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1. karina kordalewska Post author

   February 26, 2024 at 8:23 am

   Hello,
   which is best to chose, I am planning to be in Barcelona in few months with my mom for about 5 days.
   We will be using public transportation and want to visit Sagrada Familia with the tower as well as Gaudi park and museum. I would also like to book a day trip to Monserrat and possibly visit some other museum and areas around Barcelona city.
   There are many option available for purchasing a discount card but what would make the most sense for me to buy?
   thank you in advance

   Reply

   • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

     February 27, 2024 at 4:14 pm

     Hi Karina,

     Sounds like a great trip to Barcelona with your mom, and 5 days will give you a lot of time to explore.

     So, so far it sounds like your must-sees are:

     – Sagrada Familia with a tower access
     – Park Guell
     – Gaudí House Museum** (I’m guessing this is the museum you meant? see note below)
     – day trip to Montserrat
     – and you also will want a public transport pass

     **One quick note before I start is that the Gaudí House Museum closed in January 2024 for maintenance and renovations, and it is not clear when it will reopen again to the public. So for right now it is not open and you can’t pre-book tickets. So I would just check before you visit to see if it has reopened or not and you can buy tickets then if it does open.

     So it is hard for me to recommend any pass as the Sagrada Familia and Park Guell are not on many of the city passes. And booking those with a pass normally doesn’t save you any or much money as those attraction don’t discount their tickets much. Without knowing what other museums and attractions you want to visit it is hard to know how much money you would save with most of the passes. So to really know that you’d have to know what else you plan to do in Barcelona that might be covered by the passes.

     But here are some thoughts:

     The city’s Barcelona Card and Articket are probably not a good fit based on what you know you want to do.

     Option #1: This Essentials Pass from Tiquets might be your best bet as it covers Sagrada Familia (you can add the Tower visit option when purchasing the pass), Park Guell, the Hola! BCN travelcard for your public transport (you’d probably want the 120 hour one if there for 5 full days), and it also includes an audioguide. But with the pass you can save 10% off on any additional tickets or tours you book in Barcelona via Tiquets so you could use that to book your Montserrat tour and any other museums in Barcelona you deicde to visit. Once you buy a pass from Tiquets they’ll email you personal discount code you can use. They have tickets to almost all the main attractions, museums, and tours in the city.

     Option #2: So the Barcelona Go City Pass does include a guided tour of Sagrada Familia, guided tour of Park Guell, and offers an included bus transfer to the Montserrat monastery (it drops you off and gives you time to explore independently) for a half day visit. But this does not include a visit to any of the towers of Sagrada Familia so you’d have to pay for that extra. You’d also want to buy the Hola discount card (120 hours for 5 full days) separately for public transport as this pass only includes a 1-day sightseeing bus. This pass is a good idea only if you also plan to visit some of the other included attractions so I’d take a look at what is included.

     Option #3: Another option is to just book all your tickets separately (to Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, and your Montserrat day tour) and get the 120 hour travel card for your public transport.

     Just note that whether you book with a pass or not, you will need to book specific times for both Sagrada Familia and Park Guell, both are very busy attractions and you need to have a timed entry ticket to ensure you get to visit. When you book a pass or ticket, it will then have you select your date and time. So good to think about when you want to visit in advance. If you visit Sagrada Familia + tower and Park Guell in one day (as many do), just be sure to leave plenty of time in between visits so you don’t feel rushed.

     There are a lot of options for visiting Montserrat and we have written a Montserrat travel guide to help with that. Mainly if doing a day trip, you just need to decide how you want to get there and whether you want to join a guided tour or do it on your own.

     Anyway, I hope that helps and isn’t too confusing. But hopefully if helps give you a bit more direction in making a decision. If you have more questions as you continue to research and plan for your trip, just let us know and we’re happy to try to help!

     Best,
     Jessica

     Reply

2. Rick LaPlante Post author

   November 7, 2023 at 6:21 pm

   Hi, Jessica, and thanks for this remarkable resource. We are planning to be in Barcelona for three full days, as part of our 50th anniversary celebration, arriving on the evening of Dec. 14 and leaving the morning of Dec. 18, and staying near Placa de Tetuan. We want to take at least a half-day trip to Montserrat, we would like timed entries for Sagarda Familia, and if possible, Park Guell and the Picasso Museum, and we don’t want to miss Barcelona Cathedral or Mercat de Sant Joseph. Which pass would you recommend? And thanks again!

   Reply

   • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

     November 10, 2023 at 3:58 pm

     Hi Rick,

     So glad that you found our Barcelona passes post helpful! Sorry for the delayed response, we’ve been traveling and also your question is a bit tricky. The answer depends a bit on if you prefer to visit the attractions on your own or would prefer a guided tour. So the Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria (I think you specifically mean this one as there are two with similar names, but this is the famous one on Las Ramblas) is just a market so free to enter and wander around so you can do that any time during opening hours – although a guided walk tour or a food tour can be a really nice way to expereince these and learn more about their history and the foods.

     For the Barcelona Cathedral – that is one that you don’t need to book in advance (just be sure to check public opening hours) and I don’t think it is included on any of the main Barcelona passes or cards.

     I think the Picasso Museum is only covered by the Articket and Barcelona Card at the moment and neither of those cards are really great fits for the rest of what you want to see.

     So I think the three options that might make sense for you are:

     – Go City Barcelona Pass – so the inclusive one would include things like a guided tour of the Sagrada Familia guided tour, Park Güell guided tour, a Picasso walking tour (with included museum entry where you can explore the museum on your own), a bus to Montserrat where you explore on your own (about 5 hours total), and a choice of various walking tours (one includes the Mercat de Sant Joseph and some other markets) that might be of interest. There are of course a bunch of other inclusions but you’d have to decide if you have time or interest for any others. These passes come in various lenths but if you have 3 full days, that is probably the pass that would make the most sense. The only thing this pass would not include from the places you want to visit is the Barcelona Cathedral entry so I’d do that whenever you have the time.
     – Go City Barcelona Explorer Pass – This pass includes the choice of attractions you want to visit from all the ones in the above pass, so you buy it with knowing which attractions you want to visit. So if you for instance wanted to do the Sagrada Familia tour, Park Güell guided tour, and Montserrat bus, then you could choose the 3 attraction passes and they are good for 60 days.
     – Barcelona Essentials Pass – this would include your booked entry into both Sagrada Familia and Park Guell plus a Hola Barcelona transport pass (you can choose the length which determines the price) – this also gives you 10% code to use on any other Barcelona tickets you want (so you could also book the timed entry into the Picasso Museum and half day trip to Montserrat with Tiquets using the 10% off code)

     So what I’d recommend doing is checking out the three above passes and I’d make a list of the costs of all the attractions/tours you’d like to do, and then compare prices. For instance if you qualify for senior discounts at some of the attractions, I would make sure to put the admission cost with that discount. Also some of the above are just the tickets (plus an audioguide) and some include a guided tour, so depends what you prefer. See if any of them are a good fit and have some savings for you.

     If not, then you can book the timed tickets you need individually (either directly on the attraction website or on a website like GetYourGuide or Tiquets). Of those on your list, you definitely want to pre-book your tickets for the Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, and the Picasso Museum as those ones are the busiest on your list and often book out in advance.

     If you choose either of the Go City Passes, just be sure to book your reservations in advance for all the attractions and tours where it is recommended or required to book in advance. I’d do that as soon as you know your schedule.

     I’d also consider what you plan to do each day of your visit since you’ll need to know dates/times for many of these when you book them. I’d also think about how you plan to get to and from attractions that are not within walking distance and calculate times between so you leave plenty of time to get around.

     So a 3 day itinerary for you might look something like this:

     Day 1 – explore the historic Gothic Quarter of Barcelona / Las Ramblas – visit Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria (maybe do a walking tour, market tour, or food tour), visit Barcelona Cathedral & Picasso Museum
     Day 2 – visit Sagrada Familia and Park Guell – afternoon free to visit more places of interest (lots of things you could do such as head over to the Montjuïc area, you can take a cable car up to the top if weather is nice, see the fountain, visit the gardens, and/or visit the art museum (Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya is a really nice museum if you have interest in Catalan art and history)
     Day 3 – do day trip to Montserrat, last evening might be a nice time for a special dinner and/or show

     Hope this helps and wishing you a great time in Barcelona and a wonderful anniversary!

     Best,
     Jessica

     Reply

     • Rick LaPlante Post author

       November 10, 2023 at 8:53 pm

       Jessica (and Laurence), your reply is amazing. Thank you for including so much detail an explaining our options so thoroughly. You’ve been most helpful!

       Blessings,
       rick

       Reply

       • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

         November 12, 2023 at 7:15 am

         Hi Rick,

         You’re very welcome! Sorry, I couldn’t recommend a specific Barcelona pass without exactly knowing your plans and preferences but hopefully that will help you narrow it down for you. Just let me know if you have any more questions as you plan your trip to Barcelona. Happy to help further.

