How to get from Barcelona airport to the port. Barcelona ports
Rarely is Barcelona's port more beautiful than at sunrise. The sun rising above the horizon stretches a sparkling path towards the shore, and only the sound of the surf breaks the sleepy silence. The port is waking up. In just a few hours, life will be in full swing here, snow-white yachts will dance on the waves, thousands of people will fill cafes and restaurants, and in the commercial port the iron herons of lifting mechanisms will begin to move multi-ton cargo.
The Port of Barcelona is not only the sea gate of the Catalan capital, but also a real whirlpool of shopping and entertainment. Conventionally, it can be divided into four parts: a commercial port, the cruise port of Barcelona, where liners from all over the world arrive, an energy port and Port Vell (Old Port - cat.). The main interest for tourists is Port Vell. But first things first!
History of the Port of Barcelona
The port of Barcelona dates back to the 13th century, when Pedro III of Aragon ordered the creation of the Royal Docks for the construction of galleys. However, until the 15th century there was no real port in Barcelona, and traders had to unload their goods south of Montjuic, where there was no natural protection for ships, which often led to their loss. The first stone of the port of Barcelona was laid in 1477 during the reign of Juan II of Aragon. The small island of Mayans was then connected to the shore by a pier and subsequently merged with the land, becoming the modern district of Barceloneta. The diligent Catalans continuously expanded and improved their port. Its appearance underwent the most significant changes when Barcelona received the right to host the 1992 Summer Olympics. Then Vila Olimpica (Olympic Village) and Port Olimpique were built. And now work is underway to relocate the mouth of the Llobregat River, which should double the port area.
All the most interesting things are located in the Old Port of Barcelona, stretching from the Columbus statue to the Barceloneta district.
Do you want to feel like a real sea wolf? Then you definitely need to visit, located in the building of the Royal Docks (yes, the same ones that Pedro III ordered to be built). Replicas of galleys and caravels, all kinds of navigational instruments and even an atlas from 1493 stored here take visitors back to a time when the world was not yet explored, and the great navigator had just returned with the news of the opening of a new route to India. For a fee, you can visit the schooner Santa Eulalia, moored in the harbor.
The original curved Rambla del Mar bridge connects the coast with a small headland, where one of the best shopping spots in Barcelona is located, a huge Maremagnum shopping center. It is the only shopping center in the city that is open on Sundays and also offers the opportunity to shop in a space with a unique view of the port and Montjuic Mountain. Here you can have a bite to eat in several restaurants, and in the evening go dancing until the morning in one of the discos.
If you don't know where to go with children in Barcelona, then the Old Port is what you need. This is where they are 3D Imax cinema and Barcelona Aquarium, the largest, specializing in the underwater world of the Mediterranean. 450 species of marine life, an 80-metre long underwater tunnel and a huge Oceanarium make L’Aquàrium the perfect place for a family holiday in Barcelona. L'Aquàrium offers visitors a variety of unique experiences, from metal cage diving in a shark tank to scuba diving. And every day from 12.00 to 13.00 visitors will be able to watch the feeding process of toothy sea predators.
To see the port of Barcelona from the sea, you can take a tour on one of the boats LasGolondrinas*, the only operator offering boat trips in Barcelona. White “swallows” will carry passengers on their wings along the entire coast of the capital of Catalonia, where they will be able to admire impressive panoramic views. The station is located at the foot of the Christopher Columbus statue.
Interesting facts about the port of Barcelona
- The port of Barcelona is the largest in the Mediterranean in terms of passenger traffic and fourth in the world, second only to ports in the Caribbean.
- In 2015, the Port of Barcelona welcomed the world's largest cruise ship, Allure of the Seas, measuring 362 meters from stem to stern, almost the length of four football fields. The floating island, which has countless swimming pools, restaurants, its own ice skating rink and golf course, visited the Catalan capital in May before heading to Rome.
