Looking for help, advice from anyone who has recently been to Barcelona, Spain. We need to get from the airport to the city center. Has anyone used the train and then transferred to the Metro? The travel advisor sites are somewhat helpful but it would be good to hear from someone who has had recent first-hand experience. Thanks for any help.
I was in Barcelona a few days in October and although our airport transfers were by automobile, I found this web site that might help. http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/airport/barcelona-airport-transport.html#renfe
As you probably have discovered, RENFE, which is the carrier that provides much of Spain's local (commuter) and intercity service provides the service between Barcelona Airport and the city center. As indicated in the cited page, you can get a free ride to the city center if you purchase a Barcelona Transit T10 ticket. The ticket may have value to you if you plan to make extensive use of the Barcelona Transit service.
A little note of caution. Do not expect to readily find English speakers among transit employees. It was not a problem for us as my wife is fluent in Spanish, but English as a second language is not as common in Spain as with other eastern European countries.
The Barcelona Metro (subway rapid transit) is an economical way to get around the city, compared to taxis, but you may find that it takes a little planning to figure your destinations and routes. I found some difficulty in correlating Metro's schematic route guide with the specific points of destination. It didn't present a problem for us as we had arranged that stop of our trip to Spain with a tour service that included transportation arrangements. Consequently, I did not make an extensive search for a complete map that would overlay the transit routes with a city street map. However, in working up this response to your question, I did find that MSN.com's Bing map of Barcelona does show the location and names of the Metro stations. Useful, but you will then have to refer to the Metro guide to figure your route.
Hopes this helps a little.
By the way, RENFE's high speed intercity service is a real trip. From Barcelona, one could actually make a day trip to Madrid some 385 miles away. RENFE's AVE service makes the run in about two and a half hours and there 17 trains a day each way.
"We have met the enemy and he is us." Pogo Possum "We have met the anemone... and he is Russ." Bucky Katt "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Niels Bohr, Nobel laureate in physics
Hi, I'm actually living in Dublin, Ireland but I'm pretty familiar with Barcelona.
Train is a little bit of a pain as it is a little distance away from the passenger terminal; could be important if you're carrying a lot of luggage. Best bet might be the Aerobus. It departs on an almost continous basis from outside the terminal and stops at Placa de Espanya and Placa de Catalunya. Depending on traffic, should take about 15 to 25 minutes.
Placa de Catalunya is more center city and gives you access to many of the metro lines.
Watch two things: Barcelona Airport has recently opened a new terminal which is almost on the other side of the airfield. Haven't used it myself and I assume there is an Aerobus from here but might be worth checking in advance. Also, watch your wallet! Barcelona is a very safe city but the local pickpockets are very, very good.
Enjoy!
Glover
jeaton By the way, RENFE's high speed intercity service is a real trip. From Barcelona, one could actually make a day trip to Madrid some 385 miles away. RENFE's AVE service makes the run in about two and a half hours and there 17 trains a day each way.
We are back from Barcelona and did use RENFE to get from the airport into the city. If anyone else is traveling to Barcelona here are some insights:
.- Most likely your flight will come into the new Terminal 1. From there you can take a free shuttle bus to Terminal 2 where you get the RENFE train into Barcelona. We bought one "T-10" ticket which allowed both of us to ride the RENFE train to "Sants" Station and to transfer to the Metro to our hotel. The Metro was easy to use - just be aware of the end points of the route you want. Inside the cars there are illuminated maps that show the train's progress. If you have lots of baggage, a taxi would be better because of lots of steps at the Metro stations.
- Forget your high school Spanish (or did you already?) Although Barcelona is in Spain , the people proudly embrace their Catalan culture and language.
- A couple of "must-sees" are the Sagrada Familia cathedral and La Rambla. Also, the Metro will connect you to the funicular up to Montjuc where there are facilities from the recent Olympics.
- We went to Barcelona for a cruise on NCL. If this is your reason for going, then I would highly recommend at least one night in Barcelona both before and after the cruise - a great city.
- When you do go back to the airport, allow PLENTY of time. The Metro and RENFE trip was the smooth part of our trip back. We were an hour in line at ticketing and then had to go through security.
This was just before the recent attempt so it's probably worse now.
Off topic, but I thought you might like a different view of the spires of the cathedral.
http://jeaton.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures/50173/IMG_0001_4.jpg
Mediterranean Sea is in the background.
(My very incomplete and unedited Spain album is here:)
http://jeaton.rrpicturearchives.net/archivethumbs.aspx?id=50173
I might add that Barcelona now has two or more modern light rail lines that connect with the Metro, and the funicular up the mountain can be reached by metro to a connecting light rail line that is a permanent heritage operation with equipment dating from the first generation tram system that can give you an idea of what their old trams system may have been.
The Metro system,has two divisions, one is a regular city metro, and I think some or all of its lines are now automatic in operation. The other behaves like a regular subway system in the city, but then assumes interurban characteristics out to distant suburbs (severl branches), inlcuding the University. The latter has preserved one genuine Brill 1914 steel interurban car whose motors and controls and sounds are exactly those of a 1916 Brooklyn BMT steel car, and this car can be chartered for a tour of the second system. When I rode it it still had rattan seats. It is painted Pullman green with gold lettering. The second division may now be operated by RENFE, the national railroad sytem.
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