         Best,
         Jessica

         Reply

3. Cathy Post author

   September 25, 2023 at 11:59 am

   I am 65 years old and my husband is 64. We are very healthy and active and plan to see as much as possible in Barcelona. We have two days before a cruise and one day after. Which of the cards have a senior discount to purchase, and how do I get that discount. How many of the major sites/attractions have a senior discount and are those discounts significant ? Would it be better to buy things separately with a senior discount, or buy the card that doesn’t have a senior discount ?
   Thanks so much for your help!

   Reply

   • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

     September 26, 2023 at 4:48 pm

     Hi Cathy,

     It is great that you will have a couple of days to spend in Barcelona before and after your cruise! It is a great city to explore, and very handy for Med cruises.

     I don’t think there are any special discounts on the passes themselves. A lot of age-related discounts in Europe are specific for EU residents rather than foreign visitors, so be sure to always check to see if you qualify when they do.

     But there are some attractions in Barcelona that do offer senior discounts to those age 65+, so they would apply to you but not your husband. For instance, currently you can save 5 euros at the Sagrada Familia, 3 euros at the Parc Guell, and 3 euros at Casa Battlo if you are age 65 or older. So as you can see some attractions have small discounts. You will need to usually show a photo ID with your birthdate such as a passport to purchase discounted tickets.

     Senior discounts may affect whether a certain Barcelona sightseeing pass is worth it or not for you, but overall it is probably not a huge difference and probably no difference for your husband who is not eligible yet. But of course, it will depend on your specific itinerary, the pass you want to use, and which attractions you plan to visit. So if you know all the places you want to visit you can check which offer senior discounts, then add up the prices and compare to the price of a Barcelona Pass or card. If you are not going to save any money, it obviously would make more sense to book your tickets individually, but if they will save you money, it probably make more sense to use one of the passes. But you will need to make a list of the specific attractions you know you want to visit first before you could answer that question.

     Hope that helps, and let us know if you have further questions as you plan your trip to Barcelona!

     Best,
     Jessica

     Reply

4. SMG Post author

   April 22, 2023 at 9:28 pm

   Hi — visiting with my 12 year old in late June. I was tempted by some of the all-inclusive passes, but sometimes I’m picky and I ended up buying my own Sagrada Familia tickets so we could do the towers and the guided tour. As a result, as those are quite pricey, I think the more expensive passes aren’t going to be worth it. I’m thinking about the 92 hour Barcelona Card (we need three days, but not consecutive, so it would have to be 92), because if my math is right, it’s only about 30 Euros more for one adult and one child pass than the 92 hour transportation pass alone, which doesn’t seem to have a child option. I’m thinking it wouldn’t be too hard to get 30 Euros of value out of it? But maybe it would: I don’t like to leave things to chance or waiting in line, and it seems like the Barcelona Card won’t allow me to book ahead of skip lines. I am worried about Park Guell selling out if I just buy tickets in line (not to mention that I’d have to wait in line). So I wouldn’t be able to use the Park Guell discount. Same for La Pedrera, I guess, but even worse, as I probably would choose a different experience than the one on offer. Am I being too picky and better off just getting the transportation pass? Am I misunderstanding how this works?

   Reply

   • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

     April 24, 2023 at 1:18 am

     Hi SMG,

     So I think since you have already booked your timed entrance directly with the Sagrada Familia and are thinking about doing the same for Parc Guell then a pass may not make much sense for you and your child. Also since you are visiting places only over 3 days but are doing so over non-consecutive days, this will have you pay more for a 4 day pass which you only plan to use for 3 days. But it obviously depends on where all you specifically plan to visit as the Barcelona Card in that it gets you into a lot of museums for free, discounts on many of the city’s top attractions, transport to and from the airport, a city map, and free public transit. So it can also just be super convenient for the travel part even if you just break even on savings. But you might be better off just getting the Hola Barcelona transit pass if you are not really going to be going to many of the included museums/attractions, so I would do the specific math on the places you plan to visit to see if you think it is worth it for your trip as otherwise you can just get the Hola Barcelona transit pass.

     So yes, if you are planning to visit at a busy time in Barcelona then booking your timed entrances directly can definitely save you time, especially if you want a specific experience not included with general entrance (e.g., guided tour, visit a paid temporary exhibition). But in temrs of booking in advance, I would say this really only applies to the top Gaudi sites and also for tours. Other things like most of the city museums, zoo, etc. don’t usually require reservations and don’t typically have long lines and pass holders (depends on the specific pass and attraction) often get to use the same line as ticket holders anyway.

     Anyway, hope that helps!
     Jessica

     Reply

5. Deborah Post author

   April 8, 2023 at 5:01 pm

   Going to Barcelona at the end of April. We like art ,cathedrals and food. Which would be the best pass?

   Reply

   • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

     April 10, 2023 at 1:08 pm

     Hi Deborah,

     That is a hard question to answer without more information about which specific museums and sights you want to visit. Any of the 4 passes could be a good fit for you based on art and cathedrals. Do any of the ones listed seem like a good fit based on the descriptions and inclusions?

     I would generally recommend the GoCity Pass if you are planning to visit a number of the most popular attractions in Barcelona and are interested in a variety of things. So I would maybe start with taking a look at that one. They have both an inclusive pass and an Explorer version of the pass.

     I would recommend make a list of your must-visit sites and compare the inclusions and prices against the main Barcelona Passes. Each city pass is a different and the “best pass” will obviously differ based on your specific itinerary. Happy to provide more specific advice if you have a list of the specific places you want to visit.

     Also note that Barcelona is a busy city and some of the most popular attractions and tours, whether you have a pass or not, will need you to make reservations or book a time slot. It is free to do so if you have a pass, but you still need to show a reserved time slot to guarantee a visit at some places.

     Hope that helps and just let us know if you have any questions as you plan your trip to Barcelona!

     Best,
     Jessica

     Reply

6. Sara Post author

   April 6, 2023 at 11:34 am

   Great information! All of your Barcelona posts have been very helpful in starting to plan our trip here this summer. Xx Sara

   Reply

   • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

     April 8, 2023 at 12:36 pm

     Hi Sara,

     So glad that our Barcelona articles have been helpful in planning your trip this summer. We have been many times so just ask if you have any questions. I would recommend booking things well in advance for anything that recommends or requires reservations as we are seeing popular attractions and tours book out well in advance across Europe for this Spring and Summer. It is going to be a very busy travel summer in Western Europe this year.

     Best,
     Jessica

     Reply

7. Delia Post author

   August 9, 2022 at 9:23 am

   Hi Jessica and thank you for the comprehensive article on Barcelona discount cards/ passes.
   I’m visiting Barcelona in September and we wanted to see as much as possible, so went for Go City. It seemed too good to be true and it proved to be so. In theory it’s great and it saves you a lot of money. In reality the customer service is lousy – and this is only the stage when I’m doing bookings and getting informed. What if I were there already and encountered real issues when visiting the attractions and seeing they won’t accept my pass or won’t let me get on the Bus Turistic without a paper ticket (as per most of the reviews on Trip Advisor). If I end up paying the full price at the attraction – on top of having paid for the Go City pass would completely ruin my holiday.
   I’ve cancelled the Go City and will probably go for the classic Barcelona card instead.

   Reply

   • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

     August 11, 2022 at 6:23 am

     Hi Delia,

     Glad you have found our guide to Barcelona passes and discount cards helpful!

     So I think I understand you to stay that you booked the Go City Barcelona Pass but decided to cancel it before you actually used it because you experienced an issue with the customer service? Would love to hear more about that.

     We have not had issues with the Barcelona Pass when we have used it in the past and have always gotten a response from customer service. But I know individual attractions have been having issues this summer due COVID, staffing issues, being closed for so long, and the crowds. I think this is mainly affecting guided tours and smaller places that require reservations so those are the least likely to have good availability (especially in high season).

     For the sightseeing bus, we didn’t have any issues with using the Pass and they have been accepting this pass for a very long time. Normally you just show the pass, they scan it the first time and give you a paper day ticket and earphones for the day of use. Then you just show your ticket each time you board again.

     But if you have a specific question, we are happy to try to answer it, whether about the Barcelona Pass specifically or visiting one of the attractions in Barcelona.

     The Barcelona Card is a good discount card, it doesn’t give you all the free entry of the Barcelona Pass, but people usually save money as long as they visit enough of the included attractions. It is the card supported by the tourist board.

     Best,
     Jessica

     Reply

8. LAARY SMOLLER Post author

   September 18, 2019 at 10:52 am

   Is there a senior discount rate for the Barcelona City Pass. They are currently quoting $99 per adult for end of September 2019.

   Reply

   • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

     September 18, 2019 at 11:26 am

     Hi Larry,

     No, I don’t think there is a senior discount for the Barcelona City Pass. Most of the Barcelona sightseeing passes have rates for children and adults, but not seniors. But since senior discounts may apply at some of the included attractions, I would check concession rates first and compare to see if the pass will save you money and/or time.

