In a nutshell
- Flying into Barcelona? You’ll most likely land at El Prat de Llobregat Airport — right on the city’s doorstep — or at Girona Airport, about 90 km north.
- There are several ways to get from both airports into the city, from budget public buses to private door-to-door transfers — we break down every option with prices and honest advice.
- Our top picks: the Aerobus from El Prat and the Sagalés shuttle from Girona — comfortable, hassle-free, and seriously good value.
What Airports Are There in Barcelona?
There are two major airports in and around Barcelona:
- El Prat de Llobregat Airport (BCN)
- Girona Airport (GRO)
El Prat is located right in Barcelona, just 15 kilometers from the city center. By shuttle bus, you’ll reach downtown in about 35 minutes. From there, it’s easy to get to your accommodation — check out our guide to the best neighborhoods to stay in Barcelona.
The airport has the largest selection of international flights to and from Barcelona.
Girona Airport is located approximately 90 kilometers north of Barcelona. From there, it takes about 75 minutes by shuttle bus to reach the city. Girona is served by several budget airlines including Ryanair.
Extra tip: If you ever experience a flight delay, check out our article on flight delay compensation for tips on how to get your money back.
Barcelona's Airports on the Map
We’ve marked both airports on our map so you can see exactly where they’re located — that way you can plan your journey better and won’t lose any time during your weekend in Barcelona.
You can see right away that El Prat Airport is much closer to Barcelona’s city center.
Transfer from El Prat Airport to the City
Here’s a quick overview of all the options for getting from El Prat Airport to the center of Barcelona:
| Price | Duration | |
|---|---|---|
| Aerobus Our Recommendation | 9.20 € | 35 min. |
| Bus | 2.55 € | 45 min. |
| Metro | 5.15 € | 45 min. |
| Train | 4.60 € | 20–30 min. |
| Taxi | 30 € | 30 min. |
| Private Transfer | from 63 € | 30 min. |
Aerobus from El Prat Airport to the City
- Lines: A1 from Terminal 1 and A2 from Terminal 2
- Travel time: 35 minutes
- Operating hours: every day, around the clock
- Frequency: every 5–20 minutes
Where does the bus stop? It serves four stops in Barcelona’s city center: Plaça Espanya – Gran Via-Borrell – Plaça Universitat – Plaça Catalunya.
Note: On the return trip from the city center to the airport, the stops are different. You can board at: Plaça Catalunya, Sepulveda-Urgell, or Plaça Espanya.
Where does the bus depart from? The stop at Terminal 1 is on level 0, right in front of the terminal building. At Terminal 2, you can board at two stops in front of the building: T2B and T2C. All stops are very well signposted.
How much does the Aerobus cost? A one-way trip costs €9.20, and a combined round-trip ticket costs €15. The return journey must be used within 15 days of the outbound trip.
Where do you buy the ticket? At the machine at the stop (cash or credit card), from the bus driver (cash, exact change only), or in advance online on the official Aerobus website or via GetYourGuide.
Book the Aerobus shuttle online
Advantages:
- luggage compartment for suitcases
- comfortable and hassle-free airport transfer
- direct ride to the city center with no transfers
- runs year-round, around the clock
- tickets can be purchased online in advance
Disadvantages:
- not part of the public transit system, so not included in the Hola BCN Card
Public Bus from El Prat Airport to the City
- Lines: 46, or night bus N17 or N18
- Travel time: 45 minutes
- Operating hours: Line 46 from 4:50 AM – 11:50 PM. Night bus N17 from 9:55 PM – 4:45 AM. Night bus N18 from 10:20 PM – 5:10 AM.
- Frequency: every 15–20 minutes
Where does the bus stop? The stop where you get off in the city center with line 46 is Plaça Espanya. The night buses stop at Plaça de Catalunya.
Where does the bus depart from? Lines 46 and N18 have stops at both terminals. N17 only departs from Terminal 1.
How much does the bus cost? A one-way trip costs €2.55. If you plan to use Barcelona’s public transit more frequently, we’d recommend the 10-trip T-Casual card for €12.65 or the Hola BCN Card — both get you to all the major attractions in Barcelona at a great price.
