Barcelona Card: Reviews, Prices and Benefits (10% discount)
If you like to visit beautiful museums and travel by public transport, take a look at the advantages of the Barcelona Card. This pass may interest you.
The Barcelona Card is a pass that combines unlimited travel on public transport, free visits and discounts on many cultural and leisure activities in Barcelona and its surroundings. This pass is therefore more complete than the Hola Barcelona metro and bus card, which only offers unlimited travel on public transport.
Over the years, this pass has become increasingly interesting as it includes a growing number of must-see attractions and museums.
Have you decided to visit Barcelona in 2, 3, 4, or 5 days? It’s up to you to determine whether the Barcelona Card or the Barcelona Card Express suits your planning as a traveller in search of discovery!
- 1 ⏰ If you are in a hurry, here is my opinion on the Barcelona Card
- 2 The Barcelona Card: A pass for a 2, 3, 4, or 5 day stay
- 3 Advantages of the Barcelona Card
- 4 The different prices of the Barcelona Card
- 5 The Barcelona Card Express
- 6 Where can I pick up the Barcelona Card or the Barcelona Card Express?
- 7 The Barcelona Card: What is our opinion? Is it a good plan?
- 8 Examples of stays with the Barcelona Card
⏰ If you are in a hurry, here is my opinion on the Barcelona Card
The Barcelona Card: A pass for a 2, 3, 4, or 5 day stay
This pass is available in 4 different formats:
- The 3-day or 72-hour pass
- The 4-day or 96-hour pass
- The 5-day or 120-hour pass
- The Barcelona Card Express for a 2-day stay
Advantages of the Barcelona Card
1- Unlimited public transport pass in Barcelona Zone 1
The Barcelona Card allows free and unlimited access to all public transport in the city: metro lines, day buses, ferrocarrils, suburban trains in Zone 1 (which is where all the tourist attractions of Barcelona and its surroundings are located).
This card also has the advantage of allowing you to get back to the city centre from Barcelona airport by train, metro, and day bus nº46.
| Duration of the Barcelona Card | Public transport prices without the Barcelona Card (with Hola Barcelona Travel Card) | Price with Barcelona Card |
|---|---|---|
| 72 hours | 23,8€ | 0€ |
| 96 hours | 31€ | 0€ |
| 120 hours | 38,2€ | 0€ |
2- Pass to visit more than 20 museums in Barcelona for free
This pass offers free entry to many museums and cultural spaces.
The Picasso Museum has been added to the list of free museums, which makes the Barcelona Card even more interesting.
The card has an automatic chip and will give you free entrance to the following museums and places:
| Price without Barcelona Card | Price with Barcelona Card | |
|---|---|---|
| CCCB (Barcelona Centre for Contemporary Culture) | 6€ | 0€ |
| Picasso Museum | 12€ | 0€ |
| Miró Foundation | 14€ | 0€ |
| National Art Museum of Catalonia | 12€ | 0€ |
| MoCo Museum | 19,5€ | 0€ |
| Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona (MACBA) | 11€ | 0€ |
| CaixaForum | 6€ | 0€ |
| CosmoCaixa (Science Museum) | 6€ | 0€ |
| Barcelona Botanical Garden | 3,50€ | 0€ |
| Montjuïc Castle | 5€ | 0€ |
| El Born Centre de Cultura i Memòria | 7€ | 0€ |
| Design Museum | 6€ | 0€ |
| Museum of Natural Sciences of Barcelona | 6€ | 0€ |
| Music Museum | 6€ | 0€ |
| Chocolate Museum | 6€ | 0€ |
| Egyptian Museum of Barcelona | 12€ | 0€ |
| Joan Antoni Samaranch Olympic Sports Museum | 5,80€ | 0€ |
| MUHBA El Call | 7€ | 0€ |
| MUHBA Plaça del Rei | 7€ | 0€ |
| MUHBA Refugi 307 | 7€ | 0€ |
| MUHBA Via Sepulcral Romana | 7€ | 0€ |
| Antoni Tàpies Foundation | 8€ | 0€ |
| Ethnological and World Cultures Museum – Montcada | 5€ | 0€ |
| Ethnological and World Cultures Museum – Montjuïc Park | 5€ | 0€ |
| Frederic Marès Museum | 4,20€ | 0€ |
| Monastery of Pedralbes | 5€ | 0€ |
- Free access to cultural attractions and discounts are only valid once the card has been activated and for the duration of its validity.
- For example, if you activate a 3-day card at 4pm on Monday, like the Hola Barcelona, it will be valid until 4pm on Thursday (72 hours later).
- Please note! Temporary exhibitions are not always free. If you are interested in these exhibitions, in the case of the Picasso Museum, for example, you will have to pay a supplement at the ticket office.
Discounts on many museums and attractions in Barcelona
It also offers 20 or 25% discount on admission to several interesting tourist sites such as the Palau de la Música, and the Aquarium, among others.
