Transport
Getting There
By Air
Iberia (www.iberia.com), the national carrier, and other major airlines connect with most parts of the world, sometimes via Madrid. There are numerous low-cost airlines flying to Barcelona from European cities. Among the most popular from the UK are easyJet (www.easyjet.com), Monarch (www.monarch.co.uk) and Jet2 (www.jet2.com). Spanish low-cost airline Vueling (www.vueling.com) has some UK flights and is good for onward destinations in Spain and Europe.
Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) flies to Girona (90km/56 miles from Barcelona) and Reus (80km/50 miles from Barcelona) from several UK cities and has a few flights to El Prat, the main Barcelona airport. There are shuttle-bus connections to Barcelona from Girona (tel: 902-130 014; www.sagales.com) and Reus (tel: 902-447 726; www.hispanoigualadina.net). Tickets (around €14 single, €24 return) are available at the airports; the journey takes 60–90 minutes, depending on traffic.
Direct flights from the US are operated by Delta (from Atlanta and New York; www.delta.com), American Airlines (from Miami and New York; www.aa.com), United (from Newark; www.united.com), Iberia (from several US cities; www.iberia.com) and Air Europa via Madrid (www.aireuropa.com). Air Canada (www.aircanada.com) flies from Toronto and Montreal, while Singapore Airlines flies directly from Singapore to Barcelona and on to Sao Paulo.
Advance passenger information: Since 2007, Spain has demanded that all air carriers supply passport information about passengers flying into the country, prior to travel. Check with your airline before travelling; more details on www.dft.gov.uk.
Barcelona Airport
Barcelona Airport (El Prat; tel: 902-404 704; www.aena-aeropuertos.es ) is 12km (7 miles) south of the city. There are two terminals T1, the new one, and T2, which mostly handles budget flights. (For information on transport to and from the airport, see Getting Around.)
Airlines flying out of Barcelona to other parts of Spain include:
Iberia: tel: 902-400 500
Air Europa: tel: 902-401 501
Air Nostrum: tel: 902-400 500
Vueling: tel: 807-200 100
Distances
Distances to other cities in Spain by road from Barcelona:
Tarragona: 98km (60 miles)
Girona: 100km (62 miles)
La Jonquera (French border): 149km (93 miles)
Valencia: 349km (217 miles)
San Sebastián: 529km (329 miles)
Bilbao: 620km (385 miles)
Madrid: 621km (386 miles)
Salamanca: 778km (483 miles)
Málaga: 997km (620 miles)
Sevilla: 1,046km (650 miles)
By Train
A more eco-friendly and relaxing option from other parts of Europe is to take the Trenhotel, aka the Tren Joan Miró, which runs daily overnight from Paris Austerlitz to Estació de França in Barcelona (www.renfe.com or www.elipsos.com). During the day there are several TGVs, the French high-speed train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Figueres Vilafant, where you can change onto the AVE, the Spanish high-speed train to Barcelona Sants. This recently inaugurated route cuts the journey from Paris to Barcelona to only 6.5 hours. Soon it should be possible to do this without changing at Figueres. All other international connections involve a change at the French border, in Port Bou on entering Spain and Cerbère when leaving. These trains have few facilities. There is also a line from Barcelona to La Tour de Carol on the French border, further west in the Pyrenees, from Sants and Plaça Catalunya.
For international train information and reservations, tel: 902-243 402. A helpful website is www.seat61.com.
Most national long-distance trains terminate in Estació de Sants, some in Estació de França. For national train information: tel: 902-240 202; www.renfe.es. The AVE high-speed train to Madrid is one option.
Taking Taxis
All Barcelona taxis are black and yellow, and show a green light when available for hire. There are taxi ranks at the airport, Sants station, Plaça de Catalunya and other strategic points, but taxis can be hailed on any street corner.
Rates are standard and calculated by meter, starting at a set rate and clocking up at a rate governed by the time of day: night-times, weekends and fiestas are more expensive. Travelling by taxi is still affordable here compared to many European cities. If you travel outside the metropolitan area, the rate increases slightly.
Drivers do not expect a tip, but a small one is always appreciated.
Taxis equipped for wheelchairs are available (tel: 93-420 8088).
By Bus
Eurolines (tel: 902-405 040; www.eurolines.com) offers a service from London which involves a change in Paris. Most services arrive at the bus station Barcelona Nord (tel: 902-260 606), but some go to Estació d’Autobusos Sants (tel: 93-490 4000). More information and timetables on www.barcelonanord.com. In the UK, contact National Express (tel: 08717 818 178; www.nationalexpress.com).
