Hop on Hop Off Barcelona Bus Tour: Flexible City Tour Tickets

The hop on hop off Barcelona bus tour, aka the Bus Turistic, brings you to the city’s main attractions using just one ticket.

These bus tours make planning a thorough, quick sightseeing tour of Barcelona a breeze – so it’s no wonder 2,000,000+ passengers board every year.

Let’s take a deeper look at this Barcelona bus tour.

The Hop on Hop Off Barcelona Bus – Discover Barcelona with One Ticket

For those who have never been on a hop on hop off tour I’ll break it down for you quickly.

Essentially, these are city sightseeing tours that run on predefined routes via a double decker bus.

In the Bus Turistic’s case, each of its 45 stops along three lines correspond with one or more of Barcelona’s top attractions.

In general, you’ll choose the hop on hop off bus tour to:

• Visit Barcelona at your own pace
• Discover Barcelona by maximizing the attractions seen
• Minimize travel/direction-related stress
• Get your Barcelona bearings on day one of a trip
• Save time and money

Even better, there’s an official tour guide on board with full commentary on the city’s past, present, and future.

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Hop on Hop Off Barcelona Route

There are three routes on the Barcelona bus tour, and it breaks down like this:

• Red Line (romance, views, and city rhythm): The legendary Passeig de Gracia with Casa Batllo and La Pedrera, the city’s highest panoramic viewpoint at Montjuic Museum, Plaça Espanya, a romantic pass through Ciutadella Park and more.
• Blue Line (main attractions): Plaça Catalunya, Spain’s most famous tourist attraction at Sagrada Familia, Casa Batllo, La Pedrera, Park Guell, the MACBA Museum of Contemporary Art, Camp Nou Stadium, and Mount Tibidabo.
• Green line (seaside): It runs along all the Barcelona beaches from the Olympic Harbor to the Forum.

With air conditioned buses running every five minutes you won’t be waiting long.

If you’re asking how long the hop on hop off Barcelona tour takes, expect the red and blue lines to last 2 hours per trajectory while the green line takes 40 minutes.

How Much is the Hop on Hop off Bus in Barcelona?

Bus Turistic tickets come in both one day and two day forms – if you’re buying a two day ticket the days need to be consecutive.

Here’s a look at the ticket prices:

1 Day Hop on Hop Off Bus Ticket:

• Adults: €30.00 (€27.00 with online discount).
• Kids (4-12): €16.00
• 65+: €25.00.
• Kids under 4: €0.00

2 Day Hop on Hop Off Bus Ticket:

• Adults: €40.00 (€36.00 with online discount).
• Kids (4-12): €21.00
• 65+: €35.00.
• Kids under 4: €0.00.

Tickets are valid for calendar days and not 24 hour periods.

Also, with your hop on hop off tickets you also get a discount voucher booklet with over €250.00 in discounts for attractions, shopping, restaurants, museums, day trips, bars, flamenco, and more.

Each bus tour tickets also comes with an audio guide in 17 languages, and your own set of headphones to listen.

They’ve even got free wifi, for those who are asking.

Where to Buy Barcelona Hop on Hop Off Bus Tour Tickets

It is strongly recommended to purchase your Barcelona tourist bus tickets in advance online.

First of all, you’ll save €3.00 per ticket if you buy online.

Also, with no need to queue up to buy tickets you’ll be able to board directly showing the tickets on your smartphone.

You can grab your €2.00 hop on hop off Barcelona discount at Tiqets using the button below.

Looking to book group tickets for 10+ guests? You’ll need to do so using the Bus Turistic group ticket form.

Is the Barcelona Hop on Hop Off Bus Worth it?

Of course, these bus tours aren’t for everyone. If you’ve got tons of time for a Barcelona itinerary, can handle multiple metro trips, and don’t mind walking hours in the sun that’s fine.

That said, I would say that this Barcelona sightseeing bus is perfect for:

• First time visitors looking to get their bearings
• People low on time (layovers, cruise ship passengers, day trippers)
• History and fact buffs looking for a Barcelona guided tour
• The elderly & limited mobility travelers (buses are wheelchair accessible)
• People looking for an inexpensive way to discover Barcelona

Hop on Hop off Barcelona Tickets with the Barcelona Pass

Naturally, these city sightseeing tours do not include entrance to the major attractions along the bus routes – that would be a hell of a deal – but there’s another way to save money with this combo discount ticket.

