The Barcelona Card is a tourist pass for those looking to save money on holiday.
It’s a a smart card with an NFC chip that grants free entry to 26 museums, discounts on 30+ attractions, and unlimited transport (including airport) .
It plays a bit like a wrist band at an all-inclusive resort – only your hotel is the city of Barcelona.
But is the Barcelona Card worth it? Let’s take a deeper look.
Where to Buy the Barcelona Card
Already in the know? You can buy this Barcelona tourist discount card via the official Barcelona Tourism Office.
Clicking the button below gets you a special 10% online discount that is not found on location in Barcelona.
The Barcelona Card: Free Entry + Discounts
I’ll be honest – if you’re going to spend most of your time lounging on Barcelona’s best beaches and devouring tapas by the tub load, the Barcelona Card may not be for you.
That said, if you’re visiting Barcelona for the culture then it’s something to really consider.
🙋♂️ Want custom advice from locals on the ground? Ask in our Barcelona Reddit group – we respond to all posts.
Let’s look at what’s in the pass, then we’ll get into prices and potential value.
What’s Included in the Barcelona Card?
- Unlimited Transport: bus, the Barcelona metro, Barcelona tram, overland rail, and the Montjuic funicular.
- Free Airport Transfer: (metro, train, or bus) from Barcelona airport to city centre.
- Free Skip the Line Admission to 20+ Museums: including the Picasso Museum, Moco Museum, the Antoni Tàpies Foundation, Banksy Museum, the Joan Mirò Foundation, MACBA, MNAC, CCCB, Botanical Gardens, the Chocolate Museum, and more.
- Barcelona Attraction Discounts Up to 40%: La Pedrera, Casa Batllo, Casa Vicens, Mirador Torre Glories, Wax Museum, Erotica Museum, Maritime Museum, Paradox Museum, the Aquarium, Zoo, Poble Espanyol, Palau de la Musica, and more.
- Tour Discounts: on Barcelona’s best bike tours, walking tours etc.
- City Map: to help you get to the attractions fast.
- Visit Guide: Guide in English to help you understand everything you see.
Still not convinced? Read the full list of 2026 Barcelona Card discounts.
How Much is the Barcelona Card? 2026 Prices
As noted before, ticket window prices are 10% higher so if you’re gonna do it, make sure you buy your Barcelona Cards online.
| Barcelona Card | Adults | Kids |
| 72 Hours (3 days) | €53.10 | €33.30 |
| 96 Hours (4 days) | €62.10 | €41.40 |
| 120 Hours (5 days) | €71.10 | €48.60 |
When booking with the button above you’ll also have free cancellation passes (up to 24 hours before).
The Barcelona Card Essential: Pass Without Transport
The Barcelona Card Essential is essentially (excuse the lack of creativity in my adjectives) the same Barcelona discount pass.
The only difference between this and other Barcelona Card options is there are no public transport included – only discounts for the main Barcelona attractions list above.
| BarcelonaCard Essential | Adults | Kids |
| 72 Hours (3 days) | €29.00 | €15.00 |
| 96 Hours (4 days) | €35.00 | €17.00 |
| 120 Hours (5 days) | €45.00 | €20.00 |
Clicking the button below gets you a 10% discount booking online with Barcelona Tourism Office.
Is the Barcelona Card Worth It?
Let’s take a look at transport first – remembering that single metro and bus tickets cost €2.65.
A conservative average of four trips a day over a 3 day stay costs €10.60 a day x 3 = €31.80.
Factor in return airport transfer for two more trips (remember, there’s free airport transfer) and we’re up to €39.90 for transport without the card.
Now let’s throw in the Picasso Museum.
Your free admission at this must-see museum costs €17.00 – bringing us to €56.90.

How Much Money Does the Barcelona Card Save Me?
As you can see, on a 72 hour Barcelona Card worth €51.30 we’re €5.80 in ‘profit’ visiting only the Picasso Museum – not even using the 24 other Barcelona museum options and 30+ popular attractions discounts.
The Moco Museum, another must-see that’s included, is a €19.00 value and brings us to €26.60 in savings very quickly.
