¿Estás planeando una visita a Barcelona y te preguntas what is the best tourist bus to explore the city? You are in the right place! Barcelona is a beautiful and vibrant city with a rich culture and a wealth of places to visit.
Which is the best tourist bus in Barcelona: What options do you have?
There is 2 tourist bus options in Barcelona, and each one has something different to offer. Next, we present a list of the best tourist buses in Barcelona that you can choose from:
- Barcelona Tourist Bus: This is the official tourist bus of Barcelona and it is the most popular. It offers two different routes and several themed tours that take you to the most emblematic places in the city, such as La Sagrada Familia, Park Güell and La Pedrera. In addition, this tourist bus has an audio guide available in several languages, which will allow you to learn more about the history and culture of the city.
- Barcelona City Tour: This tourist bus offers several different routes and takes you to the main tourist spots in the city, including Plaza Cataluña, La Pedrera and La Sagrada Familia. In addition, the tour also includes a tour of the Gothic Quarter and the port of Barcelona. This tourist bus also has an audio guide available in several languages.
Best Barcelona tourist bus option at the best price:
What makes a tourist bus the best?
Before choosing a tourist bus, it is important to consider what makes it the “best”. Here are some factors to consider:
- Routes and places of interest: Does the tourist bus offer a tour of the places you want to visit? Do you have different routes to choose from?
- Mod cons: Does the tourist bus have air conditioning? Do you have comfortable seats? Do you offer Wi-Fi access?
- Audio guide: Does the tourist bus have an audio guide available in multiple languages so you can learn more about the city on the go?
- Flexibility: Can you get on and off the tourist bus whenever you want to explore on your own?
- Cost: Is the tourist bus affordable compared to others?
Advantages of doing the Barcelona tourist bus route
The tourist bus is an excellent option for those who want Get to know the city of Barcelona in a comfortable and efficient way. This tourist transport service offers a wide range of routes so that visitors can discover the most emblematic places in the city, from the Sagrada Familia to the Gothic Quarter.
One of the most outstanding advantages of the tourist bus is that you can get on and off at any of the stops along the route, allowing tourists to explore each location in more detail. In addition, the buses have an audio system in several languages, which makes the experience even more complete.
Another advantage of the tourist bus is that visitors can enjoy the panoramic views from the top of the open-top bus, which allows an impressive view of the most outstanding buildings and monuments of the city. In short, the Barcelona tourist bus is an excellent option for those who want to get to know the city in a comfortable, efficient and economical way.
Barcelona Tourist Bus stops and exact route
For those of you who have never been on a hop on hop off tour bus, I'll quickly explain it to you.
Basically, these are city tours that take place in predefined routes by double-decker bus.
In the case of the Barcelona Tourist Bus, each of its 45 stops along three lines they correspond to one or more of Barcelona's main attractions.
Barcelona Tourist Bus Stops
There are three routes on the Barcelona bus route, and it breaks down like this:
- Red line (romanticism, views and rhythm of the city): The legendary Paseo de Gracia with Casa Batlló and La Pedrera, the highest viewpoint in the city at the Montjuic Museum, Plaza España, a romantic walk through the Parque de la Ciutadella and much more.
- Blue line (main attractions): Plaza Cataluña, the most famous tourist attraction in Spain in the Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, Park Güell, MACBA Museum of Contemporary Art, Camp Nou Stadium and Mount Tibidabo.
- Green Line (coast): It covers all the beaches of Barcelona from the Olympic Port to the Forum.
With air conditioner buses every five minutes you won't have to wait long.
If you're wondering how long the Barcelona hop-on-hop-off bus tour takes, expect the red and blue lines to take 2 hours each way, while the green line takes 40 minutes.
Barcelona tourist bus route and exact stops
Red route tourist bus Barcelona
The red route has stops at these exact locations: sants station, Creu Coberta, CaixaForum-Pavelló Mies van der Rohe, Spain Square, Spanish village, National Art Museum of Catalonia, Olympic Ring, Joan Miro Foundation, Montjuïc cable car, Miramar, Maritime Museum, World Trade Center, Port Vell, History Museum of Catalonia, Olympic port, Bogatell Beach, Ciutadella Park, Zoo, Pla de Palau, Gothic Quarter, Catalonia Square, Antoni Tapies Foundation, The stone and the Diagonal.
