If you’ve come to read this guide, it means you’re looking for how public transport and the Barcelona metro work or, as happened to me, you’re confused by the huge amount of existing tickets for public transport in Barcelona.
You’re not alone! 🙂 In this guide, we’ll look at all the details you need to get around the city and how the various types of tickets work, so you can understand the difference and figure out which is the best ticket to buy for public transport in Barcelona for your situation.
Buses, trams, trains, and metro in Barcelona: how many are there?
Public transport options in Barcelona are really numerous; after all, we’re in one of the two largest cities in Spain.
Let’s start with some good news: Buses, Trams, and the Metro in Barcelona are managed by TMB, so if you travel on any of these, the ticket types are the same for all, and you can also make transfers (e.g., between metro and bus) using the same valid ticket.
These three modes of transport are more than enough to get you around the entire city of Barcelona and even to the nearby suburbs. Just think, the area organization is divided into 6 zones, but visitors to Barcelona usually never leave zone 1, which covers the entire city center and more.
As if that weren’t enough, there are also the Rodalies trains, which for journeys within zone 1 can also be used with standard TMB tickets, but for those mainly getting around the city, it’s unlikely you’ll find them useful given the wide availability of other transport options.
There’s also good news for those traveling to Barcelona looking to enjoy some nightlife.
Indeed, the Barcelona metro operates every day from 5 a.m. to midnight, except on Fridays (when it closes at 2 a.m. instead of midnight) and Saturdays (when it runs non-stop all night). Outside these hours, night bus lines are still available, which, unlike in other cities, don’t have surcharges and accept the same tickets used during the day.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t underestimate where to stay: don’t miss the guide on where to stay in Barcelona to discover the best areas and those it’s better to avoid.
Public transport and metro tickets in Barcelona
Now let’s get to the topic that causes the most confusion for those about to visit Barcelona: the thousand types of tickets you’ll find advertised just about everywhere!
Let’s start first with the official tickets from TMB, the city’s transport company. On this page of the official website, you’ll find the always-updated list of all existing tickets, including those I’m talking about here (i.e., only those suitable for non-residents). We’ll then also look at tourist-type tickets and we’ll analyze which ones are the most cost-effective.
Single tickets for bus, tram, or metro
Simple: it’s a single-journey ticket, to be used on one of the 3 mentioned transport modes: it costs €2.65 (so not cheap), and it’s called “Billet Senzill” in Catalan, meaning single ticket. Like any ticket, after purchase, it must be validated at the turnstile if you’re entering the metro, or on the machines inside the vehicle if you’re taking a bus or tram.
The ticket is valid for 75 minutes, so if, for example, to reach your destination you need to take a metro ride and then a bus ride, the same ticket is still valid if you board the second mode of transport within 75 minutes of the first validation. Remember that even when you change transport, the ticket must be validated again when you board.
T-Casual 10-journey ticket
T-Casual is the name of a multi-journey ticket containing 10 single journeys for Barcelona’s trams, buses, and metro. It costs €12.55, so about €1.25 per journey: much better than single tickets. These journeys are also valid for 75 minutes and allow you to change multiple modes of transport to reach your destination.
T-Familiar 8-journey ticket
T-Familiar is a ticket that costs €11.05 and contains 8 journeys, so €1.38 each. What’s the difference compared to the previous one?
This ticket can be shared among multiple people (whether they’re friends or family), so it’s possible to validate it multiple times to deduct multiple journeys, one for each person in your group.
For example, if there are two of you and you take the metro, the first person inserts it into the turnstile, then passes it to the second friend who does the same thing. Same on buses and trams: insert the ticket into the machine, and as soon as it comes out, insert it a second time: you’ll notice two stamps on the back at the same time, equivalent to the journeys deducted for the two people, as in the photo below.
These journeys are also valid for 75 minutes, and the ticket must be validated on every mode of transport you board. However, a doubt might arise: if there are two of us and after taking the Barcelona metro, I validate the ticket again on a bus, won’t it deduct another two journeys? Well no, if you’re within the 75 minutes, nothing is deducted. You can also see this from the stamps on the back of the ticket.
T-Dia daily ticket
The T-Dia is a daily ticket that allows unlimited journeys on Barcelona’s buses, trams, and metro for €11.55. It’s valid for 24 hours from the first validation, and this too must be validated on all modes of transport.
Metro ticket for the airport
All the tickets mentioned so far are valid within zone 1 of Barcelona, but not for reaching the airport. The specific ticket for a single metro journey to the airport costs €5.70.
However, the metro isn’t the only way to reach the airport: in this other guide, you’ll find all the ways to get between Barcelona airport and the city center.
The HolaBCN card
Let’s now analyze the Barcelona metro ticket that’s often advertised as a godsend: the HolaBCN card or HolaBarcelona Travel Card.