By Car
Barcelona is 149km (93 miles) or 1.5 hours’ drive from La Jonquera on the French border and can be reached easily along the AP7 (or E15) motorway (autopista; toll payable, around €14 from the border to the city) and then, nearer Barcelona, the C33. Alternatively, the national route N11 is toll-free but tedious.
Be careful when you stop in service stations or lay-bys: professional thieves work this territory. If you stop for a drink or a meal don’t leave the car unattended.
The worst times to travel, particularly between June and September, are Friday 6–10pm, Sunday 7pm–midnight or the end of a bank holiday, when tailbacks of 16km (10 miles) are common. Normal weekday rush hours are 7–9am and 6–9pm.
The ring roads (cinturones) surrounding the city can be very confusing when you first arrive; it is worth studying a road map beforehand. The Ronda de Dalt curves around the top part of the city, and the Ronda Litoral follows the sea.
Getting Around
From the Airport
Barcelona is only 12km (7 miles) from El Prat airport and is easily reached by train, bus or taxi.
Trains to Sants and Passeig de Gràcia depart every 30 minutes from 6am–11.38pm and take about 25 minutes. The approximate cost is €3, but the best value is a T10 card for Zone 1, which can be shared between travellers and can be used on the metro and buses in the city. It costs about €10. A shuttle bus connects Terminal 1 with the train station, which is near Terminal 2. The Aerobús, an efficient bus service, runs to Plaça de Catalunya from each terminal every 5 minutes, stopping at strategic points en route. It operates from 6am–1am; a single fare is about €6, a return €10. You can buy tickets from a machine at the stop or from the driver, but have change ready. Note that the return ticket is only valid for up to nine days after purchase (www.aerobusbcn.com).
From Plaça de Catalunya the buses run from 5.28am–12.30am. Be sure to get on the one for your terminal when returning to the airport. A nightbus, the N17, runs from Plaça de Catalunya/Ronda Universitat from 11pm–5am.
To reach most central parts of Barcelona by taxi will cost about €25–30 plus an airport supplement. To avoid misunderstandings, ask how much it will cost before getting into the taxi: ‘Cuánto vale el recorrido desde el aeropuerto hasta … (e.g.) Plaça de Catalunya?’ Get the taxi driver to write down the answer if necessary.
Tourist Buses
A convenient way of getting an overall idea of the city is to catch the official city Tourist Bus (Barcelona Bus Turístic), which takes in the most interesting parts of the city. You can combine three different routes, and get on and off at the 44 stops freely. It also offers discounts on entrance charges.
The buses operate year-round with frequent services, the first leaving Plaça de Catalunya at 9am. The fleet includes buses equipped for wheelchairs and open-air double-deckers.
For information and tickets, ask at a tourist information office such as the one on Plaça de Catalunya, or book online at www.barcelonaturisme.com. The two-day ticket is better value.
An alternative tourist bus, Barcelona City Tour, run by Julia Tours, covers roughly the same route, starting from Plaça de Catalunya. Its main advantage is that there are fewer queues.
Julia Tours
Tel: 93-317 6454; www.barcelonacitytour.com
Public Transport
Barcelona is a manageable city to get around, whether on foot or by public transport. The latter is efficient and good value and a far better option than having a car. Parking is expensive and on the street you run the risk of being towed away or vandalised.
The metro has eight colour-coded lines but the main ones are 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Some stations are equipped with lifts for wheelchairs and prams. Trains are frequent and cheap, with a set price per journey, no matter how far you travel. It is more economical to buy a card that allows 10 journeys (Targeta T10), available at stations, banks and estancs (tobacconists). It can be shared and is valid for FGC trains, RENFE trains within Zone 1 (for more information, click here) and buses. If you change from one form of transport to another within 1 hour and 15 mins, the ticket will still be valid, so you won’t be charged again. Trains run 5am–midnight Mon–Thu and Sun, 5am–2am Fri and all night Sat. Tel: 010 for metro and bus information.
FGC
The local train service, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC), interconnects with the metro, looks like the metro and functions in the same way, but extends beyond the inner city to towns on the other side of Tibidabo, such as San Cugat (from Plaça de Catalunya) and to Manresa and Montserrat (from Plaça d’Espanya). It is a useful service for reaching the upper parts of Barcelona and for parts of Tibidabo and the Parc de Collserola.
The metro ticket is valid on this line within Zone 1, but travel beyond is more expensive. The FGC lines can be recognised on the metro map by their distinctive logo. Within the city the timetable is the same as the metro, but beyond it varies according to the line. Check in a station or tel: 012 for FGC information (www.fgc.cat).
