By metro (underground) to and from the airport BCN
Barcelona-El Prat Airport has only been connected to Barcelona’s modern and well-developed metro network since 2016. Therefore, many older travel guides or websites do not mention this connection.
Here you will find the most important information about the metro connections to El Prat Airport ↔ Barcelona and helpful tips for buying tickets. This will save you time and stress after arrival.
Which metro line runs from Barcelona-El Prat Airport to the city centre?
Line L9 Sud connects Barcelona city centre with the airport. It has a total of 15 metro stations over a distance of 20 kilometres. If your destination is not directly at one of these stations, you can change to four other lines (L1, L3, L5, L10 Sud) via line L9. This way, you can reach almost all important destinations in Barcelona with just one change. This metro line also takes you directly to the Barcelona Trade Fair (Fira).
Network map with stops & metro lines:
➤ On the Barcelona subway map, you’ll find the L9 South in orange.
Where is the metro station at the airport?
Both terminals (T1 and T2) at Barcelona-El Prat Airport have their own metro stop. These are well signposted and easy to find.
Metro stop in Terminal 1
In Terminal 1 you will find the stop of the metro line L9 Sud on level 0 with the designation Aeroport T1.
Terminal 1 has its own L9 Sud metro station.
Metro stop at Terminal 2
The stop at Terminal 2 is called Aeroport T2 and is located in front of the terminal building.
The metro stop at Terminal 2 is well signposted and easy to find.
Which ticket for the journey from the airport to the city center? – Current ticket prices 2024
ATTENTION: The standard tickets (single ticket, 10-ticket T-Casual) of the Barcelona Metro are NOT valid for a trip to and from the airport!
For this trip you have to buy an extra ticket (Airport Ticket) at the ticket machine. This costs 5.15 euros (one way) or 10.30 euros for the return journey for all persons over 4 years of age (updated 2024). Children under 4 years of age travel free of charge.
Extra ticket for the journey BCN Airport ⇆ Barcelona (Airport Ticket)
Day pass “Hola Barcelona Travel Card” saves time and money – current prices 2024
One card for all local transport – the Hola Barcelona Travel Card
For visitors to Barcelona, there is a good alternative to the expensive airport ticket. If you would like to use the local public transport system during your stay in Barcelona, we recommend the day ticket “Hola Barcelona Travel Card”.
It is also valid for the airport line L9 Sud of the Barcelona Metro! This saves you 10.30 euros for the “Airport Ticket”.
Another advantage of the Hola Barcelona Card: With this card, you can use the metro, city bus (TMB), tram, suburban train (FGC, zone 1), regional train (Rodalies de Catalunya, zone 1) and the Montjuïc funicular unlimitedly for the period of validity.
This day pass is available with a validity period of 2 to 5 days.
Currently (updated 2024) the Hola Barcelona Travel Card is priced per person:
2 days / 48h validity: €17.50 (€8.75 per day)
3 days / 72h validity: €25.50 (€8.50 per day)
4 days / 96h validity: €33.30 (€8.33 per day)
5 days / 120h validity: €40.80 (€8.16 per day)
Our advice: Buy a day ticket for local transport online in advance
A single card for using the four different transport companies in Barcelona saves time and stress when purchasing tickets. No constant queuing at ticket machines, no handling small change, …
Save yourself time and stress.
Here you can buy the Hola Barcelona Travel Card online
After a flight, you don’t have to deal with fare systems and ticket purchase. You have already the right ticket to take the metro from the airport to downtown Barcelona and back.
Hola Barcelona Travel Card or Metro Tickets? We did the math…
What is the cheaper alternative for a weekend trip to Barcelona, for example? Day ticket Hola Barcelona Card or classic single metro tickets?
Our conclusion: buying the Hola Barcelona Card is quickly worthwhile
If you take the bus, suburban train, cable car or metro only 2-3 times per day on a 3-day trip in addition to the airport transfer by metro, you will travel much cheaper with the day pass Hoal Barcelona Card. If you use the local transport more often, the savings will of course be even greater.This is mainly due to the fact that with the Hola Barcelona Travel Card, you can ride the airport line of the metro for free. One-way tickets, 10-trip tickets (T-10, T-Casual) are not valid here.
And we haven’t even included the “saved” holiday time that you don’t have to spend queuing at ticket machines, buying tickets, etc.
You can find more information about the Hola Barcelona Travel Card here.