- In 2011, the arrival in Barcelona of the giant yacht Eclipse, owned by Roman Abramovich, created a real sensation. The ship, the cost of which at that time was, according to some estimates, 800 million euros, was undergoing scheduled repairs at the port. Eclipse was launched in 2009 and was then the largest yacht in the world. In 2013, the yacht Azzam of the Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal Al Saud took the palm from her.
- Every four years, the port of Barcelona hosts the Barcelona World Race, the only two-person continuous sailing regatta around the world. During the competition, stopping on land, as well as any assistance to participants, is prohibited. The regatta lasts about three months and also ends in the port of Barcelona.
The metro station closest to the Columbus statue is Drassanes, Green Line L3. The Rambla del Mar, leading to the Maremagnum shopping centre, is within walking distance. Any city bus going along La Rambla to the Columbus Statue or Drassanes Square is also suitable, for example routes 14, 50 and 120.
If you are heading to one of the cruise terminals, you can use the T3 PortBus port shuttle, which stops at Columbus Square. It passes cruise terminals A, B, C and D, located on the Adossat waterfront, the furthest from the port.
Three more cruise terminals, North, South and East, are located around the World Trade Center. You can get there on foot in 15 minutes.
One way to get to the port is by cable car, or Transbordador Aeri del Port. The car departs from the Miramar station on Montjuic, passes the Torre de Jaume I (World Trade Center) and arrives at the Saint Sebastian Tower on Barceloneta.
The port of Barcelona ranks fifth in size in the world, and first among cruise ports in the Mediterranean. Port de Barcelona departs and receives daily ferries towards the Balearic Islands and has direct connections with the ports of Rome, Genoa and Algiers.
The seaport consists of 10 passenger terminals, 7 of which are cruise terminals. The entrance to the port is at the Christopher Columbus Monument (Mirador de Colom).
The farthest from the city are the cruise terminals of the Moll Adossat zone - A, B, C and D. They are another 2 km away from the Columbus Monument.
The WTC World Trade Center has three terminals named after the cardinal points:
- E – East,
- N - North
- S - South.
Passengers arriving here will be able to walk to the square in just 5 minutes.
Terminals T and Z are located near Plaça Drassanes. Terminal T is called Sant Bertrand and is used by ferries between Barcelona and the Balearic Islands. Terminal Z - Drassanas, is currently used quite rarely by cruise ships.
Near the Maremagnum shopping center, which belongs to the territory of Port Vell, there is another small terminal - M. It is used mainly for large cargo ships.
So how do you get to Barcelona seaport?
From the city center by public transport
Bus number 20 goes from Pl. Congrés (photo: TMB Flickr)
The closest metro station to the port is Drassanes, line L3. From here it takes about 10 minutes to walk to terminals Z, T, N, S, E or M.
Bus number 20 arrives as close as possible to terminals N, S, E, stop – Pl. Congrés. At the very entrance to the port, near the Columbus monument, buses stop on routes 20, 21, 64, 120, D20, H14, N0, N6, stop – Drassanes. Here, those who are interested in remote terminals A, B, C or D can transfer to the T3 PortBus port shuttle.
Shuttle bus T3 PortBus
Bus T3 in the port of Barcelona (photo: autobuses de catalunya)
The T3 PortBus runs between all Barcelona port terminals and the Christopher Columbus Monument. The one-way fare is €2, if you take a return ticket – €3.50 (valid for one day). Take care of small bills; you can only pay for travel in cash from the bus driver. The Barcelona public transport ticket for the T3 PortBus shuttle is not valid.
The shuttle does not have a specific schedule; it is adjusted to the arrival and departure of cruise ships. On average, the bus leaves every 20-30 minutes from the Columbus Monument.
