The Barcelona Pass (previously the Barcelona City Pass) was created to help tourists skip lines at busy attractions, avoid unnecessary hassle, and ultimately save 10% on virtually everything you can do in the city.
If done properly, you can plan your whole holiday with a couple mouse clicks from home.
But is the Barcelona Pass worth it? Let’s take a deeper look.
Warning (09/16/23): Some prime Sagrada Familia visit times are already sold out for upcoming dates. Make sure you book your Barcelona Pass ASAP or you could be shut out.
What’s Included in the Barcelona Pass
Each Barcelona Pass includes the following for visiting Barcelona:
- Sagrada Familia: Fast track, skip the line access
- Park Guell: Skip the line access + self-guided tour audio guide.
- A 1 or 2 day pass for the Bus Turistic hop on hop off bus tour (3 lines covering the entire city)
- City Tour of Barcelona app (100+ spots w/ audio guide from local experts)
Not keen on the Bus Turistic? A new package has been released for 2023, similar to the Digital Pass, which includes Casa Batlló instead of the tourist bus; you can purchase it through this button:
With both options you also get a digital discount code giving you 10% off major purchases like:
- Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, Camp Nou Experience, and the Picasso Museum.
- The Hola BCN unlimited transport pass
- Guided tours, flamenco shows, the city’s best museums, food.
- Nightclubs, shopping, the Dali Figueres tour, and many other excursions.
- Your return ticket to Girona and other Barcelona day trip tickets.
- Much more.
Barcelona Pass Prices
Before we figure out whether this is a good discount for you, here’s a list of the Barcelona Pass prices.
Barcelona Digital Pass | Price |
Adults | €85.00 |
Senior (65+) | €68.00 |
Students/Young people (13-29) | €81.00 |
Kids (11-12) | €63.00 |
Kids (7-10) | €26.00 |
Kids (4-6) | €17.00 |
Kids (0-3) | Free |
Looking to book group tickets for 10+ guests? You’ll need to do so using the Barcelona Pass group ticket form.
🧐 | Curious yet? Read Barcelona Pass reviews from all around the world.
Is Barcelona Pass Worth it?
To be honest, if you’re looking for a chill beach holiday it’s probably not going to cut it.
That said, if you’re coming to Barcelona with culture in your eyes, and want to check off the major themes of Barcelona’s top things to do like Sagrada Familia and Park Guell – with no stress – then it’s something to seriously consider.
Here’s a few reasons:
Barcelona Sightseeing Passes Help You Save Money
It’s the reason you looked for a discount card in the first place.
The 10% discounts you’ll get on subsequent attractions is the highest discount percentage available on the market for any of the major attractions.
Some math: the 3 tickets included in the basic pass (Sagrada, Park Güell, and the Bus Turistic) cost €77.30 with the two audio guides adding €5.00 of value each – making €87.30.
If we buy the pass and nothing else we’re saving a measly €0.80.
That said, if we decide to use the pass for just 3 items like Casa Batllo, Camp Nou, and La Pedrera using the 10% discount we end up saving nearly €10.00 and it brings us well into the black.
If we continue by getting an Hola BCN transport card, Poble Espanyol, a flamenco show, an amusement park pass, or anything else on the long list of discounts it starts to really add up.
You Can Skip the Line at Barcelona’s Most Popular Attractions
Even if you’re just breaking even you may want to ask yourself how much your time is worth.
In summer attraction entrances can have lines lasting hours.
With the Barcelona Pass you use your personal discount code to book all your attraction tickets online in advance, skip the lines, and enjoy your visit hassle free.
If your time is (conservatively) worth €20.00 an hour you’re now way into savings.
There’s Nothing to Pick Up
Unlike other Barcelona discount cards you’ll benefit from the City Pass being all digital.
That way you won’t have to worry about picking anything up in busy Barcelona city centre during rigid office hours, printing out tickets, or even losing them.
Just book them at your own pace at home, then show the tickets on your phone. Easy peasy.
Why Buy with Tiquets and Barcelona Hacks?
- There are no commissions
- The 10% discount is the highest across-the-board offer online
- It helps cover time and expenses I dedicate to this blog
If you’re looking to simplify your holiday and save a bit of cash, we’d really appreciate you clicking through to the Tiqets link below.
