The short version
- Only two of the 18 towers are open in 2026 — Nativity (east) and Passion (west) — and you climb one per ticket, chosen at booking. Pick Nativity for morning light and Gaudí's own sculpture, Passion for the higher, wider city panorama and the closest view of the newly completed Tower of Jesus Christ.
- The tower add-on costs just €10 over the basic ticket — €36 total on the official site versus €26 for entry only. Both towers work the same way: a lift takes you up, and you must walk down a narrow spiral staircase of roughly 340 (Nativity) or 426 (Passion) steps. There is no down-lift for general visitors.
- Worth it if you love Gaudí's architecture up close; skippable if you only want a skyline view. Park Güell, the Bunkers del Carmel and the Mirador Torre Glòries all give broader panoramas for similar or less money. The tower's real selling point is the close-up architecture, not the height.
- The central Tower of Jesus Christ is not climbable. It reached its full 172.5 m in February 2026 and was inaugurated by Pope Leo XIV on 10 June 2026, making the Sagrada Família the tallest church in the world — but its own 164 m viewing platform is not expected to open until 2027.
If you've been staring at the Sagrada Família booking page wondering whether the tower add-on is worth ten extra euros, here's the honest answer most travel sites won't give you: it depends entirely on what you want from your visit, how your knees feel about narrow spiral stairs, and which of the two visitable towers you pick. We've pulled together the heights, the step counts, the view orientations, and the real-visitor verdicts so you can decide before you book — not on the lift.
Which towers can you actually go up in 2026?
The Sagrada Família's completed silhouette has 18 towers, arranged the way Gaudí designed them to be read — like a vertical sermon: 12 for the Apostles (four on each of the three façades), four for the Evangelists, one for the Virgin Mary, and the central Tower of Jesus Christ. As of 2026, 14 of the 18 are complete: 8 Apostles, the 4 Evangelists (finished December 2023), the Virgin Mary (December 2021, with its 7-metre luminous star), and Jesus Christ (cross completed 20 February 2026). The four Glory façade towers — the eventual main entrance — are still under construction.
Of all of these, only two are open to visitors: one tower on the Nativity façade (east) and one on the Passion façade (west). The four central Evangelist towers and the Virgin Mary tower are hollow skylights with no stairs and no public access, and the central Tower of Jesus Christ — completed externally in February 2026 — is not open either.
Not in 2026. The Jesus Tower's internal viewing platform is expected to open to the public in 2027, with interior fit-out continuing through 2027–2028. According to visitarsagradafamilia.com, access is planned "via a glass lift to the level of the cross, followed by a final section of spiral staircase to reach the 164-metre mark," offering 360° panoramic views "with a capacity of just 11 people per visit." Catalan News (19 September 2024) confirms "the lowest point of the cross will sit at 164 metres above sea level, with the highest reaching 172.5 metres." It will be the highest publicly accessible viewpoint in Barcelona. In 2026 you can see the completed central tower and its glowing cross only from the two accessible façade towers and from ground level — the Plaça de Gaudí reflecting pool gives the classic full view. For the full construction picture, see our construction status guide.
You choose your tower during booking. Each ticket allows one tower only, and the choice is locked once your ticket is scanned. Both towers frequently sell out for popular time slots well in advance in 2026.
The official "Sagrada Família with towers" ticket (€36) includes a "Visit to one of the towers." You select Nativity or Passion at the time of booking, you cannot switch on the day, and you cannot do both on one ticket. A genuine both-towers ticket does not exist on the official site — the ~€46.80 figure circulating online is a third-party fast-track price for a single tower, not a dual-tower product. (An earlier version of this page listed a €46 both-towers option; we have removed it.)
Nativity Tower — full detail
The Nativity façade faces east and was the section built most directly under Gaudí's own supervision — the St Barnabas tower was the only one he saw completed before his death in 1926, finished on 30 November 1925. The visit uses a lift up St Jude's tower to around 50 m, then a climb to a scenic bridge at around 60 m behind the great cypress "Tree of Life" sculpture, connecting to Simon's tower; the highest point reached is around 75 m, at St Barnabas. The tower is dedicated to the apostles Barnabas, Simon, Jude Thaddeus and Matthias; its outer spires reach about 98 m and its inner spires about 107 m.
What you see
The rational grid of the Eixample laid out below, the tree-lined Avinguda de Gaudí leading to the Modernista Sant Pau hospital, the mountains to the north on a clear day, and the Mediterranean beyond the city — often partly obstructed. Further round you can pick out the Plaça de Gaudí reflection pool, Torre Glòries and the twin towers of Port Olímpic. Reviewers repeatedly note the eastern view is softer and more "postcard" in the morning.