     So for the Barcelona City Pass, you have a choice and need to select the Sagrada Familia option (the basic option, guided tour, tower + audioguide, etc.). The basic option is the least expensive (but the one with the least availability) and the other options are a bit more expensive. Similarly, you will need to choose whether you want to have the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus for 1 day or 2 days which will change the cost, with the 2 day ticket being more expensive. The Park Guell and airport transfer tickets are the same across the passes.

     The current cost for an adult Barcelona City Pass with the basic Sagrada Familia option (regular timed entrance ticket) and 1 day ticket for the HOHO sightseeing bus is €76.50 (approximately USD $84.47).

     Hope that helps!
     Jessica

     Reply

9. Joe Post author

   September 7, 2019 at 5:22 am

   Thank you for this great article listing out all the features of the various discount cards!

   Some of the cards include “airport transfers.” Specifically, what forms of transportation do the “airport transfers” include (bus, train, taxi, etc.)? Do they provide “free” service or a “discount”? Do they go from the airport to City Center, that is, Placa de Catalunya?

   Thanks for your help,
   Joe

   Reply

   • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

     September 7, 2019 at 5:42 am

     Hi Joe,

     Yes, anything denoted as an airport transfer in Barcelona is likely a bus as it is a bus service, normally the Aerobus, that provides transfers directly to and from the airport to central Barcelona. If it says it is included as part of the pass, that means it is free. If it says there is a discount, then it is discounted.

     Do you have a particular one in mind that you want to know more about?

     Best,
     Jessica

     Reply

10. Ben Post author

    September 6, 2019 at 12:43 pm

    What a great article! It is all so confusing. I still have some questions. We will be visiting Barcelona in May for 7 days and plan to visit some of the main attractions and museums. Since of the 7 days, we will be leaving Barcelona on three days to visit the dali museum in Figueres, Girona and Montserrat, the City pass looked good since it doesn’t have to be used on consecutive days except the hop on hop off portion. One of the posts seemed to indicate however, that with the City pass you don’t have a choice of date and time for Sagrada Familia and Park Guell. Is that true or did I miss read it? Also, do the other cards allow for pre booking such as Casa Batlo and Casa Mila? It looks like the city pass does that but was not clear about the others. Thanks

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      September 6, 2019 at 4:03 pm

      Hi Ben,

      Yes, there is, unfortunately, “no one pass fits all” in Barcelona.

      So for the Barcelona City Pass, you do have a choice of date and time for Sagrada Familia and Park Guell. However, both are subject to availability and there is less availability for the basic tour (they currently are only selling these for the afternoon/evening times at last check) and more for the audioguide, tower, and guided tour options which are available all day. Currently, before you buy the Barcelona City Pass, you choose date of arrival (for airport transfer if needed), you select the date you want to visit Sagrada Familia and it will list the available tour types for that date. Then after you purchase, you will choose a specific time for Sagrada Familia and can request what date and time you want to visit Park Guell.

      If you are booking for May, there should be plenty of availability. But if you were not able to find dates and times that worked for either ticket, you can then cancel and request a refund.

      No, as far as I am aware, none of the major Barcelona passes allow you to pre-book Casa Batllo or Casa Mila. If you purchase the Barcelona City Pass through Ticketbar, after your purchase you can then add on additional tickets and tours with a 20% discount on the listed price. I believe this includes skip-the-line tickets with timeslots to Casa Batllo or Casa Mila.

      Another idea, based on the attractions you mentioned, is to take a 1 day Gaudí-focused walking tour that includes your timed entry into the 3 of Gaudi’s most famous works with a guide plus see a few others from the outside. That would take care of the Gaudi sights and then you could use a Barcelona Card (5 day?) or possibly a Barcelona Pass depending on what you want to see for the rest of the days you have in Barcelona.

      The recommended walking tour mentioned is this 5.5 hour guided walking tour. It is a guide-led English-language walking tour that includes visits to Casa Batlló, Sagrada Família (including a tower visit), and Park Güell as well as visits to see the exteriors of Casa Milà, Casa Vicens, and other Modernisme buildings. The same company, which we have used several times in other cities, also has day tours to Girona, Figueres and Montserrat. So just another option to consider.

      Best,
      Jessica

      Reply

11. Marina Dodzina Post author

    August 18, 2019 at 6:25 am

    Hi Jessica,
    I’ve found the information I needed. And your post was of much help, thanks a lot.
    Marina

    Reply

12. Marina Dodzina Post author

    August 18, 2019 at 3:29 am

    Hi, Jessica,
    Thank you for full and very detailed coverage of all opportunities. But I have a question: my husbund and my son are coming to Barcelona fot 5 days this week. My son is 16 so in some places he is considered a child. My husband is a certified guide and has free entrence in some or many places. So if I buy a pass of any kind for my son, can my husbund come with him? How can he come to Sagrada Familia with its planned visits if he doesn’t have a ticket? Can he buy some kind of pass or ticket for public transportation only? I am really at a loss and would appreciate if you could help me. Thank you, Marina

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      August 18, 2019 at 4:27 am

      Hi Marina,

      Yes, since your son is 16, at many places he is considered a child/youth and at others an adult so I would calculate the entrance fees for the places you want to visit to see if it makes sense to buy a pass or not for him. It may make more sense to book individual tickets.

      We are not tour guides so are not sure how this would work for a guide. For Barcelona, I believe that official tour guides need to have a valid tour guide license and a yellow badge issued by the Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan Government). If he does not have these things, I don’t think he would be able to enter as a guide or provide explanations inside many of the major attractions. If he does have these credentials, he should check the rules for each attraction about entry for guides. But since he is not working as a tour guide during this trip, it might just make sense to purchase tickets or a pass to avoid potential problems, but he would know best about how this works as a tour guide.

      Yes, you can just purchase a transportation pass for Barcelona, for example, you can take a look at the Hola BCN pass. It is available from 2 to 5 days.

      If they plan to visit Sagrada Familia or Park Guell, I would reserve those tickets now as they are likely to sell out in advance during the summer months.

      Hope that helps!
      Jessica

      Reply

13. Svetlana Post author

    August 12, 2019 at 11:35 am

    Hi Jessica & Laurence,
    Thank you for such an extensive explanation on each pass details and compering chart, but for people like me it is not enough 🙂
    We are visiting Barcelona in September for 7 nights, staying in Gothic Quarter, with NO car renting and planed the following: from /to airport (BCN) transit, use public transportation during out stay, visit Casa Mila, Casa Punxe, Casa Batllo, Sagrada Familia and park Guell, take a trip to Girona (Figueres and Dali), trip to Montserrat and take a day trip by train to one maybe two of the beaches , please recommend one from Tarragona, Sant Pol de Mar, Besalu?? Picasso museum is on the list as well. Please advise which pass is more suitable for out plan and Girona and Montserrat trips should we book full or halve day trips.
    Thank you in advance,
    Svetlana

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      August 13, 2019 at 7:17 am

      Hi Svetlana,

      Given what you want to see and so, I would recommend maybe 4 full days in Barcelona and then 2 to 3 doing day tours.

      For the attractions in Barcelona, as you can probably see, they don’t align up with any single pass. So I would make a list and do the calculations see if you would have any savings (money and/or time) with any of the passes. I would take a look at the Barcelona City Pass (as you can add on additional attractions at 20% off so could save you money). If you decide to see more in the city, the Barcelona Pass may make sense but it depends on if you plan to visit additional museums and attractions or not, and you’d have to purchase tickets for some of the attractions (Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, and Picasso Museum) separately.

      Some of the passses include some public transit, but not enough for your full trip of 7 nights in Barcelona. So you will probably need to add on this travel card which is valid for up to 120 hours (5 days). The cards can be used for the airport, but if you want to save the cards and not use them for your airport journeys, you can book the more direct shuttle bus tickets.

      If you are looking for an English speaking day tour (they don’t offer them in any other language), we can recommend this full day tour from Barcelona which includes a visit to the Dali Museum in Figures, Girona, and Besalu. It includes three places you want to see in one day which would not really be possible without a tour.

      The same company, Take Walks, also does a day trip to Montserrat that also includes cava tasting which you can see here. But there are lot of half day and full day tour options (or just transfers) to Montserrat, and you can see explore more options here. Montserrat is also possible to visit on your own, you need to book a train and then take a cable car or funicular up the mountain.

      If you are looking for beaches, you can actually stay in Barcelona as it has a large sandy beach area. But if you are looking for beaches elsewhere, I’d recommend Costa Brava, such as the villages of Tossa de Mar, Lloret de Mar, or Palamos as all have large pretty sandy beaches and coves, and are not too far from Barcelona. In addition to beaches, each town offers enough for a day of exploring (historical attractions, museums, town walks, restaurants, etc). But you can do it as a half day or full day trip.

      It is not easy (or possible) to get to most of the Costa Brave towns by train, but you can easily take a public bus from Barcelona to any of these towns, you can check public bus options here. A number of tours also head to the Costa Brava and its beaches, and you can see options here.

