Public transport in Barcelona:
practical information, tips, network maps, tickets & current pricing (2024)
Barcelona has a dense and well-developed public transport network. On the other hand, parking in the city centre is expensive. Traffic jams are common.
On this page, we would like to give you some information and tips about public transport in Barcelona.
You can also download maps, current fares for 2024 and much more.
The city is far too beautiful to waste time on the local fare system and buying tickets.
Public transport in Barcelona is modern and works well. Ideal for discovering the city (Image: Ricardo Ricote Rodríguez, CC 2.0 license).
Ticket and travel cards – how to find the right ticket for your journey
Knowing which ticket you need in advance can save you time on holiday and stress when you get there. To make things easier at the ticket machines, we’ve put together a few insider tips for buying tickets.
Whether you’re looking for a single ticket, a 10-trip T-Casual or a “Hola BCN!” day pass, you’ll find information and current prices here.
It is a quick and easy way to find the right ticket for your stay in Barcelona.
Choosing the right ticket before your trip will save you time and money in Barcelona.
Our tip: Buy your ticket online in advance
The Hola BCN! day ticket is the best choice for most visitors to the city.
Practical: You can buy Hola BCN! tickets online before you travel, using this English-speaking website.
No need to deal with fare systems after your flight. This saves time and nerves – after all, there are better things to do after the flight and on holiday…
- With this card you can use the metro, bus, tram and suburban train (Rodalies) free of charge for the entire period of validity (2, 3, 4 or 5 days).
- The metro or RENFE train to and from the airport is also included (regular price 11 euros).
The card is very cheap for a European city. It costs between €8.15 and €8.75 per day in 2024, depending on the period of validity.
Barcelona public transport: zones and map
Especially on the suburban trains “Rodalies” and “FGC”, the fare depends on the number of zones crossed.
You must always buy a ticket for the number of zones you wish to travel through. A maximum of 6 zones must be paid for.
Most tourists stay in zone 1
Public transport in the Barcelona region covers almost 300 municipalities. The area is therefore vast, covering more than 100 kilometres. Most of the monuments and the centre of the Barcelona region are located in zone 1.
DOWNLOAD: Barcelona public transport zones map
➤ More information: Barcelona public transport tickets and current prices 2024
Overview & information about public transport in Barcelona
Here is a short overview of the Barcelona public transport system.
Detailed information, plans and tips are available on an extra site in this travelguide.
- Barcelona has an efficient and well-developed public transport system.
- At the heart of the system is the Barcelona Metro, which connects the main parts of the city with an extensive network of lines.
- There is also a dense bus and tram network that covers the entire city.
- Public transport is generally very regular, so waiting times are short.
The metro is a fast way to get around and avoid traffic jams. Since 2016, El Prat airport has been connected to Barcelona’s metro network (Image: © John Carter).
#1 Metro (subway)
The metro is a fast and traffic-free way to get around the city. It currently (2024) carries around half a billion passengers a year on 12 lines with almost 160 stations.
The metro in Barcelona is run by two different companies. Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) and Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB).
By metro to Barcelona-El Prat airport
Barcelona Airport has been connected to the metro network since February 2016. The metro provides a fast and convenient link between the airport and the centre of Barcelona.
➤ More information: By metro from the airport to the city center: travel times, ticket prices, stops….
#2 TMB city buses
The company “Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB)” also operates Barcelona’s city bus network. There are currently more than 100 routes, covering almost every corner of the city.
➤ TMB city buses: more information
The red and white buses are the backbone of Barcelona’s mass transit system (Image: ©tigercub66).
#3 Tram in Barcelona
There is also a tram network. What is special about Barcelona is that there are two independent networks that are not yet connected. The trams are named after their terminus. The “Trambesòs” network is named after Sant Adrià de Besòs and the “Trambaix” network is named after the Comarca Baix Llobregat.
➤ Tram Barcelona: more information
Since 2004 there has been a modern tram in Barcelona again. The remnants of the original tram, the “Tramvia Blau”, now run on a 1.3 km route with historic carriages. (Image: © Escursso)
#4 Suburban railway: Rodalies & Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya “FGC”
The suburban and commuter trains operated by “Rodalies de Catalunya” and FGC provide access to the surrounding area and the wider Barcelona region.
They provide public transport connections to more than 70 towns and cities in the metropolitan area.
The suburban trains “Rodalies” and the light rail “FGC” offer connections to the surrounding area of Barcelona. They serve destinations more than 50 km away from Barcelona (Image: © Raymond Kiès).
How much does a local transport ticket cost in Barcelona 2024?
A one-way ticket for local transport costs €2.55 in 2024.
Interesting for visitors of the city is the day ticket “Hola BCN”. With the “Hola BCN” ticket you can use the metro (including airport transfer), the city buses, the streetcar (Tram), the suburban train (Rodalies, zone 1), the suburban trains (FGC, zone 1) and the funicular / funicular (Funicular de Montjuïc) unlimited over the validity period (2, 3, 4 or 5 days).
For more up-to-date information and tips, please visit our online travel guide.
Local transport Barcelona: useful for tourists?
Barcelona has a dense and well-developed local transport system.
For tourists and visitors to the city, public transport is the number one means of transport. Parking in the city center is expensive and traffic jams are common.
More information about public transport in Barcelona and helpful tips can be found in our online travel guide.