TRANSPORT
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AIR
After Madrid, Barcelona is Spain’s busiest international transport hub. A host of airlines, including many budget carriers, fly directly to Barcelona from around Europe. One important exception is Ryanair, which uses Girona and Reus airports (buses link Barcelona to both).
Most intercontinental flights require passengers to change flights in Madrid or another major European hub.
Iberia, Air Europa, Spanair and Vueling all have dense networks across the country and, while flights can be costly, you can save considerable time by flying from Barcelona to distant cities like Seville or Málaga.
Websites that list competitive fares include:
Airlines
The following airlines serve Barcelona.
Air Berlin (AB; 
902 320737, in Germany 01805 737800; www.airberlin.com)
Air Europa (UX; 902 401501; www.aireuropa.com)
American Airlines (AA; 902 887300, in the US 1 800 433 73 00; www.aa.com)
British Airways (BA; 902 111333, in the UK 0844 493 0787; www.britishairways.com)
THINGS CHANGE…
The information in this chapter is particularly vulnerable to change. Check directly with the airline or a travel agent to make sure you understand how a fare (and ticket you may buy) works and be aware of the security requirements for international travel. Shop carefully. The details given in this chapter should be regarded as pointers and are not a substitute for your own careful, up-to-date research.
Cimber Sterling (NB; in Denmark 70 10 12 18; www.cimber.com)
Continental (CO; in the US 1 800 231 0856; www.continental.com)
Delta (DL; 900 800743, in the US 800 221 1212; www.delta.com)
EasyJet (U2; 902 299992, in the UK 0905 821 0905; www.easyjet.com)
Germanwings (4U; 8s 025, in Germany 0900 191 91 00; www.germanwings.com)
Iberia (IB; 902 400500; www.iberia.es)
Jet2 (LS; 902 881269, in the UK 0871 226 1737; www.jet2.com)
Lufthansa (LX; 902 220101, in Germany 01805 805805; www.lufthansa.com)
Meridiana (IG; 807 405018, in Italy 892928; www.meridiana.it)
Norwegian.no (DY; 815 21 815: www.norwegian.no)
Ryanair (FR; 807 181881, in the UK 0871 246 0000, in Ireland 0818 303030; www.ryanair.com)
Singapore Airlines (SQ; 902 380777; www.singaporeair.com)
Spanair (JK; 902 131415; www.spanair.com)
Swiss (LX; 901 116712, in Switzerland 0848 700700; www.swiss.com)
Thomson Fly (TOM; in the UK 0871 231 47 87; www.thomsonfly.com)
Transavia (HV; 807 075022, in the Netherlands 0900 0737; www.transavia.com)
US Airways (US; 901 117073, in the US 800 428 4322; www.usairways.com)
Vueling (VY; 807 200200; www.vueling.com)
Windjet (IV; 900 996933, in Italy 892020; w2.volawindjet.it)
Wizz (W6; 807 450010; http://wizzair.com)
Airports
Barcelona’s El Prat airport (Map; 902 404704; www.aena.es) lies 12km southwest of the city at El Prat de Llobregat. The airport has two main terminal buildings, the new T1 terminal and the older T2, itself divided into three terminal areas (A, B and C).
In T1, the main arrivals area is on the 1st floor (with separate areas for EU Schengen Area arrivals, non-EU international arrivals and the Barcelona-Madrid corridor). Boarding gates for departures are on the 1st and 3rd floors.
The main tourist office (
9am-9pm) is on the ground floor of Terminal 2B. Others on the ground floor of Terminal 2A and in Terminal 1 operate the same hours. Lockers (which come in three sizes) can be found on the 1st floor of Terminal 1 and at the car park entrance opposite Terminal 2B. You pay €3.80/4.40/4.90 for 24 hours. Lost luggage offices can be found by the arrivals belts in Terminal 1 and on the arrivals floor in Terminals 2A and 2B.
Girona-Costa Brava airport (902 404704; www.aena.es) is 12km south of Girona and about 90km north of Barcelona. You’ll find a tourist office (972 18 67 08; 8am-8pm), ATMs and lost-luggage desks on the ground floor. Reus airport (902 404704; www.aena.es) is 13km west of Tarragona and 108km southwest of Barcelona. The tourist office (977 77 22 04; 8am-10pm) and lost luggage desks are in the main terminal building.
