Highlights
Tickets & Prices
The Hola Barcelona Travel Card is sold in four durations: 48, 72, 96, or 120 consecutive hours. Your voucher stays valid for 180 days from purchase, so you can buy weeks before you fly.
Tip: Booking ahead gets you a better price than last-minute.
Save with the Essentials Pass
The Essentials Pass combines your Hola BCN transport card with skip the line tickets to Sagrada Familia and Park Güell. Save time and money by bundling all three.
What’s Included
Included:
Not included:
How the airport metro works
You can use your card to travel from Barcelona Airport to the city centre on the L9 Sud metro line, which serves both terminals directly with trains running every seven minutes. From the arrivals hall at either terminal, follow the red M signs to the L9 Sud platform inside the building and tap your card at the gate to enter the network at no additional cost.
The L9 Sud line doesn’t run directly into central Barcelona, so you’ll need to change once on your way in. Three covered routes from the airport:
- L9 Sud, change at Torrassa to the L1 (red line) for Plaça Catalunya
- L9 Sud to Zona Universitaria, change to the L3 (green line) for Passeig de Gràcia or Diagonal
- R2 Nord commuter train (T2 only) to Barcelona Sants in 20 minutes, runs every half hour
From either terminal, the L9 journey takes between 35 and 50 minutes depending on your destination.
Barcelona Metro Hours
| Day | Operating Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday to Thursday | 5:00 to midnight |
| Friday | 5:00 to 2:00 |
| Saturday | 05:00, then continuous through Sunday |
| Sunday | Until midnight |
| Pre-holiday nights | 5:00 to 2:00 |
How to pick up your card and start using it
You can buy your card online in advance and pick it up at any of the red TMB ticket vending machines available at every metro station, including the L9 platforms at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. After purchase, you’ll receive a 13-digit voucher code by email, which you enter at the machine to dispense your physical card.
The validity period starts from the first time you tap the card at a validator gate, not from when you collect it from the machine, so if you arrive late in the evening you can pick up your card straight away and wait until your first morning trip to begin the countdown. Activating the card at 22:00 on an arrival day means you’ll lose those overnight hours from your total window.
The TMB ticket machines run 24 hours a day. The tourist information offices in Plaça Catalunya, the airport terminals, and the Sagrada Família booth close in the evening, so late arrivals are better off at the machines.
Hola Barcelona vs Barcelona Card
Both cards include the same transit network, and the difference is what sits on top.
| Feature | Hola Barcelona | Barcelona Card |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Transport only | Transport + museums |
| Durations | 48h, 72h, 96h, 120h | 2, 3, 4, or 5 days |
| Airport metro | Included | Included |
| Museum access | 25+ free entries | |
| Attraction discounts | 85+ discounts |
If you’re planning to visit three or more paid attractions during your stay, the Barcelona Card costs less than buying entries one by one. If your priority is getting around the city without thinking about fares, this card is the cleaner option. The Barcelona Essentials Pass is a middle option that bundles the same transport with Sagrada Família and Park Güell.
FAQs
Does the Hola Barcelona card include the airport metro?
Yes, both directions on the L9 Sud from T1 and T2, and the R2 Nord train from T2 to Sants.
Can I share the card with someone else?
No. It’s non-transferable. Every traveller four and over needs their own.
Can I use it on night buses?
No. Night buses (N-lines) require a separate ticket purchased from the driver.
Is the Aerobús included?
No, it’s a private shuttle. Take the L9 metro or the R2 train instead.
Is there a child or family discount?
Children under four ride free on all public transport. Everyone four and older pays the same price.