sagrada familia tour length

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How Long Is The Guided Tour Of Sagrada Familia?

Published: October 31, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Reeta Douglass

• Arts & Culture
• Plan Your Trip

Introduction

Welcome to the fascinating world of Sagrada Familia, one of the most iconic and awe-inspiring landmarks in Spain. Located in Barcelona, this masterpiece of architecture is a testament to the visionary genius of renowned architect Antoni Gaudí. Sagrada Familia attracts millions of visitors each year who come to marvel at its intricate design, soaring towers, and breathtaking beauty.

Stepping into Sagrada Familia is like entering a realm where art, spirituality, and innovation intersect. This magnificent basilica combines Gothic and Art Nouveau elements, creating a unique architectural style known as Catalan Modernism. From its stunning facades adorned with intricate sculptures to its towering spires that reach for the sky, every aspect of Sagrada Familia is a true testament to Gaudí’s artistic vision.

The construction of Sagrada Familia began in 1882, and over a century later, it remains an ongoing project. Gaudí dedicated much of his life to this monumental undertaking, deeply immersed in his passionate pursuit of perfection. Although he passed away in 1926, his ambitious vision lives on through the continued work of countless architects, engineers, and artisans who strive to bring his design to fruition.

Today, Sagrada Familia stands as a symbol of Barcelona’s rich cultural heritage and serves as a place of worship, attracting both religious pilgrims and curious tourists alike. Its breathtaking interior, adorned with vibrant stained glass windows and elegant columns that resemble tree-like structures, provides a soul-stirring experience.

Join us as we delve into the history, architectural features, and guided tours of Sagrada Familia. Discover the secrets and stories behind this iconic landmark, and prepare to be captivated by its beauty and grandeur.

History of Sagrada Familia

The history of Sagrada Familia dates back to 1882, when construction on the basilica first began. The project was initially commissioned by the bookseller Josep Maria Bocabella, who wanted to construct a church dedicated to the Holy Family. He purchased a plot of land in the Eixample district of Barcelona with the intention of building a temple that would surpass any other in size and grandeur.

Antonio Gaudí, a young and talented architect at the time, was appointed as the lead architect for the project. Gaudí’s unique artistic vision and innovative design philosophy left an indelible mark on the basilica, shaping its distinctive style and making it a true masterpiece of architecture.

However, Gaudí’s involvement in Sagrada Familia proved to be a lifelong commitment. He dedicated the last years of his life to the project, pouring his heart and soul into every intricate detail. Gaudí’s untimely death in 1926 left the basilica incomplete, with only a fraction of his original plans realized.

Despite Gaudí’s passing, work on Sagrada Familia continued under the guidance of other architects, who adhered to his design principles and sought to maintain the integrity of his vision. However, progress was slow due to various factors, including interruptions caused by the Spanish Civil War and funding issues.

Over the years, the construction of Sagrada Familia relied heavily on private donations and the dedication of countless skilled craftsmen and workers. Modern construction methods and technologies have played a crucial role in advancing the project, enabling closer adherence to Gaudí’s original designs and facilitating the intricate sculptural and ornamental work.

Today, as the work progresses towards completion, Sagrada Familia stands as a powerful symbol of endurance, tenacity, and artistic brilliance. It has survived the test of time and serves as a testament to the generations of architects, artisans, and laborers who have contributed to its creation.

Join us as we explore the architectural features, exterior and interior guided tours, and the duration of the guided tour of Sagrada Familia. Discover the wonders of this architectural masterpiece and immerse yourself in the captivating history of one of Spain’s most beloved landmarks.

Architectural Features of Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia is renowned for its extraordinary architectural features that combine Gothic and Art Nouveau influences, resulting in a style uniquely attributed to Antoni Gaudí. Let’s delve into some of the remarkable architectural elements that make Sagrada Familia a true masterpiece.

1. Facades: The basilica boasts three facades, each representing a different phase of Christ’s life. The Nativity Façade, facing the east, depicts his birth, with intricate sculptures and delicate detail. The Passion Façade, on the west side, symbolizes the suffering and crucifixion of Christ, showcasing a more austere and angular design. The Glory Façade, yet to be completed, will represent his triumphant return.

2. Towers: Sagrada Familia’s soaring towers are one of its most striking features. Currently, there are eight towers completed, representing the Twelve Apostles. These towers are adorned with intricate details and offer breathtaking views of Barcelona. The central tower, when finished, will be the tallest, reaching a height of 172.5 meters.

3. Columns: Inside the basilica, you will find a forest of towering columns that resemble trees. Gaudí drew inspiration from nature, and these columns branch out like the limbs of a tree, supporting the weight of the structure and providing a unique visual experience.

4. Stained Glass: The vibrant stained glass windows of Sagrada Familia create a mesmerizing effect as sunlight illuminates the interior. Gaudí designed the windows to radiate a multitude of colors, casting a warm and ethereal glow throughout the space.

5. Organic Shapes: Gaudí believed in the concept of natural forms and organic shapes, and these principles are reflected in Sagrada Familia. From the intricate details on the facades to the rounded contours inside, the basilica exudes a sense of harmony and integration with its surroundings.

6. Symbolism: Every aspect of Sagrada Familia carries symbolism, from the intricate sculptures representing biblical scenes to the intricate carvings of plants and animals. Gaudí believed that every detail should have a purpose and convey a deeper meaning.

These are just a few of the remarkable architectural features that define Sagrada Familia. The basilica is a testament to Gaudí’s innovative approach, pushing the boundaries of traditional architecture and creating a true work of art that continues to captivate and inspire visitors from around the world.

Exterior Guided Tour of Sagrada Familia

A guided tour of the exterior of Sagrada Familia is a must for any visitor who wants to fully appreciate the intricacies and symbolism of this architectural marvel. Led by knowledgeable guides, these tours offer a fascinating glimpse into the history, design, and cultural significance of the basilica.

As you embark on the exterior guided tour, you will have the opportunity to explore the three iconic facades of Sagrada Familia: the Nativity Façade, the Passion Façade, and the Glory Façade.

The Nativity Façade, facing the east, is a celebration of life and nature. Adorned with intricate sculptures depicting biblical scenes and elements from nature, this facade represents the birth of Jesus Christ. The tour guide will provide insights into the symbolism and meaning behind the sculptures, showcasing the painstaking attention to detail that Gaudí infused into every aspect of the design.

Next, you will move to the west side to explore the Passion Façade, which represents the suffering and crucifixion of Christ. The sculptures on this facade are more austere, with sharp angles and starker features, conveying a sense of solemnity and sacrifice. Throughout the tour, the guide will provide a deeper understanding of the themes and artistic choices made by Gaudí.

Finally, you will have the opportunity to learn about the yet-to-be-completed Glory Façade, which will represent the final phase of Christ’s life. This facade is expected to encompass the apex of the basilica and will showcase Gaudí’s visionary vision of Christ’s triumphant return. The guide will explain the plans and symbolism behind this incredible work in progress.

Throughout the tour, the guide will share anecdotes and stories about the construction of Sagrada Familia, giving you a deeper appreciation of the challenges faced and the dedication required to bring Gaudí’s vision to life. They will also explain the ongoing construction process, sharing insights into the techniques and technologies used to ensure the preservation and completion of the basilica.

The exterior guided tour of Sagrada Familia typically lasts around 1-2 hours, providing ample time to explore the striking details of each facade, take photographs, and absorb the grandeur of the surroundings. It is a truly immersive experience that allows you to witness the architectural masterpiece up close and gain a greater understanding of its cultural and historical significance.

As you conclude the exterior guided tour, you will be left in awe of the sheer magnitude and intricate beauty of Sagrada Familia, eager to delve further into the breathtaking interior that awaits.

Interior Guided Tour of Sagrada Familia

The interior of Sagrada Familia is as awe-inspiring as its exterior, and a guided tour offers a chance to delve deeper into the spiritual and artistic wonders found within its walls. Led by knowledgeable guides, the interior tour allows visitors to fully appreciate the breathtaking design, symbolism, and religious significance of this magnificent basilica.

Entering the interior of Sagrada Familia is like stepping into a surreal world where light, color, and architectural brilliance harmoniously blend. As your guide leads you through the nave, you’ll be greeted by a forest of towering columns that branch out like trees, creating a unique and ethereal atmosphere. These columns serve as both structural supports and symbolic representations of nature and life.

The guide will draw your attention to the stunning stained glass windows that adorn the basilica, casting vibrant hues of light that create an otherworldly ambiance. The stained glass was strategically designed by Gaudí to evoke different moods and emotions, with colors symbolizing different biblical themes and events. The guide will explain the symbolism behind the colors and share fascinating anecdotes about their creation.

As you explore the interior, your guide will highlight the intricate ornamentation, decorative elements, and sacred spaces that make Sagrada Familia so unique. From the ornate details on the ceilings to the meticulously crafted statues and sculptures, every corner of the interior exudes Gaudí’s meticulous attention to detail and his belief in the power of art and spirituality.

The tour may also include a visit to the Museum of Sagrada Familia, which offers further insights into the history and construction of the basilica. Here, you can marvel at scale models, drawings, and exhibits showcasing the evolution of the design and the ongoing construction process. The guide will provide a deeper understanding of the challenges faced and the ingenious solutions employed by Gaudí and subsequent architects.

The duration of the interior guided tour is typically around 1-1.5 hours, allowing ample time to admire the intricate details, reflect on the spiritual significance, and capture the essence of Sagrada Familia through photographs. The guide’s expertise and passion for the basilica will bring the space to life, helping you connect with its beauty and understand the immense cultural value it holds.

By the end of the interior guided tour, you will have gained a profound appreciation for the artistic genius and spiritual depth present in every corner of Sagrada Familia. It is an experience that transcends the boundaries of architecture and leaves a lasting impression on all those fortunate enough to witness its magnificence.

Duration of the Guided Tour

The duration of the guided tour of Sagrada Familia can vary depending on the type of tour and the depth of exploration. Considering both the exterior and interior tours, the average duration is typically around 2-3 hours. However, it is important to note that this is a general estimate, as some tours may be longer or shorter depending on various factors.

For the exterior guided tour, which focuses on exploring the three iconic facades of the basilica, the duration is usually around 1-2 hours. This allows ample time to appreciate the intricate details, sculptures, and symbolism on each facade, as well as to gain insights into the history and construction techniques of Sagrada Familia. Guides often share fascinating anecdotes and stories about the basilica’s development, providing a richer understanding of the architectural masterpiece.

When it comes to the interior guided tour, visitors can expect to spend approximately 1-1.5 hours exploring the awe-inspiring interior spaces of Sagrada Familia. This includes immersing oneself in the mesmerizing atmosphere created by the forest of towering columns, admiring the vibrant stained glass windows, and marveling at the intricate ornamentation throughout the basilica. Additionally, a visit to the Museum of Sagrada Familia may be included, allowing visitors to further delve into the history and evolution of this iconic landmark.

It’s worth noting that the duration of the guided tour can also depend on the group size and individual preferences. Some visitors may choose to spend more time capturing photographs or taking in the ambiance, while others may have specific questions for the guide. However, the average duration of 2-3 hours allows for a comprehensive exploration of both the exterior and interior, providing a rich and immersive experience of Sagrada Familia.

For those who wish to delve even deeper into the details and symbolism of Sagrada Familia, there are specialized tours available that focus on specific aspects or areas of the basilica. These tours may have longer durations and may require advance booking.

Overall, regardless of the specific tour chosen, the guided experience of Sagrada Familia offers a unique opportunity to witness and understand the architectural brilliance, cultural significance, and spiritual depth of this remarkable masterpiece.

Tips for Visiting Sagrada Familia

Visiting Sagrada Familia is an unforgettable experience, and to make the most of your trip, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:

• Book Tickets in Advance: Sagrada Familia is a popular attraction, so it’s advisable to book your tickets in advance. This will save you time waiting in line and ensure you secure a spot for the guided tour. Tickets can be purchased online through the official website or from authorized ticket vendors.
• Arrive Early: To beat the crowds and enjoy a more serene experience, try to arrive early in the morning or later in the afternoon. The basilica tends to be less crowded during these times, allowing you to fully appreciate the beauty and tranquility of the space.
• Dress Respectfully: As Sagrada Familia is a place of worship, it is important to dress appropriately. Avoid wearing revealing clothing or items with offensive imagery. It is recommended to dress modestly and comfortably, considering that the basilica can get warm during peak hours.
• Plan for Security Checks: Due to its status as a popular tourist site, Sagrada Familia has security measures in place. Be prepared for bag checks and metal detectors at the entrance. To streamline the process, minimize the number of bags you bring and avoid carrying prohibited items.
• Guided Tour versus Self-Guided Visit: While exploring Sagrada Familia on your own can be enjoyable, consider opting for a guided tour. A knowledgeable guide will provide valuable insights, historical context, and fascinating anecdotes that enhance your understanding and appreciation of the basilica’s architecture and symbolism.
• Bring a Camera (with Restrictions): Photography is allowed inside Sagrada Familia, but there are restrictions on the use of tripods or large professional equipment. Capture the beauty of the interior and exterior, but be mindful of others and prioritize experiencing the space firsthand rather than solely through the lens.
• Check for Special Events or Closures: Before visiting, check the official website of Sagrada Familia for any special events or closures that may affect the tour availability or access to certain areas. Stay informed to make the most of your visit and ensure a smooth experience.
• Respect the Quiet Spaces: Within Sagrada Familia, there are areas designated for prayer and reflection. Be mindful and respectful of these spaces, keeping noise levels low and refraining from taking photographs or engaging in loud conversations.
• Visit Nearby Attractions: Sagrada Familia is located in the Eixample district of Barcelona, which is filled with other architectural marvels, trendy shops, and delightful cafes. Take the opportunity to explore the neighborhood and visit nearby attractions such as Casa Batlló and Casa Milà.
• Support the Ongoing Construction: Remember that Sagrada Familia is still under construction and relies on donations for its completion. Consider donating to the basilica’s foundation or purchasing souvenirs from the on-site shops to support this remarkable architectural project.

By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll be well-prepared to make the most of your visit to Sagrada Familia and ensure a memorable and enjoyable experience in this awe-inspiring landmark.

Sagrada Familia is a true architectural gem that captivates visitors from around the world with its breathtaking beauty and magnificent design. Its unique blend of Gothic and Art Nouveau styles, combined with the visionary genius of Antoni Gaudí, makes it a truly iconic landmark in Spain and a testament to human creativity and perseverance.

Exploring Sagrada Familia through guided tours allows you to fully immerse yourself in its rich history, intricate symbolism, and awe-inspiring grandeur. From the exterior facades that depict biblical scenes and tell the story of Christ’s life, to the soaring columns and vibrant stained glass of the interior, every aspect of the basilica tells a story and evokes a sense of wonder.

As you journey through the guided tours, you’ll gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the meticulous craftsmanship, innovative design, and profound spiritual significance of Sagrada Familia. The knowledgeable guides will unravel the secrets and stories behind its creation, providing a wealth of information that enriches the experience and deepens your connection with this architectural masterpiece.

Remember to plan ahead by booking your tickets in advance, arriving early to beat the crowds, and dressing respectfully for this sacred space. Consider enhancing your visit with a guided tour to gain a comprehensive understanding of the basilica’s design and significance. Keep in mind the tips provided to make the most out of your visit and respect the sanctity of the space.

Visiting Sagrada Familia is not just a sightseeing activity; it’s a journey of discovery, a testament to human ingenuity, and an opportunity to connect with art, architecture, and spirituality in a profound way. Whether you are a history enthusiast, an art lover, or a curious traveler, a visit to Sagrada Familia is an experience that will leave an indelible mark on your heart and soul.

As you bid farewell to this architectural masterpiece, take a moment to appreciate the centuries of dedication and hard work that have gone into its creation. Sagrada Familia stands as a testament to the power of human imagination, the pursuit of excellence, and the enduring legacy of Antoni Gaudí. It is a place where art, spirituality, and innovation converge, inviting visitors to explore, wonder, and be inspired for generations to come.

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Guide to Visiting the Sagrada Familia 2024: Tickets, Tips and More!

Last updated: January 1, 2024 . Written by Laurence Norah - 9 Comments

If you’re visiting Barcelona, there’s a good chance you are planning on visiting the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, commonly referred to as just the Sagrada Familia.

This magnificent building is a must-see in our opinion, and is high on the to-do list of most visitors to the city.

Because it’s so popular, you do need to do a bit of planning prior to your visit. At busier times of year, tickets can sell out. There’s also a lot to see and do here, as well as some choices you have to make before you buy your Sagrada Familia ticket.

We would also like to preface this guide with a note that currently the Sagrada Familia is an active construction site. This means different areas of the building may close, timings may change and access may vary. We will endeavour to keep this page as up to date as possible, but please do check the official website as well for relevant information.

In this guide, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know to help you plan your visit to the Sagrada Familia.

This will include a brief history of the Sagrada Familia, tips on getting to the Sagrada Familia, where to buy tickets for the Sagrada Familia, and lots more! Let’s get started by learning a bit about the Sagrada Familia itself.

Table of Contents:

What is the Sagrada Familia?

The Sagrada Familia is a huge Roman Catholic church in Barcelona. It’s classified as a minor basilica in the Roman Catholic church, and was consecrated as such by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.

This unique building was the masterpiece of Antoni Gaudí, a Catalan architect responsible for a number of impressive buildings across Barcelona and the wider region. He was also a devout Catholic and was best known for his work in the Modernisme , or Catalan Modernism style.

Some of his other most popular works in Barcelona include La Pedrera, Casa Batlló, and Park Guell. You can see a full list of all his work in Barcelona in our guide to Gaudí sites in Barcelona

Construction of the Sagrada Familia started in 1882, and at the time of writing, is still ongoing. Gaudi died tragically in 1926, and work on the Basilica was interrupted by the Spanish Civil war in 1936. It resumed in 1940, and has been ongoing to this day.

Funding for the Sagrada Familia is entirely private, with no support from the government or Church. It was initially funded by private donors, but today much of the income is from visitor ticket sales. So when you visit, know that your money is going directly to helping finish this incredible building!

When Will the Sagrada Familia Be Finished?

Current estimates for the full completion of the Sagrada Familia are between 2030 and 2032.

The majority of the church structure and steeples were hoped to be complete by 2026, the 100th anniversary of Gaudi’s death, however this is looking unlikely at the present.

The fun thing about visiting a building that is under construction is that every time you visit it will look a bit different. The downside is that, well, it is an active building site. So expect to see workers, cranes, and all the other aspects that you might expect from a building site!

Where is the Sagrada Familia?

The official address for the Sagrada Familia is Carrer de Mallorca, 401, 08013 Barcelona, Spain. You can see it here on Google Maps.

The Sagrada Familia basically takes up a whole block to the north west of the city centre. It’s sandwiched between two small parks, Plaça de Gaudí to the northeast and Plaça de la Sagrada Família to the southwest.

How to Get to the Sagrada Familia

The Sagrada Familia is a little north east of the city centre, and you have a number of options for getting here.

