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Getting to the airport in Barcelona

Hello! We have a flight back to the US leaving out of Barcelona (BCN) at 6:20am. Our hotel is near Placa de Catalunya. From what I read in RS guide book, it doesn't look like the buses or Metro are running early enough to get us there in time to check in. Besides a taxi, do you have any other suggestions for getting to the airport that early?

Posted by
2702 posts

The airport express bus from the Placa is always running, maybe just less frequently before 4 am, and is a great choice if you really are coming from nearby. OTOH, the early flights are typical and hoteliers know how to deal with it - the desk can arrange a taxi pickup if you let them know a day ahead, and they may even want you to check out in a different way, so that they don't have to have someone there to see you out themselves. I've stayed at spots where they just had me drop the keys in the mailbox on my way out.

Posted by
564 posts

I used Welcome Pickups and was very happy with them. I did the airport into town. You can easily find them online. I put in fake dates and it came up about $50 for a 4am pickup.

Posted by
1893 posts

I'd recommend a taxi. Less hassle. Have your hotel call for you. We just left Barcelona, stayed in l'eixample district. It was about $35 for both of us and our luggage. (we had extra luggage as we had our 2 bike cases, so an extra charge)

Our flight was at 7:40AM, we left the hotel at 5.

If you are flying Lufthansa, I highly recommend you get to the airport 2.5-3 hours before departure. They are VERY SLOW checking people in for those early morning flights. It was very stressful for us as they only had 3 agents checking in 2 flights at the same time. People in line got a little testy and got everyone else nervous about missing their flight to Frankfort.. Our flight to Munich was the later one, but the line was very long to check in and time seemed to be running short.

Posted by
1841 posts

I agree with Ellen's post. With such an early morning flight, taxi for sure and give yourself plenty of time.

Posted by
27616 posts

I needed every bit of 3 hours to get through BCN when I flew home from that airport pre-pandemic (2016). My flight was later in the morning, but I certainly would not want less time today.

Posted by
64 posts

There is a train from the city through the Sant station to the airport - pretty cheap as I recall - $4.00.

Works well and won't get stuck in traffic. Depending on where you start from, may have to switch trains at Sant, but that's easy.

And a minor hike from the station to your gate, but you have a long flight ahead - the walk will do you good.