Test: Barcelona city passes compared (2025)
Which sightseeing card is right for me?
What is a City Pass – and how do the options in Barcelona differ?
A city card, also called a sightseeing pass, gives you free or discounted entry to major attractions.
Many also include extras like audio guides, fast-track entry (skip the line), or tickets for public transport.
In Barcelona, several providers offer city passes. Here are the key differences:
- With or without public transport:
Only some passes include unlimited rides on metro, bus, and tram. - Fixed vs. flexible validity:
Some passes are valid for a set number of days (e.g. 72 hours), while others work by the number of attractions you choose. - Different focuses:
Some emphasize museums, while others cover only major highlights like the Sagrada Família.
The right City Pass can help you save money – our comparison shows which one fits best.
Which Barcelona Sightseeing Card Is Right for Me?
If you want to save time and money in Barcelona, you’ll quickly find a wide range of City Passes. But which one is right for you?
To find the right pass quickly, it’s helpful to answer these three key questions first:
#1 Which attractions do you want to visit?
Most passes include major sights like the Sagrada Família, Park Güell, and the Picasso Museum. Some are more focused on museums or lesser-known spots.
#2 Transport: Public transit or hop-on hop-off?
Barcelona is too spread out to explore entirely on foot. Some passes include public transport, while others rely on more expensive hop-on hop-off buses that stop directly at major attractions.
#3 What kind of traveler are you?
Want to make the most of each day and see as much as possible?
→ Time-Based Passes ✅
Valid for calendar days or hours starting from first use – ideal for short, active trips. The more you use it, the more you save.
Prefer a slower pace with breaks in between?
→ Attraction-Based Passes ✅
Choose only the attractions you want to visit – long validity – ideal for flexible sightseeing without a strict schedule.
💡 More on this at the end of the article.
Barcelona is a large city – and its attractions are spread out. Depending on the pass, you can use public transport or hop-on hop-off buses to reach them comfortably.
Sightseeing Passes in Comparison
To help you decide, we’ve compared the 4 most important city passes and the Hola BCN transport ticket:
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|
Hola BCN
Public transport day ticket |
Barcelona Card
|
Barcelona
Digital Pass |
Go City
All inclusive Pass |
Go City
Explorer Pass | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Validity |
Time-based
24, 48, 72, 96 or 120 hours |
Time-based
72, 96 or 120 hours |
Attraction-based
Choose 3 of 5 |
Time-based
2-5 calendar days |
Attraction-based
Choose 2–7 of 45+ attractions |
| Price 2025 |
€18.10–€42.10
Free for children under 4 |
Adults:
€57 (72h) €67 (96h) €79 (120h) Children: from €35 |
Adults:
from €97 Children: from €36 |
Adults:
€169 (2 days) €219 (3 days) €244 (4 days) €299 (5 days) Children: from €104 |
Adults:
€84–€189 Children: from €44 |
| Transport |
Public Transport
free |
Public Transport
free |
24h hop-on hop-off
or Casa Milà or Casa Batllò |
24h hop-on hop-off
|
24h hop-on hop-off
|
| Sights |
None – transport only
|
28 free, mainly museums
|
3 of 5
–10% on more attractions |
45+ sights
free |
Choose from 45+ sights
Valid for 30 days |
| Park Güell |
only with optional Gaudí Bundle
|
With guided tour (EN)
|
With guided tour (EN)
| ||
| Sagrada Familia |
only with optional Gaudí Bundle
|
With guided tour (EN)
|
With guided tour (EN)
| ||
| Aquarium Barcelona |
– 20%
|
– 10%
| |||
Casa Milà (La Pedrera) |
– 1 €
|
or
24h hop-on hop-off bus | |||
| Best for |
For those needing simple, flexible public transport with no sightseeing included. Attractions can be booked separately.
|
Art & museum lovers
|
Visitors focused on top highlights like Sagrada Família & Park Güell, plus time to relax
|
All of Barcelona’s popular attractions are included in the Barcelona Pass. Some even include guided tours.
