Barcelona's Metro, run by TMB (Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona) alongside FGC suburban lines and buses, uses a rechargeable card system rather than disposable paper singles for most fares. The practical answer to "how do I pay?" is to choose between the T-Casual (a pay-as-you-go multi-trip card, good value for moderate use) and the Hola Barcelona travel card (unlimited travel for a set number of days, aimed squarely at visitors) — both work the same way at the gates, tapping on entry.
T-Casual: the pay-as-you-go option
The T-Casual is a rechargeable card loaded with 10 trips, shareable between several people travelling together (each person taps their own trip off the same card). It replaced the old paper T-10 ticket, and it's the standard choice if you're not confident you'll use enough trips to justify an unlimited pass. Trips include free transfers between Metro, bus, tram and some suburban trains within zone 1 for up to a set time window after your first tap, so a short walk-and-change journey still counts as one trip rather than two.
Hola Barcelona: the visitor pass
The Hola Barcelona travel card gives unlimited travel across Metro, bus, tram, FGC suburban trains and Rodalies commuter rail within zone 1, for a continuous run of 2, 3, 4 or 5 days from first use. It's specifically marketed at tourists and can be bought online in advance (collected at the airport or a station on arrival) or bought directly at machines and TMB customer points in the city. If you know you'll be making several trips most days of your stay, it removes the need to track how many rides are left on a T-Casual.
Buying and topping up
Both the T-Casual and Hola Barcelona cards are sold at:
- TMB ticket machines at every Metro station, with an English-language option, taking cash and card.
- Hola Barcelona-specific points, including the airport, tourist offices and some FGC stations.
- Online in advance for the Hola Barcelona card, useful if you want it ready before you land.
Zones: what zone 1 covers
Almost everything a typical visitor wants to reach — the Gothic Quarter, Sagrada Família, Park Güell, the beaches, Camp Nou — sits within zone 1, which is what both the T-Casual and standard Hola Barcelona cards cover. You only need to think about zones beyond that for specific out-of-town trips, such as certain FGC lines heading into the surrounding hills and towns, or the airport connection covered below.
Getting to and from the airport
Barcelona–El Prat Airport sits within zone 1 for Metro purposes (served by line L9 Sud), so a standard T-Casual trip or a Hola Barcelona card does cover the Metro route to the airport — a genuine convenience compared with cities like Madrid or Paris, where the airport needs its own supplement or separate ticket. The alternative Aerobus service and the Rodalies R2 Nord train to the airport are priced and ticketed separately from the Metro fare, so if you're taking one of those instead of the Metro, budget for a distinct ticket. See our Barcelona airport to the city guide for how the Metro, Aerobus and train options compare, and our Barcelona Metro guide for the network itself.
Trams and buses
The same T-Casual and Hola Barcelona cards cover Barcelona's tram network and TMB city buses, with free transfers included under the same rules as Metro-to-Metro changes. Tap on as you board a bus or tram; there's no need to tap again to exit, similar to Paris.
Contactless bank cards
Barcelona has been rolling out contactless bank card payment on parts of the TMB network, letting you tap a bank card or phone wallet directly at some Metro and bus readers as an alternative to buying a T-Casual or Hola Barcelona card. Coverage is expanding but isn't guaranteed at every single gate yet, so it's sensible to have a T-Casual or Hola Barcelona card as a backup rather than assuming contactless will work everywhere on your route.
Which option suits your trip
- A weekend with light use — a T-Casual, shared between your group if travelling together.
- Three to five days of heavy sightseeing — a Hola Barcelona card matched to the length of your stay, since unlimited travel usually beats tracking individual trips at that pace.
- A trip that's mostly walking with occasional Metro use — a T-Casual will likely outlast a Hola Barcelona card's cost advantage; only switch to the pass if you're confident you'll ride several times a day.
- An airport transfer by Metro — already covered by a standard T-Casual trip or Hola Barcelona card, unlike many other European cities.
Arriving from Madrid or heading there next? Our Madrid metro tickets guide covers a noticeably different card system. For the general logic behind zones and passes wherever you travel next, see our guide to understanding fare zones, guide to whether transit day passes are worth it and travel glossary.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between T-Casual and Hola Barcelona?
T-Casual is a pay-as-you-go card loaded with 10 individual trips, best for moderate use. Hola Barcelona is an unlimited-travel pass for a continuous 2–5 day period, better value if you're making several trips most days of your visit.
Does a normal Metro ticket cover the airport?
Yes, if you're travelling via Metro line L9 Sud — El Prat Airport sits within zone 1, so a standard T-Casual trip or Hola Barcelona card covers it. The separate Aerobus and Rodalies train options are ticketed independently of the Metro fare.
Can several people share one T-Casual card?
Yes — the card holds 10 trips in total, and each person in a group can tap their own trip off the same card as they pass through the gate, one at a time.
Can I use a contactless bank card on the Barcelona Metro?
On a growing number of Metro and bus readers, yes, but coverage isn't complete across the whole network yet. It's best used as a convenience where available, with a T-Casual or Hola Barcelona card as your reliable backup.
Sources and further reading:
- TMB (Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona) official fares and Hola Barcelona pages.
- ATM Àrea de Barcelona zone and integrated fare information.