There you’ll get reviews of the Barcelona Pass from travelers just like you as well as the main buying channel.
Not keen on the Bus Turistic? You can swap it out for the amazing Casa Batllo using the Best of Barcelona Bundle:
Validity and Duration
The Barcelona Pass is valid from the moment of purchase.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that you’ll be forced to visit all the attractions during this time, it only means that the 10% discount code will be active during this period.
You can schedule the visits for the additional attractions for whenever you want.
How to Buy + Use the Barcelona City Pass
You can buy and get your City Pass up and running using the following steps:
- Enter Tiqets City Pass page.
- Click the button ‘book now’
- Choose the # of tourist passes (also selecting whether you want 1 or 2 days with the hop on hop off bus tour)
- Enter your arrival date (IF your arrival date is within 3 days of booking you can then book time slots for Sagrada and Park Guell immediately, otherwise you’ll be asked to choose times after payment)
- Follow the easy payment steps
- Check your email for your receipt and tickets (will be sent within 1-3 minutes!)
- Here you also receive your 10% discount code with links to websites to redeem them
- Show up with the tickets you’ve been sent via email and skip the lines!
Still having troubles? Get at me in the comments below.
City Barcelona Pass FAQ
Does the Barcelona Pass include public transport?
No, the only transport included is the 1 or 2 day Bus Turistic pass.
Can I use the 10% discount to get an Hola Bcn transport card?
Yes. This is particularly handy for those who want transport from Barcelona Airport.
If I visit for 6 days and buy two Hola Bcns for 4 days and 2 days do I get discounts on both?
Yes.
Do I have to pick anything up?
No, all tickets and discount codes are done online.
Do I absolutely have to select my visiting dates for Sagrada Familia and Park Güell?
Yes, it’s fundamental to get your tickets sent.
Keep in mind that time slot selection is super standard – the only open tickets for Sagrada are for a small time window (4:00 pm to 6:00 pm) at the end of the day and carry a premium price tag.
Park Guell also caps out at 200 visitors per hour and so booking in advance is virtually mandatory.
You’ll have to select your times anyway, pass or not.
For other attractions that require a date and time, can I select whatever I want?
Yes.
I received the booking confirmation but didn’t get the tickets, what do I do?
Tiqets promises to have all tickets emailed within 24 hours so if less than 24 hours have passed you’ll simply have to wait.
In the odd case they don’t arrive within this period write to [email protected] with your booking number.
How much is a Barcelona Pass?
Adults cost €86.50, senior (65+) cost €69.50, and youths (13-29) cost €83.50. Children cost between €0 and €27.50.
Can I use the discount code on any website?
No, discount codes can only be used through the links you’ll be provided in the email.
Can I use the discount code at ticket windows?
No.
Am I gonna save money with the City Pass?
If you use the Barcelona Pass for only two more attractions, yes.
To skip the lines do I have to show my visitor pass?
No, in reality the pass is digital so there’s nothing to show. What allows you to skip the lines are the attraction tickets you’ve purchased with the pass.
I’m looking at the Barcelona Card too – what’s the difference?
For the Barcelona Card know that those discounts are only applied at ticket windows – no line jumping possible here.
With the City Pass you’ll be able to apply the discount to tickets bought online from the comfort of home and skip the lines later. No other card gives you this option.
The Barcelona Card also differs in that it places a lot of its value in transport around the city. Unless you’ve got a hostel or holiday apartment a bit far out of the city or are planning on squeezing in a ton of attractions in a short time the transport isn’t mandatory.
Related: How Many Days Should I Stay in Barcelona?
Looking for a Barcelona City Pass?
This is probably the best Barcelona discount pass in circulation at the moment: having everything booked from the comfort of home, skipping lines, and saving money… but it really depends what you’re planning to do.
If you’ve got any more questions about the Barcelona Pass or anything else related to your holiday, get at me in the comments below.
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October 7, 2023 at 9:50 pmHi. I'm arranging a trip to Barcelona in November for my husband's 50th birthday. Your info says that the Barcelona Pass includes a 1 or 2 day pass for the Bus Turistic - when booking the pass via tiquets.com it asks for a date for the Bus Turistic - how do I specify that I want the 2 day pass?
