Barcelona City Pass Comparison: Which Pass Is Actually Worth It?

How do the Barcelona City Passes work?

Few cities offer as many different city passes as Barcelona. In this article, we’ve taken a close look at all the passes and will tell you which Barcelona city pass is the best fit for you.

A city pass is an admission ticket for various attractions and museums in Barcelona. Many passes also include hop-on/hop-off bus tours, public transportation, and guided tours in Barcelona.

The more a pass has to offer, the more expensive it generally is. But even the more affordable passes that cover only a few attractions can be worth it — as long as those are exactly the places you want to see. The included benefits vary quite significantly from pass to pass.

Barcelona city passes fall into two broad categories: time-based and attraction-based passes.

#1 Time-Based Passes

These passes are valid for a specific period of time, during which you can use some or all of the included offerings depending on the pass. The more attractions you visit, the more worthwhile the pass becomes.

#2 Attraction-Based Passes

Attraction-based passes are valid for a set number of attractions that you can visit over a certain period of time. You decide for yourself how many attractions you book.

Which Barcelona City Pass is right for you?

Which pass is worth it depends entirely on how you want to plan your trip. Here’s a quick overview of which Barcelona pass suits which type of traveler. We’ll explain each of these four passes in detail below.

• For first-time visitors: Barcelona Turbopass — covers all the highlights you’ll typically want to see on a first trip to Barcelona.
• For turbo sightseeing: Barcelona All-Inclusive Pass — lets you go from one attraction to the next from morning to night.
• For the laid-back traveler: Barcelona Explorer Pass — worth it even if you only visit a few must-sees and let our Barcelona insider tips guide you through the rest.
• For the undecided: Barcelona Pass — bundles five great attractions, ideal if you’re not sure yet what you want to do.

These four passes cover a great mix of Barcelona’s top sights and work well for most visitors. That said, there are also specialty passes worth considering if you’re only interested in specific things — like museums or history. We’ve rounded those up in the “Specialty Passes” section below.

For a quick overview, we’ve summarized the four classic Barcelona city passes with the most important info in a table.

What each pass includes is the most important factor when choosing. In Barcelona, pay particular attention to this — the passes differ quite significantly in terms of which attractions are covered.

This table shows you which highlights are included in which pass.

Barcelona Turbopass: For First-Time Visitors

The Barcelona Turbopass offers a great mix of attractions and, most importantly, covers the absolute highlights. It’s everything you’ll want to do on your first city trip to Barcelona.

What does the Barcelona Turbopass include?

• Time-based pass
• Valid for 2, 3, 4, or 5 days
• Over 30 attractions
• Public transportation including the Montjuïc Cable Car
• Hop-on/hop-off bus for one day
• Sagrada Família and Park Güell
• Guided tours and day trips from Barcelona
• Additional discounts

How much does the Barcelona Turbopass cost?

When booking the Turbopass, you can upgrade your Sagrada Família visit with an audio guide and tower access.

You’ll also lock in the exact date and time for your Sagrada Família visit during the booking process. Double-check that you enter the right details — you won’t be able to change them later.

Pros and cons of the Barcelona Turbopass

• Lots of attractions included
• Delivery by mail or email in advance
• Only really worth it from 3 days in Barcelona onward

Verdict: The Turbopass offers serious variety. Beyond the Sagrada Família, it covers many more of Barcelona’s top sights and museums.

For just two days, you’ll need to follow a pretty packed schedule to get your money’s worth. From three days on, it pays for itself quickly — especially if you make use of the hop-on/hop-off bus.

Being able to schedule your Sagrada Família visit right at the time of booking is a real convenience — no extra emails, no phone calls.

If you want to pack a lot into your time in Barcelona, the Turbopass is a great choice.

And if the savings on sightseeing leave a little room in your budget, one of the beautiful boutique hotels in Barcelona might be worth considering for your stay.

Savings tip: Use our code 22PLACES5 to save 5% on your purchase — don’t be surprised if the discount only appears at the very end of checkout.

To the Barcelona Turbopass

Barcelona All-Inclusive Pass: For Turbo Sightseeing

Want to wake up early and pack in as much sightseeing as possible until late at night? With the Barcelona All-Inclusive Pass, you can visit as many attractions as you like free of charge during the valid period.

What does the Barcelona All-Inclusive Pass include?

• Time-based pass
• Valid for 2, 3, 4, or 5 days
• Over 30 attractions
• Hop-on/hop-off bus for one day
• Guided tours and day trips from Barcelona
• Additional discounts

How much does the Barcelona All-Inclusive Pass cost?

You can download the pass straight to your phone and save it in the Go City App — no shipping costs, no need to pick anything up in Barcelona.

Pros and cons of the Barcelona All-Inclusive Pass

• Great for architecture fans
• Can be downloaded and printed
• Guided tour of the Sagrada Família included
• Full price applies from age 13 onward

Verdict: For two days of super-powered sightseeing, the Barcelona All-Inclusive Pass offers the best value for money.

With this pass, you have total freedom — visit as many attractions as you like, in whatever order you want.

Our tip: The Barcelona All-Inclusive Pass is perfect for architecture fans who don’t have a fixed plan for their trip. Just let yourself drift from one Gaudí building to the next.

