If you need a charter bus in Barcelona, we list 99 coach companies based within 20 km of the city, from Barcelona itself to L'Hospitalet, Badalona and Sabadell. Their weighted Google rating is 3.68 over 5,888 reviews, and 17 score 4.5 or more with at least 10 reviews. Compare them by fleet and seats, then send one quote request to up to three companies.
A charter bus in Barcelona works best when you give companies a clear brief: the group size, the dates, every stop and the time you must be back. This page explains how we would pick, what to ask before you confirm and where the companies are based. The lists above carry the data. Below is the guide we would want to read before sending a quote request.
Bus charter companies in Barcelona
We list 99 companies within 20 km of the city. The split by town matters because a coach that starts in your town has no empty-leg drive to reach you. Barcelona has 25 of them, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat 8, Badalona 7 and Sabadell 7, followed by Sant Boi de Llobregat with 6 and Viladecans, Ripollet and Mollet del Vallès with 4 each.
From the companies' own websites, only 8 of the 99 state a fleet size and 17 mention vehicles adapted for passengers with reduced mobility (PMR). That is a reason to ask, not to assume. A company that does not mention a feature online may still have it, and one that does mention it may not have it free on your date.
Our shortlist
We would not pick a single "best" company, because the right one depends on your group. These are the choices we would look at first, using only the data in the lists above.
- Autocares Vista Bus is based in Barcelona, has 5 stars over 103 reviews and its website names seat counts of 6, 19, 25, 30, 35, 55 and 60, so it covers both small and full-size groups. It is closed on weekends according to its Google hours.
- Soler bus SL in Sant Boi de Llobregat has 5 stars over 71 reviews and lists Google hours of open 24 hours every day, useful for early starts and late returns.
- Autocares Autocorb has the most reviews of the top six (303, rated 4.8) and says on its website that it has operated since 1922. Its website is available in Spanish, Catalan, English and French.
- Iglesias Bus in Sant Quirze del Vallès (5 stars, 58 reviews) names seat counts up to 65 and offers its website in Spanish, Catalan and English.
- Autocares Badabus mentions PMR or wheelchair-adapted vehicles on its website and has 152 reviews at 4.5 stars.
If a company is not in this list, that does not mean it is weaker. The full ranking is on how we rank.
Charter a coach with driver in Barcelona
A coach with driver means the company supplies the vehicle and a licensed professional driver, and you decide the route and times within the quote. Before you request quotes, write down these five things:
- Number of passengers, plus luggage (wheelchairs, strollers and instruments need space).
- Pick-up and drop-off addresses, and every stop in between.
- Start time, end time and how long the coach will wait.
- Whether the group arrives by air or sea, so the company can plan around Barcelona airport or the cruise port.
- Whether you want the driver to stay overnight, which changes the price.
If your group lands at El Prat, say which terminal: Aena runs a free shuttle between T1 and T2 around the clock, so name the exact terminal in your request.
Many readers wonder whether to ask for a coach or something smaller. The table below is a rough guide based on the seat counts companies name on their websites, not a guarantee for any single vehicle.
| Group size |
Vehicle to ask for |
When it fits |
| 1 to 8 |
Car or van |
Airport pick-up with luggage, see chauffeur service |
| 9 to 22 |
Minibus |
Wedding guests, small tour groups, see minibus hire |
| 23 to 35 |
Midi or microbus |
Mid-size groups on narrow roads |
| 36 to 60 |
Standard coach |
School trips, conferences, tour groups |
| 60+ |
Large coach |
Big events, two or more vehicles often cheaper |
How long can a driver work in one day?
A professional coach driver cannot drive as many hours as the group would like. Under EU Regulation (EC) 561/2006, the European Commission's page on driving time and rest periods states a daily driving limit of 9 hours, extendable to 10 hours on up to two days a week. A break of at least 45 minutes is due no later than 4.5 hours into driving, and it can be split into 15 and 30 minutes.
For you, this means a day trip with a long drive each way may need a second driver or a shorter itinerary. Ask each company how it will respect these limits on your date, and do not accept a plan that depends on the driver working past them.
What should a charter quote include?
A good quote lists, in writing, the vehicle type and seat count, the hours and kilometres covered, the waiting time, tolls and parking, the driver's rest and accommodation if needed, and any night or holiday surcharge. It should also name the company that will actually run the trip. Ask:
- Is the company the operator, or does it sell trips run by another firm?
- Does the vehicle have seat belts, air conditioning and luggage space for your group?
- Is a second driver included on long days?
- What is the cancellation policy and what happens if your flight is delayed?
- Is the price in euros including VAT, and is it fixed or per hour?
Red flags when you charter a bus
Treat these as signs to ask more questions:
- A price that arrives in seconds without asking your dates or stops.
- No company name, address or licence on the quote.
- A request for full payment by bank transfer to a personal account.
- A promise of a vehicle category with no seat count.
- No mention of tolls, parking or waiting time.
Which languages do coach companies speak?
Most companies in the lists work in Spanish and Catalan. From their own websites, in our top 25 the languages offered include English, French and Catalan, but several list Spanish only. The quote form on this site works in English, and your request goes to up to three companies. If you have a specific language need, state it in the first line and check the reply before you confirm.
Where to go next
If your group is travelling to a specific place, a coach is often combined with a day trip. We have guides to Sitges and to Andorra by bus, and a page on group coach hire for tours and excursions. When you are ready, use the quote form with your dates, group size and route. For a general idea of what drives the total, read our coach hire prices guide.