Barcelona’s public transport is excellent, the metro and bus networks are highly efficient. Licensed taxis are easily distinguished by their bold black and yellow colours, and fares are cheap compared to most European capitals.
Using a car to get around Barcelona can be quite stressful at rush hour. The best way to explore the city is on foot, using the public transport if necessary or a bike. This way you can fully appreciate its wonderful architecture and many hidden treasures. All of our Barcelona rental apartments are in prime central locations and Barcelona is a wonderful city to explore on foot, wandering through its narrow medieval streets and absorbing its relaxed atmosphere. Barcelona has a strong bar and café culture, so should you tire of sightseeing, you can always enjoy a good cup of coffee or a refreshing glass of cold beer on one of its many terraces.
Barcelona’s transport system offers some options for handicapped travellers or for parents with pushchairs.
Trams
All the trams in Barcelona are fully accessible. The platform is at the same level as the tram itself, so there is no step up, and platforms themselves are reached via a ramp rather than by stairs.
Metro
The metro system in Barcelona is not fully accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs, but is still better equipped than many major cities metro systems, such as London or New York. This map shows all the metro stations in Barcelona which are fully wheelchair and pushchair accessible.
Click here to see full-size map of accessible metro stations
Source: TMB
Bike
Bicycle is an increasingly popular form of transport in Barcelona. The cities pleasant climate and the growing cycle path network make it the ideal way to get around and to see and enjoy the many pleasant known and hidden spots of Barcelona.
Currently there are more than 116km of bike paths which connect the city centre with important commercial, industrial and residential areas on the outskirts of the city.
Since 2007 a highly successful public bike hire service called Bicing has been in place, it is sponsored by the local government and has bike ranks all over the city.
Its use is not so much touristic as for short trips around the city, so only people who are signed up to the service can use Bicing.
However there are numerous Bicycle rental companies in Barcelona, some of them organise guided tours of the city by bike.
Bus
BUSES DURING THE DAY
There are over 90 bus routes in Barcelona with a fleet of over 1000 buses transporting passengers throughout the city. Buses are single deck and are adapted for wheel chair access. All bus stops provide full detail so of all buses stopping there, their route and their timetable.
Tickets are bought on the bus or in ticket machines in the entrance to metro stations. Tickets allow use of the full integrated public transport system during a 1 hour 15 minute time frame.
As well as single tickets there are various kinds of other tickets, the most interesting for short term visitors are:
1.T-10 card: this is valid for 10 trips and can be used by more than one person.
2.Cards that offer unlimited use, for anything from 1 to 5 days. These may only be used by one individual.
It is recommendable to check the current prices of tickets on the official web page of the Barcelona metro system to check which option will suit you best during your stay in Barcelona. You can see all the different kinds of tickets and their prices here.
Tickets are valid for the metro, bus, tram, urban light railway (FGC) and cercanias trains (local light rail).
Timetable
Timetables depend on the route, though the vast majority start at 4.30am and finish at 11pm. You can see the full route, timetable and frequency at any stop.
For more information visit: www.tmb.cat
NIGHT BUSES
Barcelona has a night bus service called ‘Nit Bus’ (Night Bus) which covers a large part of the city and its surroundings.
Timetable
The majority of night buses start between 22.40pm and 11.40pm, and end between 5 and 6 am. All night buses start or stop close to Plaça Catalunya, expept the N0.
For more information visit http://www.emt-amb.com.
Car
Barcelona is indeed an amazing city. You will be surprised with the number of places that you can visit, a weekend is not long enough to check them all out. Aside from museums and cafes, you can enjoy the breathtaking architecture that has made Barcelona one of the world’s favourite tourist destinations.
The benefits of visiting Barcelona include a great number of apartments to rent, many of them located near different tourist attractions. Public transport is hassle-free thanks to its variety that includes a bus network, a metro and three tram lines. In Barcelona, you also have the chance to rent a car and enjoy the sights and different sounds the city has to offer in a day trip.