First, you can walk. From Plaça de Catalunya it’s approximately a 2.4km / 1.5 mile walk, which should take around half an hour.

The next option is public transport. There’s a metro station right next to the church, and the stop name is Sagrada Familia. This services subway lines L2 and L5, and you can get to the Sagrada Familia in around 15-20 minutes from most stops in central Barcelona.

You can also take the public bus, although depending on traffic this will likely take a little longer than the subway, on average around 30 minutes.

Taxis are also widely available in Barcelona. The taxi fare from central Barcelona to the Sagrada Familia will vary, but expect to pay between €6 and €10 depending on where you ride from. Make sure you hail only a licensed cab, these are yellow and black. Free taxis will have green lights in the windows which you can hail, or you can find a taxi stand.

Finally, the Barcelona Bus Turístic (Hop on Hop off bus) has a stop directly outside the Sagrada Familia. This bus route also includes sites like  Sant Pau Recinte de la Moderniste and Park Guell, and is a great way to see the city.

You can either buy the Barcelona Bus Turistic ticket directly here , or purchase it as part of a sightseeing pass for Barcelona. For example, it’s included on the Barcelona City Pass and the Go Barcelona Pass .

These passes have a variety of includes and benefits, which you can read more about in our guide to the various Barcelona City Passes here .

Is the Sagrada Familia Open?

Yes, the Sagrada Familia is open. It was closed for seven months, but reopened for visitors on the 29th May 2021.

Sagrada Familia Opening Times

In normal times, the Sagrada Familia is open every day of the year, including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Dates and times vary depending on the time of year, and are normally as follows:

• January to February: Monday – Saturday 9 am to 6 pm. Sundays 10.30am – 6pm.
• March: Monday – Saturday 9am to 7pm. Sundays 10.30am – 7pm.
• April to September: Monday – Saturday 9am to 8pm. Sundays 10.30am – 8pm.
• October: Monday – Saturday 9am to 7pm. Sundays 10.30am – 7pm.
• November to December: Monday – Saturday 9 am to 6 pm. Sundays 10.30am – 6pm.

Exceptions to the above are December 25th and December 26th, and January 1st and January 6th. On these days the opening time is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Note that the ticket office stops selling same day tickets 30 minutes prior to closing time each day.

Very occasionally, the Sagrada Familia closes due to exceptional circumstances. It’s always best to check the official website here for the latest information prior to planning your visit.

Can You Attend Mass at the Sagrada Familia?

Yes, you can attend mass at the Sagrada Familia. It’s an active place of worship, and a number of masses are held throughout the week.

As an international visitor, you will likely want to attend mass in the main area of the church. These are held in multiple languages at least twice a week, to the following schedule:

• Every Saturday and on the eve of holy days of obligation at 8 pm.
• Every Sunday and on holy days of obligation at 9 am

In addition, the Sagrada Familia hosts extraordinary Masses at different times throughout the year. These usually require an invitation and are very popular.

For full details of these masses and how to get invitations for the extraordinary Masses, see the official calendar of masses here .

Attending a mass is free, and is on a first come first served basis. Please be aware that a mass is a sacred affair, and as such appropriate attire and behaviour is expected. Photography is not permitted during the mass, and attendees must be silent and not leave their seat area.

If you wish to attend one of the above masses, you will enter the Basilica on the Nativity façade (Carrer de la Marina). The entrance is open from 8:30 am for morning masses and from 7:30 pm for evening masses, until capacity is reached. We would advise coming earlier than this so as not to miss out. Masses are held in a number of languages.

As well as the above mass, a there are multiple daily masses held in the Sagrada Familia Crypt. These are held in Catalan and Spanish only. See the section on the Crypt for more details on these masses.

What Can You See at the Sagrada Familia?

There is a lot to see and do at the Sagrada Familia, so expect to spend between 90 minutes and 3 hours on site. Here’s an overview of what you can expect to see. All of the below is included on the standard entry tickets, with the exception of the tower climb, which requires a special ticket.

Exterior of the Sagrada Familia

The Sagrada Familia is an impressive sight – whether you glimpse it from afar, or if your first sight of it is as you emerge from the metro station nearby.

Combining all the styles that Gaudi worked with (Gothic, Catalan Modernism, and Art Nouveau), and featuring his signature architectural elements like hyperboloid and paraboloid structures, the building is a visual feast.

Some of the most popular exterior design sections are the detailed facades. There are currently two of these – the Nativity and the Passion Facade. The third facade, the Glory facade, is under construction. When finished this will be the largest and most spectacular of the facades, and will serve as the main entrance to the church.

Each of these facades tells the story of a different part of the life of Jesus Christ. The Nativity Facade tells the story of the birth of Christ, the Passion Facade focuses on the crucifiction of Christ, whilst the Glory Facade represents the road to God and Glory.

In terms of construction, the oldest facade is the organic looking Nativity Facade, which was the first facade to be completed. This was the one that Gaudi had the most control over. You will get an up close view of this as you enter the church today, as this is where the main visitor entrance currently is.

The Passion Facade is much more austere, with lots of angles, and has a completely different look and feel to the Nativity Facade. You will get a close up view of this as you leave the church, as this is where the visitor exit currently is.

As well as the facades, there are a number of design elements all over the church, and of course, the immense towers, of which there will be eighteen when the construction is finally completed.

Basically, don’t rush straight in to the church. We recommend arriving a little earlier than your scheduled visit, so you can appreciate the exterior of the building before heading inside. Then head to the line a couple of minutes before the timeslot.

Nave and Main Interior of the Sagrada Familia

If you thought the outside of the Sagrada Familia was impressive, just wait until you walk inside. You’re going to be greeted by a huge five-aisled nave, with the roof far overhead supported by giant tree like columns. Colorful light, filtered through the stained glass windows, illuminates this area.

It’s kind of life walking into some sort of surreal dream forest, which was kind of the look Gaudi was going for. He definitely succeeded.

Once you have gotten over this impressive spectacle, managed to close your mouth, and take some photos, you’ll want to explore what else is on offer. There’s lots to see, including the nave, transept, and the apse where you’ll find seven chapels.

If you book a ticket with an audioguide or tour, which we highly recommend, this will give you all the detail you need to help you understand what you are seeing.

Sagrada Familia Crypt

The Crypt of the Sagrada Familia lies underneath the main apse of the church. It is the place where Gaudi himself is buried.

The Crypt was was completed during Gaudi’s lifetime, and as such is one of the few areas of the church he saw completed.

The Crypt is also a parish church, and mass is held here daily in Catalan and Spanish. The crypt is only open around mass hours, and can be visited at the following times:

• Monday – Friday: 9:00 am – 10:00 am and 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Note that as a visitor not wishing to attend mass, you will want to visit the crypt outside of the actual mass itself. Mass is held at the following times:

• Monday to Friday – 8.15pm (Catalan) and 9am (Spanish)
• Saturday – 7.30pm (Catalan) and 9am (Spanish)
• Sunday – 10.30am, 1pm, 6.30pm (Catalan) and 11.45am & 8.15pm (Spanish)

If you compare mass times with the opening times of the crypt, I would suggest the best time to visit the Sagrada Familia crypt would be between 6pm and 8pm Mondays to Fridays, 10am – 2pm or 6pm – 7.15pm on Saturdays and 9am – 10.15am on Sundays.

Along with the Nativity Facade, the Crypt is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, part of the works of Antoni Gaudi world heritage site, which includes seven locations in Barcelona.

Sagrada Familia Museum

A highlight of any visit to the Sagrada Familia, the museum is on the ground floor underneath the main church.

Here, you will learn more about Gaudi, the man behind the church, as well as the history of the construction and design of the building itself.

There’s a lot to see here, so don’t feel rushed. It’s a great place to really get a feel for what goes into creating such a monumental work of art.

Sagrada Família Schools

On the Passion Facade side of the Sagrada Familia, tucked away in the southern corner, you will see a small building with an organic looking design.

This is the Sagrada Familia Schools building. In 1909, Gaudi has this building constructed on site to serve as a school for the children of the construction workers. It was originally in a different location on the site, but was moved during the construction. It may of course move again, although current plans do not show this as happening.

Today the school can be visited as part of your Sagrada Familia visit, and is home to a number of models used as part of the construction of the Sagrada Familia. There’s also a room set up as a school room from the time, to give you an idea of how it might have looked.

The building is also used for school groups and programs so is sometimes closed to the public when these are happening. It’s also worth noting that the building was badly damaged in a fire, so most of it is not original, however it has been rebuilt as closely to the original design as possible.

Sagrada Familia Gift Shop

The Sagrada Familia is a major tourist attraction, and as you might imagine, there’s an extensive gift shop on site.

There are in fact two gift shops. There’s one in the museum, and then another on the Nativity Facade side of the building near the group entrance.

The gift shop in the museum can only be visited by ticket holders; however, the ticket office on the Nativity Facade side of the basilica can be visited by anyone. So if you don’t want to go inside and buy a ticket, you can still check out this gift shop if you are hunting for some souvenirs.

However, be aware that when you enter this gift shop you are leaving the ticketed area. Only do this when you are ready to leave, as you will not be able to return to the church once you have left the ticketed area without getting a new ticket.

Climb Inside the Passion and Nativity Towers

If all goes as planned, when the Sagrada Familia is complete, it will have 18 towers in total. There are 12 towers to represent each apostle, one for the Virgin Mary, four for the Evangelists, and then the huge central tower to represent Jesus Christ.

The main tower will be an impressive 566ft / 172.5 metres in height when completed, making it the tallest church building in the world.

In the future you will likely be able to visit more of the towers, but currently you can only visit two of the towers, the Passion Tower and the Nativity Tower. These towers require a special ticket, but visitors who opt to visit them will be rewarded with great views over the city, as well as an up close view of elements of the church that cannot be seen from anywhere else.

See more on visiting the towers in the section below about which tower to visit, and whether the towers are worth visiting.

Do You Need a Ticket to Visit the Sagrada Familia?

Yes, you need a ticket for the Sagrada Familia. In addition, tickets are timed, so when you book a ticket it will be for a specific time slot. See more on where to buy Sagrada Familia tickets and ticket pricing further on in this guide.

The only time you don’t need a ticket for the Sagrada Familia is if you are attending mass. See the section on attending mass in this guide for more information on this.

How Much Does it Cost to Visit the Sagrada Familia in 2024?

Pricing for the Sagrada Familia varies depending on a number of factors, including what time you visit and what inclusions you want on your ticket.

Here’s an overview of the prices if you buy from the official website as of the time of writing. We’ll do our best to keep this updated, but do check the official website for latest prices. Prices are up to date as of January 2024.

• Sagrada Familia Basic Ticket – €20 (only available for the last two hours each day, not always available)
• Sagrada Familia – €26 (includes audioguide, available all day)
• Sagrada Familia with guided tour – €30
• Sagrada Familia with guided tour and towers – €40
• Sagrada Familia with Towers – €36 (also includes audioguide)

Some notes on the above tickets.

First, the prices above are when purchased from the official website. There is normally also a ticket office on site for same day tickets, but prices are higher. The price difference varies by ticket, but expect to pay around €4 – €6 more per ticket in person.

Note: the on-site ticket office is currently closed.

The cheapest ticket is the €20 ticket. This doesn’t include any extras like an audioguide, and is only available for the last two hours each day. It can only be bought online, not in person. This ticket is not always available for purchase.

The next ticket is the most widely available, which is the Sagrada Familia with audioguide. This is available in 16 languages, and the audioguide tour lasts for around 45 minutes. There’s also an express version which lasts for 25 minutes. Once you have completed the audioguide you are free to continue your tour.

Then there’s the option to visit with an official guided tour. Tours are available in five languages, and last around 50 minutes. Groups are limited to 30 people per group. Once the tour is over you can continue to explore on your own.

You can also buy a joint ticket for the Sagrada Familia and the Gaudi House Museum (his final residence), which is located in the unticketed part of Park Guell. This ticket includes an audioguide for the Sagrada Familia. The combined individual price of these tickets is €32.50, so this ticket is a good saving if you plan on visiting both locations.

Finally, you can buy a Sagrada Familia ticket with towers. This ticket includes an audioguide tour of the Sagrada Familia, as well as access to one of the towers. You have to choose which tower you want to visit when you purchase the ticket. See the section below on which tower to choose.

Of all the above options, the cheapest way to visit the Sagrada Familia is with the basic ticket. Just be aware these have limited availability, as you can only buy them for the last two hours of each day. They are also only available online.

Also, all tickets have a timeslot. You are only permitted to join the entry line for the timeslot marked on your ticket. If you miss your timeslot, you will generally need to buy a new ticket, unless the reason for missing the ticket was as a result of construction work at the Sagrada Familia.

Depending on various factors, not all the tickets will always be available to purchase.

Are there Concessions for the Sagrada Familia?

Yes, there are concessions available for the Sagrada Familia.

Children under 11 can visit the basilica free of charge with an adult. A ticket is still required.

If you are under 30 or a student, you will pay €2 less per ticket. Students will need to bring a student card to show on entry, those under 30 should bring proof of age like an ID or passport.

In addition, on Wednesdays through Fridays, visitors under 30 are able to purchase tickets for 50% off the normal price for the last two hours of the day.

Those with a proven disability can visit the basilica free of charge in the last two hours prior to closing each day. They may bring one companion who can also enter free of charge. Additional services like audioguides must be paid for. A ticket is still required as you need to book a timeslot.

Seniors (those 65 and over) are also eligible for concessions. This varies by ticket type but is in the region of €4 – €6 discount per ticket.

You can see more on current concessions and amounts on the website here . All of the above concessionary ticket types, including disabled access and child tickets are available on the official website.

Where to Buy Sagrada Familia Tickets

There are a number of options for purchasing Sagrada Familia tickets, which we will go through so you know all your options, and which is best.

1 – Official Website

The first place we recommend you look is the official Sagrada Familia website here . This has real-time availability, and tickets can be purchased for both same-day visits, as well as up to two months in advance. You can also buy concession tickets here.

2 – On-site Ticket Office (currently closed)

If you are already at the Sagrada Familia, there is a ticket office on site. Note that this ticket office can only sell tickets for the same-day, and prices are higher than the website prices. There can also be long lines here, so honestly, we’d advise buying online if you can.

The on site ticket office is by the exit to the Sagrada Familia, on the Nativity Facade side by Carrer de Sardenya. Large screens outside the ticket office show what timeslots are available for the day.

Our suggestion for the best place to buy Sagrada Familia tickets is the official website which at the time of writing does not charge any booking fees.

3 – Third Party Booking Sites

There are also a number of third party websites where you can buy tickets for the Sagrada Familia. Obviously these sites need to make a revenue, and so usually charge some kind of booking fee or other commission. For this reason the official site would be our preference.

Our recommended option is this website . They provide real time availability of tickets, as well as all the ticket types and concessions available.

You can also find Sagrada Familia tickets online here with GetYourGuide , and here with Viator . Again, these will usually be more expensive than the official site, but are worth checking when the Sagrada Familia is sold out just in case.

GetYourGuide tickets have the advantage (last time we checked) of free cancellation up to 24 hours before your visit, which can be very helpful if your plans change.

4 – Tour Companies

Another option is to either book a tour with a third party company like this , or to buy an attraction pass like this which includes Sagrada Familia entry as well as other discounts. More on these options further on in the guide.

Sagrada Familia Sold Out? Your Options.

As mentioned in this guide a few times, the Sagrada Familia is a very popular attraction in Barcelona, and tickets to the Sagrada Familia do sell out. This happens in particular around religious holidays such as Easter, as well as during the peak tourism season in Barcelona, usually over the summer months.

This is why it’s always best to buy tickets in advance. Tickets on the official Sagrada Familia website are usually available around 2 months in advance.

Of course, we appreciate not everyone can plan this far in advance. Maybe you have a last minute trip to Barcelona planned. Maybe you’re not a detailed planner. Whatever the reason, if there are no tickets available for the Sagrada Familia, you will likely still have some options to be able to visit.

1 – Check Other Days

First, check the official website of the Sagrada Familia to see if other days are available. It might be that by just juggling your itinerary slightly, you can visit on another day of your trip.

2 – Check Other Ticket Types

Second, check to see if other ticket types are available on the official site. There are a range of different ticket types to choose from for your visit, and it might be that one of these has availability, such as a guided tour or a tower ticket.

3 – Check Third Party Ticket Sites

Next, check to see if any of the third party sites have availability. In our experience, if the Sagrada Familia website is sold out, then standard tickets on third party sites will also be sold out.

However, you can try. We suggest trying Tiqets here , GetYourGuide here and Viator here .

4 – Book a Tour (most likely to succeed)

We think your best option for visiting the Sagrada Familia when it is sold out is to book a tour of the Sagrada Familia with a tour company.

These tours will be more expensive than a standard ticket, but because group tickets come out of a different allocation to individual tickets they are often available even when the Sagrada Familia is “sold out”.

You also get the advantage of a guided tour, which we think is well worth it for learning about what you are seeing.

You can either take a tour which includes the Sagrada Familia as part of a wider tour of the city, or one which just focuses on the Sagrada Familia. Here are some options to consider.

• Go Barcelona Pass . The Go Barcelona Pass includes a guided tour of the Sagrada Familia, as well as access to over 40 activities and attractions across the city. If you are planning on visiting a number of attractions in Barcelona, this is a great value option.
• Barcelona in a Day : This full day tour of Barcelona has you visiting La Sagrada Família, Casa Milà, the historic city center and even taking a sailboat cruise. An excellent introduction to the city.
• Skip the Line Express Sagrada Família Tour & Tickets – If you want a guided tour of the Sagrada Familia and are struggling to get official tickets, this is a great option with one of our favourite walking tour companies
• Sagrada Familia Guided tour – A 1.5 hour guided tour of the Sagrada Familia. It’s always worth checking different tours, as if one is sold another company might have availability.
• Complete Gaudí Tour : Interested in learning more about Gaudi and seeing several of his most famous works? This tour features some of the architects highlights, including Casa Batlló, Park Guell, and of course the Sagrada Família. It even includes a Tower Climb of the Sagrada Familia.
• Sagrada Familia Guided Tour – This is a 1.5 hour long guided tour of the Sagrada Familia with a relatively small group
• Sagrada Familia Small Group Guided tour – This is a 1.5 hour tour with no more than 15 people

There are lots more guided tours to choose from of course. See Tiqets here , GetYourGuide here and Viator here for more options.

5 – Attend Mass

Another option for visiting the Sagrada Familia if it is sold out is by attending a mass in main Basilica. These are free and on a first come, first serve basis, usually held on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings. See the section on mass in the Sagrada Familia in this guide for more information.

Be aware that visiting for mass time is not a good time for getting photos or wandering around, as both these activities are forbidden during mass. Instead, it’s a good time to see the church in use for its intended purpose.

Tours of the Sagrada Familia

We can very much recommend taking some kind of tour of the Sagrada Familia. There is a huge amount to see here, with fascinating architecture and symbolism, and a tour is one of the best way to truly understand what you are seeing.

