Sagrada Familia: Tickets

Sagrada Familia Tickets and Information

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• ‍Sagrada Familia Address: Carrer de Mallorca, 401, Barcelona, 08013 / Carrer de la Marina, Barcelona.
• ‍Sagrada Familia Summer Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday: 09:00 - 20:00 & Sundays: 10:30 - 20:00.

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Is The Sagrada Familia worth visiting

• As Spain's number one tourist attraction in Spain, with around 20,000,000 people visiting Barcelona each year to see if from the outside alone and around 4,500,000 purchasing tickets to enjoy the inside, we definitely think its worth visiting, yes!

What do you see when visiting the Sagrada Familia‍

• Inside the basilica
• Access to the museum
• Option to access a Tower

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TIP: Book your tickets in advance. Queues to get into Sagrada Familia during peak months can be hours and tickets regularly book out. We strongly suggest you book your tickets in advance to help avoid disappointment and to reduce queueing times.

FUN FACT: The Sagrada Familia retained its title of Barcelona's most popular tourist attraction and welcomed 4,707,641 visitors in 2023! The fact that visitor numbers are improving again after covid also helps the construction process, given a lot of the costs are paid for by ticket sales.

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About The Sagrada Familia

The Sagrada Familia is one of Barcelona's most iconic landmarks and the most popular tourist attraction in both the city and the country. An estimated 20 million people visit the area each year just to view it from the outside, with over 4.5 million buying tickets to explore its inside.

It's already a UNESCO World Heritage Site even though it isn't even complete yet! An architectural masterpiece designed by the late Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, that captivates visitors from around the world.

‍The full title of the Sagrada Familia is "The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família." It's a Roman Catholic Church consecrated as a minor basilica on November 7, 2010, by Pope Benedict XVI. Located in the Eixample district of Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia became the passion project of Gaudi, one of the most celebrated architects of the 20th century. After completing Casa Mila (La Pedrera) in 1912, Gaudi devoted himself entirely to the Sagrada Familia. He didn't start the project but was brought in later but it ended up transforming into his life’s work.

Sagrada Familia Completion Date

• It was due to be completed in 2026 but sadly due to delays caused by COVID-19, and now suggested funding issues, the completion date has been delayed.

Sagrada Familia Fun Facts

• Construction started on the Sagrada Familia in 1882, so its already been in development for over a century!
• The building will have 18 towers when complete and the tallest one will be 170 meters and dedicated to Jesus Christ.
• The Sagrada Familia has been listed by UNESCO since 2005 and its not even finished yet!
• The building has more than 1500 pieces of stained glass which help to flood the inside with incredible light.
• The Sagrada Familia, when complete, its tallest spire will sit just below the height of Montjuïc hill, which Gaudi did on purpose!

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‍The Interior

Light and Colour.

‍Entering the Sagrada Familia feels has a calming feeling. The light and colour dance through the intricate stained glass windows and you just feel calmer. Maybe its because you know its a religious building, but the interplay does create a peaceful ambiance and this is despite of the thousands of visitors the church welcomes daily. The grand columns immediately capture your attention as they branch out like trees, supporting the roof and reflect Gaudi’s love for nature and bringing its characteristics into his designs.

Stained Glass Windows

‍The stained glass windows of the Sagrada Familia are nothing short of magnificent. They cast colourful shades across the interior which creates patterns of light and shadows that shift with the sun’s movement throughout the day. Many visitors sit and spend hours just watching this natural light show. Gaudi’s famous quote, “Glory is light, light gives joy, joy is the happiness of the spirit,” is brought to life here.

Naves

‍The Sagrada Familia has five naves, with the central one being the biggest and is supported by the tree-like columns, which almost give the feeling of standing in a forest. The columns in the church also play a crucial role in the ever-changing light and shadows in the church.

‍The Apse, Altar, and Crypt

‍Antoni Gaudi himself was laid to rest in the crypt on June 12, 1926. The crypt is located near the apse near the altar under a grand sculpture of Jesus Christ. Stained glass windows above the apse flood the area with light during the day. Gaudi’s devotion to the Virgin Mary inspired the design of the apse, which incorporates the seven sorrows and joys of Saint Joseph.