Green route tourist bus Barcelona
It has stops at the Forum, Diagonal Mar Park, poblenou, Bogatell Beach, Olympic port and Poblenou Cemetery.
Blue route tourist bus Barcelona
The blue route with its stops are: Pedralbes Monastery, Pavellons Güell, Camp Nou, Diagonal, Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona, Catalonia Square, Antoni Tapies Foundation, The stone, sacred Family, Gracia neighborhood, Guell park, blue tram–tibidabo and Sarriá neighborhood.
Map of Barcelona Tourist Bus stops
Let's take an in-depth look at these Barcelona bus tours.
The Hop on Hop Off Barcelona Bus – Discover Barcelona with a single ticket
In general, the advantages of doing this route with a tourist bus in Barcelona have the following advantages:
- Visit Barcelona at your own pace
- Discover Barcelona making the most of the attractions seen
- Minimizes travel/direction related stress
- Orient yourself in Barcelona on the first day of a trip
- save time and money
Even better, there's a official tour guide on board with comprehensive commentary on the past, present and future of the city.
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Video route Barcelona Tourist Bus
🧐 | Already curious? Read hundreds of Opinions on the Barcelona tourist bus of all the world.
The tourist bus route in Barcelona, what are you going to see?
How much does the Barcelona tourist bus cost?
Tourist Bus tickets are available for one day and two days; if you buy a two-day ticket, the days must be consecutive.
Here you can see the ticket prices:
tourist bus ticket Barcelona 1 day:
- Adults
€30.00(€28.00 with online discount). - Children (4-12): 16.00
- 65+: €25.00.
- Children under 4 years: 0.00
2-day Barcelona tourist bus ticket:
- Adults
€40.00(€38.00 with online discount). - Children (4-12): 21.00
- 65+: €35.00.
- Children under 4 years: €0.00.
tickets are valid for calendar days and not for periods of 24 hours.
In addition, with your tickets you also get a discount notebook more than €250.00 in discounts for attractions, shopping, restaurants, museums, day trips, bars, flamenco and much more.
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Each bus travel ticket also includes a audio guide in 17 languagesand your own set of headphones for listening.
they even have Free WIFI for those who ask.
Where to buy Barcelona tourist bus tickets
It is strongly recommended that you buy your Barcelona tourist bus tickets in advance online.
First of all, you will save €2.00 per ticket if you buy online.
In addition, without having to queue to buy tickets, you can board directly by showing the tickets on your smartphone.
You can get your 2.00 euro discount on the Barcelona hop on hop off at Tiqets using the button below.
Is the Barcelona Tourist Bus worth it?
Of course, these bus tours are not for everyone. If you have a lot of time to make an itinerary around Barcelona, you can make several trips on the metro and you don't mind walking for hours in the sun, that's fine.
If you prefer you can book your tickets with Civitatis either Get Your Guide.
Having said that, I would say that this Barcelona tourist bus is perfect for:
- First-time visitors who want to get their bearings
- People with little time (layovers, cruise passengers, hikers)
- History and fact buffs looking for a guided tour of Barcelona
- Seniors and travelers with reduced mobility (buses are wheelchair accessible)
- People looking for an inexpensive way to discover barcelona
Hop on Hop off Barcelona tickets with the Barcelona Pass
Naturally, these city tours No they include admission to the main attractions along the bus routes - that would be a bargain - but there is another way to save money with this discount combined ticket.
El Barcelona Pass (ex Barcelona City Pass) incluye la visita en autobús a Barcelona, la Sagrada Familia, el Park Güell, una aplicación de visita a la ciudad y un digital discount code to get a 10% discount on practically all the well-known Barcelona attractions.
Click the button below for more information:
Barcelona Tourist Bus Schedule
The Barcelona Tourist Bus runs all year round, except on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve
In high season, wait only 5 minutes between one bus and another, while in winter the waits can exceed 25 minutes.
