Trains in barcelona: Barcelona Transport Information – Trains, buses, metro (underground)

Barcelona Transport Information – Trains, buses, metro (underground)

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This page provides you with the official web site information for the Barcelona transport system including the metro (underground), buses, local trains (TMB), and long distance trains RENFE. Most of these sites have translations into several languages.

Barcelona Metro

You will find up to date timetables and routes at each one of the following sites.


Barcelona Transport – Trains, Metro (underground), and Buses in Barcelona

See our overview of the Barcelona transport system

Barcelona local transport train, Metro, and bus operator (TMB) – Find timetable information, and plan your routes with this site. Site available in several languages (including English)

RENFE Train Barcelona transport – (Trains Inter-city and long distance Trains) -RENFE
Timetables and further information Tel: +34 91 919 0504 Translations available – look for the flag for your country on the site.


Taxis in Barcelona

Barcelona Radio Taxis – Tel: +34 93 303 3033

Barcelona Taxi Firms That Also Have Taxis adapted for People with a disability

Tel: +34 93 322 2222
Tel: +34 93 307 0707
Tel: +34 93 420 8088


Barcelona Car Hire

There are a number of car hire firms based at Barcelona airport including Europcar, Hertz, Avis and Sixt. Visit the following page if your are interested in comparing rates and booking your car hire for pick up at Barcelona Airport.

The Barcelona Transport system however is excellent and we recommend that for many of your journeys around the town you won’t need to hire a car.


Airport Links

Barcelona airport information pages

Spanish airports including Barcelona airport: AENA


RENFE train timetable – Barcelona Airport and the city centre

The airport train only stops at the following stations in Barcelona centre:

Barcelona Sants (Estació Sants),
Passeig de Gràcia ,
El Clot-Aragó

The link below goes to the RENFE train website for you to look up timetable information. Note however that RENFE list other stations where you can alight in the city centre e.g. Plaça de Catalunya and França station however they do not make clear you must first change trains at Estació Sants to arrive at these stations. You will notice in their timetable the phrase “Transbordo en Llegada” which means change trains once you arrive.

Timetable for the RENFE train service to and from the airport to Barcelona city centre


There are a number of car hire firms based at the airport including Europcar, Hertz, Avis, Sixt and Budget cars. Booking your car hire


Budget airlines offering cheap flights to Barcelona

Review on how to find a cheap flight to Barcelona

easyJet.com
EasyJet is the leader in offering no-frills cheap flights to Barcelona and other European destinations. Not only do they offer the widest destinations but they also offer the most flexibility when you’re booking your ticket.

British Midland
Offering you flights from Teesside, Manchester and East midlands airports to Barcelona.

Jet2
Jet2 offer cheap flights to Barcelona from Leeds Bradford airport. Note like many of the “no frills” airlines they don’t offer a refund if you want to cancel your ticket – but they do have a rescheduling system.

RyanAir
Ryanair do not fly directly to Barcelona International airport but they do fly to Girona Airport which is only 1 h 20 minutes north of Barcelona by train.

To find timetable information from Girona to Barcelona see the RENFE trains link above.


Transport for people with a disability

See our special article on Barcelona Transport for people with a disability.


Did you know you can enjoy unlimited travel on Barcelona public transport for 2, 3, 4 or 5 days?

Barcelona metro
Barcelona Airport metro (Orange Line,L9)
Barcelona TMB buses
Barcelona Airport TMB bus
Regional railway (Rodalies de Catalunya train in Zone 1)
Barcelona Airport RENFE R2 train

Click to learn more

Train to Barcelona – Cheap tickets To & From Barcelona

Barcelona is Spain’s second city and capital of the autonomous region of Catalonia. It is the easiest major Spanish city to reach by train from London (or, indeed, from Paris and many other cities in western Europe). A high-speed line launched in 2013 dives under the Pyrenees, linking the Roussillon region of France with Catalonia. So Barcelona now has direct fast trains from more than a dozen cities across France.

You can speed from Paris to Barcelona in just 6 hrs 30 mins and the journey from London to Barcelona is easily managed in a day. The best option is to take a morning Eurostar to Paris, connecting in the French capital with a high-speed TGV train direct to Barcelona. On those days when the direct London to Lyon Eurostar runs there is also a useful alternative route from London to Barcelona, changing just once at Lyon Part Dieu.

