A great way to get around Barcelona is by using the metro. The Barcelona metro system can take you almost anywhere in the city: nearly all of Barcelona’s attractions are accessible by metro. For Montjuïc and Tibidabo attractions, however, you’ll need to use different transportation. The entire ‘zona alta,’ or the upscale Sarrià – Sant Gervasi neighborhood, is not within the metro’s reach but is served by the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) city trains, effectively part of the same network as the metro.
Barcelona Metro Explained
The Barcelona metro is very modern and offers top-notch service for a low price, making it one of the most popular transportation options among Barcelona residents.
Additionally, thanks to the integrated card system of Barcelona’s public transport, the same public transport ticket can be used for the metro, buses, trams, zone 1 FGC trains, and Rodalies de Catalunya regional trains in zone 1. Very convenient!
Metro Lines in Barcelona
Barcelona’s metro network is managed by two different companies: the city transport company Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB), recognizable by the red M, and the regional Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC), recognizable by the orange symbol. There are 12 metro lines in Barcelona (8 from TMB, 4 from FGC) that can take you throughout the city.
In Barcelona, you have the following metro lines:
- L1 (red): Hospital de Bellvitge – Fondo
- L2 (purple): Paral·lel – Badalona/Pompeu Fabra
- L3 (green): Zona Universitària – Trinitat Nova
- L4 (yellow): Trinitat Nova – La Pau
- L5 (dark blue): Cornellà Centre – Vall d’Hebron
- L9 Nord (orange): La Sagrera – Can Zam
- L9 Sud (orange): Aeroport T1 – Zona Universitària
- L10 Nord (light blue): La Sagrera – Gorg
- L10 Sud (light blue): Foc – Collblanc
- L11 (light green): Trinitat Nova – Can Cuiàs
Here are the four Barcelona city trains, or Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC), that are also part of the metro network:
- L6 (purple): Catalunya – Sarrià
- L7 (brown): Catalunya – Av. Tibidabo
- L8 (pink): Espanya – Molí Nou/Ciutat Cooperativa
- L12 (violet): Sarrià – Reina Elisenda
Barcelona Metro Map
Here’s a handy map of the Barcelona metro and the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat (the FGC trains primarily found in the northern part of the city, around the upscale neighborhood of Sarrià-Sant Gervasi).
How the Barcelona Metro Works
Buying Metro Tickets
Metro tickets can be purchased at ticket counters and machines in metro stations (including at Barcelona airport). Tickets are available in various formats.
You can buy a single journey ticket, a ten-trip ticket, a day ticket, or a ticket for 30 to 90 days. As a tourist, you can also buy special cards, such as the Hola Barcelona Travel Card valid for 2, 3, 4, or 5 days.
Moreover, these tickets are also valid for regular bus services, the tram, and zone 1 of the FGC trains and Rodalies de Catalunya regional trains.
However, be aware! Outside the Barcelona area, beyond zone 1, a different fare applies. You also need a different metro ticket for the journey to and from the airport, the Bitllet Aeroport.
Payment at the machine can be made with cash, debit, or credit card.
⭐ Book your public transport pass here!
Barcelona Public Transport Card Prices
Below you will find some examples of the prices of metro tickets in Barcelona.
| A one-day pass (T-Dia) | € 10,50 |
| Eight-ride ticket (T-Familiar) | € 10,00 |
| Ten-ride ticket (T-Casual) | € 11,35 |
| Airport Ticket (Bitllet Aeroport, metro ticket to and from the airport) | € 5,15 |
| Hola Barcelona Travelcard 48 hours | € 16,30 |
| Hola Barcelona Travelcard 72 hours | € 23,70 |
| Hola Barcelona Travelcard 96 hours | € 30,80 |
| Hola Barcelona Travelcard 120 hours | € 38,00 |
Note: Children up to 4 years old travel for free.
The Hola Barcelona Travel Card
If you plan to use public transport frequently during your vacation or city trip in Barcelona, the Hola Barcelona Travel Card (formerly known as the Hola BCN! Travelcard) is the best option for you.
This card allows unlimited travel on public transport in Barcelona, including transport to and from the airport.
The Hola Barcelona Travel Card is valid for the chosen period on the metro, buses, trams, zone 1 of the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) trains, and zone 1 of the Rodalies de Catalunya regional trains.
You can easily order the Hola Barcelona Travel Card online or buy it on the spot from the ticket machines in the metro. One card is needed per person.
When you order the Hola Barcelona Travel Card online, you need to collect the card from the machines in the metro or from the tourist offices at Barcelona Airport or in the city.
This card is valid from the moment of activation for the pre-selected period.
👉 Read more about the Hola Barcelona Travel Card here.
The Ten-Ride Ticket
The ten-ride ticket, known as the T-Casual (formerly T-10), is the most commonly used public transport card among locals in Barcelona.
Firstly, it’s inexpensive (only about one euro per trip) and can be used on all public transport in the city (metro, buses, trams, zone 1 of the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat city trains, and zone 1 of the Rodalies de Catalunya regional trains).
A T-Casual card can be purchased from ticket machines in the metro and costs just €11.35.
This card is valid for 10 trips on public transport in Barcelona. You can transfer during your journey (e.g., from bus to metro or vice versa) without it costing you an extra trip as long as you make the transfer within an hour and a quarter (75 minutes).
Note: The T-Casual is not valid for the trip to and from the airport. For that, you need a Bitllet Aeroport. The T-Casual also cannot be used by multiple people at the same time. For that purpose, the T-Familiar is a better option.