- Summer: every day from 9:00* to 20:00
- Winter: every day of 9:00* to 19:00
- Green line: works from 03/28 to 11/02
- Frequency: every 5-25 minutes
*The first tourist bus leaves Plaça Catalunya at 9:00, so it will arrive at the next stop a few minutes later, for example the first bus in Drassanes leaves at 9:06. Count about 5-6 minutes per stop.
Plan to do the route with the tourist bus around Barcelona
Being a veteran of the Barcelona city tour, I have an idea of how to get the most out of a day pass on the Tourist Bus.
First of all, you must take the blue line but don't get on at the first stop in Plaza de Catalunya: it is the busiest stop and, especially in high season, you may have to queue.
Also, they're going to take you off the bus at the first stop anyway, since it's impossible to resist the beautiful Casa Batlló mansion, with its mottled trancadis.
The same goes for the second stop, at La Pedrera, another of Gaudí's incredible modernist mansions. You should get on at the La Pedrera stop – with the purpose of traveling 12 minutes to the east to the Sagrada Familia.
From here, the way in which I would plan the Barcelona tourist bus is as follows
- Get off at the Sagrada Familia and make its spectacular Guided tour in English
- Get off at Park Güell and visit the Monumental Zone from the park
- Get off at the Camp Nou to discover the stadium, or at least to have a coffee to break with it
- Get off at the Eixample stop, go up Calle de Enric Granados and explore the tapas bars in the area
- Go back to Placa de Catalunya and change to the red line if you intend to continue.
This is the perfect five-hour tour of Barcelona, and should leave you a few hours to explore the panoramic views and red line discoveries
Don't have enough time? Book a second day, it only costs 10.00 euros more.
Related: get a two-hour walking tour of the Gothic Quarter for only 18 euros.
Hop on Hop Off Barcelona for cruise passengers
For cruise passengers, the Barcelona bus tour is a perfect way to see the city.
First things first, the shuttle from the pier will drop you off at the Columbus statue at the Drassanes metro station. Here you will find a ticket office and one stop on the red line of the Bus Turístic.
Keep in mind that your fellow cruisers will do the same, so it's always best to buy your hop on hop off bus tour tickets online to avoid long lines. Then all you have to do is get on the bus
On nice days, be sure to grab a seat on the upper deck of the bus; if there is no room, go up and wait by the stairs for a couple of minutes for someone to come down.
The red line bus will take you along the port, with the beach and the famous two towers, before turning around and passing through Parc de la Ciutadella and El Born.
get off in the Gothic Quarter stop where you can take some magnificent photos of the Cathedral of Barcelona. The total time to here is about 90 minutes.
Return to the bus tour to the Casa Batllo stop – here you can get off and walk around the world famous Passeig de Gracia shopping area to the dream house La Pedrera. Leave an hour for it.
The La Pedrera stop connects with the blue line that will take you to the Sagrada Família: if you have bought your Tickets for the visit to the Sagrada Familia 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'll be in Guell park.
Enjoying the magnificent views of the city from here will take about an hour. Hop back on the bus to attend incredible FC Barcelona football matches at their famous stadium Camp Nou.
From here you will go down the Diagonal towards the Raval neighborhood and you will end up again in Catalonia Square.
From Plaça Catalunya go down the famous Rambla to your point of origin: the Statue of Columbus. From here you can catch your shuttle back to the cruise ship. This last part of the trip can be done in two hours or less.
Again, with a visit to the Sagrada Família and a small lunch break, you'll be talking about seven hours, but if not, it can be done comfortably in five.
gourmet tapas
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Barcelona Tourist Bus Tips
As a veteran of the Barcelona hop-on hop-off tour, which I have taken with various visitors over the past 10 years, I can share the following pearls of wisdom.
- Buy your bus tour tickets online in advance to save 2.00 euros per ticket
- If you have them, bring your own headphones to improve the sound of the audio guide.
- Take the bus tour the first day you're there because it will help you plan the rest of the trip.
- Bring a light jacket if you don't like the wind.
- Start your visit to the city of Barcelona in advance to avoid the crowds and make the most of the value of the tickets.
