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 13 metro lines in Barcelona. 10 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 economical one- is the T-10, 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 2019:

• Verbena de San Juan (from 23 to 24 June)
• Fiestas de Gràcia (16 to 17 August)
• Fiestas de la Mercè (from 22 to 23 and 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 (with red and white colour, the nightbuses 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, thel tramvia blau (blue tram). It is a 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

Metro and bus tickets and integrated transport card

The price for an individual ticket for the metro and the daytime bus is 2,20 Euros (price 2019). 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 different kind of tickets which can be used in different means of transport (see section "the metro" above). The most used and the most economical one in Barcelona is the T10 (for 10 journeys). The price is 10,20 Euros (year 2019) and it is valid for the metro, FGC, urban daytime buses (tmb), tram, suburban trains (Renfe Cercanias Zone 1) and Montjuïc funicular. The T10 ticket 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 T10 ticket can be bought in the metro stations, from machines or the ticket offices and in the FGC stations and newspaper kiosks.

Remember, the price of the metro ticket if you are coming or going from the airport is different and the T10 card is not valid.

Transport card Hola BCN!

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:

See price and Buy

The taxis of Barcelona

Barcelona taxis are easily spotted with their yellow and black livery. 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 9,00 and the minimum price is Euro 2,20. 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