Barcelona hop-on hop-off bus: routes, prices and who it's really for
The sightseeing bus is the most comfortable way to see Barcelona on day one — and an unnecessary expense for other profiles. Here are the routes, the stops that matter, 24 vs 48 hours and the honest math against the metro.
ⓘ Note: this is not the official website This is not the official website of any sightseeing bus operator. We are an independent guide: prices quoted come from the operators and from GetYourGuide, where bookings are processed.Tickets and tours to book
12 options · Prices checked on 18 October 2026
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City Tour Barcelona: 24-Hr or 48-Hr Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour
4.3 (1,625 reviews)
from €30.03Check dates
Barcelona City Tour: Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour with Eco Catamaran Cruise
4.4 (227 reviews)
from €44Check dates
The essentials in 20 seconds
| Price | Both companies: €33 (1 day / 24 h) · €44 (2 days / 48 h) per adult, 10% less on their own websites; children 4–12 €18 / €23 |
|---|---|
| Routes | Two rival companies, two routes each: Barcelona Bus Turístic (Red, Blue) and Barcelona City Tour (Green, Orange); ~2–2.5 h per loop |
| Frequency | Every ~10–25 minutes by season; first buses ~9:00, last departure from Plaça de Catalunya at 19:00 |
| Includes | Unlimited rides on that company's two routes, audio guide in 16 languages, earphones, Wi-Fi |
| Doesn't include | Monument tickets — book those separately |
| Easiest start | Plaça de Catalunya, where both companies' routes start |
Official fares of both operators (barcelonabusturistic.cat and barcelona.city-tour.com). Resellers such as GetYourGuide charge the full €33 / €44 but usually add free cancellation.
Who it pays off for (and who it doesn't)
| Profile | Best option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit, 1–2 days | Sightseeing bus | A city overview + transport between sights with zero thinking |
| Reduced mobility or small kids | Sightseeing bus | No metro stairs or transfers; strollers on board |
| Stays of 4+ days | T-casual / Hola BCN | ~€12 for 10 metro rides; the bus misses whole districts |
| Keen walker | On foot + occasional metro | The centre is compact; the bus loses time in traffic |
| Tight budget | Metro + this guide | The bus narration is fine; our pages are free |
The routes and the stops that matter
Barcelona Bus Turístic (TMB): Red and Blue routes
Run by TMB, the city's public transport company, together with Turisme de Barcelona. Red route: Plaça de Catalunya, Casa Batlló, Montjuïc (CaixaForum, Poble Espanyol, MNAC, Olympic Ring, Fundació Miró, cable car, Miramar), World Trade Center, Arc de Triomf, Sagrada Família, Poblenou, Fòrum and the beaches, Port Olímpic, Barceloneta and Colom, a short walk from the Aquarium. Blue route: Plaça de Catalunya, Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, Sant Pau, Park Güell, Tibidabo (Plaça Kennedy), Sarrià, Les Corts and Pedralbes. On GetYourGuide it is sold as City Sightseeing: Bus Turístic tickets.
Barcelona City Tour (Julià + Moventis): Green and Orange routes
A separate company, run by Julià and Moventis under a concession from the Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona; its buses are red too. Green route (east, ~2 h 10): Barceloneta, Port Olímpic, the Bogatell and Nova Mar Bella beaches, Fòrum, Sant Pau, Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Glòries and Ciutadella. Orange route (west, ~2 h 30): Montjuïc (Miramar, Fundació Miró, Olympic Ring, MNAC, Poble Espanyol), Camp Nou, L'Illa Diagonal, La Pedrera, Sagrada Família, Estació del Nord, the Zoo and the World Trade Center. The availability calendar and the main buttons on this page book City Tour.
Two companies: a ticket only works on its own buses
Both lines leave from Plaça de Catalunya, both call themselves official and both charge the same fares, but a Bus Turístic ticket is not valid on City Tour buses, nor the other way round. The rules differ too: Bus Turístic counts calendar days (a 1-day ticket ends when service closes on the day you first use it, so starting at 17:00 leaves you two hours) and tickets bought from it directly are non-refundable; City Tour counts 24 or 48 consecutive hours and its own website allows free cancellation until the day of use. Check the company name on your voucher before you queue. Our reviews: Barcelona Bus Turístic · Barcelona City Tour.
Which one to pick: for Tibidabo, Sarrià or Pedralbes, Bus Turístic's Blue route; for Camp Nou, City Tour's Orange route. Both cover the Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Montjuïc and the seafront. Sit on the top deck and bring sunscreen — two open-top hours in the sun add up.
How to squeeze the most out of it
- Start at 9:00. The first traffic-free loop is the fastest; the bus crawls through the Eixample from midday.
- Book capped monuments first. The bus drops you at the Sagrada Família's door — without a reserved slot, the door is all you'll see.
- Use City Tour's app. It shows where the buses are in real time: better to wait in a café than at the shelter.
- 48 h (2 days) for both routes. One day per route with relaxed stops; 24 h feels short beyond three hop-offs. Either way, the ticket covers only its own company's two routes.
- Combos add up: City Tour's bus + sailing cruise or the Aquarium combo shave a few euros if both were on your list anyway.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost?
€33 (1 day / 24 h) and €44 (2 days / 48 h) per adult with either company, 10% less on their own websites; children 4–12 pay €18 / €23 and under-4s ride free. Unlimited rides on that company's routes and the audio guide are included.
Tourist bus or metro?
First visit, reduced mobility or kids: bus. Longer stays and good walkers: T-casual (~€12/10 rides) with this guide as your narration.
What routes are there?
Two separate companies, two routes each. Barcelona Bus Turístic: Red (Montjuïc, Sagrada Família, seafront) and Blue (Passeig de Gràcia, Park Güell, Tibidabo, Pedralbes). Barcelona City Tour: Green (seafront, Sagrada Família, Park Güell) and Orange (Montjuïc, Camp Nou, La Pedrera). About 2–2.5 hours per loop. You can switch between your company's two routes, never onto the other company's buses.
How often does it run?
Every ~10–25 minutes by hour and season, from about 9:00; the last departure from Plaça de Catalunya is at 19:00. City Tour's app shows live times.
Are monument tickets included?
No. Sagrada Família and Park Güell run on capped time slots: book them separately and in advance.
24 or 48 hours?
24 h (1 day) for an overview with 2–3 hop-offs; 48 h (2 days) for both routes with unhurried visits — the difference is €11. Bus Turístic counts calendar days, not hours, so start early.
Hop on with your ticket on your phone
Buy online, validate as you board and forget the ticket booths. Free cancellation on most options.
See Barcelona City Tour tickets