TL;DR: There are two accessible Sagrada Familia tower groups: Nativity (east) and Passion (west). Tower access costs €36 adult (entry included). Morning visitors do better at the Nativity tower; afternoon visitors at Passion. Book on GetYourGuide to combine tower access with free cancellation.
Adding a Sagrada Familia tower to your ticket changes the visit significantly. Instead of looking up at the building from street level or inside the nave, you ride a lift to around 65 metres and look out across the Eixample grid, the harbour, and the mountains behind Barcelona. You also get close to the stonework on the tower facades, which at this scale reveals details invisible from below. This page covers both towers, the practical differences between them, and how to decide which to book.
How many Sagrada Familia towers are there?
The completed building will have 18 towers. Currently, two groups are open to visitors: the four Nativity towers on the east side and the four Passion towers on the west side.
The tallest of the 18 planned towers will be the central tower of Jesus Christ at 172.5 metres, currently under construction. The four Evangelist towers surrounding it will reach approximately 135 metres. The Virgin Mary tower above the apse will reach 138 metres. None of these are yet open to visitors.
The Nativity and Passion towers each rise to around 107 metres at their highest points. Visitor access by lift reaches approximately 65 metres, from where an external walkway and staircase allow you to descend through the upper sections of the tower structure.
What is the Nativity tower?
The Nativity tower group comprises the four towers above the Nativity facade on the east side of the building. These were the first towers completed, reaching their full height in the 1970s and 1980s. They are named after the four Apostles associated with the Nativity narrative: Barnabas, Simeon, Judas Thaddaeus, and Matthew.
The Nativity facade faces east. In the morning, sunlight falls directly onto it, illuminating the elaborate naturalistic carvings that cover the surface. From the tower lift exit at approximately 65 metres, you look out over the densely built Eixample grid toward the sea. On clear days, the harbour and the Barceloneta beach are visible to the southeast.
The Nativity tower exterior, seen from close range on the walkway, shows Gaudí’s original stone carving in its most detailed form. The pinnacles at the tops of the towers are covered in Venetian glass mosaics spelling out Hosanna, Sanctus, and Excelsis in broken lettering.
What is the Passion tower?
The Passion tower group comprises the four towers above the Passion facade on the west side. These were completed later than the Nativity towers, reaching full height in the 1990s. They are named after Apostles associated with the Passion narrative: Barnabas, Simon, Thaddaeus, and Philip.
The Passion facade faces west. In the afternoon and evening, sunlight strikes it directly, and the views from the tower exit look toward the city centre, Montjuïc, and the Pyrenees on the horizon in clear weather.
The Passion facade’s exterior style, designed by Josep Maria Subirachs rather than Gaudí, is more angular and geometric than the Nativity side. Seen from the tower walkway, this contrast with the Nativity stonework visible across the building’s roof section is striking.
Nativity vs Passion tower: a direct comparison
| Nativity (east) | Passion (west) | |
|---|---|---|
| Best time to visit | Morning | Afternoon |
| View direction | Sea, Eixample | Mountains, city centre |
| Facade style | Naturalistic Gaudí | Angular Subirachs |
| Construction period | 1970s-1980s | 1990s |
| Both have lifts | Yes | Yes |
The view quality from both towers is broadly comparable. The Eixample grid is equally visible from both sides, with the difference being whether you face the sea (Nativity) or the mountains (Passion). On an overcast day, this distinction matters less.
The facade stonework is where the character difference is most apparent. If the reason you are adding a tower is to see Gaudí’s original decorative work at close range, the Nativity tower provides more of that. If you are indifferent to the architectural style and primarily want the view, choose based on your arrival time and which direction you find more interesting.
Which Sagrada Familia tower should you choose?
Choose the Nativity tower if:
- You are visiting in the morning (before 13:00)
- You want to see Gaudí’s original stonework and mosaics at close range
- You want views toward the sea
Choose the Passion tower if:
- You are visiting in the afternoon (after 13:00)
- You want views toward the mountains and city centre
- You prefer geometric, modernist aesthetics
If you are booking the full entry + guided tour + towers ticket, your tour guide may have a recommendation based on the time of day. The official booking system asks you to specify your tower choice at purchase, so you need to decide before arrival.
Is a Sagrada Familia tower worth adding to your ticket?
The tower adds approximately €10 to the ticket price (€26 basic entry vs €36 with tower). It adds 30 to 45 minutes to your visit, including the lift queue.
The case for adding it: the view from 65 metres is genuinely different from anything available on the street or inside the building. Barcelona’s grid is something to see from above, and the proximity to the tower facades reveals craftsmanship that is invisible from below. For a first visit, if you have time, the tower is worth the cost.
The case against: if you are visiting with young children, the lift queue and the open walkway can be difficult to manage. If time is limited, the interior of the basilica is the primary experience and the tower is secondary.
How to book tower access
Tower access is an add-on when purchasing your entry ticket. You cannot add it after the fact; it must be booked as part of the same transaction.
On the official site, select the entry + tower ticket and specify which tower (Nativity or Passion) at checkout.
On GetYourGuide, search for Sagrada Familia tower tickets. Most products offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before your visit, which the official site does not.
Tower slots are slightly more limited than general entry slots. During peak season, book tower tickets at the same lead time as entry tickets: at least two to four weeks ahead depending on the month.
What to expect at the tower lift
There is a lift in both the Nativity and Passion towers. The lift holds four to six people and runs continuously during opening hours. Even with a booked ticket, expect a queue of 10 to 20 minutes during peak hours (typically 10:00 to 14:00).
The descent from the tower is on foot via an internal staircase. The stairs are narrow, stone, and spiral. There are approximately 300 steps from the lift exit to ground level. Allow 15 to 20 minutes for the descent.
If you have mobility difficulties, confirm with the booking platform whether full tower access, including the walkway and descent, is suitable for your needs. The lift reaches the tower exit level, but the walkway and stairs beyond it are not adapted for wheelchairs.