Sagrada Família
Barcelona, Spain
Basílica de la Sagrada Família
Gaudí's basilica and the world's tallest church: a stone forest lit by coloured glass.
Checked 6 October 2026
Gaudí's still-unfinished basilica in the Eixample is Barcelona's most visited sight, and since June 2026 its central Tower of Jesus Christ makes it the tallest church in the world. Every ticket is for a fixed time slot, is in your name and is sold online only, through sagradafamilia.org or the official app. Book as soon as your dates are fixed: the 9:00 and tower slots go first.
About Sagrada Família
The Sagrada Família is a Catholic basilica that has been under construction since 1882. Antoni Gaudí took over the project as a young architect, threw out the neo-Gothic plan and spent the rest of his life on it. He lived to see only one tower finished. Building has gone on ever since, paid for entirely by donations and visitors' tickets.
Inside, it looks nothing like a Gothic cathedral. Columns branch like trees to hold up a ceiling that feels like a forest canopy. The stained glass is planned around the sun: cool blues and greens on the east side, where the morning sun comes in through the Nativity side, and reds and oranges on the west side for the evening light. Come at different hours and the room changes colour.
Outside, three façades tell the life of Christ. The Nativity façade, the part Gaudí built himself, is crowded with carved plants, animals and figures. The Passion façade, added decades after his death, is stark and angular on purpose. The Glory façade, which will become the main entrance, is still to come.
2026 is a milestone year. It marks 100 years since Gaudí's death (he was hit by a tram in 1926), and the central Tower of Jesus Christ, 172.5 metres tall and topped by a huge white cross, was blessed and inaugurated on 10 June 2026. The outside now looks nearly complete. Work continues inside the new tower and on the Glory façade.
What to see
The nave and its tree-like columns
The heart of the visit. Stand in the middle and look up at the branching columns and the vaults lit by clear glass. Take a seat for a few minutes before the crowds build. From 9:00 to 10:00 is the quiet hour, when audio must go through earphones.
The stained-glass windows
The lower windows are deeply coloured and the upper ones are clear. The east (Nativity) side is blue and green and catches the morning sun; the west (Passion) side is red and orange and glows in the late afternoon. The effect is strongest in the weeks around the June and December solstices.
Nativity façade
On the east side, facing Carrer de la Marina, and the façade Gaudí worked on himself. Individual visitors go in this way, so look properly before you queue for security. In the morning it is lit by the sun.
Passion façade
On the west side, with angular, almost brutal sculpture of Christ's last days, in deliberate contrast to the Nativity side. You come out on this side, so stop and look before you leave.
The towers
With a tower ticket you take a lift up a tower on either the Nativity or the Passion façade and walk down a narrow spiral staircase. You get close-up views of the pinnacles and over the city. The new Tower of Jesus Christ is not part of the visit: as of October 2026, tickets offer only the Nativity or Passion towers.
Museum and Gaudí's models
Under the basilica and included in every ticket. It has drawings, plaster models and Gaudí's hanging string model, which he used to work out the shapes of the arches upside down. Guided tours often finish here.
The crypt and Gaudí's tomb
Gaudí is buried in the neo-Gothic crypt below the apse. The crypt is not part of the visitor ticket: it is used for worship and has its own entrance and times. You can glimpse it from inside the basilica.
Sagrada Família tickets: which to buy and where
Most visitors should buy the €26 Sagrada Família ticket from sagradafamilia.org or the official app. It includes the audio guide in the app. Add a tower (€36) if you are fit and happy on narrow stairs, or the official 50-minute guided tour for just €4 more (€30). Tickets carry your name and a fixed time: bring photo ID, and if you are late you will not get in.
The official ticket site
Fundació Junta Constructora del Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família
The only official online seller is sagradafamilia.org (and its official app, Sagrada Família, on iOS and Android). The foundation's address is Carrer Mallorca 401. It warns that it cannot vouch for tickets bought anywhere else and will not handle refunds or changes for tickets bought from intermediaries.
