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Buses at Barcelona-El Prat Airport: the Aerobús, city bus 46, the N16, N17 and N18 night buses and coaches to other towns
The bus most travellers want at Barcelona-El Prat is the Aerobús: line A1 for Terminal 1, line A2 for Terminal 2, running day and night and reaching Plaça Catalunya in about 35 minutes. City bus 46 to Plaça Espanya is far cheaper on an ordinary ticket, and after midnight the N17, N16 and N18 night buses take over. To weigh the bus against the Metro, the train and a taxi, see getting to and from the airport.
A1 is for T1, A2 is for T2
The way back uses other stops
Which bus do you need?
Plaça Catalunya and the centre
Plaça Espanya for the least money
After midnight
Castelldefels, Gavà, Viladecans, Sant Boi
El Prat de Llobregat station
Sitges, Tarragona, Girona, Andorra
Outside arrivals, board Aerobús A1 at T1 or A2 at T2: it runs 24 hours a day and reaches Plaça Catalunya in about 35 minutes, with stops at Plaça Espanya and Gran Via–Urgell on the way. A single costs €6.75 to €7.75 (listed by travel sites in October 2026, not set by Aerobús), tickets are valid for 90 days and children under 4 ride free. Bus 46 to Plaça Espanya costs far less on an ordinary ticket but takes 35 to 45 minutes or more. After midnight, the N17 serves T1, the N16 T2 and the N18 both, about every 20 minutes to Plaça Catalunya.
Practical information
Aerobús lines
Aerobús hours
Aerobús fare
Aerobús city stops
Bus 46
Night buses
Local lines
Coaches
Every bus at the airport, line by line
The Aerobús is a direct coach with fares of its own. Bus 46 and the night buses take the integrated ticket used on buses across Barcelona and cost much less, but stop all the way, and lines 99, PR2 and PR3 serve nearby towns. The Aerobús and bus 46 fares below were listed by travel sites in October 2026 and are not set by Aerobús or TMB.
| Line | Terminals | Goes to | Fare | Runs | Ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerobús A1 | T1 | Plaça Catalunya, via Plaça Espanya, Gran Via–Urgell and Sepúlveda–Urgell | €6.75–€7.75 single | 24 hours, every day | About 35 min |
| Aerobús A2 | T2 | Plaça Catalunya, via the same city stops | €6.75–€7.75 single | 24 hours, every day | About 35 min |
| 46 | T1 and T2 | Plaça Espanya | About €2.65; T-casual valid | From the airport about 04:40–23:50, every 13–20 min | 35–45 min or more |
| N17 | T1 | Plaça Catalunya, via Plaça Espanya | Integrated fare; T-casual valid | Night, about every 20 min | |
| N16 | T2 | Plaça Catalunya, via Plaça Espanya; also towards Sitges | Integrated fare; T-casual valid | Night, about every 20 min | |
| N18 | T1 and T2 | Plaça Catalunya, via Plaça Espanya | Integrated fare; T-casual valid | Night, often added at busier periods | |
| 99 | Airport | Sant Boi, Viladecans, Gavà, Castelldefels | |||
| PR2, PR3 | Airport facilities, request stops | El Prat de Llobregat station |
Aerobús A1 and A2: the airport express
The Aerobús is the official express coach between the airport and the city centre, and it runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Its two lines leave from signed stops outside arrivals: A1 from Terminal 1 and A2 from Terminal 2.
From the airport the coach heads into the city with stops at Plaça Espanya, Gran Via–Urgell and Sepúlveda–Urgell before Plaça Catalunya, about 35 minutes away when traffic is light. Large suitcases travel in the hold under the coach, and the coaches are low-floor.
Aerobús fares, discounts and where to buy
A single costs €6.75 to €7.75 and a return €11.65 to €13.30 (listed by travel sites in October 2026, not set by Aerobús); the ticket machine and Aerobús's website show the exact fare. Buying online is usually cheaper than paying on board. You can also buy at the machine at the stop or from Aerobús staff at the stop and on the coach, and you board with the QR code or the printed ticket.
Every ticket is valid for 90 days from purchase. On a return, the trip back must be made within 90 days of the outbound journey. Children under 4 travel free. Single-parent and large families get a discount on single tickets, sold only by the staff on board or at the stop, not by the machines or online. Aerobús also sells tickets combined with the Hola Barcelona Travel Card.
Taking the Aerobús, step by step
From the airport
- Buy your ticket online before you land, or at the machine at the stop; late at night the machines and sales points may be closed.
- After baggage reclaim, follow the Aerobús signs to the stop outside arrivals at your terminal.
- Put large bags in the hold and keep the QR code or ticket until you get off.
- Get off at Plaça Espanya, Gran Via–Urgell, Sepúlveda–Urgell or Plaça Catalunya, whichever is nearest your hotel.
Back to the airport
- Read the terminal on your booking: A1 for T1, A2 for T2.
- Board at your line's airport-bound stop in the city.
- Use the return half within 90 days of the first trip, or buy a single.
