City bus on a Barcelona street
Getting around · Barcelona

Barcelona moves fast. We'll help you keep up.

Twelve metro lines, over a hundred bus routes, two tram networks, 200+ km of cycle lanes, and an airport link that's cheaper than a coffee. Here's how to use them properly.

Which ticket? Airport routes
Modern Barcelona train station
Public transport, demystified

One of Europe's best transit networks — once you know the rules.

Barcelona's TMB runs 166 metro stations across 123 km, over a hundred bus routes, two trams and an integrated card. Translation: nearly every street in the city is a short walk from something that'll get you anywhere else.

For private groups, charters and longer routes outside TMB's reach, BCS Bus runs the private coach service we recommend across Catalonia.

The Metro

Twelve lines. Clean, fast, air-conditioned.

If it's more than fifteen minutes on foot, take the metro. Trains every 2–5 minutes, English signage, wheelchair-accessible on 95% of stations.

CoverageMetro station

Lines & stations

Twelve colour-coded lines (L1–L12) cover every attraction in Zone 1. L9 Sud reaches both airport terminals.

  • 166 stations citywide
  • Trains every 2–5 minutes
  • Air-conditioned
  • 95% step-free
HoursPlatform clock

Operating hours

Twenty-four hour service all weekend, which quietly makes Barcelona one of the best cities on earth for a Saturday night.

  • Mon–Thu 5:00 – 00:00
  • Friday 5:00 – 02:00
  • Saturday 24 hours
  • Sunday until midnight
HubsBarcelona square

Interchanges

Passeig de Gràcia, Plaça Catalunya and Diagonal are the big three. Learn them and the city folds in half.

  • Sagrada Família — L2, L5
  • Pl. Catalunya — L1, L3, L6, L7
  • Barceloneta — L4
  • Park Güell — L3 (Lesseps)
The buses (TMB)

A hundred-plus routes, including through the night.

Day buses

100+ daytime routes 5am–11pm. Red buses are the frequent main lines. Live arrival boards at every stop.

Night buses (Nitbus)

Seventeen routes 11pm–5am. All pass through Plaça Catalunya. Every 20–30 minutes.

Express & Aerobus

Express lines skip stops to speed suburb runs. Aerobus is the direct airport shuttle to Pl. Catalunya.

Accessibility

Every bus is low-floor with ramps. Audio and visual announcements for each stop.

Trams

Six quiet lines across the suburbs.

Trambaix (T1, T2, T3)

West to Zona Universitària, Cornellà and Sant Feliu. Interchanges with L3, L5, L9/L10.

Trambesòs (T4, T5, T6)

East from Ciutadella-Vila Olímpica to Glòries and Sant Adrià. Best route for 22@ tech district.

Schedule

Mon–Thu 5am – midnight · Fri–Sat 5am – 2am · Sun 6am – midnight. Every 4–8 minutes at peak.

Why bother

Scenic above-ground routes, less packed than the metro, and plenty of space for luggage, prams and bikes.

Two wheels

Barcelona on a bike is Barcelona at its best.

Over 200 km of segregated cycle lanes, mostly flat, with sea breeze. For many trips it's genuinely the fastest option.

PublicBicing bike

Bicing (public bikes)

Barcelona's bike-share with 500+ stations. Electric and mechanical. Annual-pass only — perfect if you're staying a while.

  • Annual pass: €50
  • First 30 min free
  • 24/7
  • Mobile app included
ScootersElectric scooter

Electric scooters

Lime, Dott and Tier operate dockless e-scooters. Unlock on your phone. Not allowed on pavements.

  • Unlock €1
  • €0.20–0.25 / min
  • 25 km/h cap
  • Helmets recommended
Tourist rentalsRental bike

Rental shops

City bikes, mountain bikes and e-bikes by the hour or day. Guided tours if you want a two-wheeled history lesson.

  • Hourly €5–10
  • Day €15–25
  • E-bikes available
  • Helmets included
Airport

Four honest ways from BCN to the city.

Barcelona-El Prat sits 12 km southwest. Journey time to centre: 25–40 minutes depending on how you go.

CheapestBarcelona metro to airport

Metro L9 Sud

Orange line direct from both terminals. Needs the airport supplement, but still the cheapest way in.

  • €5.50 single
  • 30–40 min
  • 5am – midnight
  • Every 7 min
Fastest busAirport bus

Aerobus Express

Direct shuttle to Plaça Catalunya. Luggage racks, air-con, every 5–10 minutes.

  • €6.75 one-way · €11.65 return
  • 35 min
  • 5am – 1am
RENFERENFE train

RENFE R2 Nord

Train from Terminal 2 to Passeig de Gràcia and Sants. Walk between T1 and T2 is the catch.

  • €4.60 single
  • 25–30 min
  • Every 30 min
  • Zone 1 ticket valid
EasiestPrivate taxi

Taxi or private transfer

Door-to-door, flight-tracked, meet-and-greet. The move after a long flight or with children.

Tickets

Four cards. The right one saves you serious money.

Barcelona's integrated card works across metro, bus, tram and FGC inside Zone 1. Pick based on how long you're staying and how often you'll move.

Single ticket

€2.55
one journey
  • Valid 1 trip
  • Zone 1 only
  • 75-minute transfers
  • Occasional use

T-Casual (10)

€12.15
10 journeys
  • 10 validated trips
  • Shareable
  • 75-min transfers
  • Best for short visits

Hola Barcelona

€17-€36
unlimited 2–5 days
  • Unlimited travel
  • 2, 3, 4 or 5 days
  • All modes
  • Personal card

T-Jove (under 30)

€40
90 days unlimited
  • Unlimited 90 days
  • Under 30s only
  • Needs registration
  • Best for students
Insider tips

The four we tell every arriving guest.

Save with T-Casual

Ten trips for €12.15 — half the single-ticket price. Shareable between people on the same route.

Avoid rush hours

8–9:30 am and 6–8 pm weekdays. Trains run constantly, but space is tight. Travel 20 minutes earlier.

Use the TMB app

Live schedules and route planning. Google Maps and Moovit are also solid, with live arrivals.

Watch your bag

Pickpockets work the tourist lines (L3, L4). Zip-up pockets, keep phone in front. Validate your ticket.

Day trips

Regional trains for when the city isn't enough.

Coast & airportTrain

RENFE Rodalies

Commuter trains from Barcelona Sants to the coast, inland and the airport. Daily beach escapes are 30 minutes away.

  • Sitges 30 min
  • Montserrat 1 hr
  • Airport 25 min
  • Mataró 35 min
Hills & mountainsMountain train

FGC trains

Mountain lines to Tibidabo, Montserrat and the Pyrenees. Links with the metro at Catalunya and Espanya.

  • Tibidabo 20 min
  • Sant Cugat 25 min
  • Terrassa 45 min
  • Ski resorts 2–3 hr
Access & etiquette

A short list that keeps you out of trouble.

Validate the ticket

Always tap in before you board. Inspectors are everywhere; the fine is €100 and there's no appeal.

Let people off first

Metro doors in Barcelona open fast. Step aside, let the carriage empty, then board. Standard courtesy.

Priority seats

Clearly marked near the doors. Give them up for the elderly, pregnant women, people with children.

Keep it quiet

Locals value a peaceful commute. Headphones in, phone calls brief, no music out loud.

Need a private transfer or group charter?

We arrange airport pickups, hourly chauffeurs, and group coaches — whatever gets you where you need to be, on time.

Book a transfer BCS Bus charter