Also known as Barcelona El Prat, the city’s international airport is one of Europe’s busiest passenger terminals, and is situated just 17km outside of the centre. The following options are available for reaching Plaza de Catalunya with as little stress as possible:

Bus

The most popular way of travelling to the city is by bus, with the Aerobus departing from any of the airport terminals. Tickets can be bought online in advance from http://www.aerobusbcn.com/ or at the vending machines within the station. Line A1 from terminal 1 runs every 5 to 10 minutes between 06.00 and 01.00.

• Total travel time from Barcelona International to Plaza de Catalunya is approximately 35 minutes.
• Tickets cost 5.90 Euros for a single adult fare.

Taxi              

Taking a taxi is both convenient, particularly for visitors travelling as a family or with plenty of luggage, and relatively low cost, with hundreds of taxis stationed at the exits of all three terminals.

• Total travel time from Barcelona International to Plaza de Catalunya is approximately 30 minutes.
• Prices range between 20 and 30 Euros depending on the time of travel and levels of congestion.

Girona Costa Brava Airport is the second most important terminal in the Barcelona area and is located just 90km from the city centre. The following options are available for reaching Plaza de Catalunya with as little stress as possible:

Bus

The easiest public transport method for accessing the city is through the use of the Barcelona Bus, which provides a great service from the company, Sagales. Departing regularly in sync with flight arrivals, the bus delivers you into Estacio del Nord after 1 hour and 15 minutes. For more information, please visit http://www.sagales.com/en. From here, you have to walk to the Arc de Triomf metro station and hop aboard the R4 line towards Sant Vincenc De Calders, exiting at Plaza de Catalunya.

• Total travel time from Girona Airport to Plaza de Catalunya is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• Tickets cost 16 Euros for the Barcelona Bus and 2.15 Euros for a single metro ride.

Taxi

Taxis are available at the airport’s exit for transferring you to Barcelona in utmost comfort.

• Total travel time from Girona Airport to Plaza de Catalunya is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• Taxi fares will be at least 100 Euros.

Reus Airport – Plaza de Catalunya transportation options

Another option for travelling into Barcelona is through Reus Airport, which is situated 105km south west of the city. The following options are available for reaching Plaza de Catalunya with as little stress as possible:

Bus
A superb bus service from the company Hispano Igualadina allows you to access Barcelona Sants Station from the airport, which takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes. More information can be found at igualadina.com. From Sants Station, hop aboard the metro and choose from lines R1, R3 and R4, which will deliver you into Plaza de Catalunya in just 5 minutes.

• Total travel time from Reus Airport to Plaza de Catalunya is approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes.
• Tickets cost 14 Euros for the bus and an extra 2.15 for a single metro trip.

Taxi
Visitors travelling with a family or lots of luggage have the option of taking a taxi, with an abundance of cars waiting outside the terminal to whisk you away in comfort.

• Total travel time from Reus Airport to Plaza de Catalunya is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• Taxi fares will be at least 100 Euros.

Traversing the city by bus offers a much more scenic alternative to the metro and a chance to explore areas outside of the underground system. Boasting more than 200 lines, the buses depart regularly between 6.00 and 22.30, except on Sundays when services are less frequent. Night buses (NitBus) allow easy access back to your apartment after partying until the early hours, which generally run between 22.00 and 05.00.

Tickets can be bought at any metro or FGC station and used across the integrated public transport system. Tickets can also be purchased on the bus itself although only one way tickets are available. For more information regarding fares and schedules, please visit http://www.fgc.es/eng/planol.asp.

Comprising of 150 stations and 11 lines, Barcelona’s dense metro system enables swift and simple admission to all four corners of Catalonia’s capital. Trains run with a high frequency and operate between 05.00 and 00.00 Sunday to Thursday, which extends to 02.00 on Fridays. Trains are available for 24 hours on a Saturday.

Tickets can be purchased at any metro or FGC station from the vending machines or pay booths, and can be used across the entire public transport system; for example, they are valid on buses, trams and the funicular. A single journey costs 2.15 Euros. Visitors intending on using the metro system more frequently should consider buying an integrated ticket, such as the T10, which costs 10.30 Euros and is valid for 10 trips. For more information regarding the system and available services, please visit http://www.tmb.cat/en/home.

Discovering the city on two wheels is an excellent option for travellers seeking an exhilarating and environmentally friendly alternative to public transport. Barcelona features a great series of cycle lanes and enjoys a bike sharing system similar to Paris’s Velib, although as yet it is only available to residents. However, plenty of hire shops are scattered throughout the metropolis, which provide both guided tours and rentals. Recommended companies include http://www.greenbikesbarcelona.com and http://www.bornbikebarcelona.com.

Renting a scooter for your stay in Barcelona is only advised for experienced riders who are confident driving across busy cities. Visitors wishing to explore by this mode of transport should consider booking a guided tour, with the following companies valued for their excellent rates and services: http://www.via-vespa.com, http://www.bestrentscooterbarcelona.com and https://www.cooltra.com/en/scooter_tours_events/rent-scooter-moto-barcelona.

Perhaps the most fun way of traversing Barcelona is by Segway, a green and exhilarating alternative to trains, buses and scooters. Several tour companies supply memorable experiences for you and your companions, offering fun filled tours lasting between 2 and 3 hours.

Barcelona Segway Operators:

• http://www.barcelonasegwaytour.com/en/
• http://www.barcelonasegwayglides.com