Savings tip: Use our code GO22PLACESCITY05 to save 5% on your purchase — don’t be surprised if the discount only appears at the very end of checkout.

To the Barcelona All-Inclusive Pass
See our detailed article about the Barcelona All-Inclusive Pass:

Barcelona Explorer Pass: For the Laid-Back Traveler

Go City also offers the Barcelona Explorer Pass. We’d recommend it if you don’t want to feel rushed while sightseeing and mostly want to wander the city at your own pace. It’s also a great fit for longer stays in Barcelona. Still looking for a place to stay? Check out our hotel recommendations for Barcelona.

What does the Barcelona Explorer Pass include?

• Attraction-based pass
• For 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 attractions
• Choose from over 30 attractions
• Hop-on/hop-off bus for one day
• 60 days to use the pass
• Guided tours and day trips from Barcelona
• Additional discounts

How much does the Barcelona Explorer Pass cost?

You can save the Barcelona Explorer Pass in the Go City App too — no shipping costs, no pickup required in Barcelona.

Pros and cons of the Barcelona Explorer Pass:

• Great if you want to take your time sightseeing
• Can be downloaded and printed
• Guided tour of the Sagrada Família included
• Full price applies from age 13 onward

Verdict: This pass is the best pick if you want to take your time and visit a select few attractions of your choice.

The Go City passes are also the only ones that include many of the famous Gaudí buildings — a real plus for architecture lovers.

Savings tip: Use our code GO22PLACESCITY05 to save 5% on your purchase — don’t be surprised if the discount only appears at the very end of checkout.

To the Barcelona Explorer Pass

Barcelona Pass: For the Undecided

The Barcelona Pass (also known as the Barcelona Digital Pass) includes only five attractions. But together they make for a solid itinerary — especially if you’re not yet sure what you want to do in Barcelona and are happy to let the pass decide for you.

What does the Barcelona Pass include?

• Attraction-based pass
• Unlimited validity
• 5 attractions, including Park Güell and Sagrada Família
• Mobile use on your smartphone
• Hop-on/hop-off bus for 1 day
• Additional discounts

How much does the Barcelona Pass cost?

Once you’ve purchased your Barcelona Pass online, you’ll get an email where you’ll need to select your time slot for the Sagrada Família and Park Güell. Pick carefully — you won’t be able to change the time slot later.

Pros and cons of the Barcelona Pass:

• No pickup needed — use it directly on your smartphone
• No time limit
• No public transportation included, but a 10% discount on tickets is available

Verdict: The Barcelona Pass is the right choice if you want to explore the Sagrada Família and Park Güell thoroughly and plan to use the hop-on/hop-off bus.

There’s no rush with the included attractions. In theory, you could visit the Sagrada Família tomorrow and use the hop-on/hop-off bus two years from now.

Heads up: If you don’t plan to use the hop-on/hop-off bus, the Barcelona Pass isn’t worth it. Don’t buy it just for the Sagrada Família alone — the Turbopass is a better option in that case.

To the Barcelona Pass

The Specialty Passes in Barcelona

Beyond the four classic city passes, Barcelona has a handful of smaller but genuinely interesting specialty passes worth knowing about.

#1 For Museum Lovers: Barcelona Card

• Free admission to over 25 museums
• Public transportation included
• Valid for 3, 4, or 5 days
• from 53 euros

To the Barcelona Card

#2 Mini City Pass: Barcelona Card Express

• Discounts between 50 cents and 1 euro at 100 attractions
• Public transportation included
• Valid for two days
• from 25 euros

To the Barcelona Card Express

#3 History and Archaeology: Arqueo Ticket

• Free admission to four top history museums
• Valid for one year
• from 14.50 euros

To the Arqueo Ticket

#4 Art and Culture: Barcelona Articket

• Free admission to six art and culture museums, including the Picasso Museum
• Valid for one year
• from 38 euros

To the Barcelona Articket

#5 For Night Owls and Clubbers: Barcelona Night Card

• Free entry to over 20 clubs
• Skip the line
• Valid for two or seven days
• from 10 euros

To the Barcelona Night Card

Barcelona without a Pass: Who doesn’t need a city pass?

If you only plan to visit one or two attractions and otherwise just want to soak up the Barcelona lifestyle in cafés and over a glass of wine, a pass obviously doesn’t make sense.

Also check the individual prices of your favorites before buying a pass. If you’re mainly visiting attractions with entry fees around 5 euros, individual tickets will work out cheaper.

Even if you only have just one day in Barcelona, a city pass usually isn’t worth it either.

Since Barcelona is one of the absolute top destinations for city breaks, you should book tickets for Barcelona’s most popular attractions online in advance — even without a pass. This is especially true from April through November, when cruise ship passengers also flood the city every day.

For these Barcelona attractions, we strongly recommend buying tickets online before your trip:

Frequently Asked Questions about Barcelona City Passes

Still have questions? No problem — we’ve got answers!

Note: Our Barcelona pass comparison is updated regularly. Even so, things can change unexpectedly. It’s best to double-check the terms and included attractions before making your final decision to purchase one of the passes. Thanks!