From El Prat Airport to Barcelona Port
By public transport
Cruise ships in the port of Barcelona (photo: carolGB)
Near terminals T1 and T2 you can take the blue express bus Aerobus A1 or A2, which runs every 5-15 minutes between the airport and the city center - Placa de Catalunya. Then at Plaza Catalunya you need to change to metro line L3 and travel 2 stops to Drassanes station. Next you need to go to the Columbus Monument, where the port entrance is located, and if you need terminals A, B, C or D, take the T3 PortBus port shuttle here.
The cost of such a move will be €10.05:
- €5.90 – Aerobus
- €2.15 – metro
- €2.00 – PortBus
Travel time will take from 1.5 to 2 hours.
By taxi
Since there is no direct connection between the airport and the port, a taxi is the fastest and easiest way to get around. For 2015, a single fee of €39 has been established for moving from the port to the airport, or vice versa. The transfer will take about 30 minutes.
You can order a transfer on the website. In this case, you won't have to stand in line for a taxi. The driver will personally meet you with a sign in the arrivals hall and immediately lead you to the car. There are often discounts on the kiwitaxi website, which can make your trip even more profitable.
From Montjuic to the port of Barcelona
You can take the Teleférico de Barcelona cable car from Montjuïc directly to the port of Barcelona. Its upper station Miramar is located next to. The other two are in the port of Barcelona: Torre Jaume I - next to the World Trade Center (WTC) and Torre San Sebastián - in the old part of the port (Port Vell).
A one-way trip costs €11, a round-trip ticket costs €16.5.
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This page answers almost all the questions we receive from tourists regarding the Barcelona cruise port. Issues such as moving from the port to the city center and the airport, car and bus parking, housing near the port, luggage storage, car rental and the location of terminals relative to the city center are covered. Next, we also posted a detailed map of the cruise port area.Where are the cruise terminals?
The port is located at the beginning of La Rambla (La Rambla is Barcelona's most famous boulevard, also known as Las Ramblas), which runs through the very center of the city.
Names and locations of cruise terminals
The port of Barcelona has only 9 terminals, 7 of which are cruise terminals. They can be classified into three different areas.
Adossat waterfront terminalsTerminals A, B, C and D are located on the Adossat promenade and are the furthest from the city center. Terminal D is also known as Palacruceros.
International Trade Center Terminals
At the International Trade Center (WTC) pier there are three terminals - North, South and East.
The Sant Bertrand terminal is also located near the WTC (see map of cruise terminals). Ferries from Barcelona to the Balearic Islands usually depart from this terminal.
There is a hop on hop off tour bus stop near the international shopping center. This is very convenient if you are planning to explore the city, as the international trade center is located right next to the cruise terminals, just a few steps from the ship disembarkation point.
Maremagnum Port Vell
Maremagnum Port Vell has one small terminal, but it is mostly used by larger ships rather than cruise ships.
Map of Barcelona cruise terminals.
Ways to travel between the city center and the cruise port.
Transfer by shuttle busPersonal transfer
You can book a personal transfer online, after which you will need to print and take with you a voucher confirming the reservation. Upon arrival at the port, a driver with your name on a sign will be waiting for you at the disembarkation point. From there you will be taken directly to your desired location. When a cruise ship comes into port, several thousand people disembark and, like you, need transportation to the city. By choosing a personal transfer, you can avoid queues and find yourself at your hotel in the shortest possible time. This service is a little more expensive than other transport services, but if you don’t have much time to explore the city, or you just want to avoid certain hassles when arriving in a foreign city and have someone help you with your bags, then you should think about a personal transfer.
On foot
If you have arrived at one of the cruise terminals on the Adossat promenade - terminals A, B, C or D, then it is not recommended to walk to the center, since it is a long way from the terminal to the Columbus monument, located at the beginning of La Rambla (about 2 kilometers) . Walking with luggage in the midday heat will not seem pleasant. If you arrive at the North, East or South Terminal (in the area of the international shopping center), you can walk into the center, although it will still take a good 15 minutes to walk to the start of La Rambla.
Cruise shuttle bus serving the cruise port, also known as the "Blue Bus"
Once on the metro, you can easily get to anywhere in the city. We've written more about the cruise port shuttle if you'd like more information.
