Hola Barcelona Card: The Travel Pass That Gives You Unlimited Journeys on Barcelona Public Transport
Page Content
This page will review the Hola Barcelona Travel Card (HolaBCN card) and explain what it is, if the card is worth it, the savings you’ll make, the places where you can purchase it and will also answer the main questions you might have regarding the card.
We have also provided you with links so that you can book the Hola Barcelona Travel Card in advance of your trip.
What is the Hola Barcelona Travel Pass and what does it include?
 |
| Hola BCN Travel Card |
The public transport of Barcelona includes: the metro, the bus (TMB buses), the Montjuic Funicular, the tram (TRAM), the urban railway (FGC trains, in zone 1), and the regional railway (Rodalies de Catalunya trains, in zone 1).
The Hola Barcelona Travel Card also includes the metro from and to the T1 and T2 of the Airport of Barcelona to the city centre. Without the Hola Barcelona Travel Card you would need to pay an extra fare to catch the metro from Barcelona airport.
You may wish to consider the BCN Essentials Pass which includes a HolaBCN card. The BCN Essentials pass is a digital pass that also gives you admission to the top attractions of Barcelona - Sagrada Familia and Park Guell by Gaudi. You also get an audio guide and interactive maps that covers all of Barcelona's main attractions - it's like having your own personal tour guide to assist you in discovering the city. When you order your BCN Essentials pass you are also sent a separate code that you can enter into a ticket vending machine at any metro that will then issue your HolaBCN card.
The night buses are not included in the Hola Barcelona Travel Card. The night buses are those circulating late at night and starting with an “N” followed by the line number.
It is important to understand that the Hola Barcelona Travel Card is valid for 48, 72, 96 or 120 consecutive hours not for calendar days. This means that if you purchase a 48 hours Card and you touch it for the first time at 16:00 at the metro, it will be valid until 16:00 two days after.
How long is the Hola Barcelona Travel Pass valid?
The Hola Barcelona Travel Card is valid for 48, 72, 96 or 120 consecutive hours after you use it for the first time.
The Hola Barcelona Travel Card is valid unlimitedly once your purchase it. It means that you can purchase the card online well in advance of your trip and keep the confirmation for as long as you want. The card will be activated after you use it for the first time.
Is the Hola Barcelona Travel Pass worth it?
 |
| Hola Barcelona ticket machines |
The Hola Barcelona Travel Card is worth it depending on the number of times you will use the public transport in Barcelona and if you use the Airport metro.
The price for a single metro, bus, Montjuic funicular, tram or train ticket is:
Metro Ticket Price
Single ticket: €2.40
The price for a single Airport metro ticket is:
Metro Airport Ticket Price (Billete Aeropuerto)
Single ticket: €5.15
Rates of the Hola Barcelona Travel Pass
Hola Barcelona Travel Card – 48 hours
€16.40
Hola Barcelona Travel Card – 72 hours
€23.80
Hola Barcelona Travel Card – 96 hours
€31.00
Hola Barcelona Travel Card – 120 hours
€38.20
What savings can you make with the Hola Barcelona Travel Pass?
As the card grants you unlimited travel on Barcelona public transport, the more you use the public transport, the more you save money.
However it’s worth analyzing first if you’ll really make the most of the Hola Barcelona Travel Card. Below, you’ll see how much travel is needed to start saving money.
With the Hola Barcelona Travel Card 48 hours, you will save money from:
 |
| Hola Barcelona Travel Card 48 hours |
- A round-trip metro journey to the Barcelona Airport + 3 metro, bus, Montjuic funicular, tram or train journeys during the card validity.