The T-Familiar
The T-Familiar is a public transport card that allows you eight trips on the metro (and all other public transport in Barcelona) and can be shared and used simultaneously with others. This makes it an interesting alternative for travelers with a small group: you only need to buy one pass and share it.
You can make up to 8 trips within 30 days. For each trip, you have a maximum of 75 minutes and can transfer if needed.
The T-Familiar is available at metro ticket machines for €10.
Please note that this card is not valid for the metro ride to and from Barcelona Airport. For that, you need the Bitllet Aeroport.
The Bitllet Aeroport
When traveling by metro to and from El Prat Airport in Barcelona, you need to buy a special public transport ticket, the so-called Bitllet Aeroport.
This metro ticket is the only public transport card that grants access to Barcelona Airport, in addition to the Hola Barcelona Travelcard and the Barcelona Card.
The Bitllet Aeroport is available at all metro ticket machines and costs €5.15 per trip.
You need to buy one ticket per person for traveling from Barcelona Airport to the city by metro or vice versa.
The metro line connecting Barcelona Airport to the city is the brand-new L9 Sud and has two metro stations at the airport; one for each terminal (Terminal 1 and Terminal 2). Depending on your arrival and departure terminal, you need to use one or the other metro stop.
To enter and exit the metro at Barcelona Airport, you need to swipe your public transport card through the machine. Only the Bitllet Aeroport, Hola Barcelona Travelcard, Barcelona Card, T-Dia, T-Usual, T-Jove, T-16, and Tarjeta Rosa are valid for this purpose.
The Barcelona Card
With the Barcelona Card, you get free public transport throughout Barcelona along with discounts (and sometimes even free entry!) to many museums and attractions in Barcelona, as well as certain shops and restaurants. Order your Barcelona Card online and start enjoying all these great benefits upon arrival.
⭐ Book your public transport pass here!
Barcelona Metro Operating Hours
The Barcelona metro operates from Sunday to Thursday from 5:00 AM to midnight (until 2:00 AM on Fridays). On Saturdays and public holidays like New Year’s, the metro operates continuously from 5:00 AM throughout the day and night. So, you can easily go out on the weekends and return to your hotel or home by metro, regardless of the time.
Accessibility
Barcelona’s metro is increasingly accessible to people with disabilities.
Most metro stations are wheelchair accessible thanks to elevators running from street level to the platforms, and there are blind paths, tactile buttons to open doors, and loudspeakers that announce the next stop and when doors open and close.
If you are traveling with a stroller or large luggage (such as a bike or suitcase), there is usually a wider sliding door at the metro entrance for easier access.
Once inside the metro, there are reserved seats for the elderly and pregnant women, and spaces suitable for wheelchairs, bikes, buggies, and strollers.
Most metros also have small ramps at front and rear entrances to minimize the height difference between the metro floor and the platform.
However, not all metro stations in Barcelona have an elevator. You might want to avoid certain stops if you are traveling with a wheelchair, stroller, or heavy luggage, such as Plaça de Sants (L1 and L5), Espanya (L1, L3, and L8), Urquinaona (L1 and L4), Clot (L1), Maragall (L4 and L5), Verdaguer (L4 and L5), Ciutadella | Vila Olímpica (L4).
Tips for Using the Barcelona Metro
- Download the Barcelona Metro TMB Map app for the fastest and easiest route.
- Ticket machines are available at every station, and larger stations also have staffed ticket counters.
- Free metro maps are available at the counters at larger stations.
- Keep your metro ticket with you throughout your ride as there might be inspectors.
- Beware of pickpockets, especially near ticket machines and in crowded areas.
- Children up to 4 years old travel for free. It’s worth carrying proof of your child’s birth date, such as an ID card or a copy of the passport.
- If you have mobility issues or are carrying luggage, use the elevator. Avoid certain stations without elevators: Plaça de Sants (L1 and L5), Espanya (L1, L3, and L8), Urquinaona (L1 and L4), Clot (L1), Vallcarca (L3), Maragall (L4 and L5), Verdaguer (L4 and L5), Jaume I (L4), Ciutadella | Vila Olímpica (L4), and Virrei Amat (L5).
- Reserved seats are available in the metro for the elderly, people with disabilities, or pregnant women.
- If you live in Barcelona and use public transport daily, a subscription is highly recommended. Options include a monthly pass (T-Usual) for unlimited travel in 30 days, a T-Grup for 70 trips in 30 days, or a T-Jove for travelers under 25 years old to travel unlimitedly in 90 days.
- It’s allowed to travel with your dog in the Barcelona metro (except during busy times between 7:00 AM and 9:30 AM and 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM). Additionally, dogs should wear a muzzle, be leashed, and have a microchip for identification. Carry the certificate proving your dog is registered in the municipal register (if you live in Barcelona) or the EU pet passport (if you are a tourist). Dogs cannot occupy a seat. Avoid using escalators with dogs. Only adults (18 and older) may travel with potentially dangerous dogs, and only one dog per person is allowed. If traveling with another type of pet in the metro, it must always be in an appropriate travel carrier.
- It’s also allowed to travel with a bicycle in the metro (except on weekdays between 7:00 AM and 9:30 AM and 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM).
- On escalators, the unspoken rule is: stand on the right, walk on the left.
- You can now travel to and from Barcelona Airport using the L9 Sud metro line. For this, you need to purchase the Bitllet Aeroport (€5.15 per person) from the ticket machines.
- If you have questions, consult the customer service points in the metro at stations like Diagonal (L3 and L5), Universitat (L1 and L2), and La Sagrera (L1, L5, L9 Nord, and L10).
