La Sagrada Família is 22 km from Barcelona-El Prat Airport, Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece and the most visited monument in Spain. The route from the airport passes through the city to reach the Eixample district, where this extraordinary basilica has been under construction since 1882.

About La Sagrada Familia

La Sagrada Família is Antoni Gaudí\'s magnum opus, a basilica that defies architectural convention with its organic forms, hyperboloid towers, and facade sculptures that seem to drip with stone vegetation. Construction began in 1882, Gaudí devoted the last 12 years of his life exclusively to the project, and it is expected to be completed around 2026 — 144 years after it began.

The interior is as extraordinary as the exterior. Gaudí designed the columns to branch like trees, creating a forest-like canopy that filters light through stained glass windows in a spectrum from warm to cool across the nave. The Nativity Facade (completed during Gaudí\'s lifetime) and the Passion Facade (completed later in a starker style) tell the story of Christ through intricately detailed stone carvings.

Advance ticket booking is essential — the basilica receives over 4.5 million visitors annually and frequently sells out. Tower access tickets (additional charge) offer views across Barcelona. The surrounding Eixample neighborhood is excellent for dining and exploring Gaudí\'s other works, with Hospital de Sant Pau (a UNESCO site) just a few blocks north on Avinguda de Gaudí.

Nearby Landmarks

Hospital de Sant Pau Avinguda de Gaudí Plaça de Gaudí Recinte Modernista

Transport Options

Taxi

Cost €39-45
Time 30-50 minutes

Follow "Taxi" signs at arrivals. Queue at official taxi stand. Metered fares, no need to negotiate.

Train (Metro L9 Sud + transfer to L5)

Cost €5 + transfer
Time 45-55 minutes
Frequency Every 7 minutes

Step-by-Step Directions

1. Take Aerobus A1 from T1 (or A2 from T2) to Plaça Catalunya (35 min, EUR 7.75).
2. At Plaça Catalunya, descend to the Metro and take L2 (purple) toward Badalona.
3. Exit at Sagrada Família station (6 stops, 12 min) — you emerge right at the basilica.
4. Alternatively, take a taxi directly from the airport (EUR 39-50, 25-40 min).
5. From Sants Estació (train option from T2), take Metro L5 (blue) to Sagrada Família (4 stops).
6. Ticket tip: Book Sagrada Família entry online well in advance — same-day tickets often sell out.

Quick Comparison

Option Cost Time Best For
Taxi €39-45 30-50 minutes Convenience, groups, heavy luggage
Train €5 + transfer 45-55 minutes Budget, avoiding traffic

Good to Know

Late Night Transport

The Sagrada Família neighborhood is residential and quieter at night. After midnight, the N17 night bus from the airport reaches Plaça Catalunya, from where it's a 20-minute walk or taxi to Sagrada Família. The basilica is magnificently illuminated at night and viewable from the surrounding streets and Plaça de Gaudí park at any hour.

Luggage Tips

La Sagrada Família does not have luggage storage (only small bags and backpacks are allowed inside after security screening). Leave large bags at your hotel or use luggage storage at Sants station or Plaça Catalunya lockers before visiting. The surrounding streets are flat and easy to navigate.

Accessibility

La Sagrada Família is wheelchair accessible on the ground floor, including the nave and museum. The towers are not accessible by wheelchair (spiral staircases only). Sagrada Família metro station (L2 and L5) has elevator access. The surrounding Eixample streets are flat and grid-patterned with wide sidewalks — one of Barcelona's most wheelchair-friendly areas.