- Or from a one-way journey from/to the Barcelona Airport + 5 metro, bus, Montjuic funicular, tram or train journeys during the card validity
- Or from 7 metro, bus, Montjuic funicular, tram or train journeys during the card validity, which equals to 3.5 transport tickets per day
With the Hola Barcelona Travel Card 72 hours, you will save money from:
 |
| Hola Barcelona Travel Card 72 hours |
- A round-trip metro journey to the Barcelona Airport + 6 metro, bus, Montjuic funicular, tram or train journeys during the card validity
- Or from a one-way journey from/to the Barcelona Airport + 8 metro, bus, Montjuic funicular, tram or train journeys during the card validity
- Or from 10 metro, bus, Montjuic funicular, tram or train journeys during the card validity, which equals to 3.3 transport tickets per day
With the Hola Barcelona Travel Card 96 hours, you will save money from:
 |
| Hola Barcelona Travel Card 96 hours |
- A round-trip metro journey to the Barcelona Airport + 9 metro, bus, Montjuic funicular, tram or train journeys during the card validity
- Or from a one-way journey from/to the Barcelona Airport + 11 metro, bus, Montjuic funicular, tram or train journeys during the card validity
- Or from 13 metro, bus, Montjuic funicular, tram or train journeys during the card validity, which equals to 3.2 transport tickets per day
With the Hola Barcelona Travel Card 120 hours, you will save money from:
 |
| Hola Barcelona Travel Card 120 hours |
- A round-trip metro journey to the Barcelona Airport + 12 metro, bus, Montjuic funicular, tram or train journeys during the card validity
- Or from a one-way journey from/to the Barcelona Airport + 14 metro, bus, Montjuic funicular, tram or train journeys during the card validity
- Or from 16 metro, bus, Montjuic funicular, tram or train journeys during the card validity, which equals to 3.2 transport tickets per day
If you like walking the city center of Barcelona -Plaza Catalunya, Las Ramblas, the Gothic Quarter- can be visited walking however if you are not a walker you might want to use the metro or the buses to go from one place to another.
E.g. There is a 1.3 Km distance between Plaza Catalunya and the end of Las Ramblas near Drassanes metro station (16min. walking distance), or 2 metro stops between Plaza Catalunya and Drassanes metro station (5min. metro ride).
The Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Montjuic hill, Montjuic Magic fountains are off-centre so you will most likely use the public transport to go there.
You might also use the public transport to go out at night and if it’s too hot or rainy or simply if your hotel is not located at a walking distance from Barcelona attractions.
Where can you see the public transport options best suited to your itinerary?
The Hola Barcelona Travel Card includes unlimited travel on the metro, the bus, the the tram, the FGC and Rodalies trains but where can you see which metro, bus, tram or train line will take you from one place to another?
We recommend you to use Google maps. Open Google maps, click on Directions, enter the place you want to go to and click on the transit icon. The public transport options available will show.
The TMB app from the Metropolitan Transports of Barcelona is also a good option to see the metro and bus options to go from from one place to another.
Where can you buy the Hola Barcelona Travel Pass?
 |
| Hola Barcelona vending machine |
You can purchase the Hola Barcelona Travel Card online or at any of the vending machines at the metro and train stations of Barcelona.
When you purchase the Hola Barcelona Travel Card online you will receive an instant bar code confirmation. Once in Barcelona you’ll need to go to one of the vending machines at the metro and train stations of Barcelona, touch the Hola Barcelona option on the screen and enter your bar code.
Your Hola Barcelona Travel Card will then be issued. It’s quick and easy.
The validity of the card will start once you use the card for the first time.
What is the cancellation and refund policy of the Hola Barcelona Travel Pass?
If you buy the Hola Barcelona Travel Card online using the links we have provided and would like to cancel your booking because you will not use the pass, you will be able to cancel your booking and receive a full refund to your credit card.
Is there a Hola Barcelona Travel Pass for children?
Children aged 0-3 travel for free in Barcelona public transport. You do not need to buy any ticket or travel pass for children aged 0-3.
From the age of 4 children pay the same rates as adults. The adult rate is valid from the age of 4.
If you are traveling with kids from the age of 4 and want to purchase a Hola Barcelona Travel Pass for them, select the adult rate that is valid from the age of 4.
There is a free T-16 card for children aged 4 to 16 but it’s only available to residents of the Metropolitan Transport Area of Barcelona.
What is the difference between the Hola Barcelona Travel Pass, the Barcelona Card Express and the Barcelona Card?
The Hola Barcelona Travel Card only includes unlimited use of the Barcelona public transport.
The Barcelona Card Express and the Barcelona Card include unlimited use of the Barcelona public transport, free and discount entries to top attractions and more.
For more information about Hola Barcelona Travel Card, see our pages below:
Difference between the tourist travel pass and the Barcelona card
Barcelona Card Review page
Barcelona Card Express Review page
Activation time of HolaBCN Card
Q: I bought the online Hola card for 120 hrs but ufortunately I booked it for 1 day after we arrive. Can I activate the day before and still get the 120 hrs?
A: If you puchase your HolaBCN card online using the links on this page then the HolaBCN card is activated only when you first use it i.e. on your first journey. It is not activated until you actually start using the card for the first time - so you will be fine.