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 25 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 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.
- 72 Hour Pass:
€53.00€47.70 (online) and kids €27.00. - 96 Hour Pass:
€63.00€56.70 (online) and kids €36.00. - 120 Hour Pass:
€75.00€67.50 (online) and kids €40.50.
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.
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 pass makes perfect sense.
The average tourist can expect to save between €10.00 and €20.00.
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 throughout the city centre – 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.
Adding the “Gaudi Bundle” For Sagrada Familia/Park Guell
As many of you have noted the Barcelona Card does not include discounts for Sagrada Familia and Park Guell – two of Barcelona’s most important attractions.
Since nobody would dare dream of missing these behemoths, I’ll leave a link below to get skip the line entrance to both these attractions using the same bundle – the “Gaudi Bundle”.
The ticket includes:
- Skip the line access at Sagrada Familia with official interior audio guide.
- Skip the line access at Park Güell with app audio guide.
- Exterior app audio guide for Sagrada Familia
- Barcelona city audio guide
The Gaudi Bundle prices are as follows:
- Adults: €59.00
- Youth (13-29): €55.00
- Youth (11-12): €51.00
- Senior (65+): €47.00
- Kids (7-10): €14.00
- Kids (0-6): free.
IMPORTANT: When booking you’ll simply be asked for a visit date. Once booked, Tiqets will be in touch asking for times suiting your schedule. Then they’ll go to work and get your slot and email you the tickets.
What is Free with the Barcelona Card?
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.
Discount Card Attractions
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:
A Few Barcelona Card Hacks
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 I’ve heard of trouble finding other pick up spots.
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 the day of the tour.
Related: How Many Days Should I Stay in Barcelona?
Barcelona Card FAQ
How much money can I realistically 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.
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.
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 these two discount cards so you can make the proper decision based on your needs.
Is the Barcelona Card valid for airport transport from Girona or the Aerobus?
No, the free public transportation applies to city and public transport services only.
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.
Which Airport transport is best for my hotel/hostel/Airbnb?
Leave me a message below with your hotel, hostel, Airbnb, or apartment and I’ll let you know how to get in quickly.
Do I have to book for the Picasso Museum?
No, 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.
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.
What do I need to pick up my Barcelona Card?
A printed out copy or mobile phone receipt of the voucher sent at the moment of purchase + one piece of ID.
What happens if I buy a Barcelona Card for more than one traveller?
Only the booking party will have to enter their data on the web and show ID to pick them up.
What do I get in the free guide?
You’ll get all the information on Barcelona’s main attractions, a handy city and metro map, and a booklet full of coupons to redeem for free offers.
Can I split up the time on the Barcelona Card?
No. The Barcelona Card is valid for consecutive hours and cannot be used in any other way.
Can my Barcelona Card discounts be combined with any other offers?
No.
Can my Barcelona card expire?
From the moment of purchase it is valid the calendar year plus the first six months of the next year.
Can I change/cancel my Barcelona Card?
All change and cancellation inquiries can be made to [email protected]
Is the transport valid in all of Barcelona?
In all of zone one yes. This is a huge area and you probably won’t be travelling outside it – not to worry.
What do you recommend for a young traveler or student?
For those lucky enough to be young this transport card may be slightly inconvenient.
Most Barcelona tourist discount cards can’t give you anything that doesn’t already apply to you (ie. Sagrada Familia gives a €2.00 youth/student discount) – as mentioned before, these discounts cannot be combined.
My advice is buy single discounted tickets online and use the Hola BCN for transport.
Can I use it on the Montjuïc Cable Car or the Tram Blau?
No. Transport to Montjuïc via the cable car or Tibidabo are not included.
If you want to get to Montjuic you can access the funicular using the Barcelona Card by connecting at Paral-lel metro station.
