Our step-by-step photo guide to travelling from Plaça de Catalunya to Sagrada Família by metro, including ticket-machine screens, T-mobilitat card costs, L2 platform signs and the station exit.
Start at Plaça de Catalunya, board at Passeig de Gràcia
Getting from Plaça de Catalunya to the Sagrada Família by metro is straightforward once you know which station and direction to use. We walked from the square area to Passeig de Gràcia, bought tickets at a machine, and took the purple L2 toward Badalona Pompeu Fabra. Sagrada Família was the third stop, with no transfer needed.
This photo guide follows our actual journey, from finding the entrance and buying a T-mobilitat card to opening the train doors and walking out beside the basilica. All journey and entry photos are our own; only near-identical basilica views have been left out.
Important station distinction: Catalunya and Passeig de Gràcia are different stations. Our photos show Passeig de Gràcia, so this is a walk-and-direct-L2 route from the Plaça de Catalunya area, rather than a train journey starting inside Catalunya station. Search for Passeig de Gràcia on your map and check the station name at the entrance. The red M signs identify the metro, while the purple L2 symbol is the line you need.
We used the escalator beside the street-level lift. At the bottom, the large station sign showed L2, L4 and L3. Follow L2 rather than simply heading to the first platform.
Check the L2 direction before buying your ticket
The station departure board showed several lines and both directions. For this trip, look for L2 — Badalona Pompeu Fabra. The opposite L2 direction is Paral·lel. The yellow L4 notice in our photos was a service message displayed during our visit; it should not be treated as a current disruption report.
How to buy a Barcelona metro ticket at the machine
Choose the British flag at the bottom of the screen for English. The machine displays several products, including Hola Barcelona passes, Single ticket, T-casual and T-usual. We checked the 24-hour Hola Barcelona option first; the photos show its quantity and payment screens at €13.50. That was not the ticket we eventually purchased. Keep those screens separate from the single-ticket process below.
If you only need one metro journey, select Single ticket. If you expect to ride repeatedly, compare the available products before paying rather than assuming a single ticket is the best fit.
Single ticket price and the extra card fee
Use the + and − buttons to choose how many cards to purchase. Our single-ticket screen separated the fare from the cost of the new physical card: €2.90 for the journey + €1 for the card = €3.90 per person when buying a new card.
For two people, the final screen showed €7.80: (€2.90 + €1) × 2. That amount was for two newly issued cards, each loaded with a single ticket. It was not the price of one journey for one person. These are the amounts shown in our photos; check the machine and the official TMB fare information when you travel.
Pay, wait for issuance, and collect your card
We paid by bank card. The terminal displayed €7.80 and asked for a PIN; follow the instructions for your own card, as the payment steps may vary.
Once the machine starts processing the tickets, wait for issuance to finish. The screen specifically says that the cardboard card is rechargeable and should not be thrown away. Check the lower collection compartment, collect your issued cards and any printed receipt, and make sure nothing has been left in the tray.
What is the T-mobilitat card?
Our card was white and green, with T-mobilitat printed across the front. T-mobilitat is the card system; Single ticket was the fare product we purchased. The card name and the ticket type are not the same thing.
The cardboard card can be recharged, so keep it after your journey. For details about topping up single tickets and the €1 new-card cost, see the official T-mobilitat single-ticket guide.
Tap your card at the metro gate
Place the card on the broad contactless reader, as shown in our photo. Although the gate also has a narrow slot, the card we received was validated by tapping it on the reader. Wait for the green confirmation and gate to open, then walk through and keep your card with you.
Find the platform toward Badalona Pompeu Fabra
Follow the purple L2 sign for Badalona Pompeu Fabra. The platform diagram makes the route easy to check:
Passeig de Gràcia → Tetuan → Monumental → Sagrada Família
That means three stops after boarding: Tetuan first, Monumental second, and Sagrada Família third. Stay on the same line. On the electronic platform display, the direction may be shortened to Badalona PF; it refers to the same terminus. The large countdown indicates when the next train is expected.
Board the red-and-white metro train
We photographed the train as it entered the platform, including the metro centenary lettering on its side. Wait until the train has stopped and let passengers get off before boarding. Stand clear of the platform edge while the train is arriving.
Use the green door button when needed
The train we used had a green door-opening button. If the door does not open automatically after the train stops, press the illuminated button. There is also a button inside for getting off. Only use it once the train has stopped and the button is enabled.
Inside the carriage, we checked the overhead L2 map again. Watch for Tetuan and Monumental, then get off at Sagrada Família. It is a short sequence of stops, so it helps to check the map as soon as you board. Keep bags and phones secure and hold a rail if standing.
Leave Sagrada Família station using the basilica signs
After getting off, look up at the direction signs. Our photo shows the L5 transfer to the left and a basilica pictogram pointing right. We followed the basilica symbol.
Take the escalator or stairs upstairs, then follow the exit route through a lane marked with a green arrow. Avoid the lanes marked with a red X. A final escalator leads up to street level. These photos show the route we used; follow on-site signs if the station layout or access arrangements change.
The basilica is right beside the metro exit
As we came up from the station, the Sagrada Família appeared immediately beside the exit. One photo includes both the station sign and the basilica, showing just how close they are.
We stopped for exterior photos before checking our ticket’s entry instructions. The Nativity façade is covered with intricate sculpture, and seeing it from street level is very different from viewing it in a photograph. The metro entrance is close to the building, but you still need time to find the correct visitor entrance and follow the queue.
Allow time for the entrance security check
Before entering, we passed through a security checkpoint with screening equipment. Follow the staff’s instructions for your bag and belongings. After screening, we continued up the stairs toward the basilica.
Do not plan to arrive at the metro station at the exact time printed on your admission ticket: walking to the entrance, checking directions, and screening all take additional time. Check your own ticket and the official Sagrada Família website for current visitor information.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take L2 directly from Catalunya station?
This guide starts in the Plaça de Catalunya area, but our boarding station was Passeig de Gràcia. We walked there first, then took L2 directly to Sagrada Família. Do not confuse the two station names.
Which direction should I take from Passeig de Gràcia?
Choose the purple L2 toward Badalona Pompeu Fabra, sometimes abbreviated Badalona PF. Get off at the third stop: Sagrada Família, after Tetuan and Monumental.
Why did our two tickets cost €7.80?
We bought two new cards, each with a €2.90 single ticket and a €1 card charge. The total was €3.90 per person, or €7.80 for two.
Did we buy the €13.50 day pass in the photos?
No. We checked the 24-hour Hola Barcelona screens, but the completed purchase shown later was for single tickets.
Should I throw away the cardboard card?
No. The machine identifies it as rechargeable. Keep it and check the official T-mobilitat instructions for topping it up.
Does the train door open automatically?
Our train had green buttons. If the door remains closed at a stop, press the enabled green button to open it.
Is the metro exit close to the basilica entrance?
The building is immediately beside the exit we used, but reaching your assigned entrance and passing through security takes extra time. Follow the instructions on your admission ticket.
Route to remember: walk from the Plaça de Catalunya area to Passeig de Gràcia, take L2 toward Badalona Pompeu Fabra, and get off three stops later at Sagrada Família. Keep your rechargeable card and leave time for the basilica entrance checks.
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