Bus N17 runs roughly every 20 minutes overnight
NitBus N17 is the night bus linking Barcelona Airport’s T1 and T2 with central Barcelona between about 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., filling the gap when the Aerobús and much of the metro shut down. It runs along Gran Via and into the city, so you can get to Plaça Catalunya and several intermediate stops without paying taxi prices.
At T1, the N17 stop sits outside the terminal on the ground level bus area, signed with the yellow "NitBus" logo and line number; at T2, follow the bus icons out of Arrivals to the public bus stands near T2B. You board at the front door, and the driver sells single tickets on board, which is key if you land late without a transit card.
A single N17 ticket costs the standard TMB bus fare (around €2.55 as of 2024), and you can also tap a Hola Barcelona or standard integrated travel card, which counts it as one ride within the usual 75-minute transfer window. The bus is part of Zone 1 for Barcelona’s fare system, so you don’t pay any airport surcharge like you do on some rail lines.
Timetable-wise, first departures from T1 usually start just after 11:00 p.m., and last runs toward the city leave around 5:00 a.m., with a frequency of 20–30 minutes depending on the exact hour. The ride from T1 to Plaça Catalunya typically takes 35–45 minutes, slightly faster from T2, but add 10–15 minutes if you’re getting off at stops further along Gran Via.
For luggage, there’s no underfloor hold, so your suitcase stays with you in the low-floor cabin, and the articulated buses that often run N17 have standing room and space near the middle doors for bags. The vehicles use front-door boarding and middle/back-door exit, and there’s audio and visual stop announcements showing each street name in Catalan and Spanish.
Step-by-step: how to use NitBus N17 from BCN
- 1. After landing at T1 or T2, clear immigration and customs; this can take 10–40 minutes depending on the arrival bank.
- 2. Follow signs to "Bus" from Arrivals and walk 3–7 minutes to the exterior bus area where city buses line up.
- 3. Look for the stop pole or shelter marked "N17 NitBus" with the overnight timetable listing Plaça Catalunya as a key destination.
- 4. Have roughly €3 in coins or a loaded TMB card ready, then board through the front door when the N17 arrives and tell the driver your ticket type.
- 5. Validate your ticket or card in the machine next to the driver, keep your bag in the luggage space or by your seat, and watch the onboard screen for your stop name.
- 6. Get off at your chosen city stop, such as Plaça Universitat or Plaça Catalunya, and keep your ticket if you plan to transfer to another TMB bus or metro within 75 minutes.
One tip: screenshot the N17 route map and timetable from the AMB or TMB site before you land, since airport Wi‑Fi can be patchy on the curb at 2:00 a.m.