Where do you buy the ticket? Best to buy directly at the airport at the machines or ticket offices (cash or credit card). From the bus driver, you can only buy a single ticket, not the T-Casual.
Advantages:
- cheapest option
- runs around the clock
- part of the public transit system and therefore included in the Hola BCN Card
Disadvantages:
- longer travel time
- doesn’t run quite as frequently as the Aerobus
- no luggage storage space
Metro from El Prat Airport to the City
- Line: L9 Sud toward Zona Universitària
- Travel time: 45–50 minutes with a transfer
- Operating hours: Mon–Thu and Sun 5 AM–midnight, Fri until 2 AM, Sat continuous
- Frequency: approximately every 7 minutes
Where does the Metro stop? At 15 stations. To reach Barcelona’s city center, you’ll need to transfer. You can do so at the following stations:
- Europa Fira: transfer to L8 toward Plaça Espanya
- Torrassa: transfer to L1 toward Fondo to Plaça Espanya or Catalunya
- Collblanc: transfer to L5 toward Vall d’Hebron to Diagonal
Where does the Metro depart from? The Aeroport T1 stop at Terminal 1 is on level 0. The Aeroport T2 stop at Terminal 2 is in front of the terminal building. Everything is well signposted and easy to find.
How much does the Metro cost? You can’t use the standard single ticket for the Metro — you need a special airport ticket. A single ride costs €5.15.
Where do you buy the ticket? At the machines in the Metro stations. You can pay with cash or credit card.
Advantages:
- affordable
- not affected by traffic
- included in the Hola BCN Card
Disadvantages:
- transfer required to reach the city center
- doesn’t run around the clock every day
Train from El Prat Airport to the City
- Line: R2 Nord (R2N)
- Travel time: 20–30 minutes depending on the station
- Operating hours: 5:42 AM – 11:38 PM
- Frequency: every 30 minutes
Where does the train stop? The R2N stops in the city center at Barcelona – Sants, Passeig de Gràcia, and El Clot-Aragó stations.
Where does the train depart from? El Prat Airport has its own train station (Aeroport), which you can reach from Terminal 2 in just a few minutes on foot via a covered pedestrian bridge. If you arrive at Terminal 1, take the free shuttle bus to T2 and then walk to the station.
How much does the train cost? A single ticket in fare zone 4 of the Rodalies de Catalunya costs €4.60. You can also use the T-Casual card.
Where do you buy the ticket? Tickets are available at the ticket counter and at machines.
Advantages:
- fastest option
- direct ride to the city center with no transfers
- included in the Hola BCN Card
Disadvantages:
- doesn’t run all night
- doesn’t depart directly from Terminal 1
- infrequent service
Taxi from El Prat Airport to the City
- Travel time: about 30 minutes
- Operating hours: around the clock
Where does the taxi depart from? At the taxi stands in front of both terminals.
How much does the taxi cost? A 20–30-minute ride from the airport to the city center costs around €30. The minimum fare is €20. An additional night surcharge applies between 8 PM and 8 AM.
Advantages:
- simple and convenient
- takes you directly to your hotel in Barcelona
Disadvantages:
- expensive unless you’re traveling as a group
- no fixed price
- minimum fare of €20 even for a short ride
- subject to traffic conditions
Private Transfer from El Prat Airport to the City
- Travel time: about 30 minutes
- Operating hours: around the clock
Where does the private transfer depart from? The driver will be waiting for you at the terminal exit with a sign bearing your name.
How much does the private transfer cost? Through GetYourGuide, you’ll pay €80 for up to four people traveling together. Solo, the airport transfer is significantly pricier at €63.
Book a private transfer from El Prat via GetYourGuide
Advantages:
- bookable online in advance
- fixed price
- simple and convenient
- takes you directly to your hotel
- no need to search for the departure point
Disadvantages:
- the most expensive option
- subject to traffic conditions
Transfer from Girona Airport to the City Center
To get from Girona Airport to the center of Barcelona, there are three sensible options: the shuttle bus run by private bus company Sagalés, a taxi, and a private transfer.
| Price | Duration | |
|---|---|---|
| Sagalés Shuttle Bus Our Recommendation | 19.50 € | 75 min. |
| Taxi | 180 € | 70 min. |
| Private Transfer | 198 € | 70 min. |
Sagalés Shuttle Bus from Girona to Barcelona
- Line: 604
- Travel time: 75 minutes
- Frequency: scheduled around flight times
Where does the bus stop? The bus goes directly to Estació del Nord bus station in the city center — about a five-minute walk from the Arc de Triomf, where several Metro lines also stop.