When you take a tour, a knowledgeable guide will tell you everything you need to know about the building. You’ll also be able to ask any questions you have, and get pointers on what to focus on when the tour is finished.

If you want to take a guided tour of the Sagrada Familia, you have a few options.

The best value tours are offered by the Sagrada Familia itself, and can be booked directly on the official website. These last approximately 50 minutes and have a maximum group size of 30 people.

However, we actually recommend considering one of the tours below. These tend to be longer, more comprehensive tours with fewer people, and are generally specifically geared towards English speaking visitors.

You can either take a tour which includes the Sagrada Familia as part of a wider tour of the city like this , or one which just focuses on the Sagrada Familia like this .

Here are some options to consider. All of these tours include entrance to the Basilica – something you will want to check before you book a tour with any company. Some also include tower access, so when comparing prices do check what is and what isn’t included, tour length and tour size.

• Complete Gaudí Tour : Interested in learning more about Gaudi and his works? This tour features some of the architects highlights, including Casa Batlló, Park Guell and of course the Sagrada Família. It even includes a Tower Climb of the Sagrada Familia.
• Sagrada Familia Guided Tour – this is a 1.5 hour long guided tour of the Sagrada Familia with a relatively small group
• Sagrada Familia Small Group Guided tour – this is a 1.5 hour tour with no more than 15 people

There are lots more guided tours to choose from of course. See Tiqets here , GetYourGuide here and Viator here for more options. We always recommend reading recent reviews and comparing prices and inclusions before booking.

Also, every tour (other than those with multiple stops) will usually end inside the Sagrada Familia, so you have time to explore and take photos at your own pace once the tour is complete.

Do we Recommend an Audioguide or Guided tour?

To make the most of your visit to the Sagrada Familia we definitely recommend you use an audioguide, a guidebook, or join a guided tour.

There isn’t much signage in the building, so you will miss out on a lot of information without any sort of information or context.

You can purchase a ticket from the official site which includes an audioguide or guided tour. Alternatively, we recommend this guided tour by one of our favorite walking tour companies Take Walks.

Where is the Entrance to the Sagrada Familia?

The general and group entrances to the Sagrada Familia are under the Nativity Facade on Carrer de la Marina. As you face the church, the general entrance is currently to your right, and the group entrance is to your left. There is also an accessible entrance to the left, by the main gift shop.

If you have booked an individual ticket on the official website, even one which includes a tour, you will enter via the general entrance. You will join the tour once you have passed through security. Only groups can use the group entrance.

The entrances are very well marked, and on-site staff will check your ticket before you join any line, so we don’t think you’ll have any trouble getting into the correct line.

It is important to realize that all tickets to the Sagrada Familia operate on a timed entry basis. You need to be in line to enter the Sagrada Familia during the time market on your ticket. You will not be allowed to join the line or enter the building except during the time on your ticket.

If you book a tour with a third party website, they will give you instructions as to where to meet outside the Sagrada Familia. Pay careful attention to these instructions, as there are a lot of guides and people, so you want to be sure you know what to look for.

School groups are typically asked to enter on the other side of the church, on Carrer de la Sardenya.

Can you Skip the Lines at the Sagrada Familia?

Yes and no. If you buy your ticket online or via a third party website, either for individual access or as part of a tour, then you can skip the ticket line.

Instead, you can go straight to the main entrance. The Sagrada Familia like many popular attractions operates airport style security with bag and body scanners. So you will need to queue a short while for this.

The line for these is never very long, as you can only join the line when your timeslot for entering opens. On site ticket officers check tickets before you enter the line, so you will only be in line with others who are entering at the same time as you.

In my experience, the security line moves quickly and efficiently, so you shouldn’t need to worry about losing much time here.

When you see tickets advertising skip the line access at the Sagrada Familia, they are referring to the ticket line. All ticket holders, including individual and group tickets, have to go through the same security line.

Is it worth visiting one of the Sagrada Familia towers?

There are currently two Sagrada Familia towers that you can visit, the Passion Tower and the Nativity Tower. Visiting a tower requires a special ticket, and these are some of the more expensive tickets available for a visit from the official website. Visits to the towers are self-guided.

The Virgin Mary tower was completed in late 2021, so this might also become available for visiting.

You definitely don’t need to visit a tower to enjoy your time at the Sagrada Familia, although it does reward you with both nice views of the city and a unique viewpoint on areas of the building that are otherwise impossible to view.

Of course, there are lots of other options for great views of the city – a favourite of ours being the view from Santa Maria del Pi in the Gothic Quarter. See more ideas in our guide to where to get a great view of Barcelona .

I think that seeing the inside and outside of the towers, as well as getting up close to the facades, is definitely a unique experience. If you climb the towers for this reason, it is definitely worth it. But some people don’t find visiting the towers worth the extra cost, and we would agree that it is definitely not required

Which Sagrada Familia Tower Should You Visit?

There are currently two Sagrada Familia towers you can visit – the Passion Tower and the Nativity Tower. If you decide to visit a tower, the next question you might have is which tower is the best to visit?

Honestly, the answer to this is not so simple, as both towers are worth visiting. In addition, you might find that when you come to book, only one of the two towers has availability, so your decision will be made for you! However, here’s a quick overview of the two towers you can currently climb to help you make a decision.

The Nativity Tower is the older of the two towers, and was completed during Gaudi’s lifetime. It’s on the Nativity Facade side of the building, which was also built during Gaudi’s lifetime. The Nativity Tower offers views across the east side of the city and the mountains, as well as up close viewing opportunities of the Nativity Facade.

The Passion Tower is one of the newer towers, and is on the Passion Facade side of the building. This Facade was only fully completed in 2018. Whilst this was designed by Gaudi, it still has a newer look and feel due to being more recent.

Views from this tower are across the city centre and out to sea. There is still quite a lot of construction work ongoing around this tower, and when I visited there was lots of evidence of this when looking out of the windows.

Both towers you can visit have a bridge which links the two main towers on each facade. Sometimes this bridge isn’t open, but when I visited the bridge in both the Nativity and Passion towers was open. This bridge is open air (but surrounded by safety wire) and offers a great view of the city and the outside of the towers.

Both towers have lift access to get up the towers, followed by a series of steps. They then both have steep spiral staircases, consisting of hundreds of steps, to get down. The exit stairs in the Nativity Tower are slightly wider, so are more popular with folks who suffer from claustrophobia.

There is no accessibility access to the towers, as even when you take the lift there are a number of stairs to climb. In addition, you can’t get the lift up and down, only up. As a result, anyone with physical mobility issues will likely want to skip the towers.

It is worth mentioning that there is no handrail in the centre of the staircase in either tower, and you can see straight down from the top to the bottom as there’s a small hole in the centre. This is too small to fall into, but vertigo sufferers might want to give this a miss as it can be a little disconcerting.

In our experience looking at the booking website and reading reviews from other visitors, the Nativity Tower tends to be more popular, and tickets for this tower tend to sell out first. However, we think if you want to visit a tower, then either tower will work.

If you want to visit a tower but tickets are sold out, again, there are third party tours which normally include tower access (although always check the description) such as this one with Take Walks .

What is the Dress Code at the Sagrada Familia?

The Sagrada Familia is a place of religious worship, and as such, visitors are expected to wear appropriate attire. The following rules apply:

• Shoulders must be covered
• Shorts / skirts must come down to at least mid-thigh. We’d recommend knee length though to be on the safe side.
• Swimwear is not permitted
• Fancy dress or clothing to celebrate a festivity is not permitted. For example, a bachelor party all wearing similar outfits may be refused entry.
• See through clothing is not permitted
• Hats are not permitted with the exception of those required for religious or health related reasons
• Visitors must be wearing footwear, it is not permitted to enter barefoot.

Other Forbidden Items at the Sagrada Familia

As well as the dress code, there are other items that are not permitted in the Sagrada Familia. A summary of these is as follows:

• Food and drinks are not permitted, and must be consumed and disposed of prior to entering.
• Professional photography equipment, including tripods, is not permitted
• Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the grounds
• Dangerous items such as weapons, sharp objects, knives or similar are not permitted. These will be held at security and returned after the visit.
• Any sort of banner, sign or, flag intended as a protest
• Any chemical product that could harm other people or damage the monument.
• Animals are not allowed on site with the exception of service dogs for people with disabilities

As you can see, nothing particularly out of the ordinary here.

Can you Take Photos in the Sagrada Familia?

Yes, you are allowed to take photos in the Sagrada Familia. However, there are a number of rules to be aware of.

First, photography is not permitted during masses or holy day events.

Second, p rofessional photography equipment, including tripods, is not permitted in the basilica.

If you wish to visit and take photos for commercial photography reasons, this needs to be authorised by the press department. In these instances, tripods may be authorised but you will want to get permission in writing before your visit.

As with most museums, churches, and other attractions, flash photography is also not permitted. Honestly, the church is so big that a flash probably won’t do much anyway! We have a guide to disabling the flash on a camera here if you need instructions for disabling the flash on your camera.

There is no specific guidance around videos, however the same rules likely apply regarding professional video equipment. If in doubt, contact the Press Department of the Sagrda Familia.

Are there Free Days at the Sagrada Familia?

There are no regular free days at the Sagrada Familia.

Barcelona Attraction Passes that Include the Sagrada Familia

If you plan on seeing a number of sights in Barcelona, and perhaps using the Hop on Hop off bus, then you might find that buying an attraction pass or some kind of combination ticket is more convenient than individual tickets.

Some of these attraction passes will also save you money, depending on which attractions and services you use.

If you decide to purchase an attraction pass, you will want to purchase these at least 48 to 72 hours before you would like to visit the Sagrada Familia. This is because you will need to confirm a time of visit and receive the tickets via email (or however each works). You can’t just book and turn up an hour later with these kinds of passes.

Barcelona has a number of attraction passes (see our guide to the Barcelona attraction passes here ), however not all of them include the Sagrada Familia. Here are some that do.

Go Barcelona Pass

The Go Barcelona Pass comes in two formats, an all-inclusive version and an explorer version . The all-inclusive version is generally our favourite pass for Barcelona as it includes so many attractions and activities.

Both versions include a guided tour of the Sagrada Familia, meaning you get skip the line access to the Sagrada Familia as well as a tour with an expert guide.

This is a great way to experience the Basilica as you’ll learn a lot about what you’re seeing. The pass also includes access to over 40 attractions across the city. In our opinion it’s one of the best value passes for Barcelona. You can see a full list of the included attractions here , and buy your pass here .

You also can see our full review of the Go Barcelona pass here to see if it is going to make sense for your visit.

Barcelona City Pass

The Barcelona City Pass . This pass includes the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, and airport bus transfer, as well as either a 1 day or 2 day Hop on Hop off bus ticket. It also includes an audioguide covering the city, as well as a further 10% discount on a wide range of attractions in Barcelona.

What we like about this pass is that it lets you book the specific ticket type you want for the Sagrada Familia, from basic through to the towers visit, and it also lets you book the timeslot for your visit for both the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell.

If you are planning on visiting the Sagrada Familia and Park Guell, using the Hop on off Hop bus to get around the city, and plan on booking some extra attractions with a 10% discount, this is definitely an easy all in one option.

The Gaudi Bundle

The Sagrada Familia is far from the only Gaudi attraction in Barcelona. Another very popular one is Park Guell. If you want to visit both of these, then you might consider the Gaudi Bundle ticket .

This includes Sagrada Familia tickets with the official audioguide, tickets for Park Guell with an audio guide, as well as an audioguide for the exterior of the Sagrada Familia and other Barcelona attractions.

This ticket is slightly more expensive than purchasing individual tickets for each attraction, however the included audioguides might make this a good option if those interest you.

Where to Get a Good Photo of the Sagrada Familia

You’ll probably want to get a great photo of the Sagrada Familia to remember your visit! My favourite spot (and one of the most popular views in general) is from Plaça de Gaudí to the north east of the building.

This has a small pond in, which makes for some nice reflections. However, you will need quite a wide angle lens in order to get the whole church and its reflection in shot.

As the Sagrada Familia is an active construction site, you will obviously get photos of cranes, netting and workers – which you can see in my photos!

Being the tallest building in Barcelona, you can also see the Sagrada Familia from a number of other locations in the city, including from the roof tops of some of Gaudi’s other buildings. The closest is La Pedrera, however, you will need quite a long lens to get a good shot as the Sagrada Familia will be around a mile away.

Practicalities for Visiting the Sagrada Familia

Facilities at the sagrada familia.

The Sagrada Familia has toilets on site.

Food and drink is not permitted on site, and as such there is nowhere to buy food or drink on site either. There are however lots of stalls serving snacks and drinks just outside the entrance and exit points. There are also a number of cafes and restaurants within walking distance of the basilica.

Security at the Sagrada Familia

The Sagrada Familia operates airport style security. Expect your bags and person to be scanned, and forbidden items to be either conficated or held onto until your visit is over.

Accessibility at the Sagrada Familia

All parts of the Sagrada Familia which are open to the public currently are fully accessible except for the two towers. Whilst these have a lift, this does not go all the way up, and there are additional stairs that must be climbed. As such, the towers are currently not accessible.

Adapted audioguides in sign language and audiodescription are also available in Catalan, Spanish and English. There are also accessible toilets on site.

The accessible entrance to the Sagrada Familia is near the gift shop on the Nativity Side.

Luggage Storage Near the Sagrada FAmilia

There is no luggage storage available at the Sagrada Familia. The only exception to this rule is for visitors to the towers, who can put small backpack sized bags in lockers by the tower lifts during their visit to the towers. Following the tower visit, the luggage must be immediately collected.

Currently, the rules for visiting the Sagrada Familia do not explicitly forbid bringing luggage inside. However, you should be aware that there is airport style security screening, so any bags you bring will be screened. We don’t recommend bringing any luggage or large bags with you to the basilica.

Instead, consider storing your luggage either at your hotel or finding luggage storage near the Sagrada Familia.

Things to do Near the Sagrada Familia

The Sagrada Familia may be the most popular attraction in Barcelona, but there’s plenty more to do in the city! Some of these options are relatively close to the Sagrada Familia, and make for a good next step.

• Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau – about a 10 minute walk north east of the Sagrada Familia, this collection of building was originally a hospital. Today it is one of the finest examples of Art Nouveau architecture in Europe
• Casa Milà – also known as La Pedrera, this is another of Gaudi’s works, famous for its rooftop chimneys. It is about a 20 minute walk from the Sagrada Familia
• Gaudí Experiència – an interactive exhibition next to Park Güell that will take you through the life and works of the architect responsible for so many of Barcelona’s sights. About a 30 minute walk from the Sagrada Familia, or a short ride by Hop on Hop off bus / public transport.
• Park Güell – another of Gaudí’s works. This is a large park area with a number of installations to explore and visit. This is also where you’ll find the Gaudi House Museum where Gaudi lived, which is well worth a visit. If you do decide to visit, don’t forget you can save a few euros by buying a combination ticket with the Sagrada Familia on the official site

For more ideas on what to do when visiting Barcelona, see our guide to spending 1 day in Barcelona , as well as 3 days in Barcelona .

Where to Stay Near the Sagrada Familia

If you would like to stay near the Sagrada Familia during your time in Barcelona, we have put together this list of hotels, guesthouses and hostels which are all within a five minute walk of the Sagrada Familia.

These properties are across a range of budgets, and are ordered approximately by price, from lower to higher. Pricing can of course changing depending on season and demand, so do always check prices for your dates.

• Barcelona & You Hostel Sagrada Familia – three minutes walk from the Sagrada Familia, this is a well reviewed hostel offering dormitory style accommodation. It’s a great value option and breakfast, coffee/tea and WiFi is included.
• Hostemplo Sagrada Familia – just 200 yards from the Sagrada Familia, this is a highly rated design guesthouse offering private en-suite rooms at a great price
• Ibis Barcelona Centro (Sagrada Familia) – just a few minutes walk from the Sagrada Familia, this 2* hotel offers comfortable en-suite air conditioned rooms with soundproofing
• Boutique Hostemplo Sagrada Familia – found on a pedestrian street just 100 yards from the Sagrada Familia, this 3* boutique hotel offers air-conditioned en-suite rooms
• Hotel Sagrada Familia – a 3* hotel a couple of blocks from the Sagrada Familia, offering private en-suite rooms with air conditioning.
• SM Hotel Sant Antoni – five minutes walk from the Sagrada Familia, this is a well rated 3* hotel with private en-suite rooms and air conditioning
• Hotel Barcelona 1882 – 450 yards from the Sagrada Familia, this is a very well reviewed 4* hotel with a pool, and air-conditioned en-suite rooms
• Ayre Hotel Rosellón – 200 yards from the Sagrada Familia, this 4* design hotel has a roof top terrace offering stunning views of the Sagrada Familia. It also has great reviews, an en-suite air conditioned rooms

Hopefully one of the above hotels will work for you when looking for somewhere to stay near the Sagrada Familia.

Apartment rentals through sites like AirBnB are also available. One thing to be aware of is that in Barcelona these need to be registered with the city. When they are registered they will be issued a license number. If you want to stay in an apartment rental in Barcelona, then we recommend picking one which has the license number on the listing.

If you would prefer to stay in an in apartment in Barcelona, then we recommend either Plum Guide  or  AirBnB .

Plum Guide carefully curate their listings so their options tend to be of a very high quality whilst still being available at a range of price points. See their listings for Barcelona here .

We’ve also used AirBnB all around the world, and they consistently have the most options to choose from. See their  listings for Barcelona here .

If you can’t find what you want from the above choices, or you want some new options to try out, we wrote a whole post on the  best alternatives to AirBnB  which you should check out!

Further Reading for Visiting Barcelona

Hopefully this guide to visiting the Sagrada Familia has answered all your questions and given you plenty of ideas for your own trip.

As well as the Sagrada Familia, we’ve also explored Barcelona many times, as well as other parts of Spain’s Catalonia region. From our experiences, we have put together a number of posts to help you plan your own trip. Here are some we think you will find useful in planning your own trip.