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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September 5, 2019 at 7:51 pmHi ash I'm arriving in Barcelona on Sunday afternoon... staying at Pol and grace in Gracia..... could you advise on transport.... staying for 3 days.. planning on visiting Sagrada familia and guell parc. Kind regards Gerard
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September 6, 2019 at 10:34 am
Team MemberAshHi Gerard, If you're just going to see Park Guell and Sagrada and little else I would recommend just getting a T-10 transport card because it gives you 10 rides for around 10 euro. You'll be quite central and will also have some walking opportunities. If you have any more specific trips though please let me know. Ash
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September 4, 2019 at 11:57 amHi Ash We are arriving at El prat Airport around 10pm on Monday 24th September and we are staying at the Euro hotel Gran via Fira in L'hospialet Llobogret Can you tell me what is the best way to get there from the airport please
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September 5, 2019 at 11:25 am Team MemberAshHi Gary, I would grab the 46 bus and get off a few stops later at Av Granvia - Miguel Hernández. From here it's just a few minutes' walk. Cheers, Ash
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August 23, 2019 at 2:45 amHi Ash, Quick question: me along with my friend will be reaching Barcelona on 23rd Aug 23:00 at El prat airport. I've booked a stay in Rambla de Catalunya. Will be staying in city till 25th evening(2 days). Please suggest us the suitable pass and travel card. (would love to visit Sagrada Familia and Park Guell as well) Thanks, Darsh
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August 23, 2019 at 8:28 am Team MemberAshHi Darshan, If you're just seeing Sagrada and Park Guell and nothing else I would recommend getting the tickets individually and foregoing any passes. I would just focus on getting the Hola BCN for transport as you'll likely be doing a lot of travel trying to fit in stuff over the two days. That said... were there any other attractions you hoped to visit? Let me know and I can say which tourist pass could be better Cheers, Ash
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August 23, 2019 at 10:41 amHi Ash, Thanks for the inputs. Firstly what would be the best commuting option for us from airport to our stay in Rambla de Catalunya(will be arriving at 23.00 on 23rd of august) Further along with Sagrada and Park Guell have glanced your 3 day itinerary. Based on that planning to cover CASA BATLLÓ, MONTJUIC Cable Car and MAGIC FOUNTAIN at last BARCELONETA Beach(please suggest if this the wrong one). Verge of sunset would love to witness nightlife by hitting Tapas, night bars. And is LA FIESTA MAYOR over? if so any other festivals lined on this weekend? Heard Festa Major de Sants is on! so can you pour in overview on that. Please suggest if this can bettered. TIA Darsh
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August 24, 2019 at 12:57 pm Team MemberAshHola Darsh, To get to Rambla Catalunya from the airport I'd grab the Aerobus to Plaça Catalunya and then from here it'll be a short walk depending on how far up the hotel is. The Festa Major de Sants is on right now and I've got more info on my Facebook post. It goes until September 1st. :) Ash
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August 22, 2019 at 1:39 pmHello: What's the best way to get from Barcelona (BCN) El Prat airport to the following Hotel and address: Hotel SOFIA Barcelona - in the Unbound Collection by Hyatt Plaça de Pius XII, 4, 08028 Barcelona, Spain Aug 30th, 2019 to Sept 2nd, 2019
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August 2, 2019 at 6:57 pmHi Ash! Just want to say this is THE MOST helpful travel site I've come across in a while. My family and I will be in Barcelona for 3 days at the end of September. We'll be staying in Vila de Gràcia. Do you know the best way to get there from the airport and then from there to city center? I'm debating if we should just pay more for a taxi then go through the hassle of multiple public transit transfers. We are also planning on doing the following: Camp Nou, La Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, La Boqueria, Las Ramblas, La Barceloneta, Magic Nights, Magic Fountain and Portel Del Angel. Do you think that's too ambitious? I saw your 3-day itinerary and I'm having trouble lumping them into 3 days cleanly. Any advice you have on how to group them together, or things you would place as lower priority would be super helpful! Thanks again!
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August 3, 2019 at 6:35 pm Team MemberAshHi Juliana, Thanks so much for the kind words, always glad to help :) The best way to get to Gracia is to grab the airport train to Passeig de Gracia and then from here take the green line of the metro up to Fontana. That said, it really depends on exactly where you are in Gracia as it's a fairly large area. If there are 4-5 of you it's probably better to get a taxi because it'll end up being only slightly more expensive than all buying Aerobus/metro tickets. I have included all of the attractions you mentioned in the 3 day itinerary and bunching them in a fairly convenient way... I'm not sure why you think you can't squeeze it in? I would swap Casa Batllo and Casa Vicens on day one so you can see Casa Batllo at night. Then push dinner back a bit. Easy peasy. The rest is easily done as long as you get an early start :) Cheers, Ash
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July 3, 2019 at 9:55 pmFlying in midday on 01 Sep and staying at Casa Camper. What’s the best way to get to and from airport? We will have 25” suitcases we’re lugging around. Thanks
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July 4, 2019 at 11:47 am Team MemberAshHola Jim, Hola! You can take the Aerobus from either airport terminal to the terminus stop (Plaça Catalunya) and then from here it will be a short 4 minute, slightly downhill walk. Cheers, Ash
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July 1, 2019 at 1:11 pmHi ash, this is ace, thanks you for all the tips! Just wondering if you can help me figure out what the best way to travel will be for my family. We are staying at an Airbnb in collbato, the address is collbato catalunya 08293. What would be the best way to travel to Barcelona for day trips? Thanks again!
