How to get from the airport to the centre of Barcelona

How to get from El Prat airport to the centre of Barcelona is the question you are asking.

Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport has two terminals, T1 and T2. In our case we arrived at terminal 1, but we will explain from both so that you can take note.

First of all, it should be noted that between the two terminals, as in other airports, you have a free shuttle bus.

The first one we are going to show is the:

Indice:

Aerobus

It is perhaps the most practical way to get from the airport to the centre of Barcelona, although not the cheapest. There are buses from both terminals 1 and 2, and as a central point it will leave you at Plaza Cataluña, but there are stops at Plaza España, Gran Vía-Borrel and Plaza Universitat. And if you take it to the airport you can do so at Plaza Cataluña, Carrer Sepúlveda or Plaza España. However, when you go to the airport pay attention to which terminal you want to go to, the bus will be marked with A1 or A2, depending on the terminal it is going to.

Price: one-way ticket € 5.90, return ticket € 10.20.

Travel time: approximately 35 minutes, depending on traffic.

Meter

The metro also stops at both terminals. But it may not be so comfortable since if you want to go, for example, to Plaza Cataluña you will have to change.

The L9 Sud line ends at Zona Universitaria, and it takes 30 minutes to get there, plus the transfer. If we continue taking Plaza Cataluña as an example, you will have to take the L3 and you will have 12 more stops before arriving, or make the connection earlier, at Torrassa with L1. If you are going to another area of the city, plan it in advance with the Barcelona metro app.

going from the airport to the centre of Barcelona

►L3 University Zone towards Plaza Cataluña

The airport ticket costs €5.15 including the airport surcharge. ►Barcelona metro fares As you will see it is practically the same price as the Aerobus and it is perhaps a little more cumbersome and slower to get to the center.

City bus 46

It also leaves from both terminals. The advantage it has over the previous ones is the price. The ticket costs €2.40. The journey is to Plaza España, if your hotel is in that area it is fine, but if not you will have to travel from there by metro or another bus.

The journey will take between 40 and 50 minutes, depending on the traffic encountered.

Train

This is the one we used on our last visit to Barcelona so I will detail it to you. The suburban train line is the R2 nord, it connects the airport with the center of Barcelona, the con is that it only leaves from terminal 2.

As we told you, we arrived at 1, so we took the free shuttle bus that took us to terminal 2. Then from there you have a fairly long walk to the train exit.

If your accommodation is in the centre of Barcelona, the Passeig de Gracia stop is probably the best for you. This is the one we use. There is also a stop at Sants station.

►Line R2 Nord

Although the journey on the train is only 25 minutes, if you arrive at terminal 1 you lose a lot of time between the transfer to T2 and then the walk to the station.

A single ticket costs €4.60 (zone 4). But if you plan to continue using public transport in Barcelona, it is advisable to take out the T-Casual before making this journey.

T-Casual

This public transport card offers you 10 trips, the cost is €11.35 so the journey will be very cheap. It is for personal use, so you will have to get one for each passenger.

The casual T can also be used if you are travelling from the airport on bus 46 but can NOT be used on the metro to or from the airport.

You take them out at the vending machines at the airport train station, or then in the city at any metro machine.

T casual to go from the airport to the center of Barcelona

As I was saying, we bought it to take the train. If you are going to return to the airport in the same way, you already know that you will use two trips and then you will have 8 more trips to use on the metro or bus within the city during the days of your stay. It is a highly recommended option.

Cab

We also have the taxi option, the price is not fixed, it is around €30/35, if there is more than one person it can be convenient in addition to being comfortable.

Private transfer

And finally a private transfer, if you go with children, seniors or simply for comfort is always a good option. Check here for your private transfer

Mobile data

►For all these searches, both on metro maps and on maps to find our way around the city, we use a lot of mobile data in the city, since it is not always easy to find wifi. On this occasion, we traveled with a Holafly data SIM. These are data SIMs designed for travelers. You have physical SIMs and also eSims, which you buy on the website, activate them using a QR code, and you are ready when you arrive at your destination to stay connected via your mobile.

Here is a link with a discount code for followers in Europe accompanied ► Holafly discount code: EUROPAACOMPAÑADA5

►Have you seen our COMPLETE GUIDE to BARCELONA ?

Lodging

As I was saying, we got off at the Paseo de Gracia station, our hotel was only a few meters from it.

We chose a hotel a short distance from the Paseo de Gracia station, and about 300 meters from Plaza Cataluña, the Continental Palacete, was a good option with breakfast included and the dining room open 24 hours a day with an all-you-can-eat buffet that is of great help for those moments when you arrive at the hotel to rest or shower before doing a new activity or going out for dinner.