Sagrada Família
€26; students and under 30s €24; seniors €21; under 11s and disabled visitors free
Official ticketsSkips some lines
- Includes
- Timed entry to the basilica and museum, staying as long as you like, plus the audio guide in the official app (standard 45 min or express 25 min, 19 languages). Does not include the towers or the crypt.
- Best for
- Most visitors, at their own pace
Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Sagrada Família with guided tour
€30; students and under 30s €28; seniors €23
Official ticketsSkips some lines
- Includes
- Entry, an official guided tour of about 50 minutes in several languages (which ones depends on season and time) and the audio guide app. The tour does not cover the museum, but you can see it afterwards.
- Best for
- Anyone who wants the story explained, at by far the lowest price for a guide
Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Sagrada Família with towers
€36; students and under 30s €34; seniors €28; under 11s free (no under 6s in the towers)
Official ticketsSkips some lines
- Includes
- Entry, the audio guide app and one tower at a set time, chosen when you book: Nativity (east, views towards the sea) or Passion (west, views over the city centre). You go up by lift and walk down. Bags go in lockers before you go up.
- Best for
- Fit visitors who want the city view and a close look at the pinnacles
Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Sagrada Família with guided tour and towers
€40; students and under 30s €38; seniors €32
Official ticketsSkips some lines
- Includes
- Entry, the official 50-minute guided tour, one tower of your choice and the audio guide app. Allow about 1 h 30 min.
- Best for
- Getting everything in one booking
Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Sagrada Familia Entry Ticket with Audio Guide
from €34
ResellerSkips some lines
- Includes
- The same timed entry and audio guide app as the €26 official ticket, with a tower as an option. GetYourGuide labels it an official ticket. Free cancellation up to 2 days before; the official site, as a rule, does not refund or exchange tickets.
- Best for
- When your plans may change, or as a check when the official site shows your day sold out
GetYourGuide · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)
How to buy
- Go to sagradafamilia.org (check the address bar) or download the official Sagrada Família app, and choose Tickets, then Individual (up to 9 people).
- Pick the ticket type, then the date and time slot. For a tower, choose Nativity or Passion at this step: you cannot switch later.
- Enter each visitor's first name and surname exactly as on their passport or ID card. Names cannot be changed after booking.
- Choose discounts only if you can prove them at the door (student card, ID showing age, disability card). Pay by Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, JCB or American Express.
- Keep the tickets in the app or as a PDF or printout. Arrive about 15 minutes before your slot with photo ID for everyone.
Look-alike sites
Searching for Sagrada Família tickets brings up several sites with 'sagrada familia' and 'tickets' in their domain names, built to look official, that resell the same timed entry at a higher price or only link onwards. The official site is sagradafamilia.org, run by the Junta Constructora foundation. Its ticket pages sit under sagradafamilia.org/en/ and the basic adult ticket is €26. If the domain is anything else (a different spelling, an extra word, or an ending such as .co or .info), or the cheapest adult ticket is well above €26, you are on a reseller. The foundation says it cannot vouch for tickets bought elsewhere and will not handle refunds or changes for them.
We can never guarantee a ticket seller, tour company or deal. Prices, opening hours and what is included change, often without notice: check the details on the seller’s own page before you pay, and book through the official site where you can. How to avoid ticket scams · Disclaimer.
Guided tours of Sagrada Família
The official guided tour (€30 with entry, about 50 minutes) is the best value by a wide margin. Paid platform tours cost €47–€115 and add a meeting point outside, smaller groups, more languages, a longer route (often including the Schools building and the museum) and free cancellation. If you are happy reading or listening, the free audio guide app that comes with every ticket is enough. For the wider Gaudí story before you go in, a walking tour of his other buildings that ends here works well.
Official guided visit
Sagrada Família with guided tour
Sagrada Família (official)
Run by the basilica's own guides. The language depends on the slot, so check when you book. Does not include the museum or a tower (the €40 ticket adds a tower).
