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.

If you want to travel to Pleven, located near the northern border of Bulgaria, you can travel through Sofia International Airport which is 170 kilometers away from the city. For transportation to Pleven city center from Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, you can prefer Sofia taxis waiting for the passengers in front of the terminal building, or rent a car from the car rental companies having offices at the airport. Other means of transport you can prefer to travel from Sofia International Airport to Pleven include minibuses, private transfer services and buses. Hotel shuttle service on this route is not a frequently-used option. However, you can contact your hotel in Pleven and take advantage of this option, if available, to reach Pleven from the airport.

Taxi

Taxi option is among the most frequently preferred alternatives to arrive in Pleven from Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria. It is quite easy to find a taxi at Sofia International Airport. Once you get off the plane, you can take a taxi at the exit gates of the terminal building and start your journey towards Pleven. You will travel more than 163 kilometers to reach Pleven from the international airport in the capital. This often costs a high fare for the passengers who prefer traveling by taxi; however, taxis are often preferred for the comfortable and fast service they provide. The average fare to get to the city center from the airport is 90-100 Euros. Before leaving the airport, you can tell the driver about where you want to go; then, you can get information about the estimated fare you are going to pay and head towards Pleven.

Bus

You can take the bus number 84 departing from Sofia Airport and transfer to the tram in the city center, where you can head towards the train station. Once you reach the train station, you can take the train to reach Pleven. Traveling by bus, tram and train transfer is a slower and more time-consuming option compared to taxi or private transfer services, but they provide a much more affordable transfer. You can find the bus stop at the airport without having any difficulty and take the bus running between 5am and midnight.

Train

In order to reach Pleven by train from the airport in Sofia, you should firstly get to the train station in the city center by taking a taxi or bus in front of the airport terminal and then take the train to Pleven. Traveling to Pleven by train is usually a more time-consuming option than other alternatives but if you have enough time for traveling at an affordable price, you can prefer the train option conveniently.

Private Transfer Services

One of the best alternatives for those who prefer a direct and fast option from the airport to Pleven is the private transfer services that you can take anytime. If you want to take advantage of the private services providing transfer service for the passengers at fixed rates for certain distances, all you need to do is make a reservation at one of the private transfer companies of your choice before your flight to Sofia Airport. If you are traveling as a group, you can enjoy this service paying an average of 100 Euros up to 3 or 4 persons, 120 Euros for up to 8 persons, and 170 Euros up to 14 persons.

Luxury Transfer Services

During your journey from Sofia Airport to Pleven, you can book one of the luxury transfer vehicles with different passenger capacities. Luxury transfer vehicles pick up passengers in front of the terminal building and take them to their destination in Pleven. The price of this luxury service varies depending on the season and the number of passengers, but it usually ranges from 140 Euros to 180 Euros. Although the cost of luxury transfer service is high, it is possible to enjoy affordable prices by making a reservation for your departure and return journeys at the same time.

Rent a car

Once you arrive at Sofia Airport, you will find a large number of car rental offices. You can enjoy traveling without being dependent on any public transport anytime by renting a car from these offices just in a few minutes. Choice Rent A Car, AVIS, Europcar, Hertz, Enterprise, Sixt, Avtojet, Moto Pfohe, Tany 97, and Thrifty are among the global and local car rental companies providing this service at Sofia Airport. Making your reservation contacting one of these companies over the phone or the internet in advance to rent a car will save you time and help you find your rental car ready to travel without wasting time when you arrive at the airport. You may need your travel documents such as your passport as well as your driver's licence with international validity to rent a car in the city. You should get information about the documents required before renting a car. Once you rent a car, get behind the wheel and head North to get to Pleven for a journey about 200 kilometers.