How to buy tickets for the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

Ahead of a weekend in Barcelona or a multi-day trip, it’s important to consider the attractions you want to include in your itinerary. In particular, visiting the Sagrada Familia is an absolutely essential stop, given the importance of the site and its awe-inspiring majesty.

Visiting the Sagrada Familia is one of the must-do activities when planning a trip to Barcelona. How much do the tickets cost? Where can they be purchased? Here are some tips.

The Sagrada Familia

A symbol of Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia is always very crowded, so it’s important to keep a few useful tips in mind to optimize your time, especially if you’re only here for the weekend in Barcelona or in Spain.

The Sagrada Familia is what is considered the masterpiece of Gaudí. An unfinished monument, the Sagrada Familia attracts a large number of visitors from all over the world every year. The bell towers are impressively tall, nearly 100 meters, and the central spire, once completed, will reach a height of 180 meters. The completion of the work is scheduled for 2016, the centenary of Gaudí’s death. The architect never finished his masterpiece, which was intended to have three façades, as he only completed the Nativity façade.

It’s possible to go up the bell tower with an elevator and a ticket costing just a few euros. In the Basilica’s crypt, Gaudì, the architect who gave such fame to this place of worship. On weekends, the lines are very long, so it could even take three or four hours before you can enter the Basilica, Gaudí’s masterpiece,Gaudì, still under construction today.

Barcelona is a destination that captures the imagination of many travelers, partly thanks to its wonderful selection of attractions such as the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia. But with so much to see and do in Barcelona, you really have to make the most of your time while you’re there. One way to save time is to follow a detailed Barcelona itinerary that shows you how to plan your time during your visit.

Another smart idea is to purchase tickets for the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia and other city attractions in advance so you don’t waste time standing in line waiting to get in. In this guide, we won’t just show you how to book tickets for the Sagrada Familia, but also provide all the information you need to help you visit the Sagrada Familia without any problems.

The best ways to get tickets for the Sagrada Familia

Since the basilica is such a popular and interesting attraction to see in Barcelona, it makes sense that there are several options for getting your tickets for La Sagrada Familia. Ultimately, the best way to buy tickets for the Sagrada Familia will depend on how you prefer to visit places and the circumstances of your trip.

1. Getting in line (not recommended)

Needless to say, buying Sagrada Familia admission tickets in person once you arrive is the worst option available to tourists. The lines to get tickets for the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia can take up to two hours, which is time better spent seeing the city’s attractions. Besides, who wants to stand under the summer sun or in the winter rain for hours and hours? Unless you spontaneously arrive at the Sagrada Familia and wish to visit, this is an option best avoided. Getting last-minute tickets is nearly impossible, especially during the high season when tickets sell out quickly.Skip the line with priority entry to the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

2. Book online

A much better approach for getting tickets to La Sagrada Familia is to buy them online in advance. This way, not only can you decide which time suits you and your itinerary best, but you’ll also get skip-the-line tickets for the Sagrada Familia, allowing you to enter right away.

Now, there are a few places online where you can buy tickets. To start, there’s the official Sagrada Familia website where you can purchase your tickets directly from the foundation that manages the basilica. These are the cheapest ways to buy tickets, but they have one major downside, which is their strict change/refund policy. Requests for replacement or refund must be made at least 48 hours before the scheduled visit and require “official proof” to justify the change.

If you’d prefer a bit more flexibility and peace of mind, then we believe the best place to buy tickets for the Sagrada Familia is to book through this link. You always receive exactly the same type of ticket, but you can cancel immediately up to 24 hours before your visit for a full refund.

3. Book a guided tour (recommended)

General admission tickets allow visitors to explore the basilica at their own pace with an audio guide to show them around. However, audio guides are rarely as good as the real thing, so if you really want to learn about the basilica properly, it’s better to go with a guided tour of the Sagrada Familia. Visiting with a small group or private tour gives you the advantage of being able to ask questions and learn directly from your tour guide..

For tours of the Sagrada Familia, you have two options, depending on whether you’re interested in seeing the view from one of the basilica’s towers. Most visitors tend to choose the  basilica tour without the towers included, but if you’d like to take the elevator up to the tower observation bridge, choose the tour with towers included. Please note that visitors can only see the towers as part of a guided tour and only when access to the towers is available.

Useful information for visiting the Sagrada Familia

Opening hours of the SagradaFamilia

The Sagrada Familia is open every day throughout the year, but generally has variable opening hours depending on the time of year. Since reopening during the pandemic, the basilica has shifted its opening hours from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. However, the basilica’s opening hours may change during special events. Last entry is 45 minutes before closing time.

What is the best time to visit the Sagrada Familia?

Just as there are better ways to buy tickets for La Sagrada Familia and better times to visit Barcelona, there are also better periods to visit the basilica. Typically, this famous Barcelona attraction is quietest first thing on Monday morning, but you’ll usually find fewer visitors there around 9:00 to 10:00 am every day.

Alternatively, travelers can wait until after 5:00 pm, when the crowds tend to thin out significantly. The basilica is busiest around lunchtime and in the early afternoon. Since this is also when the summer heat is at its peak, this is not the time of day you’d want to wait in line to enter. Just another reason to make sure you get skip-the-line tickets for the Sagrada Familia if you can.

A time to avoid if you want to explore the basilica freely is every Sunday morning when the international Mass is held. While there is no cost to attend Mass in the basilica, spaces are limited and you won’t have the opportunity to stroll around or learn about its construction and design from a guide.

