Verified 2026 guide to reaching Calella & the Maresme coast from Girona-Costa Brava Airport
Seven ways to reach Calella & the Maresme — ranked by our recommendation
The right answer depends on where you’re staying, when you land, and whether you’re happy with transfers. Here’s our honest pick for each scenario:
| Your situation | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Staying in Calella, Pineda, Sta. Susanna or Malgrat | ⭐ Direct shared shuttle (Flybus / MoventisExperience) | From ~€14, ~1h, hotel drop-off — no transfers |
| Staying in Mataró or southern Maresme | ⭐ Sagalés → Barcelona Nord → R1 | The only sensible public-transport chain for the south coast |
| Travelling in summer (Jun–Sep) | ⭐ Bus → Lloret → Blanes → R1 | Faster than the Barcelona detour when seasonal buses run |
| Group of 3–4 with luggage | ⭐ Pre-booked private transfer | ~€100 split four ways = €25/head, door-to-door, 2h saved |
| Late-night arrival (after ~22:00) | ⭐ Pre-booked private transfer or taxi | Last bus to Barcelona Nord goes early; no R1 after ~22:30 |
| Solo budget traveller, daytime | ⭐ Direct shared shuttle if hotel is on route, otherwise Sagalés → Girona → train | Cheapest paths in 2026 — shuttle from €14, Girona+train from ~€8 |
| Option | Price | Time | Runs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⭐ Direct Shared Shuttle (Flybus / MoventisExperience) | from ~€14–25 | ~1h | Daily (book ahead) | Our pick — Northern Maresme hotels |
| ⭐ Sagalés → Barcelona Nord → R1 train | ~€25–27 total | ~2h 30m–3h | ~15 buses/day, year-round | Year-round backbone — reliable in winter |
| Sagalés → Lloret → Blanes → R1 train | ~€16–20 total | ~2h–2h 30m | Seasonal (best Jun–Sep) | Summer shortcut — avoids Barcelona |
| Sagalés → Girona city → train via Maçanet | ~€8–12 total | ~2h 15m–3h | Bus hourly; train infrequent | Cheapest option (slow if Maçanet wait is long) |
| Bus → Lloret → Dofí Jet ferry (seasonal) | ~€25–30 total | ~3h 30m | Jun–Sep only | Scenic summer arrival by sea |
| Self-drive (rental car) | from ~€30/day + fuel | ~30 min | 24/7 | Maximum flexibility, side trips |
| Pre-booked Private Transfer | €90–140 | ~30–55 min | 24/7 | Groups, families, late arrivals |
| Taxi (metered) | €100–160 | ~30–55 min | 24/7 | Immediate, no booking |
The fastest public option for the northern Maresme — no transfers
Shared shuttle coaches run direct from Girona Airport to the major Maresme resort towns (Blanes, Malgrat, Santa Susanna, Pineda, Calella) and the Costa Brava (Lloret, Tossa). They’re aimed at package-tour traffic, but anyone can book them online. For Calella, Pineda and Santa Susanna this is the cheapest and easiest option in 2026 with no transfers.
The year-round backbone — reliable in winter, longer journey
The detour-via-Barcelona route is the most reliable way to reach any Maresme town outside summer. The Sagalés coach runs about 15 times a day, coordinated with flight arrivals, and the R1 train northbound is frequent.
Fastest public-transport chain in summer — two transfers but no Barcelona detour
If you’re travelling between June and October, this is faster than going via Barcelona. The Sagalés 613 (or year-round Moventis 86) drops you in Lloret; a local bus connects to Blanes RENFE station; the R1 then runs south through every Maresme town. Two transfers, but it cuts ~1 hour off the Barcelona route.
Cheap and quick to the bus, but the onward train is the bottleneck
A cheap short hop to Girona city (line 607, ~€2.90), but the onward train to the Maresme is slow and requires a transfer at Maçanet-Massanes or Barcelona. Worth it only if you actually want to stop in Girona city for the day — not as a pure transit route.
Option A — Via Maçanet-Massanes (faster on paper):
Option B — Via Barcelona (more frequent):
The scenic summer arrival — long, but unforgettable
If you’re arriving in summer with no luggage rush, this is the most memorable way in. Take the Moventis 86 or Sagalés 613 to Lloret de Mar, then board a Dofí Jet Boats coastal ferry south to Calella, Malgrat or Blanes. Slow, scenic, runs roughly June–September only.
