Barcelona Transportation

Getting There

By Air

The Barcelona Airport is located 6.2 miles southwest of the city and has over 32 airlines transporting visitors both domestically and internationally.

Barcelona International Airport (BCN) +34 932 983 838 http://www.barcelona-airport.com

Aer Lingus (+34 902 502 737 / http://www.aerlingus.com/) Air Berlin (+34 902 320 737 / http://www.airberlin.com/) Air Europa (+34 93 298 3328 / http://www.air-europa.com/) Air France (+ 34 901 112 266 / http://www.airfrance.com/) British Airways (+34 902 111 333 / http://www.britishairways.com/) Delta Airlines (+34 934 782 300 / http://www.delta.com/) EasyJet (+34 902 299 992 / http://www.easyjet.com/) Lufthansa (+34 93 379 3766 / http://www.lufthansa.com/) Spanair (+34 902 131 415 / http://www.spanair.com/) Swiss (+34 901 116 712 / http://www.swiss.com/) TAP Air Portugal (+351 707 205 700 / http://www.flytap.com/) Virgin Express (+34 93 226 6671 / http://www.virgin-express.com/)

From the Airport

Bus: Several bus lines leave Barcelona Airport for Barcelona's city center (mostly from Terminal B if not indicated otherwise):

The Airbus (A1) (+34 934 156 020 / http://www.emt-amb.com/) and Line N17 (+34 933 187 074 / http://www.emt-amb.com/) takes passangers from terminals A, B, C, and the Cargo terminal to the center of Barcelona, the Plaza de Catalunya. The Airbus leaves the airport every 7 to 15 minutes from 6a to 1a. bus fare: EUR4. Line N17 buses leave for the city center every 20 minutes from 10:05a to 5:05a. Departures from Plaza de Catalunya, from 11p to 5a every 20 minutes.

Directbus (+34 902 109 276 / http://www.autocarsnadal.com/) leaves the airport seven times a day between 7:45a and 10:45p for Sants Station, Barcelona.

Line 46 takes passengers to Plaza de Espana every half hour from 5:30a to 12:45a. A single ticket costs EUR1.30

Mon-Bus (+34 938 937 060 / http://www.monbus.org/) links Barcelona and several other cities. Buses run every hour between 7:40a and 11:40p. Check website for details.

Novatel Autocars takes passangers to Andorra bus station five times a day On-way ticket: EUR31; return: EUR52.

The Ràpid Aeroport (Alsa) leaves the airport for Figueres, Girona, Lleida, Reus, Port Aventura and Tarragona several times a day. Prices range between EUR12-30.

Taxi: Taxi ranks are located in front of Terminals A, B and C. For fares to various locations check: +34 932 235 151 / http://www.taxibarcelona.cat/. Per baggage item an extra fee of EUR1 is expected.

Train: Renfe Line 10 suburban train (+34 902 240 202) leaves the airport from 6a to 10:30p every half hour. The ride takes about 30 minutes and drops passengers off at Barcelona Sants, among various other stops. A single ticket costs EUR2.50.

Car Rentals: Traveling by car is generally a good idea if you are looking to do some out-of-city sightseeing. The province has beautiful views to offer, and rental cars are a sure-fire way to get where you want for a fixed price. Avis (+34 932 983 600 / http://www.avis.es/) Europcar (+34 093 7276851 / http://www.europcar.com/) Hertz (+34 932 983 637 / http://www.hertz.es/) National ATESA (+34 932 983 433 / http://www.atesa.es/) Sol-Mar (+34 934 788 795 / http://www.solmar.es/)

By Train

Both domestic and international trains come and go to Barcelona. The main train station is Estació Sants (+34 902 1575 07), 1.6 miles west of Las Ramblas. Direct overnight trains also connect from Paris, Geneva, Lisbon and Milan, as well as services from various French cities and across Spain. To find out about short and long distance train trips, check the Spanish National Railway Network (RENFE) (http://www.renfe.es/) website.

