Barcelona Airport Shuttle Bus

Barcelona International Airport (BCN) › Transportation › Shuttle & Bus

Shuttles and Buses from and to Barcelona Airport

There are two types of buses connecting El Prat Airport to the city center -the TMB Bus 46 and the Nitbus N17/N18- and the express shuttle bus option serving the airport, the well-known Aerobus.

The TMB and the Night Buses

During the day, the Metropolitan Bus 46 handles transfers from and to Barcelona Airport. The bus departs from both terminals and reaches Plaça España in Barcelona city center in approximately 40 minutes. The Bus 46 can adequately serve the needs of persons with reduced mobility but has limited storage space. Therefore, it’s not the ideal option if you travel with lots of baggage.

During the night, there are also buses running from and to El Prat Airport, and linking it to the city center. Explicitly, Bus N18 (Aeroport T1-T2 – Pl. Catalunya) links both terminals to the city center, while N17 (Aeroport T1 – Pl. Catalunya) connects BCN T1 to Barcelona downtown.

The Metropolitan Buses Time Schedule from BCN Airport

Bus 46 runs approximately every 15-20 minutes, depending on the roads’ congestion, from 05:30 am to 11:50 pm. The bus reaches its final stop at Plaça España in about 30 minutes from T2 and 35 minutes from T1. However, if the traffic is heavy, the travel time may rise to 40 minutes and 55 minutes, respectively. Despite this fact, it still provides faster services than the train. Indeed, if you are landing at T1, you won’t have to use the free shuttle bus to the T2 Train Station.

During the weekends and public holidays, Bus 46 operates from 05:30 am to 11:05 pm.

Bus N18 departs from T1 from 00:18 am to 04:33 am and from T2 from 00:25 am to 04:40 am. It has frequent routes (every 15 minutes). On the other hand, N17 is available from 09:55 pm to 04:50 am, running at a 15-minute frequency.

How Many Bus Stations are there at Barcelona Airport?

There are 3 bus stops at BCN Airport, one at T1 and two at T2. The T1 bus stop is right outside the main exit of the terminal building, next to the Aerobus stand. From that point, you can either get on Bus 46 during the daytime or take Bus Lines N17 and N18 if you are traveling at night.

Terminal 2 ‘s bus stops lie outside the B and C sections’ exits. These are your points of interest if you are arriving at T2 and planning to hop on Bus 46 or N18. Note that the T2B section of terminal 2 features bus stops both at Arrivals and Departures.

Bus Tickets from Barcelona Airport

The tickets for the metropolitan buses are cheap enough (certainly more affordable than the Aerobus tickets), costing 2.55€/2.55$ for a single ride. Tickets are available through the airport’s automatic ticket machines, or online (through the relevant app). Alternatively, you can pay for your bus fare contactless (using bank cards or electronic devices) on the bus.

If you are planning on using public transportation for your transfers, then you should opt for the T-Casual ticket, which allows you to travel 10 times inside Metropolitan Zone 1, using any public means of transport. It costs just 12.15€/12.15$. Alternatively, the Hola Barcelona Travel Pass gives you unlimited access to all the public transportation means for 48, 72, 96, or 120 consecutive hours.

Other Buses from and to El Prat Airport

Although Bus 46 and Night Buses N17 and N18 are the main lines linking the airport to the city center, other bus lines also leave from the BCN bus stops, connecting the airport to different districts of the city. What’s more, many intercities (Mon-Bus, Sarbus, Bus Garraf, etc.) and international (Flixbus, Directbus, etc.)  buses pass through the El Prat.

The Fast and Famous Aerobus

Aerobus is the express bus that handles the passengers’ transfers from and to the airport. Overall, two Aerobus lines are serving BCN Airport. Indeed, A1 departs from terminal 1 and A2 from terminal 2.

When heading to El Prat Airport, it is highly important to check out these numbers to reach the right terminal building.

The light and dark blue buses with the distinctive “Aerobus A1″ sign on them leave the airport every 5 minutes from 07:15 am to 10:30 pm. Moreover, they run at a 10-minute frequency from 05:35 am to 07:15 am and from 10:30 pm to 01:05 am, and every 20 minutes from 01:05 am to 05:35 am. On the other hand, the A2 Line operates every 10 minutes from 05:35 am to 11:00 pm and every 20 minutes at other times. Hence, both lines are available around the clock. They reach downtown in approximately 25-30 minutes, as their in-between stops are limited. Explicitly, they take about 35 minutes to get to Pl. Catalunya, and 25 minutes to Pl. Espanya (under normal traffic conditions). Aerobus coaches are fully equipped to serve persons with disabilities, have spacious storage capacity, and provide free Wi-Fi and USB charging ports. What’s more, Aerobus vehicles are being monitored for safety reasons.

Where are the Aerobus Airport Stations?

Aerobus A1 handles transfers from and to terminal 1 of the BCN Airport. Hence, the Aerobus stops are to be found in front of terminal building 1, at the Arrivals level (Level 0). On the other hand, Aerobus A2 makes two stops at T2, one outside the T2B section and one outside the T2C area.

The Barcelona Airport Shuttle Tickets (Aerobus)

The only drawback of choosing Aerobus for your transfer is its price, as an Aerobus ticket is more expensive than the ordinary ticket used for metropolitan buses. However, if you take into consideration the frequency of routes, the limited in-between stops, the 24/7 services, and the storage capacity, then there’s little doubt that this is the top value-for-money option.

Thus, a one-way ticket from Barcelona Airport to the city center costs 7.25€/7.25$, whereas a round trip 12.50€/12.50$. Children up to 4 years of age travel for free. Tickets are available online, via the automatic vending machines using cash or credit cards, and from the T1 information desk.

Our Tip: If you plan to use Barcelona’s public transit network during your stay, you should consider buying a Hola Barcelona Card. You’ll find available options that include an Aerobus ride as well. Moreover, you can buy a ticket combining a bus or metro journey and an Aerobus ride. It is priced at 8.50€/8.50$. However, it can’t be used for metro or bus rides from Barcelona Airport.

FAQs

How much is the bus from Barcelona Airport to city center?

A ticket for Bus 46 or the Night Buses N17 and N18 leaving BCN Airport and heading to the heart of the city costs 2.55€/2.55$. On the other hand, the more expensive yet highly efficient Aerobus costs 7.25/7.25$ for a one-way ticket and 12.50€/12.50$ for a return one. 

Can you buy Aerobus tickets on the bus?

Aerobus tickets can be bought online or via both BCN terminals’ automatic vending machines. Moreover, they are available at the Customer Service (also Lost and Found) Office, located at terminal 1.

Where does Aerobus stop in Barcelona?

Two Aerobus lines leave from the airport, A1 from T1 and A2 from T2. Besides that, the two lines have the same route with limited stops, especially outside the Metropolitan area. Their final stop is Plaza Catalunya.