Top 10 tips for visiting Barcelona by public transport

On the page How to travel by metro you will find full information on how the network operates: where stations are located, how to get to them, how to use the metro if your mobility is restricted, etc.

In How to travel by bus you will find full information on how the city's bus routes operate: rules of use, stops, how to validate a ticket, etc.

The bus fleet and several metro stations offer a Wi-Fi connection in collaboration with the Barcelona Wi-Fi project.

If you need to charge your mobile, Line 2 of the metro has USB charging points at some stations and also on the trains.

TMB offers tourists and visitors to get around the city in the most cosmopolitan of ways with products sold under the brand name of Hola Barcelona.

If your stay in Barcelona is only short and you want to get a general overview of the city, we recommend the Barcelona Bus Turístic. The official tourist bus tour of Barcelona offers you to discover the most emblematic places, monuments and attractions of the city:

If you prefer to get around independently or if your stay is longer, what you need is the Hola Barcelona Travel Card, a single-user ticket that provides you with unlimited journeys by metro, bus (TMB), metropolitan railway (FGC, zone 1), the Montjuïc funicular, the tram and local trains (Rodalies de Catalunya, zone 1). They are sold in a 2, 3, 4 or 5-day format, according to your requirements.

Children under four years old are exempt from needing a transport ticket and special discounts are available to people over 65 or anybody with a disability.

When it comes to planning your journeys, you will find the best transport options on the Journey planner. We recommend you use it through the TMB App.

You will find all the journey information you need on our application including itineraries, waiting times, timetable information, routes, maps, etc. The app also allows you to personalise your alerts, contact Customer Service and purchase tickets. If you are an active user you can also take advantage of benefits and exclusive prizes.

Barcelona is a very lively city both by day and by night. The metro operates from 05:00 until midnight from Sunday to Thursday. On Friday night going into Saturday the metro runs until 02:00 and on Saturday and Sunday nights and the nights before a public holiday there is an uninterrupted all-night service.

Buses operate all day, including weekends, and the schedules and service frequencies are different for each route. Barcelona also has an urban and inter-urban bus service at night.

You will find all of the information you need on the webpage Operating hours.

If you would like to enjoy a panoramic visit of the city by night then the Barcelona Night Tour will give you a different perspective of the most iconic sights, given that the city by night is a show in itself, with unique attractions full of light and colour.

In the metro, if you don't have a ticket, you can buy one from the ticket machines because, in order to pass through the turnstiles, you must have your ticket stamped by the validating machine.

On the bus it is also compulsory to stamp your ticket in the validating machine. To make it easier for other passengers to board and to speed up the time at stops, you should have your ticket ready in your hand. If you don't have a ticket you can buy one from the driver.

Consult the terms and conditions of ticket use and always keep your valid ticket on you throughout your entire journey, as at any time you could be asked to produce it by a ticket inspector. If you are unable to do so you are committing an act of fraud.

Children under four years old are exempt from needing a ticket to travel.

If you need to travel with luggage by metro or bus, if you are travelling with a pet, or you have any other queries about the city's transport regulations you will find full information on the webpage Advice and rules for use.

If you are coming to Barcelona to go to a concert, trade fair, football match or any other major event in the city, get there using public transport. On the webpage Events and notices we explain how.

On the bus you will find reserved seating on board. For blind people or those with a visual impairment, there are audio and visual warning systems on the exterior of the vehicles, with an info-accessibility device for the blind. There is a system of signage on the ticket validators inside the vehicles that uses colour contrasts and Braille so that you can read the identification number of the bus on which you are travelling.

The entire Barcelona metro network is accessible apart from some stations and interchange points involving other operators. You will find metro maps in Braille at the Punts TMB customer service offices.

The Barcelona Bus Turístic has the same facilities as the rest of the bus fleet on its lower deck and now has an audio induction loop for deaf people, with an audiophone that enables them to hear the audioguide more clearly.

The Montjuïc Cable Car is also a totally adapted facility.

Information about accessibility on the metro and bus networks is available on the webpage Accessibility and reduced mobility.

Barcelona is a safe city but, as in all big metropolitan areas, you should be alert when travelling on public transport and never lose sight of your belongings.

If, during your visit, a problem should arise while on our premises, you can make direct contact with our operations staff using the intercoms. Our staff will tell you what to do.

If you lose any personal item during your journey, check with our lost property service.

• On the Hola Barcelona blog we offer you the chance to get to know the city from a different point of view to the one you'll find in tourist guides. Discover the essential aspects of the city and also the most characteristic places according to your tastes, and create your own routes with our transport systems.
• If, when you're planning your stay, you have any queries or want more information, contact us through our customer service channels and we will help you with everything you need.
• Follow us on our social network profiles and share your experience by tagging us with the hashtags #HolaBarcelona and #SayHolaBarcelona. We will share your photos!