Crew guides · City guides
Barcelona layover guide for crew
Tapas bars, breakfast and coffee that crew recommend in Barcelona, plus metro and train options from El Prat, pickpocket warnings, tap water and 112.
Updated 29 October 2026
Most of the crew pins in Barcelona sit in Ciutat Vella, the old city that holds El Born, with a second group in the Eixample and Gràcia. A short turnaround suits the old city, where pins sit a few streets apart.
Food, early and late
In Ciutat Vella, crew pinned Bar Cañete on Carrer de la Unió, El Xampanyet on Carrer de Montcada, Bodega Oliva on Carrer del Vidre and 7 Portes on Passeig d'Isabel II as sit-down places. Up in the Eixample, Soma is on Carrer de Provença.
For breakfast, crew pinned Cafés El Magnifico on Carrer de l'Argenteria, and they tag La Balmesina on Carrer de Balmes for both breakfast and sit-down meals. If your flight lands late, read our guide to late-night food after a late arrival and check hours in the app.
Coffee
In El Born, Nomad Coffee Lab & Shop is on Passatge Sert and Hidden Coffee Roasters is on Carrer dels Canvis Vells. In the Eixample, Roast Club Cafè is on Carrer de València, and Syra Coffee is on Carrer de Sardenya in Gràcia.
Getting around and staying safe
From the airport. The city's metro and bus operator, TMB, says Metro line L9 Sud links Terminals 1 and 2 with the city at 7-minute intervals, and the ride takes about 30 minutes. Not all tickets work at the airport stations, and a single ticket is not valid, so buy a ticket or pass that allows airport access.
Trains, buses and taxis. ATM, the metropolitan transport authority, says the R2 Nord train leaves from Terminal 2 at about 30-minute intervals between 6 am and midnight, with a free shuttle bus between the terminals. Bus 46 runs between Plaça Espanya and both terminals. L9 Sud runs from 5 am to midnight Monday to Thursday, until 2 am on Fridays and the eve of public holidays, and non-stop on Saturday nights. ATM lists taxis and ride-hailing as available at any time.
Pickpockets. Smartraveller says petty crime is a serious problem in Barcelona, on public transport and in tourist areas. Thieves work at airports, including airside after security, and in restaurants and cafes, so keep your bag off the back of the chair and off the floor.
Drinks. Smartraveller says drink spiking can happen anywhere, so watch your drink while it is mixed and do not leave it alone.
Tap water. Aigües de Barcelona, the water company, calls its water 100 per cent safe and says it meets all the parameters with a health relevance. Spain's health ministry runs a national drinking water information system, SINAC, that gives the public information on water quality by supply zone. Our tap water guide covers other cities.
Emergency. Call 112 for police, ambulance and fire. Our guide to emergency numbers for crew cities lists the others, and our taxi and rideshare safety guide covers the ride home.
Find more on the map
All the spots crew recommend in Barcelona are on the On Chocks map. Filter by open now to see what is serving while you are up.
On Chocks is in free beta on TestFlight, or you can get one email when it's on the App Store.