Are you annoyed with airport downtime and want to find the best things to do during your layover at Barcelona airport?
A long layover can be a bore, but it can also give you an excellent opportunity to do some last-minute sightseeing, dining, or shopping. Whether you’re in for a short layover or have a whole day to spare, you’ll find plenty of things to do near the airport.
To fully enjoy your layover time, you’ll need to find a secure place to store your luggage.
No need to fret. Stasher has got you covered with safe, convenient, and affordable luggage storage near Barcelona-El Prat Airport. Stasher partners with some of the most reputable Barcelona stores and hotels to provide a wide range of options for keeping your valuables safe during your layover. You’ll only pay €6/item per day, regardless of size or weight. Plus, Stasher automatically insures each of your bags for up to €1000.
Once you store your luggage with Stasher, you’re free to explore the area around the airport and beyond. Here are our picks for the best things to do in Barcelona, organized by layover times.
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Things to Do During a 2-Hour Layover in Barcelona
Aqua Salon Spa at Barcelona Airport
Traveling can be stressful for both the body and mind. Fortunately, the Barcelona Airport has an onsite spa. The Aqua Salon Spa offers a full range of services, such as massage, pedicures, manicures, waxing, facials, hairstyling, and make-up.
El Corte Inglés
Did you forget something you need for your trip? Head to El Corte Inglés shopping center in the Plaza de Cataluña. Hours are from 9 am to 9 pm, and you can get there in just over ten minutes by taxi.
Synergo Escape Room
Located around 7 kilometers from the airport, the Synergo Escape Room offers the perfect mix of entertainment and tension. The facility provides activities of various difficulty levels where you solve puzzles and challenges. The Escape Room is ideal if you’re traveling with a group of friends or family. Most rooms last for 1 hour, but others have a shorter time limit of about 45 min. You can quickly get there and back by taxi and have time to experience one or two rooms during a 2-hour layover.
How to Maximize Your Time During a 4-Hour Layover in Barcelona
Fundación CRAM
The Fundación para la Conservación y Recuperación de Animales Marinos (CRAM) is a marine animal center you can get to in just 13 minutes. The centre’s primary goal is to rescue endangered marine species and reintroduce them into their natural habitats.
The foundation carries out several education and investigation projects that boost social awareness of the marine environment and the devastating effects of pollution. The guided tour is an excellent educational experience for adults and children. Plus, you can meet some rescued marine turtles at the end of your visit.
Carabineros Barracks and Lighthouse
Situated less than 4 miles from the airport, La Casa del Semáforo y el Cuartel de Los Carabineros is an ideal spot for a 3 to 4-hour Barcelona layover. If you like abandoned places, you’ll be in heaven.
Furthermore, the Casa sits amid stunning natural beauty, making the setting ideal for Instagram photos. However, visitors should keep in mind that they may need to do some hiking, and a lack of shade means that the area can get uncomfortably hot in the summer.
La Sagrada Familia
Antoni Gaudí’s La Sagrada Familia is Barcelona’s #1 attraction. This architectural icon showcases a tumultuous time in history – the turn of the 20th century. The cathedral serves as a perfect example of how innovative artistic expression and technical expertise interact to create spectacular architecture.
If you would like to fit a trip to La Sagrada Familia into a 4-hour layover, you’ll want to buy your tickets several days in advance. The cathedral lies in the city centre, which is around 20 km from the airport, and you’ll need at least 2 to 3 hours to tour the cathedral, including the towers and the Gaudí House Museum.
Best Activities for a 6 to 8-Hour Barcelona Layover
A 6-8 hour layover will give you plenty of time to enjoy local sites.
Visit the Castell de Castelfells
Sitting amidst impeccably maintained gardens, the Castell de Castelfells is a tenth-century castle that defended itself against invasions led by Arabs and pirates. However, the attacks damaged the site, and Manual Girona, a local politician and banker, rehabilitated the castle in 1897. Apart from taking in the history of the castillo, you can partake in an interactive experience set on a pirate ship.
Experience the Unreal Escape Room Gava
Located just 15 minutes away from the airport, the Unreal Room Escape Gava features a Viking-inspired interior and makes an excellent diversion for a 6-8 hour layover.
Not only does the Escape Room entertain, but the experience also helps you work on teamwork, leadership, confidence, and communication skills. Spending the day at the Escape Room is a fantastic way to celebrate a special occasion or surprise your friends and family with a unique activity that raises adrenaline levels. And, of course, you’ll want to take once-in-a-lifetime Instagram photos with Viking-inspired helmets and weapons.