Close-up architecture
The descent passes Gaudí's own organic carving at close range — the naturalistic plants, birds, doves and human faces, and the mosaic-tipped pinnacles covered in trencadís made of Venetian glass. The pinnacles crowning the bell towers represent the bishops' attributes — mitre, crosier and ring — and the cypress is topped by a tau cross and a dove. This is the more ornate, "warmer" façade, and the one place on the building where you are touching authentic 1920s Gaudí stonework.
The staircase down
The famous spiral "snail-shell" staircase, reported at roughly 340 steps. The first sections have walls on both sides and window openings; the last portion narrows to a spiral with a wall on one side and a low balustrade on the other, open to the drop. It is also the darker of the two descents. Best light: early morning, when the sun rises directly on this side — book 9:00–11:00 AM, and note that the daily Quiet Hour runs 9:00–10:00, which makes the first slot the calmest of the day.
Passion Tower — full detail
The Passion façade faces west and was built from the 1950s onward, decades after Gaudí's death, following his restored models. The lift goes up Philip's tower to around 65 m, opening onto a platform with viewing points; a short bridge crosses to Thomas's tower, and the highest point reached is around 90 m — meaningfully higher than the Nativity climb. The tower is dedicated to James the Less, Bartholomew, Thomas and Philip; its outer spires reach about 107 m and its inner spires about 112 m, roughly 14 m taller than the Nativity outer towers.
What you see
A wider, more dramatic urban panorama — the old city (Gothic Quarter, El Born), the port and Barceloneta, Montjuïc with the MNAC, the castle and the 1992 Olympic ring, Gaudí's wavy-roofed Sagrada Família Schools directly below, and Tibidabo with its church and amusement park to the northwest. Crucially in 2026, the Passion Tower gives the closest visitor view of the completed Tower of Jesus Christ and its 17 m cross, at a distance close enough to read the ceramic surface. Reviewers who prefer one tower for the view generally pick Passion — "just get out of the lift and you'll see why."
Close-up architecture
The descent passes Josep Maria Subirachs's stark, angular, expressionist sculptures — deliberately unlike the Nativity's naturalism, executed 1987–2005 (with final works installed in 2018) and initially highly controversial; they were declared a Cultural Asset of National Interest in 2023. Look for the Magic Square, whose numbers add to 33 — Christ's age at death — and the skeletal, bone-like leaning columns.
The staircase down
Reported at roughly 426 steps — more than Nativity because the lift climbs higher and the itinerary is taller. Some visitor accounts describe a mid-descent split, left or right, that reconverges (usually around 200 steps in). It is the same narrow spiral form. Best light: afternoon and golden hour, when the west-facing side is warmly lit — book 4:00–6:00 PM in summer, 3:00–5:00 PM in winter.
The towers were never designed for tourism. Gaudí conceived them as bell towers, used only by bell-ringers — which is why the descent staircases are so tight. This is the single most important practical fact for anyone deciding whether to climb.
Head-to-head — the core verdict
Choose the Nativity Tower if it's your first visit, you're going in the morning, you care most about Gaudí's own craftsmanship, and you want the softer east-facing light. Choose the Passion Tower if you're going in the afternoon, you want the widest city panorama, and you specifically want the closest photograph of the completed Jesus Tower cross.
| Feature | Nativity Tower (East) | Passion Tower (West) |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation / light | East — sunrise, morning light | West — sunset, afternoon light |
| Best time | ~9–11 AM | ~3–6 PM (winter) / 5–8 PM (summer) |
| Views | Eixample grid, Sant Pau, mountains, sea | City centre, port, Montjuïc, Tibidabo |
| Jesus Tower cross | Visible, but further | Very close — best 2026 view |
| Sculpture on descent | Gaudí's organic carvings | Subirachs's angular figures |
| Built | Largely under Gaudí (to ~1930) | 1950s–2005, from his models |
| Lift stops at | ~50 m | ~65 m |
| Highest point reached | ~75 m | ~90 m |
| Steps down (reported) | ~340 | ~426 |
| Descent difficulty | Long, darker, spiral | Longer, higher, spiral |
| Viewing platforms | Tighter — bridge behind cypress pinnacle | More spacious — top of St Philip's tower |
| Best for | First-timers, Gaudí lovers, morning | Photographers, view-seekers, afternoon |
Descent difficulty: both end in a comparable narrow spiral, but Passion has more steps overall. Some older visitors report being asked to demonstrate agility — for example, jumping — before being allowed up. Neither is a good choice for anyone nervous about heights, enclosed spaces or knee and joint issues.
