Any advice on how to get to Tarragona from the Barcelona airport? Is renting a car the only option? How expensive are taxis in the area?
Posted by
Washington DC
28082 posts
There is bus service from BCN Terminal 1 to Tarragona. I haven't been able to find the official schedule website (I'm sure it's out there), but this website has some info.
If you prefer the train, you'll need to get into Barcelona (which is in the opposite direction from Tarragona). The trains seem to leave from Barcelona Sants station. If you connect to one of the fast trains between Sants and Tarragona, I think this option will be costlier than the bus. It might save a few minutes. It really depends on how the various departure times mesh with your arrival at BCN.
Edit: Train schedules from Barcelona to Tarragona are on here, on the Renfe site. Depending on which train you take and when you buy the ticket, the cost can be over 30 euros, plus the cost from the airport into the city. Yes, bus will definitely be cheaper than that.
The distance from the airport to Tarragona is over 50 miles, so I'd expect the taxi to be pricey. Prices are not particularly low in Catalunya, though I don't know anything about taxi fares specifically.
Posted by
northern CA
2766 posts
The local Rodalies trains that go through Sants station in Barcelona must pass nearer to BCN airport at some stops -- when Enric sees your question you can hear from him.
The route number is R15 or R16 and it takes just over an hour from Sants station and just over 8 euros,
so whichever station is closer to the airport, not sure of the name, will be even cheaper and shorter.
http://rodalies.gencat.cat/ca/linies_estacions_i_trens/servei_regionals/r16
Posted by
northern CA
2766 posts
The easiest to find option is to take the R2 from the airport to Sants, which runs almost every half hour, and then take the R16 or R15 from there down to Tarragona, which takes just over an hour, for a total travel time of about 1.5 hours.
Posted by
Barcelona (Catalonia)
3071 posts
Hi!
First and most importantly.... how fast do you need to be in Tarragona? and, how much are you on a tight budget (if you are at all)?.... noting, of course, that fast=more expensive, slower=cheaper and less cozy. @avirosemail has given you a lot of the info you need though.
Taxi: route calculator > under 150€
Bus: Bus Plana from the airport to Tarragona > schedules > about 70' and 13€ p.p.
Train: at the aiport, from terminal T1 > free shuttle to T2 > then train to Sants in Barcelona > then train to Tarragona
For train, you need to go into Barcelona (journey 15', but train departs every 30'), to Sants station as regional and fast trains depart from there. Regional trains (about 70' or so and 8€ p.p.) you have plenty, every half hour or so, and fast trains (about 40' and 18-40€ p.p.) and you have also a lot of them throughout the day. Important: fast trains do not stop in the centre of Tarragona, but in a station in the outskirts (Camp de Tarragona), then you need a taxi to the city centre, that's why I would probably get a regional train, a bit slower but rather more convenient.