General Information

When you are planning to visit Barcelona, you need to take into consideration numerous factors. One of them is the transportation between the airport and the city. There are many possibilities available to choose from, and you should select the most appropriate means of transportation that will meet all your needs (for additional information – Barcelona Airport Transfer).

Aerobus Barcelona is one of the most popular methods of transportation among tourists who are traveling to and from the airport, together with the airport taxis. This bus operates on a frequent basis and it also has less stops than the public buses that are traveling between El Prat and Barcelona; therefore, you will reach the centre of the city quicker by using this service and it is still much cheaper than taking a taxi.

You can find detailed information regarding this service below.

What is Aerobus Barcelona?

Aerobus Barcelona is a shuttle bus that operates between the international airport of Barcelona and the city. It is owned by Serveis Generals de Mobilitat i Transporta (SGMT), which is a private company; therefore it does not belong to Barcelona’s public transportation network, operated by TMB.

An Aerobus is easy to distinguish from the regular public buses; you need to look for a light and dark-blue vehicle labeled as Aerobus.

There are two different Aerobus lines available in Barcelona:

Line A1 operates between Barcelona and Terminal 1 of El Prat.

Line A2 connects the city with Terminal 2

(for additional information – Aerobus Barcelona – Difference between A1 and A2).

Please note that if your flight lands at Girona/Costa Brava airport (GRO) or at the airport of Reus (REU), Aerobus will not be an available option, because it only has a station in El Prat (BCN) airport.

Advantages and Benefits of Aerobus Barcelona

Aerobus operates between Barcelona and El Prat, the international airport of the city and it only stops at the airport and the most important landmarks of the city. It has three stations on the route to the airport and four on its way back to Barcelona. Unlike public buses, Aerobus does not stop at the small towns around Barcelona, therefore you can reach the center of the city quickly by using this service (for additional information – Route of Aerobus Barcelona, Stations of Aerobus Barcelona and Where can I catch Aerobus Barcelona?).

One of the main stops for the Aerobus is Plaça de Catalunya, which is one of the most popular squares of the city. A vast majority of hotels are located in this area (for additional information – Hotels near Plaça de Catalunya and Hotels in Barcelona).

Another advantage of Aerobus Barcelona is that it provides you with the opportunity to save money. In this case, it is recommended to travel to the center of Barcelona by Aerobus, and only take a taxi in that area, if necessary. This way the distance traveled by the taxi will be shorter and you will avoid any airport fees (for additional information – Barcelona Airport Taxis).

This service provides enough room for luggage and it has no restriction in regards to this facility (for additional information – Luggage Restriction on Aerobus Barcelona). In addition, the seats are comfortable and free Wi-fi and USB chargers are also available while traveling with the Aerobus. The bus is equipped with a TV, which displays useful information about the city. Additionally, the security of the passengers is guaranteed by a video surveillance system.

Who is it Recommended for?

Traveling by Aerobus is especially recommended for tourists who are visiting Barcelona for the first time, because it provides various opportunities to discover the center of the city; on its way from the airport, this service has 4 central stops.

Due to the fact that this mode of transportation provides safe, comfortable and accommodating services, Aerobus Barcelona is recommended for disabled passengers, as well. Aerobus is wheelchair accessible and it has low-floor vehicles equipped with ramps. The only problem is that this service does not take passengers directly to their place of destination (for additional information – Accessibility of Aerobus Barcelona, Accessibility of Barcelona Airport Transfer, Accessible Hotels in Barcelona and Accessibility in Barcelona).

At the same time, Aerobus is considered a quite reasonable option for those who are traveling alone or as a couple (for additional information – Romantic Vacation in Barcelona). This service is more expensive than the regular public bus, train and metro, therefore if you are on a strict budget, it is advised to avoid getting on an Aerobus (for additional information – Aerobus or Public bus?).

Aerobus Barcelona is only recommended for those visitors who are traveling during the day-time hours, since Aerobus does not operate throughout the night. Therefore, if you are traveling during night time, you need to look for other alternatives, such as a private or shared transfer, taxis or night buses (for additional information – Airport Night Bus: NitBus N17, Operating Hours of Aerobus Barcelona, Aerobus Barcelona at Night and Visit Barcelona at Night).

Tickets for Aerobus Barcelona

You can order the tickets for Aerobus Barcelona in advance online, or once you arrive to Barcelona at the Aerobus bus stop, directly from the driver or by using a ticket vending machine.

You can buy a one-way ticket (5,90€) or a return ticket. Naturally, round-trip tickets are more profitable (10,20€). In both cases, there is no extra charge for your luggage, as this is already included in the ticket.

A ticket purchased online is valid for an entire year, while those purchased from the bus driver or vending machines are only accepted for an hour. In case of a return journey, the round-trip tickets are valid for the following 15 days after the outgoing travel (for additional information – Ordering the Tickets for Aerobus Barcelona in Advance).

The return tickets are valid for both line A1 and A2, therefore, if you arrive at a different terminal than the one you will depart from, your return ticket already covers this travel (for additional information – Return Tickets for Aerobus Barcelona, Buying the Tickets for Aerobus Barcelona and Aerobus Barcelona – Difference between A1 and A2).