      Hope that helps, and feel free to ask additional questions once you get further into your trip planning!

      Best,
      Jessica

      Reply

14. Clara Post author

    August 2, 2019 at 5:14 am

    Hi Jessica,
    We are planning to visit Casa Batllo, La Pedrera, Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Tibidabo, Montjuic, Fontana Magica, Palau de la musica catalana, Picasso museum, Ciutadella Park in Barcelona and Sitges and Montserrat as well. Please note that for Sitges and Montserrat, we do not want to take a planned day trip. We will go by bus and spend there like 2 to 3 hours.
    We will have to use public transportation from and to the airport, and we will use public transportation (and walk as well).
    We will be staying for 4 nights 5 days.
    We are two persons.
    Which card is the best for us to buy?
    Many thanks in advance.
    Clara

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      August 2, 2019 at 5:56 am

      Hi Clara,

      None of the cards match perfectly onto the places you want to visit. I would recommend taking a closer look at either the 5 day Barcelona Card (includes your airport transport, free public transit, Picasso museum entry, and several discounts) or the Barcelona City Pass (includes airport transfers, Park Guell, Sagrada Familia, and you can get 20% discount on most of the rest of the paid attractions on your list by adding them after you have the card). Note several of the places you list are free to visit (fountain, park) or are outside of Barcelona (Sitges, Montserrat) and not included on any of these passes.

      I would investigate your transport options for Montserrat. I am not sure public bus is the most efficient way to get to Montserrat, you will probably want to take the train from Barcelona (about 1 hour) and then will need to take the rack railway or cable car to get up the mountain. Or you can join a tour bus from Barcelona that goes there directly. You’ll want to plan at least a half a day, or you can certainly spend all day if you plan to do some hiking and explore the museums.

      Best,
      Jessica

      Reply

15. Ariel Cabawatan Post author

    July 17, 2019 at 9:21 pm

    Hi Jessica
    Greetings!
    We are visiting barcelona in mid September for 4days and my wife wanted to visit the following:
    1. Barcelona Cathedral
    2. Plaza Del Rei
    3. History Museum of Barcelona
    4. Museo Picasso
    5. Santa Maria Del mar
    6. Mont Juic
    7. Plaza d espania
    8. Casa Vicens
    9. Mont Serret
    10. La Sagrada
    Appreciate your advice on which card / pass is appropriate for us to get.
    We are not going to drive and rely on public transport. Will you suggest for us to get HOLA BCN card (96hrs)?
    Thank you
    Ariel
    Singapore

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      July 18, 2019 at 9:52 am

      Hi Ariel,

      Your list doesn’t match perfectly onto any specific pass, but if you have 4 days in Barcelona and those places listed are your main sightseeing priorities, I’d probably recommend getting the 4 day (96 hour) Barcelona Card as it includes free airport transport as well as free public transport around Barcelona. It also includes free entry to the Picasso Museum and discounts on many other museums, including Casa Vicens, Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar, History Museum, and the Telefèric de Montjuïc (funicular to reach Montjuic). You can save 10% by purchasing it online here.

      If you purchase the Barcelona Card, you won’t need to purchase a separate HOLA BCN Card as transport is already covered.

      For Sagrada Familia, I would recommend booking your tickets directly from the official website. You’ll book a specific time slot for this and you’ll want to do this in advance as these tickets regularly sell out during busy times of the year.

      Note some of the places you listed are just plazas so are free to visit and there is no entry fee.

      Montserrat (assuming you mean the hilltop monastery) is not in Barcelona and transport is not covered by the Barcelona Card or HOLA BCN card. So you will need to purchase separate train tickets to reach Montserrat and then get tickets there to take the cog-wheel train (or hike) up the mountain or you can just book a bus tour that leaves from Barcelona that includes your entry and transport into the monastery. You can check out Montserrat tour options here.

      Hope that helps!
      Jessica

      Reply

      • Ariel Post author

        July 18, 2019 at 8:04 pm

        Noted and a big thank you for your wonderful advice.

        Reply

16. Sherri Webber Post author

    July 8, 2019 at 2:17 pm

    I am heading to Barcelona in a couple of weeks and am looking for advice as to the most economical pass to buy to cover the following please (it’s all very confusing!)
    A) Travel from the airport
    B) Travel around the City
    C) The Miro
    D) Botanical Garden
    E) Poble
    F) Cable Car to Montjuic
    G) MACBA
    H) MNAC
    I) Erotica Museum
    J) Museum of Marijuana & Hemp

    Many thanks in advance

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      July 11, 2019 at 2:04 pm

      Hi Sherri, There is not a perfect pass for you but I would probably recommend the Barcelona Card. I think that one will cover many of the places you want to visit (either free entry or discounted entry) and includes unlimited public transportation within Barcelona as well as airport travel options for the duration of the pass. Hope that helps, Jessica

      Reply

17. Dan Post author

    June 20, 2019 at 12:18 pm

    Greetings!

    Two of us plan to arrive in Barcelona on August 17 (Saturday) and leave Tuesday (8-20) in the early afternoon.

    We would like to see as much of the city as possible. Do you recommend we purchase a 2-day Hop on- hop off bus, or a pass for all public transportation?

    As far as the sites, the Picasso museum and Miro Foundation are a must. I am a little apprehensive of the Sagrada Familia with its mob like scene. What do you think?

    Many thanks.

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      June 21, 2019 at 6:06 am

      Hi Dan,

      The Hop on Hop Off buses are great for sightseeing and getting a good overview, but they are not best for getting from place to place quickly and directly unless the attractions you plan to visit are on the route. So I would check. Also remember the route for the sightseeing buses is one way so you will want to take that into account when planning your visits. Otherwise, you would probably be better off with a pass that covers your public transit. Some passes include both.

      It really depends on how much you want to see the inside of the Sagrada Familia, it is definitely the most impressive of all of Gaudi’s works and really amazing inside. If you go, you will need to purchase your ticket in advance as they will likely sell out for most dates in August. If you go, I’d recommend trying to get a ticket for a morning visit at or near opening to avoid crowds. You can also of course just see the Sagrada Familia from the outside for free as it is very impressive from the exterior as well.

      Best,
      Jessica

      Reply

18. Damaris Gonzalez Post author

    June 20, 2019 at 6:07 am

    Wow, what an informational post! I was wondering you recommendation for my family? We are traveling to Barcelona, but breaking up our time in Barcelona. When we arrive we will be spending 2 days in the city seeing Park Guell, Sagrada familia and then returning 4 days later to see some more of the city for another 2 days. It appears that many of the deals are for consecutive days, but I want to be able to take advantage of either hop on hop off or public transport. at both the beginning and end of my trip.

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      June 21, 2019 at 5:53 am

      Hi Damaris, yes, most of the Barcelona passes work on a consecutive day basis and you pay more for longer passes. Since you are coming and leaving, I’d consider getting different passes for the first and second parts of your time in Barcelona. Or just do a pass on one of the 2 day segments, depending on what attractions you plan to visit. Hope that helps, Jessica

      Reply

19. Jayant Post author

    May 31, 2019 at 8:46 am

    First of all, I would like to thank you for your post which gives lot of useful information. I am planning to visit Barcelona between 10-13 June 2019. I plan to visit various sites on 11 and 12. If I buy 2 day Barcelona city pass online, can I use it for airport bus for 10 and 13th June, hop-on bus and all visits to different sites on 11 and 12. Thanks

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      May 31, 2019 at 8:57 am

      Hi Jayant,

      For the Barcelona City Pass, it does not have any specific time limit. The part that is time limited is the hop-on, hop-off bus ticket, so you can purchase a pass with either a 1 day or 2 day ticket for the sightseeing bus. The other components of the pass you can schedule/use as you wish during your visit.

      When you book, you will be able to put in your arrival date at the city and specify which airport you are flying to and from for the airport transfers. So you can indeed use them on the 10th and 13th as needed.

      Just note that if you would like to use this pass, I’d book it now as the timeslots for Sagrada Familia and Park Guell fill up in advance in the summer months as these are two of the busiest attractions in Barcelona. So the earlier you book, the more likely you will get timeslots for both of these attractions during your visit.

      Hope that helps!

      Best,
      Jessica

      Reply

20. Arelis Post author

    May 6, 2019 at 9:39 am

    I want to get the 24 hr Barcelona city card, but wondering if I should.
    I arrive at 10:00am and leave on a cruise the next day at 6:00pm. So I have about 30 hours in the city. Would the 24 hr card run from the time activated + 24 hrs even if it goes into another day?
    Would the card be good to head back to the airport 7 days later?
    Thanks

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      May 6, 2019 at 10:06 am

      Hi Arelis,

      Are you referring to the Barcelona City Pass? If so, the Barcelona City Pass is good until you use all the parts of it, so yes it would stretch out the full time of your stop before the cruise in Barcelona. The only part that is time limited is the use of the hop-on hop-off bus which is either a 24 hour or 48 hours pass and it lasts for either 24 or 48 consecutive hours once activated.