• For Barcelona, check out our 3 day Barcelona itinerary , our 2 day Barcelona itinerary , our guide to spending a day in Barcelona , our review of the  Barcelona Pass , and our detailed guide to  Gaudí sites in Barcelona  to start you off.
• There are lots of great day trips from Barcelona. See our guides to  visiting Besalu , Montserrat , and Girona  as good starting points.
• Lovers of surrealist artist Salvador Dali will want to visit some of the many sites associated with the artist in the region. See our  guide to Dali attractions in Costa Brava  that lists all the attractions to help you put together your trip.
• A fantastic experience we can recommend to anyone visiting this region is to take a hot air balloon ride. We’ve done this twice, and you can see our guide to  hot air ballooning in Costa Brava  here.
• We have a guide to  things to do in Palamós , one of our favourite fishing towns in the Costa Brava
• If you love mountains, you’re going to want to spend some time in the Spanish Pyrenees region of Catalonia. See our  guide to the Spanish Pyrenees  to start you off. If visiting in the winter, you might consider heading to one of the Girona region’s ski resorts, and you can take a look at our  guide to skiing in the Spanish Pyrenees .
• We also have detailed guides to all the specific regions of the Girona Pyrenees of Catalonia, including  La Garrotxa ,  El Ripollès  and  La Cerdanya .
• Another mountainous experience for lovers of nature or skiiers is the Vall de Nuria, which also makes a good day trip or overnight experience from Barcelona. See our guide to visiting the Vall de Nuria  for more information
• If you would like a book about the Sagrada Familia, this is a detailed guide to the history, present and future of this building
• If you’re looking for a guidebook, take a look at this Costa Brava pocket guide  and this  DK Eyewitness guide to Barcelona and Catalonia

And that’s it for our detailed guide to visiting the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain! As always, we’re happy to answer your questions – just pop them in the comments below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

In addition, if you visit the Sagrada Familia and notice anything incorrect about this guide, do let us know in the comments section so we can correct it.

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There are 9 comments on this post

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22nd August 2023 at 10:29 pm

Hello, do you know how the timed entries work for purchasing tickets to enter the church as well as go up in one of the towers? When I go to the official website, the first option is to choose a date, then a timed entry for the tower of your choice. The second option is to choose a time for the church. I like to do the earliest times possible to get tours done before they get too busy. If I select the 9am time for the tower, the first choice that comes up for the church is 9:15am. I’m not sure if I am supposed to estimate how long it takes to do the tower visit and then select a later time to do the church tour? Obviously the tower can’t be completed in 15 minutes, so I’m unsure how to select an appropriate time for each part of the ticket. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks so much

Laurence Norah says

23rd August 2023 at 10:27 am

So just to clarify you are booking the ticket which includes a guided tour of the church and which includes the tower? Or are you just booking for tower and church entry? Because it works slightly differently. With the guided tour you normally do the guided tour first and then the tower afterwards I think, but without the tour component you can visit the church around your tower visit. Once you are inside you go to the tower, and then you can further explore the church when you come back down.

Let me know if this helps or if you need further clarification, and I’ll do my best to help out!

23rd August 2023 at 4:31 pm

Thank you. We are planning to do the self-guided tour with the audioguide (church and tower). When I choose this option, and select the earliest possible time for the tower (9:15am), the only option I can select for the church afterwards is 9:00am. So I am assuming that the church entry is first, then as you said, we would go up the tower first at 9:15, then back down to do the self guided tour of the church. Does that sound right?

Thank you for your help!

23rd August 2023 at 4:37 pm

Yep, that is what would happen! The tower entry is inside the church, so you would go into the church first and head towards the tower entry. After the tower visit, you can explore the rest of the church at your leisure.

Have an awesome time, do let me know how you enjoy it 🙂

Garry Matheson says

4th June 2022 at 4:37 am

Hi, Thanks for the very helpful and detailed guide. I’m not a professional photographer by any means but love travelling with my full-frame camera. Just wanted to clarify about ‘forbidden’ items…what constitutes ‘Professional photography equipment’? I’ll be travelling with a Sony A73 which is bigger than a pocket camera. The lenses are zooms, so quite bulky in comparison. Will they allow entry? Also more generally, is it common for cathedrals, museums and places of interest in Europe where ‘professional’ cameras aren’t allowed?

4th June 2022 at 12:05 pm

This is a good question. I have visited many times with my full frame cameras, sometimes two at the same time, and I’ve not had an issue. I believe they are primarily trying to stop people from doing photo shoots, so things like wedding shoots or influencer style shots with models is what they are against. A tourist with a nice camera isn’t really an issue. They also don’t like tripods or lighting setups.

In general, “professional” cameras are fine across Europe. Some locations won’t allow photography at all, although this is changing as most locations realise the benefit of free publicity on social media from visitors. Westminster Abbey for example had a long policy against photography, which changed only last year. In some places they might charge a nominal fee to allow you to take photos, I believe in Edinburgh for example it’s a couple of quid for a photography permit. Flash and tripod photography though is almost universally banned.

Hopefully this helps!

Have a great time in Europe!

Katie D'Agostino says

25th February 2022 at 2:01 pm

This article is SUPER helpful! Thank you. I cannot seem to find how you purchase tower tickets on the Sagrada Familia website. I only have that option through a tour I was looking to book. Are tower tickets normally available on the Sagrada Familia website or am I just missing it? Also, we are staying at the Ayre Rosello for those great views you speak of. Any great places to eat in that area? We’ve included breakfast in our SF View Room, but we’d love lunch and dinner suggestions. Thank you!

25th February 2022 at 5:40 pm

Thanks for your comment 🙂 So the Sagrada Familia has been a challenging attraction to keep on top of in terms of what is and what isn’t open and to who for the last couple of years! You are correct that right now the towers aren’t on the official website, and yes, they normally are as that’s how I booked them last time we visited. I have reached out to a partner who sells tour tickets to find out if it’s just tour partners who have access at the moment to the towers. I know that for a time they were only allowing guided tours of the towers as it let them control numbers, but I want to confirm if that’s still the case and when I hear back I’ll comment again. I’m not sure if they are actually open at all. If you have found a tour that includes them, definitely reach out to confirm that is the case if climbing them is important to you.

Food wise, I haven’t eaten a lot in that area and to be honest we don’t normally recommend restaurants as it’s hard to keep up with changes. The only place I am comfortable to recommend in general in Barcelona is L’Alcoba Blava, which is an amazing Tapas place in the Gothic Quarter and well worth visiting if you are in that area. It doesn’t look like much from the outside (we always walk right past in when looking for it), but the food speaks for itself.

I’ll get back as soon as I hear about the towers!

1st March 2022 at 8:12 am

I’ve been told that the tower tickets are due to be back online in March, but I’m not sure exactly when.

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6 Best Sagrada Familia Tours: Epic Guided Tours & Fast Track Tickets

Even though there are dozens, finding the best Sagrada Familia tour shouldn’t be a stressful activity.

In fact, in my 11 years in Barcelona I’ve taken six different Sagrada Familia guided tours – so I’ve got an inside line which should be taken – and which to avoid.

A little spoiler – the Fast Track Sagrada Familia Tour won out for its authenticity, length, and price.

That said, let’s go through the top-rated La Sagrada Familia tours and find one for you.

Warning (03/06/24) : Many prime Sagrada Familia tour times are already sold out for upcoming dates. Make sure you book your guided tour tickets ASAP or you could be shut out. Most of the links in this article allow you to lock in your spots with no money down – so you have nothing to lose.

Just looking for general admission tickets? Grab them here:

Best Sagrada Familia Guided Tours with Fast Track Entry

A friend of mine from the UK came down and told me she’d visit Sagrada Familia before joining me at the beach.

Fair enough – it’s automatic on all Barcelona itineraries and it’s one of the top things to do in Barcelona .

When she joined me I asked her how it was and she told me how she walked around, a bit confused due to the lack of signage, and then said it was just another church .

There are tons of boring churches in Europe but this isn’t one of them – which is why Sagrada Familia tours are even more important.

This is the only way to fully unlock the symbolism you’ll find throughout the property.

Go With a Local: Skip the Line Tour: #1 Choice of the Best Sagrada Familia Tours

Duration:  90 min  | Price:  From €52.00  

I always recommend opting for an extended English guided tour  offered exclusively by legendary tour operator   Viator.

At 90 minutes it is almost  double the length   of the official La Sagrada Familia tour .

You also  skip Sagrada Familia lines VIP-style – and you can stay as long as you want after the tour ends .

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Overwhelmed in a good way

Mind boggling scope of the edifice. Vanessa was an articulate and knowledgeable guide. Wonderful personality. Would recommend this tour to anyone that wants to be overwhelmed by man’s potential architectural and engineering skills!

Read 5000+ more Go with a Local reviews

These  Sagrada Familia guided tour tickets  are with  accredited and   enthusiastic guides  who are experts   on Antoni Gaudi and his cathedral.

This is an exclusive service not found anywhere else and hands down best Sagrada Familia tour on the market, with a 97% 5-star rating .

Using the button below, you can get free cancellation tickets up to 24 hours before the tour:

Sagrada Familia & Park Guell Guided Tour – Best Sagrada Familia and Park Guell Tour Combo

Duration:  4 hours  | Price:  From €104.00 

Taking this small-group tour limited to 12 people is a great way to skip the huge lines at these two world-class attractions .

Park Guell , Barcelona’s second tourist gem, is what Sagrada Familia would look like if it was transformed into a utopian park with one of the best panoramic views of the city .

This guided Gaudi tour begins with a two hour Park Guell tour , then uses private transportation to reach La Sagrada Familia – which is an enormous help given the spotty connection between these two.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Gloria was the best!

We had a fabulous tour with Gloria! She met us at the Park and was engaging, spirited, funny, and smart. Knew so much about Barcelona, the city, Gaudí, and the history of it all. Got our group down to La Sagrada and did the same thing there, opening up everyone’s mind to the many layers of meaning behind the architecture and the artist. It was a fabulous tour.

Read 2100+ Sagrada + Park Guell Tour reviews

The private transport is a €20.00 value in itself. Once there, you’ll get a two hour tour of Sagrada Familia .

Free cancellation tickets with no money down can be booked using the button below:

Fast Track Guided Tour with Towers – Best Sagrada Familia Tour with Tower Access

Duration:  1.5 hours  | Price:  From €69.00 

Going up the Sagrada Familia towers is a great way to double down on your experience.

With these tours of Sagrada Familia, you’ll not only get the same entertaining and informative guided tour as our first tour – but you’ll have the option to go up one of the towers as well.

From here, you’ll get a bird’s eye view of the city that’s unmatched except for perhaps Park Guell .

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Our tour guide was so…

Our tour guide was so knowledgeable. She had so much to share about the building and its history. The tower tour was really neat. Totally recommend having a tour with a guide. Not only do you get direct access to the building, you get so much information and the chance to ask questions.

Read 600+ Fast Track + Tower reviews

This is the only Sagrada Familia tour that gives you access to all five floors of the building.

You can book your fast track guided tour tickets (free cancellation) using the button below:

Private Tour with Fast Track Ticket – Best Private Tour of Sagrada Familia

Duration:  1.5 hours  | Price:  From €150.00 

Alright, I’m not saying I have enough money to do this – but I know tons of readers who have, and they’re not interested in the best Sagrada Familia tours in groups of 20 or 30.

In fact, this private tour of Sagrada Familia has a near 5 star rating due to their dazzling array of certified guides – only the best are reserved for these intimate affairs.

If you like the idea of being able to ask a ton of questions , and not have to use earpieces to hear your guide, this is a great luxury to add to your Sagrada Familia tour experience.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Enlightening visit with exceptional guide

I recently had the opportunity to experience the Sagrada Familia Private Tour with a Skip-the-Line Ticket, and it was an absolutely unforgettable experience. The highlight of the tour was undeniably our guide, whose expertise and passion for the Sagrada Familia brought this architectural masterpiece to life in a way I couldn’t have imagined. Their enthusiasm was infectious, making every explanation and story captivating. The guide’s expertise extended beyond the Sagrada Familia itself, encompassing broader historical and cultural contexts, which enriched our understanding and appreciation of what we were seeing.

Read 50+ Private Tour reviews

In Barcelona in summer these private tours of Sagrada Familia sell out quickly and run four times a day: 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:30 pm, and 4:00 pm.

You can book your tickets (with free cancellation protection up to 24 hours before) using the button below:

Early Access Tour with Guide – Best La Sagrada Familia Tour to Beat Crowds

Duration:  1.5 hours  | Price:  From €59.00

It’s well known that Sagrada Familia can get absolutely packed, especially in summer.

The way to beat this is through this early morning guided tour of Sagrada Familia.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent

This was an amazing tour by an amazing host! Definitely recommend this if you want to go inside and learn about its history!

Read 40+ Early Access reviews

Starting at 9:00 am , you’ll dodge the biggest crowds of the day and be treated to some of the best lighting for photography coming in from the Nativity Facade windows.

This is a great option for photographers and people who don’t like standing shoulder to shoulder with 500 other tourists.

Gaudi Guided Tour in Small Group – Best Self-Guided Sagrada Familia Tour

If the idea of tailing along with a Sagrada Familia guided tour seems a bit much, this is the way to see the church at your own pace .

Here, you’ll get a 1.5 hour tour of the surrounding neighbourhood with all sorts of fascinating insights into the life of Antoni Gaudi – and the inspiration behind Sagrada Familia.

The enthusiastic guide will prepare you for your Sagrada Familia test like a tenured professor at Harvard.

Last minute decision and it was the best one. Clear directions to meeting place with a passionate tour guide Olga. Very knowledgeable at the subject. Many thanks:) Highly recommend

Read 90+ Self Guided reviews

When you’re done, you’ll get fast track entrance to explore the Sagrada Familia by yourself with a convenient audio guide full of even more factoids and wisdom.

Best of all? The tour caps out at 12 people so you can ask a ton of questions, if you’re so inclined.

Should I Book La Sagrada Familia Tour Tickets in Advance?

Booking your tour in advance , especially the small group tours – or any tour in summer for that matter – is the only way to guarantee your spot.

Otherwise, you could end up looking at a schedule that looks like this:

This is a snapshot taken a month in advance: it gets even worse the closer you get to your dates.

Thankfully, reserving your Sagrada Familia guided tour tickets can be done in as little as 60 seconds .

All the links I’ve left here offer:

• The best Sagrada Familia tour prices guaranteed (or they’ll refund the difference)
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
• Dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of Sagrada Familia tour reviews

A lot of the guided tour tickets for Sagrada Familia listed here can also be reserved with no money down .

Being able to lock in your spot with no money, no risk, or any other effort involved is a sound move!

How to Book a Tour of Sagrada Familia

To book your ticket, I’ll walk you through the process using our top tour of Sagrada Familia:

• Click our Sagrada Familia Tour link (or any button in this article)
• Select your date + time from the calendar
• Click ‘Go to the Next Step’
• Enter your name + email address
• Enter your payment information

You’ve now locked in your Sagrada Familia tour and don’t have to worry about missing the bus.

My Sagrada Familia Tours Review

When you book your Sagrada Familia tou r in English , you’ll get a confirmation email with the meeting details (in front of the KFC outside).

Before you go in for the tour, it’s a  thorough explanation   of master architect Antoni Gaudí , La Sagrada Familia’s history, and some interesting notes about the neighbourhood of Eixample.

Then they kit you up.

You’ll get a mini radio transmitter with earphones so you’ll never lose the guide’s voice.

Once you’re in, they’ll go into   every nook and cranny  of the Nativity Facade .

I just loved it when the guide brought things to life that I had passed by the first time without giving a second thought.

Look at the bottom of the pillars of Gaudi’s turtles above – one of the earth’s oldest animals and a symbol of  old world knowledge .

Yes, as my guide explained: La Sagrada Familia church is being held up by wisdom!

This is how the best Sagrada Familia tours can really open up your knowledge.

From here, it’s on to inside with a beautiful explanation of the   stained glass vision  of Antoni Gaudí, the role the sun’s place in the sky plays in it , and info about the floor plan, stairwells, services, and pretty much everything else.

The tour ends on the Passion Façade with  ominous stories   surrounding the crucifixion , the symbolism of the falling stones, and a  revealed secret   of Josep Subirach’s magic number square .

My favourite bit? Being pointed out where we can  see the face of Antoni Gaudí hidden in plain sight  among the characters immortalized in the façade sculptures.

How to Purchase Sagrada Familia Guided Tour in English Tickets?

If the Sagrada Familia tour that I took sounds good, feel free to search your dates out using the calendar below:

Top Sagrada Familia Tours in 2024 FAQ

The typical Sagrada Familia tour takes about 45 minutes. That said, the ones I have listed in my top Sagrada Familia tours ranking are purposely longer to allow for more information and to get a real feel for the church.

Sagrada Familia tours generally cost about €15.00-€30.00 more than the general admission ticket. This is actually a very reasonable premium to be paying to get to unlock the massive amounts of symbolism and hidden delights in the building.

The best Sagrada Familia tour is the Go With a Local:Skip the Line tour offered by the ticket giant Tiqets. It’s just €15.00 more than general admission, and the tour is almost double the length of the standard tour of Sagrada Familia.

Guided tours of Sagrada Familia are definitely worth the cost. Consider that most tours are only about €15.00 more than general admission, so being able to unlock the many mysteries of its facades and be wise to Gaudi’s symbolism is great value.

If you want a guided tour of Sagrada Familia there is nothing difficult about it. It is very common to simply book one of the many tours in advance online – that way you get fast track entry and don’t have to worry about common sellouts.

Yes, you can cancel Sagrada Familia tours. Most tours, if booked in advance, can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before the scheduled event.

Unfortunately, there are no free Sagrada Familia tours available. Being one of the most sought after attractions in the world, entrance must be paid to get inside and once there you’ll need to hire a tour guide if you’re not prepared to a self-guided visit.

• Always make sure you book your tour of Sagrada Familia in advance to guarantee your spot
• Know the Sagrada Familia dress code before arriving to ensure you get in
• Read the terms and conditions of your tour to know if they’re refundable/cancellable
• Ensure you dedicate at least 2,5 hours (1.5 hours for the tour + 1 to explore independently)

What is the Best Tour of Sagrada Familia?

I hope I’ve answered your question about the best La Sagrada Familia tours.

Of course, if you’ve got a slightly more peculiar situation which needs a little more thought, feel free to write me in the comments below!

Whether it’s the best guided tour of Sagrada Familia or anything else Barcelona-related – I am here!

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Sagrada Familia Guided Tours | Explore the Rich History & Architecture of Gaudi's Masterpiece

Headout is an authorized and trusted partner of the venue, offering curated experiences to enjoy this attraction. This is not the venue's website.