Tips and Recommendations

• Aerobus Barcelona is recommended for the vast majority of tourists, especially for those who want to reach the center of the city quicker rather than travel by public buses with many stops along the way (for additional information – Public Transportation in Barcelona and Aerobus or Public bus?).
• If you are on a strict budget, it is advised to use a public bus instead of the Aerobus.
• Aerobus Barcelona is easy to distinguish from the regular public buses; you need to look for a light and dark-blue vehicle labeled as Aerobus.
• If your flight lands at Girona/Costa Brava airport (GRO) or at the airport of Reus (REU), Aerobus will not be an available option (for additional information – Stations of Aerobus Barcelona and Where can I catch Aerobus Barcelona?).
• There is no luggage restriction on Aerobus Barcelona. If you happen to have many baggages, this is one of the best methods of transportation for you (for additional information – Luggage Restriction on Aerobus Barcelona).
• If your destination lies outside the routh of Aerobus, it is advised to take a taxi or a private transfer. This way, you do not have to change transportation.
• Because this service does not operate throughout the night, the above-mentioned options, together with night buses, classify as the best alternatives for traveling during the night-time hours (for additional information – Airport Night Bus: NitBus N17, Operating Hours of Aerobus Barcelona and Aerobus Barcelona at Night).
• If you are traveling with a group, booking a private transfer or a taxi (even from the airport) would be the best option because, in such cases, the fare is calculated per vehicle and not per person. This applies to bigger families, as well (for additional information – Barcelona Airport Private Transfer or Aerobus, Aerobus Barcelona for Kids and Families, Barcelona Airport Private Transfer for Kids and Families and Kids and Families in Barcelona).
• Children younger than 4 years old can travel without paying. Except this case, no other discounts are granted to Aerobus Barcelona.
• Aerobus Barcelona is wheelchair accessible, therefore it is recommended for disabled tourists, as well. All of the buses are low-floor vehicles, equipped with ramps (for additional information – Accessibility of Aerobus Barcelona, Accessibility of Barcelona Airport Transfer and Accessibility in Barcelona).
• The Aerobus journey lasts approximately 35 minutes, however it is strongly influenced by many factors and it cannot be forecasted precisely (for additional information – Aerobus Barcelona – Length of the Route).
• Two different Aerobus lines are operating in Barcelona. Although the number of the line (A1 and A2) is visible on the vehicles, it is recommended to ask the driver about the route before getting on a bus (for additional information – Aerobus Barcelona – Difference between A1 and A2).
• Aerobus Barcelona operates every day, from Monday to Sunday, as well as during various public holidays, in accordance with the current timetables (for additional information – Timetable of Aerobus Barcelona on Weekends and Bank Holidays and Sundays in Barcelona).
• The Integrated fare system available in Barcelona does not include Aerobus. The tickets belonging to this system, such as T-10, T-Mes, T-50/30, T-Trimestre, T-Jove, T-Familiar, T-12, T-Dia, T-Month, T-Youth, T-Quarter, or T-Day; Hola BCN; etc are not accepted by this service.
• You cannot travel on other mean of transportations, such as trains, metros or other types of buses, using the Aerobus ticket.
• Aerobus is not covered by Barcelona Card or Barcelona Pass (for additional information – Barcelona Pass for Aerobus Barcelona and Barcelona Card and the Aerobus).
• When purchasing a ticket for Aerobus Barcelona, you have to choose between two options: a one-way or round-trip ticket. Either way, your luggage is included in the ticket price (for additional information – Buying the Tickets for Aerobus Barcelona).
• You can order the tickets for Aerobus Barcelona in advance online, or once you arrive to Barcelona at the bus stop, directly from the driver or by using a ticket vending machine (for additional information – Online Tickets for Aerobus Barcelona and Ordering the tickets for Aerobus Barcelona in advance).
• Even if you order your ticket in advance, you cannot reserve your seat, and usually, it is not a problem to get a free seat.
• In case you purchase your ticket with cash, it is advised to pay the exact amount or not to exceed it significantly. Try to bring banknotes with a value less than 20€ because, in case of a higher fee, it is possible to not get the change back.
• The validity of the tickets is influenced by their type (one way or round trip) and the purchasing method (for additional information – Return Tickets for Aerobus Barcelona).
• If you have purchased the round trip ticket you should keep your return ticket until the end of your journey and not throw it away.
• During several large events, such as New Year’s Eve, Barcelona Marathon, etc. the schedule and route of Aerobus may change, therefore it is recommended to follow the Facebook page and Twitter for any updates.
• Aerobus is equipped with facilities such as TV, free Wi-fi, USB chargers and video surveillance system.
• You can get on the Aerobus with your pet, however it has to be in a cage or box and the other travellers have to agree with it. Certainly, guide dogs are allowed without any problem.
• It is suggested to announce the driver that you want to get off Aerobus before you do so.
• Eating, drinking and smoking are forbidden on Aerobus Barcelona.
• Aerobus has an efficient customer service and you can easily contact them in case you might need to make a complaint, you have lost an item on the bus, or you want to ask for an invoice (for additional information – Lost Objects on Aerobus Barcelona).
• You can visit the customer service office personally at the following address: Polígono Industrial Gran Vía Sur, Av. Joan Carles I, 50 08908 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona; call them (+34 93 384 17 58 and 902 100 104); or write them an email (at info@sgmt.cat or by filling out a form on their website).
• It is also possible to write a message on their complaint book, which you can find on the buses, by asking the travel assistance staff.

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