Barcelona City Pass Experience

Sofronio Cobos

Updated: 26 May 2026 ·

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My Barcelona City Pass Test and Experiences Compared to Alternative Sightseeing Passes

My Barcelona City Pass Test and Experiences Compared to Alternative Sightseeing Passes

Imagine you're in Barcelona. You haven't planned anything in advance and find out on-site that the line at the Sagrada Família is extremely long (it often wraps around several corners!), tickets for other attractions are sold out, and everything ends up becoming far too expensive. That would be really frustrating, right? That's why our tip: Buy a "City Pass" for the city before your trip. The official card, though not the best, is the Barcelona Card. As an alternative, there's the Barcelona Digital Pass, the Go City Barcelona Pass, and the Turbopass Barcelona.

Here, I've created an overview of the most important Barcelona City Passes. I've summarized my experiences with the Go City Barcelona Pass, Barcelona Card, and Turbopass (City Pass).

Read in this article in the Barcelona City Pass comparison which one is worth it for you. Who wants to stand in line constantly during a short trip? Saving time and money sounds much better!

What is a Barcelona City Pass?

In more and more cities, City Passes for attractions, sights, and tours are offered. These "City Passes" are special cards that allow you to visit a certain number of landmarks and museums.

The benefits of a City Card are clear:

1 ticket for many attractions, you don't have to constantly keep an eye on your travel budget.

A city pass is often cheaper than buying individual tickets for everything.

Priority access allows you to skip many lines at popular sights in Barcelona and use separate entrances. So you save both time and money. Genius, right?

You discover many more places that are included that you otherwise wouldn't have visited.

Ideal: Almost all city passes include a ticket for the hop-on-hop-off bus.

Some city passes are only valid for a certain number of days, while others are valid for a certain number of activities. You have the choice and thus maximum flexibility.

Sometimes they also include rides on public transportation, airport transfers, tickets for the hop-on-hop-off bus, or discounts for restaurants and shops.

In this article about the big Barcelona City Pass comparison, you'll find all the information, including pros and cons of the respective discount passes for Barcelona. If you don't want to read everything, scroll directly to the comparison of the Barcelona City Pass in table form.

The tourist passes for Barcelona differ in small details and the included attractions and discounts, which I will list below.

The Most Important Barcelona City Cards at a Glance

Finding the right Barcelona City Pass for attractions and sightseeing is not easy. There are 4 different passes available for Barcelona that can save you money and time during your short trip.

Explorer Pass Barcelona starting at $74 and Go City All-Inclusive Pass all-inclusive starting at $154.

Barcelona Card (Official and oldest pass of the city of Barcelona) - starting at $55.

Barcelona Digital Pass "Barcelona Pass" - $86.50.

Turbopass Barcelona (also called Barcelona City Pass) starting at $129.90.

My experience (2025): The Turbopass Barcelona (Barcelona City Pass) and the Barcelona Card without the Gaudí package are currently not worth it. The best pass for attractions is currently the Go City Barcelona Pass (check out my experience report here).

Another note: Prices are adjusted by the providers several times a year. Always check the prices through the links on the official websites!

When planning your Barcelona trip, you will at least find a note about the Barcelona City tourist cards in your travel guide.

However, these passes are not always worth it. And since there are several passes, one can quickly lose track. While it is worthwhile to take a close look in any case, collecting and comparing the offers is often confusing and time-consuming. That's why we do the work for you and have compared and tested the passes!

Which Barcelona City Pass is the most worthwhile? What are the differences between the sightseeing passes? Is there a best Barcelona pass?

Enjoy reading!

Don't feel like reading further?

Best Pass: Go City Barcelona All-Inclusive Pass

The best Barcelona sightseeing pass right now is the Barcelona all-inclusive Pass for Barcelona. It really includes almost all the highlights you want to see. In terms of value for money, there's no better pass for 2025. ⚠️ We have a discount deal for the Barcelona Pass! When booking through this link, enter discount code AFFGOALL (all caps) to save an additional 5% on the purchase of a pass.

Is this your first time in Barcelona? Then buy the Go City Barcelona Pass.

This pass includes the main attractions in Barcelona (Sagrada Família without waiting on a guided tour, Park Güell with guided tour, Casa Milà and Casa Batlló) for free without waiting in line. These highlights are a must-see on your first visit to Barcelona.

