Sagrada Familia - an intro to Barcelona's most famous building

Sagrada Familia and Gaudi are two terms that are inextricably bound up with Barcelona. The sight of the cathedral is iconic to the city's skyline. The Sagrada Familia attracts thousands of visitors every year. It could well be the most famous building of Barcelona. But what's the story behind the impressive building? Read on to find out!

"Sagrada Familia? Never heard of it!"

Hmm, although not likely, it is possible. In that case: the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (commonly known as Sagrada Familia) is a church designed by the famous architect Antoni Gaudi. Gaudi is the exponent of the (Catalan) Modernisme movement, of which the Sagrada Familia is now the most important symbol. The Sagrada tells the life of Jesus and the history of faith (hence the name, which translates as 'the Holy Family'). Although construction has taken 129 years already, the church is nowhere from finished yet (completion date currently estimated to be 2026). Because of this, some of the oldest parts of the church are in need of renovation, while other parts aren't even built yet. In spite of this, the basilica attracts millions of visitors every year, is declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was proclaimed a 'minor basilica' by Pope Benedict XVI only last year. The title 'minor basilica' gives the building some privileges over normal churches (and it also sounds fancier). It has always been an expiatory church, which means that it has always been built from donations. Gaudí himself said: "The expiatory church of La Sagrada Família is made by the people and is mirrored in them. It is a work that is in the hands of God and the will of the people."

"That sounds crazy. Why did anybody ever start this?"

Once there was a man named Josep María Bocabella i Verdaguer, who founded the Asociación Espiritual de Devotos de San José (Spiritual Association of Devotees of St. Joseph). With this association he wanted to protect the Catholic faith (and faith in Saint Joseph in particular) from the dechristianization in that time. He received numerous donations with which he bought a 12.800 m² piece of land, now situated between the Carrers de Marina, Provença, Sardenya and Mallorca. On that piece of land the foundation stone of the Sagrada Familia was laid on 19 March 1882 (St. Joseph's Day). Originally, however, the design was in the hands of architect Francisco de Paula del Villar y Lozano. Apparently he got in an argument with Bocabella, with the result that Villar decided to resign from the project in 1883. From then on, Gaudi assumed responsibility for the design, which he changed radically. Gaudi worked on the church until his sudden death in 1926, 43 years later! He became so absorbed by his work on the church that he stopped accepting other projects as of 1914. He devoted the last years of his life entirely to the Sagrada, and even lived on the construction site for some time. In 1926, he was walking on the street, deep in thought, when he was hit by a tram. He died a few days later and was buried in the crypt of "his" Sagrada Familia.

"Well, it all looks very fancy, but I don't really get it..."

Granted, it is a strange building. It looks like other churches, with its pointed Gothic arches, rosaces and enormous towers. But at the same time, it is so heavily influenced with Gaudi's powerful imagination that nothing is what it seems to be. Look again and you'll see how the towers are covered with fanciful flowers, and how the pinnacles burst open into bundles of fruit. However, the Sagrada is not a random collection of towers, structures and stones. As I mentioned above, the church represents the life of Jesus and the history of faith. This symbology is apparent in different parts of the building. When it is be finished, it will have 18 bell towers, which symbolize Jesus, the Virgin Mary, the four evangelists and the twelve apostles. It will have 3 facades, which represent the life of Jesus. The Nativity facade (on which Gaudi worked the most) depicts his birth, childhood and young manhood. The Passion facade represents the Passion of Jesus. The Glory facade (which will be the main entrance once finished) represents his death: Death, Final Judgment, and Glory. The same symbology returns in the church's interior, which suggests the celestial Jerusalem. It also features a set of columns, dedicated to Christian cities and continents, representing the apostles. There has been some ongoing debate, though, whether or not the Sagrada Familia can still be regarded as "Gaudi's church". Sure, he spent a fair amount of his life designing and working on it. But what after his death? Gaudi was known to adjust his buildings as he went along, constantly modifying the details of his designs and forever trying out his ideas with full-size models. The man was so fanatically involved with his work that he made plaster casts of chickens, turkeys and even stillborn babies! Or what about attending a death at a hospital, under the pretext of conducting 'spiritual research'. You understand it's hard to find a successor to match his fanaticism or genius. Add to this the fact that the few drafts, models and drawings he left behind, were destroyed by a fire in 1936 (during the Spanish Civil War) and you'll understand why some people think that only little remains of his original ideas and instructions. But even if it cannot be labeled entirely 'Gaudi', the Sagrada Familia is a fascinating building nevertheless and a Barcelona landmark not to be missed!

