One name you will hear repeated throughout your visit in Barcelona, is of the Catalonian architect, Antoni Gaudi. He is a hero in these parts and after taking one look at his creations, you’ll see why. Sagrada Familia, a Roman Catholic church, is one of Gaudi’s most famous creations. Construction began in 1883 and he worked on it until his death in 1926. Construction continued throughout the years and as of now it is about 70% complete. But don’t let the fact that it’s not finished stop you from visiting because it is hands-down the most beautiful church I’ve ever seen. It is my #1 recommendation for Barcelona, but trust me…lots of people will have it on their agenda too, so here are…
10 Tips for a Perfect Visit to Sagrada Familia
BUY YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE…SERIOUSLY! This is the one tip that I would stress the most. I felt so bad seeing the look on people’s faces when they showed up at the gates and saw the sign that read, “No tickets left for purchase today.” The best way to purchase tickets is through the website. You can keep your tickets right on your phone, or print them out. (FYI…I always print out my tickets and keep them on me as a backup.) I would recommend buying tickets at least 2-3 weeks in advance. (I’m pretty sure they are available 2 months ahead of time.)
GET THERE ON TIME: Tickets are allocated in 15-minute time slots and they are not joking when they say you MUST be there at your assigned time. They do this so it keeps the entrance to the church running smoothly, so don’t expect them to make an exception for you. I’ve heard they will turn you away if you miss your time slot and that would be a waste of money. Once you get inside you can stay for as long as you want.
GET THE AUDIO GUIDE: The audio guide feels like you’re taking a personal tour of the church. You can stop it whenever you like, repeat information, and skip parts that don’t interest you. It was interesting to learn that although it looks as if Gaudi threw his architecture together randomly, there is actually lots of math calculations that went into it. I don’t think our visit would have been as interesting if we didn’t get the audio guide, and it was only 8 euros. The audio guide is available in 16 languages.
SPEND TIME LOOKING AT THE OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH: Although you may be tempted to skip the outside and go straight inside, spend some time looking at the details Gaudi put in the outside of the church. One of the most important differences you’ll see is the front of the church is adorned with scenes from the nativity of Jesus. There are lots of animals and hopeful symbols.
When you exit the church, the mood changes as you are now looking at scenes from the crucifixion of Jesus. The mood is somber and sullen.
WHAT TICKETS COST:
Basic tickets: 17 EUR
Tickets with an audio guide: 25 EUR
Tickets with guided tour: 26 EUR (limited time slots)
Tickets with Gaudi House Museum: 27 EUR (good if you’re going to Park Guell)
Tickets that include going up the towers: 32 EUR
WHEN IT IS OPEN:
This gorgeous church is actually open DAILY!
November- February 9:00- 6:00
Match: 9:00-7:00
April- September 9:00- 8:00
October 9:00- 7:00
There are special times during holidays, so make sure you check their website.
FOLLOW THE DRESS CODE: Although they don’t strictly enforce the dress code, like many European churches do, it’s always best to be respectful and dress modestly since it is an active place of worship. Since it is a Roman Catholic church, they ask that you cover your shoulders, back, and midriff. Don’t wear tiny skirts or shirts that you’re hanging out of. I wore a tank top, so I brought a cardigan with me to throw on while inside the church…it’s just respectful.
BEST TIME TO GO: I wish we had more flexibility with our schedule, because they say the best time to go is mid-morning and mid-afternoon, when the sunlight is streaming through the unforgettable stained-glass windows throughout the church. The windows are one of the best features of the church and you won’t be able to get enough of them. You’ll notice that one side contains glass in blues and green
and the other side has reds and oranges. They are breathtaking!
DON’T BOTHER WITH THE TOWERS: There are so many places to see a beautiful view of the city that I don’t think it is worth paying the extra money to see it from the top of the towers. If you have a limited amount of time and want to see a good view, then I guess you could spend the money. I just figured that this visit was all about the church itself and there would be plenty of other opportunities to see a view. (Just my opinion)
BE PREPARED TO GO THROUGH SECURITY: They have metal detectors that you have to go through before you enter the church and they will also check the inside of your bags.
