Last Updated on April 6, 2024
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I think it’s safe to say, that no trip to Barcelona is complete without visiting Sagrada Familia. It would be like going to Paris and never seeing the Eiffel tower, or being in London and not seeing Big Ben. You get the point. The man behind one of the most impressive churches in the world is Antoni Gaudi, a Catalan architect, that with his unique vision and eye catching style changed Barcelona. Sagrada Familia, his biggest project, is an architectural masterpiece and it should be on every Barcelona itinerary.
You really don’t have to be an expert in identifying different styles of architecture to be able to recognize Gaudi’s buildings on your visit to Barcelona. His style is eye catching and sure stands out. Gaudi is behind a lot of amazing architecture in and around the city, but Sagrada Familia trumps them all. It was his most important project, one he devoted 43 years of his life to, with the last 12 working only on the church. Some say, that once he started, he became quite obsessed with it. A year before his tragic death in 1926, he even moved to the crypt of the church. It’s only fitting that Sagrada Familia is his final resting place.
Some Sagrada Familia facts
- The construction of Sagrada Familia started in 1882, but Antoni Gaudi didn’t become the director till 1884.
- Gaudi lived in his house within Park Güell for 20 years, overlooking the building process of Sagrada Familia.
- At the time of Gaudi’s death only 20% of Sagrada Familia was done.
- Many of the plans and designs Gaudi left after his death were lost in the fire during the Civil War.
- Gaudi is buried in the Sagrada Familia crypt.
- Sagrada Familia, along with other works of Gaudi, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.
- Pope Benedict dedicated Sagrada Familia as a Basilica in 2010.
- The construction has been going on for over a 100 years, and Sagrada Familia is currently 70% finished.
- It’s estimated, that the construction will be done by 2026, which will be the 100th Anniversary of Gaudi’s death.
Visiting Sagrada Familia
The exterior
Sagrada Familia has 3 façades: Nativity, Passion and Glory, all very different from each other in appearance, but all full of symbolism. Each of them is dedicated to a different chapter in the life of Jesus, from birth through crucifixion and finally his road to God. Only 2 of the façades are finished, but Glory façade, the one still yet to be completed, will be the largest.
One thing that will surely strike you while visiting Sagrada Familia and looking up at the church’s exterior, are the insane details.
Inside of Sagrada Familia
Nature was Gaudi’s biggest inspiration, which can be seen in all of his work, and Sagrada Familia is no exception. For one, he was not a fan of straight lines, and you won’t see many in any of his projects. That’s because, as he said, straight lines do not exist in nature. Everything you will see has some sort of meaning and symbolism.
First thing I noticed when I walked inside were the high ceilings and pillars stretching out all the way up, branching out at the top. They represent trees, giving the impression you are in the forest rather than the church.
One of the most stunning features you can’t miss while visiting Sagrada Familia are the colorful stained glass: blue, green, yellow and red, each representing a different season. Depending on the time of day you visit, the colors change as the sun is pouring in and the effect is absolutely breathtaking.
Once you are done exploring the beautiful inside of Sagrada Familia, make sure to check out the museum downstairs. It has a large collection of plaster models, both original and restored. There is a nice display of photographs, documenting different stages of the Sagrada Familia construction process. You can also get a glimpse of the workshop, and see model makers at work.
Sagrada Familia tickets
It’s estimated that 5 million people visited Sagrada Familia last year, making it one of the biggest attractions, not only in Barcelona, but in the whole world. This is an impressive statistic, considering the church is still under construction. Because of the popularity of Sagrada Familia, pre-booking tickets is almost mandatory. The online system allows booking 2 months ahead, and I highly recommend doing so, especially if you plan on visiting Barcelona in the summer months.
Book your Sagrada Familia tickets here
If for some reason you miss out on tickets online, you can try your luck in person at the ticket office. There is a display of available time slots, if there are any left. If you visit Barcelona off season, you might be able to score tickets last minute, but I wouldn’t count on it in the summer.
Which ticket to buy?
