Flexible travel dates
Barcelona Bus Turístic
Tickets can be used within 180 days of purchase, so you do not have to commit to a day.
Criterion: time allowed to start using the ticket (180 days vs the date booked).
Best hop-on hop-off bus in Barcelona: Bus Turístic vs City Tour
Prices are identical, so the best bus depends on where you want to go. Here is every published difference between the two operators.
Short answer: choose Barcelona Bus Turístic for Tibidabo, Pedralbes, the Montjuïc cable car and flexible dates (180 days to use the ticket). Choose Barcelona City Tour for Camp Nou, free cancellation, Wi-Fi, more frequent buses in high season or a bus + catamaran combo. Both cost €33 (24 h) or €44 (48 h) for adults.
| Feature | Barcelona Bus Turístic | Barcelona City Tour |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | Transports de Barcelona, SA (TMB) | Grupo Julià (City Tour Worldwide) |
| Routes | Blue RouteRed Route | Green Route (East)Orange Route (West) |
| Stops listed | 36 (14 + 22); two currently out of service | 34 (14 + 20) |
| Time per route | About 2 h each | 2 h 10 (Green), 2 h 30 (Orange) |
| Frequency | Every 10 to 25 minutes | Every 7–10 minutes in high season and every 15–20 minutes in low season |
| Hours | 9:00–19:00 | 9:00–19:00 |
| Adult 24 h / 48 h | €33 / €44 | €33 / €44 |
| Child 4–12, 24 h / 48 h | €18 / €23 | €18 / €23 |
| Senior 65+, 24 h / 48 h | €28 / €39 | €28 / €39 |
| Under 4 | Free | Not stated on the official site |
| Audio guide | 16 languages | 16 languages; hearing-aid adapted audio |
| Wheelchair access | Ramp and wheelchair space on all buses | Rear-door ramp and space on every bus |
| Wi-Fi on board | Not stated on the official site | Yes, free |
| If it rains | Not stated on the official site | Staff cover the upper deck |
| When to use the ticket | Within 180 days of purchase | On the date booked |
| Cancellation | Not stated on the official site | Free until the day of the tour (official store) |
| Combo with a boat | No | Bus + 1-hour catamaran |
| Night and Christmas tours | Yes | Yes |
“Not stated on the official site” means we could not find the information on the operator's pages; it does not mean the feature is missing.
Which one should you choose?
Picks by priority, each backed by a published fact.
Free cancellation
Barcelona City Tour
The official store offers free cancellation until the day of the tour. Bus Turístic does not state a policy.
Criterion: cancellation terms published by the operator.
Camp Nou and FC Barcelona
Barcelona City Tour
Its Orange Route stops at Camp Nou – Museu FC Barcelona. Bus Turístic's FC Barcelona stop is out of service.
Criterion: an in-service stop at the attraction.
Tibidabo, Sarrià and Pedralbes
Barcelona Bus Turístic
Only the Blue Route goes uptown: Tibidabo (Plaça Kennedy), Sarrià and Pedralbes Monastery.
Criterion: stops listed by each operator.
Montjuïc cable car
Barcelona Bus Turístic
The Red Route has a Telefèric de Montjuïc stop. City Tour does not list one.
Criterion: stops listed by each operator.
Land and sea in one ticket
Barcelona City Tour
Bus + 1-hour catamaran combos from €44 (adult, until 31 Dec 2026). Bus Turístic has no boat combo.
Criterion: combined products offered by the operator.
Shorter waits in high season
Barcelona City Tour
Every 7–10 minutes in high season, against 10–25 minutes for Bus Turístic.
Criterion: frequency published by each operator.
Hearing-aid users
Barcelona City Tour
Audio system adapted so passengers can hear the guide through their hearing aids. Both have wheelchair ramps.
Criterion: accessibility features published by each operator.
For a first visit or a one-day stay, price is not a tie-breaker: both cost €33 for 24 hours. Choose by the stops you want.
Route coverage compared
Both reach Sagrada Família, Park Güell, La Pedrera, Montjuïc's museums, Port Olímpic and the Poblenou beaches.
Blue Route Barcelona Bus Turístic, about 2 hours
Red Route Barcelona Bus Turístic, about 2 hours
Green Route (East) Barcelona City Tour, 2 h 10 min
Orange Route (West) Barcelona City Tour, 2 h 30 min
StopOut of serviceCity Tour lines show the stops the operator highlights.
Book the 24-hour ticket
Barcelona Bus TurísticHop-on hop-offAvailable
Barcelona Bus Turístic 24-hour ticket
- Validity: 24 hours
- Routes: Blue RouteRed Route
- Stops: 36 listed by the operator
- Guide: Recorded audio guide, 16 languages
- Access: Wheelchair ramp and space
- Cancellation: Not stated by the operator; check with the booking provider
- Season: All year
Data checked on the official website on 21 October 2026.
Adult€33Official fare. Child: €18
Book with Barcelona Bus Turístic Official site: Hola Barcelona (official store). Not an affiliate link.
All fares and conditions
Barcelona City TourHop-on hop-offAvailable
Barcelona City Tour 24-hour ticket
- Validity: 24 hours
- Routes: Green Route (East)Orange Route (West)
- Stops: 34 listed by the operator
- Guide: Recorded audio guide, 16 languages
- Access: Wheelchair ramp and space
- Cancellation: Free cancellation until the day of the tour (official store conditions).
- Season: All year
Data checked on the official website on 21 October 2026.
Adult€33Official fare. Child: €18
Book with Barcelona City Tour Official site: Barcelona City Tour (official website). Not an affiliate link.
All fares and conditions
Sources (checked 21 October 2026):
- www.barcelonabusturistic.cat/en/fares-and-prices
- www.barcelonabusturistic.cat/en/timetables
- www.barcelonabusturistic.cat/en/blue-route
- www.barcelonabusturistic.cat/en/red-route
- www.barcelonabusturistic.cat/en/frequently-asked-questions
- barcelona.city-tour.com/es/tarifas
- barcelona.city-tour.com/es/mapa-horarios
- barcelona.city-tour.com/es/rutas/ruta-este-verde
- barcelona.city-tour.com/es/rutas/ruta-naranja