Maximum flexibility — useful if you plan to explore beyond the coast
If you want side-trips to Girona city, the Costa Brava, Cap de Creus or even Andorra, a rental car is the easiest move. The AP-7 motorway and C-32 toll road both run directly south to the Maresme; Calella is ~30 minutes from GRO.
All major rental brands operate desks in the arrivals hall: Avis, Budget, Centauro, Enterprise, Europcar, Goldcar, Hertz, Sixt. Book online for the best rates — on-arrival walk-up pricing is usually 2–3× higher.
However you reach the R1, here are the key Maresme stations
The R1 Rodalies line is the only train that runs along the Maresme coast. Whether you come via Barcelona Nord or via Lloret–Blanes, you’ll be on the R1 for the final leg. Times below include realistic transfer buffers.
| Town | R1 from Pl. Cat. | Via Barcelona | Via Blanes | R1 zone fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mataró | ~43 min | ~2h 45m | ~2h 30m | €3.00 (2 zones) |
| Arenys de Mar | ~54 min | ~3h | ~2h 10m | €4.10 (3 zones) |
| Canet de Mar | ~58 min | ~3h | ~2h 5m | €4.10 (3 zones) |
| Sant Pol de Mar | ~61 min | ~3h 10m | ~2h | €4.90 (4 zones) |
| Calella | ~66 min | ~3h 15m | ~1h 50m | €4.90 (4 zones) |
| Pineda de Mar | ~69 min | ~3h 20m | ~1h 45m | €4.90 (4 zones) |
| Santa Susanna | ~72 min | ~3h 20m | ~1h 40m | €4.90 (4 zones) |
| Malgrat de Mar | ~76 min | ~3h 25m | ~1h 35m | €4.90 (4 zones) |
| Blanes | ~80 min | ~3h 30m | (start point) | €4.90 (4 zones) |
Fares are 2026 Rodalies-only single-ticket prices from Plaça Catalunya. T-Mobilitat single tickets are slightly higher. Check Rodalies for live schedules.
Door-to-door — the fastest option at ~30–55 minutes
Girona Airport is physically closer to the northern Maresme than to Barcelona. Malgrat, Santa Susanna and Calella are all under 45 minutes by car. Prices vary by operator, time of day and season — ranges below reflect aggregator pricing from Kiwitaxi, Welcome Pickups, Costa Brava Taxi and MyTransfers.
| Destination | Distance | Drive time | Private Transfer | Taxi (metered) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malgrat de Mar | ~38 km | ~30 min | ~€80–100 | ~€100–130 |
| Santa Susanna | ~42 km | ~32 min | ~€80–110 | ~€100–135 |
| Pineda de Mar | ~42 km | ~33 min | ~€85–110 | ~€105–140 |
| Calella | ~42 km | ~30–35 min | ~€70–110 | ~€100–140 |
| Canet / Arenys | ~50–52 km | ~40–42 min | ~€100–130 | ~€120–155 |
| Mataró | ~59–66 km | ~40–55 min | ~€120–145 | ~€130–160 |
| Lloret de Mar | ~30 km | ~25 min | ~€55–75 | ~€65–85 |
| Blanes | ~34 km | ~28 min | ~€65–85 | ~€75–95 |
Aena publishes that fixed coastal-town taxi fares exist from Girona Airport but does not list them online. For a guaranteed price, call ahead: Taxis Vilobí Onyar +34 972 935 736, Gitaxi, Radiotaxi Girona, or Taxi Girona Raimon.
Ryanair dominates — with routes from across Europe
Girona-Costa Brava Airport is essentially a Ryanair hub. The vast majority of flights are operated by Ryanair, with routes connecting to cities across Europe.
Some seasonal charter flights also operate from Nordic countries during summer.
Full step-by-step guide with trains, buses, taxis and prices from Barcelona El Prat.
R1 stations, T-Casual cards, local buses and Dofi Jet boats along the Maresme coast.
Beaches, restaurants, nightlife and everything you need to know about Calella.