Barcelona Sants station to the centre: metro, train, taxi
Sants is on the western side of the centre and Plaça de Catalunya is about 3.5 km away, so the ride is short whichever way you go. If you arrived on an AVE, the Rodalies commuter train to the centre costs nothing. Without that, the L3 metro at 2.90 euros is the cheap option and a taxi is the easy one.
- Cheapest
- FreeRodalies train (free with an AVE ticket) · 22 min
- Fastest
- 20 minBarcelona taxi · €10–€14
- Taxi
- €10–€14Barcelona taxi · 20 min
Rodalies train (free with an AVE ticket): Free for the group, about 22 min. No booking needed.
Train
Rodalies train (free with an AVE ticket)
22 min
For the groupFree
Rodalies train (free with an AVE ticket)
Rodalies de Catalunya · R3 to Plaça de Catalunya, R2 to Passeig de Gràcia
- Per person
- Free
- Door to door
- 22 min
- Runs
- -
- Frequency
- several trains an hour
- Board at
- Rodalies platforms inside Sants station, signed Rodalies
- Suitcases
- Fine
Taxi
Barcelona taxi
20 min
For the group€10–€14estimate
Barcelona taxi
Metered · rank outside the station, with a station supplement
- Per person
- €10–€14 per vehicle
- Door to door
- 20 min
- Runs
- 24 hours
- Frequency
- Rank outside the station
- Board at
- Taxi ranks at the main entrance on Plaça dels Països Catalans and on the Plaça Joan Peiró side
- Suitcases
- Carried for you
Metro
Metro L3
25 min
For the group€5.80
Metro L3
TMB · direct to Plaça de Catalunya, 7 stops
- Per person
- €2.90
- Door to door
- 25 min
- Runs
- 05:00–00:00
- Frequency
- every 4 min at peak
- Board at
- Sants Estació metro, reached through the L5 hall from the main concourse
- Suitcases
- Awkward
Every option in detail
TrainRodalies train (free with an AVE ticket)
- €0
- 22 min
- → Plaça de Catalunya (R3) or Passeig de Gràcia (R2), one stop from Sants
A ticket on an AVE, Alvia, Euromed or Intercity train includes a free Rodalies ticket, called Combinado Cercanías or Combinat Rodalies. At a Rodalies machine, press the Combinat Rodalies button at the top left and scan the barcode or type the five-digit code printed on your train ticket. It works for four hours before departure and four hours after arrival. Avlo tickets are not included, so those travellers pay the 2.90 euro single. R3 calls at Plaça de Catalunya, and R2 goes to Passeig de Gràcia, from where L3 is one stop to Catalunya or it is a 10 minute walk.
MetroMetro L3
- €2.90
- 25 min
- 05:00–00:00
- → Catalunya station, via Espanya, Paral·lel and Liceu
A single ticket is 2.90 euros from the machines at the metro entrance and covers metro and TMB buses only, not Rodalies. L3 runs direct from Sants Estació to Catalunya in about 15 minutes. The platforms are underground and reached by stairs or escalators, so with a big case allow extra time. L5 also calls here but does not reach Plaça de Catalunya, so stay on L3 for the centre.
TaxiBarcelona taxi
- €10–€14 per vehicle (estimate)
- 20 min
- 24 hours
- → Door to door, central Barcelona
The meter starts at 2.80 euros and runs at 1.35 euros per km on weekdays from 08:00 to 20:00, and at 1.66 euros per km in the evening, on Saturdays and on public holidays. A 2.55 euro supplement applies to any trip starting at Sants station. To Plaça de Catalunya expect about 10 to 14 euros and 15 to 20 minutes, depending on traffic. A vehicle with five to eight seats adds 4.60 euros. Wait for a taxi at the rank and ask for the meter.
The same trip in a different situation
Arriving late at night
Late AVE arrivals are the main issue. The metro runs until midnight from Sunday to Thursday, until 02:00 on Friday and all night on Saturday. After that the NitBus network takes over, with most routes meeting at Plaça de Catalunya. Rodalies trains thin out late in the evening, so check the Rodalies app for the last train to Passeig de Gràcia or Plaça de Catalunya before you count on it. The taxi ranks at Sants are used around the clock, but the queue after a late train can be long. Night rates at 1.66 euros per km apply from 20:00.
See the comparison →4 people, 4 suitcasesTravelling as a group of four
Four people on the L3 metro pay 11.60 euros in total. The Rodalies train is free for four people holding AVE tickets, so it is the cheapest choice if the luggage is manageable. A taxi at roughly 10 to 14 euros takes four with the bags to the door, which costs only a couple of euros more than the metro tickets. For three or four people with large suitcases the taxi is usually the better deal. A pre-booked car is not worth it for a ride this short.
See the comparison →Practical tips
- Sants has two entrances, one on Plaça dels Països Catalans (the main one) and one on Plaça Joan Peiró. Each has an official taxi rank, so use the one closest to your platform exit.
- The metro is reached through the L5 hall. Follow the Metro signs on the concourse, and L3 is the line toward Catalunya and Drassanes.
- Your Combinado Cercanías must be collected at a machine marked Rodalies, using the barcode or the five-digit code on your AVE ticket.
- A 2.90 euro metro single is not valid on Rodalies trains, and the free Rodalies ticket is not valid on the metro. Do not mix the two.
- Luggage lockers are inside the station near the main entrance, on the left as you walk in. Check the opening hours if you arrive late.
- Taxi fares from Sants include a 2.55 euro supplement. Do not accept a fixed price from anyone approaching you on the concourse.
Questions travellers ask
How do I get from Barcelona Sants to Plaça de Catalunya?
Take metro L3 direct from Sants Estació to Catalunya, about 15 minutes for 2.90 euros. With an AVE ticket you can also take the Rodalies R3 to Plaça de Catalunya at no charge.
Is the Rodalies train free from Sants with an AVE ticket?
Yes. AVE, Alvia, Euromed and Intercity tickets include a free Rodalies ticket for four hours before departure and four hours after arrival. Collect it at a Rodalies machine with the five-digit code on your ticket. Avlo tickets are not included.
How much is a taxi from Sants station to the centre?
Usually 10 to 14 euros on the meter to Plaça de Catalunya. The fare includes a 2.55 euro station supplement, and the ride takes 15 to 20 minutes.
Which metro lines serve Barcelona Sants station?
L3 (green) and L5 (blue) both stop at Sants Estació. L3 goes direct to Plaça de Catalunya, while L5 goes toward Diagonal and the Sagrada Família.
Does Barcelona Sants have a train to Passeig de Gràcia?
Yes, Rodalies R2 runs from Sants to Passeig de Gràcia, one stop. It is free with an AVE ticket and 2.90 euros otherwise. From Passeig de Gràcia, L3 is one stop to Catalunya.
