Visit Bcn: avril 2013

Barcelona Airport

The airport is located 16 kilometres south of the city and is also known as El Prat, the town where it is located.

Terminals T1 and T2 (A, B and C):The terminals at Barcelona Airport are organised in terms of carriers and not according to the destination or place of origin.

Arrival T1 : map

Connections between Barcelona and the airport and back:

Aerobús (A1 and A2)

Daily service between Plaça de Catalunya and Barcelona Airport.
Frequency: every 10 minutes.
Approximate journey time: 35 minutes.
Barcelona - airport route: Plaça de Catalunya (in front of El Corte Inglés department store) - Sepúlveda/Urgell - Plaça d'Espanya/Creu Coberta - Barcelona Airport (terminals T1 and T2).
Airport - Barcelona route: Airport (terminals T1 and T2) - Plaça d'Espanya/av. Reina M. Cristina - Gran Via de les C. C./Comte d'Urgell - Plaça de la Universitat - Plaça de Catalunya.
Ticket price: 5.90 € (single); 10.20 € (return).
Times: Departures from Pl. de Catalunya, from 5.30am to 12.30am. | Departures from Barcelona Airport, from 6am to 1am.
For further information about the Barcelona Aerobús : Tel. 902 100 104. | www.aerobusbcn.com .

Train (RENFE)

Daily connections with Barcelona Airport from the Renfe (Spanish Rail) stations at Sants.
Frequency: every 30 minutes.
Journey time: 19 minutes (from Sants).
Single ticket price: 3,80 €.
Times: Departures;from Sants, from 5.13am to 11.14pm. | Departures from Barcelona Airport, from 5.42am to 11.38pm.
For further information about the train to Barcelona airport: www.renfe.es.

Bus (TMB)

The 46 bus runs from Pl. d’Espanya to Barcelona Airport (T1 and T2).
Frequency: every 25 minutes.
Single ticket price: 2.00 € (integrated fare).
Times: Departures from Pl. d’Espanya, from 5am to 11.50pm. | Departures from Barcelona Airport, from 5.30am to 11.50pm.
For further information: www.tmb.cat.

Night bus (NITBUS)

The N17 night bus operates from Ronda Universitat / Plaça Catalunya to Barcelona Airport T1, stopping at Pl. d’Espanya.
Times: Departures from Pl. Catalunya, from 11pm to 5am. | Departures from Pl. d’Espanya, from 11.10pm to 5.40am. | Departures from Barcelona Airport, from 9.55pm to 4.55am.
The N16 night bus operates from Ronda Universitat / Plaça Catalunya to Barcelona Airport T2, stopping at Pl. d’Espanya.
Times: Departures from Pl. Catalunya, from 11.30pm to 5.10am. | Departures from Pl. d’Espanya, from 11.42pm to 5.19am. | Departures from Barcelona Airport, from 23.37pm to 5.11am.
Frequency: every 20 minutes.
Single ticket price: 2.00 € (integrated fare).
Further information about the night bus service to Barcelona Airport is available on the website: www.emt-amb.com.

By car

The C-31 Barcelona-Castelldefels road leads to Barcelona Airport, and connects with the C-32 Barcelona-Sitges road. From the Avinguda Diagonal, the Ronda de Dalt and Ronda Litoral ring roads also connect with the C-31.
The estimated journey time from Bracelona city centre to the airport is about 20 minutes.

Address: Aeropuerto de Barcelona - 08820 El Prat de Llobregat
Phone: 902 404 704
Web site: Aena

Source : Barcelona Turisme

Public Transport Network

a transport fleet of more than 1000 buses which operate on over 80 routes and connect all the city’s districts and the metropolitan area. (map)
eight metro lines, identified by the number and colour of the line: L1 (red), L2 (lilac), L3 (green), L4 (yellow), L5 (blue), L9 (orange), L10 (light blue), L11 (light green). (map)
an urban and metropolitan rail network the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat (FGC), run by the Catalan government, which supplements Barcelona’s metro network. There are three urban lines (L6, L7 and L8)
Two Tram lines : the Trambaix (T1, T2,T3) which runs from Francesc Macià to the towns of Sant Just Desvern, Sant Joan Despí, Sant Feliu de Llobregat and Cornellà. The Trambesòs (T4, T5) covers a route from the Olympic Village to Sant Adrià de Besòs via the Forum site and arriving to Badalona.

Barcelona’s transportation networks operate an integrated fare system enabling passengers to obtain a free transfer from one means of transport to another within a period of 1 hour and 15 minutes. There are 6 zones but zone 1 includes the great majority of the touristic sites. There are different types of travel cards and transport passes that are valid throughout the public transport network (metro, buses, tram and suburban rail), including :

the T-10 card, a multi-person travel card valid for 10 intermodal journeys : 9.80 € for zone 1.
day passes (2, 3, 4 and 5 days) : 13.40, 19.20, 24.40 and 29.00 €
the Barcelona Card, valid for 2, 3, 4 or 5 days which includes free travel on public transport and offers savings of up to 320 euros on tours, leisure attractions and shopping : 37, 47, 56 or 62 €.

The day passes and the Barcelona Card can be purchased online, with a 10% discount, and can be picked up Plaça de Catalunya or at the airport terminals ( plus 2 other places for the day passes ).

In my opinion the T-10 card beats the day pass, unless one makes 30 journeys or more in 5 days which seems a lot of travel. It's more difficult to compare with the Barcelona Card. Some museums and attractions are free with the card, others offer a discount ( 1 or 2 € ). Again it seems to me improbable to save money with the Barcelona Card.

Web : Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona

Bus Turístic - Hop on and off

Double-decker tour buses: discover Barcelona getting on and off the Barcelona Bus Turístic as many times as you like.