Parking is not a problem because there are designated areas where you can leave your car without any worries at all. Street parking is restricted and must be paid for in Barcelona. There are two zones, blue and green, with prices that vary from 2-3 euros per hour, for a maximum period of two hours. Conditions usually apply from Monday to Friday, from 8am to 8pm.
The best option if you do arrive in Barcelona by car is to leave it parked in one of the many car parks found throughout the city. The price is usually from 2 to 3 euros per hour or around 30 to 35 euros per day.
Parking in one of the large car parks situated at the Forum, Estació del Nord and Parc de Recerca Biomèdica can be an economic option, they offer special prices if you leave your car for longer periods. For more information see http://www.bsmsa.cat/
However, if you are planning to visit other places around the city of Barcelona, a car is the perfect mean of transportation to avoid schedules and pre-established itineraries. Consider the following stops for an exciting road trip:
1.Tarragona, just an hour away from Barcelona, is well-known for its awe-inspiring Roman ampitheater that dates back to the 2nd century. Tourists are always fascinated by the ruins and museums nearby. If you want to hit the beach, then you must go to the surrounding Costa Dorada.
2.Montserrat, located 60km from Barcelona, is site of the famous mountain top monastery the Benedictine Abbe of Santa Maria de Montserrat. This place is also the home of the Black Madonna (La Moreneta) and the famous Montserrat Boys Choir.
3.Valencia is Spain’s third largest city. It is filled with historic monuments, beautiful gardens, and various important museums. Here, you can experience the world’s largest annual food fight- the famous Tomatina – where residents and tourists hurl tons of tomatoes at each other. After the festivities, grab a plate of paella – Valencia’s famed seafood dish.
4.Cadaques, with a spectacular view of the mountains and the sea, is a former fishing village in Costa Brava and your passport to hiking adventures and more amazing views. You can rent a boat and go scuba diving in its beaches. While you’re here, don’t forget to visit Salvador Dali’s house near Port Lligat.
If you have more time to spare, you will have endless possibilities for an amazing road trip in Catalunya or other parts of Spain.
Metro and urban railways
The metro is the fastest and easiest way to get around Barcelona. Currently there are nine metro lines, distinguished by their colours, and managed by two different organisations – the TMB (Transportes Metropolitanos de Barcelona) and the FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Catalana). Some metro stations connect with the Renfe Rodalies trains (a local overland rail network), and with the Montjuic funicular. You can see a map of the entire metro system here.
Tickets are bought in machines situated in the entrance of metro stations. As well as single tickets there are various kinds of other tickets, the most interesting for short term visitors are:
1.T-10 card: these is valid for 10 trips and can be used by more than one person. A trip from this ticket permits use of any means of public transport during the following 1 hour 15 minutes.
2.Cards that offer unlimited use, for anything from 1 to 5 days. These may only be used by one individual.
We recommend you check the current prices of tickets on the official web page of the Barcelona metro system to check which option will suit you best during your stay in Barcelona. You can see all the different kinds of tickets and their prices here.
All tickets are valid for the metro, bus, tram, urban light railway (FGC) and Renfe Rodalies trains (local light rail).
Metro and FGC timetable:
Week days from Monday to Thursday, Sundays and public holidays: 5am – 12pm.
Fridays and evenings before public holidays: 5am – 2am.
Saturdays and the evenings of 23/06, 18/08 and 22-23/09, 31/12: runs all night.
For more information:
Barcelona Metro: www.tmb.cat
Ferrocarril Catalán: www.fgc.cat
Others
In certain important areas of Barcelona there are special forms of transport, such as the Tranvía Blau (Blue Tram), or the Montjuic Funicular. From the Old Port you can catch a ‘Golondrina’, one of the tourist boats which offer tours along the coast.
The Tranvía Blau
The Tranvía Blau leaves from where Plaza Kennedy meets Avenida del Tibidabo and runs to Plaza del Doctor Andréu and back. It is connected to the metro system and functions daily in summer, Easter and Christmas, weekends and public holidays.
The Tibidabo Funicular
The Tibidabo Funicular connects Plaza del Doctor Andréu with Plaza del Tibidabo, where it connects with the Tranvía Blau. It runs during months when the amusement park is open.
