Bus 46orPre-booked private transfer?

The short answer

These do not go to the same place, so price is not the comparison. The Pre-booked private transfer reaches Plaça de Catalunya and Passeig de Gràcia, with Barcelona Sants as the main station; the Bus 46 does not. It ends at Plaça Espanya, at the foot of Montjuïc on the western edge of the Eixample, not in the center. L1 and L3 continue to Catalunya from there — on a second single, or on the same T-casual or T-familiar ride.

The Pre-booked private transfer is quicker: 24 min against 35 min. The Bus 46 varies between 31 and 43 minutes.

Bus 46: 05:30–23:50. Pre-booked private transfer: Runs all night.

Priced against each other

Whole-party totals · adult fares

What each costs for the whole party, in EUR. The cheaper of the two is marked on every row.
Travelers	Bus 46	Pre-booked private transfer	Difference
1	€2.90	€42	€39.10
2	€5.80	€42	€36.20
3	€8.70	€42	€33.30
4	€11.50	€42	€30.50
5	€11.50	€67	€55.50
6	€11.50	€67	€55.50
7	€11.50	€67	€55.50
8	€11.50	€67	€55.50

Side by side

Where each one leaves you

46 · TMBBus 46

From: Terminal 1 arrivals, level 0; Terminal 2B and T2C; also the long-stay car park
To: Plaça Espanya, via El Prat de Llobregat, Bellvitge and the Gran Via through L'Hospitalet
Luggage: An ordinary city bus with no racks and no luggage rule.
Runs: 05:30–23:50
Journey: 31–43 min

The cheapest way off the airport for one person, at EUR 2.90, and the slowest: 31 to 43 minutes to Plaça Espanya on TMB's own scheduled times between the two stops, then a metro to the center.

Accepts every ticket the airport metro refuses, including a shared T-familiar; the TMB single works here and not on the L9 Sud from the airport.

It serves both terminals directly and does not need the shuttle.

TMB does not publish a journey time for it; the range here is its scheduled departure at Aeroport T1 against its scheduled passing time at Paral·lel – Plaça Espanya on the same day.

After 23:50 there is no bus 46 until 05:30. The night buses N17 and N18 take over from T1, but AMB does not publish their fare.

Bus 46: price for every party size

See TMB's 2026 fares

transfer · Welcome PickupsPre-booked private transfer

From: Driver meets you in arrivals with a name board
To: Any address
Luggage: Stated when booking; choose the vehicle by luggage as well as seats.
Runs: All night
Journey: 24 min

Unlike the official taxi’s regulated flat fare, this price is indicative: the operator sets it, and it moves with vehicle size and luggage. Confirm the total at the time you book.

Pre-booked private transfer: price for every party size

Book transfer through Welcome Pickups

Partner link

This compares two of 7 options. See all of them ranked for your party size

Bus 46orPre-booked private transfer?

Priced against each other

Side by side

The other comparisons at El Prat