Transport > Getting to Catalonia

Getting to Catalonia

Below you will find practical advice on how to get to Catalonia and to your final destination.

How to get to BARCELONA ___________________________________________________

Below you will find useful information on getting to and around Barcelona, whether by air, rail, coach, bus, taxi, etc.

To locate any address in Barcelona, see: www.bcn.es/guia/

AIR TRANSPORT www.aena.es/csee/Satellite?pagename=Home

Barcelona airport (Aeroport del Prat) is located some 12 kilometres from the city centre. You have a number of options for travelling to the city centre from the airport:

Rail. Trains operated by the Spanish railway company, Renfe, depart from the airport every half hour between 6.13 am and 11.40 pm. The journey to the centre (Sants station, or Plaça Catalunya in the heart of the city) takes about 20 minutes. www.renfe.es/cercanias/barcelona/index.html 

Bus. A special airport service (Aerobús) departs every 12 minutes between 6.00 am and 12.00 midnight on weekdays and between 6.30 am and 12.00 midnight on weekends and holidays. You can purchase your ticket on the bus. The airport bus service terminates in Plaça Catalunya, in the heart of Barcelona. www.buscaprat.com/imagenes/transportes/Aerobus.htm

Taxi. The distinctive black-and-yellow taxis can be called or flagged down in the street. The maximum number of passengers is 4. A green light on the taxi roof and a LLIURE or LIBRE sign displayed in the front window indicate that a taxi is unoccupied. A taxi to Sants station costs around €19, and to the centre of Barcelona, about €21.

RAIL TRANSPORT www.renfe.es/index.html

Renfe is the Spanish railway company for passenger and goods transport. Barcelona has two mainline international stations, in which trains from a range of European countries stop or terminate. These are Sants station, which is not far from the centre of Barcelona, and França station, which is near the port.

ROAD TRANSPORT

You can also travel to Barcelona by road, whether in a private car or by coach. Coach company terminals are located in different parts of the city.

You can consult maps, road maps, access routes, up-to-date traffic reports, etc. in the following website: www20.gencat.cat/portal/site/mobilitat

You can also travel to Barcelona by sea, as there are direct connections with the ports of Palma de Mallorca, Eivissa (Ibiza), Mahon (Majorca) and Genoa (Italy). You will find all the details in the Port of Barcelona website (link provided above).

How to get to TARRAGONA __________________________________________________

Below you will find useful information on getting to and around Tarragona, whether by air, rail or road.

To locate any address in Tarragona, see: www.tarragona.cat/ciutat/mapa/index.php

AIR TRANSPORT www.aena.es/csee/Satellite?pagename=Home

The nearest airports to Tarragona are in Reus and Barcelona.

Reus Airport is located some 7 kilometres from Tarragona. It has flights to Madrid and to major European cities, operated by low-cost airlines. There is a bus service to both Reus and Tarragona.

Barcelona Airport is located some 82 kilometres from Tarragona. To get to Tarragona from Barcelona airport, take a train to Sants station then change for a train to Tarragona. There is also a bus service operated by Julià. If travelling by car, take the AP-7/A-16 motorways. See the information for Barcelona for details on how to get to Barcelona by air.

RAIL TRANSPORT

Renfe is the Spanish railway company for passenger and goods transport. Tarragona has a direct international rail connection with France, and, via Renfe's inter-city rail network, indirect connections with international rail routes to/from Barcelona. See the information for Barcelona for details on how to get to Barcelona by rail.

Tarragona also has long-distance rail connections with Valencia, Andalusia and Madrid.

Tarragona's mainline railway station is located between the sea and the city centre.

ROAD TRANSPORT

You can also travel to Tarragona by road, whether in a private car or by coach. The Eurolines and Alsa coach companies operate international routes from Tarragona's central bus station that cover most of Western Europe, some Easter European countries, and Morocco. The main roadways to/from Tarragona are the Mediterranean motorway (AP-7), which links Alicante with France and the rest of Europe, and the northern motorway, which links Tarragona and the Basque Country.

You can consult maps, road maps, access routes, up-to-date traffic reports, etc. in the following website: www20.gencat.cat/portal/site/mobilitat

How to get to LLEIDA ________________________________________________________

Below you will find useful information on getting to and around Lleida, whether by air, rail or road.

To locate any address in Lleida, see http://www.paeria.es/ang/

AIR TRANSPORT www.aena.es/csee/Satellite?pagename=Home

The nearest airports to Lleida are in Reus or Barcelona. A third alternative is Girona airport.

