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The Ultimate Accessibility Guide to Getting Around Barcelona by Metro

March, 2020 – updated in February, 2022

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Taking the metro on holiday can be a challenge. You do not know the city yet, and especially finding your way via public transport can be a hassle. You might have questions about wheelchair accessibility, the metro ticket prices, and which metros you need to take to your destination. No worries, we are here to give you an overview in this blog: ‘The Ultimate Accessibility Guide to Getting Around Barcelona by Metro.’

Scroll down for an accessible metro map of Barcelona!

The accessible entrances are marked with the blue wheelchair logo. The ones that are not accessible are marked with a black and white skull on the map.

The metro network in Barcelona

The Barcelona metro consists of 8 lines, 159 stations, and 150 trains. In total, this network is 121.4 km (75 miles) long! Even though it is an extensive network of tunnels, taking the metro is easier than it sounds. Each metro line is marked with a number after the letter L and a color. For example, you have lines L1, L2, and L3. You can easily recognize a metro entrance through the banner sign with the TMB logo and the capital letter M in red. You find all the information you need at the metro station’s entrance: the name, which lines you can take, a map of the metro, alternative access points, and the opening hours.

Before you travel, check out the direction by looking at the metro map. The line’s final station is stated in capitals. Also, these endpoints are shown on the signs in each metro station. If you require help, the TMB staff provides assistance and information about your journey. Moreover, you find monitors that show the waiting times on every platform. Metros appear almost every three to six minutes — waiting times are limited.

Once you are on the metro, they announce the upcoming stations and connections over the PA system. You can also see them on banners in the metro itself. Press the button or push the handle on the door to get off, and then follow the exit signs.

Metro accessibility and assistance in Barcelona

To enter and exit the metro, you can use the elevators. Most metro stations have lifts and are accessible for wheelchairs. Unfortunately, a couple of metros still do not have elevator entrances. Barcelona is working hard to make its metro network 100% wheelchair accessible. At the moment, less than a quarter of the 159 stations are not (yet) accessible for wheelchair users.

The bus network in Barcelona, however, is entirely wheelchair accessible. To see which metro stations are accessible, we have added a map at the bottom of this blog!

We recommend wheelchair users to board and disembark the metro via the second door of the first carriage. This part is one of the areas that offer the best visibility. You find designated seats for the elderly, pregnant, and people with reduced mobility in each carriage.

There are SOS buttons on the intercom on the metro if you need them. These are only for emergencies, and when you press the button, the Metro Control Center assists you.

BCN Metro Elevator
BCN Metro ticket machine
BCN Metro ticket options

Barcelona’s Metro tickets and prices

At the entrance of each metro station, you find ticket machines. To pass through the turnstiles, you insert your ticket to receive a stamp and open the gate. Once you are on the other side, hold on to this little piece of paper as you might need it upon exiting. Keep it somewhere safe as it is very fragile.

There are various kinds of tickets, depending on how many ‘zones’ you want to travel to and how long you stay in Barcelona. For everyone, there is a ticket that fits their needs. To give you an idea of the prices, a ticket for one zone, one ride (Bittlet senzil), costs 2.40 euros. Suppose you buy one but do not use it; your access will stay valid up until new price changes take into effect. They also offer a card for ten trips in one zone which costs 11.35 euros. Only one person can use this ten rides card (T-casual) simultaneously.

Furthermore, there is a T-familiar ticket. This ticket costs 10 euros and allows you to take eight rides that multiple people can use simultaneously. After one person has gone through the gates, they can pass the ticket to the next person. The travelers have a margin of 75 minutes between the first and last validation when changing lines or type of transport. This T-familiar card is valid until 30 days after its first validation. For further information about the ticket fares, we refer you to the ticket machines in the metro stations or click on this link.

How to pay for your metro ticket in Barcelona?

If you want to buy a metro ticket in cash, you need to pay in euros. When paying with your card, you choose between your currency and euros. Scanning your card to pay contactless is not an option; you have to insert your card into the ticket machine. The machine will give you a purchase receipt after the payment if you choose to receive one.

We hope you have a lovely stay in Barcelona!

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