      Yes, you can use the airport transfers whenever you need them, it is a two way ticket so you can use it to get to and from the airport.

      I think it you want to visit both the Park Guell and Sagrada Familia and use the airport transfers, that is probably a good card for such a short visit. You can also add any additional attractions or a transport card for 20% off. Most of the rest of the discounts cards in Barcelona are designed for people staying 2 to 5 days in the city.

      Hope that helps!

      Best,
      Jessica

      Reply

21. melissa pinero Post author

    April 11, 2019 at 8:26 am

    hi,
    I’m going to be in Barcelona for 16 days in June and I want to see everything! esp art.
    what would be the best pas for me
    thx
    melissa

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      April 11, 2019 at 9:12 am

      Hi Melissa,

      If your main focus is art, then I’d definitely recommend the ArtTicket which allows you to visit 6 of the city’s top art museums and will save you around 45% on admission costs. It is valid for 12 months.

      Since you are in Barcelona for so long, I’d consider getting a couple of different passes and using them at different times during your visit. I’d also consider the Barcelona Pass and use that for 3 of your days to see all the attractions on it you want to visit as it will save you money if you are interested in most of those sites.

      Then for another part of your visit you might consider the Barcelona Card as it gives you free or discounted entry into many of the city’s museums and attractions if there are more that you want to visit that are not included on the other 2 passes. It also gives you free public transit during its duration.

      Hope that helps!
      Jessica

      Reply

22. Jamie Post author

    April 7, 2019 at 6:16 pm

    Hello Jessica, thank you for a very detailed information. Although it should be pretty clear I’m kind of a bit confused.
    Traveling with my family (4 of us). We arrive on June 17th and we’ll leave on the 21st very early.
    The most important thing is to visit the Sagrada, Parc Guell, the 3 Casas… and rest of the time, Al Rambla, and a couple of more attractions. If time permit, we’ll go shopping. We will be staying in Exiample. I don’t want the Hop on Hop off option. Does it make sense to buy the Barcelona card 46€, the combo Sagrada and Guell 35€, and the 3 houses combo pass 59€? If not, what do you suggest? Thank you

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      April 8, 2019 at 7:59 am

      Hi Jamie,

      Given your priorities in Barcelona, yes, I think those 3 passes would work well. The Barcelona Card will give you public transport, some free museums, and discount options around the city depending on what you choose to do. The 3 houses will save you each a little money if you plan to visit all of those houses (note there is a big ongoing construction project at Casa Batlló although it is still open for visits). The Gaudi Bundle doesn’t really save you money but it gives you the audioguides for free (download onto your phone in advance), so you can book those tickets or you can just book the entrance tickets separately.

      Hope that helps!
      Jessica

      Reply

      • Jamie Post author

        April 8, 2019 at 5:21 pm

        Thank you Jessica for your quick response.
        I found another alternative: buy Barcelona City Pass, which includes the Gaudi Bundle and HOHO, add the 3 houses at 20% off + Hola Bcn 72 hours. Is this a better option without spending a lot more? 137€ vs 116€. Can’t decide, need your help.
        Also, since the Batilo is under construction, should we avoid purchasing tickets and see something else instead?
        Thank you
        Jamie

        Reply

        • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

          April 8, 2019 at 5:34 pm

          Hi Jamie,

          If you have calculated it will save you money that way, then I’d go for that as then you can add all the attractions you want to the pass as the reduced rate. I didn’t suggest the Barcelona City Pass since you mentioned not wanting the HOHO tickets. But I’d definitely take advantage of if you get the City Pass.

          I’d recommending buying the Barcelona City Pass at least a week or more in advance, as after purchase you will then need to choose the timeslots for the attractions that need them. In summer, these can book out a few days in advance.

          For Casa Batllo, I would check their website to see the latest updates on construction. I believe the estimates are that they will be finishing the exterior construction in May and the interior in June, so it may be completed or mostly done by your visit. Since you are going to be right next to the building and are interested, it makes sense to still visit as it is very close to La Pedrera (La Mila) which you are planning to visit anyway. But a next door alternative is Casa Amatller which is another impressive Modernisme building.

          Hope that helps!
          Jessica

          Reply

23. Ellen Kaptein Post author

    April 4, 2019 at 6:50 am

    dear Jessica,

    Great site!
    I still have a question, hope you can help me: we (7 pensionadas) are going to visit Barcelona, musea etc, and want to book the Bus Turistic. I saw you get 20% discount with a Barcelona Card. Do you know how it works having a Barcelona Card? We show the card in the bus and get a discount from the full price ( = €30,- minus € 6,- = € 24,-) or from the price for 65+ ( € 25,- minus € 4,- = €21,-)? If we buy the TouristBus ticket on line we pay € 22,50… What is your advice?

    thank you,
    bye, Ellen

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      April 4, 2019 at 7:15 am

      Hi Ellen,

      Yes, the Barcelona Card does give you 20% off the Barcelona Bus Turístic prices. I am not sure if that 20% would come off the full adult price or the discounted senior pricing, and I could not find any information about this on their website. They do note that some attractions have senior discounts but not clear if discounts apply to these rates or not.

      The card is provided by the Barcelona Tourism office, so I would call them (34 932 853 832) or send them an email (reservas@barcelonaturisme.com) to ask about the bus tickets and what they would recommend. I’d also ask them whether the Barcelona Card discounts apply generally to senior rates or not to make sure that the Barcelona Card will be a good value for you or not.

      Sorry we could not be more helpful. If you have any trouble getting a response, let us know and we can send them an email.

      Best,
      Jessica

      Reply

      • Ellen Post author

        April 5, 2019 at 4:39 am

        Thank you, Jessica. I will follow your advice and send a mail to Barcelona Tourist Informacion!
        bye
        ellen

        Reply

24. ALEX AVELINO Post author

    March 15, 2019 at 3:01 pm

    SUCH A GREAT SITE, VERY USEFUL AND DETAILED.

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      March 16, 2019 at 8:24 am

      Hi Alex, Glad you found our Barcelona Pass article helpful! Best, Jessica

      Reply

25. Natalie Post author

    March 9, 2019 at 5:21 am

    Thank you for such a detailed post. I’m hoping to get some advice on which pass to purchase for our family trip, we will be in Barcelona for 2 full days and planning to visit the locations with skip-the-line below:
    1. Casa Batllo
    2. Casa Mila
    3. Sagrada Familia
    4. Park Güell
    5. Camp Nou tour

    What would you recommend?

    Thanks,
    Natalie

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      March 9, 2019 at 6:50 am

      Hi Natalie,

      I think the Barcelona City Pass may give be the best fit for you, it includes the Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, airport transfers, and sightseeing bus ticket. Then you can add on for a 20% discount Casa Batllo, Casa Mila, and the Camp Nou stadium tour.

      A second option would be the Barcelona Pass – this includes the Casa Batllo, Casa Mila, and Camp Nou tour (fast track entry). It also includes sightseeing bus and a number of other free attractions in Barcelona. But then you could purchase the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell tickets separately.

      Just note that not all the above are skip-the-lines tickets so if that is important, be sure to check on that. For Sagrada Familia and Park Güell, there are not really fast track entry, as the visits are timed, so you just skip the ticket buying line by pre-purchasing tickets/passes. But you go in at the same time as anyone else with your time slot.

      Best,
      Jessica

      Reply

26. David Miller Post author

    March 4, 2019 at 3:16 pm

    I am trying to buy 2 Barcelona City Pass cards with skip the line. The procedure wants my personal information first and then my credit card information. But I don’t want to pay first and then find out the times that I want to go to Sagrada Familia and Park Guell are not available. Shouldn’t you be able to pick your day and times to the attractions first and then pay?

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      March 4, 2019 at 4:59 pm

      Hi David, Yes, unfortunately that is the case. It is because Ticketbar is a third-party supplier and there is a delay on their end to make the booking for some of the tickets; however, it should happen very quickly after you choose the times. If you purchase the passes and then can’t do the times, you can get a refund, they normally respond fairly quickly.

      However, we agree that this is not an ideal system and we have discussed this with them. If you don’t want to do that, you can purchase the tickets individually from the individual attractions. But if you decide to book and have any problems, do let us know and we will try to help.

      Best,
      Jessica

      Reply

      • David H Miller Post author

        March 12, 2019 at 9:56 am

        Ola Travel Cats,
        So I did buy the Barcelona City Pass with your link and was OK with the timed entries we got for Sagrada Familia and Park Guell…..we were happy with the times we got. We just had to flip the order we originally wanted to do them. We possibly could have got our times if we had bought an enhanced ticket to see the towers but at this time we did not. Is it possible to upgrade and change times if we decide we do want to do the towers? Thank you so much for such an informative website and your attention to it.
        Big Wave Dave

        Reply

        • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

          March 12, 2019 at 10:13 am

          Hi Dave,

          Glad to hear that! So, you can’t upgrade once you are at Sagrada Familia but if you really want to, you can probably do so by emailing the Barcelona City Pass people and they can probably just charge you the price difference for the pass that includes a tour of one of the towers. We recently visited one of the towers and to be honest, were not too impressed given the amount you pay, but it is up to you of course!

