Planning trip to Spain in October. Looking at return flight 7:10 AM on a Sunday from Barcelona to Philadelphia. How realistic is taking metro, bus or taxi from Catalunya or Eixample early enough to make our flight?
Posted by
Washington DC
27111 posts
Unfortunately, the Aerobus doesn't start running till 5 AM, which I certainly wouldn't risk with a transatlantic flight hanging in the balance.
The same is true for the Metro. Edited to add: This is wrong. See Enric's correction below. The Metro runs all night Saturday night.
It appears your choices come down to a taxi or similar service or spending your last night at a hotel near the airport. It probably doesn't make much sense to relocate to an airport hotel, given that the airport is less than 10 miles from Placa de Catalunya. A taxi should not be exorbitant. However, there may well be a nighttime surcharge.
I'm sure one of our Barcelona experts will be along relatively soon to provide more specific information.
Posted by
Barcelona ☀️ Sweden ❄️
3904 posts
Best to take a taxi, they are plentiful and cheap, one has no problems hailing them early in the morning for a ride to El Prat, I have done it many times.
Posted by
Fort Myers, FL
1671 posts
Taxi for sure. Took a bus once and it was a good thing I had plenty of time.
Posted by
WA State
3961 posts
I recall an early return flight from Barcelona and we took a taxi to the airport. It was prompt and gave us peace of mind.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
6539 posts
I can’t remember what time our flight departed, but we took the metro. I doubt it was as early as yours. The first trains begin running at 5am.
Posted by
Boise, ID, USA
2176 posts
We had an early flight a number of years ago. We left our hotel in a taxi at 4:30 a.m. and arrived at the airport about 5:00 a.m. Check-in didn't open until 5:30 a.m.! I was annoyed.
Posted by
Barcelona (Catalonia)
2942 posts
If you're departing on Sunday morning at 7am I wouldn't worry, the metro works 24h from Saturday to Sunday: https://www.tmb.cat/en/barcelona/operating-hours-metro-bus