Barcelona is an incredibly rich city! I had the chance to spend a few days there and really enjoyed my visit. Strongly marked by the imprint of Gaudí, it is a pleasant and lively city. In this article, I would like to introduce you to the different Barcelona city-passes in order to visit this city correctly.
As a reminder, when you buy a city-pass and depending on the type of city-pass you have chosen, you will be able to access different sites for free, you will be able to benefit from reductions for certain museums or tourist sites, or even take advantage of public transport. . There are different city-passes to discover the main tourist sites in Barcelona, each with more or less interesting advantages depending on what you want to do during your stay.
Summary:
> The different city passes
> Price and purchase of city-passes
> Visits included in the city-passes
> Which city-pass to choose?
> My opinion on buying a city-pass Book your city pass for Barcelona directly:
Find the Barcelona city-pass to book now and right here: Book your city-Pass
The different Barcelona city passes
I will start this article by presenting the different Barcelona city passes that you can buy. Whether it's transport cards, complete city-passes or more specific passes, let's look at the details together!
Barcelona city pass: transport
In this part, I present two types of city-passes concerning transport to move around Barcelona freely.
- Hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus:
This bus is probably one of the most famous formulas for discovering a city when you don't know it! The principle of this bus? It is very simple. Board this bus at any of the stops served by it. Then get off at the stops you want to enjoy the tourist sites and the tours offered.
The advantage of this tourist bus in Barcelona is that it offers you 3 different routes. You can choose to do just one or two, or do all three tours to see even more of Barcelona!
I will give you more details on the different circuits and the stops served in the section devoted to the visits included in each of the city-passes. See this pass - Transport Card Hello:
Here is a very practical second pass intended exclusively for public transport in Barcelona. Thanks to this Hola Transport card, enjoy unlimited access to all public transport in the city: metro, bus, tram, etc. The airport-Barcelona-airport transfer is also included in this pass.
Regarding the validity for this Barcelona pass, you have the choice between 48h, 72h, 96h or 120h. See this pass
Barcelona City-Pass
This is the main city-pass from Barcelona to visit this city. This city-pass brings together some of the must-see places in Barcelona.
For example, you can benefit from skip-the-line tickets for the Sagrada Familia or Parc Güell, access to the Hop On Hop Off tourist bus that I presented a little above, or even a transfer to and from the airport of Barcelona. Added to all this, many discounts on other places to visit such as the Camp Nou stadium or Casa Mila.
There is a second card, substantially identical, intended for people stopping over in Barcelona as part of a cruise. This city-pass includes a transfer from the port, a skip-the-line ticket for the Sagrada Familia, access to the Hop On Hop Off tourist bus and many discounts. You will be able to optimize your stopover as much as possible.
Other Barcelona city passes
I present here two complementary Barcelona city-passes. They are more specific than those presented previously.
- Articket :
This city-pass is intended for people with a particular interest in art. Thanks to this pass, you will be able to access 6 of the largest and most famous museums in Barcelona. The Museum of Contemporary Art or the Miró Foundation are accessible with this pass, for example.
The Articket is valid for 12 months after purchase, so it is intended both for people living in Barcelona and for tourists interested in art. See this pass - iVenture Card :
This pass for Barcelona is special because you have to choose a number of attractions from a list of 33 Barcelona attractions.
A formula allows you to choose 3 attractions, another 5 attractions and finally, you have the possibility of opting for access to all the activities offered.
Possible attractions can be, for example, access to the tourist bus, a skip-the-line ticket for Casa Batlló or entrances to certain restaurants in the city. See this pass
Prices and purchase of Barcelona city passes
I now suggest that you present the booking methods and prices for each of the Barcelona city-passes that we have just discussed.
Hop-on hop-off tourist bus: from €28
When purchasing this pass, you do not need to select a particular date. It will be activated the first time it is used. In addition, you do not need to print a receipt, confirmation on the phone is enough!
Regarding prices, you will have to count 28€ per adult for a pass valid for one day (special prices for children, seniors and people with disabilities) and 38€ for a 2-day pass (also reduced prices).
Hola Transport Card: from € 16,30
You can choose the validity period of the card: from 2 days to 5 days. You can easily pick it up at any metro station. Simply present the code to be scanned directly on your phone.