Onward connections from Barcelona to the rest of Spain are excellent. The fastest high-speed trains dash to Madrid in just 2 hrs 30 mins. There are direct services to Málaga, Seville and Córdoba with the fastest trains taking between five and six hours to reach these cities in Andalucía. But don’t leave Barcelona too quickly. This vibrant city is full of culture, arts, architecture and sport. It is a perfect choice for a weekend break or longer stay. Check out the Barcelona Design Museum (Museu del Disseny de Barcelona), explore Montjuic and take time to savour the city’s distinctive Catalan flair. Football fans can take a pilgrimage to Camp Nou for the FC Barcelona Museum. Those more inclined to architecture should make time for Casa Vicens, one-time home of Antoni Gaudí and a modernist masterpiece. It just opened to the public in late 2017.

The main railway station is called Barcelona Sants, and it is from here that all high-speed trains depart. Many trains to Valencia and beyond also serve Estació de França. There is an excellent network of suburban and regional trains serving the wider Barcelona region; these trains are branded Rodalies de Catalunya. That network even extends over the French border, but only a small number of Rodalies de Catalunya trains can be booked here on our website.

Travel to Barcelona by train from anywhere across Europe.

Madrid to Barcelona by train

from
€9.04

Montpellier to Barcelona by train

from
€45.78

Paris to Barcelona by train

from
€49.73

London to Barcelona by train

from
€108.51

Avignon to Barcelona by train

from
€63.86

Toulouse to Barcelona by train

from
€50.86

Narbonne to Barcelona by train

from
€44.08

Lyon to Barcelona by train

from
€83.08

Perpignan to Barcelona by train

from
€35.60

Bilbao to Barcelona by train

from
€25.43

Brighton to Barcelona by train

from
€262.56

Bath to Barcelona by train

from
€446. 69

Marseille to Barcelona by train

from
€63.86

Lille to Barcelona by train

from
€95.51

Salou to Barcelona by train

from
€7.91

Summer ticket release: Europe is calling!

Travel dates starting in July. Book your summer holiday now for the best rates!

The north of Spain at low prices

Sales open for travel dates from 11 June. Book your summer holiday!

Barcelona or Paris?

The top 5 things to consider before you decide which city to visit!

Trains in Barcelona – Guide Barcelona TM

Barcelona is one of the largest railway hubs in Spain. In 2007, the AVE high-speed train line began to operate here, today combining Barcelona with the capital – Madrid, as well as with Paris and several other cities. Electric trains in Barcelona (suburban trains) have been incredibly in demand for a long time. The public transport system in the Catalan capital is excellent.

Trains in Barcelona can be of interest to passengers in order to get to nearby cities, and be used as an addition to the metro.

The convenience of railway transport lies in the fact that at many stations a passenger can instantly change to the metro, tram, bus at almost every railway station.

We advise you to buy tickets in advance on the official website of Trenes.com

The main routes of electric trains in Barcelona

In Barcelona, ​​2nd transport firms are offered- RENFE and FGC , which coordinate thirteen lines.

FGC S1-S55 train lines:

S1: Barcelona, ​​Plaza Catalunya – Terrassa;
S2: Barcelona, ​​Plaza Catalunya – Sabadell;
S33: Barcelona, ​​Plaza Catalunya – Can Ros;
S4: Barcelona, ​​Plaza Catalunya – Olesa de Montserrat;
S5: Barcelona, ​​Plaza Catalunya – Sant Cugat del Valles – Ruby;
S55: Barcelona, ​​Plaza Catalunya – Autonomous University of Barcelona;
S8: Barcelona, ​​Plaza Catalunya – Martorell.

Within the limits of the Catalan capital, the rail transport network is divided into six segments, the center of which is the Sants Estacio station (also called Estacio Sants), the lines are coordinated by Trenes.com, suburban trains in Barcelona by FGC.

Trenes.com train lines R1- R10:

  1. R1: Hospitalet de Llobregat – Barcelona Sants – Mataro – Blanes – Mazanet Massanes (7.8 platforms)
  2. R2: Sant Vicenç de Calders – Vilanva i la Geltrú – Sitges – Barcelona Sants – Granollers (centre) – Mazanet Massanes (platforms 9,10,13,14)
  3. R3: Hospitalet de Llobregat – Barcelona Sants – Granollers – Canoveles – Vic (7.8 platforms)
  4. R4: Sant Vicenç de Calders – Vilafranca del Penedès – Barcelona Sants – Cerdanyola del Valles – Terrassa (7.8 platforms)
  5. R7: Hospitalet de Llobregat – Barcelona Sants – Cerdanyola University – Martorell (7.8 platforms)
  6. R10: French Station – Passeig de Gracia – Barcelona Sants – Barcelona Airport (platforms 9, 10, 13, 14)

International trains

From Barcelona it is possible to go to other cities in Spain or board an international train, for example, to Paris.