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BICYCLE
Some 156km of (often discontinuous) bike lanes have been laid out across the city, making it possible to get around on two environmentally friendly wheels. A waterfront path runs northeast from Port Olímpic towards Riu Besòs. Scenic itineraries are mapped for cyclists in the Collserola parkland, and the ronda verda is a still incomplete 72km cycling path that extends around the city’s outskirts.
You can transport your bicycle on the Metro on weekdays (except between 7am and 9.30am or 5pm and 8.30pm). On weekends and holidays, and during July and August, there are no restrictions. You can use FGC trains to carry your bike at any time and Renfe’s rodalies trains from 10am to 3pm on weekdays and all day on weekends and holidays.
For information on all aspects of cycling in Barcelona, take a look at the city’s website, www.bcn.cat/bicicleta (in Catalan/Spanish).
Bicing (www.bicing.com, in Catalan/Spanish) is a resident-only public bicycle system. Folks pay an annual fee and ride these red and white bikes from one stop (scattered all over town, including near many Metro stations) to another – effectively an alternative system of public transport.
Hire
Countless companies around town offer bicycles (and anything remotely resembling one, from tandems to tricycle carts and more). They include the following:
BarcelonaBiking.com (Map; 656 356300; www.barcelonabiking.com; Baixada de Sant Miquel 6; per hr/24 hr €5/15; 10am-8pm) City, road and mountain bikes.
Barnabike (Map; 93 269 02 04; www.barnabike.com; Carrer del Pas de Sota la Muralla 3; per 2hr/24hr €6/15; 10am-9.30pm) Rents out an assortment of bikes (including kick bikes) and karts, Trikkes (odd three-wheel contraptions), electric bikes and bikes for kids.
CLIMATE CHANGE & TRAVEL
Every form of transport that relies on carbon-based fuel generates COâ, the main cause of human-induced climate change. Modern travel is dependent on aeroplanes and while they might use less fuel per kilometre per person than most cars, they travel much greater distances. It’s not just COâ, emissions from aircraft that are the problem. The altitude at which aircraft emit gases (including COâ,) and particles contributes significantly to their total climate change impact. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change believes aviation is responsible for 4.9% of climate change – double the effect of its COâ, emissions alone.
Lonely Planet regards travel as a global benefit. We encourage the use of more climate-friendly travel modes where possible and, together with other concerned partners across many industries, we support the carbon offset scheme run by ClimateCare. Websites such as climatecare.org use ‘carbon calculators’ that allow people to offset the greenhouse gases they are responsible for with contributions to portfolios of climate-friendly initiatives throughout the developing world. Lonely Planet offsets the carbon footprint of all staff and author travel.
BEB (Map; 93 451 50 31; www.beb.com.es; Carrer d’Enric Granados 61; rental per day from €20; 10am-2pm & 4.30-8.30pm) Offers more relaxed cyclists the option of renting motorised bikes. You are provided with bike, battery and charger. Discounts are available for longer periods. Bookings must be made a day in advance.
Biciclot (Map; 93 221 97 78; www.biciclot.net & www.bikinginbarcelona.net; Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 33; per hr/day €5.50/€18; 10am-3pm Mon-Thu, 10am-8pm Fri-Sun & holidays Mar-May, 10am-8pm daily late Jun–late Sep, 10am-8pm Sat-Sun & holidays Oct-Nov, 10am-3pm Sat-Sun & holidays Dec-Feb; 
Ciutadella Vila Olímpica) Handy seaside location.
GETTING INTO TOWN
Barcelona El Prat Airport
The A1 Aerobús (93 415 60 20) runs from Terminal 1 to Plaça de Catalunya (Map; €5, 30 to 40 minutes depending on traffic) via Plaça d’Espanya Map), Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes (corner of Carrer del Comte d’Urgell, Map) and Plaça de la Universitat Map) every five to 10 minutes (depending on the time of day) from 6.05am to 1.05am. Departures from Plaça de Catalunya are from 5.30am to 12.30am and stop at the corner of Carrer de Sepúlveda and Carrer del Comte d’Urgell, and Plaça d’Espanya. The A2 Aerobús from Terminal 2 (stops outside terminal areas A, B and C) runs from 6am to 12.30am with a frequency of between eight and 15 minutes and follows the same route as the A1. Buy tickets on the bus or from machines at the airport (if they are working!). Considerably slower local buses (such as the No 46 to/from Plaça d’Espanya and a night bus, the N17, to/from Plaça de Catalunya) also serve Terminals 1 and 2.
