Let's start with the city's metro system. While it's not exactly as world-renowned as New York's subway or London's "the tube," Barcelona's underground trains are just as efficient and possible even faster too. So much so that perhaps the only reason you'd be late getting to work when you take the metro is that you often miss the train. Both the metro and the tram systems operate from 5:00 am to 12:00 am the next day from Monday to Thursday and Saturday and Sunday. On Fridays, they operate until 2:00 am. Though do note that at night, there's only one entrance to the metro for every station in the city.
If there's an area you can't reach via the metro, you can always go on the tram. This is Barcelona's overground train and just as efficient. Though it used to be limited, the city continues to expand this system to make a more effective mode of transportation. As well as lessening the crowds for the metro. This is the system you want to ride if you want to travel around Barcelona whilst seeing what the city has to offer. Like the metro, a good many of its stops are near the Catalan capital's most famous landmarks, monuments, and tourist spots.
With a total of 230 bus lines throughout the entire city, buses have become a favorite among local commuters in Barcelona. They're often assured that they'll get dropped off at the exact spot that they need to be. And if not, it's probably just a walk away. Like the metro and trams, Barcelona's buses start operating at 5:00 am each day. However, they end two hours earlier at 10:00 pm each night. This is mostly because there's a special bus reserved for travelers during the night. Still, with as many lines as they have, so many people continue to use them every day.
As the normal buses stop operating at 10:00 pm at night, Barcelona's night buses, or 'NitBus,' will now start moving around. They basically operate within the hours when the metro, the trams, and the day buses are all closed. However, despite being a good alternative mode of transportation for night owls, the NitBuses don't travel as widely as the other public transport systems. It has a limited number of lines and they all center back to Plaça Catalunya. Well, all except the N0 line, because this one circles the city, helping those without stops nearby get to ride the NitBus to a nearer stop.
Barcelona has one of the unique distinctions of being a city with a total of three bus systems. There are the standard day buses, the nightly NitBuses, and the third is the Bus Turístic. Or more commonly referred to as the hop-on-hop-off buses. What makes this system different? Well, with only three lines—and in winter, they only become two—these buses go directly to the city's most famous tourist spots. With so many tourists visiting the Catalan capital every year, the city had to institute a special bus system reserved just for them.
And since Barcelona is as busy as it is, you'll also find a lot of taxis around. They're pretty standard as far as cabs are concerned, and most drivers are friendly. However, don't expect them to be well-versed with the English language even though they've probably driven millions of foreign tourists. If you want to use a taxi, you're better off using a translation app to help you communicate with your driver. If not, and you don't speak a speck of Spanish, you'd do better riding the metro, trams, or buses instead.
Finally, there are Barcelona's cable cars! Yes, even though the Catalan capital is far from a wintry city, it has its own cable car system. Called the "Transbordador Aeri del Port," it connects the city's harbor with the mountainous Montjuïc, one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Barcelona. You might even see one going up or down when you're just walking down the street. Though this system is generally safe and has long been an effective mode of transportation, people are discouraged to overcrowd a cable car. If you're already near Montjuïc, just take a taxi going up instead!
Whatever you may think about Barcelona, at least it's an easy enough city to travel in. Most of its public transport systems work efficiently and are even faster than those in other cities. And you never know what kind of adventure awaits you in them!
If you do save money by taking public transportation instead of buying your own car, you're better off investing your money in a luxurious Barcelona rental for your home here!
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