Which Airport To Fly To When Visiting Barcelona
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It can often be confusing when booking flights to Barcelona. There is only one airport actually in Barcelona which is called El Prat de Llobregat Aeropuerto however there are 2 other airports nearby, Girona and Reus which are approximately 120km outside Barcelona that offer you access to Barcelona via transfer services.
Girona airport and Reus Airport are attractive for tourists since they are host to cheap flights by the low cost airlines. However, when booking your flights it is worth calculating how much the saving will actually be after you have paid for your transfer to Barcelona. You may find that this is cancelled out by the cost of transport into Barcelona city centre. Or you may simply decide that the saving that you will make is not worth the extra time lost or trouble involved.
However, there are times when the money saved can be significant, making it worth the extra effort to fly to these smaller airports. If this is the case and you decide to fly into Girona or Reus for a trip to Barcelona, it is worth planning the whole trip in advance. Do not find yourself arriving late at night at one of these airports with no plans for how to get into Barcelona. See below for transfers in Barcelona city centre from the various airports.
Also, if you are travelling to somewhere outside of Barcelona you may find that Girona or Reus airports bring you closer to where you need to be. Reus is close to areas such as Tarragona, Salou and Cambrils. Girona is a beautiful city in its own right. It is also closest to the beach towns along the Costa Brava.
This page explains where each airport is and how to reach Barcelona from each airport.
Barcelona International Airport: El Prat de Llobregat Aeropuerto (13km from Barcelona City Centre)
Barcelona Airport El Prat de Llobregat is the Airport closest to Barcelona. It sits 13 kilometres South of Barcelona city centre. It is also the largest of the three airports mentioned above and offers you the widest range of international flights.
| Barcelona Airport El Prat de Llobregat |
Transfer from Barcelona Airport to Barcelona City Centre
Barcelona Airport offers direct access to Barcelona by both train and bus. Taxi is also an option.
Taxi Fare: €30.00 – €40.00
How to arrange your transport from Barcelona Airport to Barcelona city centre
Girona Airport (100 km from Barcelona Centre)
Girona Airport is the second closest airport to Barcelona. It sits approximately 100 kilometres North of Barcelona city centre. It is inland and the town itself of Girona is a popular tourist destination.
It is important to note that Girona Airport is not walking distance from the city centre of Girona. To travel to Barcelona from Girona Airport it is first necessary to take a short bus journey into the city centre – from there you can catch a bus or a train. However, there are also coaches that run directly from Girona Airport to Barcelona city centre – these are scheduled to coincide with Ryanair flights.
You may find that you will see signs and information referring to both ‘Girona’ and ‘Gerona’. Do not be thrown by this. They all refer to the same place – it is simply that one is in Catalan and the other is in Castellano (Spanish).
Transfer from Girona Airport to Barcelona City Centre
For more information on the various options, prices, journey times, access and luggage space for people with a disability, see our Transport Options for Transfer from Girona Airport to Girona Centre and to other Destinations.
Reus Airport (120 km from Barcelona city centre)
Of the three airports, Reus is the furthest from Barcelona. It sits approximately 120 kilometres South of Barcelona. It is closer to the coast than Girona Airport and may be a popular airport choice for those taking beach holidays in Cambrils and Salou.
Like Girona Airport, Reus Airport is not close enough to Reus’ city centre to walk between the two. Unfortunately, unlike Girona Airport, there is no coach service that goes directly from Reus Airport to Barcelona city centre.
It is necessary to travel by bus to Reus city centre and then take a coach from there.
If you are taking a flight that arrives late in the evening it is important to check ahead to see whether the bus will still be running from Reus city centre to Barcelona. If not, you may have to catch a taxi to Barcelona or alternatively stay the night in Reus centre.
Taxi Fare: €185.00
Transfer from Reus Airport to Barcelona City Centre
For more information on the various options, prices, journey times, access and luggage space for people with a disability, see our Transfer Between Reus and Barcelona – Trains, Buses and Private Taxi.
Transfers Between Barcelona, Reus and Girona Airports
You may need to make transfers between the airports.
How to arrange your transport from Barcelona Airport to Girona Airport
How to arrange your transport from Barcelona Airport to Reus Airport
Before booking your flight to Barcelona it is worth weighing up the pros and cons of flying into each airport.
The times of your flight and where you are actually staying during your trip may have an effect on how affordable or convenient each option is.
Barcelona Airports – Which Should You Use?
