Public transportation
Urban transport is operated by TMB with the exception of a single metro line (Tel: (93) 298 70 00. Internet: www.tmb.net). There is a TMB information office in the foyer of the Universitat metro station. Further information points are located in the Diagonal, Sants Estacio and Sagrada Familia metro stations.
The regional train connections and the purple metro line are operated by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) (Tel: (93) 205 15 15. Internet: www.fgc.es). The information office is located in the Catalunya metro station.
The suburbs and the surrounding area are served by regional trains from FGC and RENFE. The local network of RENFE is called Rodalies or Cercanías. The name of the central station is Plaça de Catalunya.
Aside from rush hours (between 7:30 AM and 9:30 AM or 6 PM and 8:30 PM), the Metro (M) is the fastest form of transportation in the city. The different metro lines can be recognized by their color and number. The direction of travel is indicated by specifying the end station.
A ticket for a single trip ( billet senzill) must be validated and carried on one of the machines on the platform before departure, otherwise a fine is due. The metro operates Monday through Thursday and Sunday and on public holidays from 5 a.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday and on the eve of public holidays and until 2 a.m.
The FGC line is fully integrated into the TMB-operated metro network and runs daily until 1.30 a.m.
City buses run from around 5:30 a.m. to around 10:30 p.m. The bus network is very extensive and almost all lines go via Plaça de Catalunya, Plaça Urquinaona or Plaça de la Universitat. The ticket must be validated when boarding.
There are 16 night bus routes that run every 30 minutes on weekdays and every 20 minutes on weekends between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. and for which a separate ticket can be purchased.
The TombBus is a shopping service that shuttles between Plaça de Catalunya and Plaça Pius XII. It operates on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 9.30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 9.30 p.m.
Tickets for multiple journeys (T-10 and T-50/30) are also available, which cost depending on the period of validity, means of transport and number of connections. There are also passports valid for one day, ten days and one month for one tariff zone. In addition, 3-day and 5-day tickets are available especially for tourists, which are valid for Aerobus, Metro and buses and thus cover all modes of transport in the city, including travel to and from the airport.
A cog railway runs up Montjuïc from the corner of Carrer Nou de la Rambla and Avinguda Parallel to Avinguda Miramar; daily in summer from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and in winter from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. From the amusement park, a cable car ( telefèric) runs up to Montjuïc Castle; in summer (mid-June to mid-September) daily from 10.30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and in winter on weekends from 10.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.
Taxis
There are 11,000 registered black and yellow taxis in the city. Taxis can easily be stopped on the street or ordered in advance (tel: (93) 303-3033 or -03 00). The basic price is shown on the taximeter, plus a kilometer price. A surcharge is payable for each piece of luggage. Taxi drivers expect a tip of 5-10% of the fare.
Driving in the city
Since many of the main attractions are close together and Barcelona has an excellent public transport system, there is hardly any reason to drive your own vehicle. In addition, traffic threatens to collapse at times during rush hours and parking spaces are difficult to find in certain areas. In addition, vehicles without an environmental badge are not allowed to drive within the Barcelona environmental zone between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on working days.
To park in blue zones, a parking ticket must be purchased between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Failure to do so may result in the vehicle being towed.
Car rental
In order to rent a vehicle as a foreigner, you must be at least 21 years old, be able to identify yourself and be in possession of a valid driver’s license. A valid international insurance policy is also required. However, this can also be concluded with the car rental company. In addition to the car rental companies at the airport, Avis and Hertz also have branches in the city:
Avis (Tel: (93) 209 95 33. Internet: www.avis.com),
Hertz (Tel: (93) 217 32 48. Internet: www.hertz.com).
Bicycle rental
Bicycle paths and parking spaces are limited in Barcelona. Bicycles are generally permitted on public transport; however, restrictions apply during peak hours. Bicycles can be found at
Scenic (tel: (93) 221 16 66),
Un Coxte Menys (tel: (93) 268 21 05) and
Biciclot (tel: (93) 307 74 75).
Usually the presentation of the passport or identity card is required.