There are a few different options of tickets offered, and what you pick will of course determine the price. I chose the Sagrada Familia with Towers ticket, and would highly recommend it, if you don’t mind spending €32. If you prefer to keep the cost down, I would suggest the Sagrada Familia with Audio guide ticket. I found the guide to be very informative and I’m sure it will enhance your visit with all the information it provides.
- Sagrada Familia – ticket including an Audio guide – €26
- Sagrada Familia with guided tour – €30
- Sagrada Familia with Towers – ticket to Sagrada Familia and visit to ONE of the towers – €36
- Sagrada Familia with Guided Tour and Towers – ticket to Sagrada Familia, Audio Guide and visit to ONE of the towers – €40
Which Sagrada Familia Tower to choose: Nativity or Passion?
One of the ticket options offers a visit to one of the two towers and I think it’s absolutely worth the extra cost. This will give you a chance to get a close look at the unique details of the church and the views of Barcelona from the top are spectacular.
So the most common question is which tower to choose? I don’t think you can go wrong with either one, but it all depends on what you are looking for. Passion tower is a bit higher than Nativity tower, and you get the view of Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea from it. Nativity tower offers views of the city and the mountains surrounding it. If your visit is in the afternoon, that is the side with better lightning.
I chose Nativity tower mainly because it’s the one Gaudi got to work on himself before he died. It’s also one of the oldest parts of the church. There is a bridge connecting the towers, giving you more chances to get a closer look at all the details.
You access both towers via the elevator, but to get back down you walk down a very spiral staircase, so keep that in mind if you have any mobility issues.
PRO TIP : When you visit on a rainy day, the towers will be closed. You can go back to the main ticket office and ask for a refund of the cost of the tower visit. If you can and would like to come back another day, they will exchange the tower ticket for you for a later time.
Barcelona City Pass and Barcelona Card
There are a few Barcelona cards, that will help you save money in Barcelona if you plan on visiting several museums and top attractions. The two most popular ones are Barcelona Card and Barcelona City Pass.
Barcelona Card offers free entry to several museums and discounts to more than 40 attractions, but Sagrada Familia is not one of them.
Barcelona City Pass does include free timed entry to Sagrada Familia, so if you’re considering getting one of the cards, this is the one you want!
Sagrada Familia Opening times
You can visit Sagrada Familia is daily and opening hours change slightly depending on time of they year. There is a security check before you can enter, so allow extra time.
- November – February 9 am – 6pm
- March – October 9 am – 7pm
- April – September 9 am – 8 pm
Dress code
Even though Sagrada Familia is a major tourist attraction, it’s first and foremost a place of worship. Therefore you are expected to be respectful and dress appropriately while visiting Sagrada Familia. They ask your shoulders and legs are covered.
How to get to Sagrada Familia
Sagrada Familia is located in Eixample district of Barcelona. Getting there by Metro couldn’t be easier, as there’s a stop Sagrada Familia right next to it and 2 of the metro lines will get you there:
- L 2 ( purple line )
- L 5 ( blue line )
PRO TIP : Given its size, it’s not easy to capture the entire Sagrada Familia in the picture. Your best bet is to go across the street from the main entrance to a little park Plaça de Gaudi. Just don’t expect to be the only one there.
READ MORE:
- Barcelona tips – know before you go
- Barcelona in November – what’s it like to visit off season.
- Must see Gaudi buildings in Barcelona
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I loved visiting the Sagrada when we were in Barcelona last year but sadly couldn’t go up the towers as our son was with us. I live to revisit as its a stunning building.
Yes, you’re right, I remember the age limit when visiting the towers. I can see why they would do that, the stairs going down ( at least the Nativity tower ) are quite steep and dark at times. Hopefully you get to visit again!
Such a helpful post! I visited years ago but saving this for next time we’re in Spain.
Meredith
The Longest Weekend
thelongestweekend.co
Who knows maybe it will be finished by then ?😀
I want to visit Barcelona solely to visit Sagrada Familia! It’s such a fascinating looking place! It’s been on my list ever since I first heard about it. Thanks for the tips!
It’s definitely a must when you visit Barcelona.