Compare Barcelona flights

Leave from the south of England and you could be in Barcelona in just 2 hours; even the longest direct flight from the UK, from Glasgow, still comes in at comfortably under 3 hours.

If you’re travelling from further afield – Aberdeen, for instance – you can make connecting flights in destinations such as Amsterdam or Heathrow, adding about 3 hours to the journey time.

Barcelona Airport is located south of the city centre. A vast taxi rank offers you door-to-door service in an instant, with prices that will suit travelling families. A hire car or taxi will get you into the city centre in about 25 minutes.

Other options include the Aerobus service (which leaves from both terminals), the RENFE train service or the slower local bus service that visits many stops on the way.

Plan your itinerary well, because there's plenty to pack in. Neighbourhoods worth a visit include charming Gràcia, which is famed for Park Güell, and Eixample, home of the legendary cathedral La Sagrada Familia. Visiting these two Gaudi-designed wonders is almost compulsory for any visitor to Barcelona.

There are many more must-see sights in the city centre, such as the long (and these days rather congested) shopping avenue known as Las Ramblas, and the collections at the Picasso Museum. Take some time after sightseeing to relax on the sandy beaches of Barceloneta, or on the lawns of the nearby – and much quieter – Parc de la Ciutadella.

If you're keen to see other parts of Catalonia, you can hire a car at Barcelona Airport or in town. The old town of Girona, which has its own airport, is a medieval marvel, while the monastery of Montserrat promises stunning views of the surrounding hills.