10 Mistakes to Avoid When Visiting the Sagrada Familia

Let me be blunt: La Sagrada Familia is not optional on your Barcelona itinerary. Unless you’ve got a deep, lifelong aversion to architecture, churches, or joy itself, this is one of those once-in-a-lifetime buildings you’ll kick yourself for skipping.

After visiting Barcelona four times, I’ve experienced both the disappointment of missing out on visiting the Sagrada Familia and the joy of finally getting to see it with my own eyes.

And I’ve seen far too many fellow tourists make rookie mistakes that turned a potential memorable moment into a crowded, frustrating ordeal. Let’s not let that happen to you.

Here are 10 mistakes to avoid when visiting La Sagrada Familia — some minor, some major! — and how to make your visit as legendary as the building itself… instead of as stressful as the lines you’ll undoubtedly encounter.

❌ 1. Calling It a Cathedral (It’s Not!)

Nope, not a cathedral. Don’t let the soaring spires and divine drama fool you. It’s officially a basilica, not a cathedral.

For the fellow pedants out there (hi, I see you 👋 I am you), a cathedral is technically the seat of a bishop. Meanwhile, basilicas gets their VIP status straight from the Pope himself. So it’s a small difference and has nothing to do with how grand the buildings themselves are. Basically: church politics, but make it architectural.

The actual cathedral in Barcelona is the Catedral de Barcelona (its fancy-schmancy churchy name is the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia) in the Gothic Quarter — and yes, it’s also worth visiting, though it’s not as impressive as the Sagrada Familia, in my (not so humble, very stubborn) opinion.

✨ Fun fact: Barcelona has multiple basilicas — including Santa Maria del Mar, Santa Maria del Pi, and La Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Merced. All three are within walking distance of the Barcelona port. But only one of them has that Gaudí special sauce that makes it look like crash-landed from another simulation. Prioritize this one, even though it’s exceedingly popular.

❌ 2. Skipping the Inside Because It Costs Money

Most of the tips for visiting the Sagrada Familia below are aimed at people who plan to buy a ticket to go inside, but don’t feel obliged if it’s not your thing or within your budget.

As with most of Barcelona’s architectural attractions, which are beautiful from the outside, you have a decision to make: do you prefer to see it just from the outside for free, or will you feel like you are short-changing yourself? Personally, I end up feeling the latter.

Yes, I understand budgets are tight when you travel. But here’s how I justify spending money on pricy attractions and sights while I travel: imagine just how expensive a return trip will be in a few years, when you feel compelled to go back just because you wanted to save a few bucks.

Sure, the outside of the Sagrada Familia is incredible, and you can — very easily — get amazing photos for free. But if you think the interior is just standard churchy stuff, you’re wrong.

Walking into La Sagrada Familia is like stepping into a kaleidoscope built by a deranged genius. The stained glass alone made my little atheist heart twinge a bit (or at least, it made my jaw drop).

🎟️ You’ll need a ticket to go inside, and they start around €35 for pre-sale tickets. It’s not cheap per se, especially when many churches are free to visit in Spain. But considering that’s the cost of two tapas and a drink at a tourist trap down the street, I promise you, you won’t regret it.

👉 Grab pre-sale tickets here or upgrade to a guided tour (can add on towers, too) if you want to know why those ceilings make you feel all the feelings.

But if you can’t justify the ticket price with your budget? I still want you to have a good time. There are still a bunch of photo opportunities without ever entering the basilica.

Both of the two famous façades of the building both have small parks in front of them, ideal for taking snaps, sitting and contemplating the Sagrada Familia’s beauty, or maybe even having a picnic (bonus points for bringing Spanish cheese and cold cuts). So yes, even if you never go inside, it’s still a sight worth seeing.

❌ 3. Buying Tickets on Site (So You Can Stand in the Sun for Fun?)

I’m begging you — don’t show up without a ticket, which you can book online easily. I’ve been to Barcelona four times and that’s exactly what I did on my first time, and I missed out on getting to see the Sagrada Familia that first time.

Visiting the Sagrada Familia requires planning as it’s, quite literally, the most visited attraction in Spain. Full stop. Tickets sell out. Lines get nasty. In summer, the sun has a grudge against you.

Ending up in a lengthy line on your holiday — one that may or may not bear fruit, as tickets can sell out before you arrive at the ticket counter — is foolish when you can so easily book tickets online.

🎟️ Book your tickets in advance right here to avoid heartbreak (and heatstroke)

Expert Tips:

📝 All tickets include the audioguide app.
🎓 Student discount requires valid ID.
🧒 Kids under 11 and visitors with disabilities still need to reserve a free ticket.