Train operator Renfe (www.renfe.es) runs the R2 Nord line every half an hour from the airport (from 6.08am to 11.38pm) via several stops to Estació Sants (the main train station) and Passeig de Gràcia in central Barcelona, after which it heads northwest out of the city. The first service from Passeig de Gràcia leaves at 5.28am and the last at 11.02pm, and about five minutes later from Estació Sants. The trip between the airport and Passeig de Gràcia takes 25 minutes. A one-way ticket costs €3 (unless you have a multiride ticket for Barcelona public transport – Click here).
The airport railway station is about a five-minute walk from Terminal 2. Regular shuttle buses run from the station and Terminal 2 to Terminal 1 – allow for an extra 15 to 20 minutes.
Barcelona HotelBus (www.barcelonahotelbus.com) offers small buses designed for people with luggage a door-to-door service to a series of hotels in central Barcelona and to the Fòrum area. They run about hourly from 8am to 8pm (one way/return €12/20). You can book ahead or just hop on if there is space.
A taxi between either terminal and the city centre – about a half-hour ride depending on traffic – costs €20 to €25. Fares and charges are posted inside the passenger side of the taxi – make sure the meter is used.
Parking is available at each terminal (around €1.65 an hour to a maximum of €18 a day for the first four days, thereafter €14.40). Expensive guarded parking (www.parkingvipbarcelona.com, in Catalan/Spanish; €65 for the first 2 days) is also available.
Mon-Bus (93 893 75 11) has regular direct buses (which originate in central Barcelona) between Terminal 1 only and Sitges (€2.90; Click here). In Sitges you can catch it at Avinguda de Vilanova 14. The trip takes about 35 minutes and runs hourly.
Alsa (902 422242; www2.alsa.es) runs the Aerobús Rápid service several times daily from Barcelona airport to various cities including Girona, Figueres, Lleida, Reus, and Tarragona. Fares range from €7.66/14.55 one-way/return to Tarragona up to €26.60/47.90 one way/return to Lleida.
Plana (977 35 44 45; www.empresaplana.es) has services between the airport and Reus, stopping at Tarragona, Port Aventura and other southwest coastal destinations nearby along the way.
Girona-Costa Brava Airport
Sagalés (902 130014; www.sagales.com) runs hourly bus services from Girona-Costa Brava airport to Girona’s main bus/train station (€2.40, 30 minutes) in connection with flights. The same company runs direct Barcelona Bus (902 361550) services to/from Estació del Nord bus station Map) in Barcelona (one way/return €12/21, 70 minutes). Regular trains run between Girona and Barcelona (€6.50 to €8.80, up to one hour 40 minutes).
A taxi into Girona from the airport costs €20 to €24. To Barcelona you would pay €130 to €140. Airport parking costs an average €0.95 an hour or €8.90 a day.
For greater flexibility at greater cost, check out Resorthoppa.com (www.resorthoppa.com). It puts on minibuses to destinations around the region, including Barcelona.
Reus Airport
Hispano Igualadina buses (902 447726; www.igualadina.com) run between Reus airport and Barcelona (Estació d’Autobusos de Sants; Map) to meet flights (€12.50/21 one-way/return, 1½ hours). Local bus 50 serves central Reus (€2.20, 20 minutes) and other buses run to local coastal destinations. Check Ryanair’s website (www.ryanair.com) for timetables.
Bike Rental Barcelona (Map; 666 057655; www.bikerentalbarcelona.com; Carrer d’en Rauric 20; per 2hr/24hr from €6/18 depending on type of bike; 10am-8pm).
My Beautiful Parking (Map; 93 304 15 80; www.mybeautifulparking.com; Carrer de Cervantes 5; per 2hr/24hr €6/15; 10am-8pm) Parking for bikes and also rents out trekking bikes.
Trixi (Map Click here; 93 310 13 79; www.trixi.info; Plaça dels Traginers 4) Hires out bicycles, kickbikes and ‘trixi-kids’, tricycles with a kind of front-end trolley for transporting young children.
