Thinking about planning a Barcelona trip sometime soon? Well, this autumn might be the perfect time to do so. From September 1, public transport in the Catalan capital will cost half its usual price. You read that right: half price.
Tickets for all buses, metros and trains will be available at the reduced rate, which is designed to help Barcelona’s inhabitants better cope with soaring inflation and the rising cost of living. The scheme will last from September all the way through to December 31.
Considering that public transport in Barcelona isn’t actually that expensive (well, not compared to places like London, anyway), this means getting around the city will be very, very cheap indeed. The city’s 30-day pass will cost €20 (£17, $20.50) – rather than €40 (£34, $41) – and the T-Casual ten-trip pass will cost €5.70 (£4.90, $5.90), down from €11.35 (£9.80, $11.70). A single journey ticket will cost just €1.20 (£1, $1.25).
The slashed fares are being funded partly by Spain’s central government (which is covering 30 percent of the discount), with Catalonia’s autonomous government covering the rest.
And Barcelona’s public transport discount isn’t the only policy by the Spanish government aiming to tackle high inflation and the rising cost of living. It’s also funding 30 percent cuts to the cost of public transport in all of Spain’s autonomous communities, as well as offering half-price transport in areas where public transport is under its direct control.
On top of that, Spain’s central government is halving VAT on electricity and taking 20 cents off the price of every litre of fuel, as well as offering significant financial aid to low-income workers, the self-employed and pensioners. Wouldn’t it be lovely if all governments were taking the cost of living crisis so seriously, eh?
In any case, this autumn could be the ideal time to head off to Barcelona – or anywhere in Spain, for that matter – and have a significantly cheaper trip. Vamos!
Did you see that Germany is introducing a mega-cheap monthly rail pass?
Plus: here’s how ‘split ticketing’ could save you hundreds on UK train travel.