Barcelona's airport is located about 15 kilometers outside the city. There are various easy-to-use and cost-effective public transport options for the transfer from Barcelona El Prat de Llobregat Airport to the city center.
Barcelona's airport – named 'Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat' since 2018 – is Spain's second-largest airport after Madrid. Despite passenger numbers more than doubling since 2000, it remains quite manageable, and getting to and from the airport is very straightforward.
Read on to find out which public transport options you can use to get from the airport to downtown Barcelona. You can book your tickets and transfers directly here.
In general, public transport is very easy to use and very reliable. The stops at the airport are well-signposted, and the transport services run frequently, so you don’t need timetables.
Apart from the train, which only has a station at Terminal T2, all transport options are available at all terminals.
Here we list the tickets you can book here and the modes of transport they are valid for. Below we describe the individual modes of transport, how to get to the city center with them, and which tickets we recommend for each.
With the combo package 'Barcelona Essentials Pass', you have in addition to the public transport ticket (Zone 1 + airport) access to two of the most important attractions.
Included in the Barcelona Essentials Pass:
Barcelona Airport has two terminals: the newer Terminal T1, which opened in 2009 with over 100 gates, and the older Terminal T2, which is divided into sections T2A, T2B, and T2C.
Free travel with train, Bus 46, and Metro L9 from the airport and within the city.
Terminal T1 is mainly used by Star Alliance (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, etc.) and Oneworld and SkyTeam, while Terminal T2 is primarily served by low-cost and charter airlines. Terminal T2C is exclusively for easyJet.
All terminals are very easy to navigate, whether you need to check in, collect your luggage, or find the transfer stations.
From Barcelona El Prat de Llobregat Airport, also known since 2018 as Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, there are several convenient and cost-effective options for transferring to downtown Barcelona using public transportation.
The city bus line L46 is the most economical way to reach the city center. However, it offers less comfort – there are no luggage racks, and the bus stops at numerous stops to pick up additional passengers.
Bus 46 is accessible for wheelchair users.
Airport to Plaça Espanya:
Plaça Espanya to the airport:
Frequency and travel time:
You can use Bus 46 with the following tickets:
All these tickets include the Hola BCN pass, allowing you to use public transport within the city. Note: You can only collect your booked Hola BCN pass during the opening hours of the Tourist Info. Therefore, we recommend the Barcelona Transport Pass.
You can purchase single tickets from the driver on the bus, but not multiple-use or multi-day tickets. Tickets bought from the driver do not allow transfers.
Aerobús is a shuttle bus service that takes you directly to the city center. The bus has ample luggage storage space, and you don't need a timetable as it runs frequently, sometimes every five minutes during the day.
Airport BCN -> Barcelona
Barcelona -> Airport BCN
Transfer Options
The Aerobús operates 24/7, 365 days a year, including all holidays and even on New Year's Eve.
No schedules are needed: during the day, buses run every 5 minutes, every 10 minutes in the morning and evening, and every 20 minutes at night.
The trip from the airport to Plaça Catalunya and vice versa takes approximately 35 minutes.
With the following tickets, you can use the Aerobús:
The Barcelona Card and the Hola BCN! Ticket are not valid here. The trip to the city center takes about 35 minutes.
Especially if you want a comfortable trip to Barcelona. The Aerobús goes to the central transportation hubs Plaça Espanya and Plaça Catalunya, from where you can reach your hotel on foot, by other public transport, or by taxi.
The buses run around the clock with a short frequency, 365 days a year.
We believe the Aerobús is the best transfer option from the airport in most cases. The Barcelona Transport Pass is our recommended ticket.
Since 2016, Barcelona Airport has been connected to the metro network. The L9 Sud metro line runs from both terminals into the city. You can either transfer at Collblanc station to the L5 line, which takes you directly through the Eixample district, or you can ride to the final stop at Zona Universitària and transfer to the L3 line, which takes you directly to the old town. However, this journey takes significantly longer than the Bus 46 or Aerobús.