The metro takes you quickly from Barcelona-El Prat airport to the city center (image: Paul Sableman, CC 2.0 license)
One card – many names: “Hola BCN!”, “Hola Barcelona” or “Hola Barcelona Travel Card”
Until 2019, the day pass was sold under the name “Hola BCN!”. It is now officially called “Hola Barcelona Travel Card”, but is also called “Hola Barcelona Card”. Apart from the name and the appearance of the card, nothing has changed. As all the names are still in use and familiar, we will use the different names in this Airport Guide.
How long does it take to get from the airport to the city center by metro?
The metro line L9 Sud runs every 7 minutes. This means little waiting time at the metro stops at the airport. The journey time depends on your destination. The metro reaches its final stop, Zona Universitaria, in 32 minutes. If you want to travel further into the city centre (e.g. Plaça de Catalunya), it will take you almost 50 minutes from the airport by changing at the Torrassa stop to the L1 line.
The big advantage of the metro compared to taxis, buses & co: the journey time is much easier to plan and is more constant. The metro is independent of traffic and congestion on the streets. In a city like Barcelona with a lot of traffic, this is a big plus.
What are the Barcelona Metro’s operating times?
The metro in Barcelona starts operating at 5 a.m. every day.
Closing time
• during the week (Monday to Thursday): midnight
• Fridays and the eve of a public holiday: 2 am
• Saturdays: continuous operation
• Sundays: midnight
There are special regulations on public holidays/Christmas.
Metro stops on the L9 Sud Airport Line
The L9 Sud line has a total of 15 stations.
• Aeroport T1 (Airport Terminal 1)
• Aeroport T2 (Airport Terminal 2),
• Mas Blue
• Parc Nou
• Centric
• El Prat Estacio
• Les Moreres, Mercabarna
• Parc Logistic
• Fira
• Europe | Fira – connection to L8 with connection to station Espanya – Plaça d’Espanya
• Can Tries | Gornal – transfer possibility to the L10 Sud
• Torrassa – connection to L1 with connections to Catalunya – Barcelona-Catalunya Station and Glòries – Torre Glòries, as well as line 10 Sud
• Collblanc – transfer possibility in L5 and L10 Sud
• University Zone.
Network map with stops & lines of the Barcelona Metro:
➤ Here you can download the plan / map of the with all metro lines in Barcelona
Barrier-free / accessibility of the train stations on line 9 Sud
All 15 stations on Metro Line 9 Sud are barrier-free and therefore easily accessible for people with disabilities/mobility impairments. You will find lifts in all stations, so it is easy to access the metro even with a wheelchair, heavy luggage and/or a stroller.
Barrier-free access to the metro is available at all stations on line 9 Sud.
Bus, train, taxi – an alternative to the metro transfer?
Besides the metro, there are other ways to get from the airport to the center of Barcelona.
You can take the train R2 Nord directly from the station “Aeroport” to the city center. Or catch the Aerobús – you can find more information here. Of course, cabs are also available at the airport around the clock.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ 2024
Is there a metro stop at Barcelona-El Prat Airport?
Since 2016, El Prat Airport has been connected to the Barcelona metro network. There is a dedicated stop for the metro line “L9 Sud” in Terminal 1 (inside the building) and in Terminal 2 (outside the building). Both stops are well signposted in the airport.
You can find more information in our online airport guide.
How much is the metro from Barcelona Airport to the city centre in 2024?
Standard Barcelona Metro tickets (one-way, 10-ride T-Casual) are NOT valid for a metro ride to and from the airport.
For the journey, you have to purchase an extra ticket (Airport Ticket) from the machine. This costs 5.50 euros (one way) or 11 euros for the return trip.
Due to the relatively high price of the Metro’s Airport Ticket, many visitors buy the cheap day pass Hola Barcelona Travel Card.
You can find more information in our online airport guide.
Which ticket is the best for the metro Barcelona Airport ↔ Downtown?
From our point of view, the Hola Barcelona Travel Card is the best choice for visitors to the city of Barcelona who want to use the public transport system during their stay.
You can find more information in our online airport guide.
How long does the metro take from Barcelona Airport to the city center?
The metro line L9 Sud runs every 7 minutes. This means little waiting time at the metro stops at the airport. The journey time depends on your destination. The metro reaches its final stop, Zona Universitaria, in 32 minutes. If you want to travel further into the city center (e.g. Plaça de Catalunya), it will take you almost 50 minutes from the airport by changing at the Torrassa stop to the L1 line.
You can find more information in our online airport guide.
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