mrsgo

Please....what is your recommendation for transportation from the Barcelona airport,a midweek morning, for a couple with luggage, to get to The Flower Market, Las Ramblas?
Cost? Safety? How easy is it to navigate the airport? How frequently is transportation available? Does one have to be careful about cab companies?

Your help is truly appreciated!

MrsGo

adrienne

Take a cab from the rank. I thought the Barcelona cabs were just as safe as cabs anywhere else. About E30. Navigate the airport? I really can't remember as I just followed the signs and the crowds to the exit. It's an airport - just like every other airport - they all blend together.

You're really over thinking this. I see you live in NJ. If you can safely cross a street in this state w/o getting run over by some woman driving an SUV, illegally yapping on her cell phone, and totally intent on running over every pedestrian she can, then you can safely navigate any place in the world.

Viajero2

My STRONG recommendation is that you take the BLUE BUS that leaves every 15 minutes from just outside the bagagge claim area and drops you in Plaza Catalunya (Cataluña) which is the start of Las Ramblas. It is 5 Euros per person; it is safe, comfortable and you get in the bus with your luggage. Cheaper would be by train but you have to drag your lugagge; this bus is the smart way to do it. You can't miss it; it is a HUGE Blue Bus.

As far as caution, I don't blame you for being "cautious" about Barcelona. The pickpocketers have supernatural powers, work in teams, and are everywhere. I have been all over the world and have never seen nothing as bad as in Barcelona. Just keep your wits, hide your valuables, watch each other's back.

adrienne

I was in Barcelona for 8 days and never saw any evidence of pick pockets, even on the Ramblas and in Barri Gotic. After a few days I forgot to be cautious. I think it helps if you look like you have nothing to steal!

SharonG

We took a cab from the airport to our hotel. There was a woman at the hotel desk who was completely freaked out because her luggage was in the hallway in front of the desk but near the door. She said people would just come in and grab your luggage from the bellman's trolley. I never saw roaming bands of luggage grabbing thieves and neither did I see pickpockets (I guess I wouldn't if they were that good). What I did see was a gorgeous city with lovely people. Kept my valuables close to me and never had a problem. Enjoy it is a wonderful city.

danon

I have been to Barcelona seven times and have never had a problem with pickpockets.
Going again three weeks from now.
I carry the same handbag as I do in my home town.
Don't get the panicky behavior .

The bus is cheaper if you don't mind walking to your hotel from Catalunya.

anyegr

I took the airport bus. It's right outside, maybe twenty meters from the door. Can't remember the color, but it's probably the blue bus that Viajero2 mentions. It was quick and felt perfectly safe. It was possible to pay in cash to the driver, although you should probably have as close to exact change as possible.

How much luggage do you have? I had a small rolling bag and I'm small enough that it fit beside my legs in front of the seat. A larger bag would have to be put somewhere else and you'd have to keep an eye on it.

If you have lots of bags it may be better to take a taxi, especially since there are two of you.

I never saw any pickpockets on my visit to Barcelona, but it was December and not as crowded as it's likely to be in summer. Much easier to hide things under three layers of clothing, too. I guess I'll find out how different it is in summer when I get back there in June.

Use common sense and a bit of extra caution. Don't leave your bags unattended. Don't carry around a lot of money. Never access a moneybelt in public. Keep some smaller coins in a pocket if you plan to give money to the living statues, so you don't show everyone where your real money is.

Robert2533

Yes, there are pickpockets working Barcelona, but they usually hang out in the metro and just about any place else that's busy with tourist who tend not to pay attention to what they are doing. Some are good (professionals), others are simply rude and aggressive. The thing is, few people will ever encounter one simply because of the shear numbers visiting Barcelona during the tourist season.

Just be aware of your surroundings, don't walk around overloaded, your hands full, and try to relax.

Christina

Don't worry about just getting a cab at the airport in Barcelona, I've done it several times. They were fine, I don't think they have a bad reputation there like in some cities. The airport is easy to navigate, it's not that big, very nice and modern.

I would take a taxi if I were you, given you are going near the Flower Market. I have taken the airport bus and it is great if your destination is near placa Catalunya or Universitat, but that's quite a ways from the Flower Market IMO, at least with much luggage.


There are certainly pickpockets in Barcelona, but I had no problems as I don't have pockets to pick (and I pay attention to my things, know how to take care of stuff). You usually don't see pickpockets, that's kind of the point, if they are any good.

Judy_Rosa

We took a cab, it cost around EUR30.

BigRuss

Cab is easy. The difference is about $20 between that and the bus and the cab will get you to the spot you need to be, the bus and train won't.

Tell mrgo to glare at everyone who looks hinky, don't flash your cash, don't put your money in your most accessible pocket, don't keep a stack of credit cards in your easily-ripped-off-your-shoulder bag and keep your valuables at home and you should be fine. I have a "don't f--- with me" face that works well and suffered no encroachments even walking La Rambla with two small distractions who look like my wife.

My old man once kicked a scammer in his rear end when the latter tried to block the escalator at a Metro exit by "tying his shoe" (neat trick for loafers). The scammer who pops made then buggered off and his partner ran past the old man to join his buddy outside the station.

Viajero2

Hilarious!! Thanks Cristina for making the point that the great pickpocketers are those who you would not even suspect. Really funny to read that people expect to see and notice pickpocketing activity...naive beyond words . I travel FREQUENTLY to Barcelona for business. I have seen the lines of Police Stations... yeah, it happens.

adrienne

I've seen pickpockets in other countries; some of them are quite obvious. I agree that the Spanish pickpockets must be adept.

IpMarc

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I advise the bus that drops you off at Plaza Catalunya, the displacement is more comfortable and you'll be off La Rambla.

All means of transportation are safe, but on the train have the chance to bump into a pickpocket