How to Get Around Barcelona

Mummy says… I was lucky enough to enjoy a week in Barcelona last week – my first visit, and I thought I would share some of my top tips and memories with you – starting with how to get around Barcelona….

From the Airport

We flew from Bristol to Barcelona Airport where we hopped onto the Aerobus which runs every few minutes into central Barcelona from both terminals. We got off at Plaça de Catalunya. The cost is €5.90 each per journey.

Metro

The underground of Barcelona, with stops all over the city. Well signed, easy to navigate and the easiest way to get around. Buy your Hola Barcelona Travel card  (2, 3, 4 or 5 days) in advance before you leave the UK from the Barcelona Tourist Board

The Hola Barcelona Travel Card allows you to use the metro, train to the Airport, buses and trams as many times as you like.  (NB Our travel card wasn’t accepted by the Aerobus driver on our return to the airport, we don’t know why).

Barcelona currently has eight metro lines that can be 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) and serve most of the city.

Funicular de Montjuïc

This takes you to the Montjuic area overlooking the city from the centre of Barcelona. This ticket is included in the Barcelona Travel Card price.

Montjuïc Cable Car

The Montjuïc cable car runs from the Funicular de Montjuïc station to the top of Montjuïc mountain and gives you the chance to see absolutely spectacular views of Barcelona from above the city. It costs €12.70 per adult, or you can book in advance online and save 10%

Open Top Bus

There seem to be two operators – we chose the Barcelona Bus Turístic as part of a Gaudi Pass from Barcelona Tourist Board

You can buy tickets for the bus tour separately too from €30 per adult or €16 per child for a one day ticket with which you can ride any of the three routes in one day, hopping on and off as many times as you like.

Our Gaudi passes were €65 each including access to several attractions – more about them in my Gaudi Tour post.

Trams

We didn’t use the trams and only saw them whilst on our bus tour in the financial centre of Barcelona. We stayed in the Gothic Quarter.

Funicular Mount Tibidabo

NOT included in the Hola Barcelona Travel Card price – it cost €7.70 return each. It was WELL worth it! It takes you to the top of Mount Tibidabo and the Cathedral del Sagrat Cor with incredible views over Barcelona.

And that is pretty much how to get around Barcelona – well how we did anyway, as well as walking over 12,000 steps a day!

Have you visited Barcelona?

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