3 routes with just 1 ticket, valid for 1 or 2 consecutive days*.
* Ticket valid per calendar days and not for 24-hour periods.
6 transfer points to combine the 3 tourist tours around Barcelona.
45 bus stops at places of interest.
Audioguide system in 10 languages: Catalan, Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese and Russian.
Free WIFI, with direct Lan connection.
Application for smartphones with information about the service and the city.
QR codes in every stop with city information.
Service time : 9am 7pm - Check times at the bus stop.
Barcelona Bus Turistic frequency every 5 to 25 minutes, according to the season.
See the map of the Barcelona Bus Turístic tourist tours

An informative tour guide detailing every bus stop, in 3 languages.
A discount-voucher booklet offering savings of over 180€ on your tourist visits. See Bus Turístic Participants.
Special Promotion Barcelona Walking Tours: guided walking tours to discover Barcelona with a 30% discount!
Turisme de Barcelona information officers on board: up-to-the minute personalized information.

Web site

Tickets : 34 € 2 days 26 € 1 day

Shop online : 10% discount

The 'Transbordador cable car

Any visitor to Barcelona will have noticed the iconic Port cable car that cuts across the city's skyline to Montjuic. Easily visible from the port area, you only need look up to be reminded of an interesting option for a way to spend a sunny afternoon.

First things first, the Transbordador cable car is not to be confused with another cable car in Barcelona - the Teleferico de Montjuïc. The Teleferico de Montjuïc is on Montjuïc mountain itself. It is a shorter ride in a four person car, taking passengers from the Estaciò Funicular on Avenida Miramar, half way up Montjuïc and dropping them at Montjuïc Castle. This option is for those of you who alight from the Transbordador and would still like to travel further up the mountain to see the beautiful castle and the stunning views from the top.
The Transbordador cable journey is not for the faint hearted! The ride begins with a lift ride to the top of the cable car tower, which, in itself, requires a certain amount of courage. Passengers are quickly ushered on to the cable car.
According to a sign inside of the car it holds a maximum of twenty people but even with ten to twelve people on board it is fairly difficult to manoeuvre around the car and there is some quiet jostling for the windows with the best views.

After an initial heart-in-the-mouth moment as the car sets off, you will be rewarded for your bravery with some stunning views of Barcelona. Take in the bird's eye views of the port and harbour as you glide along. The cable car provides an opportunity to see the whole city clearly, so it's a chance to view Barcelona's great monuments such as the Sagrada Familia and the Torre Agbar, from above.
The entire journey lasts approximately seven minutes and the car moves continuously throughout the trip. Mid-way through the journey the cable car travels through a central tower- the Torre de Jaume I - breath a swift sigh of relief before continuing on your journey.

There are no seats inside the car and people generally move around the space, giving you the opportunity to check out different views from different windows. The car travels directly over the large World Trade Centre. To your left you can view Barcelona's working port and a great expanse of sea. To your right all of Barcelona is there for you to see. It is enjoyable to pick out the spots that you recognise- La Ramblas, the Arc de Triomf, your hotel! As you near the end of the trip you can take in the views of Montjuïc mountain. You will see the iconic Montjuïc Communications Tower.
On arrival at the Torre de Miramar on Montjuïc mountain passengers alight in the Costa i Llobera Gardens. This is an idyllic place to view the harbour area. There are various statues in the gardens and gravel footpaths to walk around the space.
The Gardens are watched over by the impressive and looming art-deco building- Hotel Miramar. There is also the Cafeteria Miramar- a terrace offering a relaxing area to take in the views of the city at this level. Directly below you is the Poble Sec area, however, the gardens are high enough to ensure that you can take in views of the entire city.

There are numerous useful maps and signposts dotted all around Montjuïc Mountian that will help you to find your bearings. It is important to refer to them as closely as possible as it is quite easy to get lost.

You may choose to make your way back down Montjuïc mountain. Alternatively you can hop on the funicular, using a standard underground metro ticket, at Estació Funicular. You will be transported to Paral.lel metro station where you can then take the metro to any part of the city centre.

If you choose to make the return journey, be sure to keep hold of your small cable car ticket. On returning to the port area you can reward yourself with a slap up dinner in the renowned Torre d'Alta Mar Restaurant at the top of the tower.

The Transbordador is perhaps past its glory days- prices are high, staff can be lack-lustre and the stations are slightly shabby. Despite all of this, on a sunny day, the cable ride is arguably the most stunning and exhilarating way to view Barcelona and links two of the city's prime locations - the beach and Montjuïc.

How To Find The Port Cable Car:

The Metro: Barceloneta (Yellow Line, L4) is a fifteen minute walk from the tower. On exiting the metro station you will see the harbour full of boats ahead of you on the right. Head down Passeig de Joan Borbó with the harbour on your right. As you approach you will see the large tower of the cable car ahead of you. It is on the street that you are on, just keep walking! Or take Bus 17, 39, 64.

Ticket Prices For Port Cable Car:

Round trip: €12.50
One Way: €9.00
Children of 6 years and under travel for free.

Operating Hours For Barcelona Port Cable Car:

The Transbordador Aeri starts at Torre de Sant Sebastiá at the end of the Passeig de Joan de Borbó in Barceloneta (bus: 17, 64, or 39), stops at the World Trade Center on the way, and finishes at the peak of Montjuïc. The cable car runs every 15 minutes daily -- from 10am to 8pm June 19 to September 14, 10am to 6pm October 20 to February 28, and 10:45am to 7pm the rest of the year. Cost is 9€ one-way, 12.50€ round-trip. Tel. 93-430-47-16 or 93-441-50-71 for more information. Back to Montjuic Tour