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October 8, 2023 at 12:59 amHi Sara, Apologies... with the direct booking link above you cannot reserve the 2 day bus. To book the two day bus with the pass you'll have to follow this link instead. Apologies for the confusion.
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July 26, 2023 at 7:09 pmHi Ash, thanks for all this valuable info. We arrive in Barcelona on a Friday Sept 22 afternoon from Girona and fly out on the following Monday Sept 25 early morning. We want to see the Sagrada Familia of course and Park Guell, and like the hop on hop off tourist bus , so the Barcelona Pass seems good. We are looking at the 48 hour one starting Saturday morning. I like the fast track in that I don't want to lose valuable time waiting in line to see things with the short time we have. Only thing though is this pass does not include one of the towers which we really want to see. Is it possible to add a tower somehow? I am a senior but my parter, 60 yrs old, is not for this pass. What do you recommend? We are travelling with another couple who are seniors and want to coordinate the Sagrada and Guelll visits. I also heard that with the latter, if you use a side entrance as opposed to the main one there is less of a line...
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July 27, 2023 at 5:11 pmHi Victoria, First of all, I think you're confusing two different passes. The one in the article above does not come in 48, 72, 96 hour availabilities. This one is simply valid during your stay. Unfortunately, you cannot add the towers to the ticket :( This might make the decision on the pass for you! In this case, there's no shame booking your Sagrada Familia + tower tour tickets separately. You'll have to book the Bus Turistic and Park Guell tours separately too, but that's OK. Also... one more thing: seniors really love the Sagrada Familia + Park Guell guided tour ticket. Not only do you get amazing tours of both on the same ticket, but it includes the transport between the two attractions. This is great in summer when it's hot - and it avoids the uphill climb from the metro station. September is super humid, FYI. Side entrance is fine but in late September the main entrance shouldn't be too bad. Cheers,
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July 27, 2023 at 5:15 pmI should also mention that the towers can get quite claustrophobic... and if you're going to Park Guell after, you're going to get a better view there - with no extra add-on price! To me, doing the Sagrada towers for the view before going to Park Guell is like eating at Mcdonald's before going to Gordon Ramsay's restaurant. You should only do the towers if you're super interested in the architecture/church.
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February 8, 2022 at 2:08 pmHi! I am interested to buy this pass but was hoping if you can clarify something for me. For La Sagrada Familia, can we can visit it anytime once we select the date and do we have access to audio guide as well? Since I am not taking a guided tour, I am interested in the audio guide tour. It confirms the Park Guell audio guide but not for Sagrada Familia.
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February 14, 2022 at 9:05 amHi Parul, All tickets for Sagrada are timed. There are no 'anytime' tickets so you'll have to choose a time slot when you're booking the pass :) As for the audio guide. All general admission tickets now include a link to download an audio guide. In fact, if you look on the booking link above you'll see it - you just have to click on the 'Sagrada Familia:Fast Track' menu to see it. Cheers,
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March 12, 2020 at 8:28 pmI already bought 2 Barcelona City Pass and my cruise have been cancelled because of coronavirus. What is the process to change my date that will match my future cruise date. Thanks!
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March 13, 2020 at 7:24 amHi Andre, Please get in touch with [email protected] with any change requests. Best of luck! Tough situation all around :( Cheers, Ash
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February 15, 2020 at 11:21 pmHello Ash, I arrive in Barcelona on Monday and have been trying to purchase the City Pass but have been unable to. I keep getting a transaction declined message but after speaking with my credit card company, there is no issue on my end. Is there another option for me to purchase this in advance from the US? Thank you, Melisa
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February 17, 2020 at 12:02 pmHi Melisa, Unfortunately from my end I have no access to Ticketbar's back office and any messages they may be receiving for a declined credit card. It could be any number of reasons. I would get in touch with them at [email protected] with what you've told me and see if they have any info for you. Otherwise, trying another card usually resolves things. Cheers, Ash
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February 15, 2020 at 5:25 pmThank you so much for the wonderful guide you have put together - it has REALLY helped us plan our trip! My family is visiting next week and we are super excited. We purchased the City Pass and I would like to buy Hola BCN cards with the 20% discount but I am not able to find a link to Hola BCN in the City Pass's link to purchase the various discounted tickets - am I just missing it or have the offerings of the City Pass been modified and it is no longer a part of their program? I have not yet gotten a response from City Pass so I am hoping you or one of your readers may be able to steer me in the right direction. thanks a lot, Eric
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February 15, 2020 at 9:03 pmHi Eric, Thanks so much for your kind words, always happy to help! No worries... the Hola Barcelona Card tends to disappear on the discount page. It's actually under the 'Attractions' menu so click on that and you'll find it :) Please let me know how you get on, Ash
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February 15, 2020 at 5:41 pmHello again Ash and readers - Well that is embarrassing - I was just missing something! The Hola BCN card is indeed present in the discount link page in the "Attractions" section. Very clearly labeled as "Hola Transport Card":-) wishing all the Barcelona travelers a fun-filled trip.