You will have the choice between 4 different durations and therefore 4 different prices:
- 48-hour pass: €16,30
- 72-hour pass: €23,70
- 96-hour pass: €30,80
- 120-hour pass: €38
Barcelona City-Pass: from €80
Easy to use, all the tickets included in this pass can be used from your phone. You don't need to go anywhere to collect your pass, nor do you need to print any documents.
Regarding the prices, they will depend on various customizable parameters. The first parameter concerns the visit to the Sagrada Familia. You will have the choice between (from the cheapest to the highest price) a simple visit, an audio guide, a visit with access to a tower or a guided visit in French. Once the type of visit has been selected, you will have to make a choice again. The Hop On Hop Off bus, one day or two days.
Added to this, specific rates for children. In short, you will understand, I will not detail everything here. I can only tell you that the prices (for an adult) vary from 80€ (single Sagrada Familia visit and day pass for the tourist bus) to 110€ (if you take the guided tour in French and the pass 48 hours for the tourist bus).
Buy this Barcelona city pass
Articket : 35€
This pass is valid for 1 year from the date of purchase. It gives you access to 6 museums in Barcelona. Once purchased, you will need to collect it at the airport or in the city center (the terms and conditions will be sent to you at the time of purchase).
The price is fixed and unique. This pass costs €35 per person.
iVenture Card: from €85
I finish with this city-pass where you can choose the activities included in it.
The card is valid for 7 days from the moment you activate it.
Regarding prices, the 3-attraction pass costs €85 (€65 for children under 13 and free for children under 4).
The 5 attractions pass costs €135 for adults (€90 for children and free for the youngest as before).
The last pass is higher, 255€ per person (180€ for children).
Visits included in the Barcelona city passes
Each of the passes includes certain more or less essential visits. In this section, I will introduce you to the main places to visit in Barcelona that are included in some city passes.
The Holy Family
One of the emblematic monuments of Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia! This basilica is famous for its particular architecture, its gigantic dimensions or its different facades recounting the life of Jesus.
The Sagrada Familia is included in the Barcelona city-pass!
I strongly advise you to opt for a guided tour or an audioguide. Indeed, this place is filled with symbols and completely original architectural techniques. It is therefore very interesting to learn a little more about the history, the construction and the famous architect behind this cathedral, Antoni Gaudí.
You can end your visit with the schools or the museum dedicated to the Sagrada Familia.
If you wish to have more information on this monument, I invite you to read my dedicated article on the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
The Sagrada Familia is open all year round. It opens at 9 a.m. and closes, depending on the season, between 18 p.m. and 20 p.m.
Small exception for the opening hours of December 25 and 26 and January 1 and 6: closing at 14 p.m.
Schedules may be impacted by certain ceremonies or specific events. Visit the official Sagrada Familia website for more information.
Park Güell
Also designed by Gaudí, Park Güell is a very interesting and pleasant place to visit. The original plan for this out-of-town location was to build a residential area, filled with symbols dear to Gaudí such as Christianity and Catalonia. Not having obtained the hoped-for enthusiasm, the work was suspended. At that time, the common areas and two houses were finished.
Parc Güell is also included in the Barcelona city pass!
Today, you can admire these different constructions. The main ones are first of all the magnificent steps linking the entrance to the Park with the market a little higher up. The stairs are magnificent and it is here that you can meet the emblem of this park: the dragon (or salamander depending on the interpretation).
You can then climb up to the large square above the market. From there, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Barcelona, the city center and the sea in the background!
Still above this part, the exterior of the park is free. It is also a very pleasant walk.
Practical information for visiting Park GüellPark Güell is open all year round. Schedules vary with the rhythm of the sun. Depending on the period, the park opens between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and closes between 17:30 p.m. and 20:30 p.m. For all the details, visit the official website.
The tourist bus
I have told you several times about the hop-on hop-off tourist bus, also known as the Hop On Hop Off bus.
Find the tourist bus in the Barcelona city-pass as well as in the Bus Hop On Hop Off pass!
This bus allows you to move around Barcelona according to a tourist route of your choice. This bus offers 3 different tourist routes: red, blue and green.
You have the possibility to make the route(s) you want.
- The red route:
This circuit is the longest, it has 22 stops in all.
Among other things, it passes through Montjuic, the port, the zoo or even Casa Batlló or La Pedrera, two places that are in common with the blue route if you wish to combine the two routes.
- The blue route:
Exactly, speaking of the blue line, here it is! It is the second in terms of size with its 14 stops. It serves the northern part of the city with the Sagrada Familia, Parc Güell or the famous Camp Nou for football fans.