There is a stop for Metro Line L9 Sud at Terminals T1 and T2. Both stations are well signposted and easy to find. From the security area, you only need to walk a few steps to reach the metro stations.
Transfer Options
You can consult the Metro and Rodalies train map to see further metro connections.
The Metro L9 Sud operates according to the regular schedule of the Barcelona Metro. It starts daily at 05:00 AM. The closing times vary depending on the day of the week:
The last trains depart from the terminus of each subway line at the specified closing time.
Here are the tickets you can use to access the L9 Sud:
If you do not have the Hola BCN! Ticket or one of the combination tickets, you will need a special airport ticket priced at €4.50.
In some situations, the Metro L9 Sud can be a good choice:
Metro and regular bus services in Barcelona do not operate 24/7; they cease operation at night. However, you can stay mobile with the night bus lines (Nitbus) that radiate from Plaça Catalunya in a star-shaped pattern. The circular route N0 circulates around the square, allowing you to travel around the city center without always needing to transfer.
Nitbus services commence when other transport modes cease operations and operate at intervals of approximately 10-20 minutes. These buses are regular public buses, and there are numerous stops for boarding and alighting.
There are two night bus lines that run from and to the airport to Barcelona city center: N17 and N18. While the N17 only stops at Terminal T1, you can board the N18 buses at both Terminals T1 and T2B (one stop for boarding and alighting) and T2C.
Both lines go to Plaça Catalunya - Pelai stop, but the route is different.
The Plaça Catalunya - Pelai stop is easy to find: it is located by the monument at the southwest corner of the square. The Rambla and C. Pelai meet here.
A third night bus line, the N19, runs from the airport terminals T1 and T2B to Castelldefels.
In the airport itself you will find the stations very well signposted (square sign "N17 Nit Bus").
Tickets are available on the bus.
Nitbus N17
Nitbus N18
Nitbus N19
Travel times vary depending on traffic conditions. To be on the safe side, plan more time accordingly.
In general, the night buses in the Barcelona city area are very useful if you want to travel outside of the operating hours of the regular buses and the metro. In general, you can get to almost anywhere easily with the lines that converge in a star shape to the central Plaça Catalunya and the ring line N0.
To get from the airport to the city center, we often do not consider the Nitbus to be the best choice. The N17 and N18 lines stop at 35 and 28 stops respectively (including the start and end stops). The journey takes a correspondingly long time. However, the intervals of 10-15 minutes are short enough.
However, if your destination is near one of the stops, then taking the Nitbus can make sense. As a rule, however, we recommend the Aerobús because it is simpler, faster and more comfortable. The Aerobús also runs all night.
If you want to travel further along the Costa Dorada or Costa Maresme, the train from the airport is an excellent option. The Rodalies R2 Nord train also takes you to Barcelona city centre.
However, for most destinations within the city, other modes of transport are usually the better option.
There is a pedestrian bridge from the terminal building to the airport train station opposite Terminal T2-A, which makes the journey easier, especially if you have a lot of luggage.
If you are arriving via Terminal T1, you can take the free shuttle bus from T1 to T2B. From T2B it is about a 3-5 minute walk to the train station.
You can see an overview of the R2 Nord stations in the image above, but the most relevant stations are the main Sants Estació station, where you can change to the L3 and L5 metro and 14 other train lines.
You can get directly to the Eixample district by getting off at Passeig de Gràcia. Here you can change to the L2, L3 and L4 metro lines and eight other Rodalies trains.
Trains run every 20 minutes between the airport and the city center from 5:42 a.m. The last train leaves the airport at 11:38 p.m.
The journey from the airport to the main train station Sants Estación takes 20 minutes.
The R2 is the only train that goes to the airport.
