Why Skip The Line Sagrada Familia Tickets Are A Must

If you are heading to Barcelona, chances are that visiting the La Sagrada Familia is at the top of your agenda. But one google search will tell you that this landmark structure is visited by over 3 million people every year, and on any day, queueing up for a ticket to enter this UNESCO World Heritage Site may take hours of your time. Imagine if there was a way to skip the line, wouldn’t you go for it and save on some time to soak up more of Barcelona’s charms? Read on to find out how you can experience the magical interiors of this structure by booking skip the line Sagrada Familia tickets even two months in advance. The guide has all you need to know before you visit Sagrada Familia’s – Spain’s most visited landmark.

What is so incredible about the Sagrada Familia?

Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, known to the world as Sagrada Familia, is an architectural gem in Barcelona’s sprawling skyline. A reflection of the prodigal Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi’s distinct imagination and style, its sublime beauty transcends the layers of Catalonia’s rich cultural history. In the words of Gaudi himself, “The temple as a whole, as well being a place for divine worship, will artistically represent the truths of religion and the glorification of God and His Saints.”

The ornamental beauty of this towering structure originates from the striking synergy between Christian iconography and Gaudi’s unique form that is inspired by the patterns he found in nature. The colourful stained glass panes that run in harmony with the delicate carvings which adorn the Church’s façade, are a fine example of Art Nouveau and Catalan Noucentisme architecture.

Inspired by the mores of Gothic and Byzantine cathedrals, the foundation stone for Sagrada Familia was laid over a century ago in 1882, and 135 years later, this iconic monument is still a decade away from completion. The complexity of this massive structure lies in its design, and creating this masterpiece to its last detail requires enormous funding, the lack of which, has slowed the realisation of this dream-like structure.

What to expect at the Sagrada Familia?

1. The Nativity Facade

The foundation for the Nativity façade was laid in 1892. It was Gaudi’s decision to first build this part of the Church. In his words, “If, instead of building this decorated, richly ornamented facade, we had started with the hard, bare and skeletal Passion facade, people would have rejected it.”

If you are an architecture fanatic or just a curious traveller, witnessing the beauty of this part of the Church will transport you back in history. Don’t miss the Rosary portal which is part of this façade, and is one of the entrances to the Basilica. The first of the four bell towers on this side of the structure was dedicated to Saint Barnabus, and is 100 meters tall. Its construction was finished on 30th November, 1925. For any Gaudi fan, this is an important piece of architecture as this was the only tower he saw getting completed before he died. The mosaics that spell out ‘Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Hosanna in Excelsis, Amen, Alleluia’, decorate the tops of these towers. Just remember to look up when you are there.​

3. The Passion Facade

The Passion facade is strikingly different in form when compared to the Nativity Facade. Contrasting the smooth classical curves of the statues on the Nativity Facade are bare stone statues on the Passion Facade that have been carved with straight lines – representing the passion and suffering of Jesus Christ. The statues on this facade have been made to resemble the bones of a skeleton and also hint at the sins of man.

The Passion Façade faces west and and is symbolic of the death of Jesus. Supported by six large columns, the pyramidal pediment of the facade culminates into a large cross with a crown of thorns. The Passion Façade also has four spires, dedicate to apostles James, Philip, Thomas and Judas. The building of Passion façade started back in 1954, and later, a crypt was built here inside which a Museum was set up in 1961. It provides a wealth of information about the history of the temple, and contains details about its artistic, symbolic and technical aspects.

3. The Towers

The towers of the Sagrada Familia are a formidable sight. Of the 16 towers that Gaudi envisioned, 8 have been completed – 4 towers on the Nativity Facade and 4 towers on the Passion Facade. You can access these towers if you have a ticket with tower admission enabled. The towers on the Nativity Facade look over the east of Barcelona while the towers of the Passion Facade face the city centre. You can use an elevator to go up the tower, however, one must take the stairs down from the towers.

4. Sagrada Familia Interior

The Sagrada Familia interior is extraordinary and is known to stop people in their tracks should they decide to look up. Gaudi’s innovative genius is highlighted by his disregard of flying buttresses and instead, the use of pillars and columns that branch out like trees into the vault. The design and structural character of the Sagrada Familia’s interior is unlike any other and is truly a sight to behold.

5. Crypt of the Expiatory Temple

You must remember to explore this as it is the resting place of Antoni Gaudi. The Expiatory Temple of Sagrada Familia had become the focal point of Gaudi’s life after 1914 as he dedicated all his time to designing and building it. The extraordinarily detailed tree-like pillars that support the delicate curves of the Basilica’s roof are a charming sight. The multi-coloured stained glass panes that beautifully filter the sunlight will leave you wide-eyed.

6. Stained Glass Windows

Gaudi’s love for colour is well-known and the no other work of his showcases this more than the beautiful and vibrant stained glass windows of the Sagrada Familia – painting the interiors with beautiful hues of red, green, blue and yellow. In order to achieve a harmony of colour and light, the windows have been arranged in a particular manner. The windows of the lower part are brightly coloured while those on the upper half are almost translucent, thus lighting up the interior and making the vaulted ceilings stand out.

How to skip the infamous queue?

The perpetual queue of people waiting to buy a ticket to experience La Sagrada Familia is a testimony to the structure’s popularity among locals and tourists. We understand that waiting in line for buying tickets to experience the phenomena that is Sagrada Familia, can put a damper on your spirits.

You can save yourself hours of standing in these endless lines by either booking a ticket in advance, or by opting for one of the guided tour options.

