Etiquette & cultureBy Clever Tourists · Published
The Sagrada Família has a short, specific dress code: no see-through clothing, trousers and skirts that reach at least mid-thigh, no swimwear, no bare feet, and no hats in the nave or museum. Shoulders are not mentioned, which makes it more relaxed than the cathedrals of Córdoba or Venice. Tickets are sold online only: the basic individual ticket is €26 (≈ $29) and the version with the towers is €36 (≈ $40), both including the audioguide app. We spent 5 days in Barcelona in July 2022. This page covers the rules as published by the basilica's own site, the 2026 prices, opening hours by season and what happens at the bag check.
Free toolConvert to your own currency at live rates →Live mid-market rates for all 17 currencies we used, so you can see what a price actually costs.• Dress code: nothing see-through; trousers and skirts at least to mid-thigh; no swimwear; shoes required; hats off in the nave and museum.
• Basic ticket: €26 (≈ $29) (seniors €21 (≈ $23), under 30s €24 (≈ $27), students with a student card €24 (≈ $27)). Children under 11 and people with disabilities enter free.
• With towers: €36 (≈ $40) (€34 (≈ $38) for under 30s and students, €28 (≈ $31) for seniors). Towers are not sold separately.
• Guided tour: €30 (≈ $33), or €40 (≈ $45) with the towers.
• Hours: 9:00 to 18:00 November to February, with Sundays opening at 10:30. Later closing from March, up to 20:00 on weekdays April to September.
• Tickets: online only. There is no ticket office at the door for walk-ups.
The basilica's published rules are short. The dress code says clothing must not be transparent and that trousers and skirts must reach at least mid-thigh. Swimwear and bare feet are not allowed. Hats are not allowed in the nave or the museum except for religious, health or belief-related reasons, and festive costumes or decorations meant to draw attention are refused.
What the page does not say matters too. There is no stated rule on covered shoulders, so a T-shirt or a sundress with straps is acceptable on the official wording, unlike at Venice's St Mark's, Córdoba's Mezquita-Catedral or most mosques. Short shorts and microskirts are the most likely reasons for being stopped. If you are visiting in July or August, as we were in Barcelona, lightweight trousers or a knee-length skirt cost you nothing and remove any argument at the door. Our Spain packing list covers the rest of the wardrobe for a trip that also includes cathedrals.
The 2026 individual prices on the basilica's own site are: basic ticket €26 (≈ $29), basic with guided tour €30 (≈ $33), with towers €36 (≈ $40), and with guided tour plus towers €40 (≈ $45). Reduced rates apply for seniors, under 30s and student-card holders. Children under 11 and people with disabilities are free, and a companion of a person with a disability pays only for the extra services.
The audioguide is an app included with individual tickets, and only for the basilica. Towers are an add-on and are only sold as part of the "with towers" tickets, so decide before you buy. Groups of up to 30 use a separate entrance and pay the guided-tour price, with guides accredited by the Government of Catalonia.
Pre-booking matters because tickets can only be purchased online. Pick a time slot rather than hoping for a gap, and avoid third-party sellers who add a mark-up. A Barcelona stay also triggers the city tourist tax; see our Barcelona tourist tax guide.
The basilica's schedule runs on three seasons. From November to February it opens Monday to Saturday 9:00 to 18:00 and Sundays 10:30 to 18:00. In March and October it is 9:00 to 19:00 Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 18:00 on Saturday and 10:30 to 19:00 on Sunday. From April to September weekdays run 9:00 to 20:00, Saturday 9:00 to 18:00, and Sunday 10:30 to 20:00.
On 25 and 26 December and 1 and 6 January it closes at 14:00. Hours can also change for events inside the basilica. Mass times are listed in the basilica's calendar of masses, so check the date before you choose a slot. Since 2 February 2026 there has been a daily quiet hour from 9:00 to 10:00: use earphones for audioguides and other audio, and make no noise inside the temple. If you want the building in the quietest condition, that is the slot to book, though it is also popular. The basilica can close at short notice: an official notice from early October said it shut on 3 October and until 2pm on 4 October because of forecast bad weather, with automatic refunds for tickets bought through the official channel. Buy there, and check for closures before you go.
All bags, rucksacks and luggage are checked at the entrance. The page lists no size limit, so a small day bag avoids delays. Outside beverages, dangerous items and narcotics are prohibited. Smoking and eating are not allowed anywhere on the premises, and drinking is only allowed outside the building.
The rules page bans photo, video and sound-recording equipment inside the basilica unless a media outlet has written authorisation from the press department, and tripods are only permitted with accreditation. In practice that targets professional equipment; follow the staff on the day. Commercial use of images needs the Foundation's written permission. Speak quietly, do not run or form crowds, and note that protests are strictly prohibited on the grounds.
Individual visitors use the general entrance on the Nativity façade on Carrer de la Marina. The metro stop is Sagrada Família on lines L2 and L5, and buses 19, 33, 34, D50, H10 and B24 stop nearby. From the airport, see our Barcelona airport to city guide.
Allow about 90 minutes for the basilica and the audioguide, more with towers. Watch your pockets on the approach streets and the metro; our tourist scams in Barcelona guide covers the usual ones. For the wider trip, our two-week Spain itinerary places Barcelona in context, and the best time to visit Spain explains why July is hot and crowded.
No see-through clothing, trousers and skirts at least to mid-thigh, no swimwear, no bare feet, and no hats in the nave or museum. The basilica's rules do not mention covered shoulders.
€26 (≈ $29) for the basic individual ticket and €36 (≈ $40) with the towers, both including the audioguide app. Guided versions are €30 (≈ $33) and €40 (≈ $45). Children under 11 are free.
No. The basilica states that tickets can only be purchased online, so book a time slot in advance.
Bags are checked at the entrance. The rules list no size limit, but a small bag is quicker. Outside drinks are not allowed.
9:00 to 18:00 November to February (Sundays from 10:30), longer in spring and summer, up to 20:00 on weekdays from April to September.
Get our new Spain guides and practical tips by email: where to stay, what to eat, what things cost and the rules that catch travelers out.
Free. No spam, only new guides and tips.
Search verified local fleets with low security deposits and exact model delivery on Localrent.
Compare stays in Spain and get the best deals on Booking.com.
