Getting Around

Bicycle Hire

Barcelona has expanded and improved its network of routes and cycle paths, becoming one of the most cyclist-friendly cities in the world. The public bicycle system known as Bicing (www.bicing.cat, only in Spanish and Catalan) is an economical and convenient way to hire a bike. Sign up for a card online, swipe it in any of the bike stations around Barcelona and a bike is unlocked and ready for use. Alternatively, major bike rental shops include Al Punt de Trobada, Carrer Badajoz 24 (tel: 93 225 0585; www.alpuntdetrobada.com) and Biciclot, Passeig Marítim 33 (tel: 93 221 9778; www.biciclot.net).

Public Transport

With the exception of one metro line, all public transport in Barcelona is operated by TMB (tel: 93 318 7074; www.tmb.net). Services generally run daily from 0500 to midnight on weekdays, and until 0200 on Fridays and Saturdays. The metro is the most efficient means of transport in Barcelona, covering most parts of the city. Tickets can be purchased at any metro station and validated in a machine before boarding. The bus network in Barcelona is extensive and almost all services run through Plaça de Catalunya, Plaça Urquinaona or Plaça de la Universitat. In summer, the TombBús is a shopping service that runs Monday to Saturday every few minutes between Plaça de Catalunya and Plaça Pius XII. To get to the suburbs and surrounding areas, FGC (tel: 93 205 1515; www.fgc.es) and RENFE (tel: 902 320 320; www.renfe.es) operate regional rail lines - the RENFE local network is known as Rodalies or Cercanías. Multi-ride tickets and passes (from one-day to monthly passes) cover all transport in the city. For tourists, there are multi-day passes available between two to five days and they can be used for the journey to and from the airport. See www.emt-amb.com for details.  

Taxis

Yellow-and-black registered cabs can be hailed on the street or booked in advance. Radio Taxi (tel: 93 293 3111) and Servitaxi (tel: 93 330 0300) provide 24-hour daily services. Meter fares includes VAT (rates rise at night, on Sundays and holidays).Tipping is not expected, but if you would like to tip, the usual amount is 5 to 10% of the meter fare.

Driving in the City

Roads in Barcelona are excellent, but they can get extremely congested during rush hours. There are numerous paid car parks in the city centre. Blue markings with a meter signify pay to park for a limited period of time while yellow markings signify no parking. With the proximity of the main attractions and the excellent public transport system, you may prefer to explore on foot.

Car Hire

The minimum age to hire a car in Spain is 21. A passport and a valid driving licence are required. A valid international insurance policy is also necessary, although this can be purchased at the time of hire. Cars can be hired at the airport, railway station and ports. Main car rental companies include Avis (tel: 93 330 4193; www.avis.com) and Hertz (tel: 93 419 6156; www.hertz.com).