In general, Barcelona is a fairly accessible city and has a great transportation system and an abundance of resources available. That being said, throughout your experience abroad, you may be tested on your patience and you should be prepared to face some challenges.
This can be especially difficult for students with reduced mobility, as the medieval roots of the city mean that many things are smaller (like apartment hallways and elevators) and there are often uneven sidewalks due to the cobblestones. But don't worry, we've had past students with a variety of mobility levels have an incredible experience studying or interning abroad in Barcelona. And our program staff is here to support you every step of the way!
The best way to improve your study or intern abroad experience starts before you arrive. Most importantly, please be upfront with your advisor about any physical accommodations you may need and our advising staff will work with our onsite Health & Safety team to support you. This might include any needs you may have in the classroom or in regards to transportation, meals, housing, or other means of assistance.
The more you are able to share with us before you arrive, the better we can plan, accommodate, and modify the program for you!
Barcelona has a 100% accessible bus network. All buses have reserved seats inside, an access ramp into the vehicle, safety belts for safety belts for anchoring wheelchairs, and stop request buttons that are placed at a lower height than usual to enable wheelchair users to independently get off at their stop.
You can view all of Barcelona's bus options on this page, but we recommend that you use Google Maps.
All of the platforms within Barcelona's metro system have access ramps and about 93% of the stations have elevators to take travelers to the platform area. The ticket vending machines are ergonomically designed to enable wheelchair users to purchase their tickets, and wider access gates make it easy to pass through the ticket barrier.
Within the metro itself, the metro cars have a space specifically set aside for wheelchair users at the very front of the train.
You can browse through the information on every metro line and its stations by using this metro map.
Most of Barcelona's Metro network is accessible except for a few specific stations (12 out of about 165 stations).
L1: Plaça de Sants, Espanya, Urquinaona and Clot
L3: Espanya
L4: Verdaguer, Urquinaona and Ciutadella-Vila Olímpica
L5: Virrei Amat, Maragall, Verdaguer and Plaça de Sants
You can find more information on the metro and train lines that still need to be adapted here.
Barcelona's TRAM network is fully accessible for people with reduced mobility. The trams have low-floor access from the platform, ramps to the tram doors to eliminate the gap between the door and the platform, and specific areas reserved for wheelchair users.
Wheelchair users should board the tram by the door which is indicated by the signage on the platform itself.
You can look into the tram system and its stations by using the map here.
Most of the FGC trains and facilities are accessible with ramps, elevators, and escalators. However, not all of the FGC lines and stations are accessible, so pelase do your research before using them.
You can check which stations are adapted by downloading the map of the integrated railway network here.
Please note that for most parts of Barcelona, you will never need to take the FGC trains, as they only connect very specific parts of the city.
The Rodalies trains are not used to travel within the city of Barcelona, but rather to connect Barcelona to the surrounding areas.
There are accessible stations and trains suitable for those with limited mobility. You can also request an assistance service by calling +34 902 24 05 05 at least 36 hours before your date and time of travel on a Rodalies train.
To ride on a Rodalies train, wheelchairs must be of the following measurements or smaller: width 70 cm, depth 130 cm, and height 140 cm.
You can find more information on the Rodalies train stations and timetables here.
Many taxi services in Barcelona and its surrounding area have adapted vehicles, but it can prove difficult to find and stop an accessible one on the street. For that reason, we recommend using an app to order an accessible taxi such as for Free Now, Cabify, or Uber.
Barcelona beaches are designed to be accessible for people with all mobility needs. There are designated parking spaces with access routes that lead to the dry sand, both visual and tactile signs & information points, wheelchair accessible restrooms, adapted showers with chairs, and wooden footbridges to get as close to the water as possible.
There is also a free assisted bathing service that is intended for people with reduced mobility who need personal and technical help to access the water. This assistance service is developed at most beaches in Barcelona. Previous booking is required (you can book online here).
The service is organized around 3 primary assistance points on the beaches, although the locations of these may change depending on alterations in patterns of use or according to what is considered most appropriate each season. Assistance will be available during beach season (usually March through October) at:
Sant Miquel/Barceloneta Beach
Nova Icària & Bogatell Beach
Fòrum bathing area
The assistance service is usually offered from about 10:30am-6:30pm during beach season.
More info here
Users are advised to come with someone who will be able to help them and make sure they can do the following without further assistance:
- Preparing for bathing
- Moving personal mobility equipment to and from hydraulic chairs
- Accompaniment during bathing
If you do not come with someone to help you with this (and need the assistance), you will only receive assistance in getting to and from the water and while swimming for a maximum of 20 minutes.
Get comfortable using public transportation. It could take a while, so make sure you leave the house with enough time.
The bus is a great way to move around in Barcelona. They're accessible and they come every few minutes! Also, you can use Google Maps to see when the next bus will arrive to your stop.
Taxi is the best way to go to the airport. You can book an accessible taxi through an app like Free Now, Uber, or Cabify.
Before booking a reservation online at a restaurant, call them to ensure accessibility of the table that you are booking. Some restaurants have a second floor with no elevator access, so make sure your table is on the ground floor.
If you know of another resource or if there is further information that you recommend we add to this page, please write to studentlife@barcelonasae.com. Your feedback is very important to us and allows us to better support future students, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions, comments, or suggestions. :)
To learn more about our award-winning TODOS (The Outcomes-Based Diversity Outreach Strategy) Commitment, please click here.