€30 including entry
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)Small-group or private guided tour
Sagrada Familia Skip-the-Line Entry Ticket & Tour
4 You Barcelona (sold via GetYourGuide)Meets at Avinguda de Gaudí 1. Covers the Nativity façade, the interior, the Passion façade, the Schools building and the museum. English, French, Italian, Spanish and German. Towers not included. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
from €74 (listed down from €82)
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)Guided tour plus tower
Sagrada Familia Guided Tour with Tower Access
Julia Travel Gray Line (sold via GetYourGuide)Meets at Carrer de Sardenya 311. The guide does not go up the tower with you, and you may wait for the lift after the tour. Stairs down only; towers can close in bad weather. Compare with the official €40 guided tour and towers ticket.
Pay-what-you-like walking tour (exteriors)
Gaudí Free Tour
Runner Bean ToursA Barcelona company. Starts at Plaça Reial, passes Casa Batlló and La Pedrera on Passeig de Gràcia and ends outside the Sagrada Família. No interiors. Booking required. Handy before an afternoon entry slot.
Free; tip what you think it was worth
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)
We can never guarantee a ticket seller, tour company or deal. Prices, opening hours and what is included change, often without notice: check the details on the seller’s own page before you pay, and book through the official site where you can. How to avoid ticket scams · Disclaimer.
Sagrada Família deals and discounts
The official ticket is the best buy: €26 already includes the audio guide, and the official guided tour costs only €4 more. Resellers charge €8–€50 more for the same entry. Their only real extra is free cancellation, which the official site does not offer.
Free for children under 11
Under 11s go in free but still need a ticket booked for the slot. Under 3s need no ticket. Children under 16 must be with an adult, and under 6s cannot go up the towers.
Under 30s and students: €2 off
Under 30s and holders of a student card pay €24 (€34 with towers). Bring ID showing your age, or your student card: it is checked at the entrance.
Seniors pay €21
The senior rate is €21 for the basic ticket and €28 with towers. Proof of age is checked at the door.
Disabled visitors and one companion enter free
Visitors with a disability pay nothing for any ticket type. One companion also enters free and pays only for extras: €4 for the guided tour, €10 with a tower, €14 for both. Show official proof of disability at entrance B on Carrer de la Marina.
Large and single-parent families: 50% off
Holders of a large-family or single-parent-family certificate get half price, but must email the request with proof to the address on the ticket page at least 48 hours before the visit.
Mass is free
The international Sunday mass at 9:00 (and on holy days of obligation) and the Saturday evening mass at 20:00 are free, but capacity is limited. Come for the service, not for a tour. Use the Nativity façade entrance on Carrer de la Marina and dress respectfully.
Best time to visit Sagrada Família
Time of day: the 9:00 slot (10:30 on Sundays) is the calmest. Visitors report the nave filling up within the first hour. From 9:00 to 10:00 it is also the official quiet hour, so phones and audio guides must be used with earphones. For colour, morning sun comes through the blue and green Nativity-side windows. From mid-afternoon until about an hour before closing, it comes through the red and orange Passion-side windows. On a sunny afternoon the nave turns gold.
Season: the colour is most intense in the weeks around the solstices. In late June the morning sun strikes the Nativity-side windows almost head-on; in December the low evening sun pours through the Passion side. Spring and autumn weekdays are less busy than July and August. Weekend slots go first.
What to avoid: Sunday mornings (opening is at 10:30 after mass), short-hours days (25 and 26 December, 1 and 6 January, 9:00–14:00) and stormy days. The basilica sometimes closes for weather or special events: on 4 October 2026 it stayed shut until 14:00 because of a storm warning. Towers can close in rain and wind, and the tower part of the ticket is not refunded if they do.
Tips and tricks
Gathered from travel forums, locals and the sight’s own advice, rewritten in our own words. What worked for others, not a guarantee.
Book the time, then turn up 15 minutes early
Your ticket is valid only for its slot. Resellers say you can go in up to 15 minutes after it, but not earlier, and arriving late loses the ticket. Security at the Carrer de la Marina entrance can take a while in high season, so aim to be there 15 minutes before your time.
