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Is this enough time to visit Sagrada Familia and make it back?

Hello. I have a question for people who have experience getting around Barcelona.

I fly there on Thursday October 29th and stay overnight in a hotel located between Placa Catalunya and the Universitat metro stop. On that day, I'd like to take a walking tour of Barri Gotic and possibly some of El Born, depending on how soon the jet lag takes over.

My question has to do with the next day. On Friday October 30th, I'd like to visit Sagrada Familia. Looking online at their website, here is the earliest opportunity to do so: entrance into the Basilica at 9:30am, take a one hour tour with an English-speaking guide at 10:00am, and then take the elevators up the Nativity façade at 11:15am. After doing this, I need to get back to my hotel for check-out and then take a taxi all the way down Las Ramblas to the cruise ship terminal. I need to be aboard the cruise ship no later than 3:30pm (because the ship departs at 5:00).

Here's my question. Given the traffic conditions of Spain's second largest city, is this enough time for a guided tour of Sagrada Familia, get back to the hotel, and get down to the cruise ship terminal? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Posted by
1741 posts

I think so. One could walk from Placa Catalunya to the port in 30 minutes or less, so I can't see a taxi taking longer than that, even if traffic is bad.

Posted by
7175 posts

Why rush back to the hotel to checkout? Check out of the hotel before you head out to the Sagrada Familia, storing your bag with the concierge.
0830 Checkout and store bags
0900 Metro to Sagrada Familia
0930 Sagrada Familia
1200 Metro to Diagonal
1230 Walk down Passeig de Gracia, from Diagonal to Plaza Catalunya, passing Casa Mila and Casa Batllo.
1430 Collect bags from hotel and taxi to port
1500 Board ship

Posted by
51 posts

You will have plenty of time. Everything is Barcelona is pretty close and the cruise ship terminal is right in town. It sounds like a very doable plan. The idea of checking out in the morning is good cause you will probably even have time to do some more sightseeing before getting on the ship. Barcelona is a beautiful and very easy to tour, quite compact. Have fun.

Posted by
1178 posts

Follow the advice above and check out before you head out of the hotel...leave the luggage, and just get it when you come back in the afternoon. Check the Sagrada Familia site about purchasing tickets before hand...the line can be long...if you can do this, go to the head of the line and you will see the shorter line...get in it and basically walk right in.

Posted by
18 posts

Wow! Thank you, everyone, for the advice. I'll go ahead and get the tickets for Sagrada Familia online.

Posted by
18 posts

I got the tickets online for the 9:30 entrance, 10:00 guided tour in English, and 11:15 elevator up the Nativity façade. It was interesting reading the fine print -- the towers may close due to inclement weather, and no refunds will be given for tickets purchased in advance. Oh well! It's a donation to the ongoing construction of a beautiful basilica!