The boom in low cost air travel is giving ride to many short breaks in popular European cities. Barcelona is no exception. Since most of you will be travelling to Barcelona by air, it makes sense to find the cheapest way to get from Barcelona airport to the city centre. I am going to show you different ways of getting from Barcelona El Prat Airport to the city centre. Together, we can find out if the cheap option is really the best option. So, which is the option I recommend?, let’s take a look at the options available.
Four transport options to get from Barcelona airport to the city centre
Train, metro, bus or taxi, these are the four options available, unless you walk, which I would not recommend! I think most of you will guess that the taxi option would be the quickest, but also the most expensive option, and you would be right. But how do the other three options compare between cost, and getting you quickly from Barcelona airport to the city centre. To compare cost vs. quickness for each option, read on andcfind out the best options.
Current cost of travelling from Barcelona airport to the city centre in 2024
I have prepared the cost of getting from Barcelona airport to the city centre. These prices are based on this year’s (2024) ticket prices. You will also see the estimated journey time to get from Barcelona airport to the city centre (Plaza de Espanya).
1. Aerobus: – Duration: Approximately 35 minutes. – Cost: €9.75 for a one-way trip.
2. Taxi: – Duration: Around 14 minutes. – Cost: Approximately €45-55.
3. Train (Rodalies de Catalunya): – Duration: About 27 minutes. – Cost: €4–6.
4. Metro: – Duration: About 32 minutes – Cost: €5.50
The barcelona metro is the cheapest, but is it better than the Aerobus?
So, as you can see from above, the metro is the cheapest way to get from Barcelona airport to the centre, but is it the best? I would say no, my advice would be to take the Aerobus. There are few good reasons for my decision. Firstly, it is more comfortable, and offers a smooth ride to Barcelona centre, ending at Plaza de Catalyuna. My second reason is that they are waiting to be boarded and leave the airport every 10 minutes. So, you can just arrive at the bus, board and get a good seat as there are generally plenty available.
The final reason I would choose the aerobus is that you can view the city of Barcelona. Much better than being underground on the metro. Furthermore, you get free Wi-Fi, so you can message friends and family and tell them you are in Barcelona! You can see the Aerobus route in the image below.
The Barcelona metro is still a good option
The metro option to get you from the airport to Barcelona city still has some advantages. You can purchase a Hola Barcelona public transport card and use it for your airport to city centre transfer. Another reason to select the metro is if your hotel is near to one of the metro kine 9 stations. This would ideal if your hotel is nest to one of the metro stations along this route, or if you need to change stations to another metro line, again to arrive at your hotel. So, the metro option is useful if you will depend on the Barcelona metro network to arrive at a certain point in the city. Most people would need to change to Lines 1, 3 or 5 in order to get to Barcelona city centre.
So, what about the train option?
I love using trains, however, it is important to note that by using the train from Barcelona airport to the city centre, you are limited to where you can get off. To get from Barcelona airport to the city centre, you will need to take the R2 Nord train service. This option is great if you have a hotel in the Passeig de Graciá or Sants districts, as the train stops at these stations. If you have booked your hotel in the Gothic Quarter, Rambla or any other distrtuct, you will need to change to the Barcelona metro network.
My advice is to check to see if your hotel is close to any of the stations along the R2 Nord route. If not, use the aerobus or metro. If you haven’t booked your hotel yet, being a few minutes walk from Plaza de Catalyuna, would mean easy access to the Aerobus city terminus, which is at Plaza de Catalyuna. Below is an image of the R2 Nord train from Barcelona airport to the city centre.
What about getting a taxi from Barcelona airport to the city centre?
If you can afford a taxi to get you from Barcelona airport to the city centre, you will arrive in comfort. Travelling from Barcelona airport to the city centre by taxi is the most convenient way of arriving at the door of your hotel. However, it will come at a price. The typical cost of taking a taxi from Barcelona airport to the city centre in 2024, is around 45–55 Euros.It’s certainly not the cheapest method, but it is the most convenient way of getting directly to your hotel.
The taxi option, for most travelers, will be an expensive way of making a 30-minute journey. I am sure the money saved taking a cheaper option to the city centre could be put to good use visiting Barcelona’s unique attractions.
And the winner is….
Sorry to disappoint you, but there is no clear winner. The cheapest option to get from Barcelona airport to the city centre is by train or metro. The most comfortable and convenient way is by Aerobus. The Aerobus option is quick, there is always a bus waiting to depart. It’s best advantage is that it gets you straight in to the heart of Barcelona. My final advice on selecting the best way from the airport to the centre, ultimately depends on the location of your accommodation. Do some research and find out if the Aerobus, metro, or the train has a stop, that is ideally as close as possible to your hotel or accommodation. Again, if your lucky enough to have the extra cash for a taxi, I guess the above information doesn’t really matter!