From Sagrada Família official FAQ and GetYourGuide ticket conditions, 2026
Avoid the last slot of the day
The last entry slot gives you only about 45 minutes inside before the basilica empties (staff clear it 15 minutes before closing). Pick an earlier slot if you want time with the audio guide and the museum.
From GetYourGuide ticket conditions and official conditions of sale, 2026
Download the app and bring earphones
The audio guide is in the official app and is not available for children under 11. Install it and download the guide on hotel wifi before you go. If you bought through a reseller, look for the separate email or link needed to unlock the guide. Earphones are compulsory during the 9:00–10:00 quiet hour.
From Sagrada Família ticket page and GetYourGuide reviews, 2026
Pick your tower by view, not by height
The Nativity tower looks east over the sea side of the city and is Gaudí's own work; the Passion tower looks west over the centre towards Montjuïc. Both are lift up and stairs down: a narrow stone spiral of several hundred steps, with no handrail for the first stretch. Skip it if you have vertigo, knee trouble or claustrophobia.
From Sagrada Família tower ticket page; Rick Steves Spain forum threads
Leave the big bag at the hotel
Bags are searched at the entrance. Food and drink, hats in the nave and museum, and tripods are not allowed. There are no luggage lockers, only small lockers for bags while you are up a tower.
From Sagrada Família rules and FAQ, 2026
Cover up to mid-thigh
Shorts and skirts must reach at least mid-thigh. No swimwear, see-through clothing, bare feet or party costumes. Bare shoulders are not allowed in the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament. A light scarf solves most problems.
From Sagrada Família rules, 2026
Have your ID ready
Tickets are in your name. Staff can ask for photo ID and for proof of any discount, such as age, student card or disability card. Without it you may be refused or asked to pay the difference.
From Sagrada Família FAQ and conditions of sale, 2026
Ask about a reseller's group size
Paid tours often run groups of 15 or more on radio headsets. Some visitors report poor sound on busy days. If you want detail rather than a crowd, the official guided tour or the free app may serve you better.
From GetYourGuide reviews, 2026
See the outside for free at any hour
You can walk round both façades from the street without a ticket. The Nativity side looks best in the morning sun, the Passion side in the afternoon. Since June 2026 the illuminated cross on the Tower of Jesus Christ is visible across the city at night.
From Sagrada Família official site; news coverage of the June 2026 inauguration
How to get to Sagrada Família
- Metro: L2 (purple) or L5 (blue) to Sagrada Família, which comes up beside the basilica. Buses 19, 33, 34, D50, H10 and B24 stop nearby.
- Entrances: individual visitors go in on the Nativity façade, Carrer de la Marina. Groups have their own entrance on the same street. Visitors with disabilities or reduced mobility use entrance B on Carrer de la Marina.
- From the airport: the Aerobús runs to Plaça de Catalunya, where you change to the metro, or take a taxi straight to Carrer de la Marina. From Barcelona Sants station, metro L5 runs direct to Sagrada Família.
- Parking: the official site gives directions by metro and bus only and lists no visitor car park, so public transport is the practical choice.
Scams and problems to watch for
Look-alike ticket websites
Sites with 'sagrada familia' and 'tickets' in the domain, often at the top of search results, sell the same timed entry for more or send you on to another seller. The tell-tale sign: any domain other than sagradafamilia.org, or a basic adult price above €26.
Tickets sold on the street or 'resold' by strangers
Tickets carry the buyer's name, and the foundation cancels resold tickets without a refund. Someone outside offering a spare ticket, or a 'guide' selling individual tickets, cannot get you in. If the name on the ticket is not yours, do not buy it.
'Skip the line' as a selling point
Every ticket, including the €26 official one, already has a set entry time, and nobody skips the security check. Resellers who sell 'skip-the-line' or 'priority' access are charging for something every ticket already includes. Pay extra only for a guide or free cancellation you actually want.
Expecting to buy at the door
The official site says tickets are sold online only. There are QR codes on site for buying on your phone, but only if slots are left, and on busy days there usually are none. Do not count on an on-the-day ticket, and do not trust anyone outside who says they can sell you one.
