# Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN)

> Barcelona, ES · 12 km (7.5 mi) southwest of Barcelona

Web: https://airport.flights/airport/bcn
JSON: https://airport.flights/api/airport/bcn.json

## Facts

- **IATA**: BCN
- **ICAO**: LEBL
- **Timezone**: Europe/Madrid
- **Runways**: 3
- **Terminals**: 2
- **Passengers**: 49.9M/yr
- **Worldwide rank**: #33
- **Hub for**: Vueling, Iberia, Level
- **Official site**: https://www.aena.es/en/josep-tarradellas-barcelona-el-prat.html

## Overview

## Welcome

Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN) is a rare gem among major European hubs, offering travelers the chance to step off a low-cost carrier and delve into authentic Catalan cuisine before catching a quick ride to the city's Gothic Quarter. A scant 12 km southwest of Barcelona, this airport seamlessly integrates modern amenities in T1 with the hustle of budget-friendly T2, the latter infamous for its crowds and slower processing times.

## At a glance

Ranked as Spain's second busiest airport with nearly 50 million passengers annually, Barcelona–El Prat covers two main terminals, T1 and T2. It operates as a hub for Vueling, Iberia, and Level, offering a diverse array of routes across Europe and beyond. Travelers frequenting T1 will find a more streamlined experience, whereas T2 serves as a gateway for budget flyers via airlines like Ryanair and easyJet. The airport's location offers easy access to the city via multiple transport options, all catering to varied preferences and budgets.

## Terminals & layout

**Terminal 1** is the newer and more comprehensive terminal, handling most full-service carriers like Aegean Airlines and Air Algerie. T1 boasts a wide range of dining and shopping options, ensuring passengers have access to both quick bites and sit-down meals. **Terminal 2**, on the other hand, feels more crowded and dated. It's split into sections A, B, and C, where you'll see carriers such as Ryanair making their home. Transiting between T1 and T2? Hop on the free green shuttle running every 5–10 minutes—a better bet than the metro plus walking.

## Getting to and from the city

First-timers may find the range of transport options overwhelming, but clarity is key. The Aerobus (A1 and A2) provides direct service to Plaça Catalunya, departing every 5–10 minutes. Alternatively, the **Rodalies R2 Nord** train is a budget-friendly and efficient option, especially during rush hour, whisking passengers away from T2 to Sants or Passeig de Gràcia. Uber and Cabify rideshairs are available, but metro L9 Sud doesn't reach centrally-placed stations, making it less handy for those with heavy luggage.

## Traveller essentials

For those in transit, the Sleep&Fly Business Center Lounge in T1 offers a serene reprieve with rooms equipped for day-use and overnight stays. If you prefer to store your luggage, lockers are available in T2B, operational around 06:00–22:00, an economical choice for travelers wanting to explore Barcelona unencumbered. The airport's free Wi-Fi is sufficiently robust for streaming, especially if you connect correctly in T1.

## Dining & shopping highlights

T1 houses top-notch dining venues like **Porta Gaig** and **La Tramoia**, where authentic Catalan flavors can be savored pre-flight. T2's food scene pales in comparison, though staples like **McDonald's** and **Burger King** are stationed for convenience. Shopping enthusiasts can browse through outlets like the FC Barcelona Official Store and Desigual in T1, or opt for duty-free bargains in both terminals.

## Lounges

Travelers with priority passes or willing to splurge can relax in the **Sala VIP Pau Casals** or **Joan Miró** in T1, offering local cava and robust buffet selections. At €44 for entry, it’s deemed a small price to pay for luxury. T2 doesn’t lag behind with the more affordable €33.90 Canudas Lounge and the functional CIP Lounge, both ensuring a quieter wait time amidst T2’s rather hectic atmosphere.

## Insider tips

- **Insider:** Use the free green shuttle to transit between T1 and T2. It's faster than taking the metro and saves on time.

- **Local:** Eat in T1 where the meal options are notably better. Spots like Porta Gaig are worth the stop before heading to your budget flight.

- **Time:** For quicker city access at rush hour, grab the Rodalies R2 Nord from T2 for fewer crowds and faster service.

- **Avoid:** Brace for passport control delays in T2—add 15–20 minutes extra to your schedule during busy periods.

- **Money:** Save on luggage fees using the left-luggage lockers in T2B, paying only by locker size over dragging bags into the city unnecessarily.

- **Quiet:** Need a nap before an early flight? Check into T1's Sleep&Fly Air Rooms, where day-use rates are practical for a pre-departure rest.

