| Getting Around Town |
|
|
|
|
Barcelona's public transport system is an easy-to-use and integrated service that makes travelling around with children, fairly manageable. As well as your more typical public transport options, Barcelona has a cable car, tramway and furnicular train among your other choices for getting around. The city is also great for cycling and you may wish to hire bikes while here for a group or individual tour using the many bike paths available. See also Barcelona sightseeing tours
Click here for an Interactive street map of Barcelona
Useful Transport Information  Barcelona Travel Cards Travel cards can be purchased at Metro ticket offices, tobacconists (tabacs) and at some newspaper kiosks around town. When you use the city’s public transport system with a travel card, you may travel on the same fare for up to 1hr 15mns. This means that you will only be charged once as you change between bus, metro, FGC, trams and suburban RENFE trains during this time period. For travel within the city’s Zone 1 (2008 prices): T10 card (10 trips): €7.20 1 Day Pass: €5.50 2 Day Pass: €10.00 3 Day Pass: €14.30 4 Day Pass: €18.30 5 Day Pass: €21.70 A Single Metro ticket:€1.30 A Single Bus ticket: €1.30 Taking the Bus with Kids If you have a travel card, validate it at one of the 2 machines as you enter the bus. There are preferential seats for people carrying young children, (along with the elderly and those with reduced mobility), so make sure you take a special seat when available. Those with prams will find 2 parking spaces on the bus where you can stand with your child. A polite nod or nudge will usually prompt any pramless travellers occupying these areas to step aside for you. Don’t forget to put on the brakes as in the city traffic you can often be subject to a jerky ride. Taking the Metro with Kids Barcelona’s metro system is fairly simple to negotiate. Frequent trains and clearly indicated arrival times make travelling by underground a fast and simpler option. Escalators are usually available but for those with prams, lifts (elevators) are few and far between. Main interchange stations will usually have lifts although you may have to walk a way to find them. Look for the sign that has a box with people in it when you get off the train. More lifts are being introduced. The Purple Line L2 has lifts at every station. People do tend to offer help to those struggling up steps with strollers but it can be quite tricky getting to the platforms let alone getting through some of the narrower gates. Put your ticket through and indicate to the ticket office person that you have a pram as there is usually a special wider gate for easier access. If not you may need to go through the exit gates the wrong way if your pram is wider than average. Taking Taxis with Kids The official line is that you should always travel with a car seat (for children under 3) or booster seat for children under 12 when riding in a Barcelona taxi whether you are in the city itself or travelling out of town. This is a grey area for some taxi drivers as although new laws in 2007 have made child seats obligatory, in practice, taxi drivers will most likely not be stopped for allowing children to travel without a seat. This is why many drivers will accept you on short trips. Of course, it is always preferable for a child to travel safely whatever the law may be.
Cable car starts from the Torre de Sant Sebastià (the tower at Sant Sebastià beach) in Barceloneta. The trip takes you via the Barcelona Bike Hire
Central Barcelona, near the Rambla. Bike hire with child seats possible. |