Accessibility
The whole basilica is step-free, except the towers, which cannot be visited by people with reduced mobility because the only way down is a narrow spiral staircase. Visitors with disabilities or reduced mobility use entrance B on Carrer de la Marina, which gives priority access, and must show official proof of disability. Wheelchairs can be borrowed there, subject to availability (+34 932 080 414). Entry is free for disabled visitors and one companion; the companion pays only for extras such as the guided tour (€4). Guide dogs are allowed. The audio guide app includes sign-language versions in Catalan, Spanish and International Sign.
Combine it with
Sant Pau Recinte Modernista
A former Art Nouveau hospital complex with tiled pavilions and gardens, at the far end of Avinguda de Gaudí, the pedestrian avenue that starts by the basilica, and much quieter than anything Gaudí built. There is a self-guided visit with an optional audio guide; allow 60–90 minutes.
Park Güell
On SightsaleGaudí's hillside park with the mosaic terrace and city views, reached by metro L3 to Lesseps (a change from L5 at Diagonal) and an uphill walk following the signs, or by bus 24 or V19. It needs its own timed ticket from the official park site. You must enter within 30 minutes of your slot, so book it separately and leave a gap after your Sagrada Família time.
Casa Batlló
Gaudí's remodelled townhouse on Passeig de Gràcia, with the bone-like balconies and dragon-scale roof. It is a short metro ride or a pleasant walk across the Eixample. Book a timed ticket on its own site.
La Pedrera (Casa Milà)
Gaudí's last private house, a few blocks up Passeig de Gràcia from Casa Batlló, best known for its rooftop of warrior-like chimneys. Day tickets start at €29, and there is a separate sunset visit. Easy to pair with Casa Batlló in one afternoon.
Questions people ask about visiting Sagrada Família
How do I buy Sagrada Família tickets?
Buy them on sagradafamilia.org or in the official Sagrada Família app. Choose a ticket type, a date and a time slot, and enter each visitor's name as it appears on their ID. The basic ticket with the audio guide app was €26 in October 2026. The basilica says tickets are sold online only. There are QR codes on site for last-minute buys if slots are left.
How far in advance should I book Sagrada Família tickets?
Tickets go on sale about two months ahead. In April–September, travel guides advise booking at least 3–4 weeks ahead, and earlier for 9:00, weekend or tower slots. In winter, 1–2 weeks is usually enough. Tower places are limited, so they sell out before plain entry.
Which tower is better, Nativity or Passion?
Both cost the same (€36 with entry, October 2026). The Nativity tower, on Gaudí's original façade, looks east towards the sea; the Passion tower looks west over the city centre. For both you take a lift up and walk down a narrow spiral staircase of several hundred steps. Under 6s are not allowed, and 6–16-year-olds must be with an adult.
Can I visit the new Tower of Jesus Christ?
Not yet. The 172.5-metre central tower was completed and inaugurated on 10 June 2026, but as of October 2026 tower tickets still offer only the Nativity or Passion towers. Work inside the new tower is expected to continue for some time. You can see its cross, lit at night, from across the city.
Is a guided tour of the Sagrada Família worth it?
The official guided tour is: it costs €30 with entry, only €4 more than the basic ticket, and lasts about 50 minutes. Paid tours from €47 to €115 add a smaller group, a meeting point outside and free cancellation. If you like going at your own pace, the free audio guide in the app (45 or 25 minutes) covers the essentials.
What is the dress code at the Sagrada Família?
It is a working Catholic basilica. Shorts and skirts must come to at least mid-thigh. No see-through clothing, swimwear, bare feet or costumes, and no hats in the nave or museum unless worn for religious or health reasons. Bare shoulders are not allowed in the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament.
When is the best time to visit the Sagrada Família for the stained glass?
Mid-morning, for the blue and green light on the east (Nativity) side, or mid to late afternoon, for the red and orange glow on the west (Passion) side. A sunny day makes far more difference than the season, but the effect peaks around the June and December solstices. The 9:00 slot is the quietest.
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Before you go
The things that apply at every big sight: booking ahead, what skip-the-line really means, and the scams that follow tourists everywhere.