Barcelona Airport is located some 170 kilometres from Lleida. To get to Lleida from Barcelona airport, take a train to Sants station then change for a train to Lleida. There is also a bus service operated by Julià. If travelling by car, take the AP-2 or N-II. See the information for Barcelona for details on how to get to Barcelona by air.

Reus Airport located some 96 kilometres away, has a train connection to Llleida.

Girona Airport, located some 244 kilometres away, has bus connections (e.g. the Eix-Bus) with Lleida (via the Eix Transversal, or C-25).

RAIL TRANSPORT www.renfe.es/index.html

Renfe is the Spanish railway company for passenger and goods transport. The Barcelona-Madrid railway line passes through Lleida, and there is also a high-speed train (AVE) connection between Zaragoza and Madrid.

Lleida's mainline railway station is located near the city centre.

ROAD TRANSPORT

You can also travel to Lleida by road, whether in a private car or by coach. Eurolines and Alsa operate international coach routes between Lleida's central bus station and France, Italy and Portugal. The main roadways for Lleida are the AP-2 motorway, the N-II and the Eix Transversal (C-25).

You can consult maps, road maps, access routes, up-to-date traffic reports, etc. in the following website: www20.gencat.cat/portal/site/mobilitat

How to get to GIRONA _______________________________________________________

Below you will find useful information on getting to and around Girona, whether by air, rail or road.

To locate any address in Girona, see www.ajuntament.gi/umat/servidor/planol

AIR TRANSPORT www.aena.es/csee/Satellite?pagename=Home

Girona has its own airport. You can also fly into Barcelona airport.

Girona Airport, located some 12 kilometres from the city, has flights to/from several European cities, mostly operated by low-cost airlines. One of these is Ryanair, which operates a bus service to ferry its passengers between Girona airport and Girona's central bus station.

Barcelona Airport is located some 116 kilometres from Girona. To get to Girona from Barcelona airport, take a train to Sants station then change for a train to Girona. There are also bus connections between Barcelona and Girona. If travelling by car, take the AP-7 motorway, direction France. See the information for Barcelona for details on how to get to Barcelona by air.

RAIL TRANSPORT www.renfe.es/index.html

Renfe is the Spanish railway company for passenger and goods transport. Some international train routes have a stop in Girona station. Renfe inter-city trains have connections with other international routes (operating through Barcelona, for example).

Girona's mainline railway station is located very near the city centre.

ROAD TRANSPORT

You can also travel to Girona by road, whether in a private car or by coach. The Eurolines and Alsa coach companies operate international routes from Girona's central bus station that cover most of Western Europe, some Easter European countries, and Morocco. Girona's main motorway is the AP-7, which connects Catalonia with France.

You can consult maps, road maps, access routes, up-to-date traffic reports, etc. in the following website: www20.gencat.cat/portal/site/mobilitat

How to get to VIC _____________________________________________________________

Below you will find useful information on getting to and around Vic, whether by air, rail or road.

To locate any address in Vic, see www.portalvic.com/mapa/

AIR TRANSPORT www.aena.es/csee/Satellite?pagename=Home

The nearest airports to Vic are Girona airport and Barcelona airport.

Barcelona Airport is located some 84 kilometres from Vic. To get to Vic from Barcelona airport, take a train to Sants station then change for a train to Vic. There is also a bus connection between Barcelona and Vic. If travelling by car, take the C-17 route. See the information for Barcelona for details on how to get to Barcelona by air.

Girona Airport, located some 54 kilometres from Vic, has bus connections (e.g. the Eix-Bus) with Vic (via the Eix Transversal, or C-25).

RAIL TRANSPORT www.renfe.es/index.html

Renfe is the Spanish railway company for passenger and goods transport. Inter-city lines between Vic and Barcelona connect up with international train routes.

Vic's mainline railway station is located very near the city centre.

ROAD TRANSPORT

You can also travel to Vic by road, whether in a private car or by coach. The Sagalés coach company, based at Vic's central bus station, operates a service between Vic and Barcelona. The main roadway are the C-17 route connecting Via and Barcelona, and the Eix Transversal connecting Vic with Lleida and Girona.

You can consult maps, road maps, access routes, up-to-date traffic reports, etc. in the following website: www20.gencat.cat/portal/site/mobilitat

Updated September 2008