The Montjuïc Funicular
This connects Paral.lel with Montjuic and is the quickest way up the Montjuic Mountain, the genuine heart of the city, where important symbols of the city including the Miró Museum and the Olympic Stadium are found. You catch the Funicular from Paral·lel metro (line 2 and line 3), and tickets from the bus and train network can be used.
The Barcelona Cable Car
The Cable Car was built in 1929 for the International Exhibition hosted by Barcelona in that year by the architect Carles Buïgas, and it was inaugurated in 1931. It connects the Port with Montjuic Mountain and has three stops: The San Sebastián Tower in Barceloneta, the Jaime I Tower in the World Trade Center, and the Miramar station on Montjuïc.The trip lasts some 5 minutes and offers spectacular views of Barcelona and the Port.
The Golondrinas
The Golondrinas boat trips embark from Portal de La Palau in front of the Christopher Columbus monument and offer various outings lasting from 35 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes, along the Old Port and the beaches. Some boats have a glass bottom.
The timetable is:
Autumn and Winter from 11am to 4pm.
Spring from 10am a 7pm.
Summer from 10am to 9pm.
They are closed during the last two weeks of December.
Prices depend on the trip you take, but vary from 7,50€ for an adult and 2,80€ for a child, to 18€ for an adult and 7€ a child.
The Trixi
Barcelona was the first city to introduce this vehicle to its streets – Trixis, or Bicitaxis. They are futuristically designed tricycles that operate as taxis and carry predominantly tourists around the city. If you see one that is empty you can hail it. Their riders can take you around the city and help you to discover spots such as the Cathedral, Plaza Sant Jaume, the MACBA, the Ciutadella Park, and Diagonal. Routes can be adapted according to the desire of the client. A Trixi carries up to two people and the price varies according to how long the ride is, from 6€ for 15 minutes, to 18€ for an hour.
Taxi
Taxis are easy to find anywhere in Barcelona at any time of day or night, and are one of the best ways to get around the city, especially at night when public transport is less frequent. Prices are good value, especially when compared with other major cities.
Taxis are unmistakable thanks to their black and yellow colouring, and they have a light on the roof indicating if they are free or not (green if free).
There are taxi ranks in various parts of the city but the most common way of catching a taxis the customary flagging one down from the curb with a raised hand, when one with a green light passes.
The cost of a journey is shown on a meter inside the taxi, just as in other countries. A surcharge is added for each suitcase carried, trips to and from the airport and train station and travelling on public holidays such as Christmas, new year etc. You will find a list of surcharges in the interior of all taxis.
For more information see: www.taxibarcelona.cat
Tram
In 2004 Barcelona rebuilt some of its long vanished tram system, choosing to invest in this quick, silent and pollution free from of transport.
– TheTrambaix (T1, T2, T3) which joins Plaça Francesc Macià with towns including Sant Just Desvern, Sant Joan Despí and Cornellà.
– TheTrambesòs (T4, T5, T6) runs from Villa Olímpica to Badalona or Sant Adrià, passing through Plaça de les Glòries and the Fórum.
Tickets can be bought either at a tram stop or from machines situated in the entrance to metro stations.
As well as single tickets there are various kinds of other tickets, the most interesting for short term visitors are:
1.T-10 card: this is valid for 10 trips and can be used by more than one person.
2.Cards that offer unlimited use, for anything from 1 to 5 days. These may only be used by one individual.
Currently there are six routes operating on two main lines which connect the city centre with important commercial, industrial and residential areas on the outskirts of the city.
It is recommendable to check the current prices of tickets on the official web page of the Barcelona metro system to check which option will suit you best during your stay in Barcelona. You can see all the different kinds of tickets and their prices here.
Tickets are valid for the tram, metro, bus, urban light railway (FGC) and cercania trains (local light rail).
For more information see http://www.trambcn.com/
Tram Timetable:
Week days from Monday to Thursday, Sundays and public holidays: 5am – 12pm.
Fridays and evenings before public holidays: 5am – 2am.
