Barcelona Hop-On Hop-Off Buses

If you're looking for an easy way to explore Barcelona, look no further: tourist buses are comfortable, fast and allow you to see the city's main attractions. They're a great option for visiting Barcelona in a short amount of time. Here are the best ones.

If you're looking for an easy and scenic way to tour Barcelona, the Barcelona Bus Turístic is a highly recommended option. With this double-decker open-top tourist bus, you can hop on and off as many times as you like at more than 40 stops, distributed throughout the most iconic areas of the city.

It includes an audio guide in several languages, an interactive map via a free app, and discounts on multiple attractions. You can choose between a 1-day or 2-day ticket depending on how long you're going to be in the city.

Available routes

With a single ticket, you can access three different routes to explore every corner of Barcelona:

• Red Route: runs from Plaça de Catalunya to Ciutadella Park via Passeig de Gràcia, Avinguda Diagonal, Sants station, Montjuïc and Port Vell.
• Blue Route: runs from Plaça de Catalunya to the FC Barcelona stadium and includes stops such as the Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Gràcia, Tibidabo and Pedralbes.
• Green Route: (only available in summer) runs along the coast and connects the main points of Barcelona's beaches, from the Olympic Port to Poblenou.

How it works

The ticket is activated upon first use and is valid for 24 or 48 hours, depending on the option chosen. You can freely combine the available routes and hop on and off as many times as you like at any of the stops. The tour includes an audio guide with commentary on the highlights and a physical or digital map to help you plan your itinerary.

Timetable

The service operates every day of the week between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., with buses running every 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the season. All you need to do is show your digital ticket when you board at any of the stops to start your tour.

Explore Barcelona in comfort with the City Tour tourist bus, a hop-on hop-off service that allows you to get on and off as you please for 24 or 48 hours, depending on the option you choose. On board a red double-decker bus with an audio guide included, you'll visit the city's main attractions with total flexibility and without having to plan your own itinerary.

In addition to visiting the city from land, you can also add a catamaran trip to your booking to enjoy views of the Barcelona coastline from the sea. Includes a discount booklet and guide with all the stops.

Available routes

Barcelona is divided into two main routes, with more than 40 stops combined. You can do both interchangeably with your ticket while it is valid:

• Red route: takes in places such as Plaça de Catalunya, Casa Batlló, Passeig de Gràcia, Poble Espanyol, Montjuïc, Anella Olímpica, World Trade Centre, Gothic Quarter, Olympic Port and the Maritime Museum.
• Blue route: passes through places such as the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Tibidabo, Casa Milà (La Pedrera), Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site, Camp Nou, and the Monastery of Pedralbes.
• Green route (available from 12 April to 3 November): connects coastal areas such as Barceloneta, Bogatell Beach and Diagonal Mar with points of interest such as the Poblenou Cemetery and the Parc del Fòrum.

How it works

You will receive your ticket by email and can show it on your mobile phone when boarding the bus. Your pass will then be activated (24 or 48 hours). During this period, you can take any of the routes and hop on and off as many times as you like. You will also receive a brochure with discounts at more than 200 establishments.

Timetables

The red and blue routes operate every day of the year, except 1 January and 25 December, from 9:00 to 20:00. Buses run every 20 minutes and the complete route takes approximately 2 hours. The green route only operates in high season, from 9:00 to 19:00, and takes around 40 minutes.

The perfect combination if you love football, and an essential experience if you're a Barça fan. With this Barcelona tour on a tourist bus and the Spotify Camp Nou Experience, you can visit Barcelona easily and comfortably from the bus, passing through the main areas of the city, and at the end you can access Spotify Camp Nou and tour the areas that are normally only accessible to players, such as the changing rooms and the pitch.

Available routes

• East route (green): travels along the coast of Barcelona from Plaça Catalunya to the Fòrum, passing by iconic sites such as the Cathedral, the Gothic Quarter, Port Vell, Barceloneta, Sagrada Familia, Park Güell and Tibidabo.
• West route (orange): connects the city centre with the upper part of the city and includes stops at the Arc de Triomf, El Born, Montjuïc, the MNAC, Poble Espanyol, Plaça d'Espanya, Estació de Sants and Spotify Camp Nou.

