If you’re planning to visit Barcelona you need to decide how to get there!  Most people will take a flight to Barcelona, but depending on where you are then there are various different options for how to travel to Barcelona, including by train, bus, ferry and by car.

Flights to Barcelona

While you could say there are three different airports in Barcelona, Barcelona El Prat Airport is the only airport actually in Barcelona.  It is the main international airport in Barcelona and is well-connected to the city via public transport.  You can learn more about Barcelona’s airports here and how to get from Barcelona Airport to the city centre here.

When booking flights to Barcelona I recommend using a flight comparison site like Skyscanner to find the best options for flights to Barcelona from your chosen airport.  It compares all the different options for flights, including budget airlines so you can get the best deal for you.  Search for flights here or using the search box below:

Before travelling to Barcelona, make sure you book accommodation and popular attractions ASAP as hotels and tickets can sell out.

⭐ TOP 3 BARCELONA ACTIVITIES TO BOOK IN ADVANCE:

1: Sagrada Familia Skip the Line Ticket - a must-see in Barcelona!

2: Park Guell Admission Ticket - colourful mosaic terraces and gorgeous views

3: Casa Batlló Entry with Self-Audioguide Tour - stunning Modernist Building & rooftop

🛌 MY FAVOURITE HOTELS IN BARCELONA:

$$: Sercotel Hotel Rosellon - Incredible view of the Sagrada Familia from some rooms and the terrace

$$: H10 Madison 4* Sup - top location with rooftop pool & view of the Gothic Cathedral

$: Chic & Basic Lemon Boutique Hotel - great value hotel near Plaça Catalunya

❗BEWARE OF PICKPOCKETS❗

Although Barcelona is a safe city, pickpockets are a problem here, particularly in popular tourist areas and on the metro.  Use a theft-proof backpack and consider getting some hidden-pocket clothing to keep your belongings safe.

Trains to Barcelona

Barcelona is well connected to the rest of Spain and Europe by train.  The main train station in Barcelona is called Barcelona Sants, and you can easily take a train to Barcelona from Madrid, Paris and lots of other locations in Europe.

The main train company in Spain is Renfe, and you can book high-speed AVE trains directly on their website.  Prices are lower the further out you book, so plan ahead to save money.  You can select different classes of tickets and add on extras such as a seat reservation.

The website is in English and tickets are emailed to you to either print off or to show a pdf ticket on your phone, without needing to print off the tickets.  Renfe trains tend to be reliable and the service is generally better than you would get in the UK, with clean trains running mostly on time.

Ouigo which is part of SNCF in France supposedly has lower-priced fares to Barcelona available, but when I’ve checked for tickets they always come out as more expensive than on the Renfe website.  That said, it’s best to check them both to be sure.

Buses to Barcelona

If you’re backpacking Europe or want to visit Barcelona on a budget then taking a bus to Barcelona could be a great option for you. Barcelona Estació Nord Bus Station is the main inter-city bus stop in Barcelona, and has routes running all over Spain and into France and beyond.

Ferries to Barcelona

While it isn’t possible to get a ferry from the UK to Barcelona, you could get a ferry from the UK ports of Portsmouth or Plymouth to Santander or Bilbao in northern Spain, then travel overland to Barcelona from there.  The journey by ferry from the UK to Spain takes between 20 to 36 hours depending on the route you take.

There are direct ferries from The Balearic Islands to Barcelona, from Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza to Barcelona.

Barcelona is also a major cruise port and there are various cruise lines that include Barcelona on their Mediterranean cruise itineraries.

Driving to Barcelona

Driving to Barcelona is quite straightforward until you actually get into the city itself and have to contend with lots of one-way streets and plenty of traffic – including scooters and motorbikes which can be extremely unpredictable!  You then need to find somewhere to park your car, so I would advise against driving into Barcelona if you can avoid it.

If you want to explore more of the Catalonia region then hiring a car in Barcelona could be a good option for you, there are car rental companies based at the airport and in the city.

Looking to Hire a Car in Barcelona?

Get a quote for car hire with Discover Cars who compare car rental deals from trusted suppliers in Barcelona like Alamo, Avis, Budget, Centauro, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, SIXT and many more, so you know you're getting a great deal.

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