Sants Railway Station

It is important for passengers to know that the station is arranged like an airport: all platforms are located underground. On the ground level, you will find ticket offices, shops, information desks, and waiting areas. To access high-speed trains, you must pass baggage screening through a scanner, so please allow extra time for this procedure. Entrances to the boarding area are clearly separated: one for long-distance trains and another for the Rodalies commuter lines.

• Official website: adif.es (infrastructure operator) or renfe.com (main carrier).
• Information phone: +34 912 320 320 (general Renfe line).
• Address: Plaça dels Països Catalans, 1-7, 08014 Barcelona, Spain.
• Opening hours: the station is open daily from 04:30 to 00:30 (timings may change slightly during holidays).
• Luggage storage: the Consigna service is available, usually operating from 05:30 to 23:00.
• Accessibility: the Atendo service operates to assist passengers with reduced mobility (booking in advance is recommended).

Getting to Sants station is very simple, as it is perfectly integrated into Barcelona's transport system. The most popular method is the metro. The Sants Estació station has exits directly into the railway building and serves two key lines: L3 (green) and L5 (blue). A trip from the centre (for example, from Plaça de Catalunya) will take about 10–15 minutes.

For those travelling from El Prat Airport, the most convenient option is the R2 Nord commuter train. It departs from Terminal 2 and reaches Sants in just 19–20 minutes. If you arrive at Terminal 1, you will first need to take the free shuttle to the railway station.

Numerous city buses also stop near the station (lines V7, H10, 27, 78). A taxi rank is located right at the station exit on the Països Catalans square side; a trip from the city centre will cost approximately 10–15 euros. You can walk from Plaça d'Espanya in 10–12 minutes.

Sants Station offers a wide range of services for a comfortable wait. In the central hall, you will find numerous ticket offices and self-service machines for various train categories. For premium class passengers, the comfortable Sala Club lounge is available with beverages and press. Wi-Fi is available throughout the station (free access is usually limited in time or requires ticket registration).

Special attention is paid to practical needs: there are automatic luggage lockers (various sizes, paid), clean restrooms (entry fee applies), as well as car rental points. To charge gadgets, look for sockets in the café zones or in the waiting hall, although there may be few in the general concourse. The station is fully adapted for passengers with reduced mobility: there are elevators, escalators, and dedicated washrooms.

If you need a snack before your journey, there are several options inside the station. These are mainly fast-food chains, such as McDonald's, and coffee shops (for example, Caffè di Fiore), where you can grab a sandwich, pastries, and coffee. This is convenient for a quick bite; the average bill will be 5–12 euros.

For a more substantial meal, it is better to step outside the station building. In the surrounding Sants district, there are many authentic cafes and restaurants. Literally a 5-minute walk away, you can find places serving an excellent menu of the day (menu del dia) at a reasonable price. Please note that cafes inside the station operate according to the train schedule (from early morning until late evening), while city restaurants may close for the afternoon break (siesta).

The history of the modern Sants station began in the 1970s. It was built in a modern, somewhat brutalist style, with the aim of uniting the city's scattered railway lines. The opening took place in 1979, and since then, the station has become a symbol of Barcelona's transport modernisation. The main feature of the project was the decision to move all tracks underground to connect districts of the city that were previously divided by the railway.

A crucial stage in the station's history was the arrival of high-speed lines. In 2008, the first AVE train arrived here from Madrid, which required a massive reconstruction and the implementation of new security systems. Today, Sants continues to develop: new projects are planned to expand and update the exterior appearance of the square in front of the station to make it greener and more pedestrian-friendly.

The main advice for passengers on high-speed trains is to arrive in advance. Security control (baggage scanning) before boarding AVE or TGV trains is mandatory and can take 10–20 minutes during peak hours. Boarding usually closes 2 minutes before the train departs.

Be vigilant: as in any major tourist hub, pickpockets may operate at the station. Do not leave your belongings unattended for a second. If you are transferring from a commuter train to the metro, keep your ticket until the end of the trip — it may be needed to exit through the turnstile.

Remember that the station closes at night (approximately from 00:30 to 04:30), so staying inside overnight is not possible. If you have an early flight or train, it is better to book a hotel nearby — the Sants district offers many accommodation options.