❌ 4. Skipping the Towers

For just a slight up-charge on the normal tour price, you can go up into the towers for an incredibly birds-eye view over Barcelona. All over Europe, you will find religious buildings charging a little extra for a view from the top, but I’d say going up the tower in Sagrada Familia is a genuinely exciting experience that adds a lot to the experience.

You’ll take an elevator up (thank you, God — I mean Gaudí), then walk down a winding staircase with epic views over the city, whichever tower you pick. But each tower has its own pros and cons, and you can only pick one… so pick wisely.

You are usually given a choice between the tower of the Nativity Façade (the older-looking façade, designed by Gaudí himself) and the Passion Façade, which has newer elements designed by modern architects. 

Pro tip: I would personally pick the Passion Façade tower for views of Montjuïc (the mountain outside of Barcelona) and the city center. But go for the Nativity Façade if you’re a Gaudí purist who wants all-original architecture all day long!

👉 Book the entrance, tour, + tower combo ticket here — future you will say “gràcies” (nope, that’s not a typo — that’s Catalan for thank you!)

Note: The elevator will bring you up, saving you a lot of cardio. Going down, however, is only by stairs (making it not accessible for those with disabilities). It’s not too strenuous, but there are a few hundred steps!

Wearing sensible footwear will serve you well here (and for all your sightseeing in Barcelona, frankly, especially if you have a walking-intensive itinerary visiting places like Parc Güell, etc.).

❌ 5. Booking the Wrong Time

When we’re talking Barcelona in the summer… be warned. Crowds? Miserable. Sweat? Abundant. Sun? Relentless. If visiting Barcelona in any of the warmer and busier months (basically: anything that’s not December through February), you’ll want to plan carefully because timing is everything.

I’d recommend visiting Barcelona during the winter or the shoulder season (March or November). If you can’t visit during those times though, the exact time of day that you visit becomes even more important.

The best times to visit are pretty obvious… avoid the noon and post-lunch rush as much as possible. That means aiming for:

• Early morning: Beat the worst of crowds and the heat and get your day in Barcelona off to a fantastic start.
• Late afternoon: Gorgeous afternoon light, fewer people than at mid-day (though more than early morning), and a beautiful golden glow over all your photos.

Keep in mind that because there is Sunday mass every week, you can’t exactly visit early morning on Sundays. In that case, I’d opt for afternoon, not early morning, if you have to visit on a Sunday. You can check out available times for self-guided tickets (with audioguide) here.

🕘 Opening Hours:

• November – February: Mon–Sat: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Sunday: 10:30 AM – 6:00 PM
• March & October: Mon–Fri: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM, Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Sunday: 10:30 AM – 7:00 PM
• April – September: Mon–Fri: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM, Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Sunday: 10:30 AM – 8:00 PM
• Special Holidays (Dec 25 & 26, Jan 1 & 6): 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Note: Last tickets are usually 45 minutes before closing time, although I would personally give myself at least two hours to enjoy it, so as not to rush.

📖 Expert Tip: If you are visiting in the peak of summer, I’d avoid early afternoon… or even late afternoon. La Sagrada Familia might have high ceilings… but all that body heat still makes it really stuffy. Especially when you are walking down from the tower, you don’t want to overheat!

❌ 6. Forgetting the Dress Code

No matter what time of year you visit, you need to remember that Sagrada Famila is a church, not a beach club. If you don’t want to get denied entrance, here’s what you need to keep in mind.

Personally, I have never seen anyone denied access to La Sagrada Familia but the dress code is surprisingly strict (on paper), and I’d hate for you to have a bad experience based off my anecdotal experience. So dress properly to avoid any problems.

Heads, shoulders, and knees are the key words (toes get a pass). Don’t cover your head, but do cover those shoulders and knees.

🚫 Don’t Wear:

• Tank tops or spaghetti straps as well as crop tops or open-back shirts/dresses
• Shorts or skirts that end above the knee (for men, too)
• Any offensive graphics or slogans on your shirt (in fact, just don’t wear these anywhere in Europe, please)
• Hats inside the church

🎒 Pro Tip: Whenever you’re traveling and Europe and having a church day, bring a light scarf or layer to toss on — maybe two, if you need one for both your shoulders and knees. It’ll save you both from dirty looks and from being turned away.

❌ 7. Acting Like It’s Not a Real Church (Because It Is)

La Sagrada Familia isn’t just an Instagram backdrop. It’s a functioning Catholic basilica, and on Sundays at 9 AM, they even hold mass… which is why Sundays have a later opening day than any other day.

