Antoni Gaudí’s temple’s history, architecture & why You should visit
Barcelona is still on top of world tourism. The charming capital of Catalonia, Spain, received 15,5 million tourists in 2024. It is only behind London and Paris in the number of tourists in Europe. More than 75% of these visitors are from out of Spain, mostly from France, Germany, Italy, the UK, and the United States.
What makes Barcelona so attractive is a wide variety of attractions: history, arts, gastronomy, a whole set of hidden gems, beaches, and even mountains, all in one single place with a well-connected network of public transportation. With so many interesting attractions, there is one big favorite that is also the most crowded one to visit: Basilica La Sagrada Familia, an unparalleled monument in architecture’s history, and a Unesco World Heritage site.
With the Covid-19 pandemic, La Sagrada Familia was closed for more than a year. It reopened to visitors and events on May 2021.
What is La Sagrada Familia?
La Sagrada Familia is Barcelona’s precious Modernist jewel. Barcelona’s most visited attraction is an astonishing creation by architect Antoni Gaudí and is the biggest exponent of the so-called “Catalan Modernism”. Its construction started in 1882, stopped for the Spanish Civil War, and is still ongoing. La Sagrada Familia, a Catholic temple, will be the tallest church in the world when finished.
La Sagrada Familia comprises the central nave, three façades (Nativity, Passion, and Glory), 18 towers (13 are already finished), crypt, museum, and some other areas.
What inspired Antoni Gaudí to create La Sagrada Familia?
Nothing, absolutely nothing, at La Sagrada Familia is ordinary. It is a breathtaking monument and certainly one of the most impressive temples in the world. Antoni Gaudí was a man of great faith and his premise to create La Sagrada Familia was very simple: If nature is God’s masterpiece and architecture is primarily based on nature, then the best way to honor God is to design buildings based on His creations. Gaudí thought that originality meant going back to the origin, which leads to the idea of nature as the source of all living things. The biggest lesson by the genius is to look back to nature in order to create the future.
When will La Sagrada Familia be finished?
La Sagrada Familia will not be finished by 2026, as initially thought. The Basilica’s completion date had to be delayed due to the pandemic. The construction is now expected to be finished by 2035. The reason is that the resources have plummeted as the temple had to be shut down for nine months and 100% of financial sources of the construction comes from the ticket sales. Besides, some neighbors will have to be relocated, which also takes time.
How many tourists visit La Sagrada Familia each year?
La Sagrada Familia is easily reachable as it’s in a very centric area (Eixample Dreta, metro Sagrada Familia, lines 2 and 5). It is within walking distance of the other famous Antoni Gaudí’s masterpieces (La Pedrera and Casa Battló) at Passeig de Gràcia, Barcelona’s chic boulevard.
In 2024 La Sagrada Familia hit the record of 4,8 million paying visitors and has reached its maximum anual capacity, according to the committee that manages the construction.
It was estimated, in 2016, that around 80% of visitors to La Sagrada Familia actually do not enter the temple – which means around 19 million people. They admire its outdoor magnificence, take pictures and go away. Some of the main blockers for getting there and not getting in are the huge lines, crowded spaces and high prices.
La Sagrada Familia tickets
In pre-pandemic times, La Sagrada Familia used to have huge lines to buy tickets. Now, tickets are only sold online. The temple is accessible by wheelchair.
- Buy a fast-track ticket to La Sagrada Familia
This is the best-seller ticket to the Basilica. It includes the entry to the temple, entry to the museum, a free Barcelona city guide, and an audio guide (a recommended resource as La Sagrada Familia is a very complex monument). This ticket doesn’t include entry to the towers. And finally, there’s no need to print the ticket as you can save it on your smartphone.
Price: from 33.80€ (there are discounts available) and free for children under 11
Where to buy: here.
- Buy a fast-track ticket to La Sagrada Familia with a guided tour
There are 4 different types of guided tours to La Sagrada Familia with prices starting in 39€.
- La Sagrada Familia: Guided Tour provides a 1.5-hour exploration with a knowledgeable guide, offering fast-track access to Gaudí’s masterpiece.
- For those interested in panoramic views, the Sagrada Familia: Guided Tour + Towers Access includes a two-hour tour with the added benefit of tower entry, allowing visitors to ascend and enjoy breathtaking vistas of Barcelona.
