Barcelona is Spain’s second biggest city. Though it’s relatively small compared to other major cities around the world and much of the center is walkable, you’ll still need to embrace public transport to see many of the major sights.
Fortunately, the city is home to one of Spain’s best public transport systems, providing fast, easy and efficient ways of getting around, from Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, up to Park Güell and around Montjuïc Hill. Here is everything you need to know about the best ways to travel around Barcelona.
Ride the metro for fast and easy journeys
The metro is the easiest way to get around Barcelona, covering most of the city and many of the main tourist sights. The fast and efficient network is made up of 12 lines (eight operated by TMB, four by FGC), with 180 stations that extend from the center into the suburbs. It runs from 5am to midnight from Sunday to Thursday, until 2am on Fridays, and all night on Saturday.
A single ticket costs €2.55 Euros (US$2.68), but if you’re going to be traveling around a lot, it’s more cost-effective to buy a T-casual card that gets you 10 journeys for €12.15 (US$12.75). Transport cards can be bought at the machines in the metro stations and can also be used on the buses, trams, Rodalies and FGC trains.
Take the Rodalies train to get across the city quicker
If you need to get across the city quickly, skipping over several metro stops at once, the Rodalies trains are your best option. The main Rodalies stations that are useful for visitors are Sants, Passeig de Gràcia, Estació de França and Estació d’Arc de Triomf. The Rodalies trains are also the best and quickest way of reaching the airport, although you will need to buy a separate airport ticket. The airport line R2 runs through Passeig de Gràcia and Sants.
These trains also run throughout the region, so are the best option for day trips to other towns and getting out into the countryside or nearby beaches. Be aware though, if you only have a ticket for zone one and you leave it, you will need to buy a separate Rodalies ticket from the machines in the stations.
Buses cover non-metro areas and run all night
Buses are handy in areas where the metro stops are few and far between or you’re trying to get across the city rather than up and down. They’re particularly useful when getting up to Gaudí’s Park Güell or down to the beach areas and around Poblenou and Diagonal Mar. Buses don’t have a fixed schedule but timings are similar to the metro with slightly fewer running on weekends.
Night buses are the best way of getting around after the metro and day bus services have stopped. They run all through the night from around 10pm to 6am. All-night bus lines pass through Plaça de Catalunya, so this is the best place to head to if it’s late and you need to get back to your hotel.
FGC trains will bring you to the Zona Alta and upper neighborhoods
As well as the Rodalies, Barcelona also has the FGC train network which runs from Plaça de Catalunya to the upper neighborhoods such as Sarrià (for the Reial Monestir de Santa Maria de Pedralbes) near the Collserola hills and out beyond to nearby towns.
They also run from Plaça d’Espanya to other towns out towards the southwest of the city. This is also where you’ll take the train to reach Montserrat and its famous monastery. You can use the same ticket for the metro provided you’re still in zone one. If you go out to another zone, such as towns outside of Barcelona, you will need to buy a separate ticket at the machines in the station.
Enjoy fun alternative modes of transport for epic views
Barcelona offers a couple of fun ways to get up to its higher locations. Take the cable car (Telefèric) from the port to reach Montjuïc Hill with its many museums and old Olympic ring. It also offers some of the best views of the city. A second cable car takes you from the slopes up to the castle at the very top. You can also reach Montjuïc via a funicular from Paral·lel metro stop.
Several more funiculars take you up into the Parque Natural de Collserola that surrounds the upper parts of the city. These go from Peu del Funicular in the neighborhood of Sarrià and up to Mount Tibidabo (with its old-fashioned amusement park and fascinating church) from Sant Gervasi.
Uber is a little different in Barcelona
While Uber is technically available in Barcelona and you can still use the app here, it works very differently from how you may be used to in other countries. You can use the app to book and pay for a ride as normal, but only traditional taxi drivers are allowed to answer requests, not just local people with cars. However, not all taxi companies in Barcelona are signed up to Uber and there are regular protests against it. The Cabify app is a good alternative that works here.
Accessible transportation in Barcelona
Barcelona’s transport system is very accessible and easy to use – elevators and ramps for wheelchair users, route indicators for blind people, braille maps and voice navigation systems have been rolled out in many areas. There are currently only 12 metro stations out of 165 that are not accessible. Buses are 100 percent accessible and are all fitted with ramps and spaces for wheelchair users.
Transport passes
If you’re in Barcelona for a fixed period and will be traveling a lot by public transport, you might want to consider the Hola Barcelona travel card. Available from two up to five days, it gives you unlimited journeys during that period on the metro, buses, trams, Rodalies and FGC trains. It also includes the fee to and from the airport, so you won’t need to buy an extra ticket.
