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A red Barcelona City Tour double-decker near Plaça d'Espanya

Bus Turístic or City Tour: which hop-on hop-off bus?

Barcelona has two hop-on hop-off companies, and both call themselves the official sightseeing bus. Here is what each one publishes, side by side, so you can pick on routes and ticket rules rather than on the name.

An independent guide: we are not Barcelona Bus Turístic, Barcelona City Tour or their official websites.

Photo: Antonio Vera, CC BY-SA 2.0, from Wikimedia Commons

On this page
  1. Two companies
  2. Side by side
  3. Where each one goes
  4. The ticket rule that matters most
  5. Accessibility, luggage and rules
  6. How to choose
  7. Questions and answers

Two companies

  • Barcelona Bus Turístic has run since 1987, with the support of Turisme de Barcelona and Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB), the city's public transport company. It says it is part of the City Sightseeing network.
  • Barcelona City Tour has run since 2009. Its terms name Julià Travel (JT) as the company behind it. Its buses are red and show the route they are on at the front.

Both describe themselves as official. We quote each one's own words and don't rank them.

Side by side

Bus TurísticCity Tour
RoutesRed and BlueGreen and Orange
Stops listed22 + 1414 + 20
Ticket valid1 or 2 calendar days24 or 48 consecutive hours
Adult price€33 / €44€33 / €44
Online, own website€29.70 / €39.60€29.70 / €39.60
First bus9am9am
Last departure6pm6pm
Frequency10–25 min7–10 min peak, 15–20 off-peak
Audio guide16 languages16 languages (15 in its FAQ)
Upgrade 1 → 2 daysNot mentionedOn board, paying the difference

Where each one goes

  • Sagrada Família: Bus Turístic Red Route and City Tour Orange Route stop there; City Tour's Green Route doesn't.
  • Park Güell: Bus Turístic Blue Route and City Tour Green Route.
  • Camp Nou: City Tour's Orange Route has a stop. Bus Turístic's Futbol Club Barcelona stop is out of service.
  • Tibidabo and Pedralbes: only Bus Turístic's Blue Route, with stops at Tibidabo - Plaça Kennedy, Sarrià and Monestir de Pedralbes.
  • Cruise port: both stop at the World Trade Center, near the cruise terminal.
  • Montjuïc, the beaches and the Fòrum: covered by both companies.

Full lists: routes and stops.

The ticket rule that matters most

A Bus Turístic ticket is valid for one calendar day or two consecutive calendar days: a one-day ticket first used at 3pm ends with that day's last bus. A City Tour ticket runs for 24 or 48 consecutive hours from first use.

If you arrive in Barcelona in the afternoon and want to ride the next morning too, City Tour's 24 hours cover both; with Bus Turístic you would need the two-day ticket.

Accessibility, luggage and rules

Bus TurísticCity Tour
WheelchairsRamp and wheelchair space on every busRamp on every bus, 1 wheelchair per bus
SuitcasesNo luggage racks; leave them in the central space on the lower deckSmall suitcases only; large suitcases not allowed
PushchairsFolded where possible, lower deckLower deck, in the wheelchair space
PetsOnly in a suitable carrierGuide dogs; small animals in a carrier
RainOpen-air: bring sun protectionUpper deck covered in bad weather

Neither allows eating, drinking or smoking on board.

How to choose

  • One full day, starting in the morning: the two are priced the same; pick by route.
  • Arriving in the afternoon: City Tour's 24 hours run into the next day.
  • Tibidabo, Sarrià or Pedralbes: Bus Turístic.
  • Camp Nou: City Tour, while the Bus Turístic stop is out of service.
  • Bus plus a boat trip: City Tour sells a catamaran combo.

Questions and answers

What is the difference between Bus Turístic and City Tour?

They are two companies with different routes, stops and tickets. Bus Turístic has the Red and Blue routes and day-based tickets; City Tour has the Green and Orange routes and 24 or 48-hour tickets.

Which hop-on hop-off bus is official in Barcelona?

Both call themselves official. Bus Turístic is run with TMB and Turisme de Barcelona and has operated since 1987; City Tour has operated since 2009.

Can I use a Bus Turístic ticket on City Tour buses?

No. Each ticket is valid only on its own company's buses.

Which is cheaper?

Neither: both charge €33 for an adult one-day ticket and €29.70 on their own websites.

Where our information comes from

Barcelona Bus Turístic hop-on hop-off from €30.50
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