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La Sagrada Familia

  • Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Last updated: 06 February, 2024

Gaudí spent his last years obsessing over the Sagrada Família, this ornate, turreted cathedral with its iconic turrets like melting candles.

Although only the Birth Façade and crypt were completed before he died, and nearly all the plans were lost during the Spanish Civil War, the foundation that owns it has decided to carry on building it according to Gaudi’s surviving drawings.

Funded by ticket admissions, it’s already, even critics admit, the most spectacular church of the 21st century. But it’s quite a labour of love – it’s slated to be finished by 2026.

Logistics

Price from: £23
Minimum age: 0
Age suitable: 8+
When: All year around
Duration: Any

Getting there & doing it

For most of the year, you must book well in advance to get in. Don’t just turn up, or think you can book the day before. Take the metro to the Sagrada Familia stop on L2 or L5. There are 50-minute guided tours in English two or three times daily (check the website for timings – the meeting point is at the entrance). There are also audio guides available at any time. Book date- and time-stamped tickets online via Ticketmaster and print them out at home to breeze through the pre-booked entrance.

It’s probably not for you if you suffer from vertigo, but the views from the church’s Passion and Birth Façade towers are extraordinary. Buy the basilica and towers combined ticket when purchasing online.

When to do it

The cathedral is open year-round, and always busy – go early or late in the day for the best chance of avoiding the crowds and tour groups. Allow around two hours to see the building. Also, return after dark to see the cathedral lit up – a sight to behold (and blissfully crowd-free).

Who to go with: organised tours

15

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

  • Barcelona

Visit the most important landmark in the city of Barcelona. Admire Gaudi’s mastery and make sure not to miss out on the rich symbolism of his works. Learn about the history and significance of Sagrada Familia by the hand of your local guide. Discover how nature influenced and inspired Gaudí on his planning. Find out why Sagrada Familia is a must-see landmark in Barcelona!

Price €56

Min age 0

Rating 4.26 / 5 [6656 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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  • Barcelona

Ensured small group tour of maximum 16 pax. Round-trip hotel pick-up & drop-off included. Get a taste for the top attractions in Barcelona during this 8-hour excursion covering the many highlights of the Catalan capital. Tour Passeig de Gracia, an elegant boulevard that hosts a wealth of modernist architecture like La Pedrera and Casa Batlló, before discovering Antoni Gaudí's Park Güell and La Sagrada Familia. You’ll also explore the incredible history of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter before finishing with sublime city views from on top of Montjuïc. - Full-day highlights trip of Barcelona's top attractions - Admire the modernist architecture like Gaudí's Casa Batllo - Enjoy the whimsical design and amazing views of Park Güell - See the towering spires of the Antoni Gaudí masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia - Wander the ancient streets of Barcelona's Gothic Quarter - Take the trip to 'new heights' on top of Montjuïc Mountain - Great introduction to the many attractions in Barcelona

Price €100

Min age 0

Rating 4.80 / 5 [5144 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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  • Barcelona

SMALL GROUP TOUR (between 10 and 16 people per tour guide). Enjoy priority access and visit two of the most relevant masterworks of Antoni Gaudí, the Sagrada Familia (1882-still under construction) and the Park Güell (1900-1914) in a small group guided tour to ensure a more intimate experience with your guide. In both places, you will learn the history of the temple and the park, the details of its architecture and about the ideas that the famous architect shaped on them. This tour will introduce you closer to the personality of Gaudi, the person he was, and what the times were like when he lived in Barcelona at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.

Price €109

Min age 0

Rating 4.79 / 5 [4211 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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  • Barcelona

Explore the beauty of Barcelona on this Best of Barcelona Tour, which offers a comprehensive view of this exquisite Catalan city, including a visit to La Sagrada Familia. Perfect for first-time visitors, the tour will show you the city’s most iconic sights and allow you to discover some of Barcelona’s best-kept secrets. You'll enjoy skip-the-line access at La Sagrada Familia, so you can avoid the long queues at this popular attraction. You’ll also visit the hill of Montjuïc and the Gothic Quarter. On this small-group tour, you'll receive personalized attention from your guide.

Price €69

Min age 0

Rating 4.63 / 5 [2493 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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  • Barcelona

Get up close and personal to all the details of the Sagrada Familia on a guided tour. Skip the long lines on arrival, and then learn everything about Antoni Gaudí's masterpiece from your expert guide. Hear how Gaudí was inspired by different aspects of life, such as nature, to create his unique style of architecture. Enter the unfinished basilica and be inspired by the light that enters through the stained glass windows in a timeless atmosphere. Visit all 5 floors of the cathedral, and get access to the tower (if option selected) to enjoy panoramic views of the amazing streets and monuments of Barcelona.

Price €59

Min age 0

Rating 4.42 / 5 [1402 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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