- **Quiet:** Escape the noise at T1's terraces beyond security. Enjoy a drink in the open-air while avoiding gate-area congestion.

## Terminals (2)

- **Terminal 1** — Aegean Airlines, Aeroflot, Air Algerie, Air Canada
- **Terminal 2** — Ryanair, EasyJet, Jet2.com, Norwegian Air Shuttle

## Dining (20)

- **Breadway** — T1
- **Burger King** — T2
- **Caffè di Fiore** — T1
- **Caffriccio** — T2
- **Cañas y Tapas** — T2
- **Carlsberg Bar** — T1
- **Dehesa Santa María** — T1
- **Enrique Tomás** — T1
- **La Pausa** — T1
- **La Tramoia** — T1
- **Lizarran** — T1
- **McDonald's** — T1
- **McDonald's** — T2
- **Medas Beer** — T1
- **Mediterranean Terrace** — T1
- **Mussol** — T1
- **Pans & Company** — T1
- **Porta Gaig** — T1
- **Starbucks** — T1
- **Subway** — T2

## Lounges (8)

- **Air Rooms Lounge** — T1 · T1, pay-in
- **BCN VIP Fast Lane Lounge** — T1 · T1, fast track access
- **CIP Lounge** — T2 · T2, airline invitation
- **Premium VIP Lounge** — T1 · T1 landside, Priority Pass + pay-in
- **Sala VIP Canudas** — T2 · T2, Priority Pass + pay-in · €33.90
- **Sala VIP Joan Miró** — T1 · T1 Non-Schengen, Priority Pass + pay-in · €44.00
- **Sala VIP Pau Casals** — T1 · T1 Schengen, Priority Pass + pay-in · €33.90
- **Sleep&Fly Business Center Lounge** — T1 · T1, pay-in

## Shops (17)

- **Adolfo Domínguez** — T1
- **Desigual** — T1
- **Divers** — T1
- **Duty Free World Duty Free** — T1
- **Duty Free World Duty Free** — T2
- **Farmacia** — T1
- **FC Barcelona Official Store** — T1
- **Hudson News** — T2
- **La Botiga del Barça** — T2
- **La Casa de las Carcasas** — T1
- **Mango** — T1
- **Parfois** — T1
- **Relay Express** — T1
- **Relay** — T1
- **Relay** — T2
- **Sunglass Hut** — T1
- **Swarovski** — T1

## Parking (8)

- **Parking Express T1** — Short-stay drop-off
- **Parking Express T2** — Short-stay drop-off
- **Parking General T1** — Official parking
- **Parking General T2** — Official parking
- **Parking Larga Estancia** — Long-stay parking
- **Parking Preferente T1** — Premium covered parking
- **Parking VIP T1** — VIP valet parking
- **Parking VIP T2** — VIP valet parking

## Ground transport (14)

- **Aerobus A1** — Express bus to Plaça Catalunya
- **Aerobus A2** — Express bus to Plaça Catalunya
- **ALSA Coach** — Intercity coach
- **Bus 46** — City bus to Plaça Espanya
- **Cabify** — Rideshare
- **FlixBus** — Intercity coach from airport a
- **Metro L9 Sud** — Metro line to Zona Universitàr
- **MonBus** — Coach to South Coast destinati
- **NitBus N16** — Night bus to Barcelona city
- **NitBus N17** — Night bus to Barcelona city
- **NitBus N18** — Night bus serving both termina
- **Rodalies R2 Nord** — Commuter rail line to Barcelon
- **Taxi Barcelona** — Metered taxi
- **Uber** — Rideshare

## Insider tips

- _Insider_: Use the free green shuttle to transit between T1 and T2. It's faster than taking the metro and saves on time.
- _Local_: Eat in T1 where the meal options are notably better. Spots like Porta Gaig are worth the stop before heading to your budget flight.
- _Time_: For quicker city access at rush hour, grab the Rodalies R2 Nord from T2 for fewer crowds and faster service.
- _Avoid_: Brace for passport control delays in T2—add 15–20 minutes extra to your schedule during busy periods.
- _Money_: Save on luggage fees using the left-luggage lockers in T2B, paying only by locker size over dragging bags into the city unnecessarily.
- _Quiet_: Need a nap before an early flight? Check into T1's Sleep&Fly Air Rooms, where day-use rates are practical for a pre-departure rest.
- _Quiet_: Escape the noise at T1's terraces beyond security. Enjoy a drink in the open-air while avoiding gate-area congestion.