"Neat! When can I visit it?"

The church is open for visits from 9.00 to 18.00 (October to March); from 9.00 to 20.00h (April to September); and from 9.00 to 14.00h (25 and 26 december and 1 and 6 January). Merely a visit to the church will cost you €12,50 (€10,50 if you're a student, retired or under 18). If you want to take the lift to the towers as well, then you'll have to cough up another €2,50. It's not cheap, but if it makes you feel any better: the entrance fees are part of the funding to finish the construction works. If you rather spend your euros on tapas and sangria, though, you should feel no shame. Many people find that the best parts about the church are on the outside, which is of course completely free to gaze at! So don't feel bad about passing up a visit inside the church. Place yourself on a terrace near the Sagrada Familia, order your tapas and sangria, sit back and be amazed by the richly sculptured exterior. More information can be found on the official website. Learn here how to beat the queue at Sagrada Familia! Let us know in the comments what you thought of your visit! - by Machteld De Groef

EADA Barcelona - one of the best international schools in Barcelona

About EADA Barcelona

Founded in 1975, EADA Barcelona was one of the first international schools in Barcelona to provide an English MBA programme in Spain. EADA Barcelona is quite well known for its very balanced combination of an academic and practical approach. It is promoting EADA Barcelona's unique educational philosophy as "leaning by doing". EADA Barcelona is ranked highly among the 50 most important business schools in Europe. In the EADA MBA programmes, 85% of the participants are from all around the world, and most of them are selected based on their outstanding performance to enter EADA Barcelona.

Reputation of EADA Barcelona

Accreditation:

• EADA Barcelona has been awarded the European Quality Label EQUIS.
• EADA’ Barcelona's MBA programmes have also received the AMBA accreditation granted by the Association of MBAs.

(Currently only 4 Spanish institutions and 66 throughout the world have received these awards.)

English courses from EADA Barcelona

International MBA

• • Language: English
  • Average professional experience: 3 years minimum; 5 years average
  • Educational requirements: University Degree
  • Dedication: Full time
  • Tuition: 29,500 €
  • Study contents: Marketing, Finance, Strategy, Human Resources and Operations.

Euro*MBA

• • Language: Proficiency level in English or similar
  • Professional experience: a minimum of 5 years in positions of responsibility
  • Minimum training: a Bachelor's degree
  • Dedication: 2 years of on-line training plus six weeks of contact classes in different European schools

Future career after EADA Barcelona - Where do EADA Barcelona MBA graduates work?

Countries

• • 54% Europe
  • 4% Africa
  • 33% Latin America
  • 3% North America
  • 4% Asia
  • 2% Middle East

Sectors

• • 26% Other
  • 9% Finance
  • 18% Consulting
  • 7% Manufacturing
  • 10% Distribution
  • 6% Pharmaceuticals and retail Biotechnology
  • 10% Technology Heathcare
  • 9% Consumer products
  • 5% Real estate

Positions

• • 49% Manager
  • 5% Controller
  • 15% Other 5
  • % Specialist
  • 12% General manager
  • 4% Business owner
  • 10% Consultant

Contact

• Website: EADA official website
• Tel: +34 934 520 844
• Fax: +34 933 237 317
• Address: info@eada.edu

Did you know that the founder of SuiteLife Barcelona (Benny) did a EADA Barcelona MBA It's true! Do you have any questions about studying business in Barcelona? Just let us know! By Charlotte Jiaqian Chen / A happy SuiteLifer~

Most Famous Catalan Musicians - cantem en català!

Hey SuiteLifers! We’ve already introduced you to some famous Catalán artists - painters, and architects – now it is time to continue the series with the most famous Catalan musicians!. Music life in Barcelona is very entertaining and you can find a lot of scenes to listen to live music in Barcelona:  jazz bars, restaurants, clubs. There are already articles on our site about Macacó and Ojos de Brujo who are also some of the most famous Catalan musicians from Barcelona. In this particular post we want to show you how many other talented professional musicians are from Catalunya. Maybe you will be very surprised that these most famous Catalan musicians are originally from Barcelona! So here are our most famous Catalan musicians:

1. Montserrat Caballé (1933 - )

She was born in Barcelona in 1933, and completed her music studies here at the Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu (Liceu Conservatory) – which was the part of the Gran Teatre del Liceu.  Caballé is a very famous operatic soprano, sang in several roles in operas of Rossini, Verdi, Puccini, Mozart, Wagner, Strauss and much more.  She is best known for her “bel canto” (it is an Italian word for “beautiful singing”) repertoire, which is a very popular singing technique among sopranos. In the past few years she has become a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and in 2003, Caballé starred in her own documentary film, called “Caballé Beyond Music”.

