Europe - 5 Hour Layover in BCN

Any ideas on what to do with a 5 hour layover in BCN getting in at 9:30 AM.

Take the Areobus to Plaça Catalunya, or a taxi to Drassanes / Colon. By taxi you can be there by 10.15. From there walk around the old town / port. You'll have to leave for the airport before Spanish lunchtime, so you'll have to do with some tapas if you want to eat something.

If you have already been to Barcelona before and want something more specific, you could check if any museum or exposition around Montjuic (which is closer to the airport than the destinations mentioned above) might interest you. Some ideas:
* Fundació Joan Miró (http://fundaciomiro-bcn.org/?idioma=2)
* CaixaForum Barcelona (http://obrasocial.lacaixa.es/nuestroscentros/caixaforumbarcelona/caixaforumbarcelona_es.html)
* Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (http://www.mnac.cat/)
To get to this area, you can also take the Aerobus, to Plaça Espanya (or a taxi of course).

Thank you for the suggestions.
I have been to Barcelona and love the Miro museum but wouldn't want to rush it.
What time would you head back for a Vueling 3pm flight?
Where is Drazzanes/Colon?
I see the aerobus stops at
Plaça Espanya (Torres Venecianas)
Gran Via - Urgell
Plaça Universitat
Since we've been to the Ramblas several times would any of these other stops have a nice
area to walk around in and maybe have some tapas or quick lunch.

What time would you head back for a Vueling 3pm flight?

If you still need to check-in or drop of luggage: 1pm. If all that has been done already, 1.30pm should be fine.

Where is Drazzanes/Colon?

Bottom of the Ramblas (at the port). Plaça Catalunya is at the top of the Ramblas.

I see the aerobus stops at
Plaça Espanya (Torres Venecianas)
Gran Via - Urgell
Plaça Universitat
Since we've been to the Ramblas several times would any of these other stops have a nice
area to walk around in and maybe have some tapas or quick lunch.

None of these are especially interesting, but for your goal all 3 will do. The best one would be Plaça Unversitat, but it's very close to Plaça Catalunya already. You could go to Plaça Catalunya, but take a walk away from the Ramblas (Passeig de Gracia area).

Thanks for the info. Alternatively, if we want to just hang in a lounge is there one you would recommend? We are flying in on AA.

Thanks for the info. Alternatively, if we want to just hang in a lounge is there one you would recommend? We are flying in on AA.

As far as I know there are currently only 2 lounges open at BCN T1: one in the Schengen area, the other in the non-Schengen area. Both are very similar. They are OK, with similar seating and limited food offering.
The airline you fly in on is not important, what matters is where you fly afterwards. (Do you mind telling us?)

Just a warning: if your connecting flight is also non-Schengen, it is better to enter the Schengen zone anyway (i.e. go through immigration) instead of taking the connecting flights route (without immigration). The Schengen area of the airport looks more like a shopping mall and can keep you occupied for at least part of your waiting time, while the non-Schengen area has a very limited offering of food and/or shops. Once inside that non-Schengen area, you can't go back to the main area.

Going on to Alicante on Vueling. If I want to go to the lounge would I go through immigration?
Alternatively if I decide to put my bag in the lockers I guess I exit the airport and then when
I get back I check in.

Going on to Alicante on Vueling. If I want to go to the lounge would I go through immigration?

Yes, security and immigration. And you will then be in the main airside area of the airport, where all the shops and restaurants (and your lounge) are.

Alternatively if I decide to put my bag in the lockers I guess I exit the airport and then when
I get back I check in.

OK, now you are complicating things... You are talking about your checked in luggage or hand luggage? I assumed that your luggage would be sent straight to Alicante by AA. But now that you mention that your second flight is on Vueling, I'm not so sure. Is the second flight on an IB flight number, and on the same ticket? Or did you buy it separately from Vueling?
(Since you mention using the lounge, I assume it's an IB flight number, and probably on the same ticket. In that case AA should be able to send your bags all the way to Alicante and you don't have to worry about them during your transfer at BCN.)

I appreciate your advice. My first flight is an IB flight operated by AA. I won't have any checked luggage. The Vueling flight was booked separately.

I am looking at doing 1 or 2 things:

The first is buy a day lounge pass and stay at the airport between flights for the 5 hours.

Second option is to put our carryon in lockers and head into Barcelona. We will have flown all night.

It sounds like it doesn't matter if we stay in the airport at a lounge or go into Barcelona we would have to go through immigration and go back through security to check in for the second flight. Is that correct?

Any lounge vs another from another thread:


AENA Miro Lounge*
Location details: Terminal 1, walk 50 metres after passport control, one floor down
Opening hours: Daily 06:00 -22:30
Operated by a third party on behalf of: Royal Jordanian, Iberia

AENA Sala Dali Lounge*
Location details: Terminal 1
Opening hours: Till last departure
Operated by a third party on behalf of: American Airlines

AENA Colomer Lounge*
Location details: Terminal 1, after security, turn left till the end of the corridor
Opening hours: Daily 06:00-23:00
Operated by a third party on behalf of: Iberia

AENA Pau Casals*
Location details: Terminal 1, after security, one floor down, turn right
Opening hours: Daily 06:00-23:00
Operated by a third party on behalf of: Iberia

The first is buy a day lounge pass and stay at the airport between flights for the 5 hours.

In case you weren't sure yet, they offer day passes for 25€.

It sounds like it doesn't matter if we stay in the airport at a lounge or go into Barcelona we would have to go through immigration and go back through security to check in for the second flight. Is that correct?

There is a difference. If you decide to stay in the airport, you'll follow the "connections" route. This will take you through security first, and through immigration. But you stay airside. There are transit desks in the main area that should be able to check you in for you 2nd flight (but I'm not 100% sure they handle Vueling).
(Now that I think of it, I'm not even sure if they will let you follow this route without a boarding pass. But just give it a try...)

If you decide to leave the airport, you got trough immigration. When you come back to the airport you'll check in and go through security.

Any lounge vs another from another thread:

From the lounges on your list, you'll only be able to use the "Pau Casals" lounge.

Thanks again for your help. Ended up doing the Sala Miro. Thought we were headed to Palau but when we got up the escalator it was Sala Miro. Paid the $25 Euros. Were tired from the packed flight due to the strike and people changing their flights. Lounge was fine. Had place to lie down, snacks, free computers to use. Skyguide should reimburse us for the lounge fee. Turns out we transited which had no lines vs immigration where they were really long. Currently experiencing the rain in Spain but always happy to be in Spain rain or shine.