By Bus

Buses are a cheaper alternative to trains, though not so comfortable. Estació del Nord, the main inter-city bus station, is one mile northeast of Las Ramblas, close to Arc de Triomf metro. Check the Barcelona Local Transport Train, Metro, and Bus operator (TMB), (http://www.tmb.net/) for specific information on all ground transportation.

By Boat

You can get to Barcelona by ferry via the Balearic Islands (http://www.balearia.ferries.org/) and Italy. From the Balearics there are standard boats, on which you can get beds in cabins of up to four people and high-speed boats on which sleepers are not necessary.

Getting Around

Public Transport

Barcelona's extensive public transportation system makes it possible to visit without a car. The TMB system (local transport, bus, train, tram and metro http://www.tmb.net/) is the city's major public transportation source. For train, metro and tram times, bus schedules, and tourist travel passes, this site is most helpful in planning that trip to the museum or movie. The Spanish National Railway Network (RENFE) (http://www.renfe.es/) website also contains information about alternative local train routes that connect the most visited places of Barcelona.

Planning a Trip

Although Barcelona, with its three million inhabitants, muggy climate, congested streets, and inevitable rush-hour traffic jams, is no longer the laid-back (and relatively little-known) Mediterranean port it once was, there's plenty to make your visit here much easier than you might imagine.

For one thing, you don't have to bother with the hassle of arranging visas before you set off, and once you arrive, there's an abundance of helpful oficinas de turismo (tourist information offices) to ensure you're briefed on what to see and do. A very good local transportation system includes Metro (subway), tramvías (streamlined tram), and rodalíes (suburban train services), and the cost of travel is extremely low -- particularly if you purchase the 10-tickets-in-one deal. Additionally, there's an increasing number of amenities for travelers with disabilities.

The benign Mediterranean climate ensures it's rarely uncomfortably cold, even in winter. Summers can be hot and humid, though, and this may restrict mobility for older visitors when they're touring the sights. But you can always take a break and relish verdant shady areas like Ciutadella Park, Montjuïc, and Tibidabo, which have panoramic Mediterranean and city vistas.

Violent crime is fairly uncommon, but you should definitely watch out for potential bag snatchers and muggers in the narrow lanes around La Rambla and around the Plaça Reial -- especially late at night.

If you decide to take your own computer along you'll find a wide choice of places where you can connect to the Internet. The number of hotels equipped with Wi-Fi is mushrooming, and cybercafes are opening up continuously throughout the city.

Destination Barcelona: Pre-Departure Checklist

• If you're flying, are you carrying a current, government-issued ID? The citizens of E.U. countries can cross into Spain for as long as they wish, but citizens of other countries, including the United States, must have a passport.
• If you're driving, did you pack your driver's license and some detailed road maps?
• Do you have the address and phone number of your country's embassy or consulate with you?
• Did you find out your daily ATM withdrawal limit?
• Do you have your credit card PINs? If you have a five- or six-digit PIN, did you obtain a four-digit number from your bank? (Five- and six-digit numbers do not work in Spain.)
• To check in at a kiosk with an e-ticket, do you have the credit card you bought your ticket with or a frequent-flier card?
• If you purchased traveler's checks, have you recorded the check numbers and stored the documentation separately from the checks?
• Did you bring your ID cards that could entitle you to discounts, such as AAA and AARP cards, student IDs, etc.?
• Did you leave a copy of your itinerary with someone at home?
• Do any theater, restaurant, or travel reservations need to be booked in advance?
• Did you make sure your favorite attraction is open? Call ahead for opening and closing times. (Bear in mind, for example, that most museums close on Monday in Spain.)

Online Traveler's Toolbox

Veteran travelers usually carry some essential items to make their trips easier. Following is a selection of handy online tools to bookmark and use.

