Getting to and from the airport

Flights land at the El Prat de Llobregat airport, which is located 12km (8 miles) southwest of Barcelona. Several options are available for travelers wishing to get into the city.

The easiest public transport option is the Aerobus airport train (A1), which takes passengers from Terminals A, B and C to Placa de Catalunya, at the top of Las Ramblas. The train comes every 15 minutes and the ride lasts about 40 minutes. Coming from the airport, trains run Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. until midnight. On Saturday and Sunday, the train runs from 6:30 AM until midnight. In the direction of the airport, trains run Monday through Friday from 5:30 AM until 12:15 AM and Saturday and Sunday from 6 AM until 12:15 PM. The cost is €4.25 one-way and €7.30 open return.

RENFE, the suburban train service, provides a cheaper ride for €2.80. The trains make major stops, including Estacio Barcelona-Sants (the major train station), Plaça de Catalunya, and the last stop, Estacio Franca, which is your best bet if you'll be staying in La Ribera. Tickets are sold in red machines in the stations.

If you're going to the airport from the Sants station, tickets are sold at a window marked 'Aeroport' from 5 AM until 11 PM. After 11 PM, they can be obtained from the ticket machines or the Recorridos Cercanias window.

The bus provides the only late night transportation to Barcelona's airport, and at €1.25, it's also the cheapest. Hop on bus N17 from Terminal A, B, or C to Placa de Catalunya. The bus runs from the airport, nightly, every hour from 10:05 PM. until 5:05 AM. The bus runs from Placa de Catalunya to the airport, nightly, every hour from 11:00 PM until 5:00 AM.

Of course, the easiest way to get to and from the airport is always a taxi. To and from the city center, expect to pay between €15 and €30. Baggage in the trunk will cost extra.

For more information, check out the offical AENA Barcelona airport site.

Getting to and from the main train station

Ah, trains. We love 'em. And in Catalonia, as throughout Spain, trains are an economical and low-stress way to travel. Barcelona has two main train stations, Estacio Barcelona-Sants and Estacio FranCa, each serving different destinations. When in doubt, go for Estacio Barcelona-Sants. While all domestic trains leaving Estacio Franca pass through Estacio Barcelona-Sants, not all trains leaving Barcelona-Sants pass through Estacio Franca. Plus, Passeig de Gracia is the main stop for getting into the center of town. Got that?

Estacio Barcelona-Sants, in Pl. Paisos Catalans, is the main terminal for domestic and international travel. It is served by the Sants-Estacio metro station via lines 5 and 3. Buses to the station include the #30 from Pl. de Espanya, #44 through L'Eixample (which stops at La Sagrada Familia), and N2. For late night arrival, the N14 shuttles folks every 30 minutes from 10:30 PM. until 4:30 AM. for €1.25.

A taxi ride from either station to Plaza de Catalunya costs about €8. If you've got luggage, add a few euros to this estimate.

For information about trains and their stations in Barcelona, contact RENFE locally at 90 224 02 02, internationally at 90 224 34 02 or visit the official RENFE website.

Flying into Barcelona

Visit our Barcelona budget flights section for more information on low-cost airlines flying into and out of Barcelona. Also worth reading is the guide to cheap flights to Barcelona on Bootsnall.com.