Un Cotxe Menys (Map; 93 268 21 05; www.bicicletabarcelona.com; Carrer de l’Esparteria 3; per hr/full day/week €5/15/55; 9am-7pm daily Easter-Nov, 11am-2pm Dec-Easter; Jaume I) This business also organises bike tours.
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BOAT
Algeria
Algérie Ferries (www.algerieferries.com) has occasional services between Barcelona and Algier. Adult one-way fares start at €120.
Balearic Islands
Passenger and vehicular ferries operated by Acciona Trasmediterránea (Map; 902 454645; www.trasmediterranea.es; Drassanes) to/from the Balearic Islands dock around the Moll de Barcelona wharf in Port Vell. Information and tickets are available at the terminal buildings along Moll de Sant Bertran Map) and on Moll de Barcelona Map) or from travel agents. Fares vary enormously according to season, how far in advance you book and whether or not you want a cabin. Fares for a ‘Butaca Turista’ (seat) from Barcelona to any of the islands are typically around €50 on standard ferries or €80 on high-speed catamaran ferries. Cabins for up to four people are also available on overnight standard ferries.
Another company with links between Barcelona and the Balearic Islands is Baleària (902 160180; www.balearia.com).
Italy
Grandi Navi Veloci (Map; in Italy 010 209 4591; www1.gnv.it; Drassanes) runs high-speed, luxury ferries three (sometimes more) days a week between Genoa and Barcelona. The journey takes 18 hours. Ticket prices depend on season and how far in advance you purchase and vary wildly, starting at about €80 one way for an airline-style seat in summer. They can be bought online or at Acciona Trasmediterránea ticket windows. The same company runs a similar number of ferries between Barcelona and Tangiers, in Morocco (voyage time about 26 hours).
Grimaldi Ferries (Map; 902 531333, in Italy 081 496444; www.grimaldi-lines.com) operates similar services from Barcelona to Civitavecchia (near Rome, 20½ hours, six to seven times a week), Livorno (Tuscany, 19½ hours, three times a week) and Porto Torres (northwest Sardinia, 12 hours, daily). An economy-class airline-style seat costs from €29 in low season to €77 in high season on all routes.
Boats of both lines dock at Moll de Sant Bertran (Map) and all vessels take vehicles.
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BUS
Barcelona
Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB; 010; www.tmb.net) buses run along most city routes every few minutes from between 5am and 6.30am to between around 10pm and 11pm. Many routes pass through Plaça de Catalunya and/or Plaça de la Universitat. After 11pm, a reduced network of yellow nitbusos (night buses) runs until 3am or 5am. All nitbus routes pass through Plaça de Catalunya and most run every 30 to 45 minutes.
BUS TURÍSTIC
This hop-on hop-off service (audioguides in 10 languages), run by TMB, operates from Plaça de Catalunya Map) and Plaça del Porta de la Pau Map), and covers three circuits (44 stops) linking virtually all the city’s main sights. Tickets are available online (www.tmb.net) and on the buses, and cost €22 (€14 for children from four to 12 years) for one day of unlimited rides, or €29 (€18 for children) for two consecutive days. Buses run from 9am to 7.30pm and the frequency varies from every five to 25 minutes. Buses do not operate on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.
The two key routes take about two hours each; the blue route runs past La Pedrera on Passeig de Gràcia and takes in the Sagrada Família, Park Güell and much of the Zona Alta (including Pedralbes and Camp Nou). The red route also runs up Passeig de Gràcia and takes in Port Vell, Port Olímpic and Montjuïc. The third (green route), from Port Olímpic to the Fòrum, runs from April to September and takes 40 minutes.
Other private companies run similar services.
Catalonia
Much of the Pyrenees and the entire Costa Brava are served only by buses, as train services are limited to important railheads such as Girona, Figueres, Lleida, Ripoll and Puigcerdà. Various bus companies operate across the region. Most operate from Estació del Nord (Map; 902 260606; www.barcelonanord.com; Carrer d’Ali Bei 80; Arc de Triomf), but Hispano-Igualadina and TEISA do not.
Alsina Graells (902 422242; www.alsa.es) A subsidiary of Alsa, it runs buses from Barcelona to destinations west and northwest, such as Vielha, La Seu d’Urgell and Lleida.
Barcelona Bus (902 130014; www.sagales.com, in Catalan & Spanish) Runs buses from Barcelona to Girona (and Girona-Costa Brava airport), Figueres, parts of the Costa Brava and northwest Catalonia.
