Getting around in Barcelona: Metro, bus, tram, taxi

Barcelona has a very effecient underground tranport network (metro) which is extending more and more and an important bus service system. Besides this there are other means of transport like the tram, the funicular and the cable car, the last two more like tourist attractions. The city has also a large number of taxis. You can stop a taxi in the street only by sticking your arm into the street or at taxi ranks which you will find in main squares or at bus and train stations.

The metro of Barcelona

There are 11 metro lines in Barcelona. Eight lines are run by the city transport authority (TMB) that can be identified by the number and the colour of the line  and other 3 urban lines, run by the Catalan government (FGC), and can be identified by the characteristics . There is a free transfer between the Metro lines and the FGC lines, as well as with the funicular of Montjuïc, the tram (Tram), the suburban trains and all the urban buslines (operating during the day and night); all this within the zone 1 (see zones) and with the integrated transport card (the most common are the Hola BCN card for visitors, and the T-casual and T-usual for the inhabitants, although the latter two can also be used by visitors, view section "integrated transport card").

Barcelona metro timetable

• From Monday to Thursday: 5:00 am - 12:00 am.
• Friday and holiday eves: 5:00 am - 2:00 am.
• Weekend (Saturday and Sunday): from 5:00 am on Saturday until 12:00 am on Sunday, continuous service.
• Holidays during the week: 5:00 am - 12:00 am.
• Christmas (December 24): 5:00 am - 11:00 pm.

Keep in mind that the last hour indicated is the time at which the last trains leave from the beginning and end of each line. Normally, if the doors of the stations are open means that the last train has not yet passed through that station.

Other nights with continuous service for 2020:

• Verbena de San Juan (from 23 to 24 June)
• Fiestas de Gràcia (14 to 15 August)
• Fiestas de la Mercè (from 23 to 24 September)
• New Year's Eve (December 31 to January 1)

Barcelona airport metro

Another interesting information: The Metro of Barcelona is still working on the stations with lift accesses for disabled people, but most of the stations are completely or partially adapted. View the metro map bellow.

Metro map

The bus of Barcelona

Barcelona has a large modern bus fleet that cover the entire city. The urban buses during daytime and nighttime (the day buses are red and white, the night buses and interuban buses are yellow and black) can be used in combination with other means of transport (see section "The metro" above).

Day buses usually start their service at 5:30 am and end at around 10:30 pm. The nights buses between 10:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. In most stops there is a digital panel that indicates the time it will take the bus of each line to reach that stop.

Rates

Schedule of each bus line
Buses adapted for disabled
Travelling by bus after 22:30 (NitBus) and travelling to a suburban area
Tourist Bus

The tram of Barcelona

There are 2 lines of the tranvía (called Tram) in Barcelona (Trambaix and Trambesòs) that are divided in 3 lines each. The Trambaix starts in the Plaza Francesc Macià and connects with small towns like Cornellà and Sant Feliu in the county of Baix Llobregat. The Trambesòs starts in the Ciutadella Park and Vila Olímpica and runs to Badalonà and Sant Adrià del Besòs. Remember that the tram is integrated into the global transport system, so you can use the integrated cards. More information about the tram.

Barcelona has another tram, the tramvia blau (blue tram). It is a historical streetcar with only 1 wagon that runs from the Avinguda del Tibidabo, betwenn the plazas John F. Kennedy and Doctor Andreu. At the plaza Doctor Andreu connects with the Funicular railway to the Tibidabo. Time tables and prices.

Funiculars and cable cars

Barcelona has 2 funiculars: the Montjuïc and the Tibidabo funicular. The Montjuïc funicular runs from the metro station Paral.lel (L2 y L3), in the Avinguda del Paral.lel to the Monjuïc mountain, close to the Miró Foundation and the Olympic stadium. It is an integrated transport ( integrated transport card). The Tibidabo funicular railway runs from the plaza del Doctor Andreu (with excellent views over the city) to Tibidabo amusement park.

There are 2 cables cars on the Montjuïc mountain. One goes up to the Montjuïc castle and the other down to the Barceloneta quarter, next to the beach, crossing above the port and the World Trade Center. Both journeys with impressive views over the city.

Buy tickets for Montjuïc cable car

Transport card Hola BCN!