Remember where you are when taking photos. Using flash photography is outright prohibited, both for preserving the interior and for not blinding and bothering everyone else around you. While you can take selfies and group pictures, keep in mind that you should aim to keep your noise and disruption to a minimum.

⛪ Yes, it’s a working church, so you can attend mass for free at 9 AM each Sunday — but it’s not a tourist show, and it’s definitely not a respectful way to skip out on paying to visit the Sagrada Familia.

So please, no wandering around mid-service snapping pics as if you just found a cheat code for a ticket-free visit. And for the love of God (literally… even though I’m technically an atheist) — no selfie sticks or tripods.

Of course, it gets packed during Sunday mass, so show up early and expect to stand. And if you’re not religious? Sure, this experience will mean more to Christians than it will to the godless heathens (raises hand) but you technically can attend. It’s not like you’ll be quizzed — but still, treat it like the sacred space it is and follow all the mass instructions.

❌ 8. Showing Up Clueless (A Little Homework = Big Reward)

This is probably the most optional Sagrada Familia tip, and if you are reading this, it’s probably a good sign that you are trying to find out about the basilica before you make the trip.

And I sincerely commend you for that! Guides, whether audioguides or human, are super informative, but if it’s your first time hearing a lot of the information, it might be hard to take it all in… especially if you’re neurodivergent and easily distracted in loud, crowded spaces like I am.

Sure, you can just wander through and gape. But trust me: you’ll get so much more out of your visit if you know why everything looks like a fever dream made of limestone, stained glass, and geometric splendor.

🎧 OK, yes, the audioguide is more than decent, but still: I recommend watching this short video animation of the basilica’s construction progress before you go. It’s mind-blowing to see what Gaudí started… and what’s still coming! And the visual aspect helps my understanding a ton.

The goal for completion was initially set for 2026 — to coincide with the 100-year anniversary of Gaudí’s tram-related demise — but the Covid pandemic pushed that schedule back a bit, and the new completion goal has shifted to the 2030s.

There are a few special years in the early 2030s that make for a significant anniversary, so it’ll likely be in either 2023 (the 150th anniversary of the start of construction) or 2033 (the 150th anniversary of Gaudí taking over the design).

❌ 9. Leaving the Area Immediately After

You just saw one of the most iconic buildings in the world — don’t shortchange yourself by bolting straight to the metro after. There’s so much to see in the area right around the Sagrada Familia!

🏞️ Instead, I suggest that next you stroll down Avinguda de Gaudí, a charming pedestrian street leading to Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau, one of the most overlooked architectural gems in the city and one of the largest Art Deco buildings in the whole world!

It wasn’t constructed by Gaudí himself (though if you want to see more of his works, I have a guide to all the different Gaudí buildings in Barcelona here!) but rather his mentor, Lluís Domènech i Montaner, and you can see the influence, continuity, and conversation between the two architects in their works, particularly this one.

In fact, its designer would have a good case for being the city’s most famous architect if it wasn’t for you-know-who.

❌ 10. Thinking You’re “Far” from Everything Else

La Sagrada Familia isn’t in the Gothic Quarter, but don’t let the map fool you — Barcelona is super walkable. Here are a few options for walking routes after you’ve visited the Sagrada Familia!

🚶‍♀️ Walk 20 minutes to Arc de Triomf and Parc de la Ciutadella.

🚶‍♀️Walk 25 minutes the other direction to Passeig de Gràcia and Gaudí’s Casa Batlló which is one of my personal favorite pieces of his architecture.

🚶‍♀️Even the beach is just a 40-minute meander if you’re feeling ambitious — tip: stuff yourself with everything potato — croquetas, patatas bravas, etc. — to fuel your afternoon wanderings.

Don’t rush off like you’ve got a plane to catch. (Unless you do — in which case, hightail it!)

Final Thought: Is the Sagrada Familia Worth It?

For me? Yes: a resounding yes. Trust me, from my firsthand experience on my first (of many) visit to Barcelona: you will regret showing up without tickets. You will hate being turned away from the towers.

And if you skip past the interior thinking “meh, seen one church, seen it all, right?” — trust me, no. (And honestly, I generally ascribe to this rule of thought, after visiting nearly every country in Europe… but Sagrada Familia is an exception!)

💡 So do your future self a favor and book now:

• 🎟️ Pre-Sale Entry Ticket with Audioguide
• 🧠 Skip-the-Line Entry with Guide and Priority Access
• 🗼 Skip-the-Line Tour with Tower Access

Allison Green

Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016, visiting 75+ countries in total. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. As a former educator, she merges her writing and educational experience to encourage ethical, sustainable travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and TBEX. Her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. When she’s not on the road, she lives in Bangkok, Thailand.