Sagrada Familia Fast-Track Guided Tour

• Forget waiting lines and jump straight into a detailed tour of the Sagrada Familia with an expert guide beside you.
• With no more than 20 people per group, get the guide's undivided attention as gripping stories are revealed of Catalan influence on Modernisme architecture.
• Complimentary headsets and 5 tour language options let you to unravel Gaudí's vision for the church, which has been under construction since the architect was 30!
• Marvel at the basilica's 18 towers, symbolizing the 12 apostles, 4 evangelists, the Virgin Mary, and Jesus.
• Start your tour from the Sagrada Familia Museum, situated beneath the basilica, and discover artifacts from the church's history and Gaudí's life.
• 1/1.5/2-hour guided tour of Sagrada Familia (as per option selected)
• Expert English, Spanish, French, or bilingual-speaking guide (as per option selected)
• Fast-track entry to Sagrada Familia
• Tip: Keep an eye out for the ornate nativity façade symbolizing Christ's birth. It is the only part of the basilica completed in Gaudí's lifetime!
• This experience is wheelchair accessible.
• Strict dress code: Dress modestly and cover your knees and shoulders as a nod to local sentiments. You cannot enter wearing see-through clothing, swimwear, festive attire, or designs that draw attention for religious or promotional purposes.
• Entering the venue barefoot is strictly prohibited.
• Hats are not allowed inside the nave or the museum except for religious, spiritual, or health-related reasons.
• Celebration of any festivity inside the venue is strictly prohibited.
• These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

Park Güell & Sagrada Familia Guided Tour

• You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
• Want to get the inside scoop on the city's top sites? Let an expert guide show you the ropes at Park Güell & Sagrada Familia.
• Admire the Sagrada Familia's columns that twist up the nave, showing off a mix of architectural styles from cylinders and striations to double helixes!
• Step into the green haven of Park Güell and be met with large animal statues covered in patchwork tiles, rocky outdoor columns, and quaint little buildings.
• End the day with a newfound appreciation for Antonio Gaudí and his inventively whacky ideas that have manifested in Barcelona's most stunning houses.
• Guided tour of Sagrada Familia and Park Güell with entry
• Expert English, Spanish or French-speaking guide
• Transfers between Sagrada Familia and Park Güell
• Tip: Ask your guide about hidden gems in the city along with lesser-known recommendations for shops and eateries before your tour ends.
• Guests must arrange their own transfers between Sagrada Familia and Park Güell.
• For visitors with mobility issues, Park Güell offers 2 free wheelchairs for hire (subject to availability). The tourist coach car park has 3 places for guests with reduced mobility.
• Strict dress code : Dress modestly, cover your knees and shoulders as a nod to local sentiments. You cannot enter wearing see-through clothing, swimwear, festive attire, or designs that draw attention for religious or promotional purposes.

Sagrada Familia Fast-Track Guided Tour with Towers Access

• You can cancel these tickets up to 48 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
• Ready to ascend the fantastical towers of the Sagrada Familia? Dodge the queues, get insider tips from your guide, and climb either the Passion or Nativity side!
• Tickets include entry to the Sagrada Familia Museum beneath the basilica, where you will begin your tour by examining artifacts and scale models.
• Venture into the most beautiful parts of the church and gain insight on Gaudí’s life and the ideology behind the basilica's intricate façades.
• The towers spiral high into the sky and loom over the city. Scale the heights by elevator, embrace terrific panoramas, and descend by stairs.
• 1.5-hour guided tour of Sagrada Familia with fast-track entry
• Access to the Passion or Nativity Façade Towers
• Expert English and/or Spanish-speaking official guide
• Tip: Watch out for the falcons that nest in the towers of Bartholomew and James the Less!
• Strict dress code: no shorts, hats, sleeveless or backless tops are allowed in the basilica.
• This experience is not accessible by wheelchair.

Sagrada Familia Semi-Private Guided Tour

• Go on a semi-private guided tour of Sagrada Familia and experience firsthand why Gaudí's masterpiece is among Spain's most frequently visited monuments.
• Within a small group setting limited to 15 people, you'll relish a more intimate encounter with the official Catalan guide, who will regale you with anecdotes.
• Admire the intricate sculptures and reliefs on the Passion Facade, which depict the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.
• Pay homage to Antoni Gaudí, whose tomb is located here, and enjoy free time post-tour to explore the Basilica at your own pace.
• 1.5 hour guided tour of Sagrada Familia
• Expert English-speaking guide
• Small group (up to 15)
• Skip-the-line access to Sagrada Familia
• Free time inside the Basilica at the end of tour
• Headsets (optional)
• Access to the towers
• Hotel transfers
• Tip: Keep an eye out for the chance to witness a light and sound show projected onto the basilica's facade during your visit.
• Due to venue restrictions, pets cannot tag along for this experience.
• The venue is accessible for people with reduced mobility.
• The maximum number of participants per group is 15 people.

Korean/Japanese/Chinese-Guided Day Tour of Sagrada Familia, Casa Vicens & Casa Mila with Fast-Track Entry

• You can cancel these tickets up to 72 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
• Tour Barcelona's stunning architecture of Gaudi's houses and Sagrada Familia on this guided day tour with a small group.
• Save time and money with fast-track tickets to Casa Milà and Sagrada Familia, and multilingual audio and video guides
• Admire the facades of Casa Vicens and Casa Mila, and visit the world's largest Art Nouveau site.
• Experience this tour with a guide speaking your preferred language – English, Chinese, Japanese, or Korean.
• Gaudí and Sagrada Familia day tour
• English, Korean, Japanese, or Chinese-speaking guide (as per choice)
• Small group tour under 12 people
• Admission ticket
• Audio guide in the language of your choice
• Fast-track entry ticket
• Smart video guide in the language of your choice

Sagrada Familia

• Entry to Casa Batlló
• Entry to Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site
• Gràcia neighborhood
• Passeig de Gràcia
• Apple of Discord
• Free time for lunch at Casa Mila
• Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site
• Avinguda Gaudí
• Casa de les Punxes (exterior)
• Casa Batllo (exterior)
• Tip: It's recommended to wear comfortable shoes as this tour involves a fair amount of walking.
• Remember to dress appropriately for your visit to Sagrada Familia by covering your shoulders and knees.

Best of Gaudí: Park Guell and La Sagrada Familia Guided Tour

• Go on an immersive tour of two of Gaudi’s architectural masterpieces!
• Head out to the Sagrada Familia and Park Guell, two iconic Catalan landmarks you cannot miss
• Stay close to your bilingual guide who will expertly navigate you through your pre-planned route sprinkled with amazing sights
• Grasp an in-depth look at the basilica’s striking architecture at Sagrada Familia
• Tour through Park Guell, a modernist park that reflects Gaudi’s imagination perfectly
• Explore Passeig de Gràcia and check out Casa Batlló and Casa Milà “La Pedrera” for their quirky styles.
• Entry to Sagrada Familia
• Entry to Park Guell
• 4.5-hr guided tour
• Professional English or Spanish-speaking guide
• Strict Dress Code: No tank tops, strapless shirts, short shorts, or sandals will be accepted.
• The interiors of the Sagrada Familia are wheelchair accessible.
• Guests do not have any storage facility in Sagrada Familia. Only bring small backpacks and regular-size handbags.
• For visitors with mobility issues, Park Güell offers two free wheelchairs for hire (subject to availability). The tourist coach car park has 3 places for guests with reduced mobility.
• Be sure to wear comfortable footwear and bring along sunscreen and a hat for a smooth experience.

Top things to do in Barcelona

The Sagrada Familia stands tall as Barcelona’s most iconic monument. Envisioned by the architect Antoni Gaudi , the Basilica has been under construction since 1882, surviving revolutionary events such as the Spanish Civil War and COVID-19. The site is still not fully constructed, however, parts of it are open for public access. 

On this page, learn about the various types of guided tours available to visitors, and how to choose which one is right for you. 

Which Sagrada Familia tour is best for you?

Fast-track guided tours

Duration : 1 - 2.5 hours

Suited for : Visitors short on time

Highlights :

• Skip the long queues at Sagrada Familia and enter directly.
• Learn fascinating things about the history of the Sagrada Familia.
• Take the tour in English, French, German or Spanish.

Fast track guided tour to Sagrada Familia with Towers Access

Duration : 1.5 - 2 hours

Suited for : Visitors with a comprehensive itinerary

• Skip the long ticket lines and head straight to the Sagrada Familia.
• Admire the symbolism behind Antoni Gaudi’s masterpiece with this guided tour.
• Access the top of the Passion Facade Tower and enjoy panoramic views of Barcelona.

3-hour Korean/Japanese/Chinese-Guided Tour of Sagrada Familia

Suited for : Visitors with a big itinerary

• You get skip-the-line and direct access to the iconic Sagrada Familia.
• Check out the Sant Pau and see how Sagrada Familia changed Gaudi’s life.
• Stand atop the Passion and Nativity facade, admiring their intricate ornamentation and sombre architecture.
• Choose audio guides available in 16 languages and take a self-guided tour.

Why book a Sagrada Familia guided tour?

• Gain insights: Local guides will be able to walk you through the glorious and lengthy history as well as the most essential characteristics of the Basilica.
• Time utility: Instead of Googling details before or after your visit, your guide will share their insights with you at the venue, help you navigate the crowds, and ensure that you don’t miss any main highlights.
• Multilingual tour guide: Guided tours are available in four languages - English, Spanish, German and French. This allows visitors to learn about the basilica in a language that is most comfortable for them. 
• Fast-track access: All guided tours come with skip-the-line access , which means you can bypass the crowds, and head straight toward the monument. 
• Best spots: Since the guides have hosted numerous tours, they know the right times to take you to the right spots, for example, the stained glass windows during sunset; a mesmerizing view that would be a shame to miss.

Highlights of Sagrada Familia guided tours

If you opt for the guided tour with Tower access, you would be able to access either the Nativity Tower, which would give you the opportunity to be mesmerized by its sea views on the east, or the Passion Tower, from where you can catch a glimpse of the western Barcelona skyline. The third Glory Tower isn't open to the public just yet. 

The Facades

The Sagrada Familia towers come together form these facades. Currently, 8 of the planned 18 towers have been constructed, which forms 2 of the 3 planned Sagrada Familia facades. If you opt for a tour of the Nativity Facade, your guide will be able to enlighten you on not just the architecture, but Gaudi himself, as this was the only Facade that was built under his direction. 

The Basilica Interiors

The interiors of the Basilica have been described as the Bible sculpted in stone. The interiors and exteriors of the Church are inspired by the life of Jesus Christ. On your tour, your guide will be able to explain to you the intricacies of the architecture , and the rich history of the monument. 

Sagrada Museum

Your guide will be able to show you charts, models, and blueprints dating back decades, all of which went into the planning and construction of the Basilica. Some of these items were salvaged from the premises when it was set on fire during the Spanish Civil War.

What to expect on a Sagrada Familia guided tour?

• Once you book your guided tour of the Basilica online, you will receive a confirmation of your ticket on your phone. This e-ticket will suffice, there will be no need to print a copy - let’s keep the environment in mind! 
• After confirmation of your ticket, you will be intimated on the meeting spot, usually at a landmark just outside the Basilica, where you can meet your guide and your group. This will be slightly earlier than the entry time on your ticket, to give you a lee-way in case of any unforeseen delays. The Basilica is strict about entry times, if you miss your allotted entry time, you will be required to purchase another ticket. Avoid this altogether and get there a little early. 
• When you locate and familiarize yourself with your guide, they will lead you straight to the security checkpoint to enter the Basilica, at the Nativity Facade. Because you purchased your ticket online in advance, you save yourself from waiting in the ticket counter queue. 
• Past the security checkpoint, your guide will immerse you in a historical and breathtaking journey of the Basilica. A guided tour is available in four languages - English, Spanish, French, and German. English guided tours are usually between 10 AM and 12 noon. Similarly, guided tours in other languages have their allotted time window. 

Visitor Tips

• Tickets: Ensure you purchase your tickets online in advance to avoid long queues at the venue and to get guaranteed access to the monument. Tickets come with different inclusions and access, so ensure you pick the right ticket. 
• Punctuality : There is usually a queue for the security check that can last between 15-30 minutes, and this is applicable to all ticket holders. Do account for this while planning your arrival at the monument, as you would be denied entry if you arrive later than your scheduled ticket time. 
• Dress appropriately: The Basilica is a religious Catholic monument, therefore visitors are requested to dress modestly while on the premises. 
• Accessibility: Children below 11 can enter the Basilica for free, however, due to the narrow and steep on-foot descent, children under the age of 6 are not permitted to enter the Towers. You can also get a discount if you are a student entering with valid proof. 
• Refreshments: All backpacks are checked at the entrance , and food and drinks are not permitted inside. It is advisable to ensure you have eaten prior to your visit, as refreshments in and around the premises can be expensive. 
• Equipment: You are allowed to snap pictures of the monument on your smartphone, however, you would require prior permission if you would like to enter with professional photography equipment. 

Frequently asked questions about Sagrada Familia guided tours

Yes. In-person guided tours of the Sagrada Familia are available in English, Spanish, German, and French.

Sagrada Familia guided tours can range from EUR 50 to EUR 64, depending on the inclusions in your tour.

You can opt for a basic guided tour without tower access or the guided tour with access to either one of the two towers open to the public. You can also choose for combo tours, that will allow you to explore more iconic attractions of Barcelona with a single ticket.

Depending on your ticket, the Sagrada Familia guided tour would include skip-the-line entry, an in-person local expert to guide you through, and a tour of the interiors, museum, and towers.

The in-person guided tours of Sagrada Familia are available in English, French, Spanish, and German. The audio guides are available in 16 languages.

A guided tour of the Sagrada Familia would cover the Sagrada Familia Interiors, Museum, and Towers, depending on the type of ticket you purchase.

The maximum number of people for a small group tour of the Sagrada Familia is 12, and for a large group tour is 30. 

A UNESCO Heritage Site, the Sagrada Familia is known for its symbolism and marvelous intricacies. Going on a guided tour would allow you to truly immerse yourself in the monument Gaudi had envisioned.

Yes. With the Sagrada Familia guided tours, you can skip-the-line at the ticket counter and move straight to the security checkpoint.

Some Sagrada Familia guided tours have a no-refund policy, while some would provide a full refund if the tour was cancelled at least 48 hours in advance.

Sagrada Familia guided tours can be anywhere between 1 hour to 2.5 hours depending on the type of tour you book.

Yes. Infants and children under the age of 10 can avail discount on Sagrada Familia tickets. You will have to carry a valid photo ID of your child. You can also enjoy 5% cashback when you book tickets online.

Sagrada Familia Timings

Getting to Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia Finish Date

• Accommodation
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• Getting Around
• Learning Spanish
• Travel Tips
• Groups & MICE

Top Guide to Sagrada Familia: The Never-Ending Masterpiece That’s Worth the Wait

Christian Petzold

The Sagrada Familia is the masterpiece of Barcelona! One of the most original, extravagant and beautiful churches you will find around the world. The jewel in the crown of Spanish modernism!

It is a catholic basilica known as the most important project of Antoni Gaudí (1852 – 1926) and one of the most representative works of Catalan Modernism. It is located in the centre of Barcelona, ​​on a 12,800 m2 plot limited by Marina, Provence, Mallorca and Sardeña streets.

The works started in 1882, and it is still under construction. A never-ending project! Do you feel curious about it? The Sagrada Familia is a wonderful and unique masterpiece you can not miss. It is the most visited monument in the city. Its magical appearance will introduce you to Gaudí´s peculiar world.

Francisco de Paula Villar was the architect who started the design, but in 1883 Gaudí took over the project. He changed the idea completely.

Gaudí was 31 years old when he started working for the Sagrada Familia. He died at the age of 74, and he had only been able to complete a small part of the work. It took a while!

Most of Gaudí’s drawings and ideas for the Sagrada Familia project were destroyed during the Spanish civil war in 1936. After that, knowing his wishes to continue with the design became quite difficult for future generations. Also, he used to change the design and details at every moment during the works. No one knew his next step or new crazy idea for a project.

The Sagrada Familia is full of presumptions following his teachings and style. Do you think it makes it even more interesting?

The budget for the basilica was mainly financed with the contributions of charity, so not a very big budget. Due to the lack of funds, the works had to stop several times. It became a really slow process. Nowadays, the situation is much better.

Thanks to technological innovations for the construction and several important donations, The Sagrada Familia could be finished sooner than expected. Maybe in 2026, the magnificent project of Antoni Gaudí will culminate. Exactly 100 years after his death. Is that a coincidence?

The Sagrada Familia is a perfect reflection of Gaudí´s artistic fulfillment. He worked on this project for plenty of years, but it was especially during the last period of his career when he reached the culmination of his naturalistic style. You can easily appreciate it in The Sagrada Familia.

Gaudí reached perfect harmony in the interrelation between structural and ornamental elements, between plastic and aesthetic, between function and form, between content and continent, achieving the integration of all the arts in a structured and logical language.

The part that Gaudí carried out before his death, the Natividad facade and the crypt, were included in 2005 by Unesco in the World Heritage Site ¨ Works of Antoni Gaudí ¨. It is also one of the 12 Treasures of Spain since 2007.

The Interiors

What can you expect at the sagrada familia.

Gaudí designed a basilica-type floor plan following the Latin cross disposition. The main altar is above the crypt, and it is surrounded by seven apse chapels. In front of the altar, there is a transept with three naves and with the portals of the Natividad and the Pasión. Longitudinally, the central body has five naves and the Portal of la Gloria, which is considered the main entrance.

The Sagrada Familia is still under construction, and when completed, it will have 18 towers. There will be four on each portal, so a total of twelve, like the number of apostles. The basilica will have four towers on the transept, like the number of evangelists and one on the apse dedicated to the Virgin.

The main one will be a central tower-dome in honour of Jesus, which will reach 172.5 meters high. The whole project is full of symbolism! Very typical in Gaudí´s designs.

Gaudí estimated that the construction would last centuries. For this reason, he proposed to the construction team to build vertically instead of horizontally. So they raised and finished the facade of the apse first and of the Natividad later. The generation that had started the work would, at least, see something finished. Simultaneously, this finished facade could serve as a stimulus for future generations to continue the temple.

The Natividad Facade. The Nativity of Jesus.

Gaudí decided to start the construction with this facade. He knew the works would take years, so he wanted to start with the most impressive part, The Nativity of Jesus. It is the only fraction where he worked before his death.

The design is based on natural shapes, and it is full of religious symbolism. Like the whole project! This facade faces the east, where the sun rises, and it tells about the nativity of Jesus, the Virgin, hope, faith, charity, etc. You will find plenty of details and very original and vibrant shapes.

Here, Gaudí showed all his fantasy, one more time. The design is full of extravagant shapes, from rounded rocks to human figures and plant themes. It has four towers and three portals. The sculptures go from the bottom to the start of the bell towers. The sky is the limit!

The Pasión Facade. The Passion and Death of Jesus.

This facade represents the passion and death of Jesus. Following the idea of showing these episodes, the design has an extraordinarily bare and austere appearance. It is full of geometric shapes, and it has not so many ornaments and decorations as the Natividad facade.

The sobriety of the design is also manifested by the presence of bone-shaped columns and sober sculptures. They have been made by Josep Maria Subirachs, and they add drama to Gaudí’s already deliberately sad design. You will see two ways of designing the facades here, and how by using different elements and languages, the feeling is different.

Walk around and take your impressions. Which one do you like more?

The Gloria Facade. The Glory of Jesus.

This facade is still under construction. It will be the largest and most monumental of all, as it is the main entrance to the basilica.

Gaudí wanted to dedicate this part to the Glory of Jesus and his ascension path to Heaven. He knew he would not be able to build it, so he left some sketches and ideas for the next generations.

It will have eight columns, and the towers will rise on top. These columns will allow seven accesses dedicated to the seven sacraments.

At the access of this great portico, there will be a staircase and a monument dedicated to the main elements, like water or fire.

