SPAIN - Best of Europe 2014 - page 1497

connections possible with multiple changes; 1 night train/day, 12.75 hours, about €140 or
€50withrailpass,reservationmandatory).Traininfo:tolltel.902-320-320, www.renfe.com .
By Bus
Most buses depart from the Nord bus station at Metro: Arc de Triomf, but confirm when re-
searching schedules. Destinations include Madrid (nearly hourly, 8 hours, €30—a fraction
of the AVE train price, bus info toll tel. [phone], Alsa bus company toll tel.
902-422-242). For bus schedules, see www.barcelonanord.com .
By Plane
El Prat de Llobregat Airport
Barcelona's primary airport is eight miles southwest of town. It has two large terminals: 1
and 2. Air France, Air Europa, American, British Airways, Delta, Iberia, Lufthansa, United,
US Airways, Vueling, and others use the newer terminal 1. EasyJet and minor airlines use
terminal 2 (which is divided into sections A, B, and C). The terminals are linked by shuttle
buses.
Terminal 1 and the bigger sections of terminal 2 (A and B) each have a post office, a
pharmacy,aleft-luggageoffice,plentyofgoodcafeteriasinthegateareas,andATMs(avoid
the gimmicky machines before the baggage carousels; instead, use the bank-affiliated ATMs
at the far-left end of the arrivals hall as you face the street). TIs are located in terminals 1
and 2B (airport code: BCN, info tel. [phone], www.aena-aeropuertos.es ).
Getting Downtown: To reach central Barcelona cheaply and quickly, take either the bus
or train (about 30 minutes on either). The Aerobus (#A1 and #A2, corresponding with ter-
minals 1 and 2) stops immediately outside the arrivals lobby of both terminals (and in each
section of terminal 2). In about 30 minutes, it takes you to downtown, where it makes sever-
al stops, including Plaça d'Espanya and Plaça de Catalunya—near many of my recommen-
ded hotels (departs every 5 minutes, from airport 6:00-1:00 in the morning, from downtown
5:30-24:15, €5.65 one-way, €9.75 round-trip, buy ticket from machine or from driver, tel.
934-156-020).Thelinetoboardthebuscanbeverylong,but—thankstothehighfrequency
of buses—it moves fast.
The RENFE train (on the “R2 Sud” Rodalies line) leaves from terminal 2 and involves
more walking. Head down the long orange-roofed overpass between sections A and B to
reach the station (2/hour at about :08 and :38 past the hour, 20 minutes to Sants Station, 25
minutes to Passeig de Gràcia Station—near Plaça de Catalunya and many recommended ho-
tels, 30 minutes to França Station; €3 or covered by T10 Card—described on here —which
youcanpurchaseatautomatedmachinesattheairporttrainstation).Long-termplanscallfor