Barcelona is a huge Catalan city, but the most modern and extensive public transportation system allows you to get anywhere within the city in little or no time. Trams, buses and metros run very frequently, until late at night. Apart from that, there are several funiculars, cable cars, railways, taxis, sightseeing buses, local trains, night buses and other transportation systems in Barcelona. The options for your Barcelona public transportation include metro, bus, and tram. Each has its own advantages and is a very economical way to see the city. The benefit of Barcelona bus or tram transportation is, of course, being able to see Barcelona as you ride past it. It is a great way to scan neighborhoods for cafés and shops very quickly.
Barcelona has an extensive subway system that covers the entire metro area. Almost all stations are well-lit, clean, and easy to access. All the metro stations are well-marked and also if you ask a passing local, they generally will direct you to the entrance. The Barcelona metro transportation is clean, well-maintained, air-conditioned and economical. Metro stops normally have two entrances and it will help you know the direction you have to head in, after exiting the train. Here are a few economical transportation options for tourists to get around Barcelona.
Barcelona Travel Cards
The Barcelona Card is the most economical and ideal way to access public transportation. Apart from offering a convenient access to the Barcelona transportation system, it gives free admissions to 26 attractions. It even allows discounts for over further 75 museums, leisure activities, cultural institutions, pubs, shops, and restaurants. With this Barcelona card, you are free to use public transportation, i.e. urban buses and metros, trains, trams, and the Montjuïc Funicular and FGC in zone 1. Barcelona transportation in zone 1 covers all of the city's major attractions. It also gives a free train ride and free use of bus from the airport into the Barcelona center and back. You will be provided with a booklet with metro plan, city map, and brief descriptions of the institutions where you can get discounts. These booklets come in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Catalan. You can purchase the Barcelona card for 2, 3, 4 or 5 consecutive days. There are also special discounts for children. This card is certainly the best option to access Public transportation in Barcelona.
Barcelona T10 Ticket
The T10 ticket for Zone 1 is another type of Barcelona transportation card which you can purchase at the entrance to any metro station. Unlike the Barcelona Card a T10 pass will only entitle you to 10 journeys on the FGC (FGC run train lines similar to the metro around the city center), buses, metro, tram and RENFE all Zone 1 areas. All of Barcelona's major attractions fall within the Zone 1 area. It is also possible to buy a T10 to access Barcelona public transportation in each of the other 6 zones; however, to see most of the Barcelona city center and attractions you only need a zone 1 T10 pass. A T10 ticket costs only €10.30 and will save you the time and money by buying individual tickets for each of your journeys on Barcelona public transport. A Barcelona T10 ticket is valid indefinitely within a calendar year and can be shared with other visitors. You can buy a T10 from the Airport at the entrance to the RENFE train and from any metro stop. Please note that the zone 1 T10 is valid for journeys on all Barcelona Public transportation system.
Apart from these cards to access the Barcelona public transportation in Barcelona, the other Barcelona transportation includes taxis, cruise ships and cable cars, etc. Though these are not very pricey, the cheapest and best options for tourists to access Barcelona transportation are the Barcelona card and T10 pass.