Barcelona city bus
network, ticket prices, practical tips for passengers
The city buses of the TMB, with currently 103 regular lines and 5 express bus lines, form the backbone of local transport in Barcelona.
You can reach almost every corner of the city with the red and white buses.
With the red and white city buses, you can reach almost any corner in Barcelona (picture: Andrew Nash, CC 2.0 license)
Accessibility for wheelchairs
Good news, since 2007 the entire TMB bus fleet in Barcelona is ready for the transport of people with mobility restrictions or wheelchair users. The door, where wheelchair users or large children’s strollers find the extendable ramp is clearly marked.
If necessary, catch the driver’s attention with a hand signal, that he will activate the ramp.
Practical tips for passengers of the Barcelona TMB bus
Several lines serve this bus stop (picture: Schroeder, CC 2.0 licence)
- Most stops serve more than one bus. A sign at the stop indicates which lines stop here. Buses display their route number on the front.
When you see your bus approaching, signal to the driver that you request a stop. Otherwise he perhaps drives past without a halt at the bus stop. - Boarding: Use the front door, or one of the two front doors in a 4-door bus.
- To leave the bus, use the back door. That’s clearly faster and avoids a crash.
- On board: Do not forget to validate your ticket. There are several validation devices in the bus. Without validating your ticket you become a fare dodger.
Actual route plan / map
→ Route plan / map of the TMB city buses for download (as of 2022, *.pdf, 4 MByte)
Ticket for the bus in Barcelona – overview, current prices (2022)
The entire fare system of the Barcelona public transport is city-wide organized by the “Autoritat del Transport Metropolità”.
Whether single ticket, 10 journey ticket (T-Casual) or travel card “Hola BCN”, here you will find informations and current prices. So you can find easily the right ticket for your stay in Barcelona.
Knowing in advance, which ticket fits best to your needs, saves a lot of holiday time and money.
Our tip in brief:
– if you don’t like to read details about the fare systems and the Barcelona public transport network –
For most visitors of the city the “Hola BCN” day ticket is the best choice.
With this card, you can use unlimited the metro, bus, tram and suburban trains (Rodalies, Zone 1) during the entire validity period (2, 3, 4 or 5 days).
The metro ride to and from the airport is also included. You don’t have to buy the “metro airport ticket” (10.30 euros – round trip).The “Hola BCN!” card is, compared to other big European cities, very cheap. The actual price (2022) is, depending on the chosen validity period, between 7.60 and 8.10 euro per day.
Save time and stress, by buying the „Hola BCN“ travel card online before departure – without any extra charge –
⮕ Here you can buy the „Hola BCN“ card online
– without any extra charge –
Your benefits of online purchasing:
– You will not waste your holiday time in queues in front of the ticket vending machines.
– After a long flight, you don’t have to deal with fare systems and ticket vending machines. You have already the right ticket to take the metro from the airport to downtown Barcelona and back.
Nitbus – Night buses in Barcelona
The marking “N5” on the sign of the bus stop shows that line 5 of the Nitbus stops here (Image: E. Fischer, CC 2.0 License)
The night buses in Barcelona are called “Nitbus”. The current 18 lines are numbered from N0 to N17.
The night buses are operated by the two private companies “Mohn” and “Tugsal”. Therefore, the HolaBCN ticket is not valid on these buses. The operating hours of the Nitbuses are between 10.20 pm and 6.00 am. There are approximately 3 buses per hour on a line.
All Nitbus lines, except the N0, stop at the central square “Plaza de Cataluña”.
→ Route plan / map of the “Nitbus” night buses for download (as of 2021, *.pdf, 4 MByte)
Corona Virus / Covid 19: What are the rules on TMB buses in Barcelona?
Spain and Catalonia have been hit hard by the Covid 19 pandemic.Therefore, these are some of the rules that apply on the Barcelona Metro and buses:
- Masks are compulsory on Barcelona public transport. The mask must always cover the mouth and nose and must not be removed for talking or eating/drinking.
- Use of public transport is prohibited under all circumstances if you have been diagnosed with coronavirus or if you have symptoms of Covid 19 disease.
- Avoid talking on public transport.
- Use transport outside peak hours if possible.
- Leave enough space between you and other passengers when validating tickets and at access controls.
- Spread out as much as possible on metro trains and buses.
Rules and the danger situation in Barcelona can change quickly.
Always follow information from official sources, e.g. the current country-specific travel advice from your authorities.
The decision to start a journey and the behaviour on site is your sole responsibility. We cannot accept any liability or guarantee for possible damage.
Do not use information from this website as a basis for health-related decisions. Always consult a doctor if you have any health questions.
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!