Barcelona

Arriving at Barcelona Airport

Barcelona Airport has two terminals, both with great transport links for onward travel. The journey time from the airport to the city centre is between 20 to 30 minutes depending on the time of day.

If you’d like to take a taxi from the airport, you’ll find ranks outside both terminals. A ride to the centre should cost approximately €30. The blue Aerobuses are a fast shuttle service between the airport and Plaça de Catalunya. Buses depart every 5 or 10 minutes from 5:35am until 1am (Terminal 1) or 6am until 1am (Terminal 2). The fare is €5.90 one-way or €10.20 return.

There is also a train station at the airport’s Terminal 2, with trains running from 5:42am until 11.38pm. If you purchase a T10 multi-trip ticket you can combine the airport train with the metro and bus as one journey for €1.02, saving you over €3.

Pre-book your transfer with HolidayTaxis and avoid the queues when you arrive.

What to expect in Barcelona

Barcelona is a city you’ll want to visit again and again. It combines months of endless sunshine, a relaxed pace and unbeatable food with stunning architecture and an enthralling culture. It’s everything that is most charming about Mediterranean cities, with a little extra.

In Barcelona, you will see and hear everything in two different languages, Spanish and Catalan. Most locals are bilingual though, and you will find that English is also widely spoken.

As a coastal city in the Mediterranean, Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate, with hot, sunny summers and mild, relatively rainy winters.

Culture in Barcelona

Barcelona really does have everything – from fine art museums to designer shopping and the beach right on your doorstep. Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia (Catalunya), one of the most proud and rich cultures in Europe, so there’s lots to explore. Your time in Barcelona should be spent discovering the distinct neighbourhoods, admiring the historic architecture, and eating and drinking your way around the city.

Barcelona is a real foodie destination. As well as paella and fresh seafood, tapas are one of the most popular dishes. Small in size but full of flavour, tapas offer diners the chance to explore countless dishes without becoming too full. A particular tapas dish you must try in Barcelona is a ‘bomba’ – a tennis ball-sized potato croquette served with a white garlic aioli and a rich and spicy red sauce.