2. José Carreras (1946 - )

[caption id="attachment_1771" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Opera singer Jose Carreras entertains during the draw[/caption] He was born in Barcelona, 1946. He is also one of the most famous Catalán musicians, being a tenor. Carreras made his debut at age 11, unbelievable! Mainly known for his roles in Puccini’s and Verdi’s works he became very famous for being one of The Three Tenors alongside Luciano Pavarotti and Plácido Domingo. Carreras is also a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and he was the musical director of the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.

3. Pau (Pablo) Casals (1876 - 1973)

Pablo Casals was born in 1876, in a small Catalán village called Vendrell. Even though he was proficient at the violin, piano, organ and flute, he finally became one of the most famous Catalán musicians, being a cellist! He was the first cellist of the Barcelona Opera Orchestra. In the early 20’ he launched his own orchestra and he was also a conductor – as he truly loved the music itself, not just playing cello. He was famous for recording the Bach Cello Suites in the 1930’s. Casals also had a great impact on Puerto Rican music, where the Casals Festival still takes places annually.

4. Tete Montoliu (1933 - 1997)

Montoliu also born in Barcelona, in the same year as Montserrat Caballé. He was totally blind but became a very famous jazz pianist. He studied classical piano at the Conservatori Superior de Música de Barcelona (Barcelona Conservatory) and by the age of 17 he was leading jam sessions at one of the Barcelona theaters. He is said to be an atypical jazz pianist, since he not only expressed his own musical heritage but also an individual interpretation of American jazz as well, exhibiting warmth, deep feelings and humor in his playing.

5. Xavier Cugat (1900 - 1990)

He was born in Girona, Catalunya but soon moved to Havana, Cuba. There he trained as classical violinist and played with the Orchestra of the Teatro Nacional. This famous Catalán musician’s work really did a lot to help the infusion of Latin music into the American popular scene. He took his band to New York, and became the Waldorf Astoria Hotel’s resident muscians. Interestingly, he was also a cartoonist – working for the Los Angeles Times– while also finding time to be an actor and womanizer (5 wives all together :)). Cugi (as he is often called) had a very funny trademark - to hold a Chihuahua while waving his baton with the other hand.

So these are our favourite 5, but there are more and more of the most famous Catalan musicians! If you spot some, let us know your favourites here or on our Facebook page!

Cycling in Barcelona - introduction to Bicing BCN transport system!

Cycling in Barcelona

Compared to many European cities, theBarcelona transport services offer excellent value. A variety of fun, cheap and fast ways to navigate the city are easily accessible. Without doubt my favourite way of getting around the city is cycling in Barcelona. The sun on your back, the wind in your hair and the hustle and bustle of city life to keep you entertained along the way.

Cost of living Barcelona: how much are utilities in BCN?

Moving to Barcelona and want to know more about the cost of living in BCN? Well, you've come to the right place. When looking for a flat to rent most people are dying to know how much utilities (gas, water, electricity, community, Internet) will cost per month but, obviously, everyone uses utilities differently so there is never going to be an exact, fixed answer. Fortunately, we've got a lot of experience and can give you a pretty good idea of how much it'll cost you overall.

Barcelona Utilities = Not too bad

Before reading all the juicy details, take a deep breath and relax... Compared to other countries, utilities in Barcelona are quite cheap. It's definitely something to take into consideration when renting any apartment in Barcelona, but it's not going to break the bank either. Tip: Remember, in many countries it's common for utilities to be included in the rent but in Barcelona this is not the case.  Although you can sometimes find flats for rent that include utilities, 98% of the prices you see for apartments for rent in Barcelona do not include utilities (Except for Community Fees, which usually are included). What are these community fees, you ask? They're a nominal payment that everyone in the building pays in order to have the communal areas of the building maintained and cleaned on a regular basis. Usually it's about 50€€ / month, and it is normally included in your rent.

Most common practices in setting up of utilities

When you've finally decided on your dream flat, the owner will want to make arrangements so that the utilities are paid by you directly. Usually, you provide them with your Spanish bank account number and they then call the utility companies and change the bank details to yours. Then, when you are charged each month, the money comes out of your account automatically. Since the bank info is changed, but nothing else, you should still get the bills in the mail so you can check to see that you are being charged correctly Tip: Make sure that when you sign the contract on your new flat that the owner and/or agency reads the meters in the flat to record their respective numbers.  That way  you wont end up paying for part of what the tenant before you consumed.