Crowding and sell-out: tower add-ons and early-morning slots disappear first; in peak season (June–August, Easter, Christmas) tower tickets sell out weeks ahead.
Price, duration and inclusions are identical: the tower choice does not change the price (€36 official) or the approximate 1 h 30 min duration.
Who each tower suits
- First-time visitors and most travellers: Passion Tower at sunset. Higher elevation, wider city view, dramatic light, and the closest look you can get at the new Tower of Jesus Christ.
- Gaudí purists and architecture geeks: Nativity Tower in the morning. You're walking through stones Gaudí himself placed — a rare connection on a building that has otherwise moved beyond him.
- Photographers: Nativity for detail and stonework; Passion for skyline and golden hour. If you can only do one, Passion wins for variety of compositions.
- Families with kids 6+: Passion — wider platforms feel less anxious, and the modern angular sculptures are less intimidating to look down on than the swarming biblical figures of the Nativity.
- Solo travellers who hate crowds: either tower at the first slot of the day (9:00 AM Mon–Sat, 10:30 AM Sun) — the official Quiet Hour, with the best eastern light and fewest visitors. Nativity benefits more from this slot.
- Anyone with vertigo, claustrophobia, knee or hip issues, or carrying small kids: skip the towers entirely. The descent is identical in character on both sides — narrow, dim, no continuous handrail, no exit until the bottom.
2026 prices, in full
These are the official rates published on sagradafamilia.org/en/prices. The official site is the only place selling every ticket type at face value — there's no on-site ticket office in 2026.
€24 student / under 30 · €21 senior · Free under 11. No tower access.
€34 student · €28 senior. Pick Nativity or Passion when booking. The €10 gap is the tower service charge.
Live guide inside the basilica for about 50 minutes, no tower.
Guide doesn't accompany you in the tower.
A one-time Gaudí Centenary concession for 2026. Email resident@ext.sagradafamilia.org at least 48 hours ahead with proof of residency.
Through partners like GetYourGuide or Tiqets, single-tower fast-track tickets run higher — around €46.80 — with the trade-off of free cancellation. Tickets are sold online only at sagradafamilia.org (the QR codes outside the basilica route you to the same system, with no availability guarantee), and inventory is released roughly two months ahead. Tower add-ons and early-morning slots disappear first; in summer (June–August) and Easter Week, tower tickets typically sell out 4–8 weeks ahead. Official tickets are strictly non-refundable and nominative — you must show photo ID matching the lead name. The full ticket breakdown, including every discount and the free-entry routes, is in our tickets and prices guide.
Under 11 enter the basilica free but still need a timed ticket. Under 6 are not permitted in the towers at all, regardless of ticket. Children 6–16 must be accompanied by an adult inside the tower.
The practical experience
It works one way: lift up, walk down. Bags and rucksacks must go into lockers before you ascend — bags are banned in the towers, and the lockers must be reclaimed immediately afterward. The tower portion itself takes about 30–45 minutes; the official approximate duration for the whole "Sagrada Família with towers" visit is 1 hour 30 minutes. There is a strict timed slot for the tower — go straight to it.
Restrictions (official)
- Age: children under 6 cannot go up at all; those aged 6–16 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Mobility: not accessible for reduced mobility or functional diversity. No wheelchairs, and the descent cannot be avoided — there is no down-lift for general visitors; the second lift is reserved for construction workers.
- Health: people with vertigo, claustrophobia, anaemia, dizziness, and heart and/or respiratory problems are officially advised not to go up.
- Bags: rucksacks and bags must be stored in lockers before ascending.
- Dress code: this is an active basilica — shoulders and knees covered.
- Silence: earphones are mandatory for the audio guide, and a designated Quiet Hour runs 9:00–10:00 AM every day.
Bad weather and refunds
The towers close for safety in adverse weather — high wind, rain — and for maintenance or force majeure. When that happens you get a partial refund for the tower portion only: never the basilica entry or audioguide. Visitor reports confirm this can be as little as €5–7 and that processing has sometimes been slow. Weather closures are most common November through March.
Safety, lighting and photography
- The stairwell is narrow and partly dark, with handrails on the spiral section but a low balustrade open to the drop.
