How to know which terminal you need
Your terminal depends on your airline, and sometimes on the specific flight. It is printed on most booking confirmations and boarding passes; if not, check the flight on the departures and arrivals pages of the Aena website or on your airline’s app. Do this on the day: changes are rare but do happen.
Terminal 2 is itself split into three areas, T2A, T2B and T2C. Aena says it is about 2 minutes on foot from T2A to T2B and about 5 minutes from T2B to T2C, so inside T2 you can walk. Between T1 and T2 you cannot: you need the shuttle bus, a taxi or a car.
The free shuttle bus between terminals
A free shuttle bus links the two terminals 24 hours a day, every day of the year. According to Aena, it leaves every 5 minutes between 8:00 and 20:00, every 7 minutes from 5:00 to 8:00 and from 20:00 to midnight, and every 10 minutes from midnight to 5:00. The ride takes about 10 minutes from T1 to T2 and about 14 minutes from T2 to T1.
At T1 it stops on level 0 (arrivals) and level 3 (departures); at T2 it stops at T2B and on the external road at T2C. If you are connecting between flights in different terminals, remember that you may have to collect and recheck your luggage, which adds a lot more time than the bus itself.
What serves each terminal
| Service | Terminal 1 | Terminal 2 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro L9 Sud | Aeroport T1 station, level 0 | Aeroport T2 station, level 0 | Airport ticket or Hola Barcelona; T-casual not valid |
| Rodalies R2 Nord train | No (shuttle to T2 first) | Yes, station next to the terminal | About one train every 30 minutes |
| Aerobús | Line A1 | Line A2 (T2B and T2C) | 24 hours; to Plaça de Catalunya |
| City bus 46 | Yes, level 0 arrivals | Yes (T2A/B, T2B, T2C) | To Plaça d’Espanya |
| Night bus | N17 and N18 | N18 | To Plaça de Catalunya |
| Official taxi | Rank on level 0, opposite arrivals | Ranks at each arrivals area (T2A, T2B, T2C) | Only black-and-yellow taxis are official |
The main point to take away: the train only serves T2. If you land at T1 and want the train, add the shuttle. If you land at T2 and want the Aerobús, make sure you take the A2, not the A1, back to the airport.
Terminal 1
T1 is the larger, newer terminal, a single building with arrivals on level 0 and departures on level 3. The metro station is on level 0, the Aerobús A1 stops at departures (level 3) and arrivals (level 0), and the taxi rank is on level 0 opposite the arrivals exits, according to Aena, which notes separate ranks for pre-booked and non-booked taxis.
If someone is collecting you at T1, agree to meet in the arrivals hall on level 0, after the exits from baggage reclaim. The hall is long and has several exits, so tell the person collecting you which arrivals exit you are coming out of, or follow the signs to the meeting point.
Terminal 2
T2 is older and spread across three connected buildings, T2A, T2B and T2C. The train station is next to the terminal, the metro station is on level 0, and the Aerobús A2 stops at T2B and T2C. Each arrivals area has its own taxi ranks.
If you are being collected at T2, the exact area matters: T2A, T2B and T2C each have their own arrivals exit. Your flight information or the screens in baggage reclaim show which one you will come out of.
Departing: allow for the right terminal
When you fly home, the terminal question comes back. If you are going by train, you will arrive at T2 whatever your terminal; for a T1 flight, allow 15 to 20 minutes for the shuttle and the walk. If you go by metro, get off at the right station: Aeroport T1 and Aeroport T2 are different stops on L9 Sud. By taxi or transfer, tell the driver the terminal, and for T2 the area if you know it.
Getting into the city from either terminal is covered in detail in our guide to every option from the airport to the centre. If you are travelling with children, see kids and car seats; if you land late, see arriving at night.
Common mistakes, and how to avoid them
- Taking the train to the airport for a T1 flight without allowing for the shuttle. Add 15 to 20 minutes, or take metro L9 Sud, which stops inside T1.
- Getting off L9 Sud at the first airport station out of habit. Coming from the city, Aeroport T2 comes first and Aeroport T1 is the end of the line; check which is yours before the doors open.
- Taking the wrong Aerobús back to the airport. A1 goes to T1, A2 to T2; both leave from Plaça de Catalunya.
- Arranging to be collected “at the airport” without saying which terminal, or for T2 which area. Send the person collecting you your flight number; the terminal follows from it.
- Relying on an old booking or an old guide. Airlines occasionally move between terminals, so look at the departures board or the Aena flight information on the day.
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].