Barcelona

Getting in

• Barcelona–El Prat Airport: For Sants or Passeig de Gràcia, take Rodalies R2 Nord from Terminal 2: roughly 25–30 minutes to central stations, every 30 minutes until about midnight. From Terminal 1, use the free terminal shuttle first; it is less elegant than the Aerobus but substantially cheaper. A zone-1 T-casual has been about €13 for 10 rides and is valid on this train, though it is not valid on the airport metro. For Plaça de Catalunya or a hotel near it, the Aerobús is the sensible direct option, around 35 minutes and roughly €7–8 one way. Do not take L9 metro expecting a direct city-centre ride: it requires a connection and its airport fare is about €5.90.
• Girona–Costa Brava Airport: Use the Barcelona Bus airport shuttle to Estació del Nord, near Arc de Triomf; it is timed around flights, takes about 1 hour 10 minutes and costs roughly €16 one way. Girona is not “Barcelona airport” in any practical sense, so factor the transfer into both budget and arrival day.
• Reus Airport: Take the Hispano Igualadina airport coach between Barcelona Sants and Reus Airport, synchronized with flights: about 1 hour 30–45 minutes and roughly €13 one way. The train via Reus plus local bus can cost less but takes around 2½ hours; it is false economy after a flight.
• Barcelona Sants: This is the useful long-distance and high-speed station, with AVE services from Madrid, Seville and Málaga and international high-speed trains from France. It is already in the city: use Metro L3 or L5, a taxi, or walk only if your hotel is genuinely nearby. For central Eixample, Passeig de Gràcia is often a quicker rail stop than changing onto the metro at Sants.
• Estació de França: This handsome historic station now mainly handles regional trains. It is convenient for El Born, Barceloneta and the Gothic Quarter; otherwise, take a short taxi or connect via nearby Barceloneta metro rather than treating it as Barcelona’s principal rail hub.