What’s La Sagrada Familia Interior Like?
ALL ABOUT LA SAGRADA FAMILIA INSIDE
If there is one MUST-SEE place in town, that’s definitely the Sagrada Familia church. Started in 1882 by the architect Francesc de Paula i Villar, Gaudi took over the project a year later and transformed it into his masterpiece, his passion and obsession. It won’t be finished until 2026-30 (approx.), but the inside was finally completed, freed of scaffolding and consecrated by Pope Benedict in 2010.
Before the completion of the inside naves in 2010 many people were content to just see it from outside and spare the cost of the tickets. But after that, the Barcelona Sagrada Familia interior has become a must: if there’s one site where you need to spend your money, this is the Sagrada Familia church. In this post we’ll go point by point explaining what entails visiting inside La Sagrada Familia, so you don’t miss anything, and giving a special focus on the best part of the visit: the actual interior of the church. But in case you aren’t sure yet about going in, let’s get your doubts out of the way once and for all:
Is Gaudi's Sagrada Familia inside worth it?
Yes, going inside Sagrada Familia is totally worth it! If you don’t, you’ll regret it the rest of your life. It’s a church like no other church you’ve seen it. It’s the largest basilica in Spain… and the second in the world (after the Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican). And the combination of engineering and beauty will blow your mind.
The best way to enjoy it is taking a private Sagrada Familia tour: you get to skip lines and you have an expert tour guide 100% dedicated to you, your interests and questions. No sharing with other people (that might be annoying). But if you prefer to go on your own, make sure to buy your tickets in advance. After the pandemic they eliminated their physical ticket offices and purchasing them online is the only option. Plus they typically sell out days (or even weeks) in advance. You’ve been warned.
And now that you have any doubts out of the way, let’s see what awaits you inside!
What can you see if you pay to go inside Sagrada Familia?
1
Nativity Façade
The first thing you'll see after passing the security checks is the Nativity Façade. This the side that was built during Antoni Gaudi's lifetime, the one that looks more traditional and it is dedicated to the birth of Jesus and Christmas time. Some people will tell you that you can see it from the street without paying, and while that is not untrue... there's lots of details that you'll be missing, as the street level is too low and relatively far. For instance, from the street you miss the turtles at the foot of the columns (one a sea turtle, one a land tortoise), and there's no way you can see the 6th toe of the soldier of Herod.
2
The Interior
After seeing the Nativity Façade you’ll proceed through the gates that take you inside Sagrada Familia. And you’ve never seen anything like this! Giant columns rise above you ramifying into more columns as if they were the branches of ancient trees. And the vaults, generated through mesmerizing geometric rules, play the role of the canopy of the forest. The vibrant colors of the stained glasses round out the magnificent effect. And there is more! But you’ll find out about this further down in this post.
3
The Cloister and the Sacristy
Once you are ready to proceed with your visit, before you exit to the Passion Façade, take the corridor to the right of the doors. It’s not just a corridor, it’s one section of the Cloister of the basilica. And unlike traditional cloisters this one won’t be surrounding a garden but the church itself. This section is now used to display objects, furniture and chairs designed by Gaudi for other churches and chapels. And at the end of it you’ll find one of the two sacristies (the other one hasn’t been built yet).
While the sacristy isn’t visitable when there’s mass, the rest of the time you can see the inside and admire the two wooden cabinets designed by Gaudi (and restored after the damage made during the Spanish Civil War), where the priests keep their robes and the paraphernalia used during the services. All this can’t be seen from the street: from the street you only see the outside of the Sacristy, that looks like a small and chubby tower.
4
The Passion Façade
Next you'll exit to the Passion Façade, the most modern side of the church. The sculptures by Josep Maria Subirachs are strikingly contemporary and dark - perfect to depict the drama of the last three days of the life of Jesus. Again, some will say that you can see the sculptures from the outside. However, again the experience is not the same. This side of the church is surrounded by a fence of a dense metallic mesh that prevents you from seeing the details of the lower sculptures, and trying to peer through the tiny holes is not ideal.
5
The School
Many people miss this humble building that Antoni Gaudi designed for the children of the workers of the church (and from the street you can barely see one side of it). Made of red flat brick, a railway supports some inclined wooden beams that generate a unique wavy rooftop. The building stopped being a school long ago and now one of its only three classrooms recreates how the interior of the school would have looked like when it was still operating as an educational center, the central room displays old pictures of it, and the last room is not visitable as it’s used for educational activities when local schools visit the church.
6
The Museum
The visit of the inside of Sagrada Familia finishes in the basement. There you'll find a very interesting museum displaying restored Gaudi models of the church, images of Sagrada Familia as well as other of his works, and introduction to the influence of nature and its geometry in the architecture and designs of Antoni Gaudí, and much more. There's also a window over the current workshop of the model makers, and another window overlooking Gaudi's tomb in the crypt.
