Getting Around
Metro, buses, the airport link and the ticket that does not cover it. How to move around Barcelona without buying the wrong card.
This page settles one of three. Here they are in the order they actually bind — the exceptions are what the decision manual works through in full.
- 1
- 2Apartment or hotel — and is it licensed
The licence phase-out changes this call — check for the HUTB number before anything else, not after you book.
- 3The money gates once you're there, starting with the metro ticket
This category covers the airport-metro exception and the dollar-prompt; the tourist tax is a booking-time check, not a ground-level one.
Renting a Car in Spain: The Law vs the Rental Desk
Spanish law sets the real rules; the rental desk has its own separate playbook of upsells and holds — knowing which is which saves both money and hassle.
If You Have an Accident in a Rental Car in Spain
The paperwork every rental car carries for exactly this moment, and the calm sequence that gets you through it without making things worse.
E-Scooters in Barcelona: The Rules and the Fines
Barcelona's e-scooter rules are stricter than most American visitors expect — a real helmet law, a €500 sidewalk fine, and mandatory insurance.
Flying Inside Spain: When It Beats the Train
High-speed rail wins almost every matchup in Spain — except for the handful of destinations it simply can't reach quickly.
Through-Tickets and Separate Tickets in Spain
Spain's competing train operators don't share tickets — except for one free connection perk almost nobody knows to ask about.
Transport Strikes in Spain: How to See One Coming
Spanish law keeps a minimum of trains running even during a strike — here's the legal framework, your rights, and how to actually check before you travel.
When a Balearic Ferry Cancels, and What You're Owed
Weather cancels Balearic ferries more often than flights get cancelled — here's what EU law actually guarantees you, and what to do the moment it happens.
Ferries from Barcelona to the Balearics: Fast vs Slow
Three operators, three islands, and a real choice between a fast daytime crossing and a cheaper overnight one — which one actually fits your trip.
Taxis, Uber & Renting a Car in Barcelona: What to Know
How cheap regulated taxis work, the real (uncertain) story on Uber in 2026, the FreeNow app, and why renting a car is almost always a mistake.
Trains from Barcelona: AVE, Avlo, Ouigo & iryo Explained
Spain's budget high-speed network demystified — the four Madrid operators, how fares work, and booking without overpaying.
Barcelona Metro & Transit: T-casual, Hola Card, Paying
T-casual vs Hola Barcelona, how Zone 1 works, the 75-minute transfer, and the airport-ticket trap that catches visitors.
Barcelona Airport (BCN) to the City: Every Option Compared
Aerobús vs train vs metro vs taxi — real costs, real times, and the T-casual ticket trap that catches Americans at the gates.