- Personal photography is allowed, but tripods, selfie sticks and monopods are prohibited, as is flash — and the tight space makes bulky gear impractical anyway.
- A wide-angle lens (16–35 mm equivalent) is invaluable for the tower interiors and the cypress-tree bridge angle; a small zoom helps compress the city.
- The spiral staircase looking down is one of the most-shot abstracts in Barcelona — pause on a landing and brace against the wall, handheld only.
- For the postcard exterior shot, head to Plaça de Gaudí (Nativity side) for the reflection-pool symmetry at sunrise or blue hour, or the small park opposite the Passion façade for backlit detail in the morning.
Is it worth it?
The price difference is small: €10 over the basic ticket — €36 versus €26 on the official site, or €40 for the guided-tour-plus-towers version. That €10 gap is the tower service charge, and it buys the cheapest upgrade on the entire menu.
The case for yes
From both towers you get an unrivalled close-up of the pinnacles, the fruit-cluster sculptures, the Hosanna in Excelsis trencadís mosaic inscriptions, and — newly visible in 2026 — the side profile of the central Tower of Jesus Christ and the four Evangelist towers. The point is rarely the city below; it's the building itself. Reviewers consistently praise seeing Gaudí's detail up close and "admiring the detail work more closely than from the ground," and describe the spiral descent itself as a memorable architectural experience.
"Going up is not all about the view of Barcelona. It's about the view of the Sagrada Familia."— Tripadvisor reviewer, paraphrasing what most architecture-focused visitors come away saying
The case for no
The honest verdict from reviewers is split, and the negatives are common and consistent: "not much of a view and over rather quickly," "partly obstructed," "small spot between the Passion towers, very restricted view," and the descent being "too uncomfortable" or "claustrophobic." Rick Steves Forum posters call the towers an "anti-climax compared to the wow" of the interior; the building is wrapped in cranes and the viewing platforms are tight. A recurring theme is that the towers are more about the building than the panorama.
Who should skip
Anyone who mainly wants a skyline view; anyone already doing Park Güell for views; budget-conscious travellers who'd rather spend the money elsewhere; and anyone with vertigo, claustrophobia, or mobility or knee concerns. Our worth-it verdict page goes deeper on that decision.
Is it the best view in Barcelona? No.
For pure panorama, other viewpoints beat it: Park Güell's terrace, the free Bunkers del Carmel (a 262 m hilltop with 360° views), Tibidabo (512 m), the Montjuïc viewpoints and cable car, and the Mirador Torre Glòries — per its official site, "the only observation deck in Barcelona that offers a true 360º experience... at a privileged height of 125 metres" on the 30th floor of the Jean Nouvel tower, with named views of the Sagrada Família, Montjuïc and the Mediterranean. The tower's unique value is proximity to Gaudí's architecture and, in 2026, the close view of the finished central tower — not raw altitude.
2026 centenary context that matters
2026 is the Gaudí Centenary, marking 100 years since the architect was struck by a tram and died on 10 June 1926. The year carries two consequences for tower visitors. First, demand is elevated across the board — book earlier than you normally would. Second, the basilica officially became the world's tallest church on 30 October 2025, when the lower arm of the Tower of Jesus Christ cross reached 162.91 m, surpassing Germany's Ulm Minster (161.53 m). On 20 February 2026, the final upper arm was installed, bringing the basilica to its definitive 172.5 m height.
- 19 March 1882 Construction begins under Francisco de Paula del Villar; Gaudí takes over in 1883.
- 30 November 1925 St Barnabas tower (Nativity façade) is completed — the only tower Gaudí saw finished before his death.
- 10 June 1926 Gaudí dies after being struck by a tram. Centenary date in 2026.
- 1936 Original plaster models smashed during the Spanish Civil War. Subsequent architects rebuild from photographs, fragments, and Gaudí's published plans.
- November 2010 Pope Benedict XVI consecrates the church as a minor basilica.
- December 2021 The Virgin Mary tower is completed and its 12-pointed star lit.
- December 2023 All four Evangelists' towers completed.
- 30 October 2025 An earlier central-tower section is lifted into place and the basilica overtakes Ulm Minster to become the world's tallest church.
- 20 February 2026 Final upper arm installed on the Tower of Jesus Christ. Basilica reaches 172.5 m.
- 10 June 2026 Pope Leo XIV presides over Solemn Mass and blesses the Tower of Jesus Christ. Expect closures or restricted access around 9–10 June.
