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Barcelona Airport Transport and Transfer To The City Centre

This page summarizes the Barcelona airport transport and transfer options to the city centre. The journey time from the airport to the centre is between 20 to 30 minutes depending on the time of day however all means of transport take more or less the same length of time. Click here for Barcelona airport transfer to other destinations (Girona/Gerona, Reus, Salou, Sitges, Blanes)

Transport Options

Barcelona Airport Taxis
Private Car Transfer
Aerobus - (Express bus service)
TMB Airport Bus (Number 46)
NiteBus N17 (Operates during the night)
Trains from Barcelona Airport to Barcelona center
Car hire
Airport transfer to the cruise terminal

You have quite a variety of transport options from Barcelona airport to the city centre (Placa de Catalunya). All of them are a reliable, efficient and clean means of transport, and they all take more or less the same length of time.

NB We have had several enquiries asking for information on the metro running to airport however it is important to note that the metro DOES NOT RUN to and from the airport. You will have to use the RENFE train or one of the other means of Barcelona airport transport methods listed below to get to the city center and then change for the metro either at Barcelona Sants (Estacio Sants) or Passeig de Gracia stations. The metro runs directly from both of these stations.

Barcelona Airport Taxis

1) Taxi
Tel: (0034) 93 303 3033

Travelling by Taxi is a low cost and convenient way to get from the airport to the city centre, especially if you have a family or a lot of luggage.

You will find a taxi rank outside any of the main terminal exits Terminal 1 (T1) or Terminal 2 (and of the 3 buildings of Terminal 2 - T2A, T2B or T2C). Look for the sign pointing to the nearest taxi rank. The taxis operate all night and there are several hundred of them so you don't have to worry about not being able to catch a cab.

The journey to the city centre will take you between 20 to 30 mins depending on road conditions. If you are travelling from Terminal 1 rather than Terminal 2, this will add an extra 4 kms to your journey and take approximately 5 minutes more.

If you have special needs or need a cab specially adapted for disabled passengers call this number:
Tel: (0034) 93 420 8088

Taxi Fare

Expect to pay around 25 Euros for the journey into the centre from T2 and 30 euros for your journey from T1. There will also be an additional surcharge charge for each bag you're carrying. You'll find the rates displayed inside the cab.

All official Barcelona taxis are black and yellow and are required to charge you only the value on the meter (Plus any surcharge. Surcharges include a supplement for travelling from the Airport, or to or from the port and also for each suitcase, all surcharge rates are displayed in the back of the taxi).

The taxi service in Barcelona is generally very good, clean and reliable.

Click here for our in-depth information page on Barcelona Taxis

2) Private Car Transfer

Travel with a touch of class from the airport to your hotel. The following link will enable you to book a private airport transfer for up to 3 people per car to the city centre. This service is great if you wish to impress or for a special occasion or if you just want someone to meet you at the other side of your flight so you don't have to sort out your own transport to the city centre.

Private car transfer from Barcelona airport.

3) Aerobus - Express Bus Service: Express bus service to Barcelona city center from the airport Tel: (0034) 93 415 6020

The Aerobus service is an express bus service that links Barcelona airport to the city centre. This service normally runs every 15 mins within its fixed hours of operation (see official website below for the exact timetable for the Aerobus)

You can catch the Aerobus from outside both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The Aerobus will then take you to the city centre where you can alight either at Placa Espanya or Placa de Catalunya (there are other stops but we recommend you refer to the official Aerobus website - link given below. From there you can catch the metro underground. Click here for the Barcelona Metro Map

Ticket Price to T2 is 4.25 euros for a single and 7,30 Euros for a round trip from T2. Tickets can be purchased on the bus or at machines outside T2. Save 20% on the ticket price with the Barcelona Card

Ticket Price to T1: For an Aerobus ticket from T1 a single ticket costs 5 euros. Return tickets are not currently available for the T1 aeroubus. Tickets for Aerobus T1 can only be purchased on the bus.

The Barcelona Card will entitle you to discounts on the tickets for both Aerobuses running from T1 and T2 .