When planning a trip to Barcelona Spain, it’s not always clear which is the best airport in Barcelona to fly into. In fact, there is only one airport actually in Barcelona, that is Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport to give it its full name! However, some airlines claim to fly into other Barcelona airports, so let’s break down exactly which airports are in Barcelona and which aren’t, and which airport in Barcelona is best for you.
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Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN)
Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport is usually just referred to as Barcelona or Barcelona El Prat Airport as it is close to a town called El Prat de Llobregat on the outskirts of Barcelona.
This is the main international airport of Barcelona and is the only airport actually in Barcelona.
If in any doubt, the best way to confirm which is the correct Barcelona airport is with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) 3 letter code assigned to each airport – in this case, BCN is the code for Barcelona El Prat airport.
Barcelona Airport has 2 terminals and is the second-largest airport in Spain, after Madrid-Barajas. Barcelona El Prat Airport is about 25 minutes drive from the centre of Barcelona by car or taxi and is well connected to the city centre by public transport in the form of buses, trains and metro.
In the majority of cases, this is the best airport to use to fly into Barcelona. I use flight comparison site Skyscanner to find the best options for flights to Barcelona from my chosen airport, you can search here or using the search box below:
While most people just call the airport Barcelona or Barcelona-El Prat, or even just El Prat, the full name of the airport is “Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport”.
Josep Tarradellas was a Spanish politician and the first president of Catalonia in the democracy which followed the death of General Franco in the 1970s.
In 2018 the Spanish Government announced that Barcelona–El Prat Airport would be renamed after Tarradellas, a move which caused some controversy but I won’t get into the politics of Catalonia here! As long as you remember that it is Barcelona El Prat Airport you should be fine.
You may also see the airport written in Catalan as Aeroport Barcelona–El Prat, or in Spanish as Aeropuerto Barcelona–El Prat.
How to Get from Barcelona Airport to the City
As I mentioned, Barcelona El Prat Airport is well connected to the city by public transport as well as plenty of taxis which wait outside the airport.
The best way to get from the airport to Barcelona depends on your budget and whereabouts you will be staying. This article has more information and tips for getting to Barcelona from the airport, but here are the options:
- Taxi from Barcelona Airport to the City – fast and convenient (if no traffic), but expensive for solo travellers
- Private Transfer to Barcelona from the Airport – pre-book a personalised, direct service with Welcome Pickups that includes a meet & greet and drop off at your accommodation.
- Shared Transfers from Barcelona Airport – pre-book a shared transfer with companies such as Shuttle Spain, which stop off at specific hotels in Barcelona, but not individual addresses.
- Train from Barcelona Terminal 2 to City Centre – The cheapest and fastest way to go direct to Sants Station, Passeig de Gracia Station and El Clot Arago. Tickets are included in the Hola Barcelona travel card and you can then take the metro, bus or taxi to your accommodation from the station.
- Aerobús – Express Airport Bus to Barcelona City Centre, with stops at Plaça Espanya and Plaça Catalunya. There are 2 separate lines which go to and from Terminal One and Terminal Two. Get more information on the official website here,
Not recommended due to time unless your accommodation is close to the airport:
- Metro – the metro from the airport is included with the Hola Barcelona travel card but single tickets are more expensive than the train, and it takes longer than the train as there are more stops along the way.
- Public buses take a long time due to the distance and number of stops along the way.
How to get from Barcelona Airport to City Centre
Other Airports Near Barcelona
Some low-cost airlines like Ryanair class other airports as “Barcelona”, even though they are a lot further away. Girona and Reus are the two other airports in Catalonia which are sometimes referred to as Barcelona. When flying to Barcelona which airport you actually want depends on the airline you are using, and where you will be staying.
Girona–Costa Brava Airport (GRO)
Girona Airport is close to the city of Girona, just over an hour’s drive northeast of Barcelona. The IATA code for Girona is GRO, and this airport is probably the best one to use if you will be staying on the Costa Brava north of Barcelona or in the northern regions of Catalonia.
During the winter season, there are a reduced number of flights operating so you may struggle to find suitable flights to Girona.
In the summer, flights are more frequent, with direct services to various cities around Europe and the UK. Airlines such as Ryanair, Easyjet and Jet2 have flights to and from Girona Airport.
It is known in Catalan as Aeroport de Girona-Costa Brava, and in Spanish as Aeropuerto de Gerona-Costa Brava
Reus International Airport (REU)
Reus International Airport is south of Barcelona, close to the cities of Reus and Tarragona, about an hour and a half’s drive away from Barcelona city centre by car. The IATA code for Reus is REU.
