What’s the best way to get to the city centre after landing at Barcelona’s El Prat airport? Keep reading for all your options, from private transfers, to public transport, like train and metro, and not forgetting the the Aerobus.

This article was updated on 15th February 2022. Any questions, please post them in the comments…

Barcelona’s El Prat airport is situated 13km South West of the city and easily accessible by taxi, Aerobus, train, metro or regular bus (see more below).

It has two terminals:

Terminal 1 (T1) is the largest and handles the majority of international and long-haul flights.

Terminal 2 (T2) handles mostly low-cost carriers from Europe, such as Easyjet, Ryanair, Germanwings and Wizzair.

A free shuttle bus links the two terminals (although if you plan your journey correctly you won’t need to use it!).

getting-to-Barcelona-city-centre-from-airport

Taxi or Aerobus? Two of the best options for getting to the airport

In total, Josep Tarradellas Barcelona El Prat (to give the airport its full name!) serves over 50 million air passengers a year, and – unlike at many major international airports – getting past security, passport control and customs is usually relatively brief and painless… so you’ll be on the beach in no time!

Getting from the Airport to City Centre

We look at all your options, starting with private transport, then moving on to public transportation. The comparison table below gives you an overview, after which you can find more details about each.

Airport Transfer Options

	Taxi	Aerobus	Train	Metro
Frequency:	On demand	Every 10-15 mins	Every 30 mins	Every 7 mins
Journey Time:	20-30 mins	25-35 mins	18 mins	35-50 mins
Where to Get On/Off:	Your hotel	Pl. Catalunya, Pl. Universitat, Pl. Espanya.	Passeig de Gracia, Sants Station	Any metro station
Good to know:	Best to book in advance	Best to book in advance	Only stops at Terminal 2	Need to change lines
Price per person:	€10-40	€7.90	€4.60	€5.15

By Private Transfer (Taxi)

There are a number of companies who will offer to take the stress of getting from El Prat to either your hotel or apartment or other destination, such as the cruise port, by organising your airport transfer for you.

A typical taxi fare to the centre costs €35-45, and while you can make the journey via public transport, many travellers prefer the peace of mind of having an English-speaking driver meet them at arrivals to make sure nothing goes wrong on the day.

While for families and larger groups taking a taxi can work out cheaper than buying several Aerobus tickets for example. Check the list below, starting with Welcome Pick Ups, who offer unbeatable price to service value.

Is a Private Taxi Transfer right for you?

Pros: Convenience, peace of mind, comfort. No waiting times, or hauling baggage around. Fastest A-B option.

Cons: More expensive than public transport (especially if you’re travelling solo).

Best for when…. you want door to door service, and don’t want to mess about. Cheaper between more people.

Reservations: Check the companies listed below.

Transfer & Taxi Companies

If you want to book a transfer in advance here are some firms that offer door to door service and English-speaking drivers…

1. Welcome Pick Ups

When you book via Welcome Pick Ups you get your own private taxi for the same price as from the rank, but with the added bonus of an English-speaking driver, a pre-calculated fee (so you know in advance what you’re paying), 24/7 customer support, flight monitoring in case of delays, and free cancellation if there’s a change of plan on your side.

Just head to their website, enter your hotel address and you’ll see the journey price up front (usually €35-40), no hidden surprises.

RESERVE: welcomepickups.com/barcelona/airport-transfer-book

2. Book Taxi BCN

Easy to book and affordable, with this company you will be met at arrivals by your driver and taken door to door to your final destination. They use the same fleet of vehicles as authorised by the Barcelona Transport Authorities, which includes Mercedes sedans, or for larger groups mini-vans or minibuses. You can also order eco-taxis with wifi. As well as being able to pick you up from both Barcelona terminals they can also pick you up from Girona, and they can also deliver you to/from the cruise terminal and other popular transport nodes. It’s as simple as filling out the form on their website…
www.booktaxibcn.com

3. Get Your Guide

Get Your Guide is one of Europe’s biggest online travel agencies, and if you’re a fan of their easy-use-website you can quickly and efficiently book a private airport transfer here for just over €40.

BOOK PRIVATE TRANSFER

4. Taxi Rank

Grabbing a cab from the rank is the lazy (wo)man’s method of transport from El Prat to Barcelona city centre, as no reservation is required. The cons are that you may have to queue, and you won’t know which company is running the vehicle, so there’s a bit less accountability than with the above companies (who will be keen to keep their Google / Facebook / Tripadvisor ratings high!). But price-wise it should be about the same, around 35-50 euros, depending where in the city exactly you’re going. Everything should be done on the meter so you’re unlikely to be ripped off, although knowing a bit of Spanish will help avoid any miscommunication.

By Public Transport

There are several ways to make your way to El Prat by public transportation, and some are much more convenient than others…

1. Aerobus

An express bus service called the Aerobus runs from the city centre to the airport (and vice versa) at regular intervals – every 10 to 15 minutes – and is a cheaper alternative to a taxi, especially if you’re flying solo. It runs from 5.30am to 1am, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Route. The Aerobus 1 (A1) takes you to Terminal 1 and, you guessed it, the A2 takes you to Terminal 2. Otherwise both buses follow the same route, starting / finishing at Plaça Catalunya (Barcelona’s central square), and stopping at Plaça Universitat, Gran Via-Urgell and Plaça Espanya in between.

Tickets. Advance tickets currently cost €7.90 for a single. It’s a good idea to buy them online as then you won’t have to queue to buy a ticket enabling you to board immediately via the rear gates, and likely catch an earlier bus than those stuck in line. You also won’t have to worry about having the right change for the bus driver. You can buy Aerobus tickets via Tiqets.com.