Please note that in this case, the discount will be effective at the ticket office of the attractions concerned. You will have to queue and will not be able to book your tickets online. Discounts cannot be combined with other discounts on the same product.
| Barcelona Card discount | |
|---|---|
| Barcelona Tourist Bus | -10% |
| Casa Batlló | -7€ |
| Casa Milà – La Pedrera | -3€ |
| Casa Vicens | -25% |
| Colònia Güell | -20% |
| Vila Casas Foundation: Can Framis i Espais Volart Museum | -25% |
| Gaudí Experience | -20% |
| KBr Mapfre Foundation Barcelona Photo Center | -2€ |
| Christopher Columbus Viewpoint | -20% |
| Glòries Tower viewpoint | -20% |
| Archaeology Museum of Catalonia | -25% |
| Barcelona Wax Museum | -20% |
| Barcelona Erotic Museum | -25% |
| Perfume Museum | -40% |
| European Museum of Modern Art (MEAM) | -25% |
| Barcelona Maritime Museum | -20% |
| Palau de la Música Catalana | -25% |
| Güell Palace | -25% |
| Poble Espanyol of Barcelona | -25% |
| Sant Pau Recinte Modernista | -20% |
Get additional discounts
In addition to all these discounts, you will also be entitled to:
- Exclusive advantages in more than 80 shops.
- 50% off walking tours, the guided tours of the tourist office.
All the benefits of the Barcelona Card
- See all the advantages of the Barcelona Card on this page. Then simply click on the link: See the 2023 list.
With your card, you will also receive a guide in six languages (Catalan, Spanish, English, French, German, and Italian) which includes information on free access and discounts with their location in Barcelona.
The different prices of the Barcelona Card
The price of each card varies depending on your age and the length of your stay. It ranges from about 20 euros for a 3-day child card to 75 euros for a 5-day adult card.
| Duration and age of the buyer | Price without discount | Price with 10% discount thanks to our good deals 😉 |
|---|---|---|
| 72 hours – Adult | 53 € | 47,70 € |
| 72 hours – Child aged 4 to 12 | 30 € | 27 € |
| 96 hours – Adult | 63 € | 56,70 € |
| 96 hours – Child aged 4 to 12 | 40 € | 36 € |
| City Card 120 hours – adult | 75 € | 67,50 € |
| City Card 120 hours – children (aged 4-12) | 45 € | 40,50 € |
- The Barcelona Card can be picked up at any of the many tourist offices in Barcelona (except for Glòries, Liceu, Palau Robert, and Cathedral).
The Barcelona Card Express
- If you are only staying 2 days or a weekend in Barcelona, you can opt for this formula which offers discounts in places of interest and free transport for 48 hours.
- However, it does not offer the advantage of free admission to museums like its big sister, the Barcelona Card.
Where can I pick up the Barcelona Card or the Barcelona Card Express?
- Airport, Terminal T1: Monday to Friday, from 8am to 8:30pm. Saturday and Sunday: from 9am to 3pm.
- Airport, Terminal T2: Monday to Friday, from 8am to 8:30pm. Saturday, 8:30am to 8pm. Sunday, from 9am to 3pm.
- Plaça Catalunya 17-S: Every day, from 8:30am to 8:30pm.
- Plaça Catalunya (in front of Corte Inglés): Monday to Saturday, 9am to 8pm. Sunday, from 9am to 3pm.
- Tourist Information Office, Sagrada Familia: Monday and Sunday, from 8:30am to 2:30pm. Tuesday to Saturday, 8:30am to 8pm.
- Mirador de Colom (plaça Portal de la Pau): daily from 8:30am to 2:30pm. Closed on 11 September, 1 January and 25 December.
Please note that in cases of force majeure, these times may be modified.
The Barcelona Card: What is our opinion? Is it a good plan?
Yes, absolutely, because it has many advantages and will allow museum and culture lovers to save money, and even more if you book it here with a 10% discount.
- This pass is particularly suitable for tourists between the ages of 25 and 65, who are keen on cultural discoveries and whose stay in Barcelona ranges from 3 to 5 days.
- If your stay is longer, other public transport passes associated with the Articketbarcelona, a one-year pass for 6 museums in the city, may also be suitable.
- For students or senior citizens, there are undoubtedly more suitable formulas. In fact many museums and cultural centres already offer discounts. The Barcelona Card offers will not always be interesting.
Examples of stays with the Barcelona Card
It’s all very well and good, but I’m sure you’re asking yourself the question: Is it more cost-effective to take the Barcelona Card or buy the tickets to the museums you want to see separately?
So, I’ve prepared three scenarios that should give you an idea of when this card is and isn’t worth it.
Example 1: Lucie comes to visit Barcelona for a 3-day break
For this first example, I’d like to introduce you to Lucie, a person straight out of my imagination. She is 29 years old and loves art and architecture. Therefore, she comes to Barcelona to learn all about Gaudí, Catalan Art Nouveau, and modern art.
Like you, she wonders if the Barcelona Card is worth it for her short stay. After all, she won’t have time to see all the museums on the list.
Let’s assume that Lucie arrives on a Thursday evening at 9pm, leaves on Sunday at 6pm, and is staying near Plaça Catalunya. Given the length of her stay, she would opt for a 3-day Barcelona Card.