Throw in a €7.00 savings at can’t-miss Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, a walking tour, the Fundació Joan Miró, and Tibidabo Amusement Park and you can start to save money for real.
For legit sightseers this all-inclusive Barcelona tourist pass makes perfect sense.
The average tourist can expect to save between €30.00 and €40.00 – that’s a “free” paella dinner with wine tacked onto your trip just for a couple mouse clicks from home.
Where to Pick Up Your Barcelona Card
To claim your smart card, simply show the purchase voucher at tourist information offices spread at/near main Barcelona transport stations – you can even conveniently do it right at the airport upon arrival.
Here is the full list of Barcelona Card pickup points:
✈️ Airport – Terminal T1 (Metro)
- Regular hours: Daily, 8:30 am–2:30 pm
- Closed: Dec 25, Jan 1
- Special hours:
- Dec 24 & Jan 5: 8:30 am–6:30 pm
- Dec 26 & Jan 6: 8:30 am–1:30 pm
- Dec 31: 8:30 am–1 pm
✈️ Airport – Terminal T2 (Metro)
- Regular hours: Daily, 8:30 am–2:30 pm
- Closed: Dec 25, Jan 1
- Special hours:
- Dec 24 & Jan 5: 8:30 am–6:30 pm
- Dec 26 & Jan 6: 8:30 am–1:30 pm
- Dec 31: 8:30 am–1 pm
✈️ Airport – Terminal T1 (Main)
- Regular hours: Daily, 8:30 am–7:30 pm
- Closed: Dec 25
- Special hours:
- Dec 24 & Jan 5: 8:30 am–6:30 pm
- Dec 26 & Jan 6: 8:30 am–1:30 pm
- Dec 31: 8:30 am–5 pm
- Jan 1: 10 am–2:30 pm
✈️ Airport – Terminal T2 (Main)
- Regular hours: Daily, 8:30 am–7:30 pm
- Closed: Dec 25
- Special hours:
- Dec 24 & Jan 5: 8:30 am–6:30 pm
- Dec 26 & Jan 6: 8:30 am–1:30 pm
- Dec 31: 8:30 am–5 pm
- Jan 1: 10 am–2:30 pm
🏙️ Plaça de Catalunya (Main office, basement of no. 17)
- Regular hours: Daily, 8:30 am–8:30 pm
- Closed: Dec 25
- Special hours:
- Dec 24 & Jan 5: 8:30 am–6:30 pm
- Dec 26 & Jan 6: 8:30 am–1:30 pm
- Dec 31: 8:30 am–5 pm
🏙️ Plaça de Catalunya Kiosk (in front of El Corte Inglés)
- Regular hours: Daily, 8:30 am–2:30 pm
- Closed: Dec 25 & 26
- Special hours:
- Dec 24 & Jan 5: 8:30 am–6:30 pm
- Dec 31: 8:30 am–2:30 pm
- Jan 6: 8:30 am–1:30 pm
🏛️ Placa Espanya (Avinguda Maria Cristina)
- Regular hours: Daily, 8:30 am–2:30 pm
- Closed: Dec 25, Jan 1
- Special hours:
- Dec 24, 26 & Jan 5–6: 8:30 am–1:30 pm
- Dec 31: 8:30 am–5 pm
⛪ Sagrada Família Information Booth
- Regular hours: Daily, 8:30 am–8 pm
- Closed: Dec 25
- Special hours:
- Dec 24 & Jan 5: 8:30 am–6:30 pm
- Dec 26, Jan 1 & 6: 8:30 am–1:30 pm
- Dec 31: 8:30 am–2:30 pm
🗺️ Mirador de Colom (The Columbus Statue)
- Regular hours: Daily, 8:30 am–2:30 pm (last admission 1:30 pm)
- Closed: Dec 25, Jan 1
- Special hours:
- Dec 24, 26 & Jan 5–6: 8:30 am–1:30 pm
- Dec 31: 8:30 am–1 pm
Note: the Barcelona metro station pickup points (L9S) are the best option for late arriving flights – at either station simply look for the Barcelona Turisme information point to pick up your Barcelona Card.