Also included is the ticket for the hop-on-hop-off bus and the harbor tour. Ideal for a first impression. If you have a bit more time, more than 35 attractions are included in the pass. Popular options include the "FC Barcelona Experience" at Camp Nou, the famous soccer club's football stadium, the aquarium, or walking and biking tours through the old town to the highlights. A special highlight is the transfer to Montserrat, which you can explore on your own. I also recommend the Picasso Museum (with a guided tour) and the tour of my favorite park, Park Güell.

Public transport and the airport transfer are not included in the Barcelona Pass. You actually don't need them. With the public buses and metros, you can quickly get to the center. But once there, you can actually reach everything conveniently on foot. 10-trip tickets (T-Casual) for the metro or the Hola Barcelona Card for public transport with airport transfer are also cheaper.

For Example: The Services of the Explorer Pass All-Inclusive from Go City (My Recommendation):

Free entry to the Sagrada Família with a guided tour (reserved access if available and booked).

Free entry to the Mirador de Colom. Monument for explorer Columbus.

Free entry to La Pedrera, Casa Vicens, and Casa Batlló.

Includes ticket for hop-on-hop-off bus (3 routes).

Free guided tour of Park Güell.

Free harbor cruise through Barcelona's harbor (Las Golondrinas).

Includes a tour at the FC Barcelona stadium.

Includes a pintxos tasting tour (tapas) - Barri Gotic tour.

Includes a walk through the old town and the Gothic Quarter.

Includes a tour of the old market hall.

Includes Montjuic cable car.

Free entry to the Barcelona Zoo.

Bike tour to the highlights in Barcelona included.

Validity: 2, 3, 4, or 5 days.

Digital via email (for printing or showing on your mobile phone). No need for pick-up on-site!

The pass costs only $154 for 2 days and is therefore a real bargain for me.

My top recommendation for Barcelona. With the all-inclusive pass, you can't go wrong.

Option: Explorer Pass Barcelona for 2 to 7 Attractions

The Barcelona Explorer includes exactly the same attractions, tours, and activities as the Barcelona Pass. However, you purchase this sightseeing pass not for a fixed number of days but rather for the number of included attractions.

If you've been to Barcelona as often as I have (about 8 - 9 times), you can think more strategically about which highlights (and how many) you want to visit. Easy and a better option than the Digital Pass, as the Explorer offers more than 40 attractions to choose from.

Since prices are often adjusted throughout the year, please check the official website:

Barcelona Card

The Barcelona Card is the official City Pass and therefore the longest available pass in the city of Barcelona. It is provided directly by the tourism office. The Barcelona Card primarily includes museums.

Free admission to 22 museums and attractions.

Discounts for more than 40 additional attractions and city tours.

Unlimited use of public transport (metro, bus, tram, local trains).

Airport bus.

Cable car to Montjuïc.

Not a single highlight of Gaudí's buildings is included.

Therefore, there is an optimal addition called the "Gaudí Package", which I believe is really worthwhile. It covers the 3 Houses Tour, which you can only book here on Tiqets. The two other Gaudí houses, Casa Milà and Casa Batlló, are also not included in this package.

Even better is the Barcelona Card + Gaudí Package with 5 Gaudí attractions (includes Sagrada Família and Park Güell without waiting in line, with Fast-Track). See here in my experience report whether purchasing the Barcelona Card is worth it (whether with or without the Gaudí Package).

Digital Pass Barcelona

The Digital Pass Barcelona could be an alternative for you to the Barcelona Pass. You purchase it for 5 top activities and pay $84 for it. As a bonus, there's a 10% discount on selected attractions in Barcelona. Compared to the Explorer Pass, which already costs $92 for 5 attractions, this Digital Pass is cheaper if you specifically want to visit the following highlights.

  1. Sagrada Família (fast track entry).
  1. Park Güell.
  1. Hop-on Hop-off Bus Barcelona.
  1. Audio guide for over 100 sights in the city.
  1. Audio guide for Park Güell.

This alternative is really only worthwhile if you don't want to book a guided tour. At this point, I would recommend booking the tickets individually as you really don't save any money.

Conclusion: For me, it's not an alternative to the All-Inclusive Pass for Barcelona! This pass is not worth it. If you still want to buy it, you can check availability here:

Turbopass Barcelona (Barcelona City Pass)

The Turbopass or Barcelona City Pass was, before the pandemic, the best sightseeing pass. Unfortunately, some highlights and attractions have been removed, making the pass too expensive for the included attractions.