Hispano-Igualadina (Map; 902 447726; www.igualadina.net; Estació Sants & Plaça de la Reina Maria Cristina) Serves central and southern Catalonia.
SARFA (902 302025; www.sarfa.com) The main operator on and around the Costa Brava.
TEISA (Map; 93 215 35 66; www.teisa-bus.com; Carrer de Pau Claris 117; Passeig de Gràcia) Covers a large part of the eastern Catalan Pyrenees from Girona and Figueres. From Barcelona, buses head for Camprodon via Ripoll and Olot via Besalú.
Long-Distance
Long-distance buses leave from Estació del Nord. A plethora of companies operates to different parts of Spain, although many come under the umbrella of Alsa (902 422242; www.alsa.es). For other companies, ask at the bus station. There are frequent services to Madrid, Valencia and Zaragoza (20 or more a day) and several daily departures to distant destinations such as Burgos, Santiago de Compostela and Seville.
Eurolines (www.eurolines.com), in conjunction with local carriers all over Europe, is the main international carrier. Its website provides links to national operators; it runs services across Europe and to Morocco from Estació del Nord, and Estació d’Autobusos de Sants (Map; Carrer de Viriat; Sants Estació), next to Estació Sants Barcelona. Another carrier is Linebús (www.linebus.com, in Spanish).
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CAR & MOTORCYCLE
Driving
An effective one-way system makes busy city traffic flow fairly smoothly. Driving in the Ciutat Vella area is largely illegal and frustrating where permitted. Note that, as of 2008, a speed limit of 80km/h is in force in Barcelona and 16 neighbouring municipalities (although there was talk of modifying this in 2010). On ring roads and motorway approaches to the city, either the 80km/h limit or a flexible limit (look out for information screens) is in place. The latter changes depending on traffic flow and perceived pollution levels (the idea is that reducing speed limits cuts down on emissions, as well as saving lives).
The AP-7 autopista (motorway) is the main toll road from France (via Girona and Figueres). It skirts inland around the city before proceeding south to Valencia and Alicante. About 40km southwest of Barcelona, the AP-2, also a toll road, branches west off the AP-7 towards Zaragoza. From there it links up with the A-2 dual carriageway for Madrid (no tolls). Several other shorter tollways fan out into the Catalan heartland from Barcelona.
As a rule, alternative toll-free routes are busy (if not clogged). The A-2 (often signposted NII) is the most important. From the French border it follows the AP-7, drops south from Girona to the coast and then southwest into Barcelona, from where it heads west to Lleida and beyond.
Barcelona is 1930km from Berlin, 1555km from London, 1300km from Lisbon, 1200km from Milan, 1145km from Paris, 780km from Geneva and 690km from Madrid.
Coming from the UK, you can put your car on a ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao with P&O Ferries (in the UK 08716 645645; www.poferries.com) or from Plymouth to Santander with Brittany Ferries (in the UK 08712 440744; www.brittany-ferries.co.uk). From either destination there is still a fair drive to Barcelona. You could also take a ferry to France or the Channel Tunnel car train, Eurotunnel (in the UK 08443 353535; www.eurotunnel.com). The latter runs round the clock, with up to four crossings an hour (35 minutes) between Folkestone and Calais during high season.
Vehicles must be roadworthy, registered and have third-party insurance. Ask your insurer for a European Accident Statement form, which can simplify matters in the event of an accident. A European breakdown assistance policy is a good investment. EU national driver’s licences are accepted, as are those from some other non-EU countries (like Switzerland). Otherwise, an international driver’s licence is a good idea.
Hire
Avis, Europcar, National/Atesa and Hertz have desks at El Prat airport, Estació Sants and Estació del Nord. Rental outlets in Barcelona include:
Avis (Map; 902 248824, 93 237 56 80; www.avis.com; Carrer de Còrsega 293-295; Diagonal)
Cooltra (Map; 93 221 40 70; www.cooltra.com; Passeig de Joan de Borbó 80-84) You can rent scooters here for around €45 (add insurance). It also organises scooter tours.
Europcar (Map; 93 302 05 43; www.europcar.com; Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 680; Girona)
Hertz (Map; 93 419 61 56; www.hertz.com; Carrer del Viriat 45; Sants)
MondoRent (Map; 93 295 32 68; www.mondorent.com; Passeig de Joan de Borbó 80-84) A similar deal on scooter rental to Cooltra.