All Barcelona Card ticket offices are closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Related: What Transport Is Included in the Barcelona Card?

What is Free with the Barcelona Card? Barcelona Card Museums List
Once you’ve grabbed your Barcelona sightseeing passes at any of the official Barcelona tourist offices, you’ll be ready to explore – here’s the full list of free entry museums using the Barcelona Card:
CCCB, Fundació Antoni Tàpies, Fundació Joan Miró, MACBA, MNAC, Museu Picasso, El Born Centre Cultural, MUHBA, Cultures of the World Museum, Design Museum, Ethnological Museum, Frederic Marès Museum, CaixaForum, CosmoCaixa Science Museum, Natural Science Museum, Music Museum, Chocolate Museum, Catalan Modernism Museum, Egyptian Museum, Museum of Olympics and Sport.
Again, keep in mind these free museums are only accessible with the 3, 4, and 5 day passes.
The Barcelona Card Express (48 hours) only takes advantage of the attraction discounts below.
Related: What Museums Are Included in the Barcelona Card

Barcelona Card Discounts: What Attractions are Included
In addition to free museums, you’ll be given a Barcelona discount card valid pretty much everywhere.
Major Attractions: Casa Batlló (-€3.00), La Pedrera (-€3.00), Casa Vicens (-25%), Palau Guell (-25%), Poble Espanyol de Barcelona (-25%), Palau de la Musica (-25%), Sant Pau Recinte Modernista (-20%), Pavelló Mies Van der Rohe (-25%).
Secondary Attractions: Gaudi’s Crypt (-20%), Fundacio Vila Casas (-25%), MAPFRE (-€2.00), Archaeology Museum (-25%), Catalan History Museum (-20%), Wax Museum (-€3.00), Sex Museum (-25%), Perfume Museum (-40%), Maritime Museum (-20%), the MEAM (-25%), Human Bodies (-25%).
Again, add just one of these on top of our base trip that we outlined above and we can save €10.00 or €20.00 quite easily.
For more info on purchasing, click the button below:
How to Use the Barcelona Card Properly
If you’re there for X days, get it for X days.
Remember: public transport is included in the card and a day of normal public transport can really set you back.
Pick it up at the airport. You’re already there and there’s value in the airport transit into town.
Your Barcelona Card validity only begins the moment you use it for the first time. In other words, if you use a 72 hour card for the first time at 8 pm on the 1st of the month the card will expire at 8 pm on the 4th of the month.
Remember: to book the walking tours with a 50% Barcelona Card discount you’ll need to send an email to [email protected] letting them know which day you’ll be touring.
You have to book at least one day in advance and take the tour during the validity of your travel card. You need to show your cards on the day of the tour.
Related: How Does the Barcelona Card Work?
Related: Is the Barcelona Card Worth It?
Looking for Sagrada Familia and Park Güell?
It’s obvious: the Barcelona Card does not include the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell.
That’s why our friends at Tiqets have created the Gaudi Bundle: as an add-on to the Barcelona Card.
It includes:
- Skip-the-line entrance to the Sagrada Familia with an official audio guide
- Skip-the-line entrance to Park Güell
- City audio guide app with over 100 points of interest including routes and secrets of Barcelona
- English audio guide for Park Güell via a downloadable app on your phone
Barcelona Card FAQ
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Where to pick up the Barcelona Card?
You can pick up your Barcelona Card at Airport Terminal T1 and Terminal 2, Placa Catalunya, the Columbus Statue, Plaza Espanya, Sagrada Familia, Plaza Sant Jaume, and Sants Estacio.
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How much money can I save using my Barcelona Card?
With average travel, airport transport, a few free entrances, and just a few discounts at places you’ll be seeing anyway in any half-decent 3 day Barcelona itinerary you can easily save €10.00-€20.00.
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Is the Barcelona Card worth it?
Yes, if you visit major included museums like the Moco and Picasso Museum (which have a combined value of over $30.00) plus take transport a couple of times a day it is very easy to break even on this card. The savings can pile up if you take advantage of the discounts as well. The typical traveller saves €10.00-€20.00.