• Airplane Food (www.airlinemeals.net)
• Airplane Seating (www.seatguru.com and www.airlinequality.com)
• Foreign Languages for Travelers (www.travlang.com)
• Maps (www.mapquest.com)
• Time and Date (www.timeanddate.com)
• Travel Warnings (http://travel.state.gov, www.fco.gov.uk/travel, www.voyage.gc.ca, www.smartraveller.gov.au)
• Universal Currency Converter (www.oanda.com)
• Weather (www.intellicast.com and www.weather.com)
• Tickets to events in Barcelona (www.telentrada.com)
• Event Guide to Barcelona (www.bcn.es and www.barcelona-online.com)
• Tourist Information (www.barcelonaturisme.com and www.spain.info)

Getting There

By Plane

From North America -- Flights from the U.S. east coast to Spain take 6 to 7 hours. The national carrier of Spain, Iberia Airlines (tel. 800/772-4642; www.iberia.com), has more routes into and within Spain than any other airline. It offers almost daily services from most major U.S. cites (New York, Washington, Chicago, Atlanta) either direct to Barcelona or via Madrid. Also available are attractive rates on fly/drive packages within Iberia and Europe; they can substantially reduce the cost of both the air ticket and the car rental.

A good money-saver to consider is Iberia's SpainPass. Available only to passengers who simultaneously arrange for transatlantic passage on Iberia, the SpainPass consists of coupons equivalent to a one-way/one-person ticket to destinations on mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands. Travelers must purchase a three-coupon minimum (228€/$296), and extra coupons can be bought at 60€ ($78) each. The Europass services European destinations and can only be purchased as a part of an Iberian Airlines itinerary from your home country.

Iberia's main Spain-based competitor is Air Europa (tel. 888/238-7672; www.air-europa.com), which offers daily service from Newark Airport using Continental Airlines to Madrid, with connecting flights to Barcelona. Fares are usually lower than Iberia's.

Delta (tel. 800/241-4141; www.delta.com) runs daily nonstop service from Atlanta (its worldwide hub) and New York (JFK) to Barcelona. Delta's Dream Vacation department offers independent fly/drive packages, land packages, and escorted bus tours.

From The U.K. -- British Airways (tel. 0845/773-3377; www.britishairways.com), Iberia (tel. 020/7830-0011 in London), and easyJet (www.easyjet.com) are the three major carriers flying between England and Spain. More than a dozen daily flights, on either British Airways or Iberia, depart from London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports. About the same number of easyJet flights depart daily from Stansted, Luton, and Gatwick airports. easyJet also has direct flights from Liverpool and Newcastle. Another Internet service, Thomas Cook (www.flythomascook.com), offers daily service from a variety of airports in the U.K., including Bournemouth, Birmingham, Bristol, and Cardiff. Ryanair (www.ryanair.com), which uses Girona (Gerona) Airport, located about an hour outside of Barcelona, flies in from Bournemouth, Dublin, and the East Midlands, as well as London. (There is a connecting bus service from Girona Airport to central Barcelona.) The best air deals on scheduled flights from England are those requiring a Saturday-night stopover.

Budget airlines are giving the major carriers a run for their money and many have now had to slash their fares to compete. The efficiency of these services has been proven (both easyJet and Ryanair have excellent "on time" records), and most travelers seem happy to forgo the frills and arrive in Barcelona with a few more euros in their pocket.

Charter flights to the regional Catalan airports of Reus and Girona leave from many British regional airports. Girona serves those heading to the Costa Brava north of Barcelona, while Reus is mainly used by those holidaying on the resorts on the Costa Daurada in the south. Trailfinders (tel. 020/7937-5400 in London; www.trailfinders.com) operates charters to both destinations.

In London, there are many bucket shops around Victoria Station and Earls Court that offer cheap fares. Make sure the company you deal with is a member of the IATA, ABTA, or ATOL. These umbrella organizations will help you if anything goes wrong.

