myBCN · For Visitors
Everything You Need Before You ArriveYour quick guide to Barcelona, from the airport to the walk
We’re excited you’re coming to Barcelona. This page collects the practical things we wish every guest knew before their first day here — how to get in from the airport, when to visit, what to do between tours, and the small details that make a trip smoother.
Getting Here & Getting Around
From the Airport
- Aerobus — the easiest option for most people. About €7.45 one-way (€12.85 return), buses every 5–10 minutes, roughly 25 minutes to Plaça de Catalunya or Plaça Espanya.
- Train — the RENFE R2 line runs about every 30 minutes for around €4.90; the L9 Sud metro line also connects both terminals to the city from about €5.70.
- Taxi — official black-and-yellow taxis, about €30–€40 from the airport, 20–30 minutes depending on traffic.
Getting Around Once You’re Here
Barcelona’s metro and bus network is run by TMB and covers the city well. For most visitors, the T-Casual card is the simplest choice: about €13 for 10 rides within Zone 1, which covers almost everywhere you’ll want to go, and it can be shared between people in your group — tap it once per person, per ride. A single ride is about €2.90, so the T-Casual pays for itself after five trips.
The Old Town, where most of our walking tours take place, is best explored on foot. Many of the streets are narrow, pedestrian-only, or both.
Prices change from year to year — worth a quick check on tmb.cat before you travel.
Best Times to Visit
- May and September are our favourite months to point people toward: mild weather, and noticeably fewer visitors than summer.
- June through August is high season — hot, often above 30°C, and busy. Book everything, including tours, well in advance if you’re coming then.
- Winter (November–February) is quiet and mild by northern European standards, with the lowest prices, though beach life and some outdoor spots wind down.
- October brings more rain than any other month. January, despite what a lot of guides assume, is actually the driest.
Things to Do
Most of what there is to do in Barcelona starts with our Walking Tours — Gaudí’s work, the Gothic Quarter, and the private tours built around what you want to see. We’re adding more of the city here — food, day trips, and beyond — as those pages go live.
Where We Like to Eat and Drink
[Placeholder] Restaurant and bar recommendations go here — replace with approved copy.
Flamenco in Barcelona
Flamenco didn’t start in Barcelona — it’s an Andalusian tradition — but the city has some genuinely good places to see it.
[Placeholder] Venue recommendation goes here — replace with approved copy.
Good to Know Before You Arrive
- Many shops close for a couple of hours in the early afternoon, especially smaller, family-run ones. Restaurants often don’t start serving dinner until 8pm.
- Tap water in Barcelona is safe to drink.
- Tipping isn’t expected the way it is in the US — rounding up or leaving small change for good service is normal, not required.
- Wear comfortable shoes. Much of the Old Town is cobblestone, and our walking tours cover real distance.
- Book tickets for the Sagrada Família and other major sights online, in advance — they sell out, especially in high season.
- Keep an eye on your belongings in crowded spots like Las Ramblas and on the metro. Pickpocketing is a real, manageable risk in any big tourist city, and Barcelona is no exception.
This page will keep growing as we add more of what we’ve learned from hosting guests here. If there’s something you wish we’d covered, let us know — we read every message.