Skip the Line Sagrada Familia

The Sagrada Família is an unfinished Roman Catholic church, located in Barcelona, Spain. Construction began in 1882, but when the original architect resigned, the building was taken over by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. Gaudí’s work on the Sagrada Família has been designated as part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. By the time of Gaudí’s death, over 40 years later, less than a quarter of the church had been constructed. By 2010, it had finally reached the half-way point. That same year, the Sagrada Família was consecrated as a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI.

Since the initial proposal, the Sagrada Família has caused controversy among the residents of Barcelona. It was initially deemed unnecessary due to the presence of a cathedral already within the city, then the design itself was not universally approved, and there were also concerns that the design was being ignored on the work that took place after Gaudí’s death.

The structural work, including a further six towers, are estimated to be complete by 2026, 100 years after Gaudí’s death. The decorative work will take longer. Once the spires are all in place, the Sagrada Família will be the tallest church in the world.

The Sagrada Família is open to visitors, although you should be aware that a caution is in place for those with medical conditions, as it involves a narrow spiral staircase to access the towers. Wait times can be extremely long, so it is advisable to obtain a skip the line ticket, especially during the peak summer months.

It is open from 9am every day, with closing times varying according to the month. November-February, closing is at 6pm, March and October is 7pm, while April-September is 8pm. On certain holidays, the church will be open, but only until 2pm.