Information about Barcelona El Prat Airport

Josep Tarradellas Barcelona Airport (IATA code: BCN), also known as El Prat Airport, is the largest airport in Catalonia which is connected to the country's tourist destinations. El Prat currently occupies one of the leading places on the list of the busiest European airports. The Airport for Barcelona has conveniently situated 12 km (7,5 miles) southwest of the city, so the centre can be easily reached in 20-30 minutes by most "BCN-city" transfers. Being the main hub for Vueling and Level Airlines, El Prat is considered to be a focus city for Ryanair, Iberia, Air Europa, and EasyJet. BCN has 3 take-off and landing areas, thus getting 3 runways in service.

Contact information of BCN Airport

BCN Airport is situated at El Prat de Llobregat, 08820 Barcelona, Spain. If you would like to know how to get to BCN Airport, the access road is the C-31 motorway Barcelona-Castelldefels, which is linked to the C-32 Barcelona-Sitges. To contact the airport staff for more information, please call (+34) 902 404 704 or (+34) 913 211 000, or write an email to [email protected].

How busy is BCN Airport in Barcelona?

Aeropuerto del Prat is the main airdrome serving the area of Barcelona, being the second busiest airport in Spain by annual passenger flow. In 2022 more than 41 million passengers used BCN facilities, among which 30 million were international travellers. On the whole, international traffic amounts to 73% of the total traffic.

COVID-19 information

If you are planning to visit Spain, please note that a COVID test is no longer required upon arrival at El Prat Airport. Those travellers who need to provide travel certificates to fly from BCN can make an antigen or a PCR test at Barcelona Airport in a private laboratory. This lab can be found on the third level of Terminal 1 (Departure zone). The COVID test centre is open daily (including Sunday) from 6 am to 6 pm.

Barcelona El Prat Airport flight schedule

Sometimes unforeseen circumstances make adjustments to the usual flight schedule. In case of flight delay or cancellation, passengers are forced to wait from several hours to a day at the Airport. To ensure that your flight goes according to plan before departure, check the arrivals to El Prat Airport (BCN) today and tomorrow online. You can also get detailed info on Barcelona Airport departures, as well as the necessary services using our website.

Airlines at BCN Airport

A total of 65 airlines operate from BCN Airport. One of the most popular Spanish low-cost airlines Vueling has its main base at Aeropuerto de Barcelona. Iberia, Air Europa, Ryanair, Air Nostrum, EasyJet, Lufthansa, and Air France also operate a huge number of flights from El Prat. It means, for example, that all EasyJet flights arrive and depart from Terminal 2, Vueling, and Iberia — from Terminal 1. Being the European pillar of the bridge between Asia and America, Barcelona main Airport primarily serves local European destinations, whilst also operating flights to many international destinations.

Weather in Barcelona

The best time to visit Barcelona is from mid-April to mid-June. The rains are more frequent in autumn and spring, while the driest month is July. In summer, the rains are rare, but thunderstorms can sometimes erupt in the afternoon. Winter is mild, although Atlantic fronts usually bring clouds and rain for a few days. Summer, from mid-June to August, is hot and sunny, with an average maximum of 30 °C (86 °F), so it could be the best time for a beach holiday. Check out the current weather in Barcelona in the table below to make your plans based on it.

Barcelona Airport terminals

Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport consists of two terminals, T1 and T2. Terminal 2, in turn, is divided into three zones: 2A, 2B, and 2C. Passengers can use the free shuttle bus which connects the Airport terminals 24 hours a day. Thus, they can quickly and conveniently get from T1 to T2, or between terminal zones T2A, T2B, and T2C. The shuttle runs every 6-7 minutes and takes about 10-15 minutes to complete the loop. Each terminal offers a lot of services, such as dining and snack options, shops, hotels, lounges for relaxation, and much more. Below you can find more info about the facilities available at BCN Airport.

Barcelona Airport Terminal 1

The terminal building has a territory of more than 500,000 m2 and 600,000 m2 for a parking slot. The T1 has two separate halls: Barcelona Airport Arrivals which is located on Level 0 and Departures which is on the third floor. Other facilities include 144 check-in counters, 15 luggage carousels, and more than 12,000 parking places. The terminal is divided into four floors:

• Level 0 is the Arrival area with an intermodal lobby, 14 check-in counters, and travel agencies;
• Level 1 is the connecting point in the public parking outside the hall and around the intermodal terminal building. It is also a meeting point with a large shopping zone and the Sky Center restaurant. On Level 1, boarding gates A (flights to Madrid), B (Schengen flight departures), and C (handles Air Nostrum flights) can be found;
• Level 2 has passport control, auto check-in machines, and VIP lounges;
• Level 3 is the Departure floor, where passport control, Fast Track, and boarding by D and E gates are situated. The D boarding zone is used for EU non-Schengen countries and non-EU flights. The E boarding zone serves non-EU (“third countries”) departures.