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July 2, 2019 at 12:01 pm Team MemberAshHi Liss, Honestly I have never even heard of this place until you've mentioned it... are you aware that this is quite far out? Google says it can't calculate transit directions for this town... this makes me think perhaps it's not well served by transport. In looking at the map I can't even see a train station. Your best bet in this case is renting a car and it's a 30-40 minute drive into the city. According to Rome2Rio there is a bus (number 131) that will get you into Barcelona in just under an hour. This looks like your only option if you're taking transport. Is there any reason you booked so far out? At any rate though I would talk to the Airbnb owner for more specific information. Cheers, Ash
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June 22, 2019 at 8:49 amHi Ash How are you doing? Could you please help me with which travel card to buy? We are three of us and will be staying in Barcelona for 3 weeks. We are there for chess tournament. So we have morning time free everyday till 2pm. What cards should we buy for tourist site visiting.
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June 22, 2019 at 12:22 pm Team MemberAshHi Sachin, This is a tough one since you're here so long! For travel I would honestly just grab an Hola BCN for the first 48 or 72 hours while you're doing airport travel, seeing some sights, and not accustomed to the city. Then once you've got your bearings you're probably better of switching over to T-10 card. That said... what sites are you planning on seeing? This makes a big difference. Please let me know :) Ash
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June 17, 2019 at 10:48 amHey Ash, Your website is giving me tons and tons of hacks on how to enjoy my stay in Barcelona. I'm going to be in the city on the 30th of June and leaving on the 4th. We booked an apartment on Airbnb, this is the address: Carrer de Madrid, 10, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Catalunya 08913, Barcelona. I need your help regarding how to get there from El Prat Airport and which travel card do you recommend to get around the city (Sagrada Familia, Park Guel, La Boqueria, Barceloneta..) Thanks! Rana
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May 21, 2019 at 4:28 pmHi Ash, Im so pleased I came across your web page. Such a lot of helpful info to plan my trip next month. So I will be arriving at BCN at 10.15 am Saturday 15th June and departing on Monday 17th June 21.40. We need to get to/from our Airbnb which is Carrer del Torrent de l'Olla 111. First question is to recommend which card to purchase for transport/attractions. I am travelling with my 21 and 18 year old student daughters? We would like to visit both the Sagrada and Parc Guell over the 3 days we are there. Is there a good beach or park you would recommend within close proximity to our apartment for some relaxation time after the flight and early start? Do you recommend the hop on hop off bus or can we achieve this using our Barcelona transport card just as easily and not spend more money? Do you recommend doing a bike city tour, it sounds like fun and a good way to see some of the city? Are there any open air fetes or activities during our stay you would recommend? Thank you in advance Sara
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May 22, 2019 at 10:49 am Team MemberAshHi Sara, Thanks so much for the kind words :) For lodging in Gracia I would prefer you take the Aerobus to Plaça Catalunya (the last stop - you can’t miss it as it's the city's biggest square) and then grab the green line of the metro from here. Take it up to Fontana and from here you’ll have a short walk. You could also do a 20-25 walk up into the area of your hotel if you were packing light or not wanting to spend the extra €4.00 on the metro. Again, it's your choice :) About the cards... for first timers doing a lot of sightseeing the Hola BCN is great because it takes the worry and hassle out of everything as it's got unlimited transport. You could definitely use this instead of the Bus Turistic but keep in mind the Bus Turistic is attraction-centric and includes a super informative audio guide that is much better for first time sightseers. If you're interested in the Bus Turistic (and have a few other attractions in mind) a good option is the City Pass as it'll cover your airport transport (mentioned above) as well. Otherwise there's no shame in buying the attractions individually. As for the open air fête... there are some options like the Casa Batllo Magic Nights festival, Brunch Elektronic, and even a few outdoor concerts all of which I have listed here: https://www.barcelonahacks.com/barcelona-in-june/ Bike tours are a great way to discover the city... I personally really liked the ones offered by Steel Donkey and Barcelona Rent a Bike... both as entertaining as they are informative. Hope this gets you off on the right foot :) Ash
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