Cruise bus ticket prices
One way ticket: €3,00
A round-trip ticket: €4,00
Taxi
Another option is to catch a taxi from the port to the city center, which is very inexpensive and fast (usually less than 10 minutes).
Taxi fare: €20,00
How to get from the port to the airport
(total distance 14 km) |
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Continue on the C-32B to Barcelona Airport |
Then follow C-31 towards C-32B |
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Take the B-10 from Passeig de Josep Carner |
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It is important to note that some tourists told taxi drivers to go to "Terminal A (or B, or C, etc.), and the taxi driver, misunderstanding them, took them to the terminals at the airport. Be sure to mention that you need to go to cruise ships terminals, otherwise you might end up at the airport instead!
Cheap parking near the cruise port
There are short-term parking lots on the territory of the terminals themselves, which can be used to load or unload from the ship.
If you want to leave your car not just for a couple of hours, but for several days or weeks, then there are suitable parking lots near the cruise port.
Luggage storage
There is a luggage delivery service at the cruise port. However, there are no automatic lockers there. We recommend reading the following articles, which describe different luggage storage services at the port.
The Monument to Christopher Columbus (Colon) marks the southern end of the Ramblas. The Columbus Monument is an excellent landmark that helps you find your way from the port to La Rambla. The street pictured in the center is Port Vell, and behind it is the promenade that runs along the marina and leads to the Barcelona Aquarium. The photo was taken in October, and the sun is still shining!
Facilities for people with disabilities in the port
The port is adapted for people with disabilities and wheelchair users. All main places in the port are equipped with elevators, so there are no obstacles for moving around in a wheelchair. The Blue Bus (a shuttle serving the cruise terminals) is also wheelchair accessible.
Ferries to the Balearic Islands
If you want to take a ferry to the Balearic islands of Mallorca, Minorca or Ibiza, you should first visit the official websites of the three ferry companies for exact schedules and pricing information. The following companies operate ferries to the Balearic Islands:
Acciona Trasmediterranea:
Web site: Trasmediterranea
Cruise port schedule, information on arriving cruises
To find the schedule, arrival terminal and other cruise information, click the link below. If you would like to find the cruise terminal where your cruise arrives, click on the monthly cruise arrival schedule link.
Additional Information
If you need more information regarding the cruise port and its terminals, we advise you to contact the cruise port help desk - SAC (Servicio Atencion de Cliente) or visit the official website of the cruise port. Contact details:
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Old port of Barcelona (Spain) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.
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In anticipation of the 1992 Olympics, Barcelona underwent a major renovation that brought the Old Port back to life. By this time, it was thoroughly abandoned, and the issue of completely demolishing the dilapidated buildings to clear space for new development was seriously discussed. Fortunately, the opposite point of view won and in the shortest possible time the unkempt territory was turned into a vibrant tourist attraction, very successfully combining opportunities for shopping, entertainment, museum excursions and simply pleasant walks.
At least 16 million people visit the Old Port of Barcelona every year.
What to see
Going down to the sea along the Rambla, tourists come to the Columbus Monument, which divides the Barcelona harbor into the Old and New Ports. To the left of the column rise the huge hangars of the Royal Dockyard, which now houses the Maritime Museum. The beautiful building on the right, built in the neo-Gothic style with lancet windows and towers at the corners and richly decorated with stucco, is the Barcelona Port Authority. The continuation of the famous street is the wooden pedestrian bridge Rambla del Mar, leading to an artificial island in the middle of the bay and the Mol d'España promenade. From time to time the bridge opens, releasing another luxury yacht into the sea.
The main attraction of the Old Port is the Maremagnum shopping center with hundreds of boutiques selling shoes, clothing, perfumes and accessories from the most famous and fashionable brands. Among them there is even an official store of the Barcelona sports club, selling goods with the symbols of the Catalans’ favorite football team. There is also an IMAX cinema here. The building nearby is the famous aquarium with a transparent underwater tunnel.
