What to see in Barcelona: Sagrada Familia, tickets and other attractions

A destination appreciated by millions of tourists for its architectural wonders and its internationally renowned nightlife, Barcelona is permanently on the list of the most visited cities in the world. One of the inconveniences is that in high season there are long queues at the entrance to the city's museums and main attractions. In high season, expect hotels in the city centre fully booked, poor accessibility and difficulties for those traveling with small children. But don't worry, with a few simple tips you can optimize your time and budget!

Here are our trick and tips on not-to-be-missed places in Barcelona for a stress-free visit, with some advice if you wanto to save time and take advantage of discounts.

Sagrada Familia: Endless queues, better to get ahead of them!

As soon as you get out of the underground, you understand why the Sagrada Familia is one of the most beautiful works of art in the world: you will be speechless. The queue to get in looks like a nightmare? Keep calm, get your ticket online in advance and you'll skip the long line!

As with all the world's top attractions, the first tip is buy tickets online to avoid long queues at the ticket office: we are talking about hours standing in line in high season. There are two factors that increase waiting times: the strict security controls at the entrance and when the maximum number of people inside the building is reached.

BOOK SAGRADA FAMILIA SKIP THE LINE TICKETS

If you decided at the last moment to visit the Sagrada Familia and didn't book your ticket, no problem: there is always the possibility to book one via smartphone. Couldn't you buy it online? Then go there just before 9 am to avoid the rush hour chaos.

Discounts for students and Under 30

Booking tickets online in advance gives a few important advantages. It allows you to save money, to skip the line at the entrance and to choose the day, time slot and the sort of visit: simple entrance, guided tour, audio guide (available in many languages) and whether or not you want to climb to the towers. The audio guide is perfect for those who prefer an immersive experience. A complete visit to the Sagrada Familia will take about 3 hours.

Once you arrive at the entrance, allow just time to check the tickets and you enter. Children under 10 years old enter for free. Discounts for students and for under 30 years old, are available even on reservations made online (student card and ID must be shown at the box office, keep them at hand).

Is it worth climbing the towers of the Sagrada Familia?

The climb to the towers allows you to see the details of the structure, the sculptures of the spires and the mosaics that colour them; much depends on your interest in these details. The panorama is very beautiful but, to be honest, there are better views of Barcelona, such as the Montjuic or the Tibidabo.

Strollers OK but access to the Towers is not allowed for children Under 6

Families with children: the visit can be done for those traveling with a stroller (you will be allowed to access the Basilica through the elevator). Though, keep in mind that the climb to the Towers is forbidden to children under 6 years. The 400 steps to get to the top can be difficult for those with reduced motor skills.

How to get to the Sagrada Familia
You can easily get to the Sagrada Familia by subway. The stop is called "Sagrada Familia" and is located in front of the church. You can take the lines L2 (purple) or L5 (blue). As an alternative, you can reach the Sagrada Familia by the Red line of the bus.

Casa Batlló: a bit expensive but not to be missed

To visit Casa Batlló means to immerse yourself in the fantastic world of Gaudi and admire the genius of an artist who gives astonishment and well-being. If you limit your visit to the outside is like a half lived experience, despite the price a bit expensive according to many travelers (the entrance costs about 35€).

BOOK SKIP THE LINE TICKETS AT THE BEST PRICE

You'd better purchase tickets in advance

Once again, we advice to book your ticket in advance to visit Casa Batlló of Barcelona so that you can enter at a scheduled time, skip the queue and save money (it never hurts) compared to the price you get at the ticket office. With priority access you go directly to the interactive audioguide pick-up area. It brings you in the various areas of the house, helps to recreate the original environments and accompanies you during the tour: the visit lasts about one hour.

What's the best time to visit Casa Batllò?

There is no recommended time to visit Casa Batlló: it is beautiful to see it at any time of the day, whether in the evening or during the day. Without a doubt, the show gets exciting when the sun shines on the large, colourful windows, generating a play of light that is pleasant to the eye.

"House of the Dragon": the legend of St. George

This building has been nicknamed in many ways, including "Casa dels ossos" (House of Bones) - for balconies and pillars similar to skulls and bones - and "Casa dels drac" (House of the Dragon) - for the roof with colored scales, similar to the back of a dragon (the attraction is full of allegories reminiscent of the legend of St. George and the Dragon). Stop for a while on the outdoor terrace, where Gaudi has given free rein to his artistic flair.

Good to know: consider the possibility to have a snapshot taken on the highest balcony of the house with the characteristic mosaic facade (you can pick up the photograph for a fee before leaving).

Casa Batllò and Sagrada Familia, a winning match

If you travel with children, be assured that the little ones will be captivated by the sound effects and augmented reality screens of the audio guide. At the entrance of the attraction, you will be given the possibility to leave your stroller in a deposit, or even your luggage, if you have just arrived in town.

