If you’re planning a city trip to Barcelona, chances are you’ll be using public transport, so you’ll need a transit card. Among all the options, the Hola Barcelona Travel Card is often one of the best, especially if you’re staying in Barcelona for several days and plan to use public transport extensively. On this page, I’ll explain how the Hola Barcelona transit card works and where you can buy it, so you can make the most of your city trip.
What is the Hola Barcelona Travel Card
The Hola Barcelona Travel Card, formerly known as the Hola BCN! travel card, is a travel card that allows you unlimited travel throughout Barcelona on public transport for 2 days (48 hours), 3 days (72 hours), 4 days (96 hours), or 5 days (120 hours).
There are many advantages to this transit card: for a fixed amount, you can travel as often as you like on the metro, bus, and tram in the city, take the cable railway to Montjuïc for free, or cover your trip from and to Barcelona airport.
You also don’t need to buy other tickets or waste time and get stressed over a potentially complicated public transport system.
This makes the Hola Barcelona Travel Card one of the most interesting and suitable transit cards for tourists. It’s simply the best way to save a lot of time and money.
⭐ Book your public transport pass here!
Where is the Hola Barcelona Travel Card Valid
The Hola Barcelona card is valid on the metro, bus, and tram, as well as on the FGC trains (zone 1) and Rodalies de Catalunya trains (zone 1).
The card also includes the trip to and from Barcelona airport (on the L9 metro, bus 46, and within zone 1 of the Rodalies train) and the Montjuïc Funicular.
However, be aware that the Hola Barcelona card is NOT valid on the tourist hop-on-hop-off buses, the Aerobús shuttle buses, night buses, trains outside zone 1, or in the cable cars and other cable railways.
How Long is the Hola Barcelona Travel Card Valid
You can buy a Hola Barcelona travel card for several days: for 2 days (48 hours), 3 days (72 hours), 4 days (96 hours), or 5 days (120 hours).
The card is valid from the moment of activation for the chosen number of hours, that is, 48, 72, 96, or 120 consecutive hours from the first time you use it.
How Does the Hola Barcelona Travel Card Work
You need one Hola Barcelona Travel Card per person if you are traveling with multiple people. However, children up to 4 years old do not need a transit card; they can travel for free on public transport.
The Hola Barcelona travel card is automatically activated when you pass it through the card reader in the metro, bus, tram, or train gates.
After that, you must bring out the card again each time you enter public transport to pass through the metro and train gates or to pay for your bus and tram ride.
To exit, you usually don’t need the card, only to open the gates at some train or metro stations.
Where Can You Buy the Hola Barcelona Travel Card
You can buy the Hola Barcelona Travel Card in Barcelona (at metro ticket machines and tourist offices) or order it online in advance. Below, I explain the different options and how they work.
Ordering the Hola Barcelona Travel Card Online
The Hola Barcelona transit card is now very easy to order online. Advantages of ordering online include getting extra discounts on your transit card and less stress about buying a transit card on the spot.
Check the availability for the Hola Barcelona Travel Card:
Buying the Hola Barcelona Travel Card in Barcelona
You can also choose to buy the Barcelona Travel Card directly in Barcelona. You can use the ticket machines and tourist offices, both at the airport and in the city center. However, you won’t receive a discount on your purchase and you’ll have to manage everything on the spot.
- Buying a ticket at the ticket machine: you can buy the Hola Barcelona Travel Card at any metro ticket machine in Barcelona and activate it immediately. Ticket machines are also located at the entrance of the metro at both airport terminals in Barcelona. You can pay with cash, debit card, or credit card. However, the machine only operates in Spanish, Catalan, French, or English.
- Buying a ticket at the tourist office: the tourist service in Barcelona has several offices or information points where they sell the Hola Barcelona Travel Card. There are also offices on Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 of Barcelona Airport. You will be assisted by people here and can ask all sorts of questions for your visit to Barcelona. However, you are dependent on the opening hours (from 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM) and because there can be lines, it might take more time.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Hola Barcelona Travel Card
If you’re going to make intensive use of public transport during your stay in Barcelona, for example, because your hotel is outside the center or because you want to see much of the city in as little time as possible, then the Hola Barcelona Travel Card is very suitable for you.
The Hola Barcelona card is intended for tourists who visit Barcelona for several days and plan to move around using public transport.
For comparison: a day pass for public transport in Barcelona (24 hours from the first validation) costs €10.50. With the Hola Barcelona Travel Card, you can travel for as low as €8.2 per day (based on a 2-day card) and even for €7.64 per day (based on a 5-day card). So, you save a few euros right away!
The validity of your order will depend on the seller, but generally, it’s advisable to buy your tickets at least 90 days before departure.
Many online sellers also ask for a date when purchasing the Hola Barcelona Travel Card. It’s best to fill in the date you’re traveling to Barcelona and plan to activate the card.
Always read the conditions carefully before placing an order to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Yes, the Hola Barcelona Travel Card is also valid for travel to and from the airport, but only on the metro, train (zone 1), or regular bus (bus line 46).
The card is NOT valid on the Aerobús.
No, the Hola Barcelona Travel Card is not valid on the tourist hop-on-hop-off buses. However, you can board and disembark from the regular buses as often as you like with the Hola Barcelona Travel Card.
Yes, you can travel outside Barcelona with the Hola Barcelona transit card, but only to places that fall within zone 1 and are accessible with the city trains FGC and the regional trains of Rodalies de Catalunya.
Some places within zone 1 are: Hospitalet de Llobregat, El Prat del Llobregat, Castelldefels, Gavà, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Sant Just Desvern, Montcada i Reixac, Sant Adrià del Besòs, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Badalona, and Montgat.
