Barcelona travel guide — where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
Barcelona has one of Europe's most comprehensive urban transport networks. The TMB metro (12 lines) covers the entire city; the T-Casual 10-trip card (€11.35/~$12.26) is valid on metro, bus, tram, and FGC. Barcelona El Prat airport (BCN) is 12km southwest; Aerobús runs every 5–10 minutes to Plaça Catalunya. The city is highly walkable — most major attractions are within 30 minutes on foot from the Gothic Quarter.
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
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- Aerobús (€6.75 single, €10.95 return (~$7.29/$11.83)) · Metro L9 Sud (€5.15 single airport ticket (~$5.56) — requires separate airport supplement, T-Casual not valid) · Rodalies R2 Nord (regional train) (€4.60 single (~$4.97) — Rodalies Zone 1 ticket; T-Casual not valid unless multi-zone) · Taxi (€25–40 (~$27–43) typical metered fare including airport supplement of €3.10) · Private transfer (€40–70 for 1–3 passengers (~$43–76))
Local transport
Getting around the city.
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Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
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Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
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- Route
- Barcelona → Madrid
- Mode
- High-speed AVE (Renfe)
- Journey time
- 2h30m
- Price
- €29–125 depending on advance booking (~$31.32–135)
- Departure
- Barcelona Sants station (Plaça dels Països Catalans, 08014)
- Frequency
- 10–12 daily departures
- Notes
- Book at renfe.com — advance fares as low as €29. Sants station accessible on L3 and L5 metro.
- Route
- Barcelona → Valencia
- Mode
- Renfe AVE/Alaris
- Journey time
- 3h–3h30m
- Price
- €25–80 (~$27–86.40)
- Frequency
- 8–10 daily
- Notes
- Book at renfe.com. Some services stop at Tarragona.
- Route
- Barcelona → Girona
- Mode
- Renfe Avant (regional high-speed)
- Journey time
- 38 minutes
- Price
- €9–25 (~$9.72–27)
- Frequency
- Hourly (more frequent in peak hours)
- Notes
- Also accessible by Rodalies (1h10m, ~€6). FGC and Rodalies also go from Passeig de Gràcia.
- Route
- Barcelona → Tarragona
- Mode
- Renfe Rodalies R4 or intercity
- Journey time
- 1h–1h15m (Rodalies); 35 min (AVE)
- Price
- €7–15 Rodalies; €25–40 AVE (~$7.56–16.20/$27–43.20)
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes (Rodalies)
- Route
- Barcelona → Sitges
- Mode
- Renfe Rodalies R2 Sud
- Journey time
- 35 minutes
- Price
- €4.30 (~$4.64)
- Departure
- Barcelona Sants or Passeig de Gràcia
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Route
- Barcelona → Figueres (Dalí museum)
- Mode
- Renfe Avant or Rodalies
- Journey time
- 55 minutes (Avant); 2h (Rodalies)
- Price
- €15–35 Avant; €10 Rodalies (~$16.20–37.80/$10.80)
- Notes
- Teatre-Museu Dalí is 15 min walk from Figueres station
- Route
- Barcelona → Montserrat
- Mode
- FGC R5 line + rack railway (cremallera)
- Journey time
- 1 hour total (FGC 52 min from Plaça Espanya + rack railway 15 min)
- Price
- €35–45 all-inclusive return ticket with rack railway and cable car (~$37.80–48.60)
- Departure
- Plaça d'Espanya (FGC platforms, lower level)
- Notes
- All-inclusive 'Tot Montserrat' ticket available at FGC machines
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
The metro, Aerobús, and taxi cover all airport transfer needs. Within the city, the T-Casual card valid on all TMB services (metro, bus, tram) and FGC provides the best value. Walking is the best option in the Gothic Quarter, El Born, and Barceloneta. Taxis and Cabify/Bolt operate 24/7.
Airports
Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN)
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Buy a T-Casual card (10-trip) on arrival at any metro station — saves money immediately over single tickets
The Aerobús is the fastest, cheapest way from the airport to the centre (€6.75 vs €30+ taxi)
Free transfers between metro, bus, tram, and FGC within 1h15m on the same T-Casual validation
Barcelona is eminently walkable — the Gothic Quarter, El Born, and Barceloneta are all within 20 min on foot
The metro runs 24h on Saturdays — no need for taxis after clubs on Saturday nights
Night Buses (Nitbus N1–N17) depart from Plaça Catalunya midnight to 5AM on weekdays
Do not take unofficial taxis or allow drivers to approach you inside the terminal — always use marked taxi ranks
On Rodalies and AVE trains, validate your ticket before boarding — inspectors on most intercity services
Bicing bike-share is mainly for residents; tourist day pass (€13.33) is good value for a full day of cycling
Avoid driving in the central city — parking is expensive (€3–5/hour) and the metro covers everywhere faster