Planning your course in Barcelona
Where to stay before your course location is confirmed, how to get from the airport to class, and which transport ticket is worth buying for a five-day week.
Where classes run
Courses run in two parts of the city: Gràcia, around the office, and Barceloneta by the sea. We confirm which one when you sign up.
Gràcia
Around the office at Carrer del Pare Lainez 19, 08025 Barcelona, five minutes on foot from the Sagrada Família.
- Sagrada FamíliaL2, L5 · about 5 minutes' walk
- VerdaguerL4, L5 · about 10 minutes' walk
Barceloneta
By the sea, a few kilometres from the office. The neighbourhood is served by Barceloneta on L4 — the same line that runs back up to Verdaguer.
Where to stay
If you can, wait until your course location is confirmed before booking accommodation you cannot cancel. If you have to book before then, staying near L4 gives you a direct line to both areas — it runs from the Sagrada Família area down to Barceloneta.
| Area | To Gràcia | To Barceloneta |
|---|---|---|
| Sagrada Família and aroundNext to the office and the Gràcia course rooms. Quieter in the evening than the centre. | Walk, 5–15 minutes | L4 from Verdaguer, about 15 minutes |
| Eixample Dreta, towards Passeig de GràciaThe safest choice if your course location isn't confirmed yet: L4 runs from here to both areas, and the airport train stops at Passeig de Gràcia. | L4 or L5, 5–10 minutes | L4 direct, about 10 minutes |
| Gràcia proper, above DiagonalA neighbourhood rather than a tourist quarter, with squares and restaurants. Further from the sea. | L4, or a 20-minute walk | Two lines, about 25 minutes |
| Born, Barceloneta and the Old TownBest if your week runs by the sea. Busy and more expensive in season. | L4 from Barceloneta or Jaume I, about 15 minutes | Walk |
From the airport
Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat (BCN) is 16 km south of the city, with terminals T1 and T2. Which route suits you depends on where you're staying.
| Option | Time | Fare | How it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| R2 Nord trainPasseig de Gràcia, then one metro line to either area | 20–25 min to Passeig de Gràcia | One journey on an integrated ticketA T-casual journey covers it, which the airport metro does not. | Runs from Terminal 2 about every 30 minutes and stops at Barcelona-Sants and Barcelona-Passeig de Gràcia. From Terminal 1, take the free shuttle bus to Terminal 2 first. |
| Metro L9 SudThe Sagrada Família area, changing at Collblanc | 45–55 min to Sagrada Família | €5.90The airport ticket. No other single-journey ticket is valid at the airport stations. | Serves both terminals every 7 minutes. It does not reach the city centre directly — it ends at Zona Universitària — but it meets L5 at Collblanc, and L5 runs straight to Verdaguer and Sagrada Família. |
| AerobúsPlaça de Catalunya and the central hotels around it | About 35 min | Set by the operatorA private coach service, not part of the integrated fare system. | A1 from Terminal 1 and A2 from Terminal 2, every 8 to 15 minutes, round the clock. Stops at Plaça d’Espanya, Gran Via–Urgell, Plaça de la Universitat and Plaça de Catalunya. |
| TaxiLate arrivals, heavy luggage, or three or four people sharing | 25–40 min | Around €30–40Metered: €2.80 to start, €1.35/km by day and €1.66/km at night and at weekends, plus a €4.60 airport supplement. Traffic adds to it. | Ranks are outside both terminals. Fares are set by the metropolitan authority, so every licensed taxi charges the same. |
Before you buy a ticket at the airport: The single ticket and the T-casual are not valid at the Aeroport T1 and Aeroport T2 metro stations on L9 Sud. Arrive there with one and you have to buy the €5.90 airport ticket before you can leave the station. The R2 Nord train and the buses are not affected.
Which ticket to buy
If you're making roughly two public-transport trips a day, a T-casual will usually cover the basic commute. If you expect to use transport more often, compare it with Hola Barcelona.
| Ticket | Price | What it covers | Airport metro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single ticket | €2.90 | One journey, with changes, on metro and bus. | No |
| T-casual | €13.00 | 10 journeys in one zone, for one person. Changes within 75 minutes count as one journey. | No |
| Airport ticket | €5.90 | One metro journey to or from the airport stations. | Yes |
| Hola Barcelona Travel Card | From €12.50 | Unlimited travel for 2 to 5 days, airport metro included both ways. | Yes |
Getting to and from the airport
The R2 Nord train is covered by an integrated ticket, so a T-casual journey works. The L9 airport metro is not: there you need the €5.90 airport ticket, or a pass that includes the airport stations.
If you'll be out most evenings
The Hola Barcelona Travel Card is unlimited for two to five days and includes the airport metro both ways.
Lunch and the day around class
Lunch is not included. Both course areas have cafés and restaurants within a few minutes' walk, and a menú del día — a set lunch of two courses — is the usual weekday option.
Language
Signs, announcements and menus are in Catalan and Spanish, often with English as well. Courses are taught in English, except the Spanish programmes, which are taught in Spanish; the Language + ICT week runs in either.
Free afternoons
Two afternoons are the week's cultural activities. The rest are yours.
- An hour or two The Sagrada Família itself, or the Gràcia squares north of the office.
- Half an afternoon The Gothic Quarter and Born, or Parc de la Ciutadella and the beach.
- A full afternoon Montjuïc, Park Güell, or the coast north of the city by train.
Access
The two course areas are different buildings, so step-free access is not the same in both. Tell us what you need when you enquire and we will confirm what the venue for your week can do before you commit to travel.
Elsewhere in Spain
This page is Barcelona only. SpainBcn also runs weeks in Málaga, Mallorca, Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Tarragona.