When planning a trip to Barcelona, it's not always easy to know what to look for. which airport to choose.
In fact, there's only one airport in Barcelona.
This is Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat airport, to give it its full name!
However, some airlines can take you to the Barcelona area.
Let's take a look at the different options for getting to the city.
Barcelona, Girona or El Prat airport : article summary
Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN)
Barcelona-El Prat Josep Tarradellas airport is generally referred to simply as Barcelona airport. It is also called Barcelona El Prat airport, because it is close to a town called El Prat de Llobregat. It is Barcelona's main international airport.
The best way to find the right airport is to use the IATA code assigned to each airport. In this case, BCN is the airport code for Barcelona El Prat.
Barcelona airport has 2 terminals and is the second largest airport in Spain, after Madrid-Barajas. Barcelona El Prat airport is a 25-minute drive from the center of Barcelona. It is well connected to the city center by public transport such as bus, train and metro.
How to get from Barcelona airport to the city center
As I mentioned, Barcelona El Prat airport is well connected to the city by public transport as well as by numerous cabs waiting outside the airport.
The best way to get from the airport to Barcelona depends on your budget and where you're staying. To get to the city center, you can take a cab or a private transfer. It is also possible to take the train from the airport's Terminal 2.
A aerobus is at your disposal. It will get you to Plaça de Catalunya in no time. And if you don't have much luggage, you can get there by metro.
Other airports near Barcelona
Some low-cost airlines like Ryanair classify other airports as "Barcelona", even though they are much further away. Girona and Reus are the two other Catalan airportssometimes called Barcelona. When you travel to Barcelona, the airport you reach depends on the airline you use and where you're staying.
Girona-Costa Brava Airport (GRO)
Girona airport is close to the city of Girona, just over an hour's drive northeast of Barcelona. Girona's IATA code is GRO, and this is probably the best airport to use if you're staying on the Costa Brava north of Barcelona or in the northern regions of Catalonia.
During the winter season, the number of flights is reduced, so you can have difficulty in finding suitable flights to Girona. In summer, flights are more frequent, with direct services to various European cities. Airlines such as Ryanair, Easyjet and Jet2 offer flights to and from Girona airport.
Reus International Airport (REU)
Reus International Airport is located south of Barcelona, close to the towns of Reus and Tarragona, about an hour and a half's drive from Barcelona city center by car. The IATA code for Reus is REU.
I wouldn't recommend flying to Reus airport if you're staying in Barcelona, as it can take around 3 hours by public transport to reach the center of Barcelona. However, if you're staying in the Costa Daurada region of Catalonia, close to Tarragonaof PortAventura World or the seaside resorts of Salou or Cambrils, this is probably the best airport for you.
Like Girona, there are fewer flights available to Barcelona Reus in winter, but in summer you can find flights with airlines such as Jet2 and Ryanair. from several airports in Europe.
Choose the right Barcelona airport!
After reading this article, you should have enough knowledge about Barcelona airports to be able to choose the best option for you, but it's worth repeating just in case! Usually, Barcelona El Prat is the best optionIt's the closest airport to Barcelona city center, but you may want to try other options.
Always remain flexible
You can save a lot of money on flights to Barcelona if you can be flexible about when you want to travel. The busiest periods include vacations like Christmas or school vacations, and flights from Friday evening to Sunday are always more expensive than on weekdays, as many people want to spend a weekend in Barcelona.
Try to visit Barcelona during the off-season or shoulder season rather than the summer vacations, and fly mid-week if you can.
Check flight times carefully
Sometimes the cheapest flight prices can actually cost you more once you factor in how to get to and from the airport. Very early or late flights may mean you have to take a cab to get to the airport instead of taking the bus or public transport, which can end up costing more than a later flight.
Now you know everything you need to know about Barcelona's different airports. During your stay, I advise you to choose according to where you'll be staying in Catalonia. This way, you'll be able to to make the most of your stay.
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