From Sants-Estació it is possible to travel by suburban train as well as by long-distance trains. For example, the Barcelona-Madrid express trains are in great demand, with a travel time of only two hours and forty minutes.

Through Barcelona there is a high-speed train AVE, plying on the routes:

  • Madrid – Barcelona – Perpignan – Montpellier – Marseille;
  • Barcelona – Perpignan – Montpellier – Lyon;
  • Barcelona – Perpignan – Toulouse.

Barcelona trains: Sants Estació

The TGV high-speed train Barcelona-Perpignan-Montpellier-Paris also runs. Most of the trains on these lines stop in Girona and Figueres.

Please note that there is no daytime direct train in Barcelona to Paris – only night routes. Daytime trains require a change in Figueres.

Schedule

Like the subway, the railway operates: Monday – Thursday; on holidays, Sunday from five in the morning to twelve at night. On Friday, the schedule of electric trains in Barcelona increases to two in the morning, and on Saturday and before the holidays – around the clock.

The schedule of trains connecting the capital with other nearby cities varies depending on the line. For example, the last train from Lleida leaves at about six in the evening.

From El Prat airport, the first train to Barcelona leaves at 5.42 am and arrives at the Sants-Estacio station in nineteen minutes, the last one at 23.38. Trains from Barcelona airport run approximately once or twice in 60 minutes.

Barcelona train fare

To travel within the Catalan capital, tickets and fares for trains in the Catalan capital are similar to other modes of transport – single tickets and travel cards are relevant. Otherwise, a T10 ticket within one transport territory will cost about 10 euros, for six territories – about 45 euros. The travel card contains a set of tickets for ten trips. Moreover, you can get off the train and with the same ticket go further by bus or tram.

Prices for trips to other cities and countries vary depending on the distance. For example, a ticket for the Barcelona-Madrid train will cost approximately 45-130 euros, based on the type of train and available transfers. A ticket for the Barcelona-Paris train will cost approximately 180 euros for the Barcelona-Valencia train – €18.00 – 45.00.

Where to buy tickets for trains in Barcelona

Tickets for trains in the Catalan capital can be purchased at the box office, from vending machines at stations, you can also reserve them by phone or make a reservation on the website of the railway companies Trenes.com and FGC.

Based on the direction, train tickets in Barcelona are divided into the following types: Cercanias (Barcelona, ​​suburbs), Media Distancia (trains that run within Catalonia) and Larga Distancia (throughout Spain, international, and also high-speed AVE).

Also, international buses are divided into budget and privileged ones. Cheap tickets are sorted out in advance, their sale on the Internet begins two months before the date of travel.

Ticket offices at the station are open from 6 am to 11 pm. Train ticket machines in Barcelona accept bills of 5 euros, 10 euros, 20 euros, 50 euros, credit and debit cards.

What electric trains look like in the capital of Catalonia

History

The first railway in Spain started operating in 1848. By 2008, Spain already had at its disposal 1,272 kilometers of high-speed rail lines connecting Barcelona with Madrid, Seville, Malaga, Valladolid and others. Ambitious railway companies intend to increase the total length of the railway track to seven thousand kilometers by 2020 by modernizing the lines of high-speed electric trains.

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Stations of commuter trains and trains in Barcelona

Most tourists who visit the Catalan coast in the summer do not stop in Barcelona, ​​but choose a suburb closer to the sea. And people come to Barcelona to walk, to see, to cultivate, so to speak.
How to get to Barcelona? And where to go?

The article is dedicated to trains, suburban trains and main stations of the historical center of Barcelona.

The article is devoted to trains, commuter trains and main stations of the historic city center.
Catalonia has a well-developed network of commuter trains and commuter trains. In this regard, there are many stations of these trains in Barcelona. Commuter train stations are most often integrated with the city’s subway system. Therefore, do not be surprised that you are taking the train, but get off in the metro area on the main square of the city. The main thing is not to be afraid of the word “train”, which used to evoke memories of post-Soviet trains with wooden benches. Trains in Barcelona are very comfortable, fast and clean, each train has air conditioning and a toilet inside.

Train stops are located in different parts of the historic center of Barcelona, ​​which is very convenient, especially given the huge number of attractions scattered throughout the city.

