Visit Sagrada Familia – Gaudi’s Masterwork
Located in the Eixample neighborhood, the Sagrada Familia is one of Barcelona’s most famous landmarks and the city’s most visited monument. Accessing the very symbol of the Catalan capital designed by modernist architect Antoni Gaudí is on the bucket list of every tourist and about right.
Entering the Sagrada Familia isn’t cheap; however, there are some ways to visit Sagrada Familia for free. Are you curious to know more about it?
Keep reading to discover how to enter the Sagrada Familia without spending a single euro!
Sagrada Familia Free Tickets
Sagrada Familia free tickets are only available for the unemployed (duly registered in Spain) religious figures, people with proven disabilities and their companions, children under 11 years old, ICOM members, and Barcelona Press Card holders.
These Sagrada Familia free tickets allow you to visit the Basilica and the Museum. However, additional services, (e.g. audio guide service, access to the towers) are paid.
Babies and children under 3 years old do not require a ticket to visit Sagrada Familia.
How to Apply for Sagrada Familia Free Tickets
People entitled to free tickets must send in their requests at least 48 hours before their visit. These tickets will be processed Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Requests sent on Friday evenings or weekends will be processed within 48 hours of the following business day.
To apply for Sagrada Familia Free Tickets, simply follow these steps:
- Go to Sagrada Familia’s website https://sagradafamilia.org/tickets
- Choose the option that applies to you (e.g. “person with a disability”, “children under 11,” etc.)
People with a proven disability
Remember that you must prove your disability condition to access the venue.
If accompanied by a disabled person, they will add another free ticket by choosing the option “Companion of a person with a disability.”
Unemployed People
Unemployed people can visit Sagrada Familia for free only on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. They must be duly registered in Spain, with proof of unemployment – Official SEPE Certificate (DARDO).
International Masses – Sagrada Familia Free Entry
The way to visit Sagrada Familia for free for everybody is by attending mass inside the Basilica. If you don’t understand Spanish and Catalan, don’t worry: the Sagrada Familia are also offers international masses where they mix different languages. If you know English, French, or Italian, you will be able to follow the Church’s Roman Catholic service!
Sagrada Familia’s International Masses are held on Saturdays at 8 p.m. and on Sundays and on the main religious holidays at 9 a.m. The duration of Sagrada Familia’s International Masses is one hour.
The International Mass takes place in the central nave, in front of the main altar. The capacity is limited to 1,000 people. First arrived, first served!
Attending the mass gives you a good view of the Sagrada Familia inside (from your chair), but it does not give you access to the towers or the museum.
Sagrada Familia International Mass – How it Works
To attend the International Mass at the Sagrada Familia, you must enter through the Nativity Façade of the Church (on Carrer de la Marina).
Doors open 30 minutes before the start of the Mass. With this “first come, first served” non-written rule, those interested in attending the celebration start waiting in line three hours before the mass (yes, at 6 a.m.!).
On Sundays, the Basilica is usually packed with people by 8 a.m., while the whole thing is more relaxed on Saturdays.
Some basic information you should remember is that you must dress appropriately, with your shoulders, belly, and knees covered. Moreover, pictures are not allowed since the event is an occasion to pray (not to sightsee).
However, it is also a great opportunity to admire the architecture inside the church, bathed by the light from the stained-glass windows. During the morning mass, the light through the stained-glass windows is green and blue, while in the afternoon, it’s red and orange.
Consider a Guided Tour for the Best Sagrada Familia Experience
Although International Masses are a great opportunity to visit one of Barcelona’s main landmarks for free, this Sagrada Familia free entry doesn’t allow you to get the most out of the Basilica. I still recommend visiting the Sagrada Familia with a tour by an expert guide. In addition to fast access (through Gate B with 0 lines), a good guide will point you to all the interesting things in this masterwork of Catalan Modernism, since there is a lot of symbolism on the façades and inside.
If you choose a guided tour with access to one of the towers (I booked and recommend this one), the guide usually accompanies the group to the tower’s lift and briefs you about what to see, where to look, and how to visit, but he does not go up with you. After visiting the tower, you can go to the museum to learn more about Gaudi and his masterwork.
