Last week, I went to Barcelona for the 3rd time. Since my previous visits were a while ago (in 2014 and 2015), I had to look up again how to best travel from Barcelona Airport to the city center. For people who have the same question, I will list all the options here:
Bus: Aerobús
One of the most popular and convenient options is the Aerobús. This bus service connects the airport directly to the center of Barcelona. The travel time is approximately 35 minutes, depending on traffic. The price for a one-way ticket is €6.75 and for a round trip €11.65. You can also combine the price with a metro ticket or a Hola Barcelona Travel Card. More information about the prices can be found here. You can also buy the tickets online on that website, but I have always bought them on-site. The buses depart every 5 to 10 minutes. The different stops and timetables can be found here, for both A1 (departing from Terminal 1) and A2 (departing from Terminal 2).
Trein: RENFE
Another option is the train. The RENFE train takes you from the airport to the central station of Barcelona, called Barcelona Sants, in approximately 25 minutes. From Barcelona Sants, you can easily transfer to other trains, metros, or buses to reach your final destination. This connection has a total of 21 stops. You can find out which ones here.Last week, I chose to get off at Passeig de Gràcia during the outbound journey because my hostel was located near that stop. On the way back, I took the Aerobús from Plaça Catalunya because I had already checked out and had explored a part of the city. So you can also perfectly combine both options, depending on where you are staying or departing from.
The entrance for this train is located in T2B. If your plane arrives at T1, you can take a free shuttle bus from there to the train station. The price for a one-way ticket is €5.15.
Metro
Barcelona has an extensive metro network, and there is also a metro connection from the airport to the city center. Line L9 Sud takes you to the centrally located Plaça de Catalunya in approximately 32 minutes. The price for a one-way ticket is €5.15. Keep in mind that you may need to transfer to other metro lines to reach your final destination.
Taxi
If you are looking for comfort and convenience, you can always choose a taxi. The travel time varies depending on traffic, but it usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes to get from the airport to the city center. The price for a taxi ride is approximately €30 to €40, including baggage fees. If you can share the taxi with multiple people, the price is actually quite reasonable compared to the other options.
So, there are plenty of transportation options. Just choose the one that best fits your budget, time, and preferences. Enjoy your trip to Barcelona!