The basilica does not have straight lines, and everything has been built to imitate nature. With the different columns and stained glass windows, Gaudí tried to make the interior of the Sagrada Familia resemble a magical forest. The apse is located inside the crypt, which was built as the first part of the Sagrada Familia. The apse consists of seven chapels. On both sides of the apse, we find beautiful stairs which lead to ¨heaven¨.

The interior of the apse is decorated with the heads of angels. In the middle of the altar, on a throne, Jesus is hanging on the cross. This throne is decorated with vines and grapes and Jesus looks up asking for God’s support. It is an impressive image! The interior is full of originality and wonderful details.

Gaudí created a marvelous and vibrant masterpiece. He was so focused on his design and ideas for the Sagrada Familia, that he lived on-site during his last years. The Sagrada Familia seems to be more natural than artificial. An alive project which is changing with years, situations, styles, etc. It is not a static rock in the middle of the city. It is a growing mechanism that shows the world the magnificent mind of Antoni Gaudí, his teachings and his immortal way of looking at the world.

Are you ready to enter this spectacular symbolic forest?

Guided Tours

The Sagrada Familia is the most special and detailed project of Gaudí. If you really want to discover, learn and not miss any of the secrets of this genius, the best is to take a guided tour. You will appreciate more the story of the building and all the theories behind it. The Sagrada Familia can be considered as one of the most interesting and original basilicas in the world. So do not miss the chance, and enjoy the experience as best you can.

The visit will be made with a small group and with a knowledgeable guide. The guided tour lasts approximately one or two hours. Your visit will be unforgettable!

Visit on Your Own

You can visit the Sagrada Familia on your own and decide which parts you want to explore more. The Sagrada Familia is one of the most popular monuments in the city, so it is going to be very busy there.

It is possible to buy the tickets at the entrance, but only for that day. If you want to buy the tickets for another day, you must do it online.

Another problem can be the waiting time. Due to its popularity, the Sagrada Familia is going to be crowded, so you might be waiting for hours till you can finally enter.

If you want to use your time smartly, buy your tickets in front. Avoiding long lines, you will have more time to enjoy the visit. And better memories!

If you want to take nice pictures, it is better to go early in the morning or later in the evening. You will find fewer people and your pictures will be nicer. If you know how to catch the lights through the stained glass windows, your pics will be stunning! You would need approximately one or two hours for this visit. The opening times change depending on the season, so check our FAQs below and decide what is best for you.

How and Where to Buy Tickets?

You can buy the tickets at the Sagrada Familia, but it can be a hard task. Probably you will have to wait, so the best idea is to buy tickets online. Avoid the queues! Receive them via email, SMS, or in our app and show them on your smartphone (no need to print), easy!

There are different options and times. Take a look and choose the best for you. Buying tickets was never so easy as it is now! Click here to purchase tickets online.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the sagrada familia.

It is located in the centre of Barcelona, in the Eixample area. The general access is through the Nativity facade, in Marina street.

Opening times. What’s the best time to visit the Sagrada Familia?

• November till February: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• March and October: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• April till September: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• December 25 and 26 and January 1 and 6: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Take Note: No more tickets will be sold thirty minutes after the closing time.

The opening hours and days to the public can be modified exceptionally due to special events inside the Basilica. Visiting the Sagrada Familia early in the morning is the best choice.

Try to avoid peak hours and your visit will be nicer. This city is full of monuments and cozy streets with bars, cafes and shops. Organize your time and have a great and full experience!

How to get to the Sagrada Familia?

The Sagrada Familia is located in the centre. It is quite easy to reach.

The general access is located in Marina street, N 41º.

• Bus: 19, 33, 34, 43, 44, 50, 51, B20 y B24.
• Metro: Line 2 and Line 5. Sagrada Familia Station.

Accessibility for the disabled and people with reduced mobility.

The Sagrada Familia is accessible for visitors with diverse capacities and needs. Only the towers are not allowed for people with reduced mobility.

If you need a wheelchair during the visit, they will provide it for you.

If you have any questions, you can contact them via telephone: 935-132-060 or through the email address: [email protected] .

What is the average length of the Sagrada Familia visit?

The average length might be between one or two hours. It depends on how much time you want to spend here. It also depends on the waiting time or the type of visit you choose. Anyway, this place is so special that time will fly. Prepare your camera and get loose in this magical and vibrant masterpiece.

What are the rules when visiting the Sagrada Familia?

• When you visit the towers, you can go up by elevator, but you have to go down by walking a narrow spiral staircase! Keep this in mind if you decide to go up.
• Kids under six years old are not allowed to go up to the towers.
• Kids under the age of sixteen are only allowed to enter the towers with their parents.
• The use of caps or hats inside is not allowed. It will be allowed only because of religious, creed or health reasons.

As a Catholic church, proper dressing is required, and the following limitations are established:

• Transparent clothing is not allowed.
• Tops that do not cover the shoulders are not allowed.
• Pants and skirts that do not cover, at least, half thigh are not allowed.
• Swimwear is not allowed.
• Clothing with ornaments designed to distract or attract attention for artistic, religious, promotional or any other gender purposes is not allowed.

How much do the tickets to the Sagrada Familia cost?

Online Ticket Purchase

• General: 20.00€
• Adults (under 30): 18.00€
• Kids: (under 11): FREE
• Students: 18.00€
• Disabled: FREE
• Seniors (+65): 16,00€

General ticket + Towers ( Online Ticket Purchase )

• General: 33.00€
• Adults (under 30): 31.00€
• Kids (under 11): FREE
• Students: 31.00€
• Disabled: FREE (Not possible to visit the towers)
• Seniors (+65): 27,00€

Ticket at the Entrance

• General: 39.00€
• Adults (under 30): 37.00€
• Seniors (+65): 32.00€

Sagrada Familia is an architectural icon, a true work of Gothic architecture and modernist design. There aren’t many churches that are as original, extravagant, and beautiful as this one. My hope for this blog post is that it provides an insight into what awaits the visitor at an iconic location. A visit to Barcelona would not be complete without a tour of this architectural masterpiece!

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How Long Is Sagrada Familia Tour

Background information.

The Sagrada Familia, located in Barcelona, Spain, is a much-visited Roman Catholic basilica. Construction of the Sagrada Familia began in 1882, initially headed by the Antoni Gaudi, changing hands to multiple architects and design teams over the years. With its distinct and unique design, the Sagrada Familia is the most visited attraction in Spain, with about 5 million visitors a year.

Tour Length

Visitors to the Sagrada Familia can take either a self-guided tour of the basilica, or choose to take a guided tour. The self-guided tour typically takes 1.5 – 2.5 hours to complete, as visitors can take their own time to take in the sights and explore the basilica’s interior. The guided tour is offered in multiple languages, and usually lasts around 2 hours. Tickets to the Sagrada Familia are sold for both self-guided and guided tours, and visitors should be aware that there can be long queues for tickets.

What To Expect On The Tour

On the self-guided tour, visitors can expect to explore the interior of the Sagrada Familia, including the museum and crypt. Other aspects of the journey include the towers, courtyards and details that offer an insight into Gaudi’s artistic brilliance. The guided tour gives visitors an even further-reaching look at the architecture and design of the basilica, as well as its history and legacy.

What To Bring On The Tour

When taking a tour of the Sagrada Familia, it’s best to dress in layers and bring a water bottle. Visitors are encouraged to bring a camera in order to take photos and document the experience. Headphones, if available, are advised in order to take in the audio component of the tour.

Expert Perspectives On The Tour

History professor Marcos Ruiz highlights the complexity of the Sagrada Familia’s design and its vast symbolism. ‘For Gaudi, the Sagrada Familia is a conscious union of nature, beauty and religious faith. It is both modernistic and timeless – a fusion of a traditional religious structure with an organic, undulating structure.’ Architecture expert Dina Salazar agrees. ‘Gaudi’s innovative use of materials, such as glass and mosaic tiles, allows the Sagrada Familia to exist in dialogue with the surrounding environment. Its beauty and complexity stands as a testament to his vision and imagination.’

Interesting Facts About The Sagrada Familia

Some interesting facts about the Sagrada Familia include: – The basilica is still incomplete, and is expected to be finished in 2026, on the hundredth anniversary of Gaudi’s death. – The Sagrada Familia has 8 awe-inspiring towers, and visitors can climb the towers for a bird’s eye view of the basilica and its surroundings. – The Sagrada Familia has 18 different entrances, each with its own unique design. – The Sagrada Familia is the largest unfinished basilica in the world.

A Sense Of Wonder

The Sagrada Familia tour immerses visitors in a sense of wonder and awe as they explore Gaudi’s masterpiece. With its innovative designs, detailed artistry and dedication to religious faith, the Sagrada Familia is an experience worth taking the time to explore and enjoy.

The Sagrada Familia And Technology

Technology has only enhanced the experience of the Sagrada Familia. Visitors can travel to the base of the basilica by way of an elevator and view highlights of the tour on the free Sagrada Familia app. They can also use the app to discover hidden details of the basilica, an aspect of the tour that physical exploration often misses.

A Representation Of Faith

The Sagrada Familia is not only an architectural structure, but a representation of faith. From its curved lines, intricate mosaics and stained glass detailing, the Sagrada Familia highlights Gaudi’s spiritual views and how faith can be architecture. This aspect of the tour brings the spiritual experience of visiting the basilica to the fore.

An Invaluable Resource For Architects

The Sagrada Familia is an incredible resource for architects and aspiring professionals alike. With its unique structure, the basilica has much to offer from an architectural perspective, from its complex and symbolic designs to its pioneering use of materials. Interested architects and professionals in the field can explore the basilica’s inner workings and get inspired by Gaudi’s creativity.

A Cultural Experience

The Sagrada Familia is a Barcelona attraction, and as such, it brings a vibrant cultural experience to the visitor. The tour highlights the respect that the local community has for Gaudi’s work, as well as their enthusiasm for the ongoing project and creating lasting memories.

Highlighting Catalan Identity

The Sagrada Familia draws in visitors internationally, and is known worldwide. What some visitors may know less about is the importance the basilica holds in Catalan identity and heritage. The tour showcases the Catalan influence, from the language and décor to the way the basilica highlights their art and culture.

A Reflection Of Our World

The Sagrada Familia reflects our world in its diversity and intricate details, making it a destination like no other. The site is full of surprises and breathtaking elements that are constantly being uncovered and explored. This tour allows people to connect spiritually to their environment and one another, while taking in the striking views and stories of the basilica.

Herman Shaw

Herman Shaw is a passionate traveler and avid photographer who has seen many of the world's most awe-inspiring monuments. He has developed expertise in various aspects of world architecture and culture which he enjoys sharing with his readers. With deep historical knowledge and insight, Herman's writing brings life to these remarkable artifacts and highlights their importance in the grand scheme of human history.

A Quiet Experience: Visiting Sagrada Familia After Hours

A Quiet Experience: Visiting Sagrada Familia After Hours in Barcelona

Barcelona, a city known for its stunning architecture, vibrant culture, and beautiful beaches, is home to one of the most iconic and unique architectural masterpieces in the world - the Sagrada Familia. While this basilica is a must-visit for anyone coming to Barcelona, experiencing it after hours offers a unique and peaceful perspective that is simply unparalleled.

The Sagrada Familia: A Brief Overview

Designed by the renowned Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, construction of the Sagrada Familia began in 1882, and it is still a work in progress. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a breathtaking blend of Gothic and Art Nouveau styles, and it stands as a testament to Gaudí's innovative architectural vision.

Why Visit After Hours?

Visiting the Sagrada Familia after hours provides an entirely different experience compared to the bustling daytime crowds. Here are a few reasons why this is a must-do during your stay in Barcelona:

• Peace and Tranquility: One of the most significant advantages of visiting after hours is the tranquility that envelops this sacred space. The quiet atmosphere allows for a deeper connection with the architecture and the spiritual essence of the basilica.
• Enhanced Lighting: The evening lighting enhances the beauty of the stained glass windows and intricate details in a way that daylight simply cannot replicate. The interplay of light and shadows makes for a mesmerizing visual experience.
• Unhurried Exploration: Without the usual daytime crowds, you can take your time to explore every nook and cranny of the basilica. This is especially beneficial if you're a photography enthusiast or an architecture lover who wishes to capture the Sagrada Familia's every angle.

Practical Information

While the Sagrada Familia is generally open to visitors during regular daytime hours, accessing it after hours requires a bit more planning. Here's what you need to know:

Tickets and Reservations

It's advisable to purchase your tickets in advance, especially for after-hours visits, as the number of visitors allowed is limited to ensure a serene experience. You can book your tickets online through the official Sagrada Familia website or at the on-site ticket office.

Tips for Your Visit

If you're planning to explore the Sagrada Familia after hours, here are a few tips to make the most of your visit:

• Arrive early to have some time to explore the exterior and take in the breathtaking facade illuminated against the night sky.
• Dress comfortably and be prepared for cooler evening temperatures, even in the warmer months.
• Respect the silence and tranquility of the basilica, as it is a place of worship for many.
• Consider taking a guided tour to gain a deeper understanding of the architecture, history, and symbolism behind the Sagrada Familia.

Visiting the Sagrada Familia after hours is an extraordinary experience that allows you to appreciate this architectural marvel in a way that few get to. The combination of the serene ambiance, captivating lighting, and unhurried exploration makes it a memorable and deeply moving experience that you'll cherish forever.

So, when you find yourself in Barcelona, be sure to set aside an evening for a quiet and enchanting journey through the Sagrada Familia - a true masterpiece that comes to life under the cloak of night.

Sagrada Familia and Sailing Experience

Explore Barcelona's modernist movement with a visit to the iconic La Sagrada Familia, a masterpiece by architect Antonio Gaudi. Marvel at the impressive interior adorned with rich decoration and symbolism, reaching a vault height of seventy meters. Dive into Gaudi's life and career at the Sagrada Familia museum, featuring sketches and plaster models.

After the cultural immersion, step aboard a sailing boat for a Mediterranean adventure. Learn sailing techniques from a professional skipper, relax on deck for 1.5 hours with a refreshing drink, and take in the breathtaking Barcelona skyline. For the adventurous, dip into the sea while enjoying included appetizers.

Highlights:

• Relax on a sailboat
• Learn sailing from a professional skipper
• Admire the Barcelona skyline
• Explore La Sagrada Familia's interior
• Access Ticket to the Sagrada Familia Tour
• Light snacks and beverages on the sailboat tour
• Pickup and transport between activities

Important Information:

• Meeting Point: Sailing Experience Bcn, Moll de Mestral, 08005 Barcelona, Spain
• Attire: As Sagrada Familia is a Catholic church, dress appropriately; no bare feet, hats (except for religious, health, or belief-related reasons), see-through clothing, or flip-flops.

Book your spot for $125.55 per person. Reserve now and pay later, securing your travel plans without immediate payment. Gift this unique experience!

The Mystical Atmosphere at Night in Barcelona

Barcelona, a city known for its vibrant culture, stunning architecture, and beautiful beaches, takes on a whole new persona at night. The mystical atmosphere that envelops this Spanish gem after the sun sets is something to behold. From the bustling streets to the serene parks, Barcelona comes alive in a way that captivates the hearts of both locals and tourists alike.

As the stars twinkle above, Barcelona's famous landmarks become illuminated with a soft, golden glow. One cannot help but feel the magic in the air when standing in front of the iconic Sagrada Familia. Gaudi's masterpiece takes on an otherworldly appearance, and the intricate details of this basilica are accentuated by the strategically placed lights.

Wandering down the historic streets of the Gothic Quarter at night is an experience like no other. The narrow, winding alleyways are transformed into a labyrinth of mystery and wonder. The soft echo of footsteps on the cobblestone streets adds to the mystical atmosphere, and you can almost feel the weight of centuries of history surrounding you.

Barcelona's culinary scene also thrives under the cover of darkness. Tapas bars come alive, offering an array of delicious dishes, from crispy patatas bravas to succulent chorizo. Enjoying these delectable bites in the company of locals and fellow travelers adds to the enchanting ambiance of the night. Paired with a glass of local wine or sangria, the experience becomes truly memorable.

The beachfront promenade takes on a romantic allure as the moonlight dances on the gentle waves of the Mediterranean Sea. The sounds of the sea, combined with the distant laughter and chatter of people, create a soothing symphony that lulls visitors into a state of relaxation and wonder. Walking hand in hand with a loved one along the shoreline is a moment of pure magic.

If you seek a more cultural experience, Barcelona offers a thriving nightlife scene with countless bars and clubs. From the electronic beats of Pacha Barcelona to the live music at Jamboree Dance Club, the city caters to all musical tastes. The energy of the crowd and the pulsating rhythms fill the air with electricity, providing an exciting contrast to the peaceful, mystical atmosphere found elsewhere in the city.

The parks of Barcelona, such as Park Güell and Montjuïc, offer a different kind of mystique at night. Under the soft glow of streetlamps, the greenery takes on a dreamlike quality. The sculptures and mosaics seem to come to life, and you can find a serene spot to sit and contemplate the beauty of the city in a tranquil setting.

In conclusion, the mystical atmosphere of Barcelona at night is a captivating and unforgettable experience. The city's landmarks, historic streets, culinary delights, beaches, and nightlife all contribute to the enchanting ambiance that draws visitors in and leaves them with memories to cherish. Barcelona, when the sun sets and the stars come out, truly becomes a place of magic and wonder.

Barcelona: Sagrada Familia Private Guided Tour

Embark on an exclusive journey through the iconic Sagrada Familia with our private guided tour, offering skip-the-line access for an uninterrupted exploration. Delve into the masterpiece of Antoni Gaudi, a symbol of Barcelona's architectural splendor.

About this activity:

• Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
• Reserve now & pay later: Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today
• Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
• Duration: 1.5 hours
• Language: Live tour guide providing insights in English
• Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
• Group Type: Private

Experience Highlights:

• Immerse yourself in the epic beauty of Sagrada Familia on this private tour
• Admire the intricate details of the cathedral's interior and exterior
• Skip the famously long lines and enjoy fast track access
• Gain insights into the building and its history from your official tour guide
• Discover the secrets and stunning highlights of the Sagrada Familia

Full description:

Uncover the allure of Gaudi’s renowned masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia, on this private guided tour. Bypass the queues to explore the history and beauty of this extraordinary structure. Marvel at its size and structure from the outside, appreciate the façades, and delve into the remarkable details.

Step inside to witness the towering vaults and breathtaking stained glass. Your expert guide will narrate the story of Antoni Gaudi and the symbolism behind this still-unfinished architectural marvel. Conclude the tour with a profound understanding of the Sagrada Familia's magnificence.

What's Included:

• Sagrada Familia skip-the-line entry
• Licensed tour guide
• Radio guide system
• Choice of English or Spanish tour
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Access to Towers

Meeting point:

Meet your guide outside the official Sagrada Familia souvenir shop, next to the group entrance, access A. Look for your host holding a red burgundy umbrella.

From $200.46 per person

Customer Reviews:

Overall rating: 4.5/5 based on 4 reviews

Filter by traveler types, star ratings, and recommended reviews.

Book now for an unforgettable private journey through the Sagrada Familia!

