By Air

British Airways, Iberia and easyJet offer direct flights from the UK to Barcelona. From the US, flights usually involve one stopover (in Madrid). Qantas flies from Australia and New Zealand to Barcelona via a series of stopovers.

British Airways

• 90 211 13 33

• www.britishairways.com

Iberia

• 90 240 05 00

• www.iberia.es

easyJet

• 807 260 026 (premium rate)

• www.easyjet.com

Delta

• 900 800 743

• www.delta.com

Continental

• 90 096 12 66

• www.continental.com

Barcelona Airport

Prat de Llobregat airport’s three adjoining terminals are 12 km (7 miles) south of the city centre.

• 90 240 47 04

• www.aena.es

From the Airport

One of the most convenient ways from the airport to the city centre is by Aerobús, which depart every 6 minutes from 6am to 1am, and make various stops, terminating at Plaça de Catalunya. RENFE trains leave the airport every 30 minutes, stopping at Estació de Sants and Passeig de Gràcia; both link up with the metro. A taxi from the airport into the city centre costs €20–€25.

Aerobús

• 93 415 60 20

RENFE

• 90 224 02 02

By Train

Trains run throughout Spain and Europe from Estació de Sants and Estació de França. Both stations have lockers, ATMs and bureaux de change. RENFE is Spain’s national train company.

Estació de França

• Av Marqués de l’Argentera

Estació de Sants

• Pl dels Països Catalans

RENFE

• 90 224 02 02 (24 hours)

• www.renfe.es

By Bus

Both Eurolines and Linebús serve Barcelona from numerous European cities, including Rome, Paris and London. Buses usually operate from Barcelona’s main bus station, Estació del Nord, and also from Estació de Sants.

Estació del Nord Station

• C/Ali Bei 80

• 90 226 06 06

• www.barcelonanord.com

Eurolines

• 90 242 22 42

Linebús

• 90 233 55 33

By Car

Barcelona is linked to the rest of Spain and Europe by autopistes (toll highways) and toll-free roads. The tolled AP7 runs between Barcelona and the border of France.

Domestic travel

The city is connected to the rest of Spain by train, bus and plane. Iberia and its low-cost airline, Clickair, fly to and from many domestic destinations and offer a shuttle service between Madrid and Barcelona with up to 30 flights a day. Spanair, Vueling and Air Europa serve Barcelona from the rest of Spain. RENFE and several bus companies link Barcelona to most of Spain’s major cities.

Spanair

• 90 213 14 15

• www.spanair.com

Air Europa

• 90 240 15 01

• www.aireuropa.com

Vueling

• 807 00 17 17

• www.vueling.com

Cheap Travel

Book long before your departure date to cut costs. If you’re flexible and open to stopovers, you’re likely to find better deals. The internet is great for cheap fares (try www.travelocity.com or www.cheaptickets.com). Many airlines offer discounts if you buy online.

Planning

Citizens from the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand need a valid passport. For non-EU citizens, a visa is required if you intend to stay in Spain for longer than three months. If you’re taking any kind of medication, bring your prescription.

When to Visit

If you’re in search of sun, visit Barcelona during the summer, but remember that many businesses close through August. To avoid the summer crowds, visit around May or October.