Student discounts in Barcelona

Boasting several world-class universities, a world-renowned party scene and vibrant international culture, Barcelona is probably one of the best places on earth to be a student. What’s more, there are all manner of discounts available to help you manage life on a student budget. Let ShBarcelona be your guide.

Related article: All about the University of Barcelona

Carnet Jove and Tarjeta ESN

These are the must-have discount cards for students in Barcelona. Administered by the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Carnet Jove offers discounts on thousands of products and services for youths aged 12-30. It is open to all young people resident in Catalonia. There are two types of card available: financial and non-financial. The financial version is also a bank card which offers all the same discounts as well as a bank account from CaixaBank with special conditions. This version is open to youths aged 18-26. You can apply for the card at any branch of Caixabank: simply present your I.D. and proof of residence when you apply. You can also apply for the Carnet Jove online. There is a one-off application fee payable when you apply (currently €7.90). Discounts available are substantial and include entry to tourist attractions, restaurant, shopping and travel discounts. There are also further discounts available in Spain and all over Europe, so it’s certainly worth applying.

The Tarjeta ESN or ESN Card is the official membership card of the Erasmus Student Network in Spain. It is available to all international students who are members of the Erasmus Student Network, and as such, it offers a variety of Europe-wide discounts on travel, hotels, youth hostels and online shopping to name but a few. You need to apply for this card in person at your university’s ESN office. You will need proof of I.D. and residence as well as a passport-sized photograph.

Related article: How to get your empadronamiento

Other student discounts on offer in Barcelona

For getting around Barcelona, if you are under 25, you can take advantage of the T-Jove integrated travel card from TMB. This allows 90 days of unlimited travel on bus, train, tram and metro for just €105 (zone 1). You can buy your ticket at any train or metro station. You must input your passport or DNI/NIE number at the time of purchase as proof of age. You will also need to carry this document with you when traveling.

As a student in Barcelona, you can get discounts at many Barcelona landmarks like La Sagrada Família and La Pedrera, simply by showing your university’s student I.D. There are also many bars offering student nights.

Do you use one of these discount cards?