- I live in
Barcelona and find it to be well-serviced by public transport and an international airport. - With an extensive network of trains, Metro, buses, and taxis, Barcelona is easy to navigate.
I live in Barcelona, and like many European cities, consider it to be extremely well-serviced by public transport, with an extensive, interconnected train, Metro, and bus system.
I use the Metro system often; trains are clean and run frequently, and I can get pretty much anywhere I need to go in the city in under 15 minutes.
If you're planning to only stay in Barcelona while visiting the city, there's really no need for a rental car. Barcelona is relatively small and easy to navigate on foot or by public transit, plus parking is difficult and expensive. However, if you plan to see other areas of Catalonia, such as the Costa Brava, you should consider one ss much of the coast and countryside isn't well-connected by train.
Here are the best ways to get to and around Barcelona.
Flying into Barcelona
El Prat Airport
There is one international airport in Barcelona, El Prat (BCN), located about eight miles southwest of the city center. It has two terminals: Terminal 1 is the arrival point for international flights, as well as the Spanish carrier Vueling; Terminal 2 serves mainly low-cost European carriers, such as Ryanair and easyJet.
If you're flying from the US, even if you've passed through customs in another European airport, you'll likely be landing in Terminal 1.
Getting to the Barcelona city center
There are a variety of
Taxi
The easiest way to get to the city is by taxi (there is no Uber or Lyft in Barcelona), but it's also the most expensive, costing around €30, depending on traffic, plus an added airport surcharge. Avoid anyone who approaches you in the airport offering a ride; there is a dedicated taxi line and officials to direct you to an authorized taxi. You can pay the driver using a card or cash. I usually tip one or two euro, but it's not necessary.
Bus
Located just outside both terminals is the bright blue Aerobus, an express bus stopping at three major intersections: Plaça Espanya, Carrer Sepúlveda, and Plaça Catalunya, the most centrally located stop. Buses run 24/7 and depart every five to 20 minutes, depending on the time of day. One way is €5.90 and round-trip is €10.20; tickets can be purchased on the website or via the Aerobus app (both generate a QR code), at the automated kiosk next to the buses with cards or cash, or on the bus with cash. This is the easiest public transport option, in my opinion.
Train
A bit more complicated is the Rodalies train, line R2, which runs from Terminal 2 into the city, stopping at major train stations including Sants, Passeig de Gràcia, and Estació de França, the latter two putting you in the city center. A free shuttle bus runs from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2. The train leaves the airport approximately every half-hour, from 5:42 a.m. until 12:38 a.m. The cost is €4.60 one-way and tickets can be purchased at automated kiosks with cards or cash.
Metro
Although there is a stop at the airport, I don't recommend taking the Metro from here because I find it to be confusing. It requires multiple connections to get into the center, involves lots of stairs and tunnels between the platforms, and the cost is about the same as the train.
Getting around the city
Barcelona is relatively compact, with most major attractions within easy walking distance — unless you're heading uphill to sites like Parc Güell and Montjuïc. The city's public transport system, TMB, includes the underground Metro, buses, and trams; you can purchase single tickets, €2.40, or a 10-ticket pass (T-Casual), €11.35, at any automated kiosk in the stations.
On buses, you can pay with cash or download and pay with the TMB app (not available for use on other forms of transport).