Is going up Sagrada Familia towers worth it? Find Out!

Antoni Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia is a church that’s been under construction for over a century.

Visitors can either explore the church and its magnificent interiors alone or enhance their experience by ascending the Nativity or Passion Towers.

Since the Tower tickets are more expensive than the standard fast-track tickets, many wonder if the additional cost is justified.

Here’s everything you need to know about whether it’s worth going up the Sagrada Familia Towers or not.

Quick Answer

Going up the Sagrada Familia towers is a cost-effective addition to your visit.

The ascent via the elevator is easy, and you can explore one of the towers in 30 minutes flat.

The descent down the narrow, spiraling stairs adds a sense of adventure, and the stunning panoramic views from the top make it all the more worthwhile.

Among the completed tours, the nativity facade was the only part of the church built during the lifetime of Gaudí.

The Passion facade was built in the 1950s, and the Glory facade is nearing completion (2026).

Want to go up the towers?
Purchase the Sagrada Familia Tower ticket and explore it yourself, or hire a local expert to take you around. Don’t want to go up the Tower? Do you want to explore only the church? Get the regular admission ticket.

Sagrada Familia towers

Once completed, the Sagrada Familia will have 18 towers.

Once completed, twelve of these 18 towers will represent the Apostles, and four towers the Evangelists. The Sagrada Familia tower, with a star on top, represents the Virgin Mary.

The church’s last and highest tower in the middle will represent Jesus Christ.

Currently, there are 12 towers, and the remaining six will be completed by 2026. Out of the 12 towers, four are part of the Nativity facade and four of the Passion facade.

Apart from the six towers yet to be completed, Sagrada will also have an additional facade—the Glory facade—by 2026.

Did You Know?
The interiors of Sagrada Familia are designed to represent Nature, with columns as trees and various creatures hidden throughout the church.

Why the towers are worth your time and money

Here are seven reasons why it is better to go up the Sagrada Towers during your church tour.

Going up the towers doesn’t cost much

The basic adult ticket at Sagrada Familia, which includes the audio guide, costs only €34. The self-guided Tower access tickets, on the other hand, cost just €47.

If you take along an expert guide to help you understand Sagrada Familia Towers, it will cost you €74, which again is a steal of a deal considering how monumental these towers are art-wise.

Going up the towers is effortless

Elevators at Sagrada Familia TowerPin
Image: Different-doors.com

You don’t have to climb up the towers. Each facade has an elevator that takes you right to the top.

Since these elevators can only take six people at a time, sometimes there is a bit of a queue.

In short, going up the tower involves no effort – totally worth it.


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Visiting the towers doesn’t take long


If you time it right, you can visit one of the towers in 30 minutes. As of today, you can only visit one tower with the Tower access ticket.

Visiting the tower during peak time results in you having to wait in line to access the elevators.

Despite the slow climb down the stairs, the whole experience should take you no more than 45 minutes.

The Sagrada isn’t a Cathedral!
Contrary to popular notion, Sagrada Familia isn’t a cathedral church of the Archdiocese of Barcelona; the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia—also known as the Barcelona Cathedral—holds that title.

The towers’ detailing makes them worth the climb

Sagrada ScriptsPin
Image: Bluffton.edu

The general notion is that people opt for the Nativity and Passion Towers tour to catch breathtaking views of Barcelona from above.

Well, the truth is tourists climb the towers to glance at and appreciate the intricate sculptures that adorn both facades.

Climbing down is an adventure!

Stairs to climb down from the Sagrada Familia towers.Pin
Image: Junbeom Ahn

To get down from the towers, you must take the stairs, which can be quite adventurous as the steps are narrow and there aren’t any railings.

Just so you know, climbing down the steps can be slow when it is crowded. That’s why it’s worth knowing when to visit Sagrada Familia.

Note: Kids below six years aren’t allowed on the towers due to the nature of the steps.

Did You Know?
There are sculptures portraying Antoni Gaudí on the church’s two completed façades: He is depicted as Saint Joseph on the Nativity facade and as Saint John on the Passion facade.

The view from the towers is amazing

Sagrada Connecting Bridge viewPin

The views offered by the Nativity Tower and Passion Tower are different from each other but beautiful in their own right.

For instance, the Nativity Tower offers you views of the city and mountains in the backdrop, while the Passion Tower brings you up and close to the Mediterranean Sea’s blue expanse.

Sagrada’s ‘tallest’ bragging right

Tallest religious structuresPin

Once the final Spire (crowned by a cross and dedicated to Jesus Christ) of the Sagrada Familia is complete, it will be the tallest church in the world (564 ft/172 m).

Now, that’s something worth bragging about—standing at the top of one of the world’s tallest religious structures!

The Sagrada’s height would, nevertheless, put it behind Hassan II Mosque in Morocco (689 ft/210 m) and ahead of the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Ivory Coast (518 ft/158 m).

It would also beat the world’s current tallest church title holder, Germany’s Ulm Munster (531 ft/162 m).

Photo of author
Researched & written by
Jamshed is a versatile traveler, equally drawn to the vibrant energy of city escapes and the peaceful solitude of remote getaways. On some trips, he indulges in resort hopping, while on others, he spends little time in his accommodation, fully immersing himself in the destination. A passionate foodie, Jamshed delights in exploring local cuisines, with a particular love for flavorful non-vegetarian dishes. Favourite Cities: Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Dublin, Prague, Vienna

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