Barcelona Airport Terminal 2

Barcelona Terminal 2 was the original terminal of BCN and currently handles only low-cost and regional flights. T2 is divided into T2A, T2B, and T2C halls which are connected via the boarding area (access only for passengers). Information and check-in desks of some airlines can be found on the ground floor of the terminal building.

Airport Barcelona T2 has three baggage reclaim halls: A (for flights from the non-Schengen zone), B (if the flight is from Schengen countries), and C (for flights operating in T2C).

• Terminal T2A does not have check-in counters. That's why the check-in process takes place on T2B floor P0, and at T2C floor P0 for Easyjet and its subsidiary Easyjet Switzerland;
• The T2B hall consists of Terminal B, Olympic Terminal, and Intermodal Building.

Services at Barcelona Airport, El Prat

Main Barcelona Airport provides all the necessary services to make the stay of passengers as comfortable and trouble-free as possible. Below you can check out the list of facilities available in both BCN terminals:

• Restaurants and food courts for a hearty meal or quick snacks;
• Shops and stores where you can buy gifts or items you need on a journey;
• Information desks where you can get details about your flight and other services;
• ATMs and banks for financial transactions and cash withdrawal;
• VAT refund (reimbursement of the VAT that a non-resident paid on products purchased in Spain);
• Duty-Free with beauty goods, watches, perfumes, and spirits;
• Wi-Fi access;
• Luggage storage;
• Currency exchange;
• Lost & Found office;
• Medical services;
• Religious spaces;
• Smoking area;
• Meeting points;
• Police stations.

Barcelona Airport currency exchange

If you need to exchange home currency and purchase the euro, consider doing it before travelling or upon arrival in the city. In airports, as a rule, the exchange rate will be higher than the average. Check out the current rates in our exchange table below to plan your budget more precisely.

Barcelona Airport hotels

BCN Airport offers modern and comfortable guest room service for hours, fully equipped to sleep or rest while waiting for your flight. Sleep & Fly is the only hotel inside El Prat, which can be found in the T1 Business Center. Travellers can book a room for a one-night stay there, as well as for 3 or 6 hours depending on the time you have to spend in the airport. You can also choose one of the hotels located next to BCN, the more that most Barcelona hotels near the Airport provide 24-hour free shuttle transfer to/from terminals. Learn more about the best hotels near BCN and book your room in advance to benefit from price advantages.

Getting from Barcelona Airport to the city

The trip from Barcelona Airport to the city centre takes approximately 20-30 minutes depending on the time of day and way of transport. A public transfer includes Aerobus which connects the Airport with the city centre daily leaving every 5 minutes. The ticket price is €8,90. The cheapest way to get to Barcelona (€5,15 per ticket) is the train Renfe which departs from the T2 terminal. You can also consider taking a taxi with an average rate of €25-35. Car rental could be the best solution for independent drivers who would like to have the freedom to roam, as well as travellers who prefer comfort and plan to explore the city.

Car hire at Barcelona Airport

Renting a car is always a good idea whether you are travelling on business or leisure. By booking a car in advance, you will benefit from great deals from reliable vendors as well as price advantages because the cost of the car rental at Barcelona Airport onsite tend to be higher. Moreover, you will be able to choose the most suitable model with the guaranteed model option. Check our search engine to get the best deal! Below you will find the list of car hire agencies offering their services at BCN Terminal 1 or Terminal 2B:

• Alamo
• Avis
• Budget
• Centauro
• Enterprise
• Europcar
• Firefly
• Goldcar
• Hertz
• InterRent
• National
• Record Go
• Sixt
• Thrifty.

Parking at Barcelona Airport

El Prat Airport Parking offers more than 19,000 parking spaces. 11,000 places are available for passengers in terminal T1 and almost 9000 slots are situated between T2 and Corporate Aviation Terminal. Please note, that in T1 Car parking, vehicles have 10 minutes free of charge to drop off or pick up passengers. Those travellers who want to park in Barcelona Airport can use the following park facilities:

• Terminal T1

• The Parking Express T1;
• The General car park T1;
• The open-air car park T1;
• Preferential Parking T1 with direct access to Terminal T1.

• Terminal T2

• Car Park Building PA and PC;
• Terminal T2 Surface Car Park;
• Corporate Aviation Terminal Car Park.

Travellers can also leave their vehicles in Long-stay parking and VIP car park. Our website will give you more info on all the Barcelona Airport parking options and the rates.