The star of the museum in the basement is this polifunicular model, a replica of the one that Gaudi created to design the church of the Colònia Güell for his best friend Eusebi Güell. It’s fascinating how he’d only need strings and little bags of sand to calculate what our architects now do on their computers… That church was the lab where Gaudi tested the engineering techniques he wanted to use in the Church of the Sagrada Familia… in a much more advanced and challenging way.
What is not included in the tickets to go inside Sagrada Familia?
7
The Towers
The regular admissions don’t include the access to the Sagrada Familia towers: you must purchase the specific ticket that includes them. And because the access to the elevator is from the interior of the basilica, you can’t purchase tickets only for the towers: it’s a pack that includes both the towers AND the basilica. And while technically you could head to the Information Point and ask to add the towers addon to your tickets once you are inside… I don’t recommend it: the tickets for the towers sell out pretty much every day, so finding availability on the same day is almost a miracle.
So if you want to visit the towers, make sure to purchase the ticket that includes them from the start. Or book our Sagrada Familia Tour with Tower Access ; )
8
The Crypt
The Crypt is the underground chapel started by Gaudi’s predecessor Francesc de Paula Villar and completed by the master following the original Gothic Revival style. You can have a sneak peak of it from the windows of the presti and the museum when you are inside the church, but the access is from Marina street. It is free of charge, however it’s mostly only open when there’s services. If it’s open when you visit, make sure to walk all the way down the ambulatory to find Gaudi’s tomb and pay him a little tribute.
Detailed description of La Sagrada Familia interior
9
The Layout
The Sagrada Familia follows a Basilica floor plan: it is based on a Latin cross plan (with the altar at the "head" of the cross, a long central nave in the "body" of the cross, a transept crossing the central nave right before the altar as if it was the arms of the cross, then more lateral naves or aisles growing out of the transept parallel to the main central nave). Sagrada Familia has 5 naves: the central one plus two aisles at each side of it.
10
The Columns
As you enter the Sagrada Familia interior you'll face a massive stone forest made of 36 columns. They represent trees - the church welcoming the people like a forest welcomes the birds. At the same time, each column is dedicated to a diocese (Catholic district) of either Catalonia, Spain or the rest of the world. Gaudi designed the knots of the trees to be lamps (yes, electricity was already a thing in his time), and four of them display the coats of arms of the dioceses of Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona - the capitals of the provinces of Catalonia.
Instead, the 4 central columns represent the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), and each of them is represented by its own symbol: an Angel, a Lion, a Bull and an Eagle. You’ll notice that those are the only 4 columns made of a red stone: porphyry. Considered one of the strongest materials in the world, these four columns will be supporting the weight of the highest tower – Jesus-Christ’s tower. The rest of the columns are covered in different materials (dark grey basalt, light grey granite and white sandstone), depending on the weight each column is supporting.
If you pay attention, you’ll notice that the columns don’t rise perfectly straight up: they are slightly leaning in. This is because the columns aren’t just individual columns but they are the legs of giant parabolic arches – which is the shape Gaudi used to create self-supporting buildings (you can learn more about that in the museum in the basement… or take our Gaudi tour!). The stripes in along the body of the columns aren’t random either: each column is generated from the rotation of squares, pentagons and hexagons rotating in opposite directions, and the stripes show the path of their corners as they ascend (I know, complex to understand in written words, but it’s easy to understand in person during my tours, as it’s more of a visual concept).
11
The Vaults
As you admire the columns, your eyes will be naturally led to look up to the vaults - which are even more mesmerizing. The vaults of the transept and the central nave are a canopy of geometric shapes made of red flat brick and bits of green and gold Venetian glass, which create an effect of palm trees with the sun filtering through them. They are actually a puzzle of dozens of hyperboloids, each of them acting as a skylight, that we only see from the bottom end. From their central holes hang lamps, also shaped as hyperboloids, but again we only see their bottom ends - which from the ground level look like giant glass beer bottle caps. Each of them is decorated with Christian symbols.
12
The Altar and the Baldaquin
As you walk further inside, you'll be approaching the Altar area. The actual altar isn't the average communion table but a block of red porphyry. As per Gaudi's wish, it hasn't been polished and it appears in its rough state - closer to nature, closer to the work of God. Over the altar hangs a very realistic crucifix by the artist Francesc Fajula. Apparently Gaudi wanted it to convey the suffering of being crucified and to capture the very last second of the life of Jesus, with his limbs losing all strength and his eyes still looking up to the Father.
14
The Ambulatory, the Crypt and the Organ
A corridor goes around the presbytery (the elevated altar area): it's the ambulatory that runs alongside the Apse or the back of the church. This is a space for silence and respect - which is why tours are not allowed in this area. You'll notice a few confessionals, used when there's mass in the high altar. And at the back of the ambulatory, right behind the altar, you'll find a prayer area where you'll be able to take a moment to say a prayer and wordship the Lord away from the crowds, if you wish.
15
The Stained Glass Windows
One you are ready, walk down the aisle and away from the altar. The side aisles are the best place to admire the stained glass windows. They were designed by Joan Vila-Grau, who used the colors of the forest (browns and reds for the trunks, greens and yellows for the leaves and the blue of the sky). He also studied the movement of the Sun around the church at different times of the day and the year, so the result is ever changing and always spectacular.