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February 15, 2020 at 9:03 pmOh! Just saw this after your other post... sorted! Ash
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February 14, 2020 at 3:03 amIs the turistic hop on hop off with BCP for 1 calendar day or 24 hours? (can we use it accross 2 calendar days but within a 24 hour period? Where/How do we book the return airport transfers once we have our code?
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February 11, 2020 at 12:01 amHi As the Sagrada and Guell tickets are only available a month in advance, does this mean for my early may trip, I wont get the discount code til get the email with those tickets (and airport transfer)? Tracey
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February 11, 2020 at 12:36 pmHi Tracey, The discount code is sent within 24 hours and you can take advantage of it immediately for those attractions which put tickets on sale early enough :) Cheers, Ash
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February 11, 2020 at 8:52 pmIt’s been 2 days- no discount code. Will email the address you give above Tracey
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February 12, 2020 at 10:52 amHi Tracey, Sometimes the emails end up in your spam box... I would check there! Otherwise I'm sure they'll be quick with a response :) Cheers, Ash
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February 9, 2020 at 11:36 pmHi Ash I just purchased the Card. Do I have to visit Sagrada and park Guell on the same day if I have a 1 day pass? I am thinking the answer is yes, BUT I can choose the day?
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February 10, 2020 at 10:40 amHi Tracey, You don't have to visit on the same day at all! You'll be emailed a link to select your dates for both attractions and they can be on different days should you wish. Cheers, Ash
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February 9, 2020 at 10:41 pmHi Ash, Thank you for all your intel. It has been invaluable in figuring out the things we should do and see. I'm still trying to figure out best pass/card for us. Only 2 of us and we get in at 07:00 am on a Saturday and have to be on our cruise ship Sunday around 4:00 PM. The only thing we have planned so far is a cooking class that begins at 5:00 PM Saturday. Is there a pass that allows us to get tickets to La Sagrada other than the 4-6 PM time slot? I loved the City Pass because it gave us the transfer from the airport plus the Hop On Hop Off bus. With limited time it seemed like the best option to see lots of the city. The original plan was to do the HOHO during the day Saturday and maybe Monjuic before the cooking class and then go to Park Guell Sunday morning as early as we can enter and then walk down to La Sagrada and then explore on our own until we have to board the ship. Do you have a good solution to be able to do all of that? I keep going round and round and can't seem to come up with a solution using one of the passes. Thank you so much for your assistance! Stephanie
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February 10, 2020 at 10:36 amHi Stephanie, Thanks for writing in :) First of all it sounds like you'll be fully utilizing the pass so I would keep on with the City Pass idea. In case it wasn't clear though allow me to explain (hopefully better haha)... yes, the general admission version of the City Pass only has time slots between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm but keep in mind that the other 3 versions of the passe above (guided tour, audio guide, or audio guide + towers) all allow you to book at other times. I would suggest getting the guided tour one as it adds so much more to the experience. I have done all the tours and the one included in this pass is longer and was the most fun as well. There are two times you'll be able to select from, one in the morning and one in the early afternoon. This would be my solution :) Cheers, Ash
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February 10, 2020 at 4:02 pmThat’s awesome! That’s what I was hoping but with not being able to make any changes after I purchased I was worried it wouldn’t work. We are planning on doing the guided tour now based on your reco. Thanks so much for your quick response! Stephanie
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February 11, 2020 at 12:21 pmThat's great to hear! Please let me know how you get on :)
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