The other 16 towers — the ones you can't climb
Gaudí's scheme calls for 18 towers whose heights encode a symbolic hierarchy:
- 12 Apostle towers (four per façade) — Nativity façade side towers around 98.4 m and centre around 107 m; Passion façade side towers around 107.4 m and centre around 112.2 m.
- 4 Evangelist towers at 135 m each (officially confirmed), surrounding the centre.
- Virgin Mary tower at 138 m, topped with a 12-pointed star, completed in 2021.
- Tower of Jesus Christ at 172.5 m, topped with a four-armed cross.
The Tower of Jesus Christ and its cross
Per Vatican News (20 February 2026): "With the installation of the upper arm of the cross on the Tower of Jesus Christ, carried out in Barcelona on February 20, 2026, the Sagrada Família has completed the external works of its central tower." The cross is 17 m tall and 13.5 m wide; per Malay Mail/AFP-dpa (21 February 2026), the "monumental steel and glass cross, weighing almost 100 tonnes, was manufactured in Germany," with its glass panes made in Spain, and each arm weighing over 12 tonnes. Inside the cross's upper arm is an Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) sculpture created — per Vatican News — by the Italian artist Andrea Mastrovito, made from blown glass and gold leaf.
The tower had already overtaken Germany's Ulm Minster (162 m) on 30 October 2025, before topping out at 172.5 m and becoming the tallest church in the world. Gaudí set the height deliberately just below Montjuïc — which rises to about 177.7 m — because he believed no human creation should surpass the work of God.
The tower was inaugurated on Wednesday 10 June 2026, the centenary of Gaudí's death, with Pope Leo XIV celebrating Mass and blessing the cross. Per Euronews (11 June 2026), Barcelona local police put attendance at "some 120,000 people," with King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez present.
The bells
Gaudí envisioned the basilica as a giant musical instrument, with tubular bells housed in the belfries and their sound directed downward through shaped perforations. His detailed plans for the bells were lost when his models were destroyed during the Spanish Civil War, and only reconstructed designs are being realised — the bell project is ongoing. It is also the reason the tower stairwells are so narrow: they were designed for a bell-ringer, not for tourists.
Our staged recommendation: book now, climb smart, climb once
If your trip is more than 8 weeks out
Set a calendar reminder for exactly 60 days before your visit. Open sagradafamilia.org at 9:00 AM Barcelona time and lock in one of the following:
- Default first-time-visitor pick: "Sagrada Família with towers" (€36) + the Passion Tower, at a slot between 4:00 and 5:30 PM (slightly earlier in winter when the basilica closes at 6 PM).
- Architecture-lover pick: same ticket type + the Nativity Tower, at the 9:00 AM first slot for the Quiet Hour and the best eastern light.
- If your priority is the completed Jesus Tower photograph: choose Passion, regardless of time of day.
- If your priority is the best skyline photo of Barcelona: skip the tower and put that budget toward Park Güell or the free Bunkers del Carmel instead. The tower view is not the city's best.
If your trip is less than 4 weeks out and the official site is sold out
Try GetYourGuide or Tiqets for licensed-reseller inventory with free cancellation; expect to pay more than face value. As a fallback, book a guided-tour-with-tower — guide allocations sell out later than basic admission. Avoid anything not listed as an official partner.
Self-assess honestly before booking
If anyone in your party is under 6 (not allowed), has knee, heart or breathing issues, or fears heights or enclosed spaces, skip the tower — the descent is mandatory and unavoidable. On the day: travel light (lockers are mandatory), wear sensible shoes, leave the tripod behind, and go straight to your timed tower slot.
If you can't do stairs but want the tower experience
Honestly: you can't. There is no down-lift for general visitors. Substitute Park Güell's elevated viewpoint or the rooftop bar at Sercotel Hotel Roselló, diagonally opposite the basilica, for a Sagrada Família vista without the descent.
If you arrive without a ticket
Don't expect to walk in. Check the live sagradafamilia.org calendar from your phone first; if nothing's available, pivot to Hospital de Sant Pau — a 10-minute walk north, rarely sold out, and the rooftop views back toward the Sagrada Família are quietly excellent.
The 2027 opening of the Tower of Jesus Christ viewing platform at 164 m. Once that opens — with its own separate ticket — it will become the definitive high-altitude Sagrada Família experience and reorder everything above: the façade towers become the "architecture" option and the Jesus Tower becomes the "view" option.
Quick answers
Can I climb both towers in one visit?
No. The official ticket includes a visit to one of the towers, chosen at the time of booking, and there is no dual-tower product on sagradafamilia.org. You cannot switch on the day. The €46.80 figure circulating online as a "both towers" price is actually a third-party fast-track price for a single tower.
