How Do I Get From the Airport to the City?
Pretty much the first question everyone asks
The good news: it’s easy to get from El Prat airport to the city. In many ways, it’s easier than in most big European cities, although there are some twists.
My favorite option is the Aerobus, especially if I’m traveling by myself. You can catch the big modern bus in front of the terminal (either terminal), and it runs every 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the time of day.
There are typically only two stops, including Placa Espanya, before the trip ends at Placa Catalunya, the center of city life. The trip is usually about 30 minutes, and the seats are typical long-distance-bus comfortable and there is free wi-fi.
You can buy a ticket from a self-service machine or from the bus driver (and credit cards are Ok). A one-way ticket (billete sencillo) is €7.45 (as of this writing), and a roundtrip (billete_return) is €12.85. You can also buy tickets at the Aerobus site.
All in all, the Aerobús is a low-stress, low-cost way to get in from the city. It operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, rain or shine. And once you reach Placa Catalunya, it’s easy to catch a taxi or metro for the final leg.
That said, often after a long flight the last thing I want to do is catch a bus. I want to get from the airport to my residence in the shortest time possible, especially if I have luggage. Typically, when I arrive, I grab a taxi into the city and then use the Aerobus to get to the airport when I leave.
Airport taxis are an easy and relatively affordable option, at least compared to airport taxis in many other major cities. The taxis are clean and modern, and the drivers are professionals. You can use credit cards; no need to grab currency at the airport.
The drive into the city is typically €35 to €45. There is often a line at the taxi stand, but it goes quickly.
The next question everyone asks: Is there Uber? Yes, as far as I know, but I don’t know anyone who uses it. Everyone likes the taxis. (And the taxi services have fought to keep Uber out of the city… Around the city, the Freenow app is a popular way to connect with a ride.)
You can also use the Metro to get into the city. But the metro stop is a relatively late addition to El Prat and it can be a long hike to the station (from both terminals). Coming or going to the airport, you need a special airport metro ticket for L9 (billete aeropuerto) for €5.90.
From the L9, you will almost certainly have to buy another ticket and transfer to another line to get to your destination. (The popular T-10 metro pass doesn’t include the airport; however the Hola Pass does include the airport segment.)
Like many people, I welcomed the opening of the metro connection to the airport in 2016, but I rarely use it.
Find Barcelona Airport metro info here.