The Barcelona tourist bus serves 44 stops and at least 87 attractions en 3 lines With just one ticket!
Sounds great on paper, right?
It's even better if you optimize your time well and get the cheapest tickets. Let me show you how to visit Barcelona by bus and much more in this article about: the Tourist Bus!
Tourist Bus: what is it?
You can almost see all the attractions of Barcelona for the price of a good paella.
Le official tourist bus of the city circulates 5 minutes each and it serves almost every corner of the city in an hour or two.
Over 2 passengers per year ship with a 95% satisfaction rate.
With your Barcelona tourist bus ticket you get:
- A super modern double-decker bus with panoramic views.
- Guided visits to the main attractions of Barcelona.
- A free audio guide with headphones to learn more about the city.
- Flexibility with unlimited stops.
- Official tour guides on board for personalized advice.
- A mobile application with a free informative guide.
- The opportunity to see most of the city in just two hours.
- Free WiFi connection on board.
You also get a huge advantage with a coupon book that offers more than 250,00 € discount in attractions, shops, restaurants, museums, bars, flamenco, etc.
Tourist Bus prices and discounts
Tour bus tickets come in the form of one- and two-day tickets.
Tickets are valid for calendar days and not for 24-hour periods.
1 day :
- Adults: € 30,00 € 27,00
- Children (4-12 years): € 16,00 € 14,40
- Over 65s and disabled: € 25,00 € 22,50
- Children under 4 years old: € 0,00
2 days (consecutive):
- Adults: € 40,00 € 36,00
- Children (4-12 years): € 21,00 € 18,90
- Over 65s and disabled: € 35,00 € 31,50
- Children under 4 years old: € 0,00
Where can I buy the Barcelona Tourist Bus tickets?
Most tourists prefer to buy their Barcelona tourist bus tickets online. Buy your tickets through our partner Ticketbar by clicking the button below to get a 10% reduction:
Tickets are sent by email within 24 hours. Simply print the voucher and show it to the driver or show it directly to your phone, and you're ready to visit Barcelona by bus!
You can also buy tickets on board, but this is not recommended as you will not get the 10% discount and risk waiting in line; these lines can be quite long, especially in summer.
You can also get your bus tickets online with the Barcelona City Pass that includes the Tourist Bus as well as the entrance to the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell and 20% off in practically everything you can do in Barcelona.
Barcelona Tourist Bus timetable
The Barcelona Bus Turistic is in service all year round, except Christmas and New Year's Eve, in high season you only wait 5 minutes between buses while in winter the waiting times can be long. get to 25 minutes.
- Summer: every day from 9 a.m. * a 00 p.m.
- Winter: every day from 9 a.m. * a 00 p.m.
- Green line: operates from 3/04 to 01/11
- Frequency: 5-25 minutes (depending on the season)
* The Tourist Bus leaves at 9:00 am from Plaça Catalunya, but at the same time from other stations. You may arrive at your station a few minutes later, but never after 9:15 am The last bus leaves from Plaça Catalunya.
Barcelona Tourist Bus Lines
For a better understanding of the tourist bus routes you can consult the official map.
- Red line - travel time: 2 hours. Stations: Olympic Stadium, Montjuic Museum, Plaça Espanya, Plaça Catalunya, Casa Milà, Casa Batlló, Puerto Olímpico and Puerto Viejo.
- Blue line - travel time: 2 hours. Stations: Plaça Catalunya, Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, Casa Milà, Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA), Camp Nou Football Stadium, Tibidabo Basilica.
- Green Line - travel time: 40 minutes. Stations: go through all the beaches, from the Olympic Port to the Forum.
Who should take a tourist bus tour of Barcelona?
Anyone looking to do a great itinerary in Barcelona with a focus more on culture than mojitos is a great start.
The latter could be interested in obtaining a HolaBCN card, the other titan of tourist transport in Barcelona. If you are not sure, don't worry, I already wrote an article about the Barcelona Discount Card for you.
The Barcelona tourist bus is perfect for:
- First visit to the city.
- People who have little time.
- Lovers of history and facts (the audio guide is rich).
- Bargain hunters looking to visit the top attractions in Barcelona.
- Old people.
- Travelers with reduced mobility (buses are wheelchair accessible).
Itinerary for people on cruise
For cruise passengers, visiting Barcelona by tourist bus is the perfect way to see the city.
First, the platform shuttle will drop you off at the Christopher Columbus statue at the Drassanes metro station. Here you will find a stop of the red line of the Tourist Bus.
Keep in mind that your fellow cruise ships will do the same, so it's always best to buy your tickets in advance online to avoid long lines. All you have to do is get on the bus!
In good weather, be sure to take a seat on the top deck of the bus; if there is no room, go upstairs and wait a few minutes for someone to get off.
The red line bus will take you along the harbor with the beach and the famous two towers before taking a detour and taking you to Parc de la Ciutadella and El Born. Down onstop Barri Gotic where you can take great photos of the Barcelona Cathedral. The total time so far is about 90 minutes.
Take the bus tour back to the stop. Batlló house - here you can get off and walk around the famous Paseo de Gracia to the dream house La Pedrera. Allow about an hour for this.