With the following tickets you can use R2 Nord for the transfer to Barcelona:
The Rodalies R2 Nord train takes you directly from the airport to Barcelona city centre. You can change to metro lines L3 and L5 at Sants station to reach the old town, or go straight to Passeig de Gràcia station in the Eixample district, where you can access metro lines L2, L3 and L4.
Whether the train is really the best choice for your journey depends on which terminal you arrive at. If you arrive at Terminal T1, you will still need to take the shuttle to Terminal T2. Your exact destination in Barcelona also plays a role.
We recommend the R2 Nord especially if you want to change to another train to continue on to the Costa Dorada. Destinations such as Casteldefels, Sitges, Salou, Tarragona, Cambrils or the PortAventura World theme park are easily accessible.
To do this, take the R2 North from the airport to the El Prat de Llobregat or Bellvitge train stations, where you can change to the R2 (to Castelldefels) or the R2 South, which also stops in Sitges.
If your destination is on the Costa de Maresme, you can also travel by train. At Sants station, change from the R2 North to the R1 or R11 train, both of which go to Maçanet-Massanes. These trains take you to Blanes, Malgrat de Mar, Santa Susana, among others.
Here you can find the route maps of the Rodalies and the Metro map of Barcelona.
Taking a taxi is an easy way to get to your hotel. Taxi availability is very good, but expect to wait in line. Don't expect the taxi drivers to speak English or even German.
If you want to use a taxi for the return journey, we recommend booking it in advance by phone or using a taxi app such as FreeNow. During trade fairs and when it rains, many people use taxis and free taxis are often difficult to find.
At Terminal T1, you can get to the taxi ranks by walking straight ahead for about 30 meters from the security area and then taking the exit down. The taxi ranks are clearly signposted.
At Terminal T2 (A+B), the taxi rank is located directly in front of the terminal building.
At the taxi ranks, you have to join the queue.
From the airport to the city center the minimum fee is €21.00. Additional fees apply for some locations and services:
From the airport to the city center, a taxi costs around 40-60 €, depending on where you want to go and what the traffic is like. There are also surcharges for luggage and possible night travel.
You can get to the cruise port for a fixed price of €45 (surcharges may apply).
Even though taxi drivers often have a bad reputation, we would like to speak up for this profession: in the vast majority of cases, the drivers will take you directly to your destination without unnecessary detours. The drivers will tell you about detours, for example because of a construction site or the risk of traffic jams during rush hour. The drivers often have a tip for where to stop and will usually help you unload your luggage.
To be on the safe side, check whether the driver has switched on the taximeter. You are only obliged to pay the amount shown. Ask for a receipt ("ticket"), which must contain the license number. If the driver takes an incomprehensible detour, point out that you want the direct route. Make a note of the taxi license number and name, these must be clearly visible in the taxi.
The airport offers travelers a free bus transfer between terminals T1 and T2. The stops are clearly signposted.
The inter-terminal shuttle runs in a circle and stops at four stations:
From both T1 stations you can connect to the L9 Sud metro and buses N18, N19, 46, A2, PR1 and L77 and the private buses Alsa, Hife, Empresa Plana, Bus Garraf, Sagalés Airport Line, Sarfa, Andbus, Direct bus
The shuttle runs every day of the year with short intervals:
Travel time:
We have a very clear opinion: we think the Aerobus is the best transfer option for getting from the airport to Barcelona city center. It is quite comfortable, even with large luggage, relatively fast as there are few stops, and it goes to the most important transport hubs Plaça Espanya and Plaça Catalunya without having to change. From there you can easily get to your accommodation.
Also important: it runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so you can get on the aerobuses with your ticket booked here regardless of the opening times of the tourist information offices.
Of course, the price is more expensive than the Hola BCN ticket, but significantly cheaper than a taxi. You can buy the ticket in a package with the Hola BCN ticket, which we think is a pretty good combination deal. You can either pick up the included Hola BCN ticket at the airport or, if you are running late, at one of the tourist information offices in the city. In any case, you will get to Barcelona and back stress-free.
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