Where does the bus depart from? When you walk out of the terminal, head about 50 meters to the right and you’ll come straight to the bus stops. There are signs everywhere, so you’ll have no trouble finding your way.
How much does the bus cost? A one-way trip costs €19.50. A combined round-trip ticket costs €30.
Where do you buy the ticket? At the ticket machine or the ticket counter right at the stop. You can also buy your ticket online in advance through the official Sagalés website or through GetYourGuide — though note that GetYourGuide only sells one-way tickets.
Book the Girona Airport bus transfer to Barcelona city center
Advantages:
- cheapest option
- luggage compartment for suitcases
- comfortable and hassle-free
- no transfers or intermediate stops
- schedule aligned with flight times
Disadvantages:
- not part of the public transit system, so not included in the Hola BCN Card
Taxi from Girona Airport to Barcelona
- Travel time: about 70 minutes
- Operating hours: around the clock
Where does the taxi depart from? At the taxi stand right in front of the terminal.
How much does the taxi cost? You’ll pay around €180 for a taxi from Girona Airport to Barcelona. There’s a €5 surcharge at night, on weekends, and on public holidays.
Advantages:
- simple and convenient
- takes you directly to your hotel
Disadvantages:
- expensive — only makes financial sense as a group
- takes almost as long as the bus
- subject to traffic conditions
Private Transfer from Girona Airport to Barcelona
- Travel time: about 70 minutes
- Operating hours: around the clock
Where does the private transfer depart from? The driver will be waiting for you at the terminal exit with a sign bearing your name.
How much does the private transfer cost? One provider worth checking out is TouristTransfers — we haven’t used them personally, but their website looks professional and well put together. For a car with up to four people, you’ll pay around €200, so this only makes financial sense if you’re traveling as a group.
Advantages:
- bookable online in advance
- fixed price
- simple and convenient
- takes you directly to your hotel
- no need to search for the departure point
Disadvantages:
- the most expensive option
- subject to traffic conditions
Barcelona Airport Transfer with the Hola Barcelona Card
For public transit in Barcelona, there’s a handy card for tourists: the Hola Barcelona Card, or Hola BCN Card. With it, you can use Barcelona’s buses, Metro, tram, and trains as often as you like for two to five days.
For each of the airport transfer options above, we’ve noted whether it counts as public transit and is therefore included in the Hola BCN Card.
In our article on public transit in Barcelona, we explain everything in more detail and help you figure out whether the Hola BCN Card is worth it for your trip.
Buy the Hola Barcelona Card online
Frequently Asked Questions About Barcelona Airport Transfer
Which Barcelona airport is closest to the city center?
El Prat Airport is much closer to the city. It’s located in El Prat de Llobregat, just 15 kilometers from Barcelona’s city center.
Girona Airport, by contrast, is about 90 kilometers north of Barcelona.
Which transfer option is best with kids?
If you’re traveling to Barcelona with kids, the most relaxed option is a private transfer — no waiting around, and you’ll be driven directly to your hotel.
That said, the shuttle buses from Aerobus and Sagalés are also a great choice — they run frequently and you don’t have to transfer.
Strollers and travel strollers are generally fine on the buses, but it’s worth checking with the bus company directly for their exact policy.
Is the Barcelona airport transfer wheelchair accessible?
Yes, all options are wheelchair accessible.
If you want to take a taxi or private shuttle, you can request accessible transportation from the provider in advance.
The Aerobus and Sagalés shuttle buses are also accessible for wheelchair users. If you’re not sure, it’s best to check with the respective bus company before you travel.
Can I get from the airport to the city with a Barcelona City Pass?
Yes — public transportation is included in the Turbopass and the Barcelona Card.
With the Barcelona Pass, you get a discount on the Hola BCN Card — the multi-day public transit pass for Barcelona.
Check out our Barcelona pass comparison, where we’ve laid everything out in detail so you can decide which one is worth it for your trip.
