Experiencing Barcelona’s Sagrada Família Without the Crowds

The Sagrada Família is one of Barcelona’s most iconic landmarks and among the most renowned churches globally. Initially envisioned as a neo-Gothic basilica in 1882, the project was taken over by Antoni Gaudí in 1883. At just 31 years old, Gaudí had already established himself as a groundbreaking architect with creations like Park Güell, Casa Vincens, Casa Batlló, and Casa Milà. He dedicated the final 12 years of his life to the Sagrada Família, focusing solely on this project. Tragically, he only witnessed one of the bell towers completed during his lifetime, but other architects have continued to build it in accordance with his vision. Construction has been ongoing for 141 years and is estimated to be about 75 percent complete.

With an average of 14,000 to 16,000 visitors daily, the Sagrada Família can get quite crowded during regular hours. When I first visited this landmark with my family in 2008, I felt awe mixed with a hint of claustrophobia. It’s challenging to appreciate the intricate details while navigating through the throngs of people. So, when I received an invitation for an exclusive after-hours tour of Gaudí’s masterpiece earlier this month from the global travel booking platform GetYourGuide, I jumped at the chance. Thankfully, unlike the 6 a.m. Vatican Museums tour I did last summer with GetYourGuide, this tour didn’t require a 4:30 a.m. wake-up call.

My Experience of the After-Hours Tour

When I arrived with a small group of eight at 8 p.m. for the tour, the main gate was closed, and the usual crowds surrounding the church had dispersed. We were greeted by our guide, a friendly young woman named Macarena Bergada, who led us to the area outside the Nativity facade, adorned with a multitude of sculptures depicting the story of Jesus Christ’s birth.

After a brief introduction, the doors opened, and we stepped into the transept to the melodious sounds of the organ played by Juan de la Rubia, the church’s Grammy-nominated principal organist who performs during Sunday morning masses and concerts worldwide. We had a few moments to explore on our own, so I strolled up the nave, admiring the pulpit and the stunning stained-glass windows as the evening light streamed through them.

“From the outside, it’s hard to fathom how vibrant it is and how significant light is here. In many European churches, you enter to find something dark, damp, or very somber, but this is a joyful church, thanks not only to the light but also to the colors,” Bergada explained to us regarding the choice of colors in the stained-glass windows. On the eastern facade, depicting the nativity, the cool colors—green and blue—represent the sunrise, Jesus’ birth, and water, the essence of life. Conversely, the warm colors—yellow, orange, and red—on the western facade symbolize passion, sunset, and the blood of Jesus’ sacrifice. The vibrancy of the colors and the abundance of light certainly give the church an uplifting ambiance.

While the design of the stained-glass windows is abstract, the colorful panels also convey information—the names of significant places and saints in Catholicism are inscribed on them. Atop the columns are the names and symbols of the four main apostles: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. There are plans to feature the symbols of the most important dioceses in Europe atop some other columns in the building. I had overlooked these details during my first visit, but in this intimate setting with a knowledgeable guide, I was able to fully appreciate and absorb them this time.

De la Rubia then invited us to take a seat in the pews while he ascended the altar to perform two pieces: the first was an improvisation, followed by the Toccata and Fugue in D minor by Bach. With no one else around, the church was enveloped in a serene quietness. Experiencing De la Rubia's performance in such solitude was profoundly moving.

He then invited us to explore one of the restricted areas that are off-limits to regular visitors. In groups of four or five, we took a glass elevator up to the choir balcony, high above the nave and pews, offering us a completely different viewpoint of this magnificent church.

"Gaudí believed that the best way to pray was through music. Because of this, the Sagrada Família features a magnificent tribune designed for over 1,000 singers," De la Rubia shared. "While a choir of 100 is impressive, imagine the power of 1,000 voices united in song!"

On Sunday mornings, De la Rubia and the choir perform at the altar downstairs, but during the consecration of the basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010, the choir sang from the balcony. We had a moment to converse with him about his unique role before descending the spiral staircase to exit the church, allowing him to practice. In that instant, it felt irrelevant that I'm not Catholic; the sense of awe and wonder I experienced visiting this architectural and spiritual marvel, coupled with stories from two individuals so deeply connected to it, will remain with me for a lifetime.

How to book the after-hours tour

This marks the first time the Sagrada Família has offered after-hours tours free from crowds. Inspired by the success of the sunrise tour at the Vatican led by the clavigero (key keeper), this experience is part of a new series of Originals by GetYourGuide, crafted as unique tour opportunities.

After-hours tours of the Sagrada Família are scheduled for July 3, July 10, and August 4, with tickets for each event being distributed through a contest.

To participate in the contest, visit GetYourGuide’s landing page starting June 20, 2023, and follow the provided instructions. While GetYourGuide aims to expand these tours in the future, no additional dates have been confirmed yet.

If you don’t win the contest, you can purchase tickets to visit the Sagrada Família during regular hours for €26 to €40 (US$28–$44), depending on whether you opt for a guided tour and access to the towers. To hear De la Rubia play the organ, you’ll need to attend Sunday morning mass, which is free and begins at 9 a.m.; people usually start lining up around 7 a.m.

The new series of Originals by GetYourGuide also features an exclusive 8 a.m. tour of Gaudí’s Casa Milà (also known as La Pedrera), offering access to restricted areas and a light breakfast at the museum’s elegant café. This tour will take place on the first Saturday of each month for the remainder of 2023 and is priced at €75 per person (US$82).