If you buy a train ticket to Barcelona, ​​you can get off at the station closest to your destination. For example, if you bought a 10-ride pass to Barcelona Sants, this does not oblige you to get off there. You can easily get off at any station in Barcelona, ​​including Arc de Triumf, Placa Catalunya, Passeig de Gracia, Estacio de Franca, Clot and even Aeroport.

For information on which tickets to buy, read our articles “Bonotren Pass” and “Barcelona Tariff Zones”

Barcelona Sants is the central railway station.
This is the obligatory station for all suburban trains, trains from Valencia, Madrid or even Paris.
Central, but not always the most convenient.
The station is connected to the blue (L5) and green (L3) metro lines, stop Sants Estacio.
A 10-minute walk from the station is Plaza España, where the singing fountains and the National Palace, also known as the National Art Museum of Catalonia, are located. From here you can also start climbing Mount Montjuic and see the Barcelona Olympic Ring.

Next, we will divide the stations with respect to the two coasts of Barcelona: Costa Brava and Costa Dorada .

On Costa Brava there are such resort towns as Calea, Santa Susanna, Blanes, Lloret de Mar, Pineda de Mar, Malgrat de Mar and Arenis de Mar. Along the entire coast there is a line of electric trains R1, direction Macanet-Massanes.

Barcelona- Arc de Triomf
The station is connected to the red (L1) metro line, Arc de Triomf stop.
The station is located at the Arc de Triomphe of Barcelona, ​​which you will notice as soon as you leave the station on the street. A 5-minute walk starts Ciutadella Park, and on the other side is the central bus station Barcelona Nord; 10 minutes – Barcelona Zoo, 15 minutes – the old city of Barcelona, ​​the Born district, Barceloneta, the chocolate museum.

Barcelona-Placa Catalunya
The station is connected to the red (L1) and green (L3) metro lines, Catalunya stop.
The station is located in Plaza Catalunya, one of the city’s central squares. The most famous streets of the city originate from this square – the tourist Rambla and the shopping Passage de Gracia and Portal del Angels. On the square is a huge shopping center El Cort Ingles.
Two lines of the double-decker tourist bus Bas Touristik start from the square.
A 10-minute walk away are Gaudí’s houses: House of Batlo and House of Mila, Chocolate House and Quarter of Discord. In the other direction in 10 minutes – the Cathedral and the Gothic quarter. Go down the Rambla and you are in the old port of the city, this walk will take about 20 minutes.

Here in Plaza Catalunya at the porch of the Bank of Spain (Banko de Espanya) our tours “Barcelona and Gaudí” and “Walking tour of Barcelona” start

At Costa Dorada there are such resort towns as: Calafell, Coma Ruga, Salou, Cambrils, Port Aventura, La Pineda. Closer to Barcelona, ​​tourists stop in the towns of Sitges and Castelldelfeis. Along the entire coast there is a line of commuter trains R2, direction Sant Vicenc de Calders. As well as long-distance trains that leave Valencia and rush through Cambrils, Salou, Tarragona and Port Aventura.

Other related articles:

  • Barcelona tariff zones
  • How to get to Tibidabo
  • Barcelona in 2 days

Barcelona-Passeig de Gracia
The station is connected to the purple (L2), green (L3) and yellow (L4) metro lines, stop Passeig de Gracia.
The station is located right next to Casa Batlo (architect Antonio Gaudí) on one of the most famous streets of the city Passage de Gracia.
Right next to the station there is also the Chocolate House and the Quarter of Discord, and you can also take one of the two tourist bus lines.
5 minutes walk – Casa Mila or La Pedrera (the second house of Antoni Gaudi), 10 minutes – Plaza Catalunya and Las Ramblas, 20 minutes – Cathedral and the Gothic quarter, 25 minutes – Sagrada Familia, and in the other direction the old port and aquarium.

A 10-minute walk from the station is Barcelona-Passeig de Gracia Plaça Catalunya, from where our tours Barcelona and Gaudí and Barcelona Walking Tour start

Barcelona- Estacio de Franca
The station is not connected to the metro, but a 5-minute walk away is the metro station Barceloneta on the yellow (L4) metro line.
A 5-minute walk from the station is the Ciutadella Park, the Barcelona Zoo, the old town, the Born district and the old port; 10 minutes from the Aquarium of Barcelona, ​​the beaches, the Barceloneta district, the Gothic Quarter, the Chocolate Museum and the Picasso Museum.