The Barcelona Pass (ex Barcelona City Pass) includes the hop on hop off Barcelona bus tour, Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, a city tour app, and a digital discount code to get 10% off virtually every other Barcelona attraction known to man.

Click on the button below to get more info:

Barcelona Hop on Hop Off Timetable

The Barcelona Bus Turistic runs year around except Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.

During high season expect to wait only 5 minutes between buses while in winter waits can push 25 minutes.

• Every day from 9:00* to 19:00
• Green Line: runs from 28/03 to 02/11
• Frequency: every 5-25 minutes

*The first tour bus departs from Plaça Catalunya at 9:00 so it’ll arrive and any subsequent stop a few minutes later, for example the first bus at Drassanes leaves at 9:06. Count about 5-6 minutes per stop.

Barcelona Hop on Hop Off Bus Map

Barcelona Hop on Hop off Plan

Being a Barcelona city tour veteran I’ve got an idea of how to best take advantage of a day pass on the Bus Turisitic.

First of all, you should grab the blue line but don’t get on the first stop in Plaça de Catalunya – it’s the busiest stop and especially in high season you might have to line up.

Furthermore, you’re just going to be coaxed off the bus at the first stop anyway since it’s impossible to resist the beautiful, trancadis-speckled mansion Casa Batllo.

The same goes for stop number two at La Pedrera, another of Gaudi’s amazing modernist mansions. You should get on at the La Pedrera stop – with the plan of riding it 12 minutes eastward to Sagrada Familia.

From here, the way I would plan the Barcelona tourist bus is the following:

• Get off at Sagrada Familia and do their spectacular English guided tour
• Get off at Park Guell and visit the Monumental Zone of the park
• Get off at Camp Nou to discover the stadium, or at least grab a coffee to break it up
• Get off at the Eixample stop, walk up Carrer d’Enric Granados and explore the area’s tapas bars
• Head back to Placa de Catalunya and switch to the red line if you intend on carrying on.

This is the perfect five hour Barcelona tour, and should leave you a few hours to explore the panoramic views and seaside discoveries of the red line.

Don’t have enough time? Just book a second day, it’s only €10.00 more.

Related: Get a two hour walking tour of the Gothic Quarter for just 18 euro.

Hop on Hop Off Barcelona for Cruise Ship Passengers

For cruise ship passengers the Barcelona bus tour is a perfect way to see the city.

First things first, the shuttle from the dock will leave you at the Columbus Statue at Drassanes metro station. Here you’ll find a ticket window and a red line Bus Turístic stop.

Keep in mind your fellow cruise ship passengers will be doing the same thing so it’s always best to buy your hop on hop off bus tour tickets online to avoid lengthy lines. All you have to do then is board the bus!

On nice days make sure you grab a spot on the top deck of the bus – if there’s no room just get on and wait by the stairs for a couple minutes for someone to get off.

The red line bus will take you along the port with the beach and the famous two towers before looping back and taking you by Ciutadella Park and El Born. Get off at the Barri Gotic stop where you’ll be able to take some great shots of the Barcelona Cathedral. Total time to here is about 90 minutes.

Get back on the bus tour until the Casa Batllo stop – here you can get off and wander the world-famous Passeig de Gracia shopping area all the way up to dream house La Pedrera. Allow about an hour for this.

The Pedrera stop connects with the blue line which you’ll take to the Sagrada Familia: if you’ve bought your Sagrada Familia tour tickets online you’ll skip the annoying lines and be in and out in about 90 minutes.

Get back on the blue line for 10-15 minutes more and you’ll be at Park Guell.

Taking in the magnificent views of the city from here should take about an hour or so. Get back on the bus for a trip to some amazing Barcelona FC football matches at Barcelona’s famous stadium Camp Nou.

From here you’ll take Diagonal down into the Raval neighbourhood and eventually end up back at Plaça Catalunya.

From Plaça Catalunya walk down the famous Rambla to your point of origin: the Columbus Statue. From here you can get your shuttle back to the cruise ship. This last part of the trip can be done in two hours or less.

Again, with the Sagrada Familia tour and a little lunch break you’re looking at about seven hours but if you’re not it can be done comfortably in five.

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Barcelona Tourist Bus Tips

As a veteran of the hop on hop off Barcelona bus tour, having gone on it with various visitors over the last 10 years, I can share the following pearls of wisdom.