          The exterior and the cathedral interior of the Sagrada Familia are definitely the most impressive aspects. Also don’t forget to take a look at the museum, crypt, and schoolhouses (all included in all tickets).

          Best,
          Jessica

          Reply

27. Maricar Gamil Post author

    February 13, 2019 at 11:19 am

    Hello! My husband and I are going to Barcelona this June 21-25. We basically have 3 full days to tour around Barcelona. We would like to see the major points to visit in Barcelona like the Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Casa Batillo and Casa Mila. Our other free time will be spending exploring around neighborhood and food tripping. I would like to ask you which pass should be the best for us which also includes public transportation. And one more question, which do you think is the best Airbnb to stay for 1st time visitor. Hope you can help me with my queries. Thank you.

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      February 13, 2019 at 1:11 pm

      Hi Maricar,

      There are some different Barcelona passes combinations you could do, but I would consider the Barcelona Pass + Travel (will cover Casa Batillo, Casa Mila, sightseeing bus, and public transport plus 20 other attractions) and the Gaudi Ticket (covers timed entry to Sagrada Familia and Park Guell).

      For sightseeing ideas, take a look at our 3 Day itinerary and our guide to all the Gaudi sites in Barcelona.

      If you want to be central to many of the attractions, we generally recommend staying in the neighborhoods of La Rambla, El Raval, Barrio Gotico (Gothic Quarter), or Eixample. We generally use Booking.com. On our last visit we stayed at this Leonardo Hotel which offered a good value and an excellent location near Las Ramblas.

      But we have also used Airbnb in Barcelona, but be sure you book a licensed property as all apartments must be licensed by the city to be legal. Here are some central places that might work for you.

      Best,
      Jessica

      Reply

28. Sonia Post author

    January 30, 2019 at 10:06 am

    I’m so glad I found this site/blog! My husband, 8 year old daughter and I are heading to Barcelona for a week in mid Feb. While we plan to do a couple of day trips outside of the city (thinking Monseratt and Rich, but would love recommendations!), I’m struggling to figure out which pass(es) will best suit are needs. My thought is the Barcelona City Pass and the Barcelona Card (I recalled public transport is a breeze from my last trip pre-family). FYI our daughter is a city kid and used to walking, and loves contemporary art.

    Casa Batlló
    Casa Mila
    Sagrada Familia
    Barcelona Aquarium
    Museu de la Xocolata
    Fundacio Joan Miro
    Museu Nacional D’art De Catalunya
    Park Güell
    Barcelona Zoo
    CosmoCaixa
    MACBA
    Museu Picasso
    Teleferic de Montjuic

    Thanks for you assistance!

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      January 30, 2019 at 10:36 am

      Hi Sonia, Yes, that sounds like a good plan to me. There are a few combinations you can do but I think that makes sense.

      Since you are there for a week you can do either the 4 or 5 day Barcelona Cards and then use them as you go as they will get you into almost all the city’s art museums for free and free public transit, plus discounts on many other attractions.

      The Barcelona City Pass covers airport transfers, 1 or 2 day HOHO bus tickets, plus Park Guell and Sagrada Familia. You can also add additional attractions (like the Barcelona Zoo and Casa Mila) to the pass at a 20% discount so you may want to do that as well.

      For day trips, Montserrat is an easy one to do as a day tour from Barcelona. You can actually add a day tour to Monserrat to the Barcelona City Pass when you order for a discount. I am not sure what “Rich” is but other good options may be to see Salvador Dali attractions or Girona.

      Hope that helps!
      Jessica

      Reply

      • Sonia Post author

        January 30, 2019 at 11:04 am

        Thank you! (Rich = Vich) . I read about Girona as well. I’ll look into it some more.

        Reply

        • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

          January 30, 2019 at 11:42 am

          You’re very welcome. Oh I think you mean Vic (instead of Vich)? The La Garrotxa area may be a place to think about as well as there are medieval villages, hot air ballooning, hiking, etc. There are some day tours that visit there as well.

          Reply

29. Pat B. Post author

    December 29, 2018 at 10:02 am

    I am planning a trip to Barcelona in May and was trying to find the right discount ticket. You’ve taken something that I was finding complicated and hard to figure out, and broke it down so even I can understand. Thanks to this, I have figured out that a Barcelona Pass would probably be the best for our family of five.

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      December 29, 2018 at 10:58 am

      Hi Pat,

      So glad that you were able to find the best Barcelona discount pass for you and your family. Let us know if you have any questions about the Barcelona Pass, and wishing you a wonderful trip to Barcelona. Best, Jessica

      Reply

30. Oliver Dimitrovski Post author

    October 19, 2018 at 12:02 am

    Hi Jessica,
    Thank you for the excellent guide and the comparison chart on Barcelona travel cards.

    I have done the following plan (attractions are numbered bellow) for 2 people for 4 days and would like your opinion on the best card options. We’ll be staying at Placa Catalunya, so the only city Metro transport we’ll need would be to get to attractions 2, 3, 7, 9 bellow and a return train to 10.
    1. Aerobus transport from/to airport
    Gaudi
    2. Park Guell entry at 8:00 skip the line (at opening time)
    3. Sagrdada Familia at 10:30 skip the line
    4. Casa Milla at 14:00 skip the line
    5. Casa Batllo at 15:00 skip the line
    Museums
    6. Picasso skip the line
    7. MNAC skip the line
    8. Joan Miro skip the line
    Stadiums
    9. FCB tour at 9:30 skip the line
    Travel
    10. Montserrat (train and gondolas return tickets)
    11. Metro (probably 5 trips each)
    At first glance it looks to me that I should go for Barcelona City Pass (2,3, discount for 4,5,9,10), Articket Museums Pass (6,7,8,9), T10 travel ticket, purchase Aerobus on-line. I am not sure that all my skip the line wishes are available and wether I have allowed enough time between Park Guell and Sagrada visits.

    What would you recommend?

    Thank you,

    Oliver

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      October 19, 2018 at 5:19 am

      Hi Oliver,

      Glad you found our Barcelona passes post helpful – it can be difficult to know about them all and how to choose the best one for a particular trip.

      I agree that based on your proposed trip and sightseeing priorities that the Barcelona City Pass is probably the best fit. The T10 tickets (just purchase once in Barcelona) for public transit are a good idea and the Barcelona City Pass does not come with public transit so you will need those. You don’t need the Aerobus tickets as a free transfer to and from the airport currently comes with the Barcelona City Pass.

      For the Articket Museum Pass (btw #9 is not included), I would wait to see which attractions are left after you have purchased the Barcelona City Pass – I think 20% off discounted tickets may be available to pass holders for the Miro, Picasso, and MNAC. I would check once you see the discounted amounts and you can compare the savings between buying the Articket or buying them individually at discount. Then you can decide if adding on the Articket would be a good deal or not for you.

      In terms of skip-the-line, I think skip the line or timed tickets are available for most of the locations on your list. Although in our experience, the MNAC and Miro museums are typically not that busy so I would not be too concerned about those museums. But the Gaudi sites, the Picasso Museum, and Camp Nou Stadium Tour tend to be busy most of the year. Sagrada Familia and Park Guell are the busiest attractions in Barcelona.

      You definitely want/need timed tickets for Sagrada Familia and Park Guell. I would recommend leaving 3 hours between entry times (this is what the folks who sell the Barcelona City Pass recommend as well). So if you do 9am at one, I’d make the other one noon, just to be sure you have enough time to visit and get between the two attractions. You can get there in less time, but if you miss your time, you may be denied entry and would have to buy a new ticket. The dates and times for both of these attractions tend to sell out in advance so I’d definitely book the time slots several days in advance if you can (Easter and summer are the busiest times of year), especially if you have specific times in mind.

      Hope that helps & wishing you a great trip to Barcelona!
      Jessica

      Reply

      • Oliver Post author

        October 19, 2018 at 5:29 am

        Many thanks for the reply Jessica. I will definitely book tickets well in advance. I am not clear if Montserrat discount is included with the pass or I should be buying that directly from the transport authorities.
        Regards,
        Oliver

        Reply

        • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

          October 19, 2018 at 5:46 am

          Hi Oliver, Yes, there is a discounted option or two that includes a guided day tour with transportation to Montserrat from Barcelona. So I would just check once you buy the pass if that tour works well for you are not and then you can decide if you want to book the discounted tour with the Barcelona City Pass or purchase it separately. Best, Jessica

          Reply

31. Debra Gilbert Taylor Post author

    September 26, 2018 at 12:45 pm

    I can’t thank you enough for all this very useful information on Barcelona – particularly the passes! I know what I want to see, but the passes were overwhelming. Your information helped untangle all of this and get to a decision!
    Also, beautiful photos, BTW!
    Thanks so much.
    Debbie

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      September 26, 2018 at 5:45 pm

      Hi Debra,

      Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. We are always happy to hear when our information has been helpful to other travelers! Glad you were able to figure out which Barcelona pass is the best fit for you, and do let us know if you have any further questions as you plan your trip to Barcelona!

