Once you’ve decided to fly to Barcelona, and selected Barcelona El Prat airport as your destination, the next thing you’ll need to know is how to get to Barcelona city centre from the airport. In this post, I’ll cover all of the different ways you can travel from Barcelona airport to the city, including public transport, private transfers and taxis, so you can choose the best airport transport option for you.
Where is Barcelona Airport?
Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, more commonly known as Barcelona or Barcelona El Prat Airport, is close to a town called El Prat de Llobregat on the outskirts of Barcelona. This is the main international airport of Barcelona and is the only airport actually in Barcelona (although some budget airlines will tell you that Girona or Reus are Barcelona airports too!).
Barcelona El Prat Airport is about 25 minutes’ drive from the centre of Barcelona by car or taxi and is well connected to the city centre by public transport in the form of buses, trains and metro.
Barcelona Airport Terminals
Barcelona Airport has 2 terminals and is the second-largest airport in Spain, after Madrid-Barajas. How you get from Barcelona airport to the city could depend on which terminal you fly into, so check which one is indicated on your flight ticket.
There is a free shuttle bus that runs between the two terminals, so all transport options are possible from both terminals, although you might need to transfer between them first. The shuttle buses run frequently, every 5-10 minutes depending on the time of day, and the journey takes 10-15 minutes to get from one terminal to the other. I’d recommend allowing at least 30 minutes to transfer between terminals.
Below are the airlines which usually operate from each terminal, however, make sure you check your ticket to confirm which terminal in Barcelona you will arrive at so you can plan onward travel accordingly.
Barcelona Airport Terminal One Airlines
Airlines which operate at Terminal One include:
Aegean Airlines, Aeroflot, Air Algerie, Air Baltic, Air Canada, Air China, Air Europa, Air France, American Airlines, Arkia Israel Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Avianca, Ba Cityflyer, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Czech Airlines, Delta Airlines, EgyptAir, El Al, Emirates, Finnair, Iberia, Israir, KLM, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Rossiya Russian Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Airlines, TAP Portugal, Tarom, Tunisair, Turkish Airlines, Ukraine International Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways and Vueling.
Barcelona Airport Terminal Two
Airlines that operate at Terminal Two include:
Aer Lingus, Air Arabia Maroc, Air Moldova, Air Transat, Atlantic Airways, Azur Air, Belavia, Blue Air, Bulgaria Air, Chalair Aviation, Corendon Airlines, Easyjet, Enter Air, Evelop Air, I-Fly, Icelandair, Jet2com, Jetairfly, Luxair, Norwegian Air, Iberojet, Pakistan International Airlines, Pegasus Air, Ryanair, SmartWings, Transavia com, Ural Airlines, UTair, Wizz Air.
Quick tips for Barcelona Airport Transport
- If you choose convenience over budget, then a taxi or private transfer is the easiest way to get directly from Barcelona airport to your accommodation. There are always taxis available outside both terminals, although there may be queues during peak times.
- Instead of a taxi, consider pre-booking a private transfer with Welcome Pickups. For a price similar to a standard taxi, an English-speaking driver will meet you at the arrival gate and drive you to your accommodation, sharing information about key sights you pass along the way.
- If you prefer public transport, check out the Hola Barcelona card which includes unlimited use of the metro, buses, trams and local trains, including the train journey from the airport to Barcelona. Or you can buy train tickets at the station.
- The Aerobus goes directly to Plaça Catalunya via Plaça d’Espanya and Plaça Universitat, so that is a good choice if your accommodation is close to any of those.
How to Get from Barcelona Airport to the City Centre
There are several ways to get from Barcelona airport to Barcelona, so take a look and see which option is best for you.
Taxi from Barcelona Airport to the City
Airport taxis can whisk you into the city centre in around 25 minutes, depending on traffic, and of course, will take you straight to your hotel or accommodation, so this is a good option if you are short on time or have mobility issues. If you are travelling as a group, sharing the cost of the taxi also makes this a cheaper option.