- The green route:
Finally, the green circuit has only 6 stops. It is mainly dedicated to the coastal part and is only in operation during the summer season. From the Olympic Port to Bogatell Beach, this itinerary offers you a little escape during your city trip.
If you wish to consult the details of these routes, I invite you to consult the map of the tourist bus.
Regarding the schedules, the first bus runs between 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., depending on the stops, and the last bus leaves at 19 p.m. in winter and 20 p.m. in summer. The frequency of passage is 5 to 25 minutes depending on the time of year. .
Les Casa
I am going to finish on these essential places in Barcelona by briefly telling you about the different “Casas” that you can visit. Indeed, Gaudí is at the origin of many properties in the heart and outside of Barcelona. Personally, I was able to visit 3 of the most famous during my stay in Barcelona. All 3 are offered in the different city-passes.
The Casa Batlló
Little crush on this Casa! Facade looking like masks from the Venice carnival, interior all in curves and softness, worked and joyful colors. Not to mention the architecture of this house, very well thought out for its occupants!
Once you arrive on the roof, you can only stand in awe of all the work accomplished by the architect. Completely original colors and shapes for the roof and the chimneys.
La Pedrera
Or Casa Mila. This impressive building is located not far from Casa Batlló. Building composed of 5 floors, it was built at the request of a wealthy couple from Barcelona. The first floor, of more than 1300 m2, was entirely devoted to the sponsoring family. The rest of the apartments were rented. Gaudí wanted to design a functional building, adapting to the different needs of its occupants. During my visit, we visited an apartment reconstructed as in Gaudí's time. Apart from the owners' apartment, the other apartments had surface areas of between 300 and 500 m2.
Then we went up to the roof terrace. Again, this part is worked in an original but very functional way for the rest of the building.
To go down, we took a path that took us through the attic. Very impressive piece, formed by about 270 parabolic brick arches.
The Vicens House
Less known than the two previous ones, the Casa Vicens is the first commission that Gaudí carried out upon leaving his studies. From this first achievement, the well-marked and daring style of the architect stands out. The small garden surrounding part of the property is very pleasant. The facade has the particularity of combining different materials such as brick, earthenware, wood or even stone and wrought iron.
The interior, meanwhile, is heavily decorated. Small special mention for the different balconies, very pleasant when the sun is present!
Which Barcelona city pass to choose?
After having made a complete overview of the different Barcelona city-passes, their prices, where to get them and the main places to visit, here are some tips to help you choose the best city-pass for your stay.
For a short visit to Barcelona
If you do not know Barcelona yet and you are passing through for a short stay, choose the Hop On Hop Off bus.
This pass will be perfect if you make an express visit to Barcelona for one or two days (validity period of this pass). This will allow you to have an overview of the city, with the possibility of visiting some major tourist sites at certain stops without wasting too much time on public transport.
For a first visit of several days
If you are staying longer than 2 days, then the Barcelona City-Pass is perfect.
First, you can take a “spotting” tour with the tourist bus. Then in a second step, you will have time to take advantage of the various visits recommended in this pass, with which you will benefit from reductions, as well as a skip-the-line ticket included for the Sagrada Familia.
You already know Barcelona
If you are coming to Barcelona for a few days and it is not your first stay, then you may be less interested in tourist passes. The ideal is to take a Hola Transport Pass. This one will allow you to move freely to the places you like. It will also allow you to get out of tourist places and get away in certain neighborhoods with some surprises in store for you.
You are traveling with children ~ You have already visited the essentials
In these 2 different cases, I recommend that you opt for the iVenture Card instead. Depending on the sites you have already visited, or the activities most likely to appeal to the whole family, this pass allows you to select only the activities you want while enjoying discounts.
You come to Barcelona for the art
Without hesitation, take the Articket. Intended for museum and art lovers, this pass will suit you whatever the duration of your stay in Barcelona: from a few days to several months!
My opinion on buying a Barcelona city pass
I've been convinced for a while now by the usefulness of city passes! They allow you to combine different visits and/or tourist attractions to make the most of your stay in a city. They also lead you to discover the main places not to be missed. They also allow you to benefit from reductions, because grouped prices are always more interesting than single purchases.
And then it's always nice not to have to spend a ticket here, or an entry there. Thanks to the city-passes, the visit budget is better controlled.
Now it's up to you to choose the Barcelona city pass that suits you best!