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Can I skip lines with the Barcelona Card?
No.
To get your entrance discounts using this pass you’ll have to show up to ticket booths.
If you’re looking for a Barcelona tourist card that allows you to skip lines and book everything online then check out the Barcelona Pass.
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Does the Barcelona Card include Sagrada Familia?
No, the Sagrada Familia is not included with the Barcelona Card, nor are there any discounts with the discount booklet.
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Is it better to get the Barcelona Card or the Hola BCN Card?
They’re both different products. The Barcelona Card includes unlimited public transport and free entrance to certain attractions while the Hola BCN offers only unlimited transport.
At any rate I’ve prepared a page explaining the difference between the Barcelona Card and Hola BCN so you can make the proper decision based on your needs.
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Can I use the Barcelona Card for the Aerobus?
No, the free public transportation applies to city and public transport services only.
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Which Airport transport is included in the Barcelona Card?
With your Barcelona Card you’ll be able to take the metro, airport train, or bus 46 into the city. The bus is only recommended for late night or early morning departures/arrivals when the first/last train has already departed.
The first train departs from Barcelona Airport at 05:42 and the last one leaves at 23:38. There are two trains an hour with service to Barcelona Sants, Passeig de Gracia, and El Clot.
For your flight home the first airport train departs the city center at Passeig de Gracia at 05:13, with the last one departing at 23:07.
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How Do I book the Picasso Museum with the Barcelona Card?
Regardless of what it says on the card, the Picasso Museum has confirmed that Barcelona Card holders can show up at the ticket windows at 23 Carrer de Montcada where they’ll get express entrance. There’s no need to book.
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Is the Barcelona Card valid for days or hours?
The Barcelona Card is valid for consecutive hours. If you validate a 72 hour pass at 6 pm on Friday that means you’ll have until 6 pm on Monday to take advantage of the deals and transport.
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Can the Barcelona Card give you train access?
Yes, you’re free to use any of the RENFE trains as long as you’re going between stops in zone one of the Barcelona Transport Network.
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What do I need to pick up the Barcelona Card?
A printed out copy or mobile phone receipt of the voucher sent at the moment of purchase + one piece of ID.
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Can I use the Barcelona Card on non-consecutive days?
No, the Barcelona Card must be used on consecutive days.
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Does the Barcelona Card Expire?
Yes, the Barcelona Card expires exactly six months from the date of purchase. You will need to activate your Barcelona Card before then or risk missing out.
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What transit can I use with the Barcelona Card?
The Barcelona Card is valid in all of zone one of the Barcelona Transport Network. This includes the entire city and all major tourist attractions.
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Can I cancel my Barcelona Card?
Yes, all inquiries however must be made to [email protected].
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Can I use the Barcelona Card on the Montjuic Funicular?
No.
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Can I use the Barcelona Card on the Tram Blau?
No.
Buying a Barcelona Card for Free Entry?
Write me with Barcelona Card questions you may have in the comments below.
Also, don’t be afraid to join the Barecelona card discussion by first giving me a like on Facebook and then joining my group I’m Off to Barcelona – here you can ask any questions, air out grievances, and chat with thousands of Barcelona travelers.
Enjoy your Barcelona Card 🙂
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April 21, 2022 at 6:21 pmHi Ash! My husband and I will be taking a cruise out of Barcelona on May 8th. What would be the best way to get from El Prat to Grand Hotel Central?
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April 22, 2022 at 11:02 amHi Shelley, Unfortunately there will be no direct options as the train station near the hotel doesn't connect directly to the airport. If I were you I'd grab the Aerobus to the terminus stop (Plaça de Catalunya) and then from there walk the 10-12 minutes. If you've got a lot of luggage you could also get an 6-7 euro taxi from there. In all, this would run you about 20 euro as opposed to the 30-35 euro taxi fare and won't even take that much longer. Cheers,
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July 28, 2020 at 3:43 pmHi Ash, my friends and I are arriving to Barcelona soon, so I was wondering which metro/ other transport should we choose to get from the BCN airport to our appartment which is at L'Hospitalet de Llobregat. Thanks in advance, I really love reading your blog!