Those hoping to have the Sagrada Familia all to themselves will be disappointed to learn that there are currently no special evening tours for out-of-hours visits.

How to get to the Sagrada Familia

The main entrance for La Sagrada Família is on Carrer de la Marina. Visitors can reach the basilica by metro using lines L2 and L5 and getting off at the Sagrada Família station. If you plan to use public transport to get there or get around Barcelona, make sure you get your public transport card in advance.

How much do tickets to the Sagrada Familia cost?

Tickets for La Sagrada Familia have different prices depending on whether you visit independently or with a tour guide. A general admission ticket for adults costs €26 and includes an audio guide, while a standard guided tour ticket for adults costs €27. There is also an additional charge if you want to visit the towers of the basilica as well.

Students and those under 30 years old can get a €2 discount on the ticket by presenting an ID. Seniors also get a discount on the admission fee, while children under 11 enter for free.

How do tickets for La Sagrada Familia work?

Tickets for the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia can be purchased online about two months in advance and are set for a specific date and time. If bought online, these skip-the-line tickets for the Sagrada Familia allow visitors to enter without waiting. Tickets can be displayed in PDF format or with the official Sagrada Familia app on your smartphone, although you can also print them if you prefer.

Hotels near the Sagrada Familia

It’s not really necessary to stay near the Sagrada Familia when visiting Barcelona. The city has a good public transport system that makes getting around easy and, frankly, there are other parts of Barcelona that are closer to more attractions. However, if you prefer to stay near the basilica, here are some of the best options.

To treat yourself to a special stay in Barcelona just 400 meters from the Sagrada Familia, definitely choose Hotel Barcelona 1882. This charming four-star hotel offers stylish, modern rooms and great amenities, including a rooftop pool and a terrace with views of the basilica.

For a place to stay that balances convenience with comfort, consider the Eurostars Monumental. About 400 meters from the basilica, this four-star hotel offers stylish, modern rooms, some with private balconies overlooking the towers of the Sagrada Familia.

Backpackers will be pleased to know that the Generator Hostel Barcelona, one of the best hostels in Barcelona, is located less than a 20-minute walk from the Sagrada Familia. The hostel offers dormitories and private rooms, views of the basilica, and friendly, polite staff members who aim to make your stay enjoyable.

Security process at the Sagrada Familia

Since the Sagrada Familia is a major tourist attraction and an important place of worship, there are significant security procedures that visitors must follow. All visitors must go through this process, so it’s helpful to know what to expect in advance to make your entry as smooth as possible. While those with skip-the-line tickets for the Sagrada Familia won’t have to queue to pick up their tickets, they will still need to line up for the security check.

During the security check, all bags, backpacks, and luggage will be inspected. While luggage is technically allowed inside, the church advises visitors not to bring it, as there are no lockers available for storage during your visit. Hats are not allowed inside, except those worn for religious reasons.

As a place of worship, the Sagrada Familia also has dress code requirements for visitors. To show respect, visitors are asked not to wear see-through clothing, swimwear, short skirts, or sleeveless tops.

Fun facts about the Sagrada Familia

What is the Sagrada Familia?

The Sagrada Familia is a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church, and not a cathedral, despite the common misconception.

Where is the Sagrada Familia located?

The Basilica de la Sagrada Familia is located in the northeast corner of Barcelona’s Eixample district. Its location is relatively far from other famous city attractions such as the Gothic Quarter and Parc Güell.

When did the Sagrada Familia begin?

Construction of the Sagrada Familia began on March 19, 1882, as a new church rather than as a renovation or restoration of an existing place of worship.

When will the Sagrada Familia be finished?

The basilica is still under construction well over 100 years after the first stone was laid in 1882. It has been announced that they hope to complete the basilica by 2026. This year is particularly significant as it marks the centenary of the death of Antoni Gaudí, the visionary behind its design. However, the Sagrada Familia was consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI on November 7, 2010.

Who designed the Sagrada Familia?

The original architect behind the Sagrada Familia project was a man named Francisco de Paula del Villar, who envisioned a neo-Gothic look for the building. However, Villar was replaced a year later by the innovative Antoni Gaudí, a modernist architect responsible for some of the most interesting and unique buildings in Barcelona. Gaudí worked exclusively on the basilica from 1914 until his death in 1926.

Why was the Sagrada Familia built?

An interesting part of the Sagrada Familia’s history is that Josep Maria Bocabella, a local bookstore owner and philanthropist, came up with the idea for the Sagrada Familia after a trip to Rome in 1872. He wanted a Catholic church in Barcelona dedicated to the Holy Family, so he bought the land for the church and hired the project’s first architect.

Can you attend mass at the Sagrada Familia?

Yes, it is possible to attend the international mass at the Sagrada Familia every Sunday. Mass is held at 9:00 am in multiple languages, and there is no charge to attend. Seating is limited, so it’s best to arrive early.

With all this information, you should now be well prepared for your visit to the Sagrada Familia. Making the right choices when it comes to purchasing your tickets for the Sagrada Familia can really make a difference in your overall enjoyment of the experience.

Sagrada Familia Opening Hours, Barcelona

You must select an entry time which must absolutely be respected: there is a maximum tolerance of 15 minutes, after which the ticket will no longer be valid and no refund can be requested.
Entry is possible from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm; keep in mind that the entrance to use is the one on Sardenya St.