- If you prefer a more intimate setting, La Sagrada Familia: Private Guided Tour offers a personalized experience for small groups of up to nine people, ensuring a tailored and in-depth understanding of the basilica’s history and architecture.
- Additionally, La Sagrada Familia & Casa Batlló: Fast Track Access + Guided Tour combines visits to two of Gaudí’s iconic works in a single 3.75-hour tour, providing a comprehensive look into his architectural genius.
These tours are available in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, and German, accommodating a diverse range of visitors. To ensure a smooth experience, it’s recommended to arrive at the designated meeting points at least 15 minutes before the tour starts. For more details and booking options, you can visit the Tiqets website.
Price: from 39€
Where to buy: here.
Can I attend service inside La Sagrada Familia?
Yes, anyone, of any faith, can attend a mass inside La Sagrada Familia, and more. The temple has 3 kinds of religious celebrations: the international masses, the international evening masses and the extraordinary ones:
- The Archdiocese of Barcelona holds an international Mass at the Basilica of the Sagrada Família every Sunday and on holy days of obligation at 9:00 AM. Attendance is free, but capacity is limited. The Mass is conducted in various languages, and visitors should enter through the Nativity Façade (Carrer de la Marina). Attendees are expected to dress appropriately and behave respectfully. Groups of more than 25 people must complete a registration form before attending. For further inquiries, visitors can contact the liturgical head of masses at [email protected].
- Additionally, an international evening Mass is held every Saturday at 8:00 PM following the same guidelines. Please note that evening Mass schedules may occasionally be modified due to special events.
- Throughout the year, the Sagrada Família also hosts extraordinary Masses, which require an invitation to attend. Dates and times for these events can be found in the calendar of Masses, where information on obtaining invitations is provided. Some of these Masses are also broadcast live online for remote participation.
- For more information on other Masses in the crypt or Masses for groups of pilgrims, please refer to the Basilica’s official website.
La Sagrada Familia inside and outside
The temple is the culmination of Antoni Gaudí’s genius. It synthesizes his architectural evolution and offers an amazing challenge to the curious visitor as there are a lot of details in each part of the temple. Check these out:
- If you choose to go up the Nativity towers, you’ll have a view of the city’s mountains.
- If you choose the Passion towers, you’ll have a view of the Mediterranean sea.
- The tallest of the 18 spires will be the one dedicated to Jesus Christ: 172,5 meters. It is the majestic central one.
- The project wasn’t originally delivered to Gaudí. Its first architect was Francesc de Paula Villar. Due to disagreements with the City Council, the project ended up in Gaudí’s hands.
- Gaudí knew he wouldn’t be alive to see the end of the construction. He left detailed documentation for it to be finished after his death.
- Gaudí spent his last 15 years fully dedicated to the temple, even living there. His death was on duty. He was run over by a tram while observing the temple and fully absorbed by his work.
- In his last years, Gaudí, who was a man of great faith, simply didn’t care about his appearance. When he was run over by the tram, his poor looks made him unrecognizable by the accident’s witnesses. It took a while for people to realize that that poor “vagabond” was the respected genius.
- In the temple’s interiors, there isn’t one single straight line. All the design honors the richness of nature’s shapes.
- The Nativity façade was the only one finished when Gaudí was still alive.
Practical information about the visit to La Sagrada Familia
How the visit works: when you buy your fast-track ticket online, you have a time window of 15 minutes to enter the temple at the time of your choice (i.e. 12h-12:15). Once inside, forget the outside world for at least one and a half hours.
Sagrada Familia Opening Hours:
- Apr–Sep: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM, Sat 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Sun 10:30 AM – 8:00 PM
- Nov–Feb: Mon–Sat 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Sun 10:30 AM – 6:00 PM
- Mar & Oct: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM, Sat 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Sun 10:30 AM – 7:00 PM
When La Sagrada Familia is closed: it is partially closed on December 25th and 26th, and January 1st and 6th, when entrance is over at 2 pm.
Last entrance permitted: 30 minutes before closing
When to buy your Sagrada Familia ticket: at least the day before.
Not to forget: it is a religious temple. Go dressed accordingly (transparent clothes, bathing suits and mini-skirts are not allowed).