Head to our full article for more info on the bus route, stops and schedule.

Is the Aerobus the right option for you?

Pros: Cheap, reliable, comfortable and quick

Cons: Small chance of getting stuck in traffic

Best for when…. you don’t want to pay for a taxi. Especially if you’re a solo traveller or young couple. Best public transport option.

AEROBUS TICKETS

2. Train

You can board a train to the city centre from ‘Aeroport’ train station, which is 200 metres distance from T2, aka Terminal 2. The trains are not as regular as the Aerobus (trains leave every 30 mins) or as convenient for luggage, and if you land at Terminal 1 you’d have to take a shuttle bus to Terminal 2 first (i.e. only consider taking the train if you flying in or out of T2), but on the plus side a ticket is €4.60 and the journey time is only 18 mins.

The train calls at central stations Sants, Passeig de Gracia and Clot and you can change onto the metro at any of these stations. You can find a map of the route here.

Train timetable. To check the timetable head to www.renfe.com.

Is the Train the right option for you?

Pros: Cheap, fast journey time

Cons: Only goes to Terminal 2. Only runs every 30 minutes.

Best for when…. when you’re flying in or out of T2, and staying near one of the train stations on the line, like Passeig de Gracia or Sants.

3. Metro

Since 2017 it’s been possible to get into the city centre via metro. The L9 (orange line) runs around every 7 minutes and stops off at both terminals before carrying passengers to the edge of town, where you can switch onto the red, blue or green lines at Torrassa (L1 – red line), Collblanc (L5 – blue line) or Zona Universitària (L3 – green line) and continue your journey. It’s not the quickest to be honest, especially when compared to the zippy Aerobus, however depending on where your hotel is it might be a convenient option. You need to buy the appropriate ticket which costs €5.15, one way to any station on the metro network. (NB: you cannot use your T-Casual metro ticket).

Is the Metro the right option for you?

Pros: Cheap, good connections

Cons: You still need a special ticket (can’t use the T-Casual), and doesn’t deliver you into the heart of the city

Best for when…. you’re travelling to the south side of the city, or to a trade fair at Fira.

4. Bus (no. 46)

Aside from the Aerobus, if you could also catch the number 46 public bus, which goes from Parallel past Plaça Espanya and then on to both terminals T1 and T2. A nice and cheap option, a ticket should just cost you a couple of euros, however do bear in mind that being a normal bus it does make quite a few stop offs en route, and waiting time between buses may be longer than the Aerobus (usually between 10 and 15 minutes). It runs from 4:50am to 11:50pm every day. Route and timetable here.

Is the 46 bus the right option for you?

Pros: Very cheap

Cons: Only really convenient if you’re staying in Paral-lel or Plaça Espanya. Slower than the Aerobus.

Best for when…. you’re determined to save every penny!

By Public Transport at Night

So you’ve arrived in Barcelona at an unholy hour, and don’t have the dinero for a taxi? Don’t worry fearless adventurer… you won’t have to sleep in the arrivals lounge. Your knight in shining armour is the N17…

Nightbus (no. N17)

The N17 runs from Terminal 1 to Plaça Catalunya between 9:55pm and 4:45am, costs a couple of euros and is surprisingly quick (not much traffic at these times!). It runs every 20 minutes – and speaking as someone who regularly had to spend an entire hour waiting in the freezing London cold for the N3 home from Trafalgar Square to Beckenham, that seems pretty good to me!

On the way back you can catch it between 11pm and 5am, although do note the bus stop isn’t on Plaça Catalunya itself. There are stops at Ronda Universitat and Placa Universitat. More info here.

Is the N17 Nightbus the right option for you?

Pros: Cheap, runs when other options don’t

Cons: Only goes to Terminal 1 (not 2), electrifying possibility of random drunks on board.

Best for when…. you’re poor, travelling solo, and you’ve accidentally booked a flight that arrives / leaves at a hugely inconvenient hour.

Changing Terminals

Should you ever find yourself at the wrong terminal at Barcelona airport fear not – free and regular shuttle buses will ferry you on your way to your flight. They stop outside the main entrances, just keep an out for the green and blue buses that say T1 – T2 at the front.

Do bear in mind though that these shuttle buses take up to 14 minutes to join the terminals, and depart every 7 minutes. More info on the official website.

Airport Facilities

As you might expect from any modern aeronautical facility, Barcelona airport has ATMs, bureaux de change, left luggage/security lockers, and plenty of restaurants and shops to while away any waiting times.

You can also access free WiFi while there, more information on the official website (in Spanish only).

Left Luggage

You can find left-luggage storage in both Terminals 1 and 2.

Terminal 1

In T1 the office is located in the “intermodal lobby” on floor P0, on the lowest level of the Plaza and is open 24 hours a day.

Terminal 2

Find the office at T2 in the check-in lobby. It is open from 6.00am to 10pm.

Prices

Normal luggage (suitcases or similar): €6 per item for first two hours; €10 per item for every further 24 hours.

Special luggage (surfboard, bicycle, etc.): €9 per item for first two hours; €15 per item for every further 24 hours.

For more details, or to check these prices are up to date, head here.

Meanwhile, for other luggage storage options around the city, check out our blog post.

Booking Flights

Need more info? Needless to say we’ve got some wise advice on booking flights to Barcelona for you to check out which could save you a bob or two.

Other Nearby Airports

Meanwhile if you’re flying into Reus, then head to our guide on getting from Reus Airport to Barcelona.

Similarly if you’re flying to Girona, then we have an article on getting from Girona airport to Barcelona too!

If there is any information missing on this page, please comment below and we’ll endeavour to answer all your questions! Click onto our listing in our Services section to see the exact location of El Prat Airport on a map.

Airport