Know Before You Go: Visiting the Sagrada Familia

As one of Barcelona’s top tourist destinations, the Sagrada Familia can be very crowded—especially on weekends, during the summer high season, and on holidays. Tickets offer timed admission, and it’s best to buy them well in advance if you’re visiting during a particularly busy time of year.

Aim for weekdays, and arrive early in the morning if you can, or book a tour with fast-track entry and a guide who can help steer you around the crowds and straight to the highlights. Booking a private tour of the basilica can also offer a somewhat calmer experience.

Insider tip: Even if you have pre-booked tickets, you will still need to wait in a short line to undergo security screening before entering the site. Avoid bringing backpacks, suitcases, or food and drink to speed up this process.

Visiting the Sagrada Familia is an experience to savor. Set aside extra time for waiting in line (if you haven’t purchased advance tickets) and going through security screenings, and give yourself enough time to linger as you take in the enormity of the architectural landmark and soak in its extraordinary design. Most visits to the basilica take around 2 to 3 hours, and you should plan for a little longer if you wish to add on a tower climb to your experience. That said, if you’re pressed for time, express tours make it possible to see the highlights in under 2 hours.

Visiting the Sagrada Familia requires tickets, and the timed entry slots are strictly observed. You can choose from a range of options and packages to fit your schedule and interests, from basic entry all the way up to guided tour add-ons and tower visits. Whatever your preference, it’s best to book online or via the landmark’s app (which also offers a free audio guide) in advance for the smoothest experience.

In a pinch, you can nab tickets through the direct purchase QR codes located around the site. Confused by the various options? Booking a tour (especially one with an optional tower visit) is a straightforward way to see the site. You can also book tours that include both La Sagrada Familia and Park Guëll, another Gaudí masterpiece.

Insider tip: There is actually one exception to the site’s ticketing rule: Worshippers attending mass at the Sagrada Familia—held in the morning on Sundays and on holy days—can visit for free. That said, capacity is limited, so you’ll want to arrive early.

The parts of the Sagrada Familia that are still under construction are the basilica’s towers. (There are 18 of them: 12 are dedicated to the apostles; four to the evangelists; one, the second highest, to the Virgin Mary; and one, the tallest, to Jesus.) The towers are among the building’s most notable features and are also popular for the views they offer of the city. While a basic entry ticket to the Sagrada Familia does not include tower access, you can book a joint package that lets you visit one of the completed towers.

Insider tip: The towers can be reached by elevator, but you will need to descend down narrow spiral staircases. Those with claustrophobia or heart conditions are advised not to ascend to the towers.

While the Sagrada Familia’s towers are still under construction, there are two towers that visitors can explore: the so-called Passion Tower (Torre de la Pasión) and the Nativity Tower (Torre del Nacimiento). Named for the sides they overlook, both towers offer impressive views of the city and the chance to get up close and personal with the basilica’s facade. Many choose the Nativity Tower because it occupies the part of the church that’s original to Gaudí’s designs, but the Passion Tower is said to offer clearer views. Visitors should note, however, that the towers sometimes close temporarily for maintenance or due to bad weather.

The Sagrada Familia’s extraordinary history and architectural design make it easy to forget that it’s a working Catholic basilica, but you should be sure to dress as if you were touring any other site of worship. Visitors should wear clothing that covers their shoulders and their upper legs—so skip the short-shorts and sleeveless tops—and swimwear and see-through clothing are strictly forbidden. Note that hats are also forbidden unless you wear one for religious or health reasons.

All of the Sagrada Familia—except the towers—is accessible to wheelchair users and visitors with limited mobility. Wheelchairs are also free to rent at the basilica (subject to availability), and disabled visitors receive complimentary entry to the landmark. The cathedral’s accessible entryway is located at entrance C on Carrer de la Marina; visitors may be asked to provide a card that shows their disability status to secure free tickets.

• How many tourists visit the Sagrada Familia each year? The Sagrada Familia isn’t just one of Barcelona’s most-visited landmarks—it’s one of the top tourist destinations in all of Spain. In 2019, it welcomed 4.7 million visitors, and while numbers have fluctuated since the pandemic, the church is still frequented by millions of tourists every year. Expect to rub shoulders with many fellow visitors during your trip.

• Why is the Sagrada Familia still not finished? There are numerous reasons why the Sagrada Familia has taken so long to complete, beginning with the fact that it saw a change of architects several years into its construction. (Gaudí was not its original architect.) Other challenges include its partial destruction during the Spanish Civil War, a lack of funding (most funds come from private donations), and the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Why is the Sagrada Familia so special? The Sagrada Familia is considered Barcelona architect Antoni Gaudí’s masterwork, and its design—emblematic of his Catalan modernist style—makes it unlike any other church in the world. The basilica’s long construction period adds to its notoriety, as does the fact that it will be the tallest church in the world upon its completion.

• Where is Gaudí buried? Antoni Gaudí, the Sagrada Familia’s architect, was laid to rest within his most famous creation. His tomb is located in the basilica’s crypt, one floor below ground level, within the chapel of the Virgen del Carmen.

• Who paid for the Sagrada Familia? The Sagrada Familia was first envisioned by Barcelona bookseller Josep Maria Bocabella, and since its inception it has been primarily funded by private donations and envisioned as a place for the people. Today, funds from ticket sales are also put towards its construction costs.