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You have multiple options to move around Barcelona.
From a reliable and extense metro system, to affordable cabs, we provide a series of recommendations to get around the city.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
All the public transport of the city is connected, meaning that with one card you can use buses, the metro, the tram, etc.
There are different types of cards you can buy based on how long you are staying in the city and how much you think you will use public transport. All of those, however, will have to be loaded into your T-mobilitat, a rechargeable smart card or app,.
Where to buy the cards?
At every metro station you will find machines to get and recharge your T-mobilitat, but you have to register for it first. HERE are the instructions on how to do it online, which is the easiest way.
How the T-mobilitat works
Once you have the card, you load transport passes into it. It's available in both physical and virtual (phone wallet) formats, depending on what works best for you.
Depending on the length of your stay and the amount of public transport you are going to take, it is more or less convenient to get one or another type of transport card. Our recommendations for students are:
T-jove
T-jove
Unlimited trips for 90 consecutive days.
Valid for people under 30 years old.
Requires a passport number.
Price: 44€
T-Usual
Unlimited trips for 30 consecutive days.
Valid for anyone without age restiction.
T-Usual
Unlimited trips for 30 consecutive days.
Valid for anyone without age restiction.
Requires a passport number.
Requires a passport number.
Price: 22€
Other Useful Types of Passes
Single Ticket
Single Ticket
One-way ticket.
Valid for anyone without age restriction.
No passport number requirement.
Price: 2,65€ (1 zone)
T-Casual
T-Casual
Ticket that allows for 10 trips.
Valid for anyone without age restriction.
No passport number requirement.
Price: 12,55€ (1 zone)
Here's a map of the Metro and Tram lines of the city.
TAXIS AND RIDE-SHARING
TAXIS AND RIDE-SHARING
Taxis
Taxis
Taxis are all over Barcelona and quite affordable. You can hail them in the street, or through the FreeNow App.
Ride-Sharing
Ride-Sharing
Although Uber exists in Barcelona, it is not very popular, so there is not a high availability of drivers. The most popular ride-sharing app is Cabify, followed by FreeNow.
WALKING AROUND BARCELONA
WALKING AROUND BARCELONA
You will soon find that Barcelona is a very walkable and well-connected city. For us, one of the best ways to discover it is by simply walking around.
Here's how to navigate like a local.
Understanding the City's Layout
Understanding the City's Layout
Barcelona sits between the Mediterranean Sea and the Collserola hills (with Tibidabo as the highest visible point). This means the city is naturally sloped.
When it grew in the late 19th century, it was planned in a grid-like design. This makes it very easy to locate yourself in the city. The old part of the city, El Gótico, El Born and El Raval, still have the old gothic-style streets. They are harder to navigate but very interesting and fun to discover!
Key Orientation Tips
Key Orientation Tips
The Eixample district (where many students live or study) is built in a perfect grid. Streets run parallel and perpendicular, so once you understand one block, the rest follow the same logic.
Avinguda Diagonal cuts through the city diagonally, many use it as a reference point.
Other major streets like Gran Via (parallel to the sea) and Passeig de Gràcia (perpendicular to the sea) are also useful for orientation.
NAVIGATION APPS
Google Maps is reliable for walking, metro, and buses. It also shows platform info and train frequency.
The TMB App (Barcelona's transport authority) is great for real-time transit updates and finding the best public transport route.
FREENOW is the app used by local taxis. For time-sensitive journeys, it's best to book in advance. You can pay through the app or in the taxi at the end of your ride.
Cabify: Cabify is a ride-hailing app in Barcelona that works similarly to Uber — you book and pay for rides through the app, and prices are shown upfront.
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