Barcelona Transportation Tips by flyfreak

'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: Arriving at BCN Airport, you have several possibilities to get to the city center:

-> by TRAIN : get out of the airport building and at the level of terminal C you will see a bridge that looks a little bit like a train passing over the street to the other side. Take the lift up there, cross over, buy a ticket at the machines and take the train to Estación Sants or Plaza Catalunya.

-> by AIRPORT BUS : The AEROBUS is a blue bus that stops in all terminals (A, B and C). The bus stations are right at the exit of the arrival halls at the different gates. For schedule, exact itinerary and price check out http://www.bcn.es/turisme/english/turisme/mobilitat/ser_tra_hom11.htm
The main stops are at Plaza Espana, Urgell, Plaza Catalunya.

-> by REGULAR BUS nr. 46 : this is a bus line of the ordinary bus transportation system of the city. The advantage is that it is the cheapest (you can use the T-10 ticket, see my info on bus/metro transportation in Barcelona). The disadvantage is that these busses don't have specific luggage store compartments like the aerobus. This bus stops at Terminal B, at least this was so in JAN 2008.

-> by TAXI : if you want to travel in comfort and style, take the taxi. It is still affordable in Barcelona!

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'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: If you fly with low cost airlines you will be landing in Girona (=Spanish) or Gerona (=Catalan) which is a busride of approx. 1:15 hrs from Barcelona. There is a shuttle service that brings you to the Estación del Norte in Barcelona and back to Girona Airport. Find schedules of the shuttle services on the homepage of Girona Airport.

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Website: http://www.girona-airport.net/

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: I personally suggest to use the public metro and bus network as it is an easy, safe, cheap and quick way of getting around in the city. I usually buy the T-10 ticket which allows you to use it for 10 journeys in any transportation in the zone nr. 1: The underground (metro), the bus, the railways and the new tram.

From the moment you use the ticket it is valid for a 1:15 hrs - that means if you first use the metro and then get on to a bus, you still have to validate it, but there will be no deduction from your ticket. But it is important to validate it!

For prices, schedules and so on check out the website.

Note that buses are indicated in the front with the number of the busline and the both destinations they are connecting, for example: 56 - Collblanc/Besós Verneda means that this bus starts in Collblanc and takes you to Besós Verneda and back.

Tickets for the buses have to be validated in the bus and for the metro entering the underground station.

You can buy tickets at the machines or counters at any train or metrostation. Also at the airport, outside at the bus stations you can find the ticketing machines.

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Website: http://www.tmb.net

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: If you are in kind of a hurry and need to see the main attractions in only a few days (which, in my opinion, is the case when you have less than 3 days for a Barcelona stay), then you are well off with the Barcelona bus turístic.
Check out the webpage indicated below to see how it works.
I never used it but friends who used it liked it.

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Website: http://www.tmb.net/en_US/turistes/busturistic/rutesiparades.jsp

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bicycle
Getting TO/AROUND: The Germanization, how I call it, or the Globalization/Modernization whatever brought BICING to Barcelona. I never believed it would ever happen, but it did! There are people who want to ride a bicycle in Barcelona!!! I guess it is not the locals, but hey, times are changing! :-) I guess in summer it must be nice to use it for going along the beachside (if you happen to get through the crowds, I suppose it must be quite stressful). During my last visit in JAN08 I saw it the first time and one day I will try it out. Barcelona traffic does not allow to really drive through the city, but there are some bicycle trails.

Have a safe trip, you'll need it! ;-)

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Website: www.bicing.com