On Friday, she would visit her first museum at 10am, but she would go there by public transport, thus activating her Barcelona Card at 9.30am. The card would then be valid until Monday at 9.30am (72 hours).
Here is her schedule:
| Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
| – Picasso Museum – Casa Batlló – Stroll through the historic centre | – Casa Milà – Miró Foundation – CaixaForum | – Sagrada Familia – Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA) – Stroll along the seafront |
This is what she would pay without or with the Barcelona Card.
| Without the Barcelona Card | With the Barcelona Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Picasso Museum | 12€ | 0€ |
| Casa Batlló | 39€ (or 35€ online) | 32€ (7€ discount) |
| Casa Milà | 28€ (or 25€ online) | 25 (€3 discount) |
| Miró Foundation | 14€ | 0€ |
| CaixaForum | 6€ | 0€ |
| Sagrada Familia | 26€ | 26€ (not included in the Barcelona Card) |
| MACBA | 11€ | 0€ |
| Price of the Barcelona Card | – | 47,70€ |
| Cost of public transport | 22,61€ | 0€ |
| Total expenditure | 158,61€ | 130,70€ |
As you can see, Lucie saves 27.91€ by opting for the 72-hour Barcelona Card! That’s the equivalent of 11 glasses of vermouth at 2.5€ each (to drink in moderation) or a dozen Vinitus croquettes (to eat in moderation).
In Lucie’s case, the Barcelona Card is definitely a good plan.
Example 2: Jacqueline and Jean-Luc visit Barcelona for 5 days
Aaaah, finally! Jacqueline and Jean-Luc, a retired couple aged 65 and 66, have been dreaming of visiting Barcelona for years. This summer, they will finally be able to enjoy and explore the Catalan capital.
Both of them, like Lucie, whom they don’t know (but who knows, they might run into each other), love art and culture. They’re pretty cool and, unlike Lucie who visits at a frantic pace, they prefer to do one or two visits a day, tops.
They will arrive on Wednesday morning, leave on Sunday evening and stay near the historic centre.
Here is their schedule:
| Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
| – Walk in the Born and the Gothic Quarter – Picasso Museum | – Walk by the sea – Sagrada Familia | – Casa Batlló – Stroll along the Ramblas and in the Raval | – Miró Foundation – Walk in Montjuic, visit of its castle and Botanical Garden | – Casa Milà – Egyptian Museum of Barcelona – Last walk in the centre before going home |
They hesitate to take the 5-day Barcelona Card (120 hours) or to buy the tickets one by one. Let’s analyse the two options in detail:
| Without the Barcelona Card | With the Barcelona Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Picasso Museum | 12€ | 0€ |
| Sagrada Familia | 26€ | 26€ (not included in the Barcelona Card) |
| Casa Batlló | 39€ (or 35€ online) | 32€ (€7 discount) |
| Miró Foundation | 14€ | 0€ |
| Montjuic Castle | 5€ | 0€ |
| Botanical Garden | 3,50€ | 0€ |
| Casa Milà | 28€ (or 25€ online) | 25€ (€3 discount) |
| Egyptian Museum of Barcelona | 12€ | 0€ |
| Price of the Barcelona Card | – | 67,5€ |
| Cost of public transport | 36,29€ | 0€ |
| Total expenditure | 175,79€ | 151 € |
So if they take the Barcelona Card, Jacqueline and Jean-Luc save €24.79 each, which is a lot of croquetas and churros!
Example 3: Mathieu is visiting Barcelona for the3rd time
Mathieu, 27, studied Art History and works in a museum in Lille. He loves Barcelona and has already been there twice. The first time, he came with his family and visited all the famous monuments. The second time, he went with friends and toured the nightclubs (and also saw some monuments in his free time).
However, this trip will be different. He will come on his own so that he can quietly visit all the art museums while enjoying the local gastronomy he loves so much.
He will come on a weekend, from Friday evening to Sunday evening, and is reluctant to take the Barcelona Card Express. Here is his (busy) schedule:
| Saturday | Sunday | |
| 10am-2pm | – Picasso Museum – Tapas tasting in the Gothic Quarter – Stroll in the Raval | – CaixaForum – Stroll in Montjuïc – Lunch |
| Afternoon (3-8pm) | – Barcelona Centre for Contemporary Culture (CCCB) – Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA) | – Joan Miró Foundation – Last meal – Return to Lille |
Let’s see if the Barcelona Card Express is worth buying or not:
| Without the Barcelona Card Express | With the Barcelona Card Express | |
|---|---|---|
| Picasso Museum | 12€ | 0€ |
| CCCB | 6€ | 0€ |
| MACBA | 11€ | 0€ |
| CaixaForum | 6€ | 0€ |
| Joan Miró Foundation | 14€ | 0€ |
| Price of the Barcelona Card Express | – | 22,50€ |
| Cost of public transport | 15,58€ | 0€ |
| Total expenditure | 64,58€ | 22,50€ |
So Mathieu saves €42.08 by buying the Barcelona Card Express. In his case, it’s a very good plan and he’ll be able to enjoy a lot of tapas with his savings 😉