Unfortunately the visit is very uncomfortable for those on a wheelchair because of the stairs. Not all floors of the building are accessible to the disabled, but the visit in reduced format is still very satisfactory.

How to get to Casa Batlló
Casa Batlló is located in Passeig de Gràcìa easily reachable by metro which stops a short distance away (L2, L3, L4 stop Passeig de Gràcia). The alternatives are the bus (lines 7, 16, 17, 22, 24, 28) or the tourist bus.

Casa Milà (La Pedrera): a waltz in architecture

On a tour to discover Gaudi in Barcelona you cannot miss a stop at Casa Milà, also known as La Pedrera (in Catalan "La Cava", as it seems to be made of stone and rocky building material). "The stone quarry" is a masterpiece of mixed colours and details in a superhuman harmony.

This architectural jewel also overlooks the elegant Passaig de Gràcia, one of the main arterial roads of the city; Casa Batlló is just a short walk away, you can combine the two visits well.

BOOK SKIP THE LINE TICKETS TO VISIT CASA BATLLO

Priority entry from a side street

Casa Milà is assaulted by tourists from all over the world, especially in high season: to stay calm and avoid the combo "queue + beating sun" simply purchase the electronic ticket to get priority entrance (access is from the side street) and save a few money. Fast-track access is on the side street of Casa Mila.

The audioguide is super recommended (available in several languages and included in the cost of the ticket) because it allows you to better understand the logic of the route and to get into the historical context of the Catalan artist.

Barcelona Card: does it make any difference?

If you have decided not to book your ticket in advance, we advise you to go to the entrance shortly after 9:00am or after 04:30pm to find less people in line. If you have a Barcelona Card you get a 20% discount on the cost of the ticket (the card must be shown at the ticket office to get the promotion) but it does not give priority access to the attraction.

Avoid the last time slot

The tour starts from the terrace, which can be reached by elevator, and then leads you down at the various floors and let you admire the different rooms. The tour of Casa Mila with audio-guide lasts a little more than an hour but you should consider half an hour more if you want to enjoy the roof and the colorful chimneys. Since the last entrance is scheduled for 17:30 (closing is at 18:30), we do not recommend to choose the last time slot because the security staff may hurry you to leave even if you have not finished the visit yet.

Comfortable shoes and check weather conditions

The terrace is the most spectacular area of Casa Mila, you can not miss climbing to the roof even if you suffer from vertigo, but be careful not to neglect the magnificent interior details. For travelers in awheelchair, the roof can be visited only to a limited extent because of the undulating stairs that make it impossible to be accessed by a wheelchair; the other areas of the attraction are almost totally accessible.

Two tips for every visitor: wear comfortable shoes for the stairs and check the weather conditions because in case of rain the terrace may remain closed.

How to get to Casa Mila - La Pedrera
La Pedrera can be reached by the Metropolitana Diagonal - Green Line, L3 and Blue Line, L5 - or by bus (lines 6, 7, 20, 22, 33, 34, 39).

Parc Güell, watch the clock

Parc Guell is unique of its kind, with colours, shapes and symbolic references that recall Gaudi's brilliant thought.

Free or paid zone?

You can visit both the free zone and the paid zone (monumental area), which deserves every cent paid.

If you have little time for a full tour of the park or if you prefer to save money, just visit the free area that allows you to fully appreciate the Park: an area surrounded by greenery, with panoramic views and busking acts.

BOOK TOUR AND ACTIVITIES AT THE BEST PRICE

Be aware that in this area of the park there are many travelers who will try to sell you all sorts of gadgets and water bottles (quite expensive, according to many travelers).

Scheduled entries, get organized

If you decide to visit the monumental area, the best thing is to get skip the line tickets to avoid queues.

As a matter of fact, consider that the entrance at Parc Guell is limited to 400 people every 30 minutes. Many tourists on holiday in Barcelona failed to enter, even after having queued for long.

When you make your ticket reservation you have to select the time slot during which you wish to visit Parc Guell: the entrance is strictly linked to the established time, you can enter within half an hour after the established time, after which you lose your reservation right.

For this reason, when booking, also take into account the time needed to get to the park: it is located a little outside the city.

A park NOT for everyone

One negative note is that the visit is uncomfortable for disabled people in wheelchairs and for those traveling with small children and strollers, considering the large number of stairs and the paths a bit uphill.

How to get to Park Guell
You can get to Park Guell by public transport: bus n°24 stops right in front of the park's main entrance.

If you choose the metro, the nearest stops are Lesseps or Vallcarca. If you get off to the latter, consider a 15-minutes walk, take the escalators of Baixada de la Gloria and continue to Pasaje de Sant Joseo de la Montana.