16
The Doors
There's three entrances into the church, each of them with its own bronze doors and their own personality. The doors on the Nativity Façade were designed by the Japanese artist Etsuro Sotoo and they represent nature. He represented there flora from the areas where Jesus spent his childhood years, as well as dozens of small animals: insects, snails, spiders, reptiles and amphibious. It's lots of fun to observe them!
The Glory Doors are the ones that face Mallorca street, where the Glory Façade will go one day. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to see the real doors because they open to a space with works in progress that is not safe to visit. Instead, what you’ll see is a real-size picture of the main door printed on a canvas. This door was designed by the artist Josep Maria Subirachs and it shows the words of the Prayer of the Lord in Catalan, plus the words “Our Father” and “Give us this day our daily bread” in 50 more languages from all over the world.
Finally, the doors of the Passion Façade were also designed by Mr. Subirachs, and the two central ones are somehow similar to the Glory ones but instead of a prayer they reproduce the texts of the parts of the Gospels by Matthew and John about the last three days of the life of Jesus. The words are dotted with hundreds of little objects and symbols: coins, skulls, shells, Gaudi elements… The side doors are also ornate with Gospel texts and images related to the story told by that façade.
From inside you’ll also see that the main doors are flanked by giant shells with a silver border. They come from the Philippine Islands and are used to hold the holy water during mass – they rest of the time they are empty, but they are beautiful to watch.
16
The Balconies
The Balconies are not accessible to the public, but you can see them from the ground level. It’s one continue balcony that goes around the entire perimeter of the inside of the church, and it was conceived to be the space for the Choir. But in reality it has only been used once for that purpose: in 2010 when Pope Benedict came to dedicate the church and make it holy. There’s room for 800 singers, including the adult choirs in the sides and the children voices around the altar area.
As a curiosity, the railings of the Choir represent the music notes of of ecclesiastical anthems, written in Gregorian tetragrams (the notes are square instead of round – it’s a different system than the one currently used nowadays). On the other hand, there’s a sculpture on the balcony right above each central door: Mary for the Nativity Side, Josep for the Passion side, and Saint George (Patron Saint of Catalonia), over the Glory door. You may be wondering why Jesus isn’t’ there instead but, of course, he’s already represented in the top space of the church: over the altar!
FAQ
Do you pay to go inside Sagrada Familia?
Yes, at least when there’s no mass going on. Tickets well out fast, so don’t wait to purchase them or you may be disappointed! There are discounts available for students and seniors, and kids under 11yo go in for free.
Do they celebrate mass in the interior of Sagrada Familia?
Yes, an international mass takes place every Saturday evening (the exact schedule varies depending on sunlight) and every Sunday at 9AM. It is recommended to arrive 2 hours in advance, as only the first 1000 in the line will be allowed in. There’s also Christmas and Easter services, and for some of them you must register online and enter a draft to secure a seat.
But while mass is free, don’t think it’s a free alternative to visit the church. During mass, you must remain seated, no talking, no taking pictures, be respectful of the ceremony going on. And as soon as mass is over you’ll be made to leave with no extra time for pictures or visiting.
How long inside Sagrada Familia?
Most people spend a bit over one hour visiting the Sagrada Familia, but time flies once you are inside, so it’s not unusual to take longer. Expect also probably about a half an hour longer when you want to spend time in the Museum or in the gift shops, and another half an hour for the towers if you are visiting them.
Is it hot inside Sagrada Familia?
During the Summer time, heat is only a problem when you are standing in line to get in, or when you are admiring the outside of the façades, as there’s very little shade. Inside the church it tends to be less hot, but be aware that there is no air-conditioner: a fan and lots of water will be your friends when it’s hot. During the winter, the church is not as cold inside as it is outside but you’ll still be wearing your jacket on.
Is there a dress code to enter the Sagrada Familia?
Yes, even if they don’t always enforce it (but don’t try your luck, just in case). Teenagers and adults should wear modest clothing adequate for a church: knee long (or longer) pants or skirts, shoulders covered, no deep necklines.
It’s OK to cover your head with a hat, bonnet or baseball cap in the outdoor areas (façades), but you’ll be requested to take them off inside the church as well as when you are going through security to get in. Sunglasses must also be taken off during security, but you can put them on for the rest of your visit.
TOURS THAT TAKE YOU INSIDE SAGRADA FAMILIA
Will you be going inside La Sagrada Familia?
Marta
Marta is the founder of ForeverBarcelona. She is a passionate tour guide that loves Barcelona and loves writing too. She is the main author of our Blog, and is committed to sharing her knowledge about Barcelona and her best tips with our readers.
RESEARCHING FOR A TRIP IS TIME-CONSUMING…
Need more inspiration?
Our 100% FREE Barcelona Collection will give you everything you need to organize the trip of your lifetime to Barcelona.
BEST INSIDER TIPS FROM THE PROS!
Last update on 2025-05-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API