I wouldn’t recommend flying to Reus Airport if you are staying in Barcelona as it can take around 3 hours by public transport to reach the centre of Barcelona. However, if you are staying in the Costa Daurada region of Catalonia, near Tarragona, PortAventura World, or the resorts of Salou or Cambrils then this is probably the best airport for you.
Similar to Girona, there are fewer flights available to Barcelona Reus during the winter, but in the summer you can find flights with airlines like Jet2 and Ryanair from several airports in the UK and in Europe to Reus.
Tips for Booking Flights to Barcelona Airports
To find the best flight deals for getting to Barcelona by air, I recommend using a flight comparison tool like Skyscanner.
Choose the Right Barcelona Airport!
After reading this article you should have enough knowledge about the airports in Barcelona to be able to choose the best option for you, but it bears repeating just in case! Usually, Barcelona El Prat is the best option as it is the closest airport to Barcelona city centre, but you might want to check out the other options just in case.
Be Flexible
You can save a lot of money on Barcelona flights if you can be flexible on the dates you want to fly. Peak times include holidays such as Christmas or school holidays, and flights on Friday evenings to Sunday are always more expensive than weekdays as lots of people want to spend a weekend in Barcelona.
Try to visit Barcelona in the off or shoulder season instead of during the summer holidays, and fly mid-week if you can.
Check the Flight Times Carefully
Sometimes to cheapest flight prices can actually cost you more once you factor in how to get to and from the airport. Very early or late flights might mean you have to take a taxi to the airport instead of the bus or public transport, so that can end up costing more than a later flight would.
Fly with Hand Luggage Only
Most of the low-cost airlines that fly to Barcelona airports will reward you for travelling light, so try to pack just with hand luggage if you can. Paying to check in a bag at the airport can make your flight a lot more expensive, and you have to spend time waiting to collect it when you arrive. It’s much easier if you can walk straight out with your bag!
Be Aware of COVID Regulations
Unfortunately, travel rules can change very quickly so make sure you keep up to date with rules and regulations regarding travel, testing and any potential quarantine or self-isolation rules when travelling to Spain and Barcelona.
The official Spain Travel Health website is the best resource, as well as your own government’s travel advice.
Trip to Barcelona: choice of airport.
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It’s easy to get confused when buying tickets to Barcelona. In fact, there is only one airport in Barcelona itself – El Prat. At the same time, at a distance of approximately 120 km. from Barcelona there are two more airports – Girona and Reus from which you can get to Barcelona.
The attraction of Reus and Girona airports is due to the fact that it is from this airport that low-cost airlines fly, offering tickets at low prices. However, when purchasing an inexpensive ticket, try to calculate how much money you actually saved after paying for a transfer to Barcelona. It may turn out that you will spend the money saved on the ticket on paying for travel to the center of Barcelona. Perhaps you just decide that the money saved is not worth the time and nerves spent.
However, there are times when savings can be significant.
In this case, the airports of Girona and Reus can be an excellent solution. If you plan to fly to Barcelona via Girona or Reus, you should plan your trip carefully in advance. If your flight arrives at these airports late at night, make sure you plan how to get from the airport to Barcelona. Information about transfers from the airports to the center of Barcelona is given below.
If you are planning to visit the Barcelona area, Girona and Reus airports may be closer to the cities you are planning to visit. Reus Airport is close to cities such as Tarragona, Salou and Cambrils. The city of Girona is beautiful in itself. This airport is the closest to the resort towns of the Costa Brava.
This page provides information about the location of airports and how to get from these airports to Barcelona.
Barcelona International Airport: El Prat Airport (13 km from Barcelona city centre)
The closest airport to Barcelona is Barcelona/El Prat Airport. It is located 13 kilometers south of the city center.
It is the largest of the three airports mentioned above. Many international flights depart from there.
| Barcelona Airport – El Prat de Llobregat |
Transfer from Barcelona airport to city center
Direct rail and bus lines connect Barcelona Airport with the city centre. You can also use a taxi.
Taxi fare: €30.00 – €40.00
How to arrange a transfer from Barcelona airport to Barcelona city center
Girona Airport (100 km from Barcelona city center) Barcelona airport. It is located approximately 100 kilometers north of the city center. Girona and its surroundings are popular with tourists.
