Barcelona is easily accessible by air, land and sea. Major highways enter the city from the north, south and inland via Madrid, all are well developed and signposted. Rail is a popular choice with visitors as it is fast, reliable and economical. Barcelona also has an International Airport situated near the city which offers frequent flights to most other main European destinations. The port provides a number of ferry routes to other cities located on the Mediterranean coastline, as well as round trips to the Balearic Islands.

Around the City

If you’re visiting Barcelona by car, it’s better to leave it in a car park and use public transportation. The main roads are extremely hectic and complex, if you don’t know exactly where you’re going you may find driving around the city centre stressful and frustrating. Finding parking can also be a difficult task.

Taxis
In Barcelona taxis are painted black and yellow. They’re moderately price and you won’t have to wait long to get one. They will stop almost everywhere, but be sure that they have a green light on top, as this indicates they are vacant.

Bike
Another good option for traveling around the city is by bike. Rental companies are quite common and they all offer competitive prices; some will even deliver to your hotel. Expect to pay around 20-30 euros per day for a decent bike.

Metro
The Metro is the main choice of transport by most people; it has 6 lines and 123 stations:

Line 1: Hospital de Bellvitge to Fondo (Red Line)
Line 2: Parallel to Pep Ventura (Purple Line)
Line 3: Zona Universitària to Canyelles (Green Line)
Line 4: Trinitat Nova to La Pau (Yellow Line)
Line 5: Cornellà Centre to Horta (Blue Line)
Line 11: Trinitat Nova to Can Cuiàs

The trains generally operate between 5am and 2am.
Tickets can be purchased via the information desk or the ticket machine.

Bus
There are over 80 routes across the city allowing easy access to the areas not reached by the Metro. There is also an effective night bus system which has 17 routes.

Tickets are valid on both the bus and the metro.

Prices
Travel card T-10 (travel card with 10 journeys):
Zone 1 6.65€, Zone 2 13.30€, Zone 3 18.30€.
For most purposes a zone 1 ticket should be sufficient.
Single: 1.20€

Bus Turístic
These open air double decker buses take you around the city and stop near the main attractions. On every bus there is a multi lingual guide who gives you information about the sights and attractions in Barcelona. You are free to get off and on these buses whenever you like. Tickets can be bought on the bus and include a guide book and leaflet containing discount coupons for various attractions and activities.

The bus operates across 3 routes with 44 stops: Northern Route (red):
Takes in the northern area of the city including El parc Güell and Sagrada Família

Southern Route (blue):
Takes in Plaça d'Espanya, Barri Gòtic and Parc de la Ciutadella Zoo

Fòrum Route (green): Takes in Port Olímpic and Parc Diagonal Mar. This route operates between the 7th April and 30th September

Prices
1 Day: Adult 18.00€, Child (4-12) 11.00€
2 Day: Adult 22.00€, Child (4-12) 14.00€