The ideal card for the visitor of Barcelona. With the card Hola BCN! you can travel unlimited in Barcelona city and the metropolitan area by public transport: metro, bus (TMB), tram, urban railway (FGC) and zone 1 of  suburban trains (Rodalies de Catalunya), which includes the train to Barcelona airport. There are 4 types (2, 3, 4 and 5 days):

See price and Buy

Metro and bus tickets and integrated transport cards

The price for an individual ticket for the metro and the daytime bus is 2,40 Euros (price 2020). The tickets for the bus can be bought on the buses and the tickets for the metro in the metro stations, from machines or the ticket offices. The tickets for a single journey can only be used for 1 journey with the metro or bus.

There are several types of multi-journey cards that can be used in various means of transport (see section "the metro" above).
 

The T-casual card

The T-casual (10 journeys) is priced at 11.35 Euros (zone 1, 2020 fare) and it is valid for the metro, FGC, urban daytime buses (tmb), tram, suburban trains (Renfe Cercanias Zone 1) and Montjuïc funicular. The T-casual card can be used on more than one means of transport and all be counted as a single journey provided that your journey is less than 1 hour and 15 minutes, for example changing from the metro to a bus, or bus to funicular. The T-casual ticket can be bought in the metro stations, from machines or the ticket offices and in the FGC stations and newspaper kiosks. You can also buy online (you will have to register first) and collect using a code at the points of sale.

To consider

• The T-casual is single-person. This card can be used by several people but not on the same journey, that is, it can only be validated once for each journey.
• The T-casual card does not work for the metro stations of the Barcelona airport and cannot be bought or collect at the selling machines of these stations. If you want to buy it at the airport, you have to go to the vending machines of the train station at the T2 terminal.
• Buying the 1-zone T-casual you can visit all Barcelona day and night, and travel on the airport train, bus 46 and night buses (N16, N17 and N18).

The T-usual card

This transport pass is more appropriate for the inhabitants but if you come to Barcelona for a stay of 2 to 4 weeks, and you are going to use the subway and the bus a lot, you can do well. Its price is € 40 (zone 1, rate 2020). With the T-usual you can make an unlimited number of journeys on the same means of transport valid for the T-usual, for 30 consecutive days from the first validation. It can be purchased at the points of sale described in the T-casual and online.

To consider

• The T-casual is unipersonal and non-transferable. When you buy it you will have to indicate your ID, NIE or passport number, which will be printed on the card.
• The T-casual card is valid for the metro stations of the Barcelona airport.
• Buying the 1-zone T-casual you can visit all Barcelona day and night, and travel on the airport train, bus 46 and night buses (N16, N17 and N18).

Other cards: for 1 day and for groups

There are other cards that you can consider to getting around Barcelona and that will allow you to move around the city:

• The T-dia can be interesting if you are going to spend only one day in the city, you arrive at the El Prat Josep Tarradellas airport and you want to go by subway to the city from the airport. The T-dia costs € 10.50 (1 zone, 2020 fare) and in addition to a round trip to the airport by subway allows unlimited journeys for 24 hours on public transport. It is one-person and can be purchased online upon registration.
• The T-grup is a multi-personal card with 70 journeys to make in 30 days. It has a price of € 79.45 (1 zone, 2020 fare). It is not valid for airport subway stations and can be purchased online upon registration.
•  The T-familiar is another multi-personal card that allows 8 journeys for 30 days. Its price is € 10.00 (1 zone, 2020 fare). It is not valid for airport subway stations and can also be purchased online upon registration. This card will not be on sale until March 1, 2020.

Remember, the price of the metro ticket if you are coming or going from the airport is different and the T-usual card is not valid.

The taxis of Barcelona

Barcelona taxis are easily spotted with their yellow and black color. A green light and the sign "libre" indicates that the taxi is available. There are taxi ranks where they wait for passengers, for instance at Plaza Catalunya near to Las Ramblas. However the simplest way is to wait until you see one with a green light, then stick out your arm. It is normally easy to find taxis except sometimes Friday and Saturday nights in the very centre of Barcelona (Ramblas, Gótico, Plaça Catalunya, Passeig de Gràcia). There is a maximum of 4 passengers per taxi. Travelling with dogs depends if the taxi driver accepts them.

Taxis operate 24 hours a day. The average price of a journey is Euro 10,00 and the minimum price is Euro 2,25. Some of the taxi ranks (airport, train stations, at night...) and services (luggage, dogs) have extra charges. Only pay according to the meter, taxis cannot charge a fixed fare.

Taxis can be called by phone. The service is usually fast and reliable. If you need a taxi from a restaurant the staff will usually call for you.

Compulsory and free transport in Barcelona taxis

• Suitcase < 55 x 40 x 20 cm
• Wheelchair
• Guide dog
• Children's chair
• Card payment