Bus
The bus service is good for reaching the areas the metro doesn’t, and for seeing more of Barcelona. Single tickets are the same price as metro tickets and can be bought from the driver, or a multiple card (Targeta T10) of 10 journeys can be punched inside the bus, but not bought on the bus (see Metro, page page 513). Most buses run from 4.25am–11pm. There are night services (the Nit bus) that run from Plaça de Catalunya, but lines vary, so check on the map or at bus stops.
The Tibibus runs from Plaça de Catalunya to Plaça del Tibidabo (on the top of the hill).
Cycling
Barcelona is now a cyclist-friendly city, with over 180km (112 miles) of bike lanes, parking facilities and many great traffic-free places to cycle, such as the port, marinas, and along the beachfront from Barceloneta to Diagonal Mar. Bicycles can be taken on trains free of charge, and a useful map of the cycle lanes can be found at www.bcn.cat/bicicleta. It may soon become obligatory to wear helmets, after a current debate in the government. Check the latest situation when you arrive.
‘Bicing’
The red-and-white bicycles parked at strategic points all over town are unfortunately not for rent. These ‘Bicing’ bikes are exclusively for resident/long-term use: membership is paid annually, and any use over 30 minutes is charged to a credit card. The idea is to complement the public transport system, to get you to the metro or station and not for touring, so maximum use is two hours. Luckily, though, there are plenty of enterprising companies that rent bicycles and organise cycling tours by day and night (for more information, click here).
Barcelona on Foot
Walking is one of the best ways of getting around Barcelona – despite the traffic fumes. It is ideal for seeing the many details that cannot be charted by maps or guidebooks – modernista doorways, ancient corner shops, roof gardens and balconies.
The tourist office Turisme de Barcelona (Plaça de Catalunya; tel: 93-285 3832) offers guided walking tours, which include:
Barcelona Walking Tours Gothic Quarter: daily in English at 10am.
Picasso Route: a glimpse of the artist’s life in Barcelona, ending with a tour of the museum. There are also Modernista, Gourmet, Literary and Marina routes, to name a few.
The Route of Modernisme: A do-it-yourself route using a book available from the Centre del Modernisme (www.rutadelmodernisme.com) in the tourist office in Plaça de Catalunya, or bookshops.
Guided Tours of Palau de la Música Catalana: best to purchase in advance at the concert hall (10am–3.30pm; tel: 902-475 485; www.palaumusica.org).
Travelling outside Barcelona
By Train
The following stations currently function as described, but before planning any journey it is advisable to call RENFE (the national train network) for the latest information and ticket deals, tel: 902-240 202. It is wise to buy long-distance tickets in advance (on this number), especially at holidays. If you pay by credit card, tickets can be collected from machines at Sants and Passeig de Gràcia stations.
Estació de Sants, in Plaça Països Catalans, is for long-distance national and international trains, including the AVE high-speed train to Madrid. Some of these will also stop in Passeig de Gràcia station, which is convenient for central parts of town. Confirm beforehand that your train really does stop there.
Regional trains leave Sants for the coast south and north of Barcelona, including a direct train to Port Aventura theme park and the high-speed Euromed to Valencia and Alicante, which makes a few stops in between. In Sants station, queues can be long and ticket clerks impatient.
Estació de França, Avinguda Marquès de l’Argentera: international and long-distance national trains.
Plaça de Catalunya: apart from the metro and Generalitat railways (FGC), RENFE/Rodalies de Catalunya has a station in Plaça de Catalunya, where trains can be caught to Manresa, Lleida, Vic, Puigcerdà, La Tour de Carol, Mataró (Maresme Coast) and Blanes. These routes also stop in Arc de Triomf station, which is convenient, depending on where you are staying.
Plaça d’Espanya: FGC trains to Montserrat, Igualada and Manresa.
By Long-Distance Bus
There are regular long-distance bus lines running all over Spain, which leave from the Estació d’Autobusos Barcelona Nord, Ali-bei 80, or Sants bus station. For information: tel: 902-260 606; www.barcelonanord.com.
Bus services to other parts of Catalonia are operated by:
Costa Brava: Sarfa
Tel: 902-302 025
Costa Maresme: Casas
Tel: 93-798 1100
Montserrat: Autocares Julià. A daily bus leaves Sants bus station (c/Viriato) at 9.15am and returns late afternoon. Buy tickets on the bus.