CEEFAX, the British television information service, runs details of package holidays and flights to Europe and beyond. Just switch to your CEEFAX channel and you'll find travel information.

From Australia -- From Australia, there are a number of options to fly to Spain. The most popular is Qantas (www.qantas.com)/British Airways (www.ba.com), which flies daily via Asia and London. Other popular and cheaper options are Qantas/Lufthansa (www.lufthansa.com) via Asia and Frankfurt, Qantas/Air France (www.airfrance.com) via Asia and Paris, and Alitalia (www.alitalia.com) via Bangkok and Rome. The most direct option is on Singapore Airlines (www.singaporeair.com), with just one stop in Singapore. Alternatively, there are flights on Thai Airways (www.thaiair.com) via Bangkok and Rome, but the connections are not always good.

Europass: A Cost-Cutting Technique -- A noteworthy cost-cutting option is Iberia's Europass. Available only to passengers who simultaneously arrange for transatlantic passage on Iberia and a minimum of two additional flights, it allows passage on any flight within Iberia's European or Mediterranean dominion for $250 for the first two flights and $133 for each additional flight. This is especially attractive for passengers wishing to combine trips to Spain with, for example, visits to such far-flung destinations as Cairo, Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Moscow, and Munich. For details, ask Iberia's phone representative. Iberia's main Spain-based competitor is Air Europa (tel. 888/238-7672; www.air-europa.es), which offers nonstop service from New York's JFK Airport to Barcelona, with continuing service to major cities within Spain. Fares are competitive.

On Time in Spain -- In Spain, a time change occurs the first weekend of spring. Check your watch. Many unsuspecting visitors have arrived at the airport too late and missed their planes.

Getting into Town from the Airport -- El Prat, Barcelona's airport, is 13km (8 miles) from the city center and there are several options you can use to get into town. One is the Aerobús, which leaves just outside all three terminals every 15 minutes from 6am to midnight and stops at Plaça Espanya, Gran Vía Corts Catalanes, Plaça Universitat, and Plaça de Catalunya (taking about 40 min. to reach the last stop). Another is by half-hourly rail service that departs between 6:15am and 11:15pm from the El Prat train station to Sants (25 min.), which has connections with the Metro or subway. The third is by taxi from ranks outside all terminals.

If you've rented a car and are driving into the city yourself, be sure to familiarize yourself with the road signs beforehand.

By Car

If you're touring the rest of Europe in a rented car, you might, for an added cost, be allowed to drop off your vehicle in Barcelona.

Highway approaches to Spain are across France on expressways. The most popular border crossing is near Biarritz, but there are 17 other border stations between Spain and France. If you're going to Barcelona or Catalonia and along the Levante coast (Valencia), take the expressway in France to Toulouse, then the A-61 to Narbonne, and then the A-9 toward the border crossing at La Junquera. You can also take the RN-20, with a border station at Puigcerdà.

Barcelona is tucked away in the northeast corner of Spain, just below the Pyrénées. Main highways within Spain from the city run west and south and the best connections are with Madrid (NII) and Valencia (E15). To get to northern cities such as Pamplona, Burgos, and Bilbao take the A2 highway first to Zaragoza and look for the appropriate connection.

If you're driving from Britain, make sure you have a cross-Channel reservation, as traffic tends to be very heavy, especially in summer.

The major ferry crossings between Britain and France connect Dover and Folkestone with Dunkirk, Calais, or Boulogne. Newhaven is connected with Dieppe and Plymouth with Roscoff. Crossing from Dover to Calais on P & O Ferries (tel. 800/677-8585 in North America or 08705/20-20-20; www.poferries.com) costs £40 ($64) one-way for a car and two passengers and takes 1 1/4 hours.

There is one other option for crossing the English Channel. Norfolkline (tel. 020/8127-8303; www.norfolkline.com) operates a ferry service from Dover to Dunkirk that takes 1 hour and 45 minutes and costs £20 to £40 ($32-$64) one-way for a car and two passengers. The drive from Calais to the border would take about 15 hours.