National/Atesa (Map; 902 100101, 93 323 07 01; www.atesa.es; Carrer de Muntaner 45; Universitat)
Pepecar (Map; 807 414243; www.pepecar.com; Plaça de Catalunya; Catalunya) Specialises in cheap rentals with a mix of cars (the Ford Ka is the cheapest). It has four branches, including one near Sants train station at Carrer de Béjar 68 Map), and another near the airport (free shuttles to/from the airport available). The phone number is expensive to call and customers are encouraged to book on the website.
Vanguard (Map; 93 439 38 80; www.vanguardrent.com; Carrer de Viladomat 297; Entença) For anything from a Fiat Seicento to an Alfa Romeo. It also rents out scooters.
Parking
Parking in the Ciutat Vella is virtually only for residents, with some metered parking available. The narrow streets of Gràcia are little better. The broad boulevards of L’Eixample are divided into blue and green zones, which, for visitors, means the same thing: limited meter parking. Fees vary in central Barcelona from €2.42 to €2.94 per hour. Many car parks charge similar rates. Anything marked in yellow usually means you are permitted to stop for up to 30 minutes for càrrega (loading) and descàrrega (unloading) only. Most of these zones operate from 8am or 9am to 2pm and 4pm to 8pm Monday to Saturday.
Note that many car parks will not accept camper vans – it can be a real problem parking one of these in central Barcelona.
Parking motorbikes and scooters is easier. On occasion you’ll see spaces marked out especially for bikes. Parking on the pavements is illegal, but many do it.
If you get towed, call the Dipòsit Municipal (car pound; 901 513151; www.bsmsa.cat). Depending on where your car was nabbed, you will be directed to one of several pounds around town. You will pay €150.70 for the tow and €1.96 per hour (maximum of €19.50 per day). The first four hours your car is held are free.
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METRO & FGC
The easy-to-use TMB Metro (010; www.tmb.net) system has seven numbered and colour-coded lines (one, the new Line 9, only partially completed). It runs from 5am to midnight Sunday to Thursday and holidays, from 5am to 2am on Friday and days immediately preceding holidays, and 24 hours on Saturday. Line 2 has access for people with disabilities and a handful of stations on other lines also have lifts. Line 11, a short suburban run, is automated, and in the future the other lines will also run without the need of a driver. See the pull-out map for a map of the Metro system.
Suburban trains run by the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC; 93 205 15 15; www.fgc.net) include a couple of useful city lines. All lines heading north from Plaça de Catalunya stop at Carrer de Provença and Gràcia. One of these lines (L7) goes to Tibidabo and another (L6 to Reina Elisenda) has a stop within spitting distance of the Monestir de Pedralbes. Most trains from Plaça de Catalunya continue beyond Barcelona to Sant Cugat, Sabadell and Terrassa. Other FGC lines head west from Plaça d’Espanya, including one for Manresa that is handy for the trip to Montserrat.
Depending on the line, these trains run from about 5am (with only one or two services before 6am) to 11pm or midnight Sunday to Thursday, and from 5am to about 1am on Friday and Saturday.
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TAXI
Taxis charge €2 flag fall plus meter charges of €0.86 per kilometre (€1.10 from 8pm to 7am and all day on weekends). A further €3.10 is added for all trips to/from the airport, and €1 for luggage bigger than 55cm x 35cm x 35cm. The trip from Estació Sants to Plaça de Catalunya, about 3km, costs about €10. You can call a taxi (93 225 00 00, 93 300 11 00, 93 303 30 33, 93 322 22 22) or flag them down in the streets. The call-out charge is €3.40 (€4.20 at night and on weekends). In many taxis it is possible to pay with credit card and, if you have a local telephone number, you can join the T033 Ràdio taxi service for booking taxis online (www.radiotaxi033.com, in Spanish). You can also book online at www.catalunyataxi.com. General information is available on 010.
Taxi Amic (93 420 80 88; www.terra.es/personal/taxiamic, in Spanish) is a special taxi service for people with disabilities or difficult situations (such as transport of big objects). Book at least 24 hours in advance if possible.
Women passengers who feel safer with taxis driven by women can order one on the Línea Rosa (93 330 07 00).
