Need to know: How to get to and from Barcelona

There are several ways to reach Barcelona, so it is up to you to choose the most suitable one. Here are the options and some useful information!

By plane

The International Airport of Barcelona is located about 14 km away from the city centre. You can reach the centre of Barcelona both by train or by bus.
The train to Sants and Plaça de Catalunya station runs every 30 minutes from 6 a.m to 10.40 p.m. For further information about timetables and prices see www.renfe.es  
Most people prefer to travel to the city centre by bus. The buses run daily between the airport and Plaça de Catalunya, roughly every 10/15 minutes. The journey lasts 30 minutes and you can purchase the ticket on the bus (one way: 3,90 € – round trip: 6,70 € ). Here are some useful information:
- First departure from the airport: mon-sat, sun/holidays: 6.00
- Last departure from the airport:: Mon-Sun/holidays:1 a.m.
- First departure from Plaça de Catalunya: mon-sat, sun/holidays: 5:30 a.m.
- Last departure from Plaça de Catalunya: mon-sat, sun/holidays: 00:15 a.m.

You can also reach the centre by catching a taxi from the rank just outside the airport. The journey takes around 20-30 minutes and fares depend on your destination. However, you should expect to pay a minimum of €15, whatever your destination. It is advisable to consult the driver on fares before getting in the taxi.

By train

Travelling by train is much faster and more comfortable. Trains arrive travel to Barcelona’s main train station, Estació de França. You can travel to Barcelona from the main European cities such as Paris, Zurich, Milan, and Geneva. Connections are usually required in France. Major trains include the Barcelona-TALGO, the Pau Casals and the TALGO Catalán.

By bus

This is not one of the most popular ways to get to Barcelona and it is rather slow! However, there are various companies that run buses between Barcelona and other major European cities. These include Eurolines Limited, Enarcar, Linebús, and Julià Via.

By car

For those coming from the West,  the most common access is on the E15. If you drive from Madrid  you can follow the N2, the A2  and the A7. If you want to reach Barcelona by car,  remember that all the motorways are fee-paying.

By boat

The port of Barcelona is an important  European hub and welcomes about 500.000 visitors every year. It links Barcelona with the Balearic islands and Italy.