Enjoy the Beach
You don’t need to stray far from the airport to spend the day at one of Barcelona’s beaches. El Prat, Gava, Castelldefels, and Fillipines Beaches all lie within a short taxi ride from Barcelona El Prat Airport. So store your bags, grab your sunscreen, and head off for some sun, sand, and sea time.
Book Your Luggage Storage in El Prat
If you’re looking for a beachfront experience with more facilities, try Barceloneta Beach. You can get there in 15 minutes by taxi and about 50 min by bus or subway. You’ll find a spacious and lively harbor with hammocks, restaurants, and Wi-fi.
Casa Batlló
If you have at least a 6-hour layover, make sure to visit the stunning Casa Batlló, designed by Catalan’s famed architect, Antoni Gaudí. The architect based the design upon the legend of Saint George and the dragon and included dazzling colors, intricate designs, mosaics, and other ornate details.
Casa Batlló welcomes over a million visitors annually, making it one of Barcelona’s most highly-rated tourist and cultural attractions. We suggest that you book your tickets in advance and allow at least two hours to explore the building and get there from the airport. You can also enjoy a light and music show on the building’s facade during the holiday season.
What to Do with a 10-12 Hour Layover in Barcelona
Llobregat Delta
Nature lovers can take a 15-minute taxi ride to Llobregat Delta, one of the most pristine wetlands in Catalonia. Visitors can hike through 20 diverse habitats, including pine forests and beaches filled with an innumerable range of birds and other wildlife.
Windoor Realfly
Windoor Realfly is an indoor skydiving tunnel where you can feel the freedom and sensations that come with floating in the air in a completely safe environment.
An instructor guides you through the entire process, and the facility tailors the experience to different age groups. Windoor Realfly also has an onsite restaurant. However, you’ll need to reserve your flight in advance as the venue is often occupied with special events.
Catalunya en Miniatura
Families with a 10-hour layover will love Catalunya in Miniatura, just a 20-minute taxi trip from Barcelona Airport. The theme park features miniature versions of Barcelona’s most famous attractions in addition to a variety of aerial adventure circuits for visitors of all ages. You can tour the park every day starting at 10 am except for Christmas Day and New Year’s.
Things to Do During an Overnight Layover in Barcelona
Overnight layovers will give you the chance to catch a glimpse of Barcelona’s incredibly diverse nightlife. Here are some of your options for evening activities:
See a Concert
Barcelona is home to several world-class concert halls, including:
The Undead Dark Club
If your overnight layover at Barcelona Airport is on a Friday or Saturday, you’re in luck. The Undead Dark Club presents live music and DJs from 12:30 am until 6 am. Friday is Hard Rock and Metal night, and the club presents Goth, New Wave, and Dark Electronica music on Saturdays. The Undead also features macabre decor and makes wicked cocktails.
Barcelona Airport Layover FAQs
Can I leave Barcelona airport during a layover?
Yes. Shorter layovers will allow you to visit nearby destinations, but you’ll need a layover of at least 6-8 hours to explore the city.
How close is Barcelona airport to the city?
Visiting Barcelona is easy if you have more than a 6-hour layover. El Prat is located just 8 miles (13 km) away from the southwestern part of the city.
The quickest way to get downtown is by taxi, which takes around 25 minutes. The Aerobús is also a fast (35 min) and more affordable transportation option to arrive at the Plaza de Catalunya, Barcelona’s city centre.
While the cheapest transportation option is the public bus, it runs less frequently than the Aerobús and takes longer .
How Do I Store My Bags with Stasher
The easiest way to book and manage your Barcelona Airport luggage storage is by downloading Stasher’s app for Apple or Android. After that, take the following steps:
- Open the app or head to Stasher.com with your laptop.
- Enter “Barcelona Airport” into the search bar. Alternatively, you can use the “Near Me Now” button to find the closest “StashPoints.” Your search will reveal a wide selection of Barcelona luggage storage locations.
- Choose the most convenient StashPoint, and enter your approximate drop-off and pick-up times.
- Stasher will send you an instant confirmation with directions to your luggage storage location near Barcelona airport.
- When you’re ready, drop off your bags at your StashPoint, and enjoy your layover in Barcelona.
Find secure, affordable, and convenient luggage storage near Barcelona Airport or downtown Barcelona for only €6/bag per day!