Bus 46: the cheapest bus, to Plaça Espanya
Line 46 is an ordinary metropolitan bus between Plaça Espanya and the airport, calling at both T1 and T2. It leaves from the city bus stop, not the Aerobús stop, and takes the standard integrated fare: a single ticket, about €2.65 (listed by travel sites in October 2026, not set by TMB), or one trip on a T-casual.
The 46 stops many times on the way, so allow 35 to 45 minutes or more depending on your terminal and the traffic. Luggage is limited to items of about 100 × 60 × 25 cm, and there are no luggage racks.
From the airport the first bus leaves at about 04:40 and the last at about 23:50; towards the airport buses run from about 05:00 to 00:15. They come every 13 to 20 minutes. Check the timetable at the stop, because these times change.
Night buses N16, N17 and N18
The night buses (NitBus) connect the airport with the city while the Metro and the Rodalies trains are shut. All three run via Plaça Espanya to Plaça Catalunya, about every 20 minutes, and each one serves a different terminal.
| Line | Terminal | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| N17 | T1 | Plaça Catalunya via Plaça Espanya |
| N16 | T2 | Also continues beyond the airport towards Sitges and other towns |
| N18 | T1 and T2 | Often added at busier periods |
They run from late evening until about 05:00, but first and last departures vary, so check the timetable at the stop. The fare is the same as on daytime buses and a T-casual is valid.
Lines 99, PR2 and PR3: local buses for nearby towns
Line 99 links the airport with the Baix Llobregat towns south-west of it: Sant Boi, Viladecans, Gavà and Castelldefels. It is a local and commuter line, handy if you are staying in one of those towns, and it does not go to central Barcelona. Timetables and fares are on the AMB's mobility website.
PR2 and PR3 are El Prat de Llobregat buses between the town's railway station and airport facilities, with request stops ("a petició") such as Parc Aeronàutic and the corporate aviation terminal. They mainly carry local people and airport staff. Check the timetable with the AMB or El Prat's municipal transport information, and signal the driver at a request stop.
Coaches to Sitges, Tarragona, Girona, the Costa Brava and Andorra
Several coach companies, Monbus and Bus Garraf among them, link Barcelona-El Prat with towns beyond the metropolitan area: Sitges, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Tarragona, Salou and Reus, Girona, Lloret de Mar and Blanes on the Costa Brava, and Andorra. Some of these services stop at the airport; others start in Barcelona, so you first travel into the city.
Before you rely on a coach, check the operator's timetable to make sure your departure calls at the airport, and book ahead, because many routes run only in season. If there is no direct coach, travel into Barcelona by Aerobús or train and connect at Sants or at Estació del Nord.
Which bus for your trip
| Your trip | Take |
|---|---|
| Landed at T1, going to Plaça Catalunya and the centre | Aerobús A1 |
| Landed at T2, going to the centre | Aerobús A2, or the Rodalies train from T2 (see transport) |
| Hotel near Plaça Espanya, light luggage | Bus 46, or the Aerobús, which stops there too |
| Landing between midnight and 05:00 | Aerobús, or N17 from T1, N16 from T2, N18 from either |
| Big suitcases, a pushchair or a wheelchair | Aerobús, or a taxi |
| Staying in Castelldefels, Gavà, Viladecans or Sant Boi | Bus 99 |
| Going on to Sitges, Tarragona or Girona | A coach that calls at the airport, or Aerobús or train into Barcelona and a connection |
| Early flight from T1 | Aerobús A1 from its city stop, or N17 or N18 at night |
Which ticket works on which bus
The Aerobús has its own tickets, separate from the integrated city fares, so a T-casual will not get you on board; on the 46 and the night buses a single ticket or a T-casual will do. The airport Metro stations need yet another ticket, explained on the transport page.
Luggage, pushchairs and wheelchairs
The Aerobús is the bus for heavy luggage: cases go in the hold and the coaches are low-floor. If you travel in a wheelchair, confirm the arrangements with Aerobús before the trip. On the 46 and the night buses space is tight, so large or odd-shaped luggage is better on the Aerobús or in a taxi. Aena's free Barrier Free assistance has a call point at T1's central bus rank; how to book it is on the special assistance page.
Taking the bus to the airport
Pick the line by terminal. For T1 that means the A1, or the N17 or N18 at night; for T2, the A2, the N16 or the N18. The 46 calls at both. Road traffic decides how long any bus takes, so leave a margin on top of the Aerobús's usual 35 minutes.
Boarded the wrong Aerobús or night bus? Get off at the airport anyway and take the free shuttle between the terminals: it runs all night, every 5 to 10 minutes, and the ride is about 10 minutes to T2 and 14 to T1.
Left something on a bus?
For the Aerobús, contact Aerobús through its website; for TMB buses, call TMB on +34 900 701 149. Other bus companies, taxis and items left in the terminal are covered on the transport page.
Aerobús fares and stops
Travel tips
- Screenshot your Aerobús QR code in case your phone loses signal at the stop.
- If the machine at the Aerobús stop is closed late at night, buy the ticket on your phone before you queue.
- Waiting for the N16 to T2? Read the destination on the front: the line continues past the airport towards Sitges.
- At night, choose the bus by terminal rather than taking the first that comes: only the N18 calls at both.
- Keep the return half of your Aerobús ticket with your passport so it is to hand on the way back.