlimited rides on all metro, trams and buses in Barcelona. Your airport ride will be included in that cost, so you’ll save money as soon as you land.
Just like I encourage my tour guests to consider this option to save money, I suggest you look into a Hola BCN Card.
Here’s another way to save money on your ride from the airport to the city centre.
When you buy the Barcelona Card tourist pass you get unlimited rides on all public transportation, free entry to several museums, savings on tours, attractions and more.
Learn more about Barcelona metro service and price cut opportunities here.
AEROBUS TRANSFERS
There are a few bus lines and shuttles that go between the airport and the city centre in Barcelona.
The main service is the Aerobus, which has two lines, the A1 at Terminal 1 and the A2 at Terminal 2. There is a free shuttle bus between terminals.
The Aerobus can get you to the Barcelona city centre (Plaça de Catalunya and Plaza de España in 30-35 minutes.
This service runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with service every 5 minutes between, 7:15 am to 22:30 pm. The frequency is every 10 to 20 minutes at other hours.
The Aerobus shuttles are a bit more expensive than the public buses in Barcelona at a ticket price of €9.75 one way and €14.65 round trip (return ticket).
But one advantage over using the metro is that you’ll be given more storage room for your luggage.
Much like the metro service, the Aerobus can get you to the Barcelona city centre in about 30-35 minutes, and they offer service every 5 minutes.
So why would anyone use the Aerobus and pay more? It always runs! Every day year round.
Why else take the Aerobus? Luggage space!
When I travel with family and friends, we take the Aerobus since we have several suitcases between us. It would be a tight squeeze on the metro.
On my tours, I sometimes hear from guests travelling in a group that the metro from the airport was a nightmare because they had very little room for their luggage.
That’s when I jump in and tell them about the Aerobus for their trip back to the airport.
Another big advantage worth paying for is that the buses go right to the city centre so no need to transfer to another line if you are staying there.
The Aerobuses are comfortable, air-conditioned, have USB charging ports at every seat and free WiFi.
When I feel like splurging (just a few euros more) I take the Aerobus.
As for the public buses, they aren't my first choice but they are an option I want you to know about for a few reasons.
The buses are cheap. It’s just €2.40 for a single T-Casual one-way ticket
They are a good alternative if you don't feel like using the metro. Buses let you get a first look at the city since they are above-ground transportation.
The public bus Line 46 goes from both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 to Plaça d’Espanya in the city centre.
You can save more on this already cheap ticket with the Hola BCN Card (Hola Barcelona) travel pass with unlimited public transport rides.
With the Barcelona Card, you might also save on your bus tickets depending on how you use your card.
Also, you’ll need to know about the night buses if your plane arrives between 12 am to 5 am since the metro won't be running.
The N16 and N17 night buses run between the hours of 10:30 pm - 5:30 am. Read more about our post about Barcelona’s bus service.
R2 NORD TRAIN
Barcelona has suburban trains (known as rodalies) that are a different transport service from the metro, bus, tram, etc.
Ticket prices and operating hours for suburban trains are the same as the metro, making this another affordable alternative at just €2.40 for a single ride.
There is at least one suburban train that offers transfers from the airport to the city centre of Barcelona.
The R2 Nord (RENFE) train runs from the airport train station at Terminal 2 to Maçanet-Massanes, which is outside the city.
To get to the city centre, get off the trains at these stations: Barcelona-Sants, Barcelona El Clot Arago, or Barcelona Passeig de Gràcia.
The Barcelona-Sants stop is fairly close to Plaça Espanya, as well as the L3 and L5 metro lines.
If you want to get even closer to the city centre, Barcelona-Passeig de Gràcia isn’t too far from Plaça Catalunya and the L3 metro line.
The trains run every 30 minutes between 5:15 am and 11:15 pm (23:15).
If you are arriving at Terminal 2 between those hours, and your final destination is near any of the stops along the line, by all means, it is a good, cheap choice.
Honestly, the only time I consider using this R2 Nord train is when I am going to Terminal 2 since it doesn't go to Terminal 1.
Even though there is a free shuttle bus between terminals, I can’t be bothered with the hassle.
Learn about the suburban trains here.
PRIVATE TRANSFERS
If you want to avoid being packed into public transit with a bunch of other people, one of the best options is to get a private transfer.
Several companies offering this service in Barcelona, and depending on which one you choose, you can expect to pay at least €35-€45 for a ride to the city centre.
These companies usually charge per ride and allow up to 3-4 passengers per private transfer, which could make the price less than €10 per passenger.
Private transfers offer 3 key advantages: pickup upon arrival at any time, luggage handling, and quick transportation into downtown Barcelona.
As you can see, even if a private transfer costs more, you may still want to consider this service just to make the whole process quicker, easier, and less stressful.
When I travel with family, we take a private transfer and here’s why:
The cost per person is competitive, we have plenty of room for our bags, and we get back home from the airport quickly and comfortably.
For more information or to find a company, please check the following list of private transfers in Barcelona.
TAXI AND UBER
Since the metro and suburban trains don’t run late at night, this could be one of the quickest and easiest ways to reach the city centre without taking one of the night buses.
A big advantage of taking a taxi from the airport is that you won't have to wait for a transfer and you’ll receive door-to-door service from the airport to your hotel or place of residence.
Taxis serve the Barcelona airport 24/7, so you’ll always be able to find one waiting outside your terminal.
The big disadvantage with this service is the fare, which is charged per kilometre travelled, so you might pay more than other transfer options.
Since I am so familiar with the public transportation system in Barcelona, I hardly ever take a taxi from the airport.
But from what I hear from guests on my tours, the fare to the city centre typically comes to around €30-€45, which is comparable to a private transfer.
Alternatively, you could also get an Uber into the city.
This service is available via an app you can download onto your phone and use to schedule a pickup ahead of time or upon arrival.
Uber rides from Barcelona airport to the city centre range from €20-€30 on average, so they can be more affordable than taxis, though the difference is not that much.
Using Uber can offer better deals when you choose the shared ride option and you’ll be sharing with another traveller you don’t know.
Ultimately, both of these options are excellent alternatives to private transfers, especially if you’re short on time and can’t purchase an airport transfer until you get to Barcelona.
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