Getting Around

Barcelona's main airport is El Prat, 13km (8 miles) from the city center, and there are several options you can use to get into town. Travelers arriving from within the European Union on budget airlines such as Ryanair may land at Girona airport (103km/64miles northeast of Barcelona) or at Reus (110km/68 miles west of the city).

By Bus The Aerobús leaves just outside all three terminals at El Prat every 15 minutes from 6am to midnight. It takes about 20 to 25 minutes to get into the city (allow a few more minutes for the return journey), and costs 3.60€ ($4.50). The bus stops at Plaça Espanya, Plaça Universitat, and Plaça de Catalunya, all major hubs with Metro connections. Transport into Barcelona from Girona airport is by Barcelona Bus (tel. 902-361-550 or 902-130-014), which arrives in Barcelona at Passeig de Sant Joan 52. One-way tickets cost 12€ ($15); round-trip tickets (which must be purchased inside the terminal) are 21€ ($26). Journey time is 1 hour 10 minutes. Transport into Barcelona from Reus airport costs 11€ ($14) one-way and 18€ ($23) round-trip. Journey time is 1 1/2 hours For information on buses between Reus and Barcelona call tel. 93-804-44-51.

By Train El Prat also has its own train station. While this is convenient for those traveling farther afield by train (the journey finishes at Sants, the city's major terminal, which also has connections to the Metro), the station itself is a short walk from the airport terminal, making it inconvenient for those with lots of luggage. Trains leave every 30 minutes from 6:15am to 11:40pm, and the 25-minute journey costs 2.75€ ($3.45). From Girona and Reus it's clearly cheaper to take the train to Barcelona (average one-way ticket cost is 5€/$6.25), but it's a bit of a hassle having to catch a bus to either of the town's rail stations.

By Taxi There are taxi ranks outside all El Prat terminals, as well as at Girona and Reus (though you shouldn't take a taxi directly to Barcelon from Griona or Reus; the trip could cost as much 120€/$150). The 20-minute journey to the center from El Prat should cost about 25€ ($31), including the 2.10€ ($2.60) airport surcharge. Luggage that goes in the trunk is 1€ ($1.25) per piece. Note: There have been reports of unscrupulous Barcelona taxi drivers waiting for passengers disembarking from the above mentioned Aerobus. Make sure the meter is on when you hop in, and that you are not being taken a roundabout way to your destination.

Getting Around In Barcelona

By Metro (Subway) Barcelona has an excellent underground public transport system. The Metro goes pretty much any place in the city you will need to get to. It is run by the TMB (Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona), which also manages the bus network and the FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat), a pre-Metro, part underground, part over-ground system.

It is the efficient Metro system, however, that most visitors to the city are likely to use. There are five color-coded and numbered lines that fan out from the center of the city. Stations are recognizable by a red diamond-shaped sign with the letter M in the center. Maps are available from the stations themselves and from tourist information offices. The stations Catalunya, Sants, and Passeig de Gràcia connect with RENFE trains. When you purchase a ticket for another part of Spain or Catalonia (which you can do from RENFE offices at Sants and Passeig de Gràcia stations) make sure you ask which station it leaves from.

All Metro tickets can be bought on the day of journey or beforehand inside the station, either from the ticket office or a touch screen vending machine. Various options are available. A single (senzill or sencillo) ticket costs 1.20€ ($1.50). More economic options include a T-10 at 6.65€ ($8.30), which offers 10 journeys that can be shared by two or more people or a T-Día for unlimited 24-hour transport in central Barcelona for 5€ ($6.25). Travel Cards of 2 and 3 days (9.20€-13€/$12-$16) are also available. You can get reduced-price tickets for longer periods, but for most short visits the T-10 is your best bet with the T-Día in reserve for extra busy days. All these tickets are valid for the FGC and bus systems, as well as for the Metro.

Note that even with a sencillo ticket, once it is activated, it is valid for up to 75 minutes on a different form of transport if you need to do a combined Metro/bus journey. The Metro runs 5am to midnight Sunday to Thursday and 5am to 2am Friday and Saturday. TMB's easy to navigate website (www.tmb.net) has loads of information (in English) on the city's transport system, including which Metro stations and buses are equipped to take wheelchairs. Customer service centers (tel. 93-318-70-74) are at Universitat, Sagrada Família, Sants, and Diagonal stations. While it's tempting to hop on and off the Metro when seeing the sights, remember that Metro stations are only often about a 5- to 10-minute walk apart; a good pair of shoes is the best way around central Barcelona!

By Bus Buses are plentiful, but less convenient than the Metro because they're at the mercy of the city's infamous traffic. Most bus routes stop at the Plaça de Catalunya, also the stop-off point for the Aerobús and the Bus Turístic . Routes are clearly marked on each stop, as are timetables -- but most buses stop running well before the Metro closes. One bus service that is particularly useful is the Nitbus, which runs from 11pm to 4am and is often the only alternative to the dearth of taxis from 2 to 3am. Nitbus is bright yellow, clearly marked with an N, and most leave from Plaça de Catalunya. Note that Travel Cards and other TMB passes are not valid on Nitbuses. Tickets (1.20€/$1.50 one-way) are bought directly from the driver.