How it works

Book your one- or two-day ticket for this bus tour and you will receive a confirmation email, which you must show to the driver either in print or on your mobile phone. The ticket includes the bus itinerary and admission to Spotify Camp Nou.

Spotify Camp Nou opening days and hours

Barcelona Spotify Camp Nou Stadium Tours This is something you need to check well in advance, as it is closed on a number of days throughout the year due to matches. The official opening hours are as follows:

If your cruise ship is stopping in Barcelona and you're looking for a quick way to see the city in a day, the best option is undoubtedly to take a Hop On Hop Off bus tour from the cruise ship. You can board the bus at Barcelona's Olympic Port, 15 minutes from the cruise ship terminal, and enjoy two areas of the city on two routes with different itineraries:

Available routes

• East Route (green): connects the city centre with the coast and the north of Barcelona, passing key points such as the Cathedral, Port Vell, Barceloneta, Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Tibidabo and Passeig de Gràcia.
• West Route (orange): crosses the heart of the city towards Montjuïc and the upper area, with notable stops at the Arc de Triomf, the World Trade Centre, the MNAC, Spotify Camp Nou, Pedralbes and again Passeig de Gràcia.

How it works

As with the previous tour, you can choose a one- or two-day ticket that gives you access to both routes. Once you have booked your ticket, you will receive confirmation by email. Simply follow the instructions and show it to the bus driver when you board.

The ticket includes headphones so you can enjoy an audio guide while on either route, a map of Barcelona, and a discount voucher for shops and restaurants in the city.

Timetables

Both the east route (orange) and the west route (green) take about two hours each, and buses run every 7-15 minutes depending on the time of year.

Alex's Traveller Tip

Use the tourist bus to get around Barcelona and combine the bus tour with a walking tour on your own, that way you'll get the most out of your ticket.

This tour is very similar to the previous one, with the difference that instead of including tickets to Spotify Camp Nou to tour the stadium and the FC Barcelona Museum, it includes the bus tour and admission to the Barcelona Aquarium.

You can enjoy two unique tours on board the bus and then visit the aquarium, dedicated to Mediterranean marine life with 14 different habitats. In addition, you can also see species from tropical waters and some animals from around the world.

As with the previous tour, you can choose between two routes to see Barcelona or combine them for the complete experience:

Available routes

• East route (green): covers the centre, coast and north of the city with stops at the Cathedral, the Gothic Quarter, Port Vell, Barceloneta, Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Tibidabo, La Pedrera, Casa Batlló and Spotify Camp Nou.
• West route (orange): connects key areas such as the Arc de Triomf, El Born, Montjuïc, the MNAC, Poble Espanyol, Sants Station, Pedralbes, Avenida Diagonal, La Pedrera, Casa Batlló and also Spotify Camp Nou.

How it works

Much like other bus tours: once you have made your booking, you will receive confirmation and all the necessary instructions by email. Simply show this to the bus driver and at the entrance to the aquarium to enjoy the experience.

Barcelona Aquarium opening hours

The Barcelona Aquarium is open every day of the week at 10:00. It closes at 19:30 from Monday to Friday and at 20:00 on weekends, with extended hours during some holidays such as Easter.

As one of Barcelona's must-see attractions, many travellers often take a guided tour of the Sagrada Familia. If you're thinking of doing so, I'll tell you everything you need to know in my guide at Barcelona Sagrada Familia Tickets and Tours.

Park Güell is another of those visits that you will always remember, so it is a good idea to take a tour of this iconic park. I recommend that you read my guide on Park Güell in Barcelona Tickets and Tours where you will find all the tips and tricks to make the most of your visit.

Finally, there are a number of museums in Barcelona that may interest you, especially if you want to see Picasso's early work or immerse yourself in the artistic world of Catalan painters such as Tàpies or Miró. You can consult my guide to The 10 Best Museums in Barcelona to get your tickets and guided tours at the best price.