General Information
El Prat is the international airport of Barcelona, visited by a great number of tourists every summer. More than often, finding the most suitable method of transportation is not an easy task. There are numerous factors that need to be taken into consideration before settling on a final option. The decision is particularly difficult for disabled visitors (for additional information – Summer Vacation in Barcelona, Barcelona Airport Transfer and Accessibility in Barcelona).
El Prat is a wheelchair-friendly airport equipped with lifts, ramps and it offers parking spaces reserved for disabled people, as well as special meeting points for these visitors (for additional information – Car Rental at Barcelona Airport – Accessibility). Additionally, accessible vehicles are available in every price category, nonetheless it takes time to find and compare them.
The most convenient solutions for wheelchair-users are Barcelona Airport Taxis, Barcelona Airport Private Transfer and Shared Transfer. These transportation methods take you directly and quickly to your destination, while also considering your special needs. Private transfer is the mostly personalized service among them.
The disadvantage of these methods is that all of them are extremely expensive. Additionally, in most of the cases your disability and special requirements, such as a wheelchair or the staff’s assistance, need to be announced in advance and/or are charged separately. Plus, not all of the companies provide wheelchair-friendly cars, so you need to make a careful research before you book a transfer. The last-mentioned issue mainly concerns regular airport taxis (for additional information – Accessibility of Barcelona Airport Private Transfer and Accessibility of Barcelona Airport Taxis).
Those who want to save money can travel by public transportation. You can choose between many options; the most expensive one is Aerobus Barcelona, a privately-owned bus service which focuses on tourists. This results in a comfortable, adapted and fast journey. Nevertheless, it does not take you directly to your hotel (for additional information – Accessibility of Aerobus Barcelona).
Besides this, you can opt for state-owned buses. Depending on the part of the day, you have to catch different lines. During the day-time TMB Airport Bus (Number 46) will take you to your destination. Aside from the indirect transfer, it is recommended for disabled passengers because: it is less expensive than Aerobus and fully accessible for wheelchair users, blind travellers and deaf people. Nonetheless, it is usually overcrowded and slow (for additional information – Accessibility of TMB Airport Bus).
Three airport night bus lines are operating between El Prat and Barcelona: N16, N17 and N18. All of them are adapted for disabled passengers and are a cheap option; however, they are also quite uncomfortable and they follow an indirect route (for additional information – Accessibility of Airport Night Buses and Visit Barcelona at night).
Trains from Barcelona Airport are advantageous for those who have an accommodation near a train station, for instance at Passeig de Gracia or Sants (for additional information – Hotels in Barcelona, Hotels near Passeig de Gracia and Hotels near Sants). If possible, disabled travelers should choose another method of transportation. These follow an indirect route and, although Renfe places great emphasis upon the accessibility of their vehicles, several railway stations and trains are still unadapted for disabled travelers (for additional information – Accessibility of Trains from Barcelona Airport).
Among public transportation methods, we can also mention the metro; however it is not a very suitable option for wheelchair users. In order to arrive to the city centre, you have to change the vehicle; moreover, not all of the metro stations are accessible to disabled visitors in Barcelona (for additional information – Public Transportation in Barcelona).
There is another option available, namely Car Rental at Barcelona Airport; however, it is not recommended for people with disability problems. If you still want to rent a car, be aware that the number of adapted vehicles is limited, so previous research and advance booking are inevitable (for additional information – Car Rental at Barcelona Airport – Accessibility).
Besides these aspects, you should take into account the discount possibilities for disabled passengers. One of them is the discount card offered by Renfe. Additionally several transfer companies provide reduced price for people with disabilities, so make sure to plan your trip accordingly.