It currently is no longer an alternative to the Go City Barcelona (all-inclusive pass or Explorer Pass). Fewer attractions for a higher price are not comparable. Even the ticket for public transport is cheaper with the T-Casual (10-ticket pass) or the Hola Barcelona Card.

Free entry to 30 attractions and museums.

Sagrada Família available to add (optional, as availability is not guaranteed).

1-day ticket for the hop-on-hop-off bus.

A harbor cruise through Barcelona's harbor with Las Golondrinas.

Ticket for public transport from the airport (pass must be picked up at the airport or Plaça Catalunya).

Validity: 2 to 5 days.

*Shipping via email: Barcelona City Pass as a pick-up voucher, pick-up on site (not timed for Barcelona).

There are also discounts at some restaurants and shops. Click the link below for that.

The Turbopass is available from $129.90 for 2 days (and thus far too expensive in terms of value for money).

*Note about pick-up according to Turbopass: Presenting the pick-up voucher, you can collect your public transport ticket and the card for free admission to many museums at the airport (until 8:30 PM) or in the city (note: only possible after prior online booking). Pick-up at Barcelona-El Prat Airport or at Plaça Catalunya in the city center is possible daily at the following times:

Airport, Aeroport Terminal 1: Mon-Fri: 8 AM - 8:30 PM, Sat, Sun: 8:30 AM - 8:30 PM;

Airport, Aeroport Terminal 2: Mon-Sat: 8 AM - 8:30 PM; Sun: 8:30 AM - 8:30 PM;

Plaça Catalunya (downtown): Mon-Sun: 8:30 AM - 8:30 PM.

When is a Barcelona City Pass Worth It?

The city pass isn't always worth it, but definitely when ...

... You're Visiting Barcelona for the First Time

Is it your first time in Barcelona and you want to visit the top attractions? These are almost always included in most City Passes. That's why sightseeing passes are definitely worth it in this case.

But even for tourists who have been to Barcelona multiple times, a city pass could be worth it. After all, mainly great tours and lesser-known attractions are included in these passes. Comparison helps!

Have you been to Barcelona often and want to visit specific attractions or take tours? Then you should take a closer look at the Explorer Pass for 2 to 7 Attractions in Barcelona. With this city pass, you can specifically get admission for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 of the most beautiful sights in Barcelona or take a tour (by bike or hop-on-hop-off bus).

... You Want to See Many Attractions in a Short Time

Are you as active during city trips as we are and want to see and visit as much as possible? Then a Barcelona City Pass is certainly worth it for you. It's generally said that you need to visit 2-3 attractions a day to make the pass worth it. The more you see, the more worthwhile it becomes to have a Barcelona City Pass! I think the Go City Explorer all-inclusive Pass is currently the best.

The Longer You Stay, the More Passes Pay Off

For short stays, it's often hard to recoup the price of the pass through sightseeing and joining tours. That's why the Barcelona Card is available starting from 2 days. The City Card wouldn't be worth it for just one day.

The longer you stay in the city, the more the passes usually pay off. That's why we often spend 4-5 days or even longer in cities.

For short stays, the Barcelona Explorer Pass is worthwhile. With this pass, you book the number of sights, not validity for days. The main attractions Sagrada Família and Park Güell are included without waiting in line and can be visited comfortably and without stress in one day!

... You Want to Pay Once and Not Recalculate Much on Site

A big advantage is that you only pay once for sightseeing passes. And once you've arrived in Barcelona, you don't have to constantly recalculate whether entrance tickets still fit in your travel budget. Most passes already include a ticket for the hop-on-hop-off bus. Ideal for getting an initial overview of the city and its attractions.

Note: Unfortunately, we cannot answer all emails with questions. We often receive follow-up questions with a list of highlights and are asked which pass is best.

Unfortunately, we are not a travel agency, and you will have to find out for yourself whether a pass is worth it for you. Just write down all the prices for the attractions you want to visit in a table and calculate whether and which Barcelona City Pass is worthwhile for you.

Since you're likely to include the top attractions Sagrada Família and Park Güell in your trip planning, the Turbopass Barcelona and the Barcelona Card (without the Gaudí Package) fall short. Neither includes the ticket for the Sagrada Família. So keep your eyes peeled when comparing and checking discount cards.