You can take the Chunnel, the underwater Channel Tunnel linking Britain (Folkestone) and France (Calais), by road and rail. Eurostar tickets, for train service between London and Paris or Brussels, are available through Rail Europe (tel. 800/EUROSTAR [3876-7827]; www.eurostar.com for information). In London, make reservations for Eurostar at tel. 0870/530-00-03. The tunnel also accommodates passenger cars, charter buses, taxis, and motorcycles, transporting them under the English Channel from Folkestone, England, to Calais, France. It operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, running every 15 minutes during peak travel times, and at least once an hour at night. Tickets may be purchased at the tollbooth at the tunnel's entrance. With "Le Shuttle," gone are the days of weather-related delays, seasickness, and advance reservations.

Once you land, you'll have about an 18-hour drive to Barcelona.

If you plan to transport a rental car between England and France, check in advance with the rental company about license and insurance requirements and additional drop-off charges. And be aware that many car-rental companies, for insurance reasons, forbid transport of one of their vehicles over the water between England and France.

Car Rentals -- Many of North America's biggest car-rental companies, including Avis, Budget, and Hertz, maintain offices throughout Spain. Although several Spanish car-rental companies exist, we've received lots of letters from readers of previous editions telling us they've had hard times resolving billing irregularities and insurance claims, so you might want to stick with the U.S.-based rental firms.

Note that tax on car rentals is a whopping 15%, so don't forget to factor that into your travel budget. Usually, prepaid rates do not include taxes, which will be collected at the rental kiosk itself. Be sure to ask explicitly what's included when you're quoted a rate.

Avis (tel. 800/331-1212; www.avis.com) maintains about 100 branches throughout Spain. If you reserve and pay for your rental by telephone at least 2 weeks before your departure from North America, you'll qualify for the company's best rate, with unlimited kilometers included.

You can usually get competitive rates from Hertz (tel. 800/654-3131; www.hertz.com) and Budget (tel. 800/472-3325; www.budget.com); it always pays to comparison shop. Budget doesn't have a drop-off charge if you pick up a car in one Spanish city and return it to another. All three companies require that drivers be at least 21 years of age and, in some cases, not older than 72. To be able to rent a car, you must have a passport and a valid driver's license; you must also have a valid credit card or a prepaid voucher. An international driver's license is not essential, but you might want to present it if you have one; it's available from any North American office of the American Automobile Association (AAA).

Two other agencies of note include Kemwel (tel. 877/820-0668; www.kemwel.com) and Auto Europe (tel. 800/223-5555; www.autoeurope.com).

Many packages include airfare, accommodations, and a rental car with unlimited mileage. Compare these prices with the cost of booking airline tickets and renting a car separately, in order to see if these offers are good deals. Internet resources can make comparison shopping easier. Expedia (www.expedia.com) and Travelocity (www.travelocity.com) help you compare prices and locate car-rental bargains from various companies nationwide. They will even make your reservation for you once you've found the best deal.

Most cars hired in Spain are stick shift, not automatic. Most are air-conditioned and nearly all use unleaded gas.

Usual minimum-age limit for rentals is 21 for compact or intermediate size cars, but some van or larger car rentals require that drivers be 25 years of age (or even older). Upper-age requirements reach 70 to 75 for certain vehicles.

Driving Rules -- Spaniards drive on the right side of the road. Drivers should pass on the left; local drivers sound their horns when passing another car and flash their lights at you if you're driving slowly (slowly for high-speed Spain) in the left lane. Autos coming from the right have the right-of-way.

Spain's express highways are known as autopistas, which charge a toll, and autovías, which don't. To exit in Spain, follow the SALIDA (exit) sign, except in Catalonia, where the exit sign says SORTIDA. On most express highways, the speed limit is 120kmph (75 mph). On other roads, speed limits range from 90kmph (56 mph) to 100kmph (62 mph). You will see many drivers far exceeding these limits.

