The airport
Arriving at Barcelona airport: what to do when you land
From touchdown to sitting on an Aerobus heading for the centre usually takes between 20 minutes (no checked bag, arriving from a Schengen country) and an hour (with luggage and passport control). Here's the route, step by step.
- Leaving the planeDepending on the gate, you'll either walk straight into the terminal via an air bridge or take an apron bus. Follow the yellow «Salida / Sortida / Exit» and «Baggage reclaim» signs.
- Passport control (non-Schengen flights only)If you're arriving from the UK, the Americas, Asia, Africa or any country outside the Schengen area, you'll go through border control. There may be a queue at peak times. Flights from Spain and most of the European Union don't have this check.
- Baggage reclaimThe screens show the belt for your flight. If your suitcase doesn't appear or arrives damaged, don't leave the hall: go to your airline's (or its handling agent's) baggage services desk in the same area and file your claim there.
- CustomsUse the green channel if you have nothing to declare or the red one if you're carrying goods above the allowances. Arriving from the EU, there are no checks.
- Arrivals hallThis is where people meeting you will be waiting. You'll find information points, cash machines, Aerobus ticket machines and the way out to transport.
- To the AerobusFollow the signs for buses: at T1 the A1 stop is outside the arrivals floor (floor 0); at T2, the A2 stops at T2C and T2B. If you have your ticket on your phone, go straight to the queue.
If you're picking someone up
Check the flight status on the Aena website before you set off and bear in mind:
- The time shown is the landing time. The passenger will take 20 to 30 minutes to come out if they only have hand luggage, and much longer if they've checked a bag or are arriving from outside Schengen.
- Make sure you have the right terminal: T1 and T2 are several kilometres apart. The terminal is usually shown next to the flight.
- If you're driving, you can't stop in the arrivals lanes to wait. Use the terminal car parks or the waiting areas.
- If the traveller is heading to the centre on their own, the Aerobus leaves from right outside the terminal and drops them at Plaça Catalunya in about 35 minutes.
Arriving in the early hours
Many low-cost flights land late at night. At that time the metro may be closed (depending on the day) and the train isn't running, but the Aerobus is: it leaves both terminals every 20 minutes throughout the night. The other option is a taxi, with an airport supplement and a minimum fare.
First steps in Barcelona
- Money: in Barcelona you can pay by card almost everywhere, including on the Aerobus. If you need cash, a bank cash machine is a better bet than an airport bureau de change.
- Phone: the airport has free Wi-Fi and so does the Aerobus.
- Transport: if you'll be using the metro a lot, consider the combined Aerobus and Hola Barcelona travel card ticket. We explain it on fares.
- Heading for a cruise or catching a train? See how to get to the cruise port or to Sants station.