      Best,
      Jessica

      Reply

32. Casa Vicens Post author

    August 10, 2018 at 2:00 am

    Before choosing a barcelona pass or card the best thing we can do is check our schedule to be sure that we Will be enough time to enjoy the stay. Thank you for sharing this information!

    See you next time!

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      August 10, 2018 at 7:55 am

      Hello,

      Yes, making sure you have enough time to sightsee using the cards is definitely important to find out if it will save you money as well make sure to allow enough time to actually enjoy the attractions. Barcelona has much to offer!

      We really enjoyed our recent visit to Casa Vicens and happy to see that Casa Vicens is now included as part of the Barcelona Pass!

      Best,
      Jessica

      Reply

33. Patricia Post author

    June 15, 2018 at 11:40 am

    I plan to be in Barcelona for three days and I only plan on visiting the following sites
    Picasso museum
    casa batllo
    casa mila
    casa amatller
    casa lleo morera
    Sagrada Familia
    Park Güell
    I have been looking at the passes and I don’t see any that covers these locations. Do you have any advice

    Thanks

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      June 16, 2018 at 3:08 pm

      Hi Patricia,

      Yes, given your list, I think you are probably going to be best purchasing separate ticket entrances for each place since no pass covers all of these, and I don’t think any of the passes would save you money if you are not going to visit any other attractions or museums.

      For the Sagrada Familia & Park Güell, you’ll definitely want to book your ticket and time in advance to guarantee entry. If visiting in summer, I’d also recommend pre-booking entry to Casa Batlló. You can book them through the official individual websites or through the Barcelona Tourisme shop.

      I think that Casa Lleó Morera is now closed to the public but you can still see the outside. But do check for the latest information on this attraction.

      Given your interests, you may also want to check out the new Moderisme Pass as it includes a lot of lesser known modernism buildings in Barcelona and may save you money if you plan to visit several of them.

      Hope this helps!
      Jessica

      Reply

34. Yvette Post author

    March 21, 2018 at 10:22 am

    Thank you for your kind reply. I will follow your advice iro the sites to be visited. We are looking forward to our trip and appreciate all the information.

    Reply

35. Yvette Post author

    March 21, 2018 at 12:10 am

    Thank you for such useful information. We have booked a cruise leaving from Barcelona.
    Intentions is staying in Barcelona 2 – 3 days prior to the cruise and then about 5 days after the cruise.

    1.) Would it be suitable to buy the pass as my husband is using a motorized wheelchair?
    2.) is the transport included in the pass wheelchair accessible using a non foldable chair, and does it include airport transfer?

    Well I have lots of planning to do, and every bit of information is welcome.

    Looking forward to your kind response.

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      March 21, 2018 at 6:59 am

      Hi Yvette,

      I am not sure which pass you are referring to as there are a few reviewed in the article, but I think you mean the Barcelona Pass which you can read our full review of that pass here.

      1. Almost all major attractions in Barcelona are wheelchair accessible; however, like most historic cities, there are going to be parts of some places that are not accessible to wheelchair users. So I would make a list of all the attractions you are most interested in and then check their websites for accessibility information. For example, the rooftop parts of some of the Gaudi sites are not accessible by wheelchair (only stairs).
      2. Yes, all Barcelona Bus Turístic buses (the hop-on hop-off buses) are equipped with an access ramp and wheelchair space inside the vehicle. In terms of Barcelona’s transportation network, all the buses and most metro stations are wheelchair accessible but there area a few stations that are not. You can find out more here. In terms of large European cities, Barcelona is considered to have one of the most accessible public transit networks.

      You can take the metro to or from the airport with the included public transit card. Or if you want a faster options, you can buy a Aerobus Ticket which is an airport shuttle bus that runs between central Barcelona and the airport. Buses run about every 5 minutes and take about 35 minutes.

      So in short, yes, you should be able to visit most attractions, use the pass, and the public transit network in Barcelona. I would just check ahead on specific sites before you go. If you do want to purchase the Barcelona Pass, just be sure to book online, as it is not available for purchase in person.

      Wishing you and your husband a wonderful cruise and trip to Barcelona.

      Best,
      Jessica

      Reply

36. Ash Post author

    March 8, 2018 at 2:17 am

    Helo ,

    Your blog is Wikipedia for Barca … thank you for your efforts.
    its sad none of the card includes Sagrada Familia, isn’t it? Could you please recommend a card which covers that?

    List that we would like cover:

    – Sagrada Familia
    – FCB
    – Aquarium
    – Nightclubs
    – Access to public transportation

    Kindly recommend few more that we should not miss in 6 days trip.

    thanks and regards/ Ash 🙂

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      March 8, 2018 at 7:58 am

      Hi Ash,

      Because the Sagrada Familia is funded solely by donations and ticket sales, it does not provide discounts for passes. So none of the main passes include it. There are some other passes that include it, but you are essentially just paying for the ticket plus the pass as they still have to buy your ticket from the organization. So you are best to buy your tickets here on their website as they are the only official ticket vendor.

      For the rest of the things you want to do, I’d probably recommend the Barcelona Pass (you can read more here) as it covers all the rest except for the nightclubs. It covers the FCB, aquarium, public transportation, and about 20 other main attractions in Barcelona. The longest pass is 3 days in length so I’d probably get that one. The other option is the 5 day Barcelona Card but it does not include free entry into any of the places you want to go, just discounts, so that’s why I would recommend the Barcelona Pass.

      In terms of what else to do, if you decide to purchase the Barcelona Pass, I’d look through the rest of the attractions to see what appeals, there are lots of good attractions in Barcelona but it depends on your interests. Here is a 3 day itinerary that may be useful. Also there are free things to do that you can do on the days you are not using a pass like walking around the Gothic Quarter, visiting parks and markets, etc.

      For the nightclubs, if you plan to go out more than 1 night then I’d recommend the Barcelona Night Card. There is a 2-night version and a 7-night version available currently.

      Hope this helps and wishing you a fun trip to Barcelona!

      Best,
      Jessica

      Reply

      • Ash Post author

        April 1, 2018 at 5:41 am

        thank you soo much Jessica 🙂
        with all the info given my trip already way better than me roaming around like a ghost knowing what to do next haha

        bravooo !!

        Reply

        • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

          April 1, 2018 at 8:07 am

          Hi Ash, You’re very welcome, glad this was helpful. Choosing a Barcelona Pass can be difficult as there are so many options, but you can definitely save money by choosing the best one! We are actually heading back to Barcelona for a few days in May and will probably be using passes again as there are still a number of places we haven’t visited. Enjoy your trip to Barcelona! Jessica

          Reply

      • Ash Post author

        April 1, 2018 at 6:39 am

        Also could you please check this pass: the Barcelona TurboPass. it is different to both I think … is it better than Barcelona Pass?

        Reply

        • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

          April 1, 2018 at 7:59 am

          Hi Ash, Yes, so many Barcelona Passes and discount cards out there! We have not used the TurboPass, but it essentially covers many of the same free places provided on the Barcelona Card plus they book your Sagrada Família tickets for you (they are simply paying for and booking them, which you can do yourself on the official website). But the Barcelona Pass provides entry into many more high-value attractions (several Gaudi sites, boat tour Zoo, Barcelona FC stadium tour, HOHO bus) so it is a much better value if you plan to do those things as the TurboPass only gives you discounts on those things. The TurboPass in our opinion is not as a good of a value for a 2 or 3 day pass compared to the Barcelona Pass (or the Barcelona Card). We’d recommend either the Barcelona Pass or Barcelona Card depending on where you plan to visit. Best, Jessica

          Reply

          • Ash Post author

            April 1, 2018 at 11:57 pm

            thank you for showing all the goodness, Jessica 🙂 I agree Barcelona Pass is still better there.

            last but not the least; what do you think about this one:

            5 Day iVenture Card

            Seems good value, right ?

          • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

            April 2, 2018 at 4:11 am

            Hi Ash, This one is a bit tricky as unlike the Barcelona Pass where all the attractions are included, this one you have to select three, five, seven or all 33 premium activities. The cost obviously goes up with the longer iVenture cards with more activities. I also see some activities have a (+15€) or (+5€) after them which makes me thing you have to pay extra for these ones. You would have to calculate if it was a good value based on which of the activities you want to do but unless you choose the 33 option, you would be able to visit a lot less places than with the other cards. So I think you will just need to make a list of all the places you want to go and see which card best matches that list Generally we recommend either the Barcelona Pass or Barcelona Card for people as these are often the 2 best options, but you have to figure out which is the best option for you and your trip! Best, Jessica

          • Ash Post author

            April 3, 2018 at 2:16 am

            thank you again Jessica 🙂

37. vi Post author

    November 1, 2017 at 1:57 am

    i read somewhere that the hop on hop off is not included in the barcelona 2 day pass , only for 3, 4 and 5 day passes

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      November 1, 2017 at 2:17 am

      Hi Vi, Thanks for stopping by. The information you read is incorrect or is was about another pass. First, the Barcelona Pass is only available as a 2 or 3 day pass (there are no 4 or 5 day versions – at least not yet). Second, the hop on hop off sightseeing pass ticket is available with both the 2 or 3 day Barcelona Pass. The ticket is good for one full day with any Barcelona Pass. You can see that information online and purchase this pass here.

