Barcelona

The airport is 12 km from the centre.

• Public bus n°462 € 1 September 2026

  Cheap but slow, numerous stops.

• Aerobussimplest6 € 1 September 2026

  every 15 to 30 min, day and night all week

  Departs from terminals T1 and T2, no intermediate stops, stops at Plaza de Espaňa, Plaza de la Universidad, Plaza de Cataluña. Round-trip tickets valid for 90 days at a reduced online rate. Another source states 7.45 € for a one-way ticket.

• Metro (Airport ticket)5,90 € 1 September 2026

  Ticket sold at machines before the turnstiles, valid only on the metro between the airport and any point on the network.

• Train (Rodalies) with T-casual/T-mobilitat13 € 1 September 2026

  every 30 minutes until around midnight

  Price for 10 trips (T-casual), also valid on bus and metro (except L9 from the airport). The train departs from Terminal 2 (free shuttle from Terminal 1).

• Night bus N18price not stated

  Stops at Plaça d'Espanya then Plaça Catalunya, useful for late flights.

• Taxi20 € 1 September 2026

  Minimum price for a ride from the airport, additional airport surcharge of 4.20 € on top of the per-kilometre fare.

Why that one: Direct trip with no stops from the terminals to the central squares, simple for a traveller unfamiliar with the area, without needing to understand the metro/train zone system.

metro · bus · tram · train (Rodalies/FGC) · taxi · bicycle · scooter · on foot

Single ticket

2,90 € 1 September 2026

Day pass

12 € 1 September 2026

Hola Barcelona 2 days

18,70 € 1 September 2026

The T-casual (10 trips, 13 €) is presented as the best option for tourists. Other multi-day passes exist (3 to 5 days) up to 43.60 €. An older source (Wikivoyage FR, 2017) gives different prices: single ticket 2.2 €, T-DIA 8.6 €, T-10 10.2 €, 2 to 5 day passes from 15.2 € to 35.4 €.

• Barcelona Card48 h29 € 1 September 2026

  Includes: free entry to more than 25 museums/sites, discounts at more than 70 other sites, public transport pass included (depending on version)

  The sources do not say how many visits it takes for the pass to pay off.

• Artiticket Barcelona (Art Passport)38 € 1 September 2026

  Includes: MACBA, Museu Picasso, CCCB, Fundació Antoni Tàpies, Fundació Joan Miró, Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya

  The sources do not say how many visits it takes for the pass to pay off.

• Barcelona City Pass96,50 € 1 September 2026

  Includes: priority skip-the-line tickets, hop-on hop-off tourist bus

  The sources do not say how many visits it takes for the pass to pay off.

The English-language source specifies that the Barcelona Card is only worth the price if you visit many museums each day; otherwise transport tickets alone are cheaper.

Cheap meal

8 € 1 September 2026

Mid-range meal

12 € 1 September 2026

Beer

1 € 1 September 2026

Full bar menu for under 8 € (Wikivoyage FR, 2017); set lunch menu in a restaurant between 12 and 20 € depending on the establishment (Wikivoyage EN); full meal at El Glop around 20 €/person. A pint of beer at the Ovella Negra cost around 1 € (older source, 2019).

Currency

Euro (EUR)

Languages

Catalan, Spanish (Castilian)

Card payments

Credit cards widely accepted; identification may be requested; 500 € banknotes refused in many shops.

Tipping

Not mandatory nor customary in Spain. If satisfied, leave 1 to 2 € or 5-8% of the bill. Taxi drivers, hairdressers and upscale hotel staff may expect a tip.

Tap water

Safe and drinkable everywhere in Spain; in the south, mineral content sometimes high, which can cause stomach upset in those unaccustomed to it.

Emergencies

112

• Direction for inserting the metro ticket

  At turnstiles, the ticket is inserted on the left; at sliding doors, on the right. Many tourists get it wrong.

• T-casual not valid on line L9 to the airport

  If you use a T-casual to take metro L9 to the airport, you will have to pay the full fare (5.90 €) upon exit, with no refund for the trip already used.

• Transfer between metro operators (TMB / FGC)

  Switching from TMB lines (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L9, L10, L11) to FGC lines (L6, L7, L8) requires exiting and passing through a gate again, which can count as an additional trip with a single ticket.

• Street vendors

  Buying an item from a street vendor is punishable by a fine of around a hundred euros.

• The 'shell game' scam and pickpockets on Las Ramblas

  Street games (trileros) and pickpocketing are frequent on Las Ramblas, Plaza Real and surrounding streets of the old town.

• Fake police

  Scammers pose as police officers and ask to see your wallet; only show your ID after they have shown theirs, without handing over your wallet.

• Bird dropping / foul-smelling liquid scam

  A liquid is discreetly thrown on the tourist, then accomplices offer to help clean up and take the opportunity to steal their belongings.

• Groups blocking the metro entrance

  Groups deliberately block the entrance/exit of trains to facilitate pickpocketing, sometimes also blocking the turnstile.

• Fake mimes at Cathedral square

  Women disguised as mimes (white painted face) near Barcelona Cathedral rob tourists under the pretext of selling balloons or taking a photo.

• Reported risk areas

  Frequent thefts at the airport and on the Aerobus, on Las Ramblas (notably internet cafés), Plaza Real, the metro, Barceloneta beach, around the Sagrada Família, Sants station and the Barcelona Nord bus station.

• Thefts from rental cars

  Thieves sometimes damage rental cars leaving Barcelona to cause a puncture in a rural area and rob the occupants; do not leave anything visible in the vehicle.

• Stolen passports

  More foreign passports are stolen in Barcelona than anywhere else in the world according to the source.

• Football jerseys

  Avoid wearing a Real Madrid jersey in Barcelona, especially on match days, as you risk being targeted by local supporters.

• Lack of parking and car break-ins

  Parking in the city is difficult; there is a risk of theft from vehicles parked on the street, so prefer a supervised car park.