Getting to Barcelona

Barcelona has an excellent bus and Metro system. A map of the city and transportation systems is essential for ease of travel.

Metro:
There are 5 color coded metro lines which are also numbered 1-5. Tickets are inexpensive. The best value is a T-1 card which gives 10 rides for the price of 5 1/2 and can be used on all forms of public transport (bus, Metro, and FGC lines)

Bus:
Service is efficient and regular.

Trains:
Estacío de Sants is the city's main train station, for national and some international arrivals. The Estació de França (or Estació Terminal), next to the Parc de la Ciutadella, is the terminal for long-distance Spanish and European express and inter-city trains.
FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Cataluña) travels into the hill country and around the city.

Ferries:
Ferries Tickets for Balearic ferries from Transmediterránea, at the Estacío Maritima tel. 93 443 2532. Book in advance in July and August.

Taxis:
Black and yellow Barcelona taxis are metered and fares are reasonably priced. Luggage is extra. A small tip is appreciated.

Air Travel:
The airport, 12km southwest of the city, is linked by a half-hourly train service. Many trains from the airport also run on to Plaça de Catalunya, a more direct way of reaching the Barri Gòtic. Alternatively, there's the efficient Airbus (Aerobus; Mon-Fri every 15min, Sat-Sun every half-hour; 6/6.30-11; 450ptas), which departs from outside the terminals on a circular route and runs into the centre via Plaça España, Gran Vía, Plaça de Catalunya and Passeig de Grácia.