Survival Guide - Discover Barcelona: Experience the Best of Barcelona - page 569

Getting to Barcelona
Most travellers enter Barcelona through El Prat airport. Some budget airlines use Girona-
Costa Brava airport.
Flights from North America take about eight hours from the east coast (10 to 13 hours
typically, with a stopover); from the west coast count on 13 or more hours including a stop-
over. Flights from London take around two hours, from Western Europe it's about two to
three hours.
Travelling by train is a pricier but perhaps more romantic way of reaching Catalonia
from other European cities. The overnight trenhotel takes 12 hours from Paris to Bar-
celona. Long-distance trains arrive in Estació Sants, about 2.5km west of La Rambla.
Long-haul buses arrive in Estació del Nord.
Flights, tours and rail tickets can be booked online at lonelyplanet.com/bookings.
El Prat Airport
Barcelona's El Prat airport ( 902 404704; www.aena.es ) lies 17km southwest of Plaça de
Catalunya at El Prat de Llobregat. The airport has two main terminal buildings: the new T1
terminal and the older T2, itself divided into three terminal areas (A, B and C).
Bus
The Aerobús ( 93 415 60 20; www.aerobusbcn.com ; one way €5.65) runs from both terminals to
Plaça de Catalunya (single/return €5.65/9.75, 30 to 40 minutes depending on traffic) via
Plaça d'Espanya, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes (corner of Carrer del Comte d'Urgell)
and Plaça de la Universitat every five to 10 minutes from 6am to 1am. Departures from
Plaça de Catalunya are from 5.30am to 12.30am and stop at the corner of Carrer de
Sepúlveda and Carrer del Comte d'Urgell, and Plaça d'Espanya.
Buy tickets on the bus or from agents at the bus stop.