If you must drive through Barcelona try to avoid morning and evening rush hours. Never park your car facing oncoming traffic, as that is against the law. If you are fined by the highway patrol (Guardia Civil de Tráfico), you must pay on the spot. Penalties for drinking and driving are very stiff (breathalyzers are now being far more strictly used than in the past).

Maps -- For one of the best overviews of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal), get Michelin map no. 990 (folded version) or map no. 460 (spiral-bound version). For more detailed looks at Spain, Michelin has a series of six maps (nos. 441-446) showing specific regions, complete with many minor roads.

For extensive touring, purchase Mapas de Carreteras -- España y Portugal, published by Almax Editores and available at most leading bookstores in Spain. This cartographic compendium of Spain provides an overview of the country and includes road and street maps of some of its major cities.

The American Automobile Association (AAA; www.aaa.com) publishes a regional map of Spain that's available free to members at most AAA offices in the United States. Incidentally, the AAA is associated with the Real Automóvil Club de España (RACE; tel. 90-240-45-45; www.race.es). This organization can supply helpful information about road conditions in Spain, including tourist and travel advice. It will also provide limited road service, in an emergency, if your car breaks down.

Breakdowns -- These can be a serious problem. If you're driving a Spanish-made vehicle that needs parts, you'll probably be able to find them. But if you are driving a foreign-made vehicle, you may be stranded. Have the car checked before setting out on a long trek through Spain. On a major motorway you'll find strategically placed emergency phone boxes. On secondary roads, call for help by asking the operator to locate the nearest Guardia Civil, which will put you in touch with a garage that can tow you to a repair shop.

As noted above, the Spanish affiliate of AAA can provide limited assistance in the event of a breakdown.

By Bus

Bus travel to Spain is possible but not popular -- it's quite slow. But coach services do operate regularly from major capitals of Western Europe to Barcelona, from which bus connections can be made to Madrid. The busiest routes are from London and are run by Eurolines Limited, 52 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0AU (tel. 0990/143-219 or 020/7730-8235). The journey from London's Victoria Station to Barcelona takes 27 hours and 15 minutes, departing from Victoria Station at 3:30pm and arriving at Barcelona Nord at 6:45pm the following day. There is a 30-minute wait in Lyon, France, en route.

By Train

Catalonia has a comprehensive network of rail lines. Hundreds of trains depart every day for points around the region or to more far-flung destinations such as Paris, Madrid, Southern Spain, or even Milan.

If you're already in Europe, you may want to go to Spain by train, especially if you have a Eurailpass. Even if you don't, the cost is moderate. Rail passengers who visit from Britain or France should make couchette (bunk beds in a sleeper car) and sleeper reservations as far in advance as possible, especially during the peak summer season.

Since Spain's rail tracks are of a wider gauge than those used for French trains (except for the TALGO and Trans-Europe-Express trains), you'll probably have to change trains at the border unless you're on an express train. For long journeys on Spanish rails, seat and sleeper reservations are mandatory.

The most comfortable and the fastest trains in Spain are the AVE, ALTARIA, TER, TALGO, and Electrotren. However, you pay a supplement to ride on these fast trains. Both first- and second-class fares are sold on Spanish trains. Tickets can be purchased in the United States or Canada at the nearest office of French Rail or from any reputable travel agent. Confirmation of your reservation will take about a week.

All trains in Catalonia are operated by Spanish State Railways (RENFE). For day and overnight trips, the comfortable high-speed trains of the TALGO, TER, and Electrotren types are the ones you will be likely to catch.

If you want your car carried, you must travel Auto-Expreso in Spain. This type of auto transport can be booked only through travel agents or rail offices once you arrive in Europe.