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August 4, 2020 at 12:46 pmHi Toma, Thanks for your kind words :) Keep in mind l'Hospitalet is a massive city/suburb so without knowing an address it's kind of futile telling you where to head. That said, to get in the area I would grab the airport metro to Collblanc and you'll be in the area closest to Barcelona. But yeah... get me that address and I'll advise further! Ash
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February 19, 2020 at 11:16 amHi, what is the easiest way to get to Motel One Barcelona-Ciutadella? We are arriving on a Saturday at around 8 PM.
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January 10, 2020 at 5:43 pmHi Ash, Your website is GOD sent!!!! My husband and I will be traveling to Barcelona Jan 24-28th and am leading towards the Barcelona Card purchase through your website. From the airport what form of transportation should we take to arrive at Hotel Europark? Also, I see the discounts that are offered to many of the famous attraction sites but does that mean I would have to purchase all tickets through the box office not via online through the specific attractions website? Example, I noticed if you go directly through the Casa Battlo website to purchase the tickets for the visit + smart guide price is 25euros. Aren't most box office prices 3-5 euros more than online purchase. Just trying to see if it's worth getting the Barcelona Card vs the Hola Barcelona just for transportation. Thank you in advance for answering all my questions :-)
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January 10, 2020 at 10:27 pmHi Shantele, Thanks so much for the kind words :) I would grab the Aerobus to the terminus stop at Plaça Catalunya and then from there it's either a 10-15 minute or you can get a cheap and quick taxi from there. As for the Barcelona Card unfortunately to redeem the discounts you'll have to present it at ticket windows. It cannot be used online to book in advance. Of course, this could be benefit as some people don't like getting tied down to specific time slots. Indeed, the Casa Batllo you're paying quite a bit more for buying it at ticket windows... with some of these it takes the value out and I usually recommend buying online first. If you're planning on seeing a ton of the museums on the list it's a great option but otherwise there's no shame just getting the Hola BCN for your transport and booking the attractions individually :) Cheers, Ash
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January 3, 2020 at 6:38 pmHello. My husband and I will be travelling with two young children, ages 7 and 5, to Barcelona from Canada this April 2020. We will be arriving at Terminal 1 at 17:50 and are staying at Feelathome Gran Via Apartment (Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 421, 08015). Do you recommend taking the train, the metro or a taxi service? I think our biggest struggle aside from minding two children are our large large luggages. Thank you in advance.
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December 26, 2019 at 1:32 amHi! What is the best way to get from Terminal 1 at the airport to Hotel Barcelona Center? I am arriving next week at 10AM. Thanks!
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December 26, 2019 at 3:41 pmHi Dan, I'd grab the Aerobus and get off at the Universitat stop and from here it's just a 5-6 minute walk :) Cheers, Ash
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December 23, 2019 at 1:12 amHello! What’s the best way to get to Rec hotel from the airport at 10pm on a Friday in July please? (Planning ahead ) Thank you!
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December 23, 2019 at 9:49 amHi Rhian, Planning ahead indeed! ;) I would take the Aerobus to Plaça Catalunya and then from here it's a 10-15 minute walk, or a short taxi if you're not keen on lugging your luggage around. Cheers, Ash
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December 16, 2019 at 4:54 amHola! This is an amazing site - thank you so much for this. What is the cheapest/best way to get into St Christopher's Inn on the 26th of December? My flight lands at 7am :) Thanks in advance!