It’s a ticket valid for 2, 3, 4, or 5 days (between 17,50€ and 40€), which allows unlimited journeys on Barcelona’s trams, buses, and metro, including one round trip by metro to the airport.
Is it worth it? It depends on how much you plan to travel. If you’re only in the city for 48 hours, it’s probably worth it, but if you stay for 3 days or more, it’s possible that the sum of single airport journeys (here you’ll find all available options) and one or more 10-journey tickets for city transport will cost you less than this card.
If you buy HolaBCN from this site at the same price, you can also benefit from free cancellation if your plans change.
Barcelona Card
Similar name to the previous one but a different product: this card, valid for 3, 4, or 5 days, allows you unlimited use of buses, trams, and the metro in Barcelona, including the journey to and from the airport, this time by train and not by metro.
In addition, you get free access to a series of minor city museums and a small discount on some of the major attractions.
On the official website, you can see how much the discounts are, while for purchasing, if you proceed via this site, at no extra cost, you can benefit from free cancellation up to 24 hours before arrival in case of unforeseen events.
Is it worth it? It depends… if you plan to do a museum marathon, probably yes (but you’d also need a lot of time). If you get it for the discounts on major attractions (like Casa Batllò or La Pedrera), do your math carefully because a €3 discount on a ticket that costs almost €30 isn’t that great.
Where to buy metro tickets in Barcelona?
TMB local public transport tickets can be purchased from the machines found in all Barcelona metro stations. Alternatively, by downloading the official “TMB App” (which I recommend you have also for calculating routes, I’ll explain better shortly) if your phone also has NFC technology, you can do everything via the app.
HolaBCN tickets, on the other hand, can be purchased on the official website (or here to get free cancellation at the same price), while Barcelona Cards can be found on the official website (or here for free cancellation)
What are the prices for the Barcelona metro?
- €2.65 for a single journey
- €12.55 for a 10-journey ticket (T-casual)
- €11.05 for an 8-journey ticket shareable among multiple people (T-familiar)
These are the prices for getting around with all integrated public transport, including the Barcelona metro, within zone 1 (which amply covers all travel for a traveler or tourist).
At this link on the official TMB Barcelona website, you’ll find the always-updated prices to check for any increases.
What’s the most convenient ticket for the Barcelona metro?
It depends on your needs… but let’s take a look at a price comparison table for tickets and some more likely scenarios.
- Airport round trip: around €10 (in this guide I show you all the options)
- 10-journey ticket: €12.55
- 8-journey shareable ticket: €11.05
- HolaBCN Card for all transport + airport: 2 to 5 days
- Barcelona Card for all transport + airport + museum discounts: 3 to 5 days
If you’re only staying in Barcelona for 48 hours, it’s best to buy the 48h HolaBCN for €17.50. It actually costs less than an airport round trip and a ten-journey ticket.
For 4 days or more, it’s more likely that a 10-journey ticket and an airport round trip will cost you less than the other cards.
If you’re worried that 10 journeys aren’t enough, you can do as I did: get a 10-journey ticket, and once it’s finished, for the few remaining trips, get a T-familiar 8-journey ticket that’s shareable with your travel companions, with whom you can split the cost.
It can definitely be useful to read the guide on where it’s best to stay in Barcelona to then minimize your travel.
How to get around Barcelona: line maps with a single app
Now that we know the prices… we also need to know where to go! 🙂
You just need to download the TMB App onto your phone. It’s the official app for the local transport service. It’s very well made and allows you to clearly calculate routes between two points with any changes, indicating times, journey durations, and distances.
It also allows you to directly purchase tickets and use them via smartphone, if your phone has NFC.
Below are some examples of how the routes are presented:
Another very useful app that can save you if you lack an internet connection (for example, in some metro sections) is the Maps.me app with offline city maps: besides being able to download detailed offline maps (much more so than Google’s), you can also enable the “public transport” layer, which shows you Barcelona’s metro lines to quickly figure out which stop to get off at if your phone has no signal.
You won’t need much else. The signs inside metro stations are very well indicated, both when entering, thanks to maps showing which of the two directions to take for your destination, on board the transport, and when exiting and making connections.
Hassle-free transfer between Barcelona airport and the city center
Not to digress too much, you’ll find the ways to get between Barcelona airport and the city center in a separate guide.
However, if you’re already confused by the many types of tickets or you’re in a large group, it might even be more cost-effective to rely on a transfer service like WelcomePickups and Taxileader, as you could split the cost and save time (the airport is about half an hour from the center by the fastest means, or even an hour with slower ones).
These transfer services are similar to taxis, with a driver waiting for you in the arrivals area of Barcelona airport who takes you directly to your destination address (or vice versa). You can check the exact price for your destination by clicking on the two names above.
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…and if you still haven’t decided what to do once you get to Barcelona, keep reading to discover some interesting activities available in the area! 🙂
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