Trixis
These three-wheeled cycle taxis (Map; 93 310 13 79; www.trixi.info; Plaça dels Traginers 4) operate along the waterfront and around much of the centre (noon to 8pm daily between March and November). They can take two passengers and cost €6/10/18 per 25 minutes/30 minutes/one hour. Children aged three to 12 pay half-price. You can find them near the Monument a Colom and in front of La Catedral.
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TRAIN
Train is the most convenient overland option for reaching Barcelona from major Spanish centres like Madrid and Valencia. It can be a long haul from other parts of Europe, where budget flights frequently offer a saving in time and money.
For information on travelling from the UK, contact the Rail Europe Travel Centre (in the UK 0844 848 4064; www.raileurope.co.uk; 1 Lower Regent St, London SW1). For travel within Spain, information is available at train stations or travel agents. A network of rodalies/cercanías serves towns around Barcelona (and the airport). Contact Renfe (902 320320; www.renfe.es).
Eighteen high-speed Tren de Alta Velocidad Española (AVE) trains between Madrid and Barcelona run daily in each direction, nine of them in under three hours. A typical one-way price is €114 but it comes down if you book a return or book well in advance on the website (which can bring the cost down to about €45). The line will eventually (perhaps by 2012) run right across Barcelona (via a controversial tunnel under construction) and north to the French frontier. France has promised that high speed TGV trains will link Paris with Figueres by 2011.
Another high-speed AVE train, known as Euromed, runs on standard, wide-gauge Spanish tracks, and connects Barcelona with Valencia and Alicante.
Most long-distance (largo recorrido or Grandes Línias) trains have 1st and 2nd classes (known as preferente and turista). After the AVE, Euromed and several other similarly modern trains, the most common long-distance trains are the slower, all-stops Talgos.
TICKETS & TARGETES
The Metro, FGC trains, rodalies/cercanías (Renfe-run local trains) and buses come under one zoned-fare regime. Single-ride tickets on all standard transport within Zone 1, except on Renfe trains, cost €1.40.
Targetes are multitrip transport tickets. They are sold at all city-centre Metro stations. The prices given here are for travel in Zone 1. Children under four years of age travel free. Options include the following:
- Targeta T-10 (€7.85) – 10 rides (each valid for 1¼ hours) on the Metro, buses, FGC trains and rodalies. You can change between Metro, FGC, rodalies and buses.
- Targeta T-DIA (€5.90) – unlimited travel on all transport for one day.
- Two-/three-/four-/five-day tickets (€11.20/15.90/20.40/24.10) – unlimited travel on all transport except the Aerobús; buy them at Metro stations and tourist offices.
- T-Mes (€48.85) – 30 days’ unlimited use of all public transport.
- Targeta T-50/30 (€32.10) – 50 trips within 30 days, valid on all transport.
- T-Trimestre (€134.10) – 90 days’ unlimited use of all public transport.
Fines
The fine for being caught without a ticket on public transport is €50 (a minimum that theoretically can be raised to anything from €150 to €600 if payment is delayed), in addition to the price of the ticket. If you pay on the spot you get 50% off the fine. There’s also a minimum €30.50 fine for smoking on the Metro.
A trenhotel is a sleeping-car train with up to three classes: turista (for those sitting or in a couchette), preferente (sleeping car) and gran clase (for those who prefer to sleep in sheer luxury!).
The main train station in Barcelona is Estació Sants (Map; Plaça dels Països Catalans; Sants Estació), located 2.5km west of La Rambla. Direct overnight trains from Paris, Geneva, Milan and Zurich arrive here.
Estació Sants has a tourist office, a telephone and fax office, currency exchange booths open between 8am and 10pm, ATMs and a consigna (left-luggage lockers; small/big locker for 24hr €3/4.50; 5.30am-11pm).
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TRAM
TMB (902 193275; www.trambcn.com) runs three tram lines (T1, T2 and T3) into the suburbs of greater Barcelona from Plaça de Francesc Macià and are of limited interest to visitors. The T4 line runs from behind the zoo (near the Ciutadella Vila Olímpica Metro stop) to Sant Adrià via Glòries and the Fòrum. The T5 line runs from Glòries to Badalona (Gorg stop). The T6 runs between Badalona (Gorg) and Sant Adria. All standard transport passes are valid.