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 our hotel is the city of Barcelona.
But is the Barcelona Card worth it? Let’s take a deeper look.
The Barcelona Card
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.
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, tram, overland rail, and the Montjuic funicular.
- Free Airport Transfer: (metro, train, or bus) from Barcelona airport to city centre.
- Free Admission to 25 Museums: including the Picasso Museum, Moco Museum, the Antoni Tàpies Foundation, the Joan Mirò Foundation, MACBA, MNAC, CCCB, the Chocolate Museum, and more.
- Barcelona Attraction Discounts Up to 40%: La Pedrera, Casa Batllo, Casa Vicens, Mirador Torre Glories, Wax Museum, Erotica Museum, the Aquarium, Zoo, Poble Espanyol, Palau de la Musica, and more.
- Tour Discounts: on Barcelona’s best bike tours, Barcelona scooter rental, walking tours etc.
Barcelona Card Prices
As you can see, ticket window prices are significantly higher so if you’re gonna do it, make sure you buy your Barcelona Cards online.
Only visiting for two days? There’s a more limited 48 hour Barcelona Card that I’ll get into shortly.
If you’re visiting Barcelona with kids keep in mind that they’re defined as 4-12 years old.
Is the Barcelona Card Worth It?
To start, I recommend reading the full list of Barcelona Card discounts so you can follow along.
Let’s take a look at transport first – remembering that single metro and bus tickets cost €2.40.
A conservative average of four trips a day over a 3 day stay costs €9.60 x 3 = €28.80. Factor in return airport transfer for two more trips (remember, there’s free airport transfer) and we’re up to €33.60.
Now let’s throw in the Picasso Museum.
Your free admission at this must-see museum comes in at €17.00 – bringing us to €50.60.
How Much Money Does the Barcelona Card Save Me?
As you can see, on a 72 hour Barcelona Card worth €47.40 we’re now €3.20 in ‘profit’ – even without 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 €22.20 in savings very quickly.
Throw in a €3.00 savings at can’t-miss Casa Batlló and 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 €20.00 and €30.00.
Related: Is the Barcelona Card Worth It?
Where to Buy the Barcelona Card
You can buy this Barcelona tourist discount card via the official Barcelona Tourism Office.
Clicking the button below gets you to their site for a special 10% online discount.
It also helps keep this Barcelona resource rolling (we’ve responded to thousands of questions for free, try us below, I dare you!) at no extra cost to you.
The Barcelona Card Express: 48 Hours
The Barcelona Card Express is a 48 hour free public transport pass for those visiting Barcelona with less time.
The only difference between this and other Barcelona Card options is there are no free admission to museums included – only discounts for the main Barcelona attractions (there’s a discount list here).
48 hours: €25.00 €22.50 (online)
Clicking the button below gets you a 10% discount booking online with Barcelona Tourism Office.
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 and Terminal 2. Every day from 8:30 to 20:30.
- Barcelona Airport Metro Stations (T1 and T2). 8:30 to 21:00.
- Plaça de Catalunya. Number 17-S near the Hard Rock Cafe and the giant ‘i’ with the underground escalator. Every day from 8:30 to 20:30.
- Sants Estació. Plaça Paisos Catalans. Every day from 8:30 to 20:30.
- Placa Espanya. Every day from 9:00 to 15:00. Jun-Sept from 8:30 to 20:30.
- Sagrada Familia. Every day from 9:00 to 15:00. Jun-Sept from 8:30 to 20:30.
- The Columbus Statue. Plaça Portal de la Pau. Every day from 8:30 to 20:30.
- Plaza Sant Jaume. In Carrer Ciutat 2. Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 20:30. Saturdays 9:00 to 19:00. Sundays and public holidays: from 9:00 to 14:00.
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 Casa (-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: How Many Days Should I Stay in Barcelona?
Barcelona Card FAQ
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Where to buy the Barcelona Card?
