The Sagrada Familia sells tickets only online, with a set time, about two months ahead, and in summer, Holy Week and on Spanish bank holidays the good slots go as soon as they are released. If the official site says "sold out", there are still options, and it pays to try them in this order.
What you can book now
| If you want… | Option | From |
|---|---|---|
| A resold ticket | Ticket with audio guide, 4.6★ (113,748) Book | €34 |
| A guide and a small group | Small-group guided tour, 4.7★ (3,690) Book | €99 |
| Sagrada Familia and Park Güell | Skip-the-line tour of both, 4.8★ (6,776) Book | €104 |
| With a tower climb | Guided tour with tower, 4.4★ (5,518) Book | €75 |
1. Check the official website and app again
The basic ticket costs €26 at sagradafamilia.org (€30 with a guided visit, €36 with a tower and €40 with guide and tower). If it is sold out:
- Check several days in a row. Changes and refunds must be requested 48 hours ahead, so single places free up.
- Try the official app, which sells the same tickets and is handier for checking often.
- Be flexible with the time: the first morning slots and the last ones are the most sought after.
- If you are a group, split up: there are often gaps for one or two people when four together are gone.
2. The QR codes at the basilica
There is no ticket office, but around the basilica there are direct-purchase QR codes. They only work if there is capacity at that moment, so they are an option in low season or first thing, not a safe plan in August.
3. A tour with entry included
Licensed operators buy their allocations in advance, so they usually have places when the official site doesn't. They cost more than the official ticket, but include timed entry and, on guided tours, an explanation of the symbolism of the facades and the stained glass.
Before paying, check that the listing says "entry included" and that the visit goes inside: some walks only see the facades from outside.
4. The international masses
The international mass on Sundays and holy days at 9:00 and the Saturday mass at 20:00 are free with limited capacity, through the Nativity facade (Carrer de la Marina). It is celebrated in several languages.
It is a religious service, not a visit: you enter the nave, but you can't tour the basilica or climb the towers, and respectful behaviour and suitable clothing are expected. Arrive early, because it fills up.
5. What you can see from outside
Even if you don't go in, the Sagrada Familia is worth the walk:
- The Nativity facade, Gaudí's own, best in the morning from Plaça de Gaudí with the pond in front.
- The Passion facade, from Plaça de la Sagrada Família, with Subirachs's angular sculptures.
- Avinguda de Gaudí, which links the basilica with the Hospital de Sant Pau, another Modernista landmark that usually has tickets.
If what you want is Gaudí inside, Casa Batlló and La Pedrera sell tickets with more leeway.
Mistakes to avoid
- Buying from sites that look like the official one. They add surcharges. The official site is
sagradafamilia.org. - Booking a tour without checking it goes inside. "Exterior" walks are cheaper for a reason.
- Arriving at the last minute. Tickets are only valid for your slot and there is a security check.
- Wearing shorts or bare shoulders. There is a dress code and you can be refused entry.
In one sentence
If the official site is sold out, keep checking it for a few days, try the QR codes at the basilica and, failing that, book a tour with entry included; everything else is in how to visit the Sagrada Familia.
