Barcelona's aiport

A plane at Barcelona's El Prat Airport
Photo courtesy of Aena Aeropuertos.

Arriving in Barcelona by plane and getting to and from El Prat airport

Barcelona’s Aeroport El Prat airport (tel. +34-913-211-000; www.aena.es) is 16km (10 miles) southeast of the city.

Other Barcelona airports
For info on the Girona-Costa Brava airport, used by some no-frills airlines, see below.

Hardly any airline uses Barcelona's secondary Reus Airport anymore, though you can find info on it at www.aena.es.

Terminal T1 handles most international flights.

Temrinal T2 handles some inter-European and most low-cost carrier flights.

In the arrivals halls are several ATMs and a tourist information desk.

How to get between El Prat airport and Barcelona

For once, the fastest choice is also (pretty much) the cheapest—take the train.

If you want personalized, door-to-door service to your hotel, you can actually take a private car service for half the cost of a taxi.

The Girona-Costa Brava airport

Some low-cost airlines—notably Ryanair and Wizz Air—use the Girona-Costa Brava airport (tel. +34-913-211-000; www.aena.es), about 90km (56 miles) northeast of Barcelona, and call it "Barcelona."

You can, indeed, get to Barcelona from the Girona-Costa Brava airport; it just takes longer.

How to get between Girona airport and Barcelona

Take the bus. It's the fastest and (usually) the cheapest.

Tips & Links

How long should I spend in Barcelona?

If you're just passing through, I'd give Barcelona at least two full days.

It is a lovely place to relax, however, so you might be happier spending 3-4 days.

» Barcelona itineraries

Useful links & resources

SIGHTS

Barcelona tourist info: Barcelonaturisme.com (info office), Guiadelocio.com (events mag); Catalunya.com (regional info), Spain.info

Sightseeing passes: Barcelona Card (20+ sights; transport; discounts), Museum Pass (6 sights)

Tours & activities: Viator.com, ContextTravel.com, UrbanAdventures.com, City-Discovery.com, Intrepidtravel.com, Gadventures.com

LODGING

Hotels: Booking.com, Venere.com, Priceline.comPartner, Hotels.com

B&Bs: Booking.com, Bedandbreakfast.com, Airbnb.com, Venere.com

Apartments: Rentalo.com, Vrbo.com, Booking.com, Airbnb.com, Interhomeusa.com, Homeaway.comhomeaway

Hostels & campgrounds: Hostelbookers.com, Hostelworld.com, Hostelz.com, Booking.com

TRANSPORT

Airfares:



Airports: Aena.es

Trains: Raileurope.com (throughout Europe), Renfe.com (within Spain), Bahn.de (throughout Europe), Seat61.com

Public transport: Barcelona Card (free transport; sightseeing); Search all public transit: mou-te.gencat.cat; Metro/Bus: Tmb.cat; Tram: Trambcn.com; Light rail: Fgc.cat; Taxi: Taxibarcelona.cat

Car rentals: Autoeurope.com, RentalCars.com, Momondo.com, Orbitz.com, Expedia.com, Travelocity.com, Kayak.com

Get a sightseeing / transport pass

Barcelona has two types of sightseeing/transport passes:

There's a full description of both passes here, but in brief: The only museum covered fully by the Museum Pass that is not also covered by the Barcelona Card is the Museu Picasso (where you get only a 20% discount with the Barcelona Card).

You can also get discounts (usually 10% to 20%) on a wide range of sights, activites, and shows if you have a hop-on/hop-off bus ticket.

Barcelona tours
  • Sightseeing
  • Food & wine
  • Day-trips
  • Excursions

 

Reserve it

 

Tours Under $995 G Adventures


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This article was by Reid Bramblett and last updated in October 2013.
All information was accurate at the time.


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Copyright © 1998–2013 by Reid Bramblett. Author: Reid Bramblett.