This post was kindly contributed by Sira Mas, a travel blogger who lives in Barcelona.
There are so many people travelling to and from Barcelona every day. And among them, there are groups of people travelling between the Barcelona airports and the cruise port.
However, it’s not always clear how to get from one point to another. When I had to go to the cruise port from El Prat, the main Barcelona airport, I struggled a bit to compare the different options and find the best one.
Since I took notes, here’s all the information I have about the available options you have to get from El Prat airport to the Barcelona cruise port (Moll Adossat).
Barcelona Cruise Port is 11 Miles from the Airport
The distance between the Barcelona airport and the cruise port is 11.7 miles (17.3 km). That’s approximately a 15 to 20-minute ride without traffic.
Of course, that “without traffic” bit is key, because Barcelona can get pretty busy! So make sure you factor in more time for your journey.
It Takes 20-40 Minutes to Get from Barcelona Airport to the Cruise Port
If you hail a taxi or book an Uber, it takes approximately 20 minutes, sometimes less, to get from the Barcelona airport to the cruise port. If you decide to take the Aerobús shuttle and then a taxi, it will take between 30 and 40 minutes.
You can also take the R2 train from T2, get off at Sants, and then take a taxi; in that case, it would take approximately 35 minutes.
If you’re on a budget and prefer to go by bus, it can take between 1 hour 30 minutes and 2 hours. Keep in mind that there’s no direct bus from Barcelona airport to the cruise port.
Which Airport Is Closest to Barcelona Cruise Port?
Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport is the closest airport to the Barcelona cruise port. El Prat airport is 11.7 miles (17.3 km) away from the cruise ship terminal, the Moll Adossat.
Other airports in Catalunya, that are not too far from Barcelona, are:
- Reus, which is 67.2 miles (108 km) away from the cruise port – a 1h 16min trip by car or taxi,
- Girona, which is 60 miles (96.8 km) away from the port – also a 1h 16min trip by car or taxi.
The Different Ways To Get From Barcelona Airport to Cruise Port
| Transfer Options | Price | Time (Average) | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerobús + Taxi | €22.15 | 30 minutes | Easy |
| Taxi | €39 | 20 minutes | Very easy, stress-free |
| Uber (up to 4 people) | €39 | 20 minutes | Very easy, stress-free |
| Uber (5-6 people) | €51.05 | 20 minutes | Very easy, stress-free |
| Train + Taxi | €16.40 | 35 minutes | Easy |
| Aerobús + Regular Bus + Cruise Bus | From €9.15 | 1h 30 minutes | Medium |
| 2 Regular Buses + Cruise Bus | €7.80 | 1h 50 minutes | Medium, it may be a bit stressful |
1. Aerobús + Taxi (Smartest Choice)
Anytime I arrive in Barcelona, I go directly to the Aerobús shuttle stop. It’s cheap, and it takes you to Barcelona in less than 30 minutes. To find the shuttle stop, you just have to follow the signs inside the terminal.
So, if you want to go to the cruise port from the Barcelona airport in just 35 minutes without spending too much, a great option is to take the Aerobús shuttle, get off at Plaça de Espanya – which is the first stop – and take a taxi.
During the day, the Aerobús shuttles leave the airport every 5 minutes from both terminals. In the evening – from 10 pm until midnight – there’s a bus every 10 minutes, and from midnight until 5 am there’s a bus every 20 minutes.
For more information about the schedule, you can check the Aerobús official website.
The cost of the shuttle is €6.75 per person, per trip. The cost of the taxi from Plaça Espanya to the cruise port is approximately €15.
Tip: If you’re in a hurry, you can book and schedule a taxi with FreeNow while you’re on the Aerobús – to avoid spending too much time waiting in Plaça de Espanya.
On the app, you can set as the pickup point the Torres Venecianas (Avenida de la Reina Maria Cristina, Barcelona) and as the destination Moll Adossat – Terminales de Cruceros.
From the Aerobús stop in Plaça Espanya, you’ll only have to walk 50 metres to the Venetian Towers.
2. Taxi (Quickest, Most Comfortable Choice)
Getting from the Barcelona airport to the cruise port by taxi is the easiest and quickest way. All you have to do is follow the taxi signs inside the terminal, reach the taxi point and get in your cab.
Then, after 15-20 minutes you’ll be at the cruise port. It took me 15 minutes by taxi to get to the port from El Prat, but there was no traffic. If there’s traffic, it will take you around 20-25 minutes.
