Homeport Guide: Barcelona
Bon dia - Welcome to Barcelona! This idyllic city, located right on the northeast coastline of Spain, is one of the true gems of the Mediterranean.
Barcelona is a traveler’s paradise, with a picturesque setting that is home to a number of important cultural and historical destinations. It is the capital and largest city of Catalonia's autonomous community and the second most populous municipality in all of Spain. Although located in Spain, the native tongue spoken around the city is Catalan.
You will have no trouble filling up several days of sightseeing in Barcelona. The city offers many famed sites, including architect Antoni Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, the Picasso Museum, and Casa Batllo. Foodies will love the area’s culinary scene, home to numerous vineyards and the best tapas you can find. Sports lovers will delight as the town is home to the famed FC Barcelona, one of the world’s most recognized football clubs. Las Ramblas, a tree-lined street filled with stores and cultural attractions, runs right from the city to the ocean making for a picturesque walking destination.
Many cruise lines homeport ships in Barcelona due to its extensive international travel hub and coastal location, making a great starting and ending point for Mediterranean cruises. You will also find several itineraries that make day stops right in Barcelona, as the city makes for an enriching port stop.
Here’s what you need to know for planning your next cruise homeporting in Barcelona.
3. Area Hotels
4. Things to Do: Excursions in Barcelona
Fast Facts
Barcelona Cruise Port - Creuers Terminal
WTC - Terminal Sud.
08039 Barcelona, Spain
Area Airport Addresses
Barcelona International Airport: El Prat de Llobregat Aeropuerto (BCN)
08820 El Prat de Llobregat
Barcelona, Spain
Girona Costa-Brava Airport (GRO)
Aiguaviva, s/n, 17185 Vilobí d'Onyar
Girona, Spain
Reus Airport (REU)
Av. de Tarragona, s / n, 43204
Reus, Tarragona, Spain
Climate: Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate. Expect warm summers, cool and rainy winters, and mild spring and fall seasons.
Fun Facts: Famed artist Pablo Picasso spent many years in Barcelona, studying at the School of Fine Arts. There is a Picasso museum in the Born neighborhood with over 4,000 of his works on display. There are over 20 Michelin-starred restaurants in Barcelona! FC Barcelona plays at the world’s largest football (aka soccer) stadium in all of Europe.
How to Get Around
Travel in the Area:
- Taxi - Over 10,000 taxis can easily be found throughout the city. If you use a taxi, make sure it is an official cab. Taxis are typically yellow and black, with a green light indicating the vehicle is available for hire.
- Rideshares - Uber, and Lyft are both available in Barcelona. These are great options for private transport around the city.
- Metro - The Metro is Barcelona’s public subway system. It is a great, inexpensive way to get around the area quickly. The city has eight lines that service destinations around the region. Explore routes and fare information here.
- Tram - The Tram is an above-ground system that provides easy access to Barcelona's major shopping areas and residential zones. There are two tram lines - the Trambaix and Trambesòs. Learn more on routes and fares here.
- FCG - The Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat (FCG) is an urban and metropolitan rail network that supplements Barcelona's wider metro network. There are three urban lines: L6, L7, and L8. Learn more on routes and fares here.
Travel Between the Airports, City Center, and Cruise Terminal
Travel between Barcelona International Airport (BCN) and Barcelona Cruise Port (Around 15.3 km/~15 minutes):
- BCN is the second largest airport in all of Spain (just behind Madrid-Barajas International Airport). It services a wide range of airlines to destinations all around the world.
- Cruise line transfer - Most cruise lines operate a transfer service between the airport and the cruise terminal. Consult your travel agent or the cruise line for pricing and booking.
- Private car transfer - Several companies operate a private transfer for a flat fee which will take you directly between the cruise port and airport or local hotel and should be arranged before arrival.
- Taxi - Taxis between the cruise terminal and airport run at a flat fare of approximately 39€.
- Aerobus - The Aerobus departs every five minutes from BCN Airport to Plaça Catalunya. From there, travelers can take the subway to Drassanes, cross the Paseo de Colón and take the Cruise Bus to their terminal.
- Metro - There is a Metro stop in both terminals of the Barcelona Airport. You can take line 9 to Collblanc, change to line 5 (Vall D'Hebron direction), get off at Sants Estació and take line 3 to Drassanes (Trinitat Nova direction). And then to the Cruise Bus.
- Train - The train is taken from the Airport to Sants Estació, line 3 to Drassanes (Trinitat Nova direction), and then take the Cruise Bus.
- Learn more on transport to/from Barcelona Cruise Port and BCN Airport here.
Travel between Reus Airport (REU) and Barcelona Cruise Port (Around 101.7 km/~Over 1 hour):
- Reus Airport is an international airport that services the beach resort areas of Spain.
- There are several shuttle services that you can pre-arrange travel from between REU and Barcelona Cruise Port in advance. These will allow you to travel at a flat rate and accommodate all passengers in your party.
- A taxi from REU to Barcelona city center will run you around 170-200 Euros.
- The trip between the Barcelona Sants Train Station and Reus Train Station will take around 1.5 hours between each destination. You will need to take a taxi/rideshare or public transit from the Barcelona Train Station to the Cruise Port. Learn more about train travel and Reus Airport here.
Travel between Girona Costa-Brava Airport (GRO) and Barcelona Cruise Port (Around 98.4 km/~1 hour):
- GRO Airport is an international airport that services several airlines to destinations around Europe
- A taxi from GRO to Barcelona city center will take about 1 hour, with an approximate cost of 180 Euros.
- There is a direct bus which runs from GRO to Barcelona city center. It is run by Sagales and is known as the ‘Barcelona Bus.’ Explore details on this option here.
Travel between Barcelona City Center and Barcelona Cruise Port:
- The Barcelona Cruise Port is approximately 15 minutes by bus to La Rambla.
- Cruise terminals are within walking distance of the historical center.
Area Hotels
Near the Port
- Eurostars Grand Marina
- Hotel 54 Barceloneta
- W Barcelona
- Ikonik Rambla
Near the Airports
- Hotel Barcelona Aeropuerto - BCN
- Ciutat del Prat Barcelona Airport - BCN
- Hotel Mas Lo Bella - REU
- Hotel Eden Park - GRO
Things to Do: Excursions in Barcelona
You can easily fill several days pre- or post-cruise with all the exciting sites and cultural attractions which Barcelona is home to. Here are some of our top picks of excursions to check out when getting ready for your trip:
Sagrada Familia and Park Guell Tour
See All Excursions from Shore Excursions Group
Camp Nou and FC Barcelona Museum
See All Excursions from Get Your Guide
Member Reviews
We arrived in Barcelona a few days earlier to see the city so we had more time to explore it. Such an interesting place! The Gothic Quarter is a neighborhood you must visit. Picasso's Museum is close to it. The waterfront is beautiful. You will get this amazing panoramic view of the city from the Catalonia National Art Museum next to Plaça de Espanya. - Freeport
We stayed a few nights in Barcelona before getting onboard. Well worth it. Must sees are La Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, and Casa Mila. Many more things are possible and the people watching is fantastic. - JeannieM
We had a couple of days here before our cruise. The Gaudi stuff was amazing, especially the Sagrada. Make sure to hit this when you're in Barcelona. - sfurr0
Best of both worlds - city and beach. Lots to see and do. Very easy to get around on foot/Metro. Did the cable car ride across the city which afforded spectacular views. - millzdinns
Omg, what can I not brag about? This is one totally awesome city with so many things to see! Taken quite a few items off my bucket list here. I totally want to come back. Spent five nights after the cruise and recommend this as there is just so much that is a must-see! - Star2b1
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