1. Buy skip the line Sagrada Familia tickets in advance

You can buy your tickets to visit Sagrada Familia online, well before your trip to Barcelona. Once you confirm your booking with the date and time of your visit, you will receive an e-copy of your ticket which you can display at Sagrada Familia to gain priority access. But remember, you can jump the ticket line but not the queue for security check.

2. Skip the line by booking a guided tour

One of the best ways to explore any place, specially a historical monument like the Sagrada Familia, is to go with a trained guide. In this case, opting for this option not only opens up a mine of information, but also gives you priority access to the structure. Depending upon what you prefer, you can choose between three tour options: Self-guided tour, Tour with an audio-guide, or Tour with a trained official guide.

Sagrada Familia Ticket Options

All You Need to Know

How to get to La Sagrada Familia

The best way to reach the Sagrada Familia is to take the metro. The metro station right across the street from the Basilica has stops for Line 2 (purple) and Line 5 (blue) metro lines.

You can also take bus, and depending on your place of stay, catch any of the following buses all of which halt at Sagrada Familia- 19, 33, 34, 43, 44, 50, 51, B20 and B24.

The main access to Sagrada Familia is on Carrer de la Marina (C/Marina).

Sagrada Familia open Hours

The opening and closing timings of the Basilica differ throughout the year, and you should check for it in advance.

November to February: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
March: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
April to September: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
October: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
December 25, 26 and January 1, 6: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

The management can sometimes alter these timings if any special event is to take place inside the Basilica.

Entrances

Buying tickets online means you can enter the Sagrada Familia through the reserved entrance of the Nativity façade on C/Marina. the metro station closest to the Basilica is also on C/Marina. This side of the Church faces the park which has a pond, and you can identify the gate by the black umbrellas in front of them.

Rules and Regulations

• As visitors, your bags, luggage, and other personal belongings will be screened at the entrance.
• If you are planning to go on top of either of the towers, keep in mind that children who are less than 6 years of age are not allowed to go up. Also, children who are less than 16 years old can go up provided they are accompanied by an adult.
• You should have your ticket at all times while you are in the Basilica’s premises.
• It is advised that you refrain from creating crowds or running in the premises.
• You can’t eat, drink or smoke on the site.
• You can’t use tripods or professional camera equipment on the premises without prior permission.
• If you are opting for a tour with an audio guide, please return the audio guides and transmitters/receivers in the condition you received them.
• Being a religious monument, it is important to dress appropriately and keep in mind the following:
  – Avoid clothing that may be see-through, and wear something that keeps your shoulders covered.
  – Refrain from wearing clothes with plunging necklines, or show bellies or backs.
  – if you are wearing shorts or skirts, make sure they reach mid-thigh.

Reviews

Read what others are saying about Sagrada Familia on TripAdvisor.

Insider Tips

• It’s all about the timing!
  Most of the tourist attractions in Barcelona are closed on a Monday, but the La Sagrada Familia is open throughout the week. Since not many people know this, you will find the monument less crowded on Mondays.
• The elevator ride
  There is an elevator to reach the top of the towers, but while coming down, you will have to take the stairs.
• Ocean or the mountain peaks?
  While buying a ticket to Sagrada Familia, you can choose between the Passion Towers which give you a better view of the ocean, and the Nativity Towers that will have you looking at the mountain peaks that surround Barcelona.
• Book in advance and be there on time
  It is always advisable to book a visit to the Basilica well in advance- it will save you from long ticket queues. Don’t forget to carry a printout of the ticket. But more important is to reach there at least 15-30 minutes before the time you have booked.

Facts

• Josep Maria Bocabella, a Catalan publisher, visited Italy in 1872 and was highly inspired by the Vatican. Upon his return, he set in motion the plan for building Sagrada Familia. Facing disagreements with the first architect, Francisco del Villar, Bocabella hired Antoni Gaudi a year later as the project architect.
• Antoni Gaudi, who gave 43 years of his life to this iconic structure as the chief architect, was buried in the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chapel, in the crypt of his masterpiece- Sagrada Familia.
• The construction of La Sagrada Familia, which started in 1882, is expected to be completed by Gaudi’s centennial in the year 2026. By then, its completion will have taken 144 years- which is much more than it took to build the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt and the Taj Mahal in India. Some also believe that the structure may take up to year 2040 to complete.
• La Sagrada Familia, once completed, will have a central tower which is 170 meters high (a representation of Jesus Christ), making the Basilica the tallest religious structure in Europe. But it will still be one meter below Barcelona’s highest point, Montjuïc hill. This is because for Gaudi, nature was supreme and it was his belief that no man-made object should reach higher than God’s creation.
• In 1936 when Spain was in the midst of a Civil War, some anarchists broke in and set fire to Sagrada Familia’s crypt. As a result, most of the construction drawings and materials were lost, leaving only enough for the designs to be remade.
• The Church, which is now a Basilica, is designed in a way that it can be viewed from all parts of Barcelona. At its highest points are glass panes, and the light reflected by these are indicators that guide the seafarers home.
• The Basilica has three facades-in the east is the Nativity façade, on the west side is the Passion façade, and in south is the Glory façade. Each of the facades represent important life events and teachings of Jesus Christ. Everything from his passion, death and resurrection, his present and future glory are all depicted here. The 18 towers that are part of the original plan, complete this equation with 12 of them representing the 12 Apostles, the one in the centre represents Jesus Christ-surrounded by four for the Gospels. The star crowned tower above the apse is dedicated to Virgin Mary.
• Gaudi built a school here in 1909 for the children whose parents were building the Church. It was removed recently in 2002 when the Church was expanded.