Comparison of different transport options from El Prat Airport to Barcelona

Barcelona is the most dynamic and vibrant city in Spain and is a very popular destination for millions of tourists every year who are drawn to this city because of the wonderful variety of art and culture but also because of its buzzing nightlife. The quickest way to reach the Catalan capital is by plane which means arriving at the conveniently located airport of El Prat. This is the most important Iberian airport and is located about 10 km from the city center. However, despite its proximity to the city, prior to your arrival, it is worth having all the relevant information about transfer options from the airport in order to plan your trip well and start your holiday off on the right foot!
In this article, you will find all the necessary information about how to get to the center of Barcelona from El Prat with a comparison of the various means of transport.

If you would prefer the comfort and convenience of a taxi, then we would recommend that you book a Private Taxi in advance, because can actually be one of the most economical choices working out at around €8.00 per person!  In order to book fill the form of the following page: Barcelona Airport Taxi.

Travelling by car from El Prat Airport to Barcelona: around 17 kilometres from the city centre

For getting to El Prat Airport there are various options:

• The Train is available from 05:30 to 23.30: Train details
• Taxis are available 24 hours a day: Taxi details
• Buses are available from 05:30 to 01:00: Details about the buses
• The Metro is available from 05:00 to 23:30: Details about the Metro

When you compare the various means of transport, undoubtedly the most convenient is to travel by car. The journey times are considerably shorter (by about 20 minutes), there isn't any waiting time and no need for any stops along the way which means reaching your end destination directly, whether that is one of the city's attractions or the hotel where you're staying. With a taxi service at a fixed price, you will have your own personal driver who will collect you directly from the airport with a sign bearing your name. You won't have to wait for ages and they will already have your flight details because you will have provided these when making your booking: and there won't be any difficulties with the language either!
The service is safe, quick and guaranteed and you won't have to do anything other than enjoy your journey towards the city.

HOW MUCH DOES A TAXI COST FROM EL PRAT AIRPORT TO THE CENTER OF BARCELONA?

With a fixed price taxi service, the tariff will be locked in at the time of making your booking and will be based on the distance, not the time the journey takes. This means you won't have to worry about the taxi meter running which, sometimes with the public taxis, can increase significantly depending on the traffic and the time of day. Your driver, who will have a proper licence and years of experience, will only take the shortest route and at the time of making your booking, you can also choose the type of vehicle you require from those that are available and which best suit your requirements. In addition to this, if your flight is delayed, you don't have to pay any additional charges, you will just need to advise the emergency number that you have been given of the revised flight arrival time.

The Aerobus service enables travelers to reach the center of Barcelona via a bus service that leaves from both Terminal 1 (A1 Aerobus) and Terminals 2 (A2 Aerobus). On both routes the service is available from 05:30 until 01:00 in the morning with a journey time of around 40 minutes and buses running every 10 minutes. The buses make intermediate stops for the Terminal in the Placa de Catalunya. Tickets can be purchased at the bus stop or on board the bus and a one way ticket costs € 5.90. For more information about the service, have a look at our web page that is dedicated to the Barcelona Aerobús.

As of 2016, the Metro Line L9 South has been modernized and increased and connects El Prat Airport with the city center, finishing in the Zona Universitaria where you can change lines in order to reach the city's main attractions. The trains stop both at Terminal 1 and at Terminal 2 and the trains run from 05:00 in the morning until 23:00 at night with some changes at the weekends and run every 7 minutes. The journey time is around 30 minutes to which, the time taken for any changes on the line must be added: a one way ticket costs €4.90. For further information about the city's Metro service, have a look at our web page which focuses on: Barcelona's Metro service.

From the Airport, the R2 Northern Line has trains that depart every 30 minutes from 05:00 in the morning until 23:30 at night in the direction of Barcelona's main station, Estaciò Sants with different intermediate stops en route such as the Passeig de Gracia. The journey time is about 30 minutes and a one way ticket costs €4.20. The station is a five minute walk from Terminal 2.

Stops:

• Passeig de Gràcia
• Sants Station
• El Prat (Line R2 North)
• Estació de França (Line R2 North)