It’s the number one thing to do in Barcelona, and one of the top two things to do in all of Spain. You know you want to go, but what now? When do you get tickets? What ticket do you get? What’s the process like when you get there? Where can you get the best photos? Well, I’m here for you. These are your best tips for visiting the Sagrada Família in Barcelona, Spain.
Reserve Your Tickets in Advance
This is the most important piece of information: Reserve your tickets 6-8 weeks early, or more! In the high season, which is June, July, and August, get your tickets up to three months in advance. I missed out on our first try because we visited in January, and I didn’t think it would be hard to get tickets a day or two in advance. Wrong. Trust me, you want to reserve your tickets here, at least 6 weeks in advance!
More here: What to Know Before You Visit Barcelona
Go for the Guided Tour
The tour you choose is entirely up to you, but there is so much to know about this particular basilica, you’ll do well to go for the guided tour (it’s only €4 more than the non-guided option). There is also an audio guide on the Sagrada Família App to accompany you on the self-guided tour, if you prefer. Additionally, you can add on a tower tour with either the guided or self-guided option. Fair warning to parents: Children under six years old are not allowed up in the towers, and children ages 6-16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Read next: Everything You Need to Know Before You Visit Spain
Part of the Tour is Outside–Dress Accordingly
In whatever season you choose to visit, you’ll want to be prepared for the outdoor portion of your tour. We spent about half the tour outside, in winter! I’m glad we were dressed for the weather, and that it wasn’t raining! In summer, you will definitely want sunscreen and a hat. Remember to check the weather report for the day of your tour.
Keep reading: The Best Winter Gear for Babies and Toddlers
Plan to Spend an Hour and a Half Here
The guided tour took about 45 minutes, but you’ll need to build in time for security, the museum in the basement, and time to walk around and see more of the basilica at your own pace. An hour and a half was plenty for us, but plan accordingly for your own schedule. You can sit in the sanctuary as long as you like, and even walk out and back in to make sure you see everything. There is a lot to see! Don’t rush yourself; this is a once-in-a-lifetime site to experience.
Essential Info: How to Get Your Baby’s First Passport
Be Prepared to Go Through Security
Once you arrive, you’ll show your tickets to a security guard at least once (sometimes twice), and then wait in line, so build that into your timing for logistics and arrival time. When going through security, you can keep your shoes on, but all your bags and all metal in your pockets have to go through a scanner; you will also need to go through a metal detector. Once you’re through security, you’ll be able to roam the church as you like. Start your audio tour at your leisure if you selected a self-guided ticket, or walk around and take it all in until your tour time begins. You’ll meet your tour guide at the clearly-marked, designated tour meeting point.
Also helpful: The Best Tips for Flying Long-haul with a Baby
Know Before You Go
Here are a few quick facts and useful things to know before your visit:
- There is a dress code. This is a basilica, so please dress appropriately for a church, even in the summertime. No swimwear; no see-through clothing; shorts, dresses, and skirts must come to mid-thigh or lower; no hats except for religious purposes; and no clothing “to celebrate any sort of festivities, nor with any decorations designed to distract or draw attention for artistic, religious, promotional or any other purposes,” according to their website.
- Antonin Gaudí was not the only, or even the first, architect!
- Construction began in 1883 and continues to this day. It was slated to be finished in 2026, but it’s more likely to continue into the 2030s.
- Gaudí is interred in the crypt here.
- The design is inspired by nature, because that was God’s handiwork. There are scores of animals carved into the façade, and the columns inside the church are made to look like trees in a forest.
- It is already the tallest church in the world, and will only get taller as construction continues.
Read next: The Top 7 Reasons Single Parents Should Travel with Their Kids
The Photos You Want to Get
You know you want to get all the photos. It’s a huge church on a huge piece of land in the middle of the city. Here are the best spots!
There is a manmade lake in a park on the east side of the church.
It’s home to an amazing photo-op, but it is crowded. The light is best in the morning to mid-day. In the afternoon, you will get the shadow from the basilica, making the photos dark.
Walk toward the KFC across the street from the basilica.
Before you cross the street, you’ll see a perfect, less crowded photo-op between some trees. You can also get a good view through the windows upstairs at KFC.
The west side stained glass inside the basilica.
The afternoon sunlight is best through the stained glass windows on the west side of the basilica. Our tour guide said it’s one of the most photographed sights inside. We toured in the afternoon, and it is, in fact, beautiful.
My favorite: The columns and ceiling.
Every time I go into a church, I look up. This is one of the most beautiful ceilings I’ve ever seen, and I love everything about it. This might just be one of my favorite church photos I’ve ever taken. I love the colors, the “trees,” the pristine white down the middle. It’s gorgeous.
Keep reading: The Ultimate List of Travel Photography Tips
Want more? Check out my dedicated Spain Page!
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