The Barcelona Card is bought at tourist information points across the city and via the official Barcelona Turisme website. There’s a 10% discount on the Barcelona Card if you buy it online, so it is highly recommended to grab it before you arrive.
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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?
Write me with Barcelona Card questions you may have in the comments below.
Also, don’t be afraid to join the discount 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.
Happy travelling 🙂
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Where Can You Buy the Barcelona Card?
The Barcelona Card is a product of the Tourist Office, which can be purchased online and at various information points throughout the city. To make things easy, we’ll provide a link to purchase your Barcelona card below including a 10% discount! As you’ll see, you can choose between two different cards that differ in terms […]
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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 pm
Team MemberAshHi 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 am Team MemberAshHi 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 am Team MemberAshHola 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 pm Team MemberAshHi 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 pm Team MemberAshHi 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 am Team MemberAshHi 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 pm Team MemberAshHi 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 pm Team MemberAshYes 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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November 3, 2019 at 1:54 amGood morning thank you for the important information. Can you help me to know how to reach from Barcelona international airport to Montaber Apartments Sagrada Familia Eixample, Barcelona, 08013, Spain. Please
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November 4, 2019 at 11:44 am Team MemberAshHi Leslie, I'd grab the airport train (NOT metro) to El Clot and then from there it's just a 10 minute walk, easy peasy :) Cheers, Ash
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October 10, 2019 at 7:57 pmHi Ash! Super helpful website! I'm traveling with some friends from April 1-9 and was considering getting an Hola BCN card. I see the maximum time for those is 120 hours which isn't quite enough. I wanted to know if it's possible/if it makes sense to just get 2 BCN cards per person to cover the whole 9 day trip? Also if you'd be able to help me figure out the best way to get to our Airbnb which is by the Diagonal Metro stop. Is there a way to take the Metro straight from the airport? Or would we have to take an airport bus to a Metro and then take the Metro to Diagonal? Thanks! Kat
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October 11, 2019 at 12:47 pm Team MemberAshHi Kat, Thanks for the kind words, always glad to help :) There's certainly no shame in getting multiple cards if you're planning on doing a lot of sightseeing. I would suggest you get the 120 hour one for the first days and then play the rest by ear though. Generally people become more accustomed to the city and get around in a more economical (timewise) fashion. If you feel like you need it, just buy one when you're there... there's no risk of them selling out or the like. For Diagonal you'll need to take the airport overland train (NOT metro) to Passeig de Gracia and then from here it's one metro stop up to Diagonal. Easy peasy and included in the Hola BCN :) Cheers, Ash
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September 25, 2019 at 3:09 pmHi there, We are arriving to BCN at 10 in the am on Friday. I am just curious what is the best way to get time room mate Carla from the airport at that time?
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September 26, 2019 at 12:00 pm Team MemberAshHola Joanna, You can take the Aerobus from either airport terminal to the terminus stop (Plaça Catalunya) and then from here it will be a short 10-15 minute walk. From there, there will also be the option of taking a quick taxi for about €5-7 if you're packing heavy bags or super tired after traveling. Cheers, Ash
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September 24, 2019 at 11:19 amGood Day Ash This is such a helpful site and I am so glad I stumbled on it. My husband and I will be in Barcelona for two days at the end of October before embarking on a cruise ship. My question is: What is the best way of travelling from the airport to and from our hotel, Ramblas Hotel, and getting around to all the sites that we would like to visit while in Barcelona? We are interested in all the Gaudi attractions. Any other suggestions? Much appreciated. Lise (South Africa)
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September 24, 2019 at 11:52 am Team MemberAshHi Lise, I would take the Aerobus to the terminus stop Plaça Catalunya and then from here it'll be a 10-15 minute downhill walk down La Rambla or just a short taxi. There are tons of suggestions and it's hard to say without knowing you... but I'd start taking a look at my list of things to do and go from there. You can get anywhere by metro... don't overthink it, it's super convenient and easy :) Ash
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