Quick answer: Reus Airport (REU) is about 110 km southwest of Barcelona, near Tarragona and the Costa Daurada. There is no direct train from the airport itself. The Monbus airport bus runs to Barcelona Sants station (from €17.60, ~90 minutes), while a taxi runs on the meter with an approximate fare around €185-200 for the roughly 90-minute drive. Like Girona, Reus was historically marketed by budget airlines as a “Barcelona” airport — it is not close to the city.
Reus Is Not a Barcelona Airport — Here’s Why It’s Sold as One
Reus Airport (REU) sits just outside Tarragona, in the Costa Daurada region — about 110 km from central Barcelona. Budget carriers including Ryanair and Jet2 have used it as a lower-cost alternative to El Prat, and older route marketing sometimes labelled it loosely as serving “Barcelona,” the same pattern seen at Girona airport further north.
Unlike El Prat, Reus wasn’t built for Barcelona traffic — it primarily serves Tarragona, Salou, Cambrils, and the PortAventura theme park resort area, all of which are much closer to the airport than Barcelona is. If your final destination actually is one of those towns, Reus is convenient; if it’s Barcelona city, plan for a 90-minute transfer.
According to Aena’s own published fare guide, a taxi from Reus Airport costs around €25 to Reus itself, €34-40 to Salou, Cambrils, or PortAventura — and roughly €200 to reach Barcelona-El Prat Airport, which gives a sense of scale for how much further Barcelona actually is.
Transfer Options Compared
As with Girona, there’s no train station at Reus airport itself, so a direct rail option doesn’t exist — you would need a bus or taxi to a train station first, which adds a leg to the journey rather than saving time.
| Option | Time | Cost (approx.) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monbus airport bus to Barcelona Sants | ~90 min | from €17.60 one-way | Budget travelers heading straight into the city |
| Pre-booked private transfer | ~85-100 min | €150-200 fixed | Groups, families, late/early flights |
| Airport taxi rank (metered) | ~85-100 min | ~€185-200 | No pre-booking, flexible timing |
| Rental car | ~90-100 min | varies + tolls | Continuing to Costa Daurada or PortAventura first |
The Monbus Route in Detail
Monbus operates the scheduled bus connection between Reus Airport and Barcelona, arriving directly at Barcelona Sants — the city’s main train and metro hub, useful if you’re connecting onward by rail. Tickets are sold at the airport ticket stand or directly from the driver.
Because Monbus departures are tied to flight schedules rather than running all day at a fixed interval, check the timetable for your specific arrival time before assuming a bus will be waiting — a late-evening landing may mean a longer wait or no service until morning.
If You’re Actually Heading to Salou, Cambrils, or PortAventura
If your trip isn’t Barcelona at all but the Costa Daurada resorts nearby, Reus is genuinely the right airport and the transfer is short: taxis to Salou, Cambrils, or PortAventura run around €34-40 and take 15-20 minutes, a fraction of the Barcelona journey.
Worth checking before you book any transfer: confirm which town your accommodation is actually in, since “Costa Daurada” covers a wide stretch of coast and a transfer priced for Salou won’t cover a hotel further along in Cambrils or Tarragona city.
FAQ
No. Reus Airport (REU) is approximately 110 km southwest of Barcelona, near Tarragona. It has sometimes been marketed by budget airlines under Barcelona-adjacent branding, but the transfer to central Barcelona takes around 90 minutes by bus or taxi.
Approximately €185-200 on the meter, according to Aena's published fare guide and airport taxi operators. Pre-booked fixed-price transfers are available in a similar range and remove the risk of a fare climbing in traffic.
Yes — Monbus operates a direct route to Barcelona Sants station, taking about 90 minutes with one-way fares from €17.60. Departures are scheduled around flight arrivals rather than a fixed all-day timetable.
Reus airport primarily serves Tarragona, Salou, Cambrils, and the PortAventura resort area, all roughly 15-40 minutes away by taxi. It is not a convenient airport for Barcelona city itself, which is about 90 minutes further.