By Taxi Taxis are plentiful and still reasonably priced. Most of the time you simply hail one in the street (a green light indicates their availability). Taxis have meters, but don't make the mistake of confusing the cheaper day rate (Tariff 2) and the more expensive, post-8pm night rate (Tariff 1). A list of prices and surcharges is (by law) on display on the back passenger window. There have been reports of some unscrupulous taxi drivers charging exorbitant fares for short distances, but this seems to be mainly be confined to the Ryanair bus drop-off point. Nevertheless, make sure that the meter is turned on when you start your journey. If you wish to book a cab, call the Institut Metropolità del Taxi at tel. 93-223-51-51. They can also give you information about booking wheelchair-accessible taxis.

By Bicycle One growing form of transport in the city is the bicycle -- there are a number of bicycle lanes in the center of Barcelona. You can rent bikes at Un Coxte Menys, Esparteria 3 (tel. 93-268-21-05) or at Biciclot, Verneda 16 (tel. 93-307-74-75). You are not required by law to wear a helmet (though you'd still be wise to do so).

Other Forms Of Transportation

At some point in your journey, you may want to visit the mountain of Tibidabo. A century-old tram called the Tramvía Blau (Blue Streetcar) goes from Plaça Kennedy to the bottom of the funicular to Tibidabo. It operates daily from 10am to 8pm from mid-June to mid-September and 10am to 6pm on weekends the rest of the year.

At the end of the run, you can go the rest of the way by funicular to the top, at 503m (1,650 ft.), for a stunning panoramic view of Barcelona. The funicular operates only when the Funfair at Tibidabo is open. Opening times vary according to the time of year and the weather conditions. As a rule, the funicular starts operating 20 minutes before the Funfair opens, then every half-hour. During peak visiting hours, it runs every 15 minutes. The fare is 2.10€ ($2.60) one-way, 3.10€ ($3.90) round-trip.

The Tibibus goes from the Plaça de Catalunya, in the center of the city, to Tibidabo at limited times, again depending when the park opens and closes. The one-way fare is 2.10€ ($2.60). Call city hall's information hot line (tel. 010) for times.

To reach Montjuïc, site of the 1992 Olympics, take the Montjuïc funicular. It links with subway line 3 at the Paral.lel Metro stop. The funicular operates daily from 9am to 8pm in winter, 9am to 10pm in summer. The round-trip fare is 2.10€ ($2.60).

Barcelona's newest form of public transportation is the sleek and comfortable Tramvía Baix, a modern cable car that mainly services the outer suburbs. It is handy for reaching the outer limits of the Diagonal and the Palau de Pedralbes. Hop on at Plaça Francesc Macia.

All Aboard!

The most convenient way to see all of Barcelona, especially if your time is limited, is to hop on (and off) the Bus Turístic (tel. 93-318-70-74; www.tmb.net/en_US/turistes/busturistic/busturistic.jsp). This double-decker, open-top tourist bus travels to all the major areas and sights; you can either choose to disembark or stay on and continue your journey. There are two routes: the red, or Nord (North), route, which covers L'Eixample and Tibidabo, with Gaudí's main works (including the Sagrada Família) as the highlights; or the blue, or Sur (South), route, which allows you to see the Old Town and Montjuïc, both with multilingual commentary along the way. The main point of embarkation is Plaça de Catalunya, outside the El Corte Ingles department store. Cost is 17€ ($21) for the 1-day pass (10€/$13 children 4-12) and 21€ ($26) for the 2-day pass (13€/$16 children 4-12). Tickets can be purchased on board or at the Tourist Information Office at the Plaça de Catalunya. The service operates daily from 9am to 9:30pm. There is no service on Christmas or New Year's Day.

The Barcelona Card

An ideal way to appreciate Barcelona better and save money at the same time is with the Barcelona Card, which is sold at tourist offices, El Prat airport, Sants railway station, the Estació Nord bus station, and various branches of the Corte Inglés. It's definitely a bargain if you stay in the city for more than an afternoon and do any sightseeing. For adults, it costs 23€ ($29) for 2 days, 28€ ($35) for 3 days, 31€ ($39) for 4 days, and 34€ ($43) for 5 days. For children 4 to 12 years old, the card costs 4€ ($5) less for each of the above options.

The 24-hour card covers unlimited travel on all public transport, and is valid for a free walking tour.

Culture vultures who hold the card can get discounts of 20% to 100% in all museums. Discounts on a host of theaters, shows, and attractions such as the aquarium and the Golondrinas pleasure boats are also on the menu, as are discounts in bars, restaurants, and some shops. The cards specify where they can be used. For those age 65 and above, the card is less of a bargain since seniors get discounts for museums and galleries anyway. Better just to get a transportation pass.