Timetable for the Aerobus

For up to date timetable information on the Aerobus service between the airport and the city centre (Placa de Catalunya Square) visit the Official Aerobus web site. Once there, select "Aerobus" from the drop down menu and then click on the word Ver.

Click here for our in-depth information page on the Barcelona airport Aerobus service

It is important to remember that both Aerobuses for Terminal 1 and for Terminal 2 stop at the same bus stops. If you are making your way to Barcelona Airport, make sure that you take the right Aerobus. The Aerobus for Terminal 1 is light blue and dark blue. The Aerobus for Terminal 2 is dark blue and yellow.

4) TMB Airport Bus To City Centre (Number 46)

This bus operates during the day between the hours of 5.30 am to 00.45 at night from both airport terminals. This bus has more stops than the Aerobus and takes more time to travel to the city centre however the big advantage of using this bus is you can use the T10 transport ticket on this journey unlike for the Aerobus. We have written a detailed page on this bus service which you can find by following the link below.

Click here for our detailed page the TMB airport bus

5) Airport Night Bus: NiteBus N17

NiteBus is the bus that operates between Barcelona Airport and the city centre during the hours of 23.05 to 5.05 am. Ticket price for a single is 1.35 euros. You can also use the T10 on this bus. We have put together a detailed page on the Nitebus which you can find by following the link below.

Click here fore our detailed page on the Nitebus service

6) Trains From Barcelona Airport

RENFE Train

Tel: (0034) 90 224 3402 (International)
Tel: (0034) 90 224 0202

The RENFE train service runs approximately every 30 mins to and from Barcelona airport to the city centre. Travel time approximately 25 minutes.

You can catch the train from Clot, Passeig de Gracia, or Barcelona Sants (otherwise known as Sants Estacio) The name of the stop you want for the airport is Aeropuerto.

If travelling from the airport to the city centre you can get off at Barcelona Sants, Passeig de Gracia or Clot which are serviced by metro stops. From these you can change for the Barcelona metro underground system to go to your final destination.

If you have not bought a T10 ticket and just purchased a normal ticket then you will have to buy another ticket for the change at Estacio Sants Barcelona Sants. If you have a T10 ticket you can change without paying an additional charge. The metro runs directly from Barcelona Sants station and from Passeig de Gracia.

If you are arriving into Terminal 1, a shuttle bus
will take you from outside of the terminal to the train station entrance.

Locations to Purchase Your T10 ticket

You can purchase a T10 ticket from any metro stop or at the entrance to the RENFE train platform at Barcelona Airport.

The Barcelona Card gives you free travel on the RENFE train from the airport to the city centre

Alternatively you can have free travel on the RENFE train from the Airport to Barcelona city centre with the Barcelona Card.

Click here to learn more about the Barcelona Card

Barcelona Sants station is a major rail station that offers train connections to many other destinations outside Barcelona.

The train will drop you off about 5 mins walk from the airport main entrance for Terminal 2. If you need to go to Terminal 1, there is a shuttle bus that leaves from directly outside the train station.

Timetable for RENFE Trains between the airport and city center

For an up to the minute train timetable click on the following link RENFE train service - Please note this section of the RENFE web site is currently only in Spanish. You can still get the timetable information however - here are the translations to the form so that you can submit your enquiry:

Origen - Start station - therefore select Aeropuerto = Airport from the drop down menu

Destino - Destination station - for Barcelona city centre select Barcelona Sants.

Consulta por tipo del dia = select for type of day.

It´s best to ignore this box and just select your chosen date in the box below.

Leave the next few boxes as they are then just click the Horarios button which means Timetable. You will then be presented with a results table showing you the departure times.

The hora Salida is the departure time the hora llegada is the arrival time.

Ticket Price

A single ticket to Sants Station costs 2.80 Euros alternatively you can use the T10 Ticket for your journey to and from the airport to Sants Station. The T10 ticket can also be used for other journeys on the buses and metro.

Click here for our in-depth information page on the Barcelona Airport RENFE train

7) Car hire from Barcelona airport

There are 4 companies that offer cheap car hire from the airport. Note that Barcelona Airport transport is excellent and you really shouldn't need car hire unless you have special needs.

Click here to find out more about hiring a car from Barcelona airport.