The Barcelona BCN airport is the fourth busiest in the country, handling more than 19 million passengers last year alone. With so many travellers passing through it regularly, you might wonder what to expect when visiting this airport. Do you need to make special arrangements to get into the terminal from your point of arrival? Is there any sort of baggage check or procedure that must occur before you enter the terminal? What about security? Do you even need a passport or other form of identification when entering the airport? If so, how early should you get that checked and how does one go about doing so? These are all things that one might not think about until they’re standing at baggage claim trying to find their bag with their phone dying and no internet connection.

What to expect when you are visiting the Barcelona Airport

The Barcelona airport, designed by famed architect Santiago Calatrava, comprises three main buildings: the main building, the western food hall, and the logistics building. The main building contains check-in counters, security checkpoint, baggage claim, shops, and restaurants. The western food hall is a quick-food option. The third building is where passengers without a connecting flight, or in need of special assistance, can drop off their bags.



Security and Identification

Barcelona Airport has an automated security checkpoint. You can place your bags on the belt and walk through the metal detector. Before going through the checkpoint, you must remove your shoes, belts, and laptops. You can bring liquids, gels, and aerosols through security, but they must be in a bag that is no larger than 100ml. You'll need to bring your passport or other proof of identity when flying internationally. If you don't have your passport, you'll need to get an emergency certificate at the police station.

Baggage Drop

If you are on a connecting flight or have a bag that is too large or heavy to carry onto the plane, you can drop it off at the third building of the Barcelona-El Prat airport. The special lane for oversized bags is called "Torre D" and located on the second floor. You will need to show your boarding pass before you are allowed to drop your bags off. You will also need to get a special luggage tag that identifies your bag as being oversize. The hours of operation for the baggage drop are 4:00 AM to 11:30 PM daily, with a break between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM.

Transportation from your point of arrival to the airport

If you're arriving at the Barcelona airport on a bus, train, or ferry, you can get to the airport by taking the Aerobus or the Metropol Parasol. The Aerobus stops at several locations in Barcelona and at the airport. The Metropol Parasol is a cable car that travels above the city and stops near the cruise terminal. For more information about how to get from your point of arrival to the airport, visit the airport website.