Travel Information
By taxi
You can find taxi points in front of both terminals. The transfer by taxi from El Prat Airport to the Gran Hotel Princesa Sofia takes approximately 20 minutes depending on traffic. It costs between 30€ and 35€ depending on the time of day.
Taxis in Barcelona are easily recognizable by their colours (yellow and black). A green light on top of the taxi means it is available, and they charge the amount on the meter.
Usual tickets and Fares for Public Transport
Price: 2.15€
Non-integrated ticket
Price: 4.50€
A non-integrated individual metro ticket for one journey between Aeroport T1 and Aeroport T2 stations on line L9 Sud and the rest of the metro network.
• T-Dia (One-day travel card).
Price: 8.40€
Integrated ticket
Individual travel card valid for an unlimited number of journeys.
Validity: 1 day from first validation to end of service.
Valid also for Aeroport T1 and Aeroport T2 metro stations on line L9 Sud.
• T-10.
Price: 9.95€
A multi-person travel card valid for 10 metro/bus/trains journeys.
Passengers have 75 minutes between the first and last validation when changing lines or mode of transport.
Not valid for Aeroport T1 and Aeroport T2 metro stations on line L9 Sud.
Tickets can be bought in metro stations, some “La Caixa” bank machines, and many tobacco shops (“estancs”). For further information: www.tmb.cat
The best option for most people is a multiple ride “T-10” (for one zone), which can be shared by various people at the same time.
If you are visiting Barcelona may buy a “Hola BCN!” card for 2, 3, 4 or 5 days and plan your route around the city and metropolitan area on public transport: metro and bus (TMB), local train (FGC), tram (TRAM) and regional train (Rodalies de Catalunya).
By Subway
The L9 Sud runs from Zona Universitària to Barcelona Airport. You need a special Airport ticket to get in or out the Airport metro stations. This ticket costs 4,50€. The travel time is 1h.
To go from the Aiport to the Hotel Princesa Sofia you may take the L9 Sud from the Airport and get off at Zona Universitaria. Then, transfer within the same station to the L3 (green line) and get off at Maria Cristina. From there it is a 5 minute walk. A single Airport ticket is enough for this trip. Check this itinerary at Google Maps
For further information: Metro Map and www.tmb.cat
By train
The Renfe R2 (Rodalies de Catalunya rail network) connects terminal 2 with the city centre. It operates every 30 minutes. The travel time is 19 minutes to Barcelona Sants. From there you can get to the Gran Hotel Princesa Sofia with the metro L3. A single ticket can be used for the entire trip and a one-way ticket costs 4.10€. Check this itinerary at Google Maps
The R2 Rodalies de Catalunya mainline train ends at El Prat airport’s terminal T2. You can get to terminal T1 on the free BusTransit T1-T2 shuttle bus.
For further information about timetables and stations for the R2 on Rodalies de Catalunya check: Rodalies de Catalunya.
By bus
• Express bus (Aerobus): The “Aerobus” express bus service leaves from T1 (Aerobus A1) and T2 (Aerobus A2) and arrives at “Plaça Catalunya” in approximately 35 minutes. The A1 operates every 5 or 10 minutes and the A2 every 10 or 20 minutes. The bus shuttle service between the airport and Barcelona city centre (Plaça Catalunya) runs from 06.00 a.m. to 01.00 a.m. (airport → Barcelona) and from 05:30 to 00:15 (Barcelona → airport) every day.
Price per person: 5,90 € (one way) / 10,20 € (return) per person. If you take the bus from the airport into the city, you can buy your ticket on the Aerobus.
You can find more information available on the following website: Aerobus
To go from the Airport to the Hotel Princesa Sofia you may take the Aerobus, get off at Plaça Espanya and take the metro L3 (you will have to purchase a ticket for the metro). Check this itinerary at Google Maps
• Conventional bus (number 46): The number 46 links Plaça Espanya with terminals T1 and T2 at Barcelona Airport. Bear in mind that this bus runs every 15 to 25 minutes, depending on the time of day, and that only luggage measuring 100 x 60 x 25 cm or less is permitted on board.
Detailed information on the number 46 bus
To go from the Airport to the Hotel Princesa Sofia you may take the bus 46, get off at Gran Via-Química station and transfer to bus V3. Alternatively, you can get off at Plaça Espanya and take the metro L3. Unless you have a multi-trip card, you will have to buy 2 single tickets (one for each segment). Check this itinerary at Google Maps
• Night buses (NitBus): NitBus night buses take you to the airport too. The N16 takes you to terminal T2 and the N17 goes to terminal T1.
The N17 night bus operates from Ronda Universitat / Plaça Catalunya to Barcelona Airport T1, stopping at Pl. d’Espanya.
The N16 night bus operates from Ronda Universitat / Plaça Catalunya to Barcelona Airport T2, stopping at Pl. d’Espanya.
Frequency: every 20 minutes.
Further information about the night bus service to Barcelona Airport is available on the website: www.emt-amb.com.
Can I pay less than 1€ for the airport transfer? 😉
Yes! For this, you need a T-10 (A multi-person travel card valid for 10 trips). You can take the Renfe R2 train in terminal 2 (if you arrive in Terminal 1 you have to take the free BusTransit T1-T2 shuttle bus to terminal 2). Get off at Barcelona Sants and take the metro L3 using the same T-10 card. Get off at Maria Cristina station and walk 5 minutes to the hotel. The travel time is 40 minutes. Check this itinerary at: Google Maps
If you have the T-10 card, you may also take the bus 46 route (as explained above).
The T-10 card is not sold at the Renfe train station nor in the buses. At the airport, you can purchase it at the metro vending machines in terminal T1 or T2.