If you want to visit the most important sights, this pass will save you money. |
Great for flexible travelers who want to pick from top attractions. The more attractions you book, the cheaper the price per attraction.
|
Tickets for Sagrada Família and Park Güell
Book Early – or Miss Out
Sagrada Família and Park Güell are Barcelona’s most visited attractions – and ticket demand is high. Tickets are sold exclusively online. You can no longer buy tickets on-site, as there are no physical ticket counters.
Even with a City Pass that includes entry to these sights, you must reserve a time slot in advance. Book your pass early to ensure availability.
Our Tip: Book Early – Especially in High Season
- Visitor numbers are limited daily. During peak travel season, tickets often sell out weeks in advance.
- Even with a City Pass, time-slot reservations are required.
- Last-minute bookings are usually not possible. For many dates, only a few time slots remain.
- Based on experience, we recommend booking your tickets as early as possible – ideally before your trip – to secure your preferred date.
- If regular admission is sold out, you may still get in through a guided tour or combo ticket. Again: booking early gives you an advantage.
Top attraction: Sagrada Família – Even holders of sightseeing passes must reserve a time slot for their visit. These are often booked up days in advance, and not just during the high season. (Image: ©travelguide.barcelona).
Book your visit online
On these pages, you can compare different ticket options for the Sagrada Família and Park Güell and reserve a time slot for your visit:
Some top sights like the Sagrada Família and Park Güell no longer offer on-site ticket sales – only online tickets are accepted.
Time-Based vs. Attraction-Based City Passes
Time-Based Sightseeing Passes – for consecutive sightseeing days
These passes are valid for a certain number of consecutive calendar days or hours (e.g. 2, 3, 4, or 5 days / 72, 96, or 120 hours) from first use.
If you plan to explore Barcelona on consecutive days, a time-based pass offers the most value.
Advantages:
- Maximum savings with intensive use
- Validity starts with first use and runs continuously (e.g. 72 hours)
- Ideal for active travelers who want to see and do a lot
Disadvantages:
- If you plan days off in between for rest or the beach, the pass may become uneconomical
Attraction-Based Sightseeing Passes – for flexible planning and rest days
With these passes, you select a number of attractions in advance or gain access to a broad selection without the pressure of a fixed schedule.
If you’re planning to relax between visits, an attraction-based pass is a great option.
Advantages:
- Highly flexible use – perfect for relaxed sightseeing
- Long validity (e.g. 60 days or 12 months)
- Ideal for travelers exploring Barcelona at their own pace
Disadvantages:
- Usually no public transport included – but you can easily add a transport day ticket like the “Hola Barcelona Card” online
Frequently asked questions – FAQ 2025
Which city pass is best for Barcelona?
There is no one best pass, only the one that is right for your trip. If you want to see many sights in a short time, you will benefit from day-based passes. If you want to remain flexible, you should choose an attraction-based pass.
For more information and our tips, see our Sightseeing Pass Test – Online Travel Guide.
Is a Barcelona City Pass really worth it?
Yes and no. You can save more than £100 if you want to visit several paid attractions and buy the right pass.
For more information and our tips, see our Sightseeing Pass Test – Online Travel Guide.
Which attractions are included in the Barcelona City Passes?
Almost all passes cover highlights such as the Sagrada Família, Park Güell, the Picasso Museum and hop-on hop-off buses. The exact selection varies depending on the provider.
For more information and our tips, see our Sightseeing Pass Test – Online Travel Guide.
Is there a Barcelona Pass with local transport?
Yes, the Barcelona Card includes unlimited travel on the metro, bus and tram. Other passes offer hop-on hop-off buses, but these do not provide access to regular public transport.
For more information and our tips, see our Sightseeing Pass Test – Online Travel Guide.
Can I skip the queues in Barcelona with the City Pass?
Yes, many passes include fast-track access or skip-the-line tickets. This saves valuable time, especially in high season.
For more information and our tips, see our Sightseeing Pass Test – Online Travel Guide.
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