Which tower is better, Nativity or Passion?
Choose Nativity if it's your first visit, you're going in the morning, and you care most about Gaudí's own craftsmanship and the softer east-facing light. Choose Passion if you're going in the afternoon, you want the widest city panorama, and you specifically want the closest photograph of the completed Tower of Jesus Christ cross. Passion is also physically higher — the lift stops around 65 m and the highest visitor point is around 90 m, versus roughly 50 m and 75 m on the Nativity side.
How many steps do you walk down?
Roughly 340 on the Nativity side and roughly 426 on the Passion side, because the Passion lift climbs higher and the itinerary is taller. These are well-corroborated visitor-guide estimates rather than official numbers: published step counts range from "300–400" up to "504" and even "700" across sources, and the internally consistent pair is ~340 and ~426.
Is the climb safe for older travellers?
The lift up is straightforward; the descent is the question. The spiral staircase is narrow and partly dark, with a low balustrade open to the drop and no continuous resting point or exit partway down — once you start descending you complete it. Official rules advise that people with vertigo, claustrophobia, anaemia, dizziness, and heart or respiratory problems should not go up, and multiple Rick Steves Forum accounts report security staff asking visibly unsteady visitors to demonstrate agility before permitting entry.
What happens if the tower is closed for weather?
The towers close for safety in high wind or rain, and for maintenance or force majeure. You get a partial refund for the tower portion only — the basilica entry and audioguide are never refunded, and your basilica ticket stays valid. Visitor reports confirm the refunded amount can be as little as €5–7 and that processing has sometimes been slow. Weather closures are most common November through March.
Is the Tower of Jesus Christ open to visitors?
Not in 2026. The cross was completed on 20 February 2026 and Pope Leo XIV blessed the tower on 10 June 2026, but its own viewing platform is expected to open in 2027, with interior fit-out continuing through 2027–2028. Access is planned via a glass lift to the level of the cross, followed by a final section of spiral staircase to reach the 164-metre mark, with a capacity of just 11 people per visit. For the full construction picture — including the still-unfinished Glory façade — see our is the Sagrada Familia finished? guide.
How long does the tower visit actually take?
Budget 30–45 minutes for the tower portion. The official site lists 1 h 30 min total approximate duration for the combined tower-access ticket, though most visitors take a little longer if they linger at the bridge or viewing platforms. There is a strict timed slot for the tower, so go straight to it.
Is the tower the best view in Barcelona?
No. For pure panorama, other viewpoints beat it: Park Güell's terrace, the free Bunkers del Carmel at 262 m with 360° views, Tibidabo at 512 m, the Montjuïc viewpoints and cable car, and the Mirador Torre Glòries — which its official site calls "the only observation deck in Barcelona that offers a true 360º experience... at a privileged height of 125 metres." The tower's unique value is proximity to Gaudí's architecture and, in 2026, the close view of the finished central tower — not raw altitude.
Are tower tickets refundable?
No, under standard conditions on sagradafamilia.org. Book through GetYourGuide or Tiqets if you need cancellation flexibility — usually free up to 24–48 hours before your visit, in exchange for a markup: single-tower fast-track tickets through partners run around €46.80 against the official €36.
If you want one clear recommendation, book the standard €36 basilica + one tower ticket and pick the façade that matches your priorities: Nativity for architectural character and morning light, Passion for wider views, golden hour and the closest look at the new central tower. If you have any doubt about the stairs or the enclosed descent, skip the towers and spend the extra time inside the basilica instead — the interior is extraordinary with or without a tower ticket.
Heights, lift stops and step counts are not published by the official site. sagradafamilia.org states only "lifts up, walk down" and an approximate 1 h 30 min duration. The specific figures above (lift ~50 m / ~65 m, tops ~75 m / ~90 m, ~340 / ~426 steps) come from reputable visitor guides and vary between sources — treat them as well-corroborated estimates, not official numbers. Tower-height figures are also mostly non-official: the Jesus Christ (172.5 m) and Evangelist (135 m) figures are officially confirmed, while the Virgin Mary (138 m) and per-façade Apostle-tower heights are widely corroborated but not directly quoted from an official page, and a few sources give 125–127 m for Mary. A centenary surcharge of roughly €2–5 has been reported by third-party sites for part of 2026 but does not appear on the official price pages — confirm the exact price and any surcharge at the time of booking. Reseller prices and cancellation terms change frequently.