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December 16, 2019 at 11:45 amHola Rebecca, The best way would be to grab the Aerobus to Plaça Catalunya and from there it's a short 3-4 minute walk :) Couldn't be any easier. Cheers, Ash
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December 4, 2019 at 11:13 pmHi Ash Love this website - its been very helpful. My husband and I are travelling to Barcelona on Sunday AM and arrive at about 11am and then head back on Thursday morning on an 11am flight. What would be the best city ticket for us to buy. We want travel to and from the airport and around the city when we are there. We would also like to go to the Nou Camp for a tour and go to the Sagrada Famila and Park Guell. We would also like to do a hop on/off bus tour as we think they are a great way of seeing a city There are a few tickets out there and it is getting confusing to know which one would be best for us and what would represent the best value. Also we are staying at a hotel called the Chic and Basic Zoo at Passeig Picasso, 22. What is the best way to get there from the airport. Can you help? Thanks in advance Ruth xx
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December 5, 2019 at 2:14 pmHi Ruth, If you're doing Sagrada, Park Guell, the HoHo bus, and needing airport transport... plus the ability to have 20% off virtually anything else you may visit I would strongly suggest the Barcelona City Pass. You can book everything online in advance using this pass and then only worry about enjoying the holiday once you're there. You can then use the 20% discount with the pass to buy yourself an Hola BCN card which will give you unlimited transport in the city. You're in a great area though it's a bit awkward for airport transport. To get to your hotel I'd grab the Aerobus (included in the Barcelona City Pass) and then from there you could do a 15-20 minute walk or grab a short taxi. It wouldn't save you much time trying to get fancy by the metro since the hotel is kind of in a dead spot for the trains. That said... great spot for the hotel! Right near Ciutadella Park... definitely go for a wander there :) Cheers, Ash
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November 28, 2019 at 7:46 amHola, Upon reviewing the information from Barcelona Card's website, it says "Keep in mind that the Barcelona Card is valid for consecutive days - not 24-hour periods. For example, if you activate a 5-Day Barcelona Card on Monday at noon, it will expire on Friday at midnight", which contradicts to what you described above "The Barcelona Card is valid for consecutive hours. If you validate a 72 hour pass at 6 pm on Friday that means you’ll have until 6 pm on Monday to take advantage of the deals and transport." Could you help to verify this? Thank you very much!
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November 28, 2019 at 2:14 pmHi Wayne, Apologies but it appears as if you've just been confused by different wording... they're both communicating the same thing - that you cannot for example use 24 of the 72 hours for Monday, skip Tuesday, and then resume the validity on Wednesday. The time starts running from the second you validate it and expires 48/72/96/120 hours later. It's technically consecutive hours or days depending on how you look at it :) Cheers, Ash
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November 28, 2019 at 3:22 pmThank you Ash for quick response. I understand that the card is valid for continuous hours/days after you first use it. However, when it says “if you activate a 5-Day Barcelona Card on Monday at noon, it will expire on Friday at midnight” on Barcelona Card's website, the card does not cover a whole 120 hours, instead, only 108 hours (12 hours for Monday, and 24 hours for Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri), am I correct? I will assume from a 120-hour stand point, this card should expire on Saturday Noon instead of Friday midnight. Sorry, but I am still confused... :((
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November 29, 2019 at 10:58 amHi Wayne, Ah yes! This must be a mistake on their part as this was changed 3 years ago... perhaps it's old info. Can you send me the link of the site? Cheers, Ash
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December 5, 2019 at 11:06 pmAsh: Here is the website which has the information I quoted: https://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/faq/barcelona-card/barcelona-card-consecutive-days-validity.html But we should discard the confusing information provided by the link above. Because, just like you said, the card is valid for a continuous 120 hours once you start using it. Thanks again! Wayne
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December 6, 2019 at 12:21 pmHi Wayne, I agree with you that it should expire at Saturday at noon if you activate it on Monday at noon. The issue should be taken up with this other website (which is NOT the official Barcelona Card site btw... it's just another blog just like this one) because I think they are mistaken. Cheers, Ash
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December 5, 2019 at 11:12 pmAnd here again, on Barcelona Card's website: https://www.barcelonacard.org/ In the middle of the page under "Barcelona Card", there are "Benefits" "What it is" "Where to buy" "How to use". If you click on "How to use" it still says "Keep in mind that the Barcelona Card is valid for consecutive days - not 24-hour periods. For example, if you activate a 5-Day Barcelona Card on Monday at noon, it will expire on Friday at midnight." They really should correct the information.
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December 6, 2019 at 12:22 pmYes indeed I agree! I don't get this haha. I've done the count multiple times, and even though I'm not good at math it seems Saturday at noon is the one.
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