Search Flights from Barcelona to Dubai

Capital of the autonomous community of Catalonia in Spain, Barcelona is one of Europe’s most important cities in terms of tourism and commerce. Barcelona is the 7^th most populated city in the European Union and is home to Spain’s second busiest airport. Serving 40 million passengers annually, Barcelona Airport is one of the major factors that contributes to the city’s tourism economy. The airport is easily accessible from the city, which has undergone significant transformations since the 1900’s.  

Rail

You can easily get to the airport using the rail system from the Old City, Barceloneta, or Sagrada Familia, which is one of the city’s most important monuments. By transferring to the Barcelona Sants Station, which is 7 stops from Catalunya Square, and 5 stops from Sagrada Familia, you can get on the 30-minute long train to the airport. Barcelona has been using metro and railway networks for urban transportation since the 1920’s. There is a transfer point located between each rail line. Thus, you can get from locations outside of the city and within the city to the airport without having to deal with above ground traffic.

Airport Buses

Catalunya Square, a few minutes walking distance from the districts of Ciutat Vella, Barceloneta and El Raval, is the departure point for the Aerobus buses that provide transportation to the airport. The bus lines A1 and A2 provide transportation to the airport during the day; the trip takes between 30 minutes and 1 hour. At night the N16 and N17 bus lines provide transportation to the airport.

These buses operate between 5 am and 12:30 am. During peak hours these buses run every 5 minutes. The fare for these buses is cheaper than taking a taxi.

Taxi

Another convenient mode of transportation to the get to Barcelona Airport, which is located 12 km from central Barcelona, is by taxi.

However, transportation from central locations in the city, especially if you’re traveling alone, can be quite expensive.

Personal Car

Driving from the city center or coastal areas to Barcelona Airport takes around 20 minutes. To get to the airport all you have to do is follow the wide and long avenue Gran Via De Les Corts Catalanes. Once you pass the bridge over Llobregat River you will enter the Castelldefels area and the road will continue to the airport access road. The airport is divided into 2 buildings; Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The airport stands out for its passenger capacity and parking capacity. The airport contains indoor and outdoor parking lots and has a total car park capacity of 19,000 vehicles.

Airport Information

Barcelona is a popular tourist destination, particularly for those coming from Northern Europe. Barcelona Airport, also known as Barcelona-El Prat Airport, offers a total of 42 restaurants, cafes, and pubs to ensure passengers have a pleasant time while at the airport.

Barcelona Airport also offers tax-free shopping services at the Duty Free shops. The airport also features free wireless internet connection and has an area dedicated to exhibitions and performances.

Taxi

Taxi rates in Dubai are quite cheap. Since the airport is located in such close proximity to the city center taxis are one of the most preferred methods of transportation. Especially if you’re traveling with a few people! Airport taxis belong to a state-run company and all of them operate by using a taximeter. Most of the taxi drivers are immigrants who speak English. The taxi ride to the city center from the airport is quite short, when there’s no traffic. For example, it takes about 10 minutes to get to the city center and about 15 minutes to get to the World Trade Center. You can find airport taxis at the arrivals hall exit of every terminal. 

Bus

Buses are the cheapest transportation alternative to get to the city center but taking a taxi is a bit more laborious. Buses are also a slower method of transportation especially if you have a lot of luggage and land during rush hour.  People who are familiar with the city generally prefer taking the bus. You can access different buses from the airport’s three terminals. However, the main bus line passes by the bus stop in front of Terminal 1. Most of the international flights to Dubai land at Terminal 1. Some lines pass by more than one terminal. There are bus lines with various routes that run every 20-30 minutes from Terminal 1. The most widely used bus lines to get to the city center are lines 401 and 402. Bus line 401 departs from Dubai International Airport and goes to the Al Sabkha stop, with stops along the way including DNATA, Al Maktoum Road, and Deira Taxi Station.

Bus line 402 departs from the airport and goes to the Al Ghubaiba stop, with stops along the way including Deira City Center, Al Karama, Golden Sands, and Al Mankhool.

In addition to these two main lines there are other lines that pass in front of Terminal 1. You can take the C1 bus to Satwa Bus Station, bus No. 4 to the Rashidiya stop or Gold Souq stop, or bus X28 to destinations that are further away, like the Jebel Ali stop. You can also access these stops taking other buses that follow different routes.