How often do they come?

Currently, the different utility bills in Barcelona come with the following frequency: Gas: Gas bills used to arrive once every 2 months, but it seems as their systems have gotten better that it is now once every month. Water: The water bill comes once every 3 months. Electricity: The electricity bill comes once a month. Internet:  Internet is also billed once a month. Community Fees: Usually monthly, but also usually included in your rent.

 

Spanish Vocab

Utilities = Gastos, Suministros Water bill = Factura de Agua Electricity bill = Factura de Luz Gas bill = Factura de Gas Internet Bill = Factura de Internet Community Fees = Gastos de Comunidad

Air conditioning units = beware

It's important to remember that certain appliances consume more energy than others, so you need to be keep an eye on what you're using. At the top of the list is air conditioning. As centralized systems are not yet too common in Barcelona, many people have an external air conditioning unit that is controlled by a remote.  These units suck electricity like crazy (and electricity is the most expensive utility of them all). So if you are in the habit of leaving the house and keeping the air conditioning going while you're out, you may very well have an unpleasant surprise come the end of the month. Other energy suckers are clothes dryers and electric  heaters with high voltage.  As with the air conditioning units, anything that runs on electricity, and needs a lot of it, can cause your bills to jump and increase your cost of living in Barcelona.

Internet = Important

At SuiteLife we believe that every single flat for rent in Barcelona should have Internet ready to go. You won't find many long term flats that will be ready with Internet running the day you move in. In other countries this might seem absurd but in Barcelona, it's just the way it is. What you will find is that most flats are what they call 'Internet Ready' meaning that the phone line is already installed.  If the line is installed already, all you need to do is phone the Internet provider of your choice and have them set it up, which usually takes about 2 days to have them come to your flat. So our advice is don't make Internet your first priority, even if you really need it, as you can always get this sorted pretty quickly.

So how much will it cost me?

OK, ok... back to the cost of living in Barcelona. As we mentioned earlier, it's very hard to estimate how much people will spend on utilities because it depends totally on the consumption and living habits of the specific people. However, here is a good rule of thumb: Count on spending approximately 50 € / per person / month on average over the year. This means if you're two people you should plan on spending about about 100 € / month. But bear in mind that this is an average over the whole year so it can vary month on month. For example, you're likely to have the heating on in winter so mind end up consuming more energy during these months.

Barcelona Utilities: Contact numbers & emergency services

Water: The main water company is called Agbar @: Torre Agbar, Avenida Diagonal 211 Tel: 933 422 000 Emergencies: 900 700 720 Customer Service: 900 710 710 Website: www.aiguesdebarcelona.es Electricity: The main electricity company (they do gas as well) is Fecsa-Endesa Tel: 902 525 852 Emergencies: 900 770 077 Website: www.endesaonline.com Natural Gas: The main gas company for natural gas Tel: 900 760 760 Emergencies: 900 750 750 Website: portal.gasnatural.com That's It!  You should now be an expert, or at least have a clue about utilities and cost of living in Barcelona. If you think we've missed anything out about cost of living in Barcelona or have any helpful tips we'd love to hear from you! Cheers, Benny

Bar Mirablau Barcelona - amazing city view… from Tibidabo!

Barcelona, the city of love?...

Well, it’s not exactly Paris but you don’t have to go far in this city to discover it has a heart. With the beautiful summer sun, the echo of the Mediterranean sea and the exquisite historic architecture alive with wonder, it’s the perfect setting for a little bit of romance. In fact, when you really stop to take a look at Barcelona you will discover that in the fine words of cheesy Brit band Wet Wet Wet, “love is all around”!  However, there’re only so many candlelit dinners and strolls by the beach one can take and if you’re craving something with that extra little bit of 'Va-Va-Voom' then you should definitely take the small 15 minute journey from Barcelona to discover Tibidabo and obviously Bar Mirablau Barcelona!

From Barcelona to Tibidabo…

Bar Mirablau Barcelona in Tibidabo

Tibidabo to Barcelona

So, if you’re looking for a delicious  cocktail of romance, mixed with a astonishing Barcelona view and topped with the great Bar Mirablau Barcelona, make sure your Google search terminates here and follow this advice all the way up the mountain of Tibidabo! Kerry Jessop

La Terrazza Barcelona - party in open air under the stars!

In Barcelona, every summer is a hot one guys, but we all know the party must go on! So listