Study Abroad

Going from living in my hometown with 2,000 people, to Columbia with 130,000 people, to now spending my summer in a city with 1.6 million. Each move has taught me a new way of getting around, and before I was used to my car, now it looks a lot different. Here is a guide to Barcelona’s public transport!

Here are the options for public transport:

• Metro: The closest metro stop to my apartment is only about a 7-minute walk so this is my transport method of choice to most places! This is also a great option in the summer because they are air conditioned so you do not have to deal with the Barcelona heat! The metro has lots of stops, and they run every 3-8 minutes so they’re very efficient for getting around.
• Buses: The buses are usually my second option when choosing between the public transport options! The bus stops vary depending on where you want to go but they are all around the city and my apartment so usually they are between 2-10 minutes walking from my apartment. Some of the newer buses are air conditioned, but sometimes they are not and can be a tad hot. The buses are ideal at night because they run all throughout the night and the metro closes at 12. They also run to the airport so it is great for weekend travelling!
• Trams: The trams are great when I need to go somewhere on the diagonal because that is the main place they run; however, I do not need to go there often so I do not really use them. They are similar to the metro but they run less frequently and are barely air conditioned so it gets HOT!
• Trains: The trains are used when wanting to travel outside the city limits, I took one to the airport once but had a bad experience. I was on a train to the airport and it stopped for a 30-minute delay, and then at the stop right before the airport it broke down and would not go any further. I thought I was going to miss my flight but thankfully I did not! I do not recommend them based on personal experience, I prefer the bus!

Tips for smooth travel:
I recommend buying a pass for the public transport, you can get a week, month or day pass! They are pretty cheap, my month pass is around 20 euros, so not bad at all. Using Google or Apple Maps is key just so you know which line to get on and which stops to take, but once you do it once it is super easy! Keep all your belongings on your lap, do not leave your purse sitting next to you or someone may take something out of it or the whole purse. Lastly, if you need help finding your way around or if you are unsure if you are on the right train or bus, just ask someone and they will help you!

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: Global Internship: Barcelona