The fixed price of a taxi from the airport to the cruise terminals is €39, which is great if you’re travelling with other people and you can split the expense.
The only downside is that there’s almost always a line at the taxi ranks, especially outside T1 and on weekends, so you’ll have to wait between 5 and 20 minutes before getting on your taxi.
Tip: If you want to skip this line, you can always book a taxi using the app FreeNow or call the Radio Taxi service – their number is +34933033033.
3. Uber
Another quick option is Uber. The fee is €39 for up to 4 people – like a taxi – and €51 if you book a van for 5 to 6 people.
If you choose this option, make sure to give the driver a clear pick-up point. There’s a parking spot for Uber pick-ups in both terminals.
It’s not a bad choice. However, the only disadvantage is that Uber drivers in Barcelona are often busy, and you may end up waiting a while.
I used Uber twice in Barcelona and each time I had to wait at least 10 minutes before I got my reservation accepted.
4. Train + Taxi
If you’re looking for an option that is fast and not too expensive, taking the train to Sants and then a taxi is your best bet.
If your flight arrives at T2, you can take the train that takes you to Sants, the main train station in Barcelona, in 23 minutes. If you arrive at T1, you can take a free shuttle that will take you to T2 in less than 10 minutes.
Once you’re at the Airport train station, you can buy the ticket at the vending machines for just €2.40. You can easily check the train schedule on Google Maps.
From Sants, a taxi to the cruise port will cost you around €14 – €15.
The only disadvantages of this option are the following:
- There’s a train every 30 minutes, so you might have to wait a bit at the station
- Most airlines arrive at terminal 1, so you’ll have to take the free shuttle to reach T2 and walk to the airport train station – which makes the overall transfer to the cruise port longer
- You may find a line at the Sants taxi rank
But apart from that, this is a good option, especially if you’re on a budget. And if you’re not travelling alone, you can split the taxi expense.
5. Aerobús + Cruise Bus
Another option is to combine the Aerobús with a regular bus. This is great if you’re on a budget, just keep in mind that it will take a bit longer to get to the cruise port – around 1h 30.
You can take the Aerobús and get off at Plaça Espanya and then take the D20 and get off at Parallel – Drassanes. Once you’re there, you can either walk to the cruise terminal – it takes around 30 minutes – or take the cruise bus for €3. Here’s the cruise bus stop.
Important: the cruise bus doesn’t have a schedule. It departs from the World Trade Center depending on the cruise ships’ arrivals and departures.
Where can I buy the bus tickets at the airport?
You can pay for a local bus ticket directly on the bus with a debit or credit card. There’s a red contactless device on your right as soon as you step on the bus. Note that the device won’t give you a receipt.
Or you can buy the ticket directly on the TMB app – but you’ll have to sign up first.
6. Local Buses + Cruise Bus (Cheapest Option)
A cheap option to get to the port is taking two buses and then taking the cruise bus or walking. It takes longer – it can take up to 2 hours – but it’s the cheapest way to get there.
You can take the bus 46 from both terminals. The bus stop is next to the Aerobús in both terminals; also, to find the bus stop, you can easily follow the directions both inside and outside the terminal.
You will have to get off at Plaça de Espanya and take the bus D20. Then, from the bus D20, you’ll have to get off at the stop Parallel – Drassanes.
Important: Keep in mind that you’ll have to pay €2.40 on each bus.
Once you get to the port area (on the street that takes you to the World Trade Center) you can either walk to the cruise terminals – which, as we mentioned, can take 30-35 minutes – or take the cruise bus for just €3. Here’s the cruise bus stop.
How Much Is a Taxi From Barcelona Airport to the Cruise Port?
A taxi from the Barcelona Airport to the cruise port costs €39, and it’s a fixed price. You’ll pay the same whether you hail a taxi outside the terminal or you book it on FreeNow.
My Recommendation
My personal recommendation is to get to the cruise port by taxi if you’re with your partner, your family or a group of friends. It’s easy and quick – and the cost per person is not excessive.
If you’re travelling alone, the Aerobús + taxi combination is your best bet. You’ll still get to the cruise port pretty quickly, without spending a fortune!
As I mentioned before, the cheapest way to get to the cruise port, in case you’re on a budget, is by bus, but you’ll have to take two buses and then walk or wait for and take the cruise bus. If you don’t want to spend too much, remember that you can always take the train and then the taxi, the final cost is around €16, which is not too bad.
In case you have a few hours between your arrival at the airport and the cruise embarkation time, here are some unique, non-touristy things to do in Barcelona.
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