The Pedrera stop is connected to the blue line What to take to the Sagrada Familia: If you bought your tickets for the Sagrada Familia tour online, you'll skip the annoying lines and be in and out in about 90 minutes.
Get back on the blue line for another 10-15 minutes and you will be in Park Güell.
The magnificent view of the city from here should take you around an hour. Hop on the bus to watch amazing soccer matches at the famous stadium Camp Nou from Barcelona.
From there you will get off at Diagonal in the Raval neighborhood and end at the Plaça Catalunya.
From Plaça Catalunya, walk down the famous Rambla to its point of origin: the statue of Columbus. From there, you can take your transportation back to the cruise ship. This last part of the trip can be completed in two hours or less.
Again, with the visit to the Sagrada Familia and a short break for lunch, you will need around seven hours, but if not, you can do it comfortably in five hours.
Tips for the Barcelona Tourist Bus
Having taken the Barcelona tourist bus several times, let me give you some advice.
- Buy your tickets online to save money and skip the lines.
- Bring your own headphones if possible for better sound quality.
- Take your bus tour on the first day as this will help you organize the rest of your stay.
- Bring a light jacket if you are not a fan of the wind.
- Get an early start to avoid the crowds and get the most out of your ticket.
- Don't start at major stops like Sagrada Familia and Plaça Catalunya, as you run the risk of running into long lines. Plan to make a stop earlier or later (the bus is never full for practical reasons, the next stop will always carry travelers).
- If you don't have seats at the top, get as close to the stairs as possible so you can be the next to climb.
- If you have a day ticket, avoid Friday (it is the day of the cruise).
- Bring your sunscreen and water, a must in summer.
Frequent questions
Is my Barcelona Tourist Bus ticket valid for all lines?
Yes, and you can change as much as you want.
If I buy a day ticket and take the bus at 15pm, is it valid until 15pm the next day?
No, the validity of the ticket expires at the end of the day's service.
Is it necessary to print the ticket purchased online?
No! You can see the ticket on your phone.
Is it worth buying bus tickets online?
Yes, you will skip the queues and enjoy a 10% discount.
If I buy a 2-day ticket, can I distribute the days as I want?
No. Your bus trips must take place on two consecutive days.
Is the audio guide included in the price?
Yes, you will get it when you get on the bus.
Can I use my discount coupon booklet on the days I am not on the bus tour?
Yes, all coupon books are valid until December 31 of the current year.
Can the discounts I receive with my Tourist Bus ticket be used online?
No. The only Barcelona discount card that can be used entirely online is the Barcelona City Pass, which includes tickets for the Sagrada Familia, Parc Güell and the Tourist Bus, as well as a 20% discount on a lot of attractions.
Do I have to specify a date of use if I buy tickets online?
No, the ticket is valid for one year from the date of purchase.
Does my Barcelona Tourist Bus ticket guarantee a specific seat?
No, seats are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
Can Bus Turistic tickets be refunded?
Unfortunately, refunds cannot be made once tickets have been purchased.
Can I take the bus in the opposite direction?
No, the tourist bus operates in one direction only, as indicated by the arrows on the map.
Can I bring my dog on board?
Unfortunately not.
Can I bring a stroller on board the Barcelona Bus Turistic?
Yes. There is space on the ground floor for strollers.
Where can I find information about the Barcelona tourist bus timetables?
At stops and buses.
Is the tour bus wheelchair accessible?
Yes. Remember that wheelchair passengers will not be able to access the upper deck.
Any advice for Barcelona Bus Turistic users visiting Park Güell?
Start by buying your ticket to the Monumental Zone in advance to ensure that imposed times do not delay you. Do this as early as possible in the morning or as late as possible at night.
Wait 45 minutes from Plaça Catalunya because there is a 15 minute walk from the bus stop. Your tickets have a 30 minute grace period.
The path is quite steep, so it is not recommended for people with reduced mobility; consider taking a taxi.
How can I use the tourist bus to get to Mount Tibidabo?
Take the blue line to the Tramvia Blau-Tibidabo stop and change to Tramvia Blau or bus 196 to join the Tibidabo funicular.
I arrive in Barcelona by train, what is the closest tourist bus stop?
The red line stop n ° 5 serves Barcelona's main station, Sants Estacio.
At which stop do I have to get off to see…?
You can see the full route map here.
Will drivers announce all stops?
Yes, you will hear it through your headphones.
What happens if it rains?
Do not worry! There is a small retractable roof that protects the passengers.
Can I smoke upstairs?
No, smoking is prohibited throughout the bus.
Can I ride in a bathing suit?
Swimsuits, shirtless, etc. they are not allowed, even at high temperatures. Follow a normal / respectable summer dress code.
The Barcelona Tourist Bus does not stop here ...
Future travelers to Barcelona, let's continue your journey of knowledge!
If you have any questions about the Barcelona tourist bus or any other topic, feel free to ask me any questions in the comments below. Also be sure to check out my complete guide to Barcelona.
Also, don't be afraid to join the discussion about Barcelona attractions on my new Facebook group called “For City Lovers”. Here you can ask questions, voice your complaints, chat with other travelers and more - anything goes!