Shopping & Duty-free at Barcelona Airport

If you need to buy some items needed on the road, choose a gift for your friends or family, or treat yourself to elite shopping, you can visit one of the various stores at Barcelona Airport. Both Terminals 1 and 2 have a wide offer of beauty products, cosmetics, spirits, health goods, clothing, and accessories for passengers leaving Barcelona or arriving at the city. Read more about BCN stores below:

Shops at Terminal 1

Upon arrival at Terminal 1, passengers can enjoy a world-class shopping experience, with fashion, accessories, beauty products, bookstores, souvenir shops, and much more. The following shops are available at BCN Airport Barcelona T1:

• Duty-Free: Barcelona Duty-Free which is located on Levels 1 and 3, and Express Duty-Free which is on the first floor;
• Food stores including Chocolat Factory, La Farga, Sibarium, Tutti Frutti, and ObeyYourBody;
• Sports shops: La Botiga del Barça (Football Club Barcelona store on Level 1), Buff, and Adidas;
• Pharmacy which can be found on Level 0;
• Stores with clothing and accessories: Burberry, Accessorize, Adolfo Dominguez, Boutique, Calzedonia, Carolina Herrera, Collection for Men, Custo, Desigual, Mango, Massimo Dutti, Oysho, Tascón, Tous, Uterqüe, Victoria's Secret, Zara.
• Kids products: Wonkandy.
• Music and electronics: Crystal Media Shop.
• Gifts and traditional Spanish goods: La Mallorquina, Natura, Super skunk, Thinking Barcelona, Zara Barcelona.

Shops at terminal 2

Most Barcelona T2 Airport shops are situated in the Departure zone, after security control points, but there are enough stores available landside in the Arrival zone. Terminal 2 provides travellers with the following shopping options:

• Food: Chocolat Factory.
• Duty-Free: Barcelona Duty-Free which is located on the First level and Express Duty-Free which is found on the Ground and First floor;
• Sport items: La Botiga del Barça (Football Club Barcelona Store) on Level 1;
• Pharmacy located on Level 0;
• Stores with clothing and accessories: Adolfo Dominguez, Boboli, Casas, Claire's, Collection, Desigual, Mango, Sunglass Hut, The Fashion Place, Victoria's Secret.
• Kids products: Story Store;
• Music and electronics: Crystal Media Shop;
• Gifts: Natura.

Lounges at the Airport in Barcelona

Most lounges at El Prat Airport Barcelona are equipped with comfy seats and resting areas. The main features of lounges are facilities for a calm and quiet pastime while waiting for a flight, access to Wi-Fi, buffet or snack options, unlimited drinks, showers, and much more. Barcelona Airport has 5 lounges, four located in terminal T1 and one in terminal T2.

• Premium VIP Lounge is situated in Terminal 1 (landside) in the same area as the Air Shuttle/Air Bridge Barcelona-Madrid. To reach it, move from the Arrivals Hall following signs for the Business Center;
• Sala VIP Colomer can be found in Terminal 1 (Airside). It provides access only for passengers travelling to Barcelona-Madrid Air Shuttle. After passing through security checking, turn left and proceed to the end of the corridor to reach the VIP Colomer lounge;
• Sala VIP Miro located in Terminal 1 (Airside) serves passengers of the Airport Barcelona-El Prat Intercontinental non-Schengen flights. To reach it, turn left after the security and passport control areas, take the lift down to the lounge, and follow the signs;
• Sala VIP Canudas is the only T2 lounge. Pass the Duty-Free shops and the 'Mussol' restaurant and turn left to get to the lounge.

Food & drink at BCN Airport

Barcelona Airport offers a large selection of food places for a quick snack and a full dinner. In addition, you can always choose a cafe with a "takeaway" option to grab a bite on the go if you are limited in time. The following restaurants and cafes can be found in Terminal 1:

• Starbucks;
• McDonald's;
• ALAS by Hermanos Torres;
• Piscolabis Aeropuerto;
• Mediterranean Terrace;
• Mamma Mia;
• La Place;
• Selecta XV;
• SANTAMARIA.

Find listed here restaurants and food courts in Barcelona – El Prat Airport Terminal 2:

• Burger King
• Ribs
• Go Natural
• Pans & Company
• Cafetería Jamaica
• Medas 5
• Terra Cotta

For a complete list of restaurants and other food places, as well as their locations and opening hours, please visit the Restaurants page.

Nearest airports to El Prat, Barcelona

The nearest airport to El Prat is situated 92 km (57 miles) from Josep Tarradellas Aeropuerto and the fastest way to reach it is by driving a car. Such a trip takes around 1 hour.

• Girona-Costa Brava Airport is situated 13 km (8 miles) from Girona. The distance from Barcelona to Girona Airport is 90 km (55 miles). GRO is considered to be the second most important airdrome in the autonomous community of Catalunya. GRO is well-connected to the South of France as well as to other international destinations including Bratislava, Krakow, Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden, Rabat, and Pisa;
• Reus International Airport (REU) serves Reus city and Catalonian Costa Daurada territory. The distance between Barcelona and Reus Airport is 90 km (55 miles).

Cost of living in Barcelona

One of the many benefits of living in Barcelona is its affordable cost of living. The monthly rental of an apartment with 1 bedroom in the city centre will cost you approximately €1,000-1,050. For €14-15 you can have a meal in an inexpensive restaurant. Bread costs €1,24, a cup of coffee is €2, and 0,5 l of domestic beer will cost you €3. Paying €9-10 you can have McMeal (or Equivalent Combo Meal) at Mcdonald's. Below you will find other prices for basic products in Barcelona.