• Buy your bus tour tickets online in advance to save €3.00 a ticket
• If you got them bring your own headphones for better audio guide sound.
• Take your bus tour on the first day there because it helps plan the rest of your trip.
• Bring a light jacket if you’re not fond of wind.
• Start your Barcelona city tour early to avoid crowds and get the full value of the tickets.
• Don’t start at major stops like Sagrada Familia and Plaça Catalunya because there are big lines. Always look to board one stop before or after (buses never depart full as per company policy so the following stops can pick up new riders).
• If you can’t get a seat on the top deck sit as close as possible to the stairway downstairs to queue for the next seat
• If you only have a one day ticket try and avoid Friday (it’s cruise ship day).
• Sun cream and water are an absolute necessity in summer.

Barcelona Bus Turistic FAQ

Is my Bus Turistic ticket valid for all lines?

Yes, and you can change as much as you like.

If I buy a 1 Day Ticket and get the bus at 3 pm is it valid till 3 pm the next day?

No, ticket validity expires at the end of the day’s service.

Does the Barcelona hop on hop off bus tour need to be printed?

No! You can also show the ticket on your smart phone, easy does it.

Is it worth buying Barcelona bus tour tickets online?

Yes, you’ll avoid lines.

If I buy a 2 day hop on hop off ticket can I spread out the days in any way I wish?

No. Your bus tour must be taken on two consecutive days.

Does the Barcelona hop on hop off tour come with an audio guide?

Yes, you’ll get them when you board the bus tour. You can also use your own.

Can I use my discount voucher booklet on days I am not doing the Barcelona bus tour?

Yes, all discount-voucher booklets are valid until December 31st.

Can the discounts I get with my Bus Turistic ticket be used online?

No. The only Barcelona discount card that can be used entirely online is the Barcelona Pass which includes tickets to the Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, and the Bus Turistic plus 20% discounts on a ton of attractions.

Do I have to specify a use date if I buy hop on hop off tickets online?

No, provided you book through Tiqets the ticket is valid for one year from the purchase date.

Does my Bus Turistic ticket guarantee a specific seat?

No, seats are on a first come first served basis.

Can Bus Turistic tickets be refunded?

Unfortunately refunds cannot be made once tickets are purchased.

Can I do the Barcelona hop on hop off routes in the opposite way?

No, the Bus Turistic operates in one direction only, as indicated by the arrows on the map.

Can I bring my dog on the Barcelona hop on hop off bus?

Unfortunately no 🙁

Can I bring a stroller aboard the Bus Turistic?

Yes. There is room downstairs for strollers.

Where can I find Bus Turistic time table information?

At both the stops and on the buses themselves.

Is the Bus Turistic wheelchair accessible?

Yes. Keep in mind though that wheelchair customers will not be able to access the upper deck.

Any advice for Barcelona Bus Turistic users visiting Park Guell?

First, buy your entrance to the Monumental Zone in advance to ensure not being pushed back by hours. Make it for as early as possible in the morning or as late as possible in the evening.

Leave 45 minutes from Plaça Catalunya since there’s a 15 minute walk from the bus tour stop. There’s a 30 minute grace period for your tickets.

The walk is quite steep so not recommended for people with limited mobility – consider a taxi.

How can I use the Bus Turistic to reach Mount Tibidabo?

Take the blue line to the Tramvia Blau-Tibidabo stop and change for the Tramvia Blau or Bus 196 to get to the Funicular de Tibidabo.

I’m arriving in Barcelona by train, what is the closest Bus Turistic stop?

Stop #5 on the Red Route serves Barcelona’s main train station Sants Estacio.

What stop do I get off at to see X?

You can see the entire route map here.

Will Barcelona bus tour drivers announce all the stops?

Yes, you’ll hear it over your headphones.

What happens on the bus tours if it rains?

Not to fear! There’s a little retractable roof that will protect passengers.

Can I smoke on the Barcelona Bus Tour?

No, smoking is prohibited all throughout the bus.

Can I ride in my swimsuit?

Swimsuits, shirtless etc. are not permitted even in high heat. Please follow a respectable/normal summer dress code.

Let’s Continue the Hop on Hop off Bus Barcelona Discussion

Prospective Barcelona travelers, let us continue our journey of knowledge!

If you’ve got any questions about these Barcelona sightseeing bus tours or anything else please don’t hesitate to ask me any questions in the comments below.

Also don’t be afraid to join the Hop on Hop off bus 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.

Anything goes!