      There is no HOHO bus ticket included with either the Barcelona Card (although it does offer a discount on a bus tour) or the Barcelona Museum Pass. Hope this helps!

      Happy travels,
      Jessica

      Reply

38. Ishwari Post author

    October 6, 2017 at 2:41 pm

    Thank you so much for this information – it was really handy to be able to compare the Barcelona cards to see which might be the best for us.

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      October 7, 2017 at 12:22 am

      Hi Ishwari, Glad that our information was helpful to you about choosing the right Barcelona pass for you, and thanks so much for taking the time to leave us a comment! Best, Jessica

      Reply

39. Stephanie Munno Post author

    August 31, 2017 at 2:03 am

    Thanks so much for this. I am visiting Barcelona in a couple of days so your information on the Barcelona Card and Pass is much appreciated as was the 3 day itinerary I have printed off.

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      September 1, 2017 at 8:46 am

      Hi Stephanie, Thanks for taking the time to comment. I am glad that the information compare the Barcelona Card versus the Barcelona Pass was useful! I will let Laurence know you printed off his 3 day itinerary for Barcelona as well 😉 Happy travels, Jessica

      Reply

40. Amy Post author

    July 8, 2017 at 8:45 pm

    Excellent site and such a useful comparison chart. The one question that I haven’t been able to get clarification on: Does entry into the attractions include “skip the line” access?

    Thanks!

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      July 9, 2017 at 12:19 pm

      Hi Amy, Glad you found our Barcelona Pass comparison chart useful 😉 So about the “skip the line” access, it depends on the card and the site. For the Barcelona Articket (a.k.a. Barcelona Museum Pass) you do get to skip the ticket lines and get direct access into the museums once you have the passport in hand. For the Barcelona Card, it provides skip the line access at a few sites (mostly museums) and the Barcelona Pass similarly provides skip the line access at several sites (currently the following: FC Barcelona, Aquarium, Poble Espanyol, and La Pedrera [Casa Mila]). You should check the website or the info that comes with your pass for the most updated info for which sites you can skip the line. For all of the Barcelona passes, they only allow you to skip the ticket lines, not security lines so for those sites with security checks, you obviously still need to join those lines. Hope this provides clarification to your question. Best, Jessica

      Reply

41. Laura Post author

    July 3, 2017 at 12:24 am

    There’s so much to see in Barcelona. A pass card certainly seems the way to go if you want to see a lot of attractions.

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      July 3, 2017 at 7:17 am

      Hi Laura, Yes, while there are a few attractions in Barcelona that are free, many attractions have a fee and the admission prices can really add up. For those who want to visit 4-5 or more attractions, a pass will generally save them money. A pass can also save time as you can often skip the ticket lines or get fast-track entry at some places, and some of the passes include public transportation and/or a hop-on, hop-off bus ticket which can help make transit around the city easier. Best, Jessica

      Reply

42. Erica Lindeman Post author

    June 29, 2017 at 6:30 am

    I will be going to Barcelona by end of next month so this article is very timely! Thanks for making it so easy to compare the passes, appreciate it!

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      June 30, 2017 at 7:17 pm

      Hi Erica, You’re very welcome and enjoy your time in Barcelona! Best, Jessica

      Reply

43. Kat Post author

    June 24, 2017 at 8:16 pm

    Wow this is super handy and I especially love the comparison chart! Because there is so much of information out there that sometimes we may not have the time to do detailed research and comparison in terms of what to see, transportation, costs and time spent. If I was to go to Barcelona, I will definitely spend at least 3 days there, hence Barcelona Card might be suitable for me. Good stuff, thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      June 27, 2017 at 4:39 pm

      Hi Kat, Glad you enjoyed the post and found the comparison chart on the Barcelona passes useful! Yes, I do think it can be time consuming to look up and compare all this information so hopefully this will be helpful to readers planning trips to Spain. The Barcelona Card is a good general discount card and can really save you money if you plan to use it a lot during a 3 day visit! Best, Jessica

      Reply

44. Ruth | Tanama Tales Post author

    June 24, 2017 at 7:34 pm

    I bought the Barcelona Card when I visited the city for the first time and it worked well for me. During my second visit, I didn’t buy any cards or passes since I wasn’t feeling well and had to take things a bit slow.. Barcelona’s attractions are expensive, so, it is nice to take advantage of one of these passes.

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      June 27, 2017 at 4:37 pm

      Hi Ruth, Glad you had a good experience with the Barcelona Card on your prior trip to Barcelona. It does really depend on how much you plan to see and how long you will be in Barcelona as the passes won’t save you much money if you don’t plan to visit many paid attractions during your visit. But you are right, many of the top attractions are fairly expensive and passes can really help savvy travelers save money in many circumstances. Sorry to hear you were sick on your last trip and hope you get a chance to return! Best, Jessica

      Reply

45. Bryna | Dotted Line Travels Post author

    June 24, 2017 at 6:42 pm

    Such extensive and detailed information – wow! I am (sadly) not heading to Barcelona any time soon, but I’m going to share this for those who are!

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      June 27, 2017 at 4:35 pm

      Hi Bryna, Thanks so much for sharing this and hope you get a chance to visit Barcelona soon! Best, Jessica

      Reply

46. Anda Post author

    June 24, 2017 at 3:07 pm

    Your blog is an inexhaustible source of useful information, Jessica. I love how you compared the two cards for Barcelona, so that your readers could decide which one is the most useful for them. Thanks for joining us for #TheWeeklyPostcard again.

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      June 27, 2017 at 4:34 pm

      Hi Anda, Thanks for your kind words and hopefully this info will help readers decide between the Barcelona Card, Barcelona Pass, and Articket! It was actually inspired by a reader comment on our earlier review of the Barcelona Pass about whether this is the same as the Barcelona Card as people get confused with there being so many discount passes for travel in Barcelona! Best, Jessica

      Reply

47. Lolo Post author

    June 24, 2017 at 2:46 pm

    This couldn’t possibly come at a better time! I’m considering meeting my stepmom in Barcelona for a view days, but even if I don’t go she will find this incredibly useful! Passing this on, and saving this for later!!! 🙂

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      June 27, 2017 at 4:32 pm

      Hi Lolo, Glad you found this useful for your upcoming trip and hope it helps your stepmom! Hope you both have a wonderful time in Barcelona. Best, Jessica

      Reply

48. Seana Turner Post author

    June 24, 2017 at 8:53 am

    Your handy comparison chart appeals to me on so many levels. I tell my children, “Everything is easier in a matrix.” If I can fit any information into a matrix, I go for it. Barcelona is so wonderful, well worth the visit.

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      June 27, 2017 at 4:31 pm

      Hi Seana, Haha, yes a handy chart or matrix can really give people a visual to help them decide which pass may be the best fit for them in a quick glance. The passes can be a bit confusing so this helps breakdown the initial information to point people in the right direction (hopefully) to read more about the Barcelona pass they are most interested in purchasing. Best, Jessica

      Reply

49. Anisa Post author

    June 24, 2017 at 7:57 am

    I am definitely going back to Barcelona at some point, I did not get to see everything I wanted on my last trip. I also didn’t know about all these different passes! I am going to have to sit down before I go and really figure out what I want to see. You did a great job laying out all the information so that I can figure out which pass is the best for me.

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      June 27, 2017 at 4:29 pm

      Hi Anisa, Yes, I think that although the Barcelona Card and discount passes are geared more towards first time visitors to the city, these tourist passes are also great for second or third time visitors. We actually have used the Barcelona Pass and the Barcelona Cards on 2nd/3rd/4th visits to the city and still got significant value out of them as we were more focused than on our initial visits and had a better idea of the places we wanted to visit. There is so much to see in Barcelona and most people only get to see a handful of sites in their first visit and these cards can help save money on subsequent visits when people are more focused on their sightseeing! But it is best to do some research ahead of time like you said to make sure that the passes will save you money and which one might be the best fit for your trip. Best, Jessica

      Reply

50. Rachel Post author

    June 24, 2017 at 4:51 am

    This information on comparing the Barcelona Passes and Cards is quite useful. I better bookmark this page. Who knows, I met just get an opportunity to visit Barcelona in the not so distant future!

    Reply

    • Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

      June 27, 2017 at 4:24 pm

      Hi Rachel, I do hope you get a chance to visit Barcelona in the not too distant future and the Barcelona Passes and Cards can definitely help you save money if you are an avid sightseer! Best, Jessica

      Reply