Camp Nou, everybody is queuing for Messi

Més que un club

The trip to Camp Nou, the temple of FC Barcelona, is a leap in the history of the most successful football club in the world in the last decade. We recommend the audioguide to fans only. The fixed route lasts less than two hours and runs through the entire stadium, passing through the changing rooms, the press room and the museum of the Futbol Club Barcelona. The latter houses all the cups won by the club and the historic T-shirts worn by the greatest blaugrana champions.

BOOK SKIP THE LINE TICKETS FOR TOURS TO THE CAMP NOU

If you buy the ticket online you have the possibility to book also the time slot when to enter in the stadium. Skip the line tickets are an excellent solution especially in the case of a holiday in Barcelona on a hot summer day: it avoids you to wait in queue for hours under the blazing sun.

The audioguide must be purchased (for a few extra euros) and explains anecdotes and curiosities in an exhaustive way: a must-do experience for football fans and FC Barcelona lovers.

Selfie with the Champions

During the tour of Camp Nou you will be taken several photos, to be collected and paid at the end of the tour (according to many users the price is a bit expensive). Expect a long queue to take the photo with the Champions trophy on display or with of Messi cardboard cutout (once at the exit, show the receipt you was given at the entrance, there is a long queue also to collect the photos).

Camp Nou with the kids: what a struggle!

If you travel with small children, consider that it is not possible to run the visit to Camp Nou stadium with strollers because of the large number of visitors. Strollers must be left in a deposit at the entrance of the museum and you have to carry the child in your arms; considering the length of the visit, it can be tiring. A tour of Camp Nou would be an uncomfortable experience also for visitors on a wheelchair: some areas are inaccessible, such as changing rooms or the pitch.

How to get to Camp Nou
The Camp Nou stadium is located on Avenida d'Arístides Maillol: it can be reached easily by public transport from Barcelona city centre. If you travel by metro, take the green line (L3) to Les Corts or Palau Reial; alternatively, take the blue line (L5) to Badal. If you buy your ticket online to visit the stadium then it is best to get off at Palau Reial, because the entrance to the stadium is on that side. If you prefer the bus, take line 75 or 112, stop Estadi del Futbol Club Barcelona.

Museu Picasso, free with the Museum Card

An absolute must in Barcelona for art lovers or simply an experience to try for those who happen to walk in the Barrio Gotico (Gothic Quarter) of the city. Even if you haven't pre-booked the online ticket (recommended choice anyway) it has to be said that the service is very efficient and fast, the queue flows smoothly with reasonable waiting times to enter.

Articket BCN Pass, it's worth it!

If you are passionate about art, a good solution for you is to buy the Articket Barcelona Museum Pass, which gives priority entrance to the Picasso Museum and 5 other museums in Barcelona. Access to the Museum is also included in the Barcelona CARD.

BOOK SKIP THE LINE TICKETS

Free entrance to the Picasso Museum

The entrance is free on the first Sunday of the month. On other Sundays the visit is free from 3:00 p.m. but it is necessary to book the time of the tour to the museum in advance on the official website of the museum. You can also enter for free on Thursdays from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., if you have a reservation.

Few masterpieces, but not to be missed

The paintings are displayed following a chronological order which allow you to know the painter's life from the beginning of his life to the peak of his career. The visit of the Picasso Museum with audio guide (it is available in many languages, but it is not included in the ticket price) takes about 90 minutes.

According to the reviews of some travelers, a flaw in the museum is the lack of some of Picasso's masterpieces, currently displayed in other museums: so don't expect the best known works of the master of Malaga but equally evocative paintings such as "Las Meninas", "Science and charity" or "Mother and child".

Super accessibility!

Thanks to the numerous lifts, the museum is easily accessible to people with reduced mobility or on wheelchair. These ones are made available free of charge on request of visitors. If you are travelling with children, admission is free for them and the staff is always courteous and attentive to every request.

How to get to the Picasso Museum
The Museum is located in the heart of the Barrio Gotico. You can get to the Museum, through a nice walk in that neighborhood. If you want to get around in Barcelona through the metro, take line L1, stop Arc de Triomf or L3, stop Liceu Station or L4, stop Jaume I. If you travel by bus, instead, 17, 19, 40, 45 stop Laietana or 39, 51 stop Passeig Picasso.

Finally, the smartest way to save time and enjoy your holiday in Barcelona at the fullest, is to book skip the line tickets to enter the attractions quickly. If you purchase priority fast-track admission, you will spend any minute to enjoy the city rather than waiting in line. Also consider the pros and cons of buying a tourist pass such as the Barcelona Card (it must be considered how much you want to get around the city by public transport).

Now you have all the right ingredients to enjoy a stress-free holiday in the Catalan capital.