The Sagrada Familia Museum

‍The museum dedicated to Antoni Gaudi’s life and works is under the Sagrada Familia and your Sagrada Familia Entry Ticket also includes access to the museum. The museum features exhibits on Gaudi’s creative process, original furniture, drawings, photographs, and models related to the construction of the Sagrada Familia. The museum offers its visitors a deeper understanding of Gaudi’s genius along with the history of this monumental project.

Architecture and Exterior

‍The Sagrada Familia’s architecture is a blend of Gothic and Art Nouveau elements. It will have three distinct façades upon completion:

‍The Nativity Façade: Celebrating Life

‍The Nativity Façade is located on the eastern side of the church is the oldest. It depicts the birth of Jesus Christ and related events through intricate sculptures of animals, nature, and biblical scenes. Gaudi wanted this façade to celebrate the beauty of life.

The Passion Façade: Suffering and Resurrection

‍On the western side of the church, the Passion Façade symbolizes the suffering, crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and it was completed in the summer of 2017. Its sculptures were crafted by Josep Maria Subirachs, and add to the façade's poignant narrative. Subirachs lived at the temple while creating the sculptures to fully immerse himself in the project’s atmosphere, something that Gaudi would have loved as it aligned with his own passion.

The Glory Façade: A Vision of Judgment

‍The Glory Façade is on the southern side of the church but is still under construction. When it's complete it will be the main entrance to the Sagrada Familia. This façade represents the final judgment and includes themes of heaven and hell and symbolizes the journey through life and the ultimate reward or punishment. It is expected to feature both angels and demons, which will capture the essence of both realms, heaven and hell.

The Sagrada Familia Towers

• The Sagrada Familia will have 18 towers when complete, with each represent somebody.
• ‍6 of the towers are dedicated to Jesus, Mary and the 4 Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
• ‍12 of the towers will represent the Apostles.
• ‍The Tower of Jesus Christ will be the tallest tower. The tower will stand at 172 meters and will be one of the tallest constructions in Barcelona, almost the same height as Montjuïc Hill, which was an intentional design by Gaudi.

Sagrada Familia - UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Sagrada Familia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site - as part of the "Works of Gaudi", which also includes other Gaudi properties in Barcelona (Casa Batlló, Casa Milà - La Pedrera & Park Güell amongst others). The Nativity façade and the crypt are specifically mentioned and listed by UNESCO in November 2010.

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The Initial Idea of the Sagrada Familia

It was Josep Maria Bocabella, a local bookshop owner that conceived the original idea for the Sagrada Familia. He envisioned creating an expiatory temple dedicated to the Holy Family.

Bocabella initially commissioned an architect (not Antoni Gaudi at this stage), to design the church, and construction started in 1882. However, disagreements followed regarding the design and it was at this point that Antoni Gaudi became involved in the project (and eventually took over).

At the time, Gaudi was still working on other local commissions, including Casa Mila - La Pedrera, another famous Barcelona landmark and tourist attraction.

As a religious man, Gaudi's vision for the Sagrada Familia was to build a church that represented the three stages of Jesus' life: The Nativity, The Passion, and The Glory. These stages were to be depicted in the three façades of the church.

Gaudi's designs often incorporated elements of nature, along with stained glass, sculptures, and various other features. He would use these elements to tell the story of Jesus' life and other biblical events through time at the Sagrada Familia.

Understanding that the project would not be completed within his lifetime, Gaudi focused on the exterior, believing that if the outside was completed, future generations would be more likely to continue the work and complete the project.

Gaudi ended up dedicating over 40 years of his life to the Sagrada Familia until his death in 1926, when he was struck by a tram in Barcelona on his way to mass. Since then, a succession of architects has continued his work.

The Sagrada Familia has faced numerous challenges over the years. It was damaged by an arson attack during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), which caused construction to halt. Work finally resumed in 1954. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 also temporarily forced construction to stop. Despite these setbacks, the project continues, with Gaudi's vision still guiding its completion.

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See All Sagrada Familia Ticket Options

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Sagrada Familia Fun Facts

• Sagrada Familia holds UNESCO World Heritage Site Status and forms part of the "Works of Antoni Gaudi" UNESCO listing.
• Construction on the Sagrada Familia has only stopped twice. During the Spanish civil war in 1936 when it was vandalised and worked stopped and didn't start again until 1939 and then in 2020 when COVID-19 struck.
• Construction on the Sagrada Familia began in 1882!
• The Sagrada Familia will have 18 spires when complete!
• The Sagrada Familia's full title is in fact "Basilica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia"!