There are always taxis waiting outside both terminals, you can easily spot the black and yellow cars lining up to collect people. Taxis are available 24 hours a day, with more expensive rates overnight between 8pm and 8am during the week, and on weekends and holidays.
See the yellow table below for 2026 taxi prices in Barcelona. There is a minimum fee of €21, and to get into the city the cost can vary quite a bit, depending on where your hotel is and if there is a lot of traffic. Expect to pay between €30 to €40 on average, including the €4.60 supplement for airport pickup or drop off.
In the past, taxis used to charge a supplement for each item of luggage, but that is no longer the case – luggage should be free.
Pros: Fast if no traffic. Drop off right at your accommodation.
Cons: Expensive for solo travellers. Maybe a queue at the airport.
Private Transfer to Barcelona from the Airport
If you’d prefer to pre-book your transfer from Barcelona Airport, Welcome Pickups offer private cars with English-speaking drivers to meet you at the arrival gate and take you directly to your destination, pointing out key landmarks along the way.
They aim to match the price of a normal taxi, so for a personalized service that’s excellent value and gives you peace of mind that someone will be waiting for you as you arrive. Click here for a quote to check out the price for your journey.
Pros: Personalised, direct service including meet and greet and drop off at your accommodation. Fast if no traffic.
Cons: Expensive for solo travellers.
Shared Transfers from Barcelona Airport
You can also arrange shared transfers from Barcelona with companies such as Shuttle Spain, which stop off at specific hotels in Barcelona, not individual addresses. I haven’t used this service before so I don’t know how good it is. After using similar services in the past I don’t think it’s worth it if you’re going into Barcelona as there are more convenient options.
Pros: Cheaper than private transfers
Cons: More expensive than the bus and not necessarily quicker. Only drops off at specific destinations, not individual addresses.
Train from Barcelona Terminal 2 to City Centre
I love getting the Barcelona airport train to and from Barcelona. It is quick, relaxing and cheap. The train journey is part of the Barcelona public transport system and is included in the Hola Barcelona travel card.
The train leaves from Barcelona Airport train station, which is across a raised walkway from Terminal 2. It is the R2 Nord line and stops at the main station in Barcelona (Sants), Passeig de Gràcia and El Clot-Aragó, as well as some stops on the way into the city before carrying on beyond Barcelona.
The train journey from the airport at Terminal 2 to Sants station takes 20 minutes, it’s 27 minutes to Passeig de Gràcia and 31 minutes to El Clot-Aragó.
It is then possible to change trains at Sants to go to Plaça de Catalunya on a different train line, or you can get the metro, bus or taxi to get closer to your accommodation if you can’t walk from the main station stops.
The trains run from around 6am, with the last train to Barcelona leaving the airport at 11.38pm. You can check the timetable on the Renfe website here.
A new airport train line is currently under construction, which will be an express service from Barcelona city centre to the Airport. The new trains will run every 15 minutes, linking the city centre with both terminals of Barcelona-El Prat Airport with a journey time of just over 20 minutes. These trains, operated by FGC Mobilitat, are due to begin service between late 2026 and early 2027 but aren’t in operation yet.
Pros: Cheap, included in the Hola Barcelona Card. Fast service if you are staying close to the main stations.
Cons: Only 2 trains per hour. No overnight service. Only available from Terminal 2 (although you can take the free shuttle between terminals)
Read more about taking the train from the Airport to the City Centre in this detailed blog post here
Aerobús – Airport Bus to Barcelona City Centre
The Aerobús is a dedicated airport bus running an express service from the airport to Barcelona city, stopping at a few key destinations including Plaça d’Espanya before terminating at Plaça Catalunya.
There are two different lines, one for each terminal. Aerobús A1 goes to and from Terminal 1, and Aerobús A2 goes to and from Terminal 2.
