What runs after midnight
The table below sums up what we could verify with each operator. When a service is marked “check the timetable”, the operator publishes its first and last departures in a timetable that changes from season to season, and we prefer to send you there rather than print a time that may be out of date.
| Option | Night service | Terminals | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerobús A1 / A2 | 24 hours, 365 days a year | T1 (A1), T2B and T2C (A2) | To Plaça de Catalunya; check night frequencies with the operator |
| Metro L9 Sud | Until midnight Mon–Thu and Sun, until 2:00 Fri, all night Sat | T1 and T2 | Last train times refer to the terminal stations |
| Rodalies R2 Nord | Does not run overnight | T2 | Check first and last trains on the Rodalies timetable |
| NitBus N17 / N18 | Night bus lines | N17: T1 · N18: T1 and T2 | To Plaça de Catalunya; check the AMB timetable |
| Official taxi | 24 hours | T1 and T2 | Night tariff T-2: €1.66 per km; €21 minimum from the airport |
| Free T1–T2 shuttle | 24 hours | T1 and T2 | Every 10 minutes between 0:00 and 5:00 |
| Private transfer (booked) | Any hour | T1 and T2 | Fixed price; driver tracks your flight |
The Aerobús: the one public service that never stops
According to Aerobús, the service runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, on both lines: A1 from Terminal 1 and A2 from Terminal 2. At night it keeps the same route to Plaça d’Espanya, Gran Via–Borrell, Plaça Universitat and Plaça de Catalunya at night too. It is the most reliable public option if you land between midnight and 5 am and your hotel is near one of those stops.
The limitation is the last stretch. At 2 am, a walk from Plaça de Catalunya with a suitcase may be fine in the centre and less appealing further out, and the metro may already be closed. Check the night frequencies in the lines and timetables section of the operator’s site, and the official fare.
The metro: depends on the day of the week
TMB’s operating hours are the key to night arrivals: the metro runs from 5:00 to midnight Monday to Thursday and on Sundays, from 5:00 to 2:00 on Fridays and the eve of public holidays, and continuously through Saturday night. The closing time is when the last train leaves the terminal station of each line, so the last connection from L9 Sud to another line can be earlier than you think.
If you land on a Saturday night, L9 Sud is an option at any hour. On a Tuesday at 0:30, it is not. Remember that the T-casual is not valid at the airport stations: you need the Airport ticket or a Hola Barcelona card.
The train: plan for the gap
The R2 Nord from Terminal 2 runs about every 30 minutes during the day but does not run through the night. If you land late in the evening, look up the last departure on the Rodalies timetable before you fly, and remember the time it takes to get from the gate to the station. Early in the morning the same applies in reverse: the first train may leave later than your flight requires if you are going the other way.
Night buses: N17 and N18
Barcelona’s night bus network, NitBus, is run under the AMB. Two lines serve the airport, according to Aena: the N17 between Plaça de Catalunya and Terminal 1, and the N18 between Plaça de Catalunya and both terminals. They are a budget option for travellers with light luggage who know their onward route; departure times and stops are on the AMB NitBus pages.
The taxi at night
Taxis wait at the ranks outside both terminals around the clock. At night the meter runs on tariff T-2: the AMB lists €1.66 per km for 2026 on weekday nights from 20:00 to 8:00, on Saturdays and on public holidays, compared with €1.35 on the daytime T-1. The €4.60 airport supplement and the €21 minimum for journeys from the airport apply at any hour. On some nights of the year (23–24 June, 24–25 December and 31 December–1 January) there is an extra €4.60 supplement.
Late at night the queue at the rank is usually short, though several arrivals landing together can change that. The taxi is the natural choice for one to four people who have not planned anything in advance.
A pre-booked transfer for late arrivals
Late arrivals are one of the situations where a pre-booked transfer makes most sense. Your flight number is tracked, so if you land at 1:40 instead of 23:55 the driver adjusts, and the price agreed when you booked does not change. QuickPickups, which publishes this guide, sells this service, and its booking box is marked on this page. It is especially useful if you are travelling with children (car seats on request), arriving as a group, or staying outside the centre where public transport is thin at night.
Practical tips for a night landing
- Download your hotel’s address and phone number before you fly, and tell the hotel you will check in late.
- Buy metro or Aerobús tickets in advance or have a contactless card ready; ticket offices may be closed.
- If you are in T1 and want the train, factor in the shuttle to T2: at night it runs every 10 minutes, according to Aena.
- Use only the official taxi rank or a transfer you booked yourself; decline unsolicited offers of a ride in the arrivals hall.
- If you will need to leave early in the morning for a return flight, see T1 vs T2 to plan the terminal.
QuickPickups booking service
Booking a private transfer: the usual questions
- Is the price really fixed?
- Yes. You see the full price for the vehicle before you pay, and it does not change with traffic, the route or the time of day.
- What if my flight is late?
- Your flight number is tracked in real time and the pick-up time is adjusted. At the airport you get 60 minutes of free waiting after landing; at the cruise port, 30 minutes.
- How will I find the driver?
- At the airport the driver meets you in the arrivals hall with a name sign. Your confirmation email has the contact details.
- Can I get child seats?
- Yes, on request when you book, for a small supplement shown before you pay. Tell us the age or weight of each child.
- Can I get an invoice?
- Yes. QUICKPICKUPS S.L. can issue an invoice for your booking, including one made out to your company.
- What if my plans change?
- Cancellations made more than 24 hours in advance are free. You can manage the booking from your confirmation email or by writing to [email protected].