Aerial view of Sagrada Família at sunrise

Guided Visit to La Sagrada Família, Barcelona

Beat the crowds with early entrance into La Sagrada Família and explore the monument's exterior and interior with a private guide.

Overview

Enjoy a special visit to the Sagrada Família, a stunning Roman Catholic church and UNESCO World Heritage Site designed by the renowned Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. With a private guide leading the way, you'll gain early entrance to the monument to avoid the typical crowds. Discover the church's fascinating history by perusing the detailed facades, the unique interiors with arched ceilings and stained glass, and the views from atop the tower, Torre de la Pasión.

Highlights

  • Beat the crowds and visit Sagrada Família with early entrance privileges.
  • Learn all about Gaudí and his masterpiece with the help of a private, passionate guide.
  • Observe the church's fascinating outdoor facades and unique interiors.
  • Climb to the top of the tower, Torre de la Pasión, for panoramic views of Barcelona.

Know before you go

Duration
3 hours
Recommended for
All ages
Group
Private group, 10 people or less

What you'll do

Visiting the Sagrada Família isn't like popping into any old church. This incredible monument offers a total experience and requires at least two hours to really absorb its history, architecture, and cultural impact. One of the best ways to view Antoni Gaudí's masterpiece is with the help of a private guide who can offer details not easily seen on your own. But what makes this experience better is the early entrance, meaning your guide will walk you around the monument's three facades and through its interiors without the typical crowds.

You'll start by meeting your guide near the church's Nativity Façade, built between 1894 and 1930 and the only exterior Antoni Gaudí saw completed. Notice all the unique intricacies, including marble animals, trees of life, doves, and more. As your guide will explain, it all comes together to represent the birth of Christ and symbolize the three stages of life: birth, vitality, and light (afterlife). But this is just one of three facades, so follow your guide around the building as you learn about the others: Passion and Glory. Passion represents the stages of Jesus, including passion, death, and resurrection, and Glory is all about Christ's eternal life in heaven.

Next, follow your guide into the church's interiors with exclusive early access. Gaudí's signature design includes geometric shapes, and those inside La Sagrada Família reach more than 200 feet to the vaulted nave, crossing, and apse. Notice the architect's love of colors, with hues stretching across the church through its stained glass windows. Your guide will also highlight how Gaudí used natural elements in his design. Check out the apse (the half-domed roof), which creates the shape of trees and their crowns. Other highlights your guide will show you include places like the altar, organ pipes, chapels, and the Crypt Of The Expiatory Temple, the oldest part of the church with a beautiful Neo-Renaissance design.

After scouring this historical treasure, you'll end the experience by climbing to the top of the tower known as the Torre de la Pasión. From its 19-story height, you'll have one of the best panoramic views of Barcelona.

Start times

  • Daily
    9:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm
  • Sunday
    Not available

What's included

  • Tickets to La Sagrada Familia and the Tower and reservations
  • Private Guide

Traveler reviews

6 total ratings, 5 with reviews
4.8 out of 5
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
5.0
Guides, Drivers and Staff
5.0
Transport
5.0
E
Elizabeth M.
Ashland, MA | Reviewed on Oct 27, 2022

Fabulous building, but large tour group. Well handled considering the crowds. Loved learning some of the ideas behind the building. Most impressive!

Leona
Leona V.
Canada | Reviewed on Oct 22, 2022
Loved the architecture. Read more

Loved the architecture.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Marinus
Marinus V.
Canada | Reviewed on Oct 17, 2022
Tips for future travelers Take your time Read more
Tips for future travelers

Take your time

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
K
Kelley S.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Oct 03, 2022
Gemma was an exceptional guide! Read more

Gemma was an exceptional guide!

Tips for future travelers

Do a private tour of this site. It is worth it to understand the significance of this place.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Elise
Elise V.
Cornelius, NC | Reviewed on Sep 11, 2022
We enjoyed the tour of Sagrada Familia. Our guide was so nice and knowledgeable! Read more

We enjoyed the tour of Sagrada Familia. Our guide was so nice and knowledgeable!

Tips for future travelers

It was so nice to skip the lines! Worth the tour! If you want to go up in the tower, you need to book that separately and in advance.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff

Itineraries with Guided Visit to La Sagrada Família

Best of Barcelona & Valencia - 9 days

Experience the best of eclectic Barcelona and València on this nine-day itinerary, featuring tapas, beaches, and guided city tours. Start in Barcelona, where you'll explore Gaudí's whimsical architecture with La Sagrada Família, Parc Güell, and Casa Milà before heading to the mountains to discover the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey. You'll then ride the high-speed EuroMed to València, the home of paella, to immerse yourself amid medieval buildings, future-forward structures, and golden-sand beaches.

Highlights of Barcelona - 5 Days

This 5-day tour is the perfect introduction to Spain's cosmopolitan hub of Catalonia. Let local guides show you Barcelona's best architectural sights, tree-lined streets, and tapas bars by foot and bicycle. You'll also take a sailing trip and a kayaking excursion in the Mediterranean to round out this fun adventure.

Off the Beaten Path in Madrid & Barcelona - 6 Days

Even in less than a week, it's possible to get to the heart of Spain—you just need to focus on the right places. This six-day whirlwind cultural tour achieves exactly that by focusing on Madrid and Barcelona, ensuring you get the most out of each. Not only will you see famous sights like the Royal Palace and El Prado Museum, but expert local guides will give you a delicious introduction to both cities on private food tours. 

Barcelona & the Costa Brava - 12 Days

This 12-day tour kicks off in Barcelona where you'll explore the city's fascinating culture and architecture, including Gaudí's UNESCO-listed landmarks. Next, head north to the Costa Brava—a 125-mile (200-km) stretch of pine trees, golden beaches, and crystal clear water—for a blissful week on the Mediterranean while staying in a medieval town with great restaurants.