Pyrenees: Alsina Graells
Tel: 902-422 242
Tours
Several companies offer day trips to different parts of Catalonia, such as Figueres and Girona (to the north), including the Dalí Museum, or Sitges (to the south), Montserrat and a visit to a wine producer in the Penedès, from April to October. Companies include Catalunya Bus Turístic (information available from tourist offices, or tel: 93-285 3832; www.catalunyabusturistic.com). Julià Travel is another well-established company with a range of tours (www.juliatravel.com).
By Sea
There is a regular passenger and car service between Barcelona and Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza, as well as Morocco, with the Acciona Trasmediterránea company, based at the Estació Marítima, Moll de Sant Bertran (tel: 902-454 645; www.trasmediterranea.es). It also has a service to Italy in conjunction with Grimaldi Ferries (www.grimaldi-lines.com). Baleària has a regular service to the Balearics and in the summer a fast service – four hours as opposed to the usual eight. For information and bookings, tel: 902-160 180; www.balearia.com.
Driving in Catalonia
Driving is the most flexible way to see the rest of Catalonia, but cars are better left in a parking place while you are in the city. Avoid parking illegally, particularly outside entrances and private garage doors: the police tow offenders away with remarkable alacrity, and the charge for retrieval is heavy. If this happens, you will find a document with a triangular symbol stuck on the ground where your car was. This paper will give details of where you can retrieve your vehicle. Street parking, indicated by blue lines on the road and a nearby machine to buy a ticket, is limited. Avoid green zones, which are exclusively for residents. Convenient (but expensive) car parks are in Plaça de Catalunya, Passeig de Gràcia and Plaça de la Catedral.
Breakdowns
In case of a breakdown on the road, call the number given to you by your car hire company. If this is not possible, the general emergency number, 112, has a foreign-language service and can connect you to the relevant service. On motorways and main roads, there are SOS phone boxes.
Drivers are supposed to stop for pedestrians at zebra crossings and when the green man is illuminated on traffic lights, but often they don’t. Be sure to lock all doors when driving in town – thieving is common at traffic lights. Beware of anyone asking directions or saying you have a puncture. It is probably a trap.
The drink-driving rules have become tougher in recent years in Spain, and the police often do spot checks, so don’t risk it.
Car Hire/Rental
Hiring a car is a good way to explore the area around Barcelona. It may be cheaper to make arrangements before you leave home as there are some good deals on the internet and often tied in with your flight booking. The main companies are based in the airport and in central locations in the city, notably at Sants station.
Avis: tel: 902-180 854; www.avis.es
Europcar: tel: 902-503 010; www.europcar.es
Hertz: tel: 902-402 405; www.hertz.es
National-Atesa: tel: 902-100 101; www.atesa.es
Over: Josep Tarradellas, 42; tel: 902-410 410; www.over-rentacar.com. Good-value local company.
Sixt: useful central locations; www.sixt.es
Vanguard: Londres, 31; tel: 93-439 3880; www.vanguardrent.com.
Scooters also for hire.
www.pepecar.com can be a good option if you book well in advance on the internet, but beware of added extras. It now has an office at the airport and several in the city centre.
Speed Limits
These have been fluctuating recently in an attempt to reduce petrol consumption, and are currently being reviewed. The police are staunchly vigilant and there are many radar points, so beware. The following may be changed, so check the latest situation when you arrive.
Urban areas: 50kmh (30mph)
Roads outside urban areas: 80–110kmh (50–68mph)
Dual carriageways outside urban areas: 110kmh (68mph)
Motorways: 120kmh (74mph)
Scooter Rental
Scooters are a popular way of visiting the city. Several companies rent out scooters or give tours. Explore different options via the tourist office (www.barcelonaturisme.com). Be warned, traffic in the city is dense and there is a tendency for some drivers to ignore traffic lights, so be cautious, especially at junctions.
Licences and Insurance
Citizens of the EU can use their national driving licence. Those from outside the EU need an international driving licence. Most UK insurance firms will issue a Green Card (an internationally recognised certificate of motor insurance) on request for drivers who are taking their own car to Spain – check with your insurer what this does and does not include. If you are hiring a car, you can select the kind of insurance coverage you want as part of the rental charge. Whether taking your own car or hiring a vehicle, always make sure you have adequate insurance cover.
GoCars
A new transport option in Barcelona is sightseeing by GoCar. Guided by a GPS system and a recorded voice, these hazardous-looking vehicles are no doubt fun. There is also an electric vehicle, GoCar Twizy.
GoCar
Freixures 23 (outside Santa Caterina market); tel: 93-269 1792; www.gocartours.es