Moving around Barcelona in a sustainable way

Every day, hundreds of thousands of people move around in safety while having a low impact on the environment thanks to public transport. The technologies that have made Barcelona one of the leading Smart Cities in Europe guarantee increasingly convenient and straightforward journeys around the city. There are a number of options.

Getting around by metro

The Barcelona Metro system, with its eight lines, is fast and efficient and can even take you to the airport, and connects with the Ferrocarriles de la Generalitat FGC system that links Barcelona with nearby cities.

Getting around by tram

The Tram has become the real star of the city. Trams used to ply the streets many years ago, and Barcelona has now recovered them with a modern, accessible, eco-friendly system. The service covers six routes by the TramBaix and Trambesós lines and connects Barcelona with the municipalities in the metropolitan ring. This modern tram system has replaced the rattling old vehicles of the past with a smooth, comfortable journey along some of the city's most important arteries.

Getting around by bus

Part of the city's fleet of buses are powered by natural gas or hybrid systems which has made them a much more efficient and less contaminating option. Indeed, it is considered to be one of the cleanest bus networks in Europe. The new urban network design is based on a grid pattern that crosses the city vertically, horizontally and diagonally which means they can reach every corner of the city, operate more frequently, and provide easy connections with other modes of transport.

Getting around with an electric vehicle

Electric mobility is an option that offers energy and environmental advantages. It is efficient, does not generate emissions, reduces noise pollution and is an ecological solution for getting around the city freely and responsibly. Enjoy discovering Barcelona by renting an electric vehicle through the SEAT Mó sustainable mobility service.

Getting around by bicycle

Is cycling your thing? Then you've got nothing to worry about, because this is one of the most widely-used forms of transport by Barcelona residents, whether on conventional or electric bikes. This is a really convenient option because the city has more than 240 kilometers of cycle lanes, so we make it easy for you to move around in a practical, environmentally-friendly and healthy way. You'll find both one-way and two-way cycle lanes, either on the sidewalks or the streets themselves, and always protected from cars and other vehicles.

Apart from just moving from one place to another, you also have the option of visiting the city by bike. For example, the green route is a signposted circuit of cycle paths and lanes that covers a total of 72 kilometers around the city, taking in neighboring municipalities and running between the parks of Collserola, Montjuïc and the seafront. You might also opt for a guided bicycle tour of the Barcelona: click here to find the one that best suits you.

Getting around by taxi

Another transport option that is increasingly aware of its environmental responsibility is the taxi. You can hire them at the taxi ranks across the city, by calling the radio taxi service, or by using one of the convenient free apps provided by taxi companies in the city. The fleet of taxis is already made up of a large number of vehicles that use clean energy to ensure they operate in a more sustainable and less polluting way. The Taxi Ecològic company has the largest network of 100% electric taxis in the Barcelona area, in addition to hybrid vehicles.

People with reduced mobility have at their disposal an adapted taxi service which operates exactly like all the other taxis: with a taximeter and the same rates. You can find a list of adapted taxi companies and drivers here. In addition, all the taxis in the city are obliged to transport guide dogs at no extra charge.

Accessibility

All these modes of transport have been optimally adapted so that people with reduced mobility can use them easily across the public transport network. Some 91% of metro stations now have elevators, all the buses have access ramps, and the Tram is accessible to people with different disabilities. People with impaired vision can use the NaviLens smart labels, a technology that provides signage and information on metro and bus services by means of scanning with a smartphone app. Each space is labelled and described so people with any kind of visual impairment can navigate entrances and exits independently. You can find more information on accessibility here.