You can buy tickets from the bus stop terminals at the airport or in Plaça Catalunya, or from the driver, or buy them online on the official website, but it is very buggy and hardly ever works properly! I recommend buying them in advance from the Barcelona Tourism Board website, which costs exactly the same and saves you the hassle of buying them at the bus stop or battling with the horrible Aerobus official website!
One-way tickets cost 7,45 €, and a return ticket costs 12,85 € per person. Children under 4 travel free and don’t require a ticket.
The service runs 24 hours a day, from every 5 minutes during peak times and routes to every 20 minutes at quieter periods, for example, in the very early morning. The website has details of the timetable and stops.
Pros: Dedicated express service. Frequent and direct to the city centre. Inexpensive. Convenient for accommodation close to Plaça d’Espanya and Plaça de Catalunya
Cons: Only a few stops in the city, so you may need to change to a taxi/metro to get to your accommodation.
Transport Not Usually Recommended for Visitors
I’ve included these options, so you have all of the information, but don’t recommend these as they either take a long time or just aren’t very convenient unless you happen to be staying right next to one of the bus or metro stops.
Public Bus
There are public buses that go to and from the airport, some of which are included in the Hola Barcelona travel card. You can also buy a single ticket on the bus by swiping your credit card, or use the T-Mobilitat integrated public transport tickets. Lines include:
- From Barcelona Plaça Espanya to the airport terminal T1 and T2 with the 46 (included in the Hola Barcelona travel card).
- Night bus Nitbus N18 from Barcelona (Pl. Catalunya-Ronda Universitat) to the airport, terminal T1 and T2.
- Night bus Nitbus N17 from Barcelona (Pl. Catalunya) straight to airport terminal T1.
- Night bus Nitbus N16 from Barcelona (Pl. Catalunya) to Castelldefels, stopping at terminal T2.
Pros: Included in the 10 journey T-Casual ticket and the Hola Barcelona travel card on the 46 route. Night services are available. Convenient if you are close to the stops on the route.
Cons: Can take a long time with traffic and frequent stops
Metro from the Airport
The metro could be useful for you if you are staying close to one of the stops on the L9 Sud line, but otherwise I know from personal experience that lugging suitcases around the metro system isn’t fun.
Metro line L9 Sud connects the airport terminals T1 and T2 with the city of Barcelona, every 7 minutes. The journey is included in the Hola Barcelona travel card, but not included in the 10 journey T-Casual ticket, so you will need to buy a separate Airport ticket for €5.90 if you don’t get the Hola Barcelona card.
The Barcelona metro runs from 5am to midnight during the week, from 5am to 2am on Fridays and eves of public holidays, all night on Saturdays and until midnight on Sundays.
Pros: Some night service. Runs frequently during operational hours.
Cons: Takes longer than the train from Terminal 2. Will probably need to change lines to get to your destination.
Rent Your Own Car & Drive from Barcelona Airport
I have saved this till last, as I don’t recommend hiring a car in Barcelona unless you plan to travel outside of the city every day. Parking in Barcelona is expensive and in short supply, so it is much easier to move around the city by public transport or taxi.
If you plan to spend a couple of days in the city and then explore further afield there are car rental companies in Barcelona city centre where you can arrange car hire for when you need it, without having to worry about parking.
However, if you do decide to hire a car at the airport, I’d suggest using Google maps or a sat-nav to direct you to where you want to go. Driving in Barcelona can be stressful as it is busy, with many of the streets running one way only. Also, be aware of the motorbike and scooter drivers who zip around queuing traffic and make sure your accommodation has parking!
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I hope this has helped make things clearer for you, without overloading you with information! Usually, I tend to take the Aerobus to the airport myself as I live quite close to Placa Catalunya. When I stayed near Clot station, I would take the train to Terminal 2.
I have taken the metro to Sants station in the past, and taken the train from there but for a first-time visitor, I wouldn’t recommend it – the stress and worry of carrying luggage and navigating the metro is not for the faint-hearted!