Please note that Girona Airport is quite far from the city centre. To get from Girona airport to Barcelona, you must first take a bus from the airport to the city center, and then transfer to a train or bus to Barcelona. From Girona airport to the center of Barcelona can be reached by intercity bus.
The bus schedule is based on the Ryanair flight schedule.
You may come across signs and information boards with the inscriptions “Girona” and “Gerona”. Do not worry. In both cases, the same place is meant – the city of Girona. Here are two spellings – Catalan and Spanish.
Transfer from Girona airport to city center
For more information on transport, fares, travel times, luggage and transportation services for people with disabilities, see Transfer Options from Girona Airport to Girona Center and Other Destinations.
Reus Airport (120 km from the center of Barcelona)
Of the three Barcelona airports, Reus Airport is the farthest. It is located approximately 120 kilometers south of Barcelona. It is closer to the coast than Girona Airport and is popular with tourists in the resorts of Cambrils and Salou.
Like Girona Airport, Reus Airport is located at a considerable distance from the city center. Unfortunately, there is no bus service from Reus Airport to Barcelona city centre.
In order to get to the center of Barcelona, you must first drive from the airport to the center of Reus. There you can transfer to the bus to Barcelona.
If you are arriving on a late flight, check in advance if there is a bus from Reus city center to Barcelona at that time. If the bus is no longer running at this time, you can get to Barcelona by taxi. Alternatively, you can stay overnight in Reus.
Taxi fare: €185.00
Transfer from Reus airport to Barcelona city center
For more information about transport, fares, travel times, luggage and transportation services for travelers with disabilities, see Transfer from Reus to Barcelona: train, bus, taxi.
Transfers between Barcelona, Reus and Girona airports
You may need a transfer from one airport to another.
How to arrange a transfer from Barcelona airport to Girona airport
How to arrange a transfer from Barcelona airport to Reus airport
Before booking tickets, weigh the pros and cons of each airport.
When choosing an airport, also consider which hotel you will be staying at and what the time of your flight will be. In some cases, these factors may be decisive.
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Did you know that you can arrange transportation to the airport in advance of your trip so that your arrival is smooth and stress-free? Aerobus express bus from/to city center Private car with driver from/to residence |
Which Barcelona airport is better to fly to – Barcelona10
In the immediate vicinity of Barcelona there are three airports – the actual airport of Barcelona, which has the name El Prat, the airport of Girona – Costa Brava and the airport of the city of Reus (Reus). Each of the airports has its own advantages and disadvantages, and is also used by different airlines, so let’s figure out which airport is more convenient to fly to. And don’t forget to download our app from the link to learn even more life hacks that will help you save not only money, but also time in Barcelona.
Barcelona El Prat Airport
Distance from El Prat Airport to Barcelona: 15 km
El Prat Airport is the largest in Catalonia and the most popular in Spain for domestic flights. The airport has two terminals, which makes it possible to provide services to a large number of passengers. The main airline is Vueling Airlines, which considers this airport home, but it is also actively used by Spanair, Air Europa, Iberia Airlines and, more recently, by Ryanair, a European low-cost company.
Low-cost flights from the CIS countries arrive at the airport, in particular, a Vueling Airlines line from Kyiv has recently opened. But there are also regular regular flights. For example, major flights from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, etc. arrive here.
From El Prat airport, you can get to the center of Barcelona by Aerobus. The ticket price is 6 euros, the journey time is 35 minutes. We wrote more about this, the most convenient way, in our article “How to get from the airport to the center of Barcelona.
”. Also at the T2 terminal (which is used mainly by low-cost companies) there is a high-speed railway station that allows you to get to Barcelona in 19minutes. There is a free shuttle bus from T1 to T2. Trains on the El Prat-Barcelona line run from 05:42 to 23:38. If speed and convenience are important to you, you can take a taxi, including by booking a transfer in advance using the link.
» SEE ALSO – Barcelona International Airport El Prat
Costa Brava Airport in Girona
Distance from Girona Airport to Barcelona : 95 km
Costa Brava Airport in Girona City is an alternative to El Barcelona airport. Tourists arrive in it by resort airlines. The main company is low-cost Ryanair. Transaero planes fly from Moscow to Girona Airport, and Wizz Air from the CIS countries.
Barcelona can be reached by bus in 1 hour 10 minutes, the last bus leaves at 19:15, the ticket price is 16 euros. In addition, high-speed and regular trains run from the Girona railway station, delivering passengers to Barcelona in 70 and 90 minutes, respectively.