Funicular, "blue streetcar" and tourist buses: special transportation in Barcelona

I have described how the system of buses, subways and streetcars works in the city here. A well-thought-out transportation system and the availability of integrated tickets make it convenient to move around the metropolis: you can use one pass in different modes of transportation and save on fares.

In addition to the regular city transportation system, there are special tickets and special tourist transportation for travelers. This is what I will talk about in this article.

Tourist travel cards in Barcelona

Depending on how many days you are visiting the Catalan capital and what you want to see during that time, several travel card options are available. The Hola Barcelona Travel Card is one of the most favorable travel options for travelers arriving for 2—5 days.

Hola Barcelona Card

There is a special transportation card for tourists — Hola Barcelona Travel Card. It is convenient to use it when you know exactly how many days you plan to stay in the city and expect to travel a lot. Then you can choose one of the options:

This ticket covers unlimited rides to and from the airport, around the city center on the metro, buses (TMB), city trains (FGC, Zone 1), the Montjuïc funicular, streetcar and regional train (Rodalies de Catalunya, Zone 1).

The Hola Barcelona Travel Card is not valid for all other areas of the city, cable cars, other cable cars and Aerobus (airport shuttle).

The ticket is individual and can only be used by 1 person.

Barcelona Card

A smart card with a Barcelona Card chip is at the same time a travel card, an entrance ticket to most of Barcelona’s iconic sites and a discount voucher for stores. If you have an already prepared program around the city, it will help you save money. It’s also easy to use.

What the Barcelona Card includes:

1. Free admission without queues to museums and attractions, a full list of which can be viewed here.
2. Free travel on TMB and FGC public transportation. This means virtually any transportation in the city: buses (except night flights), metro (including airport), streetcars, trains, electric trains, and Renfe trains in Zone 1.
3. Barcelona Shopping Card — discounts in more than 80 stores in the city
   
4. A map of the city’s subway system.
5. Guide in 6 languages (no Russian) about free locations and discounts on the city map.

The card is available in several variations:

There is a 10% discount when you purchase your card online.

There’s also the Barcelona Card Express, which for 20 € gives free travel (except night buses) and discounts on sightseeing within 48 hours of activation.

You can buy any such card at Tourist Information Offices.

Tourist buses

Hop on — Hop off buses are available in all tourist cities, and in Barcelona there are several Barcelona Bus Turistic routes. There are 2 permanent routes and 3 seasonal routes:

• Blue — from Plaça Catalunya — with stops at Gaudi’s famous architecture — to Park Güell and Tibidabo (route duration 2 hours).
• Red — from Plaça Catalunya to Plaza España, Citadel Park, Montjuïc Mountain with a descent to the coast (route 2 hours).
• Green — from Port Olympic along the beaches of Barcelona to Fórum (route 40 min, runs from April 3 to November 1).
• Barcelona Night Tour — from Plaça Catalunya on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 21:30 (duration 2 hours 30 minutes, runs only in summer).
• Barcelona Christmas Tour — runs daily only before Christmas from November 26 to January 2, except December 25 and January 1. Gathers people 2 times a day from Plaça Catalunya at 18:00 and 20:00.

The routes of all colors overlap and offer a total of 45 stops — you can change from one bus to another. Barcelona Bus Turistic operate daily from 9:00 to 19:00 in winter and until 20:00 in summer. If you want, you can get off the bus, walk around and then get on the next bus of the same color or another.

• Barcelona Bus Turistic runs regularly every 20—30 minutes.
• Christmas Day (December 25) and New Year’s Day (January 1) are non-working days.
• The tour is accompanied by an audio guide in 16 languages (there is Russian).
• There is free Wi-Fi on the buses.
• A map of the city is included with the ticket.
• If you buy on the website — 10% discount.
• If you have left your personal belongings on board the bus, you can contact the Tourist Information Center for assistance .
• There is a ticket for 1 or 2 consecutive days.

Ticket prices:

Blue Tram (Tramvia Blau).

It is a famous tourist streetcar that takes you to the foot of Tibidabo, from where the funicular starts. The Blue Tram was first launched in 1901 and is considered the oldest streetcar in Europe. At a speed of 13 km/h it covers 1276 meters of track. Along the way you can see picturesque landscapes and luxurious mansions built by the nobility in the late 19th and early 20th century.

How to get to the Blue Streetcar:

• On the Barcelona Bus Turistic blue route get off at the Tramvia Blau stop.
• Get to the Avinguda Tibidabo stop by metro L-7 or buses V15, 22, 75, 131 and 196.

The Blue Streetcar runs in the fall and winter on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and in the summer daily until 7:30 p.m. The traffic interval is 2—3 times per hour.

A similar journey is offered by bus number 196, which runs daily from 07:30 to 22:00.

The cost of a 1-way Blue Tram is €5.50. Tickets are sold by the driver. When buying a ticket, show him your Barcelona Bus Turistic — the company promises a discount on this streetcar.

Funiculars

Barcelona has as many as 3 funiculars that take you to the highest and most scenic points in Catalonia.

Montjuïc funicular

The Montjuïc funicular can accommodate up to 400 people and is part of the TMB metro system. It leads to the famous sights: the Olympic Stadium, parks, the Joan Miró Museum, the Montjuïc Fortress (1640) and the cable car. The cable car travels 758 meters in 2 minutes.

• You can take the cable car at the Parallel metro station.
• If you have an integrated pass, a separate cable car ticket is not necessary.
• Without a pass or tour card, a regular single ticket costs €2.40, sold in vending machines at stations.
• Office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays in the fall and winter, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekends and holidays; until 10 p.m. in the spring and summer.

Montjuic cable car (Telefericde Montjuic)

The Montjuïc funicular takes you to the cable car that goes from the park (Parc de Montjuïc) to the Castell de Montjuïc.

On the way back there is a Mirador stop (Mirador de l’Alcalde) — a very beautiful park area at the top of the mountain where there is an amazing observation deck with panoramic views of the port, sea and city. There are 3 picturesque gardens at the stop — Miramar Costa i Llobera, Cinto Verdaguer and Joan Brossa. Even in the sweltering heat, it is cool and cozy. The final stop on the return trip of the cable car is Montjuïc Park. We walked the whole way, with unforgettable beauty and a very easy descent.

Cab fare on a traction rope is listed in the table below.

Vallvidrera funicular

This transportation with a capacity of up to 50 people is located in the Vallvidrera area on the Metro del Vallès line and is operated by FGC. It starts from the Peu de Funicular station and heads towards the top of the Tibidabo hill.

• Runs every 6 minutes on weekdays. On weekends and holidays less often (details here).
• In 2 min. 50 sec. the cable car travels 729 m.
• Integrated into the general fare system, so it is subject to standard fare rates.

Tibidabo cable car

This funicular is considered to be the oldest in Barcelona, opened in 1901. It connects the summit of Tibidabo with Plaça del Doctor Andreu, where the famous Tramvia Blau arrives.

• Round-trip tickets cost 12 €, there are discounted categories, more details on the website.
• The funicular operates according to the Tibidabo theme park schedule daily from 10:25 and 15 minutes after the park closes (check here for park opening times).
• Overcomes 1120 meters without stopping.

From the highest point in Catalonia, Tibidabo (512 meters above sea level), you can see a picturesque panorama of Barcelona and the suburbs and visit the Temple of the Sacred Heart (Sagrat Cor).