The Architectural Wonders of Sagrada Familia, Barcelona

The Sagrada Familia, located in the heart of Barcelona, is undoubtedly one of the most iconic and mesmerizing architectural marvels in the world. This basilica, designed by the brilliant Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, has been under construction for over a century and continues to captivate visitors with its unique blend of architectural styles, intricate details, and spiritual significance.

A Masterpiece in the Making

Construction of the Sagrada Familia began in 1882, and it is not expected to be completed until 2026, which will mark the centenary of Gaudí's death. The fact that this masterpiece is still a work in progress only adds to its allure. It's a testament to human dedication and a living testament to the genius of Gaudí.

Architectural Styles

One of the most striking aspects of the Sagrada Familia is its fusion of architectural styles. The basilica combines elements of Gothic and Art Nouveau, but it is primarily known for its unique interpretation of the Modernisme movement, a distinctive Catalan variant of Art Nouveau. The use of flowing lines, organic shapes, and intricate ornamentation sets it apart from any other structure in the world.

Nativity Façade

The Sagrada Familia has three facades, each of which tells a different part of the story of Christ's life. The Nativity Façade, facing east, is the only one that was completed during Gaudí's lifetime. It is a stunning representation of the birth of Jesus, with intricate sculptures and detailed reliefs.

Passion Façade

The Passion Façade, on the west side, is a stark contrast to the Nativity Façade. It is more somber and depicts the suffering and crucifixion of Christ. Sculpted by Josep Maria Subirachs, this façade evokes deep emotions and is a powerful representation of Christ's sacrifice.

Gloria Façade

The Gloria Façade, facing south, is still under construction and is expected to be the most elaborate of the three. It represents the path to eternal glory and is intended to be a magnificent tribute to the glory of God.

Verticality and Symbolism

The interior of the Sagrada Familia is characterized by its remarkable verticality. Gaudí's vision was to create a space that would uplift the spirit of those who entered. The columns inside the basilica resemble tree trunks, and the ceiling is designed to mimic a forest canopy. Natural light filters through the stained glass windows, creating a mesmerizing interplay of color and illumination.

Spiritual Significance

The Sagrada Familia is not just a piece of art; it's also a place of worship. Masses and religious ceremonies are held here, and it is a symbol of the deep religious faith of the people of Barcelona. Gaudí himself was a devout Catholic, and his beliefs are reflected in every aspect of this remarkable structure.

A Global Icon

The Sagrada Familia is not just a Spanish treasure; it's a global icon. Millions of tourists from all over the world visit this basilica every year, and it has become a symbol of Barcelona itself. Its silhouette graces countless postcards and travel brochures, drawing people to witness its beauty in person.

In the heart of Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia stands as a testament to human creativity, dedication, and faith. It's a place where architecture, art, and spirituality converge, and it continues to inspire and awe all who have the privilege of experiencing its grandeur.

Discover Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

Enrich your visit to the Sagrada Familia on a tour with a certified guide and skip-the-line entry tickets. Learn the basilica's history while admiring stained glass windows and Gaudi's original works.

Discover the Secrets of Sagrada Familia

Skip the lines to the most visited monument in Spain and enjoy a tour of the masterpiece of Antoni Gaudí on a walking tour.

Discover Barcelona’s Main Attractions

Explore the history, cuisine, and architecture of Barcelona during a private full-day tour. Immerse yourself in Barcelona's Medieval Quarter and gain skip-the-line access to the Sagrada Familia & Park Guell.

Discover the Majestic Sagrada Familia

Explore the magnificent Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, designed by the renowned Modernist visionary Antoni Gaudí. Gain quick access with a pre-booked ticket to this breathtaking Art Nouveau masterpiece and embark on a 1.5-hour tour of the Basilica and Sagrada Familia Museum.

Unveiling the Secrets of Sagrada Familia: A Guided Tour

Explore Sagrada Familia with a licensed tour guide and enjoy skip-the-ticket-line access. Immerse yourself in the beauty of Gaudi’s most iconic masterpiece in Barcelona.

Unveiling the Mysteries of Sagrada Familia: A Complete Guide

This is not the official site of the presented tourist attractions. As Travel Lime, we make every effort to provide users with accurate and up-to-date information. We present offers only from trusted partners, ensuring the best experiences in various places.

• How long does it take to visit the Sagrada Familia?

It takes about 2 hours to visit the Sagrada Familia including the towers, the small museum in the basement, and the store. Please note that once inside the basilica, you can stay as long as you like!

Sagrada Família Tickets and Pass

Sagrada familia skip the line tickets, don't queue with this bestseller.

Avoid the crowd with skip the line tickets and access to Antoni Gaudí’s basilica, school and Museum. A definite must-see! Plan ahead and reserve a timeslot to enjoy your visit at your preferred time.

Sagrada Familia Fast Track Ticket + Towers

Make the most of your visit.

This Sagrada Familia skip the line ticket includes access to one of the two towers to enjoy a stunning view over Barcelona + an audioguide in English!

Gaudí Bundle

Sagrada família & park güell tickets.

A truly economical combined ticket: > Sagrada Família Fast Track + Audioguide > Park Güell Fast Track ticket + Audioguide > Audioguide of Barcelona > 10% discount on other tours

Barcelona City Pass

Incl. sagrada familia skip the line tickets.

The "City Pass Barcelona" our best selling pass! > Sagrada Família Fast Lane + Audioguide > Fast entrance to Park Güell + Audioguide > Hop-on Hop-off 24 or 48 hours or Casa Batlló or Casa Milà > 10% discount on other tours > Audioguide of Barcelona

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Is a Tour of Sagrada Familia Worth It?

Ian Sumpter Last Updated: September 26, 2023

Are you heading to Barcelona and want to visit the Sagrada Familia but unsure if you should do a solo visit or a tour? The Basilica is one of the architectural wonders of the World, and millions visit each year asking the same question. This article will explain why a tour of Sagrada Familia is worth it.

Pro Tip: Planning your visit to Sagrada Familia in Barcelona? Bookmark this post in your browser so you can easily find it when you’re in the city. See our comprehensive  guide to Barcelona  for more planning resources, our  top Barcelona tours  for a memorable trip, and the top things to see in Barcelona .

What is the Sagrada Familia?

The Sagrada Familia is an iconic basilica located in the heart of Barcelona, Spain. It is a breathtaking emblem of both architectural and religious devotion. Designed by the renowned architect Antoni Gaudí, its construction commenced in 1882 and has been progressively evolving ever since.

The basilica is a harmonious blend of Gothic and Art Nouveau styles, with intricate details and symbolic religious elements integrated into every corner of the design. Though still under construction, with an anticipated completion in 2026, the Sagrada Familia already stands as a majestic testament to Gaudí’s innovative genius and the rich spiritual heritage of Spain. Its towering spires, intricate facades, and the mesmerizing play of light through its stained glass windows draw millions of admirers from around the globe, making it one of the most visited and revered landmarks in Spain.

Not ready to book a tour? Check out some Amazing Facts About Sagrada Familia

Is a Tour of Sagrada Familia Worth it?

Short Answer: Yes, a tour is worth it. Check out our free guide to the Best tours of Sagrada Familia.

While it is entirely possible and enjoyable to visit the Sagrada Familia without a guide, a guided tour can often elevate a visit to another level. The entry fee of 26 euros includes an audio guide, but audio guides are robotic and cannot answer any questions you may have. That is where the advantage lies with an expert licensed guide. Not only do they have the best stories, but they know the best tips and tricks to navigate security lines and large crowds. In terms of context added and time saved, a guided tour is often well worth the extra cost.

Skip-the-Line Tickets

Some 5 million visitors pass through the Sagrada Familia each year. In high season, tickets sell out weeks in advance, so having the hassle of organizing entry is always nice. This eliminates the confusion outside if there are lots of people trying to get in the right line. A guide with skip-the-line tickets can make this a smooth and quick process.

Small Group Tour

When it is completed in 2026, the Sagrada Familia will be the tallest Basilica in the world. You can easily get lost in its grandeur. We design small group tours so your guide can interact more with each person and take advantage of all of the Basilica’s wonders.

Private Tours

If you enjoy seeing architectural gems at a pace dictated for you, or you don’t play well with others, then our private tours are perfect for you. Our expert guides will tailor an incredible experience for you, providing an unforgettable experience for you and your party.

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our guide on How to Visit the Sagrada Familia

If Tours of Sagrada Familia are Worth it, Which is Best for You?

Now that you know a tour of Sagrada Familia is worth it, check out our tours. We run several tours of Sagrada Familia , but each is different. We run tours that explore the interior and those that just admire it from a distance, it all depends on your own desire, though I feel like not going inside is a huge missed opportunity. You’ll find some of our top Sagrada Familia tours below, and you can explore our full and free Guide to Barcelona .

Unbeatable Barcelona in a Day (6.5 hours)

This is a perfect tour for anybody wanting to get deep under the skin of Barcelona and the genius of Anonit Gaudí.

Gaudí certainly left his mark on the Catalan capital, and with this tour, you’ll explore the imaginative gardens at Park Güell and the incredible Sagrada Familia. Through a stroll around the Gothic Quarter and a few stops for local delicacies, what you have here is a perfect day in Barcelona.

See tour itinerary, price, and description

Skip the Line Sagrada Familia (1.5 hours)

The Sagrada Família is one of the world’s most celebrated buildings. It deserves your undivided attention; with this tour, it will receive it. You’ll meet your enthusiastic, expert licensed guide outside of the Sagrada, where they will regale you with stories of its lengthy construction before expertly leading you through the security lines and into one of the modern architectural wonders of the world.

It is a perfect tour for anyone wishing to gain a deeper understanding of Gaudís masterpiece.

Private Barcelona in a Day With Sagrada Familia and Park Guell (6.5 hours)

A private tour may be the best option if you prefer group tours. Do you have a young child who loves to ask questions? Have you already been to the Sagrada Familia and want to get answers to some specific questions? Want to customize the tour itinerary slightly to see spots you can’t miss? All of this is possible with a private tour. Not only will your tickets be sorted, but you’ll also be able to skip the long lines and be expertly guided through the security lines. While the price is higher, the VIP treatment makes it all worthwhile.

Private Tour of Barcelona by Electric TukTuk (2 hours)

Are you looking for a fun way to familiarize yourself with Barcelona’s top attractions? Then hopping on an electric TukTuk with a local guide is a fun and fast way to see the city’s highlights.

You won’t explore the interior of Gaudi’s masterpiece. However, you will learn its history and explore Gaudí’s other masterpieces around the city. It’s a fun way for the whole family to see large tracts of Barcelona quickly and enjoyably. It’s especially useful for any visitors with mobility issues.

Barcelona by Electric Bike

Pedal through the Barceloneta and Gothic Quarters with ease, and see La Rambla, the Olympic Village, and much more in just half a day! Head through the Gothic Quarter and see the top works of Gaudi, including the world-famous Sagrada Familia, and take in the rich history and art of the city. Ride along the seaside, taking in the Mediterranean sun and wind that makes Barcelona an amazing place to live and visit. This 4-hour tour will give you the perfect introduction to the magnificent Catalan capital!

See tour itinerary, price, and descripti https://thetourguy.com/tours/barcelona/barcelona-bike-tour on

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our guide on the Top Things to See at Sagrada Familia

Where To Stay in Barcelona

Barcelona has a small historical center packed with iconic landmarks to explore. Plan where to stay in the best neighborhoods in this beautiful city.

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15 Things to Know Before Visiting the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

Planning a trip to visit the Sagrada Familia on your next trip to Barcelona, Spain? There are some important things to know before you go! In this article, European travel enthusiast Emma Braby shares her top tips for planning your next trip to this historic Spanish attraction!

By Emma Braby

Last updated: April 11, 2024

Welcome to the ultimate guide for all things Sagrada Familia! Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a first-time visitor, this iconic basilica in Barcelona is a landmark you cannot miss. From how to book tickets in advance to exploring the Basilica’s hidden gems, I’ve got you covered every step of the way.

Plus, I’ll let you in on a secret about something to avoid that most other travel websites tell you to see . So, let’s dive in and uncover everything you need to know before visiting Sagrada Familia!

Book Tickets in Advance

Peak Season

June-August

+34-932-08-04-14

Architecture Enthusiasts, Religious Pilgrims, Art Lovers, Cultural Explorers, History Buffs

One of the first things to check off your Sagrada Familia to-do list is to book your tickets in advance. This popular attraction draws crowds from around the world, so securing your spot is crucial. By purchasing tickets online before your visit, you can skip the long lines and make the most of your time exploring this architectural wonder.

Booking ahead not only saves you precious time at the entrance but also allows you to choose a date and time that works best for your schedule. Whether you opt for a basic entry ticket or decide to splurge on a guided tour, planning ahead ensures a seamless experience at Sagrada Familia.

Remember that availability can vary depending on the season, so it’s wise to secure your tickets well in advance if you’re traveling during peak times like summer or the holidays. So don’t wait until the last minute – book these tickets early to avoid disappointment.

Plan Your Trip

When planning your visit to the iconic Sagrada Familia, it’s essential to consider a few key aspects. Determine the best time of year to travel based on your preferences – whether you enjoy bustling crowds or quieter moments of reflection. Research the different ticket options available to make sure you tailor your experience.

Consider how you will get to the Sagrada Familia—whether by public transport, taxi, or walking from nearby attractions. Take into account how much time you want to spend exploring this mighty masterpiece, both inside and outside. If you want to eat beforehand, look into nearby restaurants or cafes for a meal or snack.

Thinking through these details beforehand can help ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience. This is Barcelona’s most famous landmark , so you can be sure it’ll be busy. Plus, tickets are timed, and according to their website, you will be refused entry if you arrive late.

Consider a Guided Tour

When visiting the impressive Sagrada Familia, opting for a guided tour can enhance your experience in more ways than one. An experienced guide can provide insight into the history, architecture, and symbolism behind Gaudi’s work. Whether you choose a group or private tour, having someone lead the way can bring a new perspective and depth to your visit.

Guided tours often offer exclusive skip-the-line access. Additionally, tour guides can help you navigate the crowds and ensure you make the most of your time inside this iconic building. And with so many details and gems to explore, you can be sure you’ll see everything worth seeing and more.

Dress Appropriately

When visiting the Sagrada Familia, it’s important to dress appropriately. Wear comfortable shoes and clothing, as you will walk a lot and potentially climb the towers. Barcelona can get quite hot in the summer, so light and breathable fabrics are ideal for covering yourself inside.

This stunning architectural site is not only a major tourist attraction but also a place of worship. Remember that the Sagrada Familia is still an active church, so please dress modestly out of respect. Avoid wearing revealing or inappropriate attire that may offend others or go against religious norms.

A good rule of thumb is to dress conservatively by covering your chest, shoulders, and knees. This ensures you won’t be turned away at the entrance for violating dress codes. On the day, I wore leggings and a loose top. I also took a light shawl to cover my shoulders so that I could easily stuff it in my bag afterward. They are strict, and I saw a few tourists being turned away for inappropriate attire.

See Gaudi’s Other Work

When visiting the Sagrada Familia, don’t miss out on exploring Antoni Gaudi’s other remarkable works scattered throughout Barcelona. His distinctive architectural style can be admired in buildings like Casa Batllo and Park Guell. Each structure showcases Gaudi’s creativity and attention to detail, offering a glimpse into his genius mind.

Casa Batllo, with its whimsical facade and organic shapes, is a true masterpiece of modernism. The rooftop terrace provides breathtaking views of Barcelona and is decorated with colorful mosaic tiles that are typically Gaudi. Venturing to Park Guell allows you to wander through his magical garden. Filled with playful sculptures and vibrant mosaics, Gaudi’s influence is palpable in every corner.

To appreciate his mind and style, you’ve got to see more than just the Sagrada Familia. Exploring these sites will deepen your appreciation for Gaudi’s visionary talent and enhance your overall experience in Barcelona. All of his works are a must-visit for architecture enthusiasts.

Consider The Towers

When visiting the Sagrada Familia, don’t overlook the option of going up one of its towers. You must take the lift up to the tower and descend by foot. Despite what some blogs state, you do not have the choice to climb the tower on foot. You also only get to go up one tower. I have an average fitness level and didn’t find the descent difficult, but it was a little claustrophobic.

When booking a ticket, you can choose your preferred tower – the Passion Tower (Torre de la Pasion) or the Nativity Tower (Torre del Nacimiento). Each tower offers a different perspective of the city and allows you to admire some of the intricate details of Gaudi’s work of art from a unique vantage point.

I chose the Nativity Tower because it sits in the part of the church that was original to Gaudi’s designs. Some prefer the Passion Tower because it supposedly offers clearer views. If you want to visit both, you must book separate tower tickets.

Now, in my candid opinion, I wish I hadn’t spent the extra money on the tower. Sure, you get to see views of the city and a different part of the Basilica, but I felt like I didn’t see anything that I couldn’t see from the outside. Plus, the views are tight and limited. Maybe I should have opted for the Passion Tower.

Opening Times Change Seasonally

Visiting the Sagrada Familia is a must when in Barcelona, but remember that opening times can vary depending on the season. It’s essential to check the schedule in advance so you don’t miss out on experiencing this place. This way, you can make the most of your trip and avoid any disappointments from unexpected closures.

During peak tourist seasons, the Sagrada Familia may have extended hours to accommodate more visitors. It might close earlier than usual during off-peak times, like winter months. Be aware that opening times can also change at the last minute, although this only happens in rare circumstances.

Use an Audio Guide

An audio guide can enhance your experience at the Sagrada Familia, providing fascinating insights and historical facts you might not know about or miss. The audio guide allows you to learn about the intricate details of Gaudi’s masterpiece at your own pace, giving you a deeper appreciation for its architecture and symbolism.

With narrations in multiple languages, the audio guide ensures that visitors from around the world can fully understand and connect with the significance of each aspect of the Sagrada Familia. As you wander through this awe-inspiring basilica, let the audio guide take you through its history, construction process, and spiritual importance.

Find A Roof Terrace Overlooking Sagrada Familia

If you want a unique perspective on the stunning Sagrada Familia, consider finding a roof terrace that overlooks this beautiful landmark. Picture yourself sipping on a delicious Spanish sangria while taking in the breathtaking views of Gaudi’s creation from a level height.

My favorite rooftop bar in Barcelona to see the basilica is Sercotel Rosellon. It is about as close as you’ll get to the monument for some awesome photos, offering a panoramic view of the city. It’s a bonus that the cocktails are tasty, and the staff are super friendly, too. Be aware that you have to prebook this place in advance.

Whether during sunrise or sunset, witnessing the play of light and shadows on the Sagrada Familia from a different angle is truly special. For a rooftop bar a little further away or one with a pool, look at la Dolce Vitae at the Majestic Hotel. I haven’t been to this bar, but it has some of the best reviews and views in Barcelona.

