Barcelona Cruises
Cruise from Barcelona as a departure port, or choose an itinerary that includes this vibrant cultural city as a destination
Start planning your cruise and book your excursions in Barcelona and its surroundings
Barcelona – Spain’s second city, and the self-confident capital and port of Catalunya – vibrates with life, and there’s certainly not another city in the country to touch it for sheer style, looks or energy.
A cruise excursion to Barcelona city centre will take you to discover its world-class art museums and its fashionable designer restaurants, bars, galleries and shops. And in Antoni Gaudí’s extraordinary church of the Sagrada Família and the world-famous boulevard that is the Ramblas, you have two sights that are high up on any Mediterranean cruise sightseeing list.
A holiday in Barcelona can start with the Ramblas, and then dive straight into the medieval nucleus of the city, the Barri Gòtic. But there are plenty of other central old-town neighbourhoods to explore too, from La Ribera – home to the celebrated Museu Picasso – to funky El Raval, where cool bars, restaurants and boutiques have mushroomed in the wake of the striking contemporary art museum, MACBA.
Even if you think you know these heavily touristed neighbourhoods well, there’s always something else to discover during an MSC excursion – tapas bars hidden down alleys little changed for a century or two, designer boutiques in renovated old-town quarters, bargain lunches in workers’ taverns, unmarked gourmet restaurants, craft outlets and workshops, fin-de-siècle cafés, restored medieval palaces and neighbourhood markets.
On Passeig de Gràcia there is Gaudí’s Casa Batlló, designed for the industrialist Josep Batlló: the stone facade hangs in folds, like skin, while on the rooftop sprout the celebrated mosaic chimneys and a little tower topped with a three-dimensional cross.
The mountain of Montserrat stands just 40km northwest of Barcelona and it’s a popular trip out from the city. Once there, you can visit the basilica and monastery buildings which fan out around an open square, and there are extraordinary mountain views from the terrace.
Cruises from / to Barcelona in 2025
How to reach Barcelona cruise port
Where do MSC Cruises’ ships dock in Barcelona?
MSC Cruises'ships dock at the new MSC terminal in Barcelona, inaugurated in April 2025 and located at the Muelle de Adosado (Moll Adossat in Catalan), just a few kilometres south of the city centre. The cruise terminal is connected to the mainland via the Pont de la Porta d’Europa. For those not wanting to walk the half an hour or so into the city centre, there is a shuttle bus service that will take you near to the famous La Rambla street.
The landmark terminal was designed by the renowned Catalonian architecture firm Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura, and on its exterior, the ceramic cladding pays tribute to the rich Gaudí-inspired artistic history of Barcelona, with a colour inspired by the sea.
Carefully designed with a strong focus on environmental features and energy efficiency, the terminal incorporates energy-saving technologies and sustainable materials. This includes solar panels and optimised natural light, to minimise the need for artificial lighting, along with a rainwater collection system to supply water for toilets and landscaped areas to reduce water usage. The terminal has achieved Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification in recognition of its energy efficiency and environmental responsibility.
How do I reach the car park in Barcelona cruise Port?
The long-stay car park at Barcelona cruise terminal is located at the WTC World Trade Center, which is at Moll de Barcelona s/n, East building, 1st Floor, 08039, Barcelona.
The car park can be found just off the roundabout at Plaça de les Drassanes, which is just south of the famous Columbus Monument at the bottom of La Rambla. If travelling from the airport, drive along the B-10 motorway northwards and turn off at exit 21, following signs to ‘Ferris’ and ‘Creuers’. Similarly, if travelling from the north of the city, travel along the B10 southbound until exit 21, which is located in the tunnel and will take you directly to Plaça de les Drassanes.
Leave plenty of time when parking in Barcelona port, as the car park is located in a different area to the MSC Cruise Terminal. However, a shuttle bus can take you from the World Trade Center to the correct cruise terminal.
Parking at Barcelona Port can be booked at a discounted rate for MSC Cruises passengers up to 48 hours before cruise departure when booking online.
| VEHICLE | DAYS | RATES |
|---|---|---|
| Car/Suv | 4/5/6/8 | € 95 |
| Car/Suv | 11 | € 121.50 |
| Car/Suv | 12 | € 133 |
| Car/Suv | 15 | € 156 |
How do I get from Barcelona Airport to the cruise port?
Barcelona Airport is located around 16 kilometres (just under 10 miles) from the cruise terminal. If you are travelling by car or taxi from Barcelona Airport to the port, it should take around 20 minutes in good traffic conditions.
To get from Barcelona Airport to the port by car, follow signs to the C-31 highway and join it going north towards Barcelona city. Stay on the C-31 for around 3.5 kilometres before turning off at exit 195 to join the B-10 motorway eastwards towards Barcelona. Then continue along the B-10 for around 6.5 kilometres before turning off at exit 21. Continue straight until you reach the roundabout at Plaça de les Drassanes, then take the second exit to enter Barcelona Port where you will find the car park at the World Trade Center.
You can also reach the port from Barcelona Airport via public transport. To do this, take the Aerobus from Terminal C towards the city and get off at Plaza de España. From there, head to the metro station and take the L3 eastbound for three stops, getting off at Drassanes. This is the closest station to the cruise terminal, but it is still around one kilometre away, so allow approximately 20 minutes to walk the final section.
How to get to the Barcelona cruise port from the train station?
Barcelona Sants Railway Station – the main train station in the city – is located around four kilometres from the cruise port. The train station is well-served by taxis, buses and the metro.
A taxi ride should take around 10 minutes and costs roughly €20, although you may have to pay more if travelling with a large amount of luggage.
Taking a metro from Barcelona Sants to the cruise port is also straightforward. Simply take the L3 line eastbound for five stops, before getting off at Drassanes (the nearest metro station to the cruise terminal). From there, it is around a 10-minute walk to the entrance of the cruise port, although it’s a little further to reach the MSC Cruises embarkation point.
Is there a shuttle bus from the Barcelona cruise port?
There is a shuttle bus at the Barcelona cruise port that takes passengers around the various cruise terminals. These vehicles are named the Cruise Buses (or Blue Bus) and can easily be spotted, as they’re painted blue. The buses don’t have a set timetable, but you should have no trouble getting one when disembarking or embarking, as their frequency is based on when cruise ships depart and arrive at the terminals.
While the Barcelona cruise port shuttle bus doesn’t take you directly to the city centre, it will take you nearby. From the MSC Cruises terminal, it will take you to the World Trade Center, which is located near Plaça de les Drassanes. From there, it takes between five and ten minutes to walk to the Columbus Monument at the foot of La Rambla, the famous thoroughfare in the heart of Barcelona.
You can purchase tickets for the Cruise Buses while onboard. However, tickets can only be purchased with cash, so make sure you have some local currency.
How far is Barcelona cruise port to the city centre?
What is the weather like in Barcelona?
As the city occupies an ideal coastal location sandwiched between the Mediterranean Sea and the Montserrat mountain range, Barcelona weather is typified by a pleasant Mediterranean climate that makes it great to visit any time of the year.
Summers are typically very hot and great for those seeking a sun-soaked getaway, thanks to average maximum temperatures in August reaching around 29°C. Winters are cooler with average maximum highs of 16°C and lows of 10°C in January. The driest months typically occur during late winter and early spring.