To go from London to Barcelona by rail, you'll need to change not only the train but also the rail terminus in Paris. Trip time from London to Paris is about 6 hours; from Paris to Barcelona, about 12 hours, which includes 2 hours spent in Paris changing trains and stations. Many rail passes are available in the United Kingdom for travel in Europe.

Rapidíssimo! -- The Spanish railway system is getting faster and more efficient by the year. A new AVE high-speed train service, launched in 2007, connects Barcelona with Madrid in merely 3 1/4 hours, stopping en route at Lleida and Zaragoza. The train travels at a speed of up to 300km (186 miles) per hour. Quite a reduction from the previous 5-hour-long Talgo service trip, and an astounding improvement from the 7-and-a-half-hour trek a decade ago. The times are indeed changing. Who knows what another decade will bring?

Getting Around

By Subway (Metro)

Barcelona has an excellent underground public transport system. The Metro goes pretty much any place in the city you will need to get to. It is run by the TMB (Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona), who also manage the bus network and the FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat), a pre-Metro, part underground, part over-ground system.

It is the efficient Metro system, however, that most visitors to the city are likely to use. There are five color-coded and numbered lines that fan out from the center of the city. Stations are recognizable by a red diamond-shaped sign with the letter M in the center. Maps are available from the stations themselves and tourist information offices. The stations Plaça de Catalunya, Sants, and Passeig de Gràcia connect with RENFE or over-ground trains. When you purchase a ticket for another part of Spain or Catalonia (which you can do from RENFE offices at Sants and Passeig de Gràcia stations) make sure you ask which station it leaves from.

All Metro tickets can be bought on the day of journey or beforehand inside the station, either from the ticket office or a touch-screen vending machine. Various options are available. A single (senzill or sencillo) ticket costs 1.25€ ($1.65). More economic options include a T-10 at 6.90€ ($8.95), which offers 10 journeys that can be shared by two or more people, or a T-Día for unlimited 24-hour transport in central Barcelona for 5.25€ ($6.85). Travel Cards valid for 2 or 3 days are also available for 9.60€ to 13.70€ ($12-$18). You can also get reduced tickets for longer periods, but for most short visits the T-10 is your best bet, with the T-Día in reserve for extra-busy days. All these tickets are valid for the FGC and bus systems as well as the Metro.

Note that even with a sencillo ticket, once it is activated, it is valid for up to 75 minutes on a different form of transport if you need to do a combined Metro/bus journey. The Metro runs 5am to midnight Sunday to Thursday and 5am to 2am Friday and Saturday. TMB's easy-to-navigate website (www.tmb.net) has lots of information on the city's transport system in English, including which Metro stations and buses are equipped to take wheelchairs. The customer service number is tel. 93-318-70-74; there are also customer service centers at Universitat, Sagrada Família, Sants, and Diagonal stations. While it's tempting to hop on and off the Metro when seeing the sights remember that Metro stations are often only about a 5- to 10-minute walk apart; a good pair of shoes is the best way around central Barcelona!

By Bus

Buses are plentiful, but less convenient, as they lie at the mercy of the city's infamous traffic snarls. Most bus routes stop at the Plaça de Catalunya, also the stop-off point for the Aerobús and the Bus Turístic . Routes are clearly marked on each stop as are timetables -- but most buses stop running well before the Metro closes. One bus service that is particularly useful is the Nitbus, which runs from 11pm to 4am and is often the only alternative to the 2 to 3am taxi drought. These are bright yellow, clearly marked with an N, and most leave from Plaça de Catalunya. Note that while Travel Cards and other TMB passes are valid for daytime buses they're not valid on Nitbuses. Tickets for the latter (1.25€/$1.65 one-way) are bought directly from the driver.

All Aboard!