Barcelona City Pass Comparison (Table)

BCN Pass | Barcelona Pass | Barcelona Card | Digital Pass | Turbopass

This is what the pass looks like: | [Barcelona Pass Image] | [Barcelona Card Image] | [Digital Pass Image] | [Turbopass Image]

Included Attractions | + 40 | 25 | 3 | + 30

Validity | All-Inclusive Pass: 2,3,4, 5 Days Explorer Pass: 2 - 7 Attractions | 3, 4, 5 Days | No Limit | 2,3, 4, 5

Our Verdict | ️ | ️ | ️*️ |

Important Attractions

Sagrada Familia | ✅ Skip the Line Ticket + Tour | ✅ Skip the Line Ticket | ✅ Skip the Line Ticket | ✅ Skip the Line Ticket

Park Güell | ✅ + Tour | ✅ Skip the Line Ticket | ✅ Skip the Line Ticket | ⛔️

Casa Milà | ✅ | $3 Discount | 10% Discount Skip the Line Ticket | $3 Discount

Casa Batlló | ✅ | $3 Discount | 10% Discount Skip the Line Ticket | $3 Discount

Picasso Museum | ✅ + Tour | ✅ Skip the Line Ticket | ⛔️ | ✅ Skip the Line Ticket

Camp Nou FC Barcelona | ✅ | ⛔️ | 10% Discount Skip the Line Ticket | ⛔️

Aquarium | ✅ | 20% Discount | 10% Discount Skip the Line Ticket | 20% Discount

Hop-on-Hop-off Bus (1 Day) | ✅ | ⛔️ | ✅ | ✅

Public Transport | ⛔️ | ✅ | 10% Discount | ✅

More Info

Pick up / Shipping | Digital Pass | Pick up in Barcelona | Digital Pass | Order Online, Pick Up On Site (Shipping currently not possible)

Price | All-Inclusive: $85 (2 Days), $109 (3 Days), $129 (4 Days), $145 (5 Days), Explorer Pass: $44 to $114 for 2 - 7 Attractions | Barcelona Card + Gaudí Package: $99.99 (72 hrs), Barcelona Card: $46 (72 hrs), $48 (96 hrs), $63 (120 hrs) | $82 | $109.90 (2 Days), $119.90 (3 Days), $129.90 (4 Days), $139.90 (5 Days)

Important Differences Between Barcelona City Passes

The passes for Barcelona couldn't be more different. The Go Barcelona Pass includes all the important sights for free. These are exactly the places I visited on my first trip. Theoretically, most are also included in the Turbopass Barcelona. However, the Barcelona Pass costs only $73 for 2 days, while the Turbopass is $109.90, over $30 more.

Additionally, with this pass, the Sagrada Família Fast Track option is only bookable "subject to availability." From experience, I know that you almost never get availability for that, which is frustrating. A clear bonus for the Go Barcelona Pass.

In my opinion, the Barcelona Card is only worth it if you primarily want to visit museums! It doesn't include a hop-on-hop-off bus ticket nor the popular Camp Nou or the Gaudí buildings Casa Batlló or Casa Milà. Therefore, I unfortunately cannot recommend the Barcelona Card, the city's "classic."

And if you don't want to buy a pass, I mainly advise you: Buy individual tickets for the attractions in advance. Primarily invest in a ticket without waiting in line for the Sagrada Família. The lines are incredibly long, and they basically always are!

Individual tickets you should buy in advance:

Note: Did you know there are also sightseeing passes for other cities? Check here?? Big London Pass Comparison, New York City Pass Comparison, Hamburg Card vs. Hamburg City Pass, Munich City Card or the i Amsterdam Card is worth it when visiting the city.

You Should Also Check Out These Articles for Planning Your Barcelona Trip:

Sights in Barcelona with Useful Tips

A Weekend in Barcelona? This is How to Discover the Attractions in 3 Days (with Secret Tips)

My Reasons to Travel to Barcelona (A Love Letter to Barcelona)

Recommendation: The Best Barcelona Travel Guides

Do You Have Further Questions About Barcelona and One of the Barcelona Passes?

Leave us a comment about your experience and which of the city passes you decided on. If prices or included attractions or sights have changed, we appreciate a heads up. We don't always keep track of all the Barcelona passes and appreciate your info.

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