Like any other busy metropolis, the capital of Catalonia can be a hassle to drive around in. To get around easily in Barcelona, it is important to be familiar with its public transportation systems.
Train stations are a major part of that system, allowing you to comfortably get to anywhere in the city. Here are the 5 main train stations you should know if you live (or plan on living) in Barcelona.
Table of Contents
Get to know Barcelona’s train stations
Barcelona Sants
Metro connections – Green and blue lines.
Located in the Sants neighbourhood, this is Barcelona’s largest railway station and the city’s most important transport hub.
Being Barcelona’s main train station, it provides service both in and around the city, as well as for the whole of Spain and beyond (including by high-speed train).
Photo via Pixabay
Barcelona Sants has a Wi-Fi network and offers plenty of other useful services such as car rental agencies and tourist information booths. Due to it being a central destination for travellers, there are several hotels and hostels located nearby.
Passeig de Gràcia
Metro connections – Purple, green and yellow lines.
Despite being one of city’s most central train stations, Passeig de Gràcia Renfe Station in Barcelona consists of only two platforms and its trains service only the region of Catalonia.
Photo by MiquelGP54 via Visualhunt
Its close proximity to Las Ramblas and Plaza de Catalunya makes it very convenient for tourists, who normally concentrate in that area of the city.
Since it has a total of five different entrances, it might be a bit confusing at first. If you’re heading for the trains and not the metro, it’s advisable that you use the entrance at the top of Passeig de Gràcia.
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Catalunya
Metro connections – Red and green lines.
Right on the intersection of El Raval, Bairri Gótic and Eixample stands the Catalunya railway station. Just like Passeig de Gràcia, its trains only travel within the borders of the Catalonian region.
It features a tourist information booth and a Police Station responsible for dealing with all metro-related crimes in the city of Barcelona.
Photo by ¡arturii! via Visualhunt
França
Metro connections – None.
With a total of fourteen platforms, França is the train station you’re most likely to use when catching an overnight train to another country.
What it lacks in additional services, it makes up in architectural beauty – Its station building is one of the most beautiful in all of Barcelona, with marble floors, a high ceiling and an Art Deco-inspired interior.
Related article: Discover the Lovely Province of Barcelona
Espanya
Metro connections – Red and green lines.
Espanya is located in Montjuïc, more exactly underneath Plaça d’Espanya, which is one of the most important squares in the city of Barcelona.
It serves as an interchange complex that connects several different railway routes from all over Spain.
Photo by SantiMB via Visualhunt
In addition, it is also connected to two of the city’s metro lines, making it really simple to get from Montjuïc to anywhere you need to be.
Has all this talk of trains woken up the intrepid traveler in you? Or were you wondering: “Where is the Renfe train station in Barcelona?” Well, now you know!
There is a lot to see, not only in Barcelona but also in the rest of Spain, so we definitely recommend that you use these train stations as a trampoline for adventure. Go explore and have fun!
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Have you taken the train in or around Barcelona?
Share your tips with other readers!
We are staying at the H10 Raco del Pi Hotel in September. We will leave there and plan to travel by train to Carcassonne, France on October 1. Which train station should we leave from?