The most convenient way to see all of Barcelona, especially if your time is limited, is to hop on (and off) the Bus Turístic (tel. 93-318-70-74; www.tmb.net/en_US/turistes/busturistic/busturistic.jsp). This double-decker, open-top tourist bus travels to all the major areas and sights; you can either choose to disembark or stay on and continue your journey. There are two routes -- the red or Nord (North) route, which covers L'Eixample and Tibidabo with Gaudí's main works (including the Sagrada Família) as the highlights, or the blue or Sur (South) route, which allows you to see the Old Town and Montjuïc, both with multilingual commentary along the way. The main point of embarkation is Plaça de Catalunya, outside the El Corte Ingles department store. Cost is 18€ ($23) for the 1-day pass (10€/$13 children 4-12) and 21€ ($27) for the 2-day pass (14€/$18 children 4-12). Tickets can be purchased onboard or at the Tourist Information Office at the Plaça de Catalunya. The service operates daily from 9am to 9:30pm. There is no service on Christmas or New Year's Day.

By Taxi

Taxis are plentiful and still reasonably priced. Most of the time you simply hail one in the street (a green light denotes their availability). Taxis have meters, but don't make the mistake of confusing the cheaper day rate (Tariff 2, starting at 1.75€/$2.30) with the slightly more expensive post-8pm night rate (Tariff 1, starting at 1.85€/$2.40). A list of prices and surcharges is (by law) on display on the back passenger window. There have been recent reports of some unscrupulous taxi drivers charging exorbitant fares for short distances, but this seems to mainly be confined to the Ryanair bus drop-off point. Do make sure that the meter is turned on when you start your journey. If you wish to book a cab, either for the next available or the next day, call the Institut Metropolità del Taxi at tel. 93-223-51-51. They can also give you information about booking wheelchair-adapted taxis.

By Bicycle

One growing form of transport in the city is the bicycle. There are a number of bicycle lanes in the center of the city and a few firms that rent them, including Un Coxte Menys, Esparteria 3 (tel. 93-268-21-05), and Biciclot, Verneda 16 (tel. 93-307-74-75). You are not required by law to wear a helmet.

Other Forms of Transport

At some point in your journey, you may want to visit the mountain of Tibidabo for the views and fun-fair. A century-old tram called the Tramvía Blau (Blue Streetcar) goes from Plaça Kennedy to the bottom of the funicular to Tibidabo. It operates daily from 10am to 8pm from mid-June to mid-September and 10am to 6pm on weekends only the rest of the year.

At the end of the run, you can go the rest of the way by funicular to the top, at 503m (1,650 ft.), for a stunning panoramic view of Barcelona. The funicular operates only when the fun-fair at Tibidabo is open. Opening times vary according to the time of year and the weather conditions. As a rule, the funicular starts operating 20 minutes before the fun-fair opens and then every half-hour. During peak visiting hours, it runs every 15 minutes. The fare is 2.10€ ($2.75) one-way, and 3.10€ ($4.05) round-trip.

The Tibibus goes from the Plaça de Catalunya, in the center of the city, to Tibidabo at limited times, again depending on when the park opens and closes. The one-way fare is 2.10€ ($2.75). Call city hall's information hot line (tel. 010) for times.

Barcelona's newest form of public transport is the sleek and comfortable Tramvía Baix, a modern cable car that mainly services the outer suburbs. It is handy, however, for reaching the outer limits of the Diagonal and the Palau de Pedralbes. Hop on at Plaça Francesc Macià.

By Car

A car offers the greatest flexibility while you're touring, even if you're just doing day trips from Barcelona. Don't, however, plan to drive in Barcelona; it's too congested, street parking is a nightmare, and garage or lot parking is expensive. Theoretically, rush hour is Monday through Saturday from 8 to 10am and 4 to 7:30pm. In reality, it's always busy.

On the other hand, if you're touring Catalonia province, a car can be useful if you want to really get off the beaten track -- although bus and train transport to all the main places of interest, such as Tarragona, Montserrat, Girona, and the Costa Brava, is extremely efficient and economical.