A walk along the embankment past piers with moored boats and yachts leads to a huge gloomy building of old port warehouses. After reconstruction, it housed the Museum of the History of Catalonia (not to be confused with the Museum of the History of Barcelona). Its halls display interesting exhibits dating back to prehistoric times, artifacts from archaeological excavations, weapons of the ancient Romans and Carthaginians, knightly armor and numerous documents.
The wide square next to the museum is decorated, and for some, disfigured, by the sculpture “Face of Barcelona” based on the series of works by Roy Lichtenstein “Brush Strokes”. The 15-meter-long pop art object reveals itself in a new way from different angles, with a woman's face drawn in red dots gradually emerging against a white background. Nearby, a giant shrimp hanging above their heads grins at passers-by.
The further route around the Old Port leads past countless shops and cafes to the clock tower, once a lighthouse, and the cable car station leading from here to the top of the Montjuic hill. A delightful sight opens up from its trailers - the masts of yachts sway above the piers, turquoise reflections play on the walls and shiny shop windows of the shopping center, and at the pier the next three-masted packet boat "Santa Eulalia" built at the beginning of the last century is preparing to depart.
Practical information
How to get there: by metro on line L3 to the station. Drassanes; by bus No. N0, BCTE to the stop. Port Vell, No. 17, 59, 120, D20, H14, N6, V13 to the stop. Portal de la Pau.
» Barcelona Cruise Port
Where is the cruise port in Barcelona?
How long does it take to get from the cruise port to the center of Barcelona?
How to quickly and conveniently get from the airport to the seaport?
Is there luggage storage at the port of Barcelona?
Every cruiser who goes on a cruise from Barcelona faces all these questions.
We have prepared for you all the information about the Barcelona cruise port.
1. Where is the cruise port in Barcelona?
Barcelona's cruise port is located almost in the city center, at the beginning of La Rambla and the Christopher Columbus monument.
Exact port address: Muelle Adosado (Moll d’Adosad)
Barcelona cruise port has 9 terminals, 7 of which are cruise terminals.
Number of the terminal where your aircraft is parked indicated on the cruise ticket or at the entrance to the port on a special board.
It runs around the port area shuttle T3 PORTBUS.
It travels through all cruise port terminals, to the Christopher Columbus Monument and back.
Shuttle cost:
* 2 euros one way
* 3 euros for a round trip ticket (valid throughout the day)
You can walk from the Columbus Monument to La Rambla (a popular street in Barcelona) in 1 minute.
The nearest metro station is Drassanes (Green Line, L3) , is just a 5-minute walk from the monument.
2. How to get from Barcelona airport to the cruise port?
1. TAXI. The fastest and easiest way is a taxi. The trip will take about half an hour and cost you 35-40 euros.
2. PUBLIC TRANSPORT
There is no public transport from the airport to the seaport, so you will have to travel with several transfers on different types of transport.
1) There are buses between Barcelona airport terminals and the city center (Plaça Catalunya). Aerobus buses . The bus route number corresponds to the terminal number - it is important to remember this on the way back (bus A1 will take you to Terminal 1, and A2 to Terminal 2, respectively). Buses run every 10 minutes. Cost: about 5 euros/person one way.
2) At Plaza Catalunya you will need take the metro (Green Line L3) and go 2 stops to Drassanes station. Metro cost: 2.15 euros/person.
3) From Drassanes station walk to the Columbus monument and the entrance to the port.
4) It is better to move around the port of Barcelona on port shuttle T3 PORTBUS. The fare on it is 2 euros/person one way and 3 euros for a round trip ticket (during the day)
3. Where to leave things before check-in?
Unfortunately, there are no luggage storage facilities at the Barcelona cruise port.
Luggage storage is available in the Plaza Catalunya area.
Cost: 3.5-11 euros (depending on the size of your luggage)