Go Early Or Late For a More Peaceful Visit

To truly savor the beauty and tranquility of the Sagrada Familia, consider visiting early in the morning or later in the evening. By arriving before the crowds, you’ll have a chance to appreciate Gaudi’s masterpiece in a more peaceful setting. The soft sunrise or sunset light casts a magical glow on the intricate façade.

Whether you’re watching the first rays of sunlight dance through the stained-glass windows. Or witnessing dusk settle over Barcelona from a different perspective, going early or late promises a unique and more comfortable experience at Sagrada Familia.

I visited in the late afternoon to witness the summer sun light up the interior, bouncing off the organ and illuminating it with a pearlescent shine. But I also hung around for a while as it was packed. As the crowds disperse, you can fully appreciate the monument for what it is. So try to visit early or late if you can.

It’s Best To Visit When The Sun Is Shining

The Sagrada Familia truly comes to life when the sun is shining. The natural light coming through the stained glass windows creates a breathtaking display of colors, magically illuminating the interior. I know I’ve already mentioned this, but you cannot appreciate how amazing this place is until you step inside.

Visiting on a sunny day allows you to fully appreciate Gaudi’s intricate designs and details. Shadows play across the unique architecture, highlighting its beauty from every angle. And as the sun moves, every moment is different.

The basilica’s exterior also shines under the sunlight, showcasing its ornate facades and biblical scenes. I can imagine it’s not the same on a cloudy or rainy day. So, if you have the flexibility in your schedule, aim to visit the basilica on a clear day to make the most of your visit.

Do Not Forget Your Camera

When visiting the Sagrada Familia, one thing you definitely don’t want to forget after your tickets is your camera. This iconic basilica is a photographer’s dream. From the colorful windows and unique architectural style to the towering spires reaching toward the sky, every angle offers a unique shot waiting to be taken.

Whether you’re a professional photographer or just snapping pics for your own memories, having your camera handy will ensure you can capture the beauty in all its glory. Don’t miss out on documenting your visit and being able to look back on those photos years from now.

Read Up On the Sagrada Familia History Beforehand

Before your visit, immerse yourself in the rich history of the Sagrada Familia. Understanding the background of this iconic place will enhance your experience and appreciation for its unique architecture. Antoni Gaudi’s vision and inspiration behind the design are fascinating to explore. From his innovative use of natural elements to his intricate attention to detail, each aspect tells a story that adds depth to your visit.

Learning about the construction challenges and delays over the years gives you insight into why it remains unfinished. It’s a testament to human perseverance and dedication to artistry. Discovering how Gaudi’s original plans have been interpreted and continued by other architects after his passing sheds light on the collaborative effort that has shaped this ongoing project.

By delving into the history beforehand, you’ll unlock layers of meaning within every pillar, facade, and stained glass window at Sagrada Familia. I did this after my visit, but I wish I had done this beforehand because I would have appreciated it so much more.

Sagrada Familia is Still a Work In Progress

When visiting the iconic Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, one thing that may surprise you is that it’s still a work in progress. Construction began in 1882 and continues to this day, with an expected completion date in 2026. This is a centenary after Gaudi’s death and will be a special time for this city.

Architect Antoni Gaudi’s original designs are being meticulously followed as the structure slowly nears completion. As you explore both the interior and exterior of Sagrada Familia, you’ll notice elements that are still under construction alongside areas that have been finished for decades.

Although the ongoing construction means you can witness history being built before your eyes, it isn’t great for photographers. The ongoing construction also means that certain parts of the cathedral might not be open to the public during your visit.

Admire The Outside, Too

As you approach the majestic Sagrada Familia, don’t forget to take a moment to admire its breathtaking exterior. The intricate details of the facades tell stories of religious significance and Gaudi’s innovative architectural vision. From the Nativity Facade with its rich symbolism to the Passion Facade depicting Christ’s crucifixion.

Even if you choose not to go inside, exploring the exterior can provide valuable insights into Gaudi’s creativity and dedication to blending nature with architecture. Take your time to soak in all these elements that make Sagrada Familia one of Barcelona’s and Europe’s most iconic landmarks.

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10 Best Sagrada Familia Private Tours in Barcelona (2024)

Private tours of the Sagrada Familia are a whole different ball game compared to the usual group tours. They give you a chance to get up close and personal with one of Barcelona’s most incredible sights.

Living in Spain, I’ve visited the Sagrada Familia several times, but it’s these private tours that really bring out the magic of Gaudí’s masterpiece.

So, what makes a private tour of the Sagrada Familia so special? Let’s take a look at why choosing a private tour can make your visit more memorable and personalized, from skipping the long lines to getting the inside scoop from knowledgeable guides.

Gaudi Private City Tour with the Sagrada Familia

✅ Explore Gaudi’s creations like Palau Güell and Paseo de Gracia with a guide who knows all the inside details

✅ Stroll around Plaza Real and hear some fun stories about Gaudi’s life and work

✅ Skip the long lines at Sagrada Familia and get right into one of the world’s most interesting buildings with your guide

Private Guided Tour of Sagrada Familia

✅ Visit the Sagrada Familia in the evening when the sunset lights up the building in a special way

✅ Avoid the crowds and enjoy a more personal tour with a guide who knows all about Gaudi’s designs

✅ Learn the history and meaning behind every detail inside the basilica from a guide who really knows their stuff

Full Day Private Tour with Sagrada Familia and Park Guell

✅ Check out most Gaudi’s famous sites like Casa Batlló, Casa Milà, and Park Güell while hearing some great stories from your guide

✅ Get fast-track entry to Sagrada Familia and Park Güell , so you can see more and wait less

✅ Enjoy the local flavors at Mercat de la Boqueria and visit Picasso’s favorite bar, Els 4Gats, all in one packed day

Table of Contents

Best Sagrada Familia private tours

1. gaudi private city tour with the sagrada familia.

⭐ RATING: 4.7 out of 5 based on 60+ reviews

⌛ TOUR LENGTH: 4 hours

✅ Check latest price and availability

For all the Gaudi enthusiasts out there, this Gaudi Private City Tour with the Sagrada Familia will make your heart skip a beat. Dive deep into the world of Catalan Modernism, exploring the rich tapestry of Gaudi’s life, work, and the indelible mark he left on Barcelona.

Our tour guide was fabulous ! Very knowledgeable, sweet and went at just the right pace! – Anonymous ( SEE MORE REVIEWS )

What’s in store? A walk around Plaza Real, a glimpse of Palau Güell, tales from Gaudi’s favorite tavern, and an immersive journey down Paseo de Gracia. 

And, of course, this Gaudí tour of Barcelona includes a private tour of the Sagrada Familia. You’ll sidestep those pesky lines and step straight into one of the world’s most awe-inspiring religious temples, with a guide who truly knows their stuff.

2. Private Guided Tour of Sagrada Familia

⭐ RATING: 4.8 out of 5 based on 150+ reviews

⌛ TOUR LENGTH: 2 – 2.5 hours

If you’re on the hunt for the crème de la crème of Sagrada Familia tours, my top pick is definitely the Private Guided Tour of Sagrada Familia . This isn’t just a stroll around the building. 

Instead, imagine being surrounded by Gaudi’s iconic masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia, during the quieter evening hours. The golden hues of the sunset lighting up the basilica’s intricate facades are truly magic.

Guide was very friendly and informative! Enjoyed the tour! Highly recommend ! – Kassandra ( SEE MORE REVIEWS )

But here’s the real kicker. Not only do you skip the regular touristy chaos to get in, but you’ll also get the wisdom of an expert on Catalan modernism as your guide. 

They’ll share the fascinating history behind every nook and cranny of the interior of the Sagrada Familia . Ever wondered why Gaudi designed something a certain way or the symbolism behind those sculptures? Now’s your chance to find out!

3. Full Day Private Tour with Sagrada Familia and Park Guell

⭐ RATING: 5 out of 5 based on 700+ reviews

⌛ TOUR LENGTH: 7 hours

For those with a tight schedule but a big appetite for Barcelona’s best, this Full Day Private Tour with the Sagrada Familia and Park Guell is everything you need. From Gaudi’s architectural marvels to the bustling streets with stories from centuries ago, you’ll get a taste of it all.

It is a great tour . We did everything that was promised. Our guide was wonderful. He was personable and very knowledgeable. – Deborah ( SEE MORE REVIEWS )

Kicking off with the Palau Guell, stopping off at Casa Batlló and Casa Milà, exploring Park Güell and ending at the Sagrada Familia, this journey weaves through the city’s historic highlights. You’ll even get a pit stop at Els 4Gats, Picasso’s favored bar, and a sensory delight at the Mercat de la Boqueria.

For the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell, you’ll get that oh-so-valuable fast track entry, ensuring you’ll maximize your time rather than spending your day waiting in long tourist lines. And with a private guide to share all the stories of each place, it’s truly the ideal way to see as much of Barcelona’s highlights as possible in just one day.

4. Exclusive Sagrada Familia Private Guided Tour

⭐ RATING: 4.9 out of 5 based on 50 reviews 

⌛ TOUR LENGTH: 1.5 hours 

Ever felt like pushing past those pesky lines at one of the world’s most popular tourist spots? This 1.5-hour private guided tour of the Sagrada Familia ensures you won’t have to wait. 

Instead, get ready for an up-close and personal experience with one of Gaudi’s greatest works, with the added perk of skipping the regular queues.

The personal tour was great and relaxed and we received a lot of information in a short time – Anonymous ( SEE MORE REVIEWS )

But it’s not all about cutting lines; it’s about diving deep into the world of Gaudí. Your guide is a local expert with oodles of passion and knowledge, ready to share the history, architecture, and juicy little details about this iconic structure. 

And once the tour’s over? Roam around the Basilica to your heart’s content. Snap those photos and take in the artistry from every angle!

5. Sagrada Familia and Park Guell Full-Day Tour

⭐ RATING: 4.9 out of 5 based on 27 reviews 

⌛ TOUR LENGTH: 7 hours 

Seven hours might seem like a lot, but trust me, when you’re walking the streets of Barcelona and soaking up its rich history, time will fly! 

Begin your journey on the bustling Las Ramblas and make your way to the heart of the Gothic Quarter. As you weave through the narrow lanes, you’ll be transported back in time, listening to tales and legends that paint the city’s storied past.

This was a great activity ! Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. We enjoyed seeing Gaudi’s sites and learning about modernism – Anonymous ( SEE MORE REVIEWS )

Take a breather with a coffee break at one of Picasso’s favored spots. And once you’re ready to pick up the pace, you’ll stroll along the posh Paseo de Gracia and gawk at Gaudi masterpieces, including Casa Mila and Casa Batlló. 

Tuck into a tapas lunch and, with a belly full, explore Park Güell with a zest and enthusiasm like never before. Finish off with your private guide at the Sagrada Familia, and explore its intricate facades and interiors with a handy audio guide.

6. Private Barcelona Tour: Park Güell and Sagrada Familia with Hotel pick-up

⭐ RATING: 5 out of 5 based on 70+ reviews 

⌛ TOUR LENGTH: 8 hours 

When a tour starts by whisking you away from your hotel, you know you’re in for something special. This 8-hour tour offers an intimate look at Barcelona, blending modern attractions with old-world charm. 

Your first stop? The vantage point of Montjuïc Mountain. Here, marvel at the cityscape and learn about the mountain’s strategic importance in times gone by.

Wonderful private tour of Barcelona – Erin ( SEE MORE REVIEWS )

The fun doesn’t stop as you make your way through Las Ramblas, the Gothic Quarter, and even get to pass by landmarks like the Columbus Monument. Each site comes with its own intriguing backstory, courtesy of your knowledgeable guide. 

Midday, you’ll stand in awe of Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia, learning all about its iconic facades and history. Your day wraps up at Park Güell, where nature and Gaudi’s artistry fuse in a mesmerizing dance. 

And as the sun dips, you’ll be chauffeured right back to your hotel. Talk about a day well-spent!

7. Best of Barcelona Private Tour: Sagrada Familia and Old Town with Hotel Pick-up

⭐ RATING: 5 out of 5 based on 110+ reviews 

If you’re looking for the whole Barcelona experience, this private tour might just be it. Travel in style by private vehicle, and let an insider guide show you the ropes from the chic Passeig de Gràcia to the historic Gothic Quarter. 

Plus, and here’s the cherry on top, you get to skip that notoriously long line at the Sagrada Familia!

La Sagrada Familia was amazing, one of our bucket list items. The whole tour was very good .  – Susan ( SEE MORE REVIEWS )

But it doesn’t end there. Swing by Eixample, and admire the modernist architecture, then, of course, there’s the Sagrada Familia itself. If you’ve ever wondered about Gaudí’s vision or the symbolism behind those intricate designs, now’s your chance to find out. 

From there, you’ll get to visit Montjuïc for those city views. They’re seriously worth the detour.

And don’t worry, this tour’s got you covered with a pick-up and drop-off at any hotel or apartment in Barcelona’s city center. No fuss, no muss. Just you, Barcelona, and one pretty incredible day ahead.

8. Best of Barcelona Private Tour with Sagrada Familia

⭐ RATING: 4.5 out of 5 based on 100+ reviews 

Barcelona’s full of secrets. But with this private tour, you’re in on them. 

Kick things off with a no-wait entrance to the iconic Sagrada Familia. Trust me, it’s a game-changer, especially when you add in the private tour you get, with all the stories of this incredible place. 

Wander the moody lanes of the Gothic Quarter and play spot-the-ancient-ruin, including that 2,000-year-old Roman temple.

Our guide was fabulous and very knowledgeable. We saw so much in just one day but we didn’t feel rushed at any of the sites. – Karen ( SEE MORE REVIEWS )

A little thirsty? How about sipping some cava, Catalonia’s answer to champagne, at a local market? Not a bad way to spend an afternoon, right? 

Afterward, let your guide show you some of the best modernist architecture in the city’s Eixample district. Plus, if you fancy a full day of exploration, upgrade for visits to Park Güell and La Pedrera. It’s a Gaudí extravaganza!

And let’s not forget the practical stuff. This tour gets you round-trip transport from your hotel. So all you’ve got to worry about is soaking up the sights, sounds, and yes, the tastes of beautiful Barcelona.

What’s your perfect destination for your dream trip to Spain?

Want to discover a city or live your island dreams?

Embrace the food scene or step through the pages of history?

Whatever your travel style, discover the perfect Spanish city to add to your trip here!

9. Private Photoshoot at Sagrada Familia

⭐ RATING: 4.8 out of 5 based on 40 reviews 

⌛ TOUR LENGTH: 45 minutes 

Time to get those Instagram-worthy shots! With this tour, you can flaunt your trip to Barcelona with professional snaps taken outside the Sagrada Familia. 

Forget those awkward selfies – a professional photographer’s got your back, ensuring you look your best beside Gaudí’s masterpiece.

It was great! We loved it and the photos are superb . Our photographer was ultra professional and pleasant. – Anonymous ( SEE MORE REVIEWS )

It’s not a marathon photoshoot, so no worries about dragging it out. You’re looking at less than an hour, just enough time to strike a pose or two (or ten). Whether you’re flying solo or with your favorite folks, these photos are bound to be keepers.

Now, the best bit? You won’t be left hanging. In just 48 hours, you’ll have access to those beautifully edited, high-res images. So get ready to update that profile picture and let the likes roll in!

10. Private Guided Segway Tour of Gaudi’s Barcelona

⭐ RATING: 4.7 out of 5 based on 20+ reviews 

⌛ TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours 

If you’ve ever thought about combining a bit of fun tech with history, this one’s for you. On the Private Guided Segway Tour of Gaudi’s Barcelona, you get to roll around the city streets and soak in the works of the brilliant Antoni Gaudi, including, of course, our star – the Sagrada Familia. 

No need to fret if you’re new to Segways, as your adventure starts with a quick Segway 101 lesson in the historic Gothic Quarter, ensuring you’re all set to explore in style.

A very good experience our guide was very kind – rocco ( SEE MORE REVIEWS )

Once you’re comfy on your Segway, you’ll embark on a journey through time, getting up close with some of Gaudi’s groundbreaking designs. You’ll roll from the lush Parc de la Ciutadella to the posh Passeig de Grácia, and finally to the iconic La Sagrada Família. 

Yep, you’ll get to see its towering beauty and marvel at the intricate designs. But wait, there’s more! This tour also takes you to the Arc de Triomf, a monument rich with history from the 1888 World Expo. 

Segwaying through Barcelona’s broad avenues and parks, you’ll get a taste of the city’s evolution, from ancient Roman walls to the modern metropolis it’s become.

Which tour is best for the Sagrada Familia?

For those of you keen on a dedicated deep-dive into the Sagrada Familia, the Private Guided Tour of Sagrada Familia is the way to go. This tour, as the name suggests, is exclusively tailored around Gaudi’s masterwork, ensuring you get every detail and backstory of this iconic building. 

However, if you’re in the mood for a wider look at the city while still diving deep into Sagrada Familia’s wonders, the Gaudi Private City Tour with Sagrada Familia is your best pick. This tour gives you a balanced view of Barcelona’s many architectural feats, with a special emphasis on Gaudi’s creations.

Don’t want to go private? No worries! This fast-track access to the Sagrada Familia with a guided tour is easily the most popular way to do a tour of the Sagrada Familia without the hefty price tag that comes with going private.

While the experience may differ slightly from a private tour, it’s a fantastic way to learn, interact, and share experiences with fellow travelers.

Is a Sagrada Familia guided tour worth it?

Yes, doing a guided tour of the Sagrada Familia is definitely worth it. After all, this isn’t just another beautiful building – it’s a treasure trove of history, art, and inspiration. With a guided tour, you don’t just see it; you experience and understand it. 

The stories behind each pillar, stained glass window, and sculpted facade are what bring this masterpiece to life.

Without guidance, it’s easy to miss the subtle nuances and incredible tales behind Gaudi’s vision. Guided tours ensure that you not only witness the architectural brilliance but also immerse yourself in its rich narrative. 

Additionally, guides often share insider tidbits and lesser-known facts that add layers to your experience. So, if you’re looking to make your Sagrada Familia visit truly memorable, a guided tour is a no-brainer.

Can you visit the Sagrada Familia without a tour?

Yes, you can visit the Sagrada Familia without a tour. You can meander through at your own pace, take it all in, and maybe even sit down for a quiet moment of reflection. Just make sure to buy a ticket well in advance as they regularly sell out.

(You can get an entry ticket to the Sagrada Familia here , which comes with a free audio guide.)

However, while the freedom to explore on your own time is great, keep in mind that there’s a rich tapestry of stories, secrets, and insights tied to each corner of the basilica. While on-site information panels offer some context, there’s a chance you might miss out on the deeper narrative. 

So, if you do decide to go solo, make sure to grab an audio guide – like the one at the link above – or a detailed guidebook to enhance your self-led journey.

Anna is the founder of Spain Inspired, where she shares insider tips and hidden gems to inspire thousands of visitors each month to take the road less traveled and explore Spain like a local. Having lived in Spain for some time now, Anna's made it her mission to help fellow travelers experience the very best of this stunning country - with some great wine and tapas along the way, ideally!

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