FAQs

Move around Barcelona

• 

  The bus

  The Barcelona bus network has 109 lines that cover the entire city. The buses, colored in red, are easily identifiable.

  Prices may change depending on the route and there is possibility of hiring subscriptions, for more details please see TMB website here.

  For information on lines please visit TMB website here.

• 

  The subway

  Barcelona has several subway lines, identifiable by color: L1 (red) L2 (violet), L3 (green), L4 (yellow), L5 (blue) .... The network coverage spans most of the city including the airport (L9).

  Prices may change depending on the route and there is possibility of hiring subscriptions, for more details please see TMB website here.

  Opening hours: Monday to Thursday, Sunday and holidays from 5 am to 00.00, on Friday from 5 am to 2 am the next day, Saturday and eve of local holidays the service runs all night. You can view the map here.

• 

  The FCG (Ferrocarril de la Generalitat)

  Urban and metropolitan rail network is managed by the Catalan government (the Generalitat). The service is called FGC and complete the metro service in Barcelona.

  There are 3 urban lines: L6, L7 and L8. There are also 4 regional: S1, S2, S5 and S55 which connects the city with the Autonomous University of Barcelona in Bellaterra and outlying cities such as La Floresta, Sant Cugat, Rubí, Sabadell and Terrassa, among others.

  See FGC website here.

• 

  The taxi

  Taxis are an affordable alternative to public transportation within the city.

  In Barcelona is very easy to find a free taxi. Can you find them either in taxi stations that are all over Barcelona or stopping a taxi directly on any street.

  For busy hours or to book a taxi call (0034) 93 225 0000 or (0034) 93 433 1020. If you are using a smartphone, we recommend you download the applications (hailo, MyTaxi, ByTaxi). This will allow you to easily find a taxi and even more will also facilitate payment of the race (debited directly from your bank account, without needing cash or credit cards).

• 

  The bike

  The Bicing service is the name of public bicycle rental proposed by the city of Barcelona since 2007. The operation of this system is very simple. The service registration request being done via internet. After accepting the request you will receive in the next 10 days a valid subscription for 1 year (cost € 47.61). For more information see the following website here.

  Bicing network has 6,000 bikes and 420 stations distributed throughout the city. You can use bicycles for a maximum period of 30 minutes free. If you exceed this deadline you will be charged directly to the account 74 cents for every 30 additional minutes up to 2 hours of use. If you exceed these 2 hours will be charged € 4.49 every 30 minutes to pass. If you ride more than 24 hours you will receive a fine of 150 € since that is not the use policy stipulated.

  This way of traveling is planned for an urban and quick use, mostly for short journeys.

• 

  Park in Barcelona

  It is sometimes problematic and expensive to find parking in Barcelona. Know that bus and subway network perfectly cover the entire city. But if you have no choice, then we detail the rules of parking in Barcelona.

  Private or public parking: the safest solution is to park the vehicle in a municipal or private parking in the city. But it will cost between 16 and 35 € for 24h.

  On the street: to favor residents, the city has launched a color code which is shown below.

  • The green spaces are intended to prioritize the parking of vehicles of residents of the area to the detriment of vehicles of non-residents. These areas are within the scope of the comprehensive regulation, in which the sum of the parking needs of residents and non-residents exceeds supply, creating some kind of conflict or congestion at certain times.
    
    In these areas you can park all vehicles.
    
    Vehicles of authorized residents of the area indicated in the identifying signaling must park with the corresponding proof of the mandatory schedule which can last a day, a week or a quarter. This proof bears printed the resident area and registration number of the parked vehicle.
    
    Vehicles that are not resident in the parking area can park within the regulation time, with the mandatory schedule proof. The parking lot will have the maximum length indicated in the signal, which can be 1 or 2 hours.
    
    All vehicles, both residents and non-residents can park free after hours indicated in the vertical signs.
    
    Timetable
    
    The hours of operation of the preferred green squares are Monday to Friday or Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 20:00.
    
    IMPORTANT: Always verify the information contained in the concrete signal that regulates the parking section. There are streets that can be marked as alternatives streets, which sidewalk must be changed periodically.
    
    https://www.areaverda.cat/es/
    
    
  • Blue Zone: Space regulated as an area Blava aim to promote high vehicle rotation around service areas with tertiary sector, commercial areas, hospitals, schools, etc..
    
    In these areas you can park all vehicles, with the corresponding schedule proof issued by the parking meter for the maximum time indicated by the signal. This time can be 1, 2, 3 or 4 hours.
    
    Schedules
    
    Most operating zona Azul hours matches the busiest hours in the city, from 9:00 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 20:00. Now, in the city center, this schedule also extends to Saturdays and in the beach area, Sundays and holidays also apply.
    
    https://www.areaverda.cat/en/blue
    
    
  • White area: free and accessible to all vehicles. These areas are located outside the city center. You will find some streets with white area between Bogatell and Llacuna metro stops (Pamplona Street for example).
    
    Renting a private parking:  you can rent monthly a place for your car in a private parking. To find a spot inquire directly at the entrance of the parking you are interested in. Price range should be between 80 and 150 € per month.
    
    

  Our advice:

  - A foreign license plate is rapidly detectable and an easy target for municipal cranes (and thieves). Do not park anywhere, be careful.

  - Always pay the parking if required by the location because in 30 minutes your car can be impounded by the crane. Exceeding couple of minutes will not imply any penalty but cranes are less forgiving with foreign cars.

  - The cost to recover the car that has been towed is approximately 200 € for non-payment of parking and may be higher for parking in prohibited area. If the crane takes your car you will find a triangular mark on the place where it was parked where you will find the telephone number for the deposit holding your car (you will be attended in 4 different languages).