Sagrada Família Guide: Tickets, Towers and Timing

Work on the Sagrada Família began in 1882, and Antoni Gaudí took it over a year later. He spent the rest of his life on it, and when he was killed by a tram in 1926 only a small part was finished. He is buried in the crypt. A century later it's still a building site, but it's also the most visited monument in Spain, and there's a reason for that.

Is it still being built?

Yes, but it's close. In February 2026 the cross was lifted onto the central Tower of Jesus Christ, which now stands 172.5 metres high, with the top of the cross at about 176 metres. That makes it the tallest church in the world, finished in the year of the centenary of Gaudí's death. Work inside the tower continues, and the main Glory façade on the south side is still unfinished, so expect cranes in your photos for a few years yet.

Do I need to book?

Yes. Tickets are sold for a specific entry time on the official website, sagradafamilia.org, and there are no ticket sales at the door. Book as soon as your dates are fixed, and earlier still for tower tickets, which have far fewer places. Plenty of sites sell tickets at a markup and borrow the basilica's name. Use the official one. An audio guide comes through the official app, so download it before you arrive.

Which tower should I choose?

There are two options. The Nativity tower, on the east side, looks over the city towards the sea and gets you close to Gaudí's own sculpture. The Passion tower, on the west, looks towards Montjuïc and is usually a little quieter. A lift takes you up and you walk down a narrow spiral staircase, which is tight and not for anyone who dislikes enclosed spaces. The towers are a nice extra, not essential. The interior is the main event.

When is the light best?

This is the question that matters most. The stained glass on the east side is in blues and greens, and on the west side in reds, oranges and yellows. In the morning, cool light fills the nave. In the late afternoon, the sun comes through the west windows and the whole forest of columns turns orange and gold. We'd choose a slot a couple of hours before closing on a sunny day. Check the official site for current opening times.

What should I look at?

Outside, compare the two finished façades. The Nativity façade, the one Gaudí built, is dense and organic, almost melting. The Passion façade, by the sculptor Josep Maria Subirachs, is angular and stark, and people either love it or hate it. Inside, look up. The columns branch like trees to hold up the roof, and that's the idea: Gaudí designed the nave as a stone forest. Finish in the small museum below, where plaster models show how he worked out the shapes with hanging chains and weights.

Cover your shoulders and knees, allow time for the airport-style security check, and take the metro to Sagrada Família station on L2 or L5.