Buses usually operate from 5 am to 11 pm. The operating hours for certain bus lines can vary. There are also bus lines that operate at night. For example the C1 line is a night bus, which departs from Terminal 3, passes by Terminal 1, and runs on the following route to the Satwa Bus Station, Cargo Village, Flame Intersection, DNATA, Clock Tower, and El Maktum.

The N4 bus, which goes to the same station but passes through Deira City Center, is another. The N1 night bus departs from Terminal 2, stops at Terminal 1, and goes through Deira City Center all the way to the Jebel Ali Gardens.

Passengers going to Abu Dhabi from Dubai need to get on the buses departing from Al Ghubaiba. Abu Dhabi is located 160 km from the city center and the bus ride there takes about 2 hours.

Similarly, those who want to go to Sharjah, which is located 10 km from Dubai, can find buses that depart from the same stop. One thing to take note of is making sure to get your bus ticket or bus card before boarding the bus because you cannot pay in cash on the bus. You can purchase a single use or daily use bus card. You have to swipe your card twice on the bus, once when you get on and once when you get off. 

Metro

One of the easiest and most comfortable transportation alternatives to get to the city center is by metro. By using Dubai’s modern metro network you can get to the city center and surrounding locations avoiding any traffic. A standard metro ticket is slightly more expensive than the bus but it is still very reasonable. The metro also features different ticket classes for those who want a more comfortable experience. The Gold Class ticket is twice as much as a standard ticket. The Dubai Metro also has areas reserved solely for women and children. These areas are not mandatory but women who want can travel in a separate section by using these areas. The Dubai Metro runs from 5:50 am to midnight, except on Fridays. On Fridays the metro doesn’t start to run until 1 pm. If you have to go to the airport after midnight you won’t be able to use the metro.

The Dubai Metro operates two lines, the Red Line and the Green Line. You can access the Red Line from Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 at the airport. The metro system is fully automated and runs without a driver. The metro departs every 4 to 8 minutes.

Trains that depart from the Rashidiya Station to Jebel Ali Metro Station pass by the following stops respectively, Emirates, Airport Terminal 3, Airport Terminal 1, GIGICO, Deira City Center, Al Rigga, Union, Burjuman, Al Karama, Al Jafiliya, World Trade Center, Emirates Tower, Financial Centre, Dubai Mall, Business Bay, Noor Bank, First Gulf Bank, Mall of Emirates, Sharaf, Dubai Internet City, Nakheel, Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Lakes Tower, Nakheel Harbour, Ibn Battuta, Energy and Danube. A significant part of this route is above ground so you can enjoy views of the city. The Union and Burjuman stops along this route intersect with the Green Line, which passes through the Old City. Passengers can transfer to the Green Line from these stops and head to different areas. The Green Line operates between the Etisalat Metro Station and the Creek Metro Station. Stations on the Green Line are Etisalat, Al Qusais, Dubai Airport Free Zone, Al Nahda, Statdium, Al Qiyadah, Abu Hail, Abu Baker Al Siddique, Salah Al Din, Union, Baniyas Square, Palm Deira, Al Ras, Al Ghubaiba, Al Fahidi, Burjuman, Oud Metha, Dubai Healthcare City, Al Jadaf, and Creek. 

You can get off the metro at a stop that is convenient for you and transfer to a bus or take a taxi to reach your destination. There are many hotels and shopping centers that are located about 15-minutes away from these stops on foot.

Rental Car

You can rent a car at the airport from rental car companies located in each terminal. The price of gasoline in the city is fairly cheap, which allows for a more flexible itinerary. For example, if you rent a car while in Dubai you could travel to other cities in the United Arab Emirates like Abu Dhabi or Sharjah. Visiting these cities by car is much more convenient than using public transportation options.

There are 12 rental car companies at Dubai International Airport; Avis, Budget, Al Wefaq, Diamondlease, Dollar, Europcar, Fast, Hertz, National, Payless, Sixt and Thrifty.

Hotel Shuttle Service

There are many hotels in Dubai that offer shuttle services to and from the airport. However these services are usually for a cost. We recommend inquiring about these services when making your hotel reservation. Some hotels that are located in close proximity to the airport might offer this shuttle service for free.