Sagrada Familia Towers
Sagrada Familia Passion Tower
What you see
From the Passion tower you see the city centre of Barcelona and the upper part of the Passion facade up close. The official ticket page says the Passion side gives views of the city centre, while the Nativity side looks over the eastern part of Barcelona. You can read that on the official tower ticket page.
The facade is part of the draw. Look closely. Gaudí drew the Passion facade design in 1917, work began in 1954, and the steeples were finished in 1976, according to Wikipedia's Sagrada Familia article. The sculptures on it are by Josep Maria Subirachs, and they're spare and angular rather than soft.
What is the Passion Tower at the Sagrada Familia?
It's one of the towers on the Passion facade, the western front of the basilica, and visitors go up in a lift and walk down. The Passion facade faces west, and the official blog describes it as the side of autumn and winter fruit, representing the end of the year.
Wikipedia notes that the upper walk takes you to a bridge between the steeples. Which tower you stand in is decided at the time you book, so it's worth choosing on purpose. If you're still undecided, Nativity or Passion Tower: Which Is Better? lays out the trade-offs, and the Sagrada Familia Nativity Tower page covers the other side.
Short on time? Sagrada Familia Tour & Optional Tower Visit, from $63See skip-the-line tickets →Sea and city views
The view is over the centre of the city, with the basilica's own spires and mosaics close enough to study. The official page promises city centre views from the Passion side and doesn't say anything about the sea, so I won't promise it either.
Whether you can pick out the coastline depends on the day and the haze. Treat it as a bonus. It isn't a reason to book.
For a longer breakdown of what the openings and viewpoints show, see The View from the Sagrada Familia Towers.
What is the view from the Passion Tower at the Sagrada Familia?
It's a view of Barcelona's city centre, as the basilica's official ticket page describes it. You also get the Passion facade's stonework and spires from a height you can't reach from the street.
The towers are the only place in the visit where you look out over the city rather than up at the building. If that's what you're after, the tower is the right add-on. Whether it's worth the extra money for you is answered on Are the Sagrada Familia Towers Worth It?.
Stairs on the way down
You go up by lift and come down on foot, and the descent is the part people underestimate. The official page says visitors must take the lifts up to the top of the towers and walk down.
Wikipedia describes the descent as a very narrow spiral staircase of over 300 steps, with a posted caution for people with medical conditions. That figure comes from Wikipedia, not from the basilica, so treat it as an approximation.
The tower isn't for everyone. The official page says it isn't accessible for people with reduced mobility or functional diversity, and the FAQ page says the rest of the basilica is accessible but the towers are not. Get dizzy on spiral stairs? I'd skip it.
How many stairs are there on the Sagrada Familia Passion Tower?
Wikipedia puts the descent at over 300 steps on a very narrow spiral staircase. The basilica's own pages don't give a count, so don't plan around an exact number.
Expect to go slowly and keep one hand free. Bags and rucksacks aren't allowed in the towers, and the basilica provides lockers just for storing them while you're up there. More detail is on Sagrada Familia Tower Stairs, and the rules for who can go up are on Sagrada Familia Tower Rules and Age Limits.
Going up a tower? Sagrada Familia Guided Tour with Tower Access, from $126Check tower times →Best time for the Passion side
I'd book the first slot you can get, because the basilica opens at 9:00 from Monday to Saturday and the early part of the day is the least crowded in my judgement. The official FAQ lists the opening hours, and they change through the year.
From 2 February 2026, 9:00 to 10:00 is a designated quiet hour. Earphones are required for audio and visitors are asked to be quiet, but visits go ahead as normal. That suits a tower climb. Quiet helps on narrow stairs.
The basilica says the Passion facade looks west, towards the end of the day. If you want the facade itself at its best, that's something to weigh against the early crowds. I can't say which hour gives the better light, because the sources don't, so I'd choose by crowds and by your day's plan.
Your time slot is strict. Tickets are only valid for the time chosen, and late arrivals can't enter.
| Period | Monday to Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
| November to February | 9:00 to 18:00 (Mon to Sat) | 9:00 to 18:00 | 10:30 to 18:00 |
| March and October | 9:00 to 19:00 | 9:00 to 18:00 | 10:30 to 19:00 |
| April to September | 9:00 to 20:00 | 9:00 to 18:00 | 10:30 to 20:00 |
| 25 and 26 Dec, 1 and 6 Jan | 9:00 to 14:00 | 9:00 to 14:00 | 9:00 to 14:00 |
Book the Passion tower
You book a basilica ticket with towers and pick the Passion facade when you choose your slot. The official ticket with towers costs 36 € for adults at the time of writing, and it includes entry, one tower visit and the audioguide through the official app.
Seniors pay 28 €, under 30s and students pay 34 €, and under 11s are free, per the official prices page. The guided version with towers is 40 €. Tickets can currently be bought roughly two months ahead,, according to the FAQ.
I'm an independent guide, not the ticket office. If the official slots are gone or you want a guide, a third-party option on GetYourGuide can work. Check the tower is included.
The Sagrada Familia Tour & Optional Tower Visit starts from $63 and the tower is only added if you choose that option. For a guide plus tower, the Sagrada Familia Guided Tour with Tower Access is from $126 and lists elevator access one way up. Cheaper in the middle is the Sagrada Familia Tour with Optional Tower Access, from $118, with towers only if the option is selected. Always confirm that the Passion side is available before you pay.
If you don't need a tower at all, Sagrada Familia Tickets: Which One to Book compares the basic options, and Is 1 hour enough for Sagrada Familia? helps you decide how much time to leave.
How do you get Sagrada Familia Passion tower tickets?
Buy the ticket with towers online and pick the Passion facade tower when you choose your date and time. The basilica says tickets can only be purchased online, and they're named, personal and non-transferable.
Bring official photo ID and any proof for a discount. The full price list and ticket comparison sits on Sagrada Familia Tower Tickets, and the hub for every tower question is Sagrada Familia Towers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the history of the Sagrada Familia Passion tower?
Gaudí created the Passion facade design in 1917, construction began in 1954, and the steeples were finished in 1976, according to Wikipedia. The sculptures are by Josep Maria Subirachs. The basilica's blog also says the Passion side carries the autumn and winter fruit.
How tall is the Sagrada Familia Passion tower?
Official pages don't publish a height for the Passion towers, so I won't guess. What it does publish is 172.5 m for the central Tower of Jesus Christ, completed in 2026, which is a different tower.
Is there an elevator in the Sagrada Familia Passion tower?
Yes, you go up by lift, then walk down on foot. The basilica says visitors must take the lifts up and walk down. The tower isn't accessible for people with reduced mobility.
Can I pick the Passion tower rather than the Nativity tower?
Yes, the official ticket page says you can choose a tower on the Nativity facade or one on the Passion facade. The Passion side looks over the city centre, and the Nativity side looks east. With GetYourGuide, check each listing, since the tower is often optional.
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