Getting to and from the airport
The cheapest way to go between
Barcelona’s airport and the city center, is by train or bus. They run
so frequently, it’s a pleasure.
By train, you go on line 10,
Renfe Cercanías, which gets to the city in 32 minutes. The trains run
from 6am until midnight. The tickets cost €2,4, and it’s even
cheaper if you buy a ticket book.
Another possibility is to
go on the bus; Aerobus (A1) goes from the airport to Plaza de
Catalunya. From 5.30am until midnight, the buses run in shuttle
service, and according to the timetable, you ought not to wait more
than nine minutes on a weekday or twelve minutes on Saturdays, Sundays
and holidays. The airport stops are located in front of the terminals
A, B and C and you will have to pay €3,75 for the trip.
If
you don’t have the patience for public transportation, like any other
place in the world there are good chances to find a taxi at the
airport. Between 7am and 9pm, the ride to the city costs between €15 and €21, depending on the final address. In the evening hours and at
night, you should add €3 or €4 to that price. Suitcases cost an
additional Euro, and you are advised to ask for a receipt. There are
taxi stops outside the terminals A, B and C.
Getting around in Barcelona
Whereas
the new part of town seems to have been constructed with a ruler – the
old part of town is tortuous and makes a good city map a good
investment to start your trip with.
A good way to get around
Barcelona is to ride Shank’s mare, and it’s convenient if you have the
time to stroll around in the fascinating city and allow yourself to get
lost. Conversely, the metro is the fastest way to get around and it is
well extended. Almost every place can be reached by either metro,
train, tram or bus, and they all use the same ticket system. A single
ride is €1,10 and once your ticket has been stamped, you can use
it for 75 minutes. There is a lot of money to be saved if you buy a
10-trip ticket at €6 or a day pass, T-Dia, at €4,60. If
you’re staying several days in the city, an even better deal is a pass
that’s valid for 2-5 days. Depending on the duration, it costs from
€8,40–21.
There are quiet a lot of taxi stops in
Barcelona. But if you can’t find one, you can just hail a cab in the
street. A green light means that it’s free. Make sure the driver puts
the meter on.
By Katrine Salomon