- Do not start at the main stops, such as the Sagrada Familia and Plaza Cataluña, because there are long queues. Always look to get on a stop earlier or later (the buses never leave full, according to company policy, so that the following stops can pick up new passengers).
- If you can't get a seat on the upper deck, sit as close to the stairs below as possible to queue for the next seat
- If you only have a day ticket, try to avoid Friday (it's the day of the cruise).
- Sun cream and water are absolutely necessary in summer.
Barcelona tourist bus discount coupon
There are not always discounts. But I leave you this web page with different discounts for activities to do in the city of Barcelona. For example, the Barcelona Night Tour there is always a discount of 15%. click on this link.
BARCELONA TOURIST BUS ROUTE
Save 2.00 euros buying from our link
FAQ and frequently asked questions about the Barcelona Tourist Bus
Is the Barcelona Tourist Bus ticket valid for all lines?
Yes, and you can change lines all you want.
If I buy a day ticket and catch the bus at 3:00 PM, is it valid until 3:00 PM the next day?
No, the validity of the ticket expires at the end of the day's service.
Is it necessary to print the Barcelona tourist bus ticket?
No! You can also show the ticket on your smartphone, it's easy to do.
Is it worth buying Barcelona tourist bus tickets online?
Yes, you will skip the lines.
If I buy a 2-day bus ticket, can I divide the days however I want?
No. Your bus tour must take place on two consecutive days.
Does the Barcelona tourist bus tour come with an audio guide?
Yes, they will give it to you when you get on the tour bus. You can also use your own.
Can I use my discount voucher booklet on the days that I don't do the Barcelona bus tour?
Yes, all discount voucher books are valid until December 31.
Do I have to specify a use date if I buy bus tickets online?
No, as long as you book through Tiqets the ticket is valid for one year from the date of purchase.
Can the Bus Turistic tickets be refunded?
Unfortunately, refunds cannot be made once tickets have been purchased.
Can I take a baby stroller on board the Tourist Bus?
Yes, there is space on the ground floor for strollers.
Is the Tourist Bus accessible for wheelchairs?
Yes. However, please note that guests in wheelchairs will not be able to access the upper floor.
How can I use the Tourist Bus to get to Tibidabo?
Take the blue line to the Tramvia Blau-Tibidabo stop and change to Tramvia Blau or Bus 196 to get to the Tibidabo Funicular.
I arrive in Barcelona by train, what is the nearest Bus Turistic stop?
Stop 5 of the Red Route serves Barcelona's main train station, Sants Estacio.
Will the Barcelona tourist bus drivers announce all the stops?
Yes, you will hear it through the headphones.
Can I smoke on the Barcelona Bus Tour?
No, smoking is prohibited throughout the bus.
¡Vaya artículo interesante! ¿Alguien ha probado el bus turístico de Barcelona? ¿Cuál recomendarían? 🚌
Yo probé el bus turístico de Barcelona y fue una decepción total. El servicio era lento, los conductores poco amables y las paradas estaban abarrotadas. No lo recomendaría en absoluto. Mejor explorar la ciudad a pie o en metro.
¡Yo creo que el mejor bus turístico de Barcelona es el que tenga wifi gratis! 🚌📶 ¿Qué opinan ustedes?
Pues yo creo que el mejor bus turístico de Barcelona es el rojo. Porque, ¡rojo es pasión y Barcelona es pura pasión! 💃🏼🔥
Bueno, cada quien tiene sus preferencias, pero en mi opinión el mejor bus turístico de Barcelona es el azul. No solo ofrece una vista impresionante de la ciudad, sino que también tiene un servicio excelente. ¡No hay nada como disfrutar de Barcelona a bordo del bus azul! 🚌💙
Pues yo creo que el mejor bus turístico de Barcelona es el que tiene wifi gratis. ¿Quién no quiere subir y chatear mientras disfruta del paisaje? 🚌💻
¡Yo prefiero disfrutar del paisaje y vivir el momento! El bus turístico debería ser una oportunidad para desconectar de la tecnología y sumergirse en la belleza de Barcelona. 🌆🚍
Pues yo creo que el mejor bus turístico de Barcelona es el amarillo, ¡me encanta su color! 💛✨