Information & Travel Guide for Barcelona El Prat Airport
Barcelona El Prat Airport, Spain (BCN)

Barcelona has an airport named Barcelona El Prat, which is operated by Anea Group. The airport itself is located to the southwest of Barcelona, in the towns of El Prat de Llobregat, Viladecans, and Santo Boi, which are located about 123 km from Barcelona.

Airport History

Barcelona's El Prat Airport is one of the oldest airports in Europe, dating back to 1916, when passenger aviation was pioneered in both Europe and America. The airport got its name because when it was originally founded, it was located on the farms of La Voleteria. During the war years between 1941 and 1946, the airport experienced some major upgrades to make it the top facility for the Catalonia Aviation Club, which was founded in 1938. It was in the 1960s when Barcelona saw major urbanization and El Prat became one of Spain's busiest commercial airports with Pan Am having inaugurated its first transatlantic flight from the US. By 1992, Barcelona El Prat has become one of Spain's busiest international airports.

Services and Amenities

El Prat has all kinds of fast food eateries from both the US, such as McDonalds, and from the EU. Along with the fast food joints, there is also fine dining available at Barcelona's El Prat Airport. One of the best restaurants located in the Departure Area A of Terminal T is Meda's Beer. This is a restaurant which primarily emphasizes on southern European beers and offers a rich palate of Mediterranean cuisine. Another good fine dining area at El Prat is Pans & Company, which is located in the public zone of the departures terminal. This is a great place to try out some tasty rolls with jelly which have a good European homemade feel to them.

Parking & Transportation

You can reach Barcelona from El Prat very easily with a wide variety of public transportation. There is reliable bus service which connects the airport directly to the city. Furthermore, there is also a shuttle bus which can transport you from terminal to terminal at the airport. You can also access Spain's Intercity Railway from El Prat Airport and travel not only to Barcelona, but to the surrounding regions as well. The international airport code of El Prat is BCN.

Security

Like in all major hotels, you will be required to pass through several security checks. It is best not to wear cumbersome shoes or clothing, and inform security officials of any electronics you might have on your person.

Surrounding Places to Stay

There are many hotels close to El Prat airport. Due to the heavy tourist flow, it is best to book a room online before you arrive to avoid inconvenience.

Travel Tips

Arrive well in advance of your flight's departure time to avoid inconvenience. If using the Aerobus to get to the airport, be wary of pickpockets. The airport has a lot of food and shopping options, so it might be a good idea to arrive in advance so you can look around.

Contact Information:

Website: http://www.aena-aeropuertos.es/csee/Satellite/Aeropuerto-Barcelona/en/Home.html
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +34 91 321 10 00
Address: 08820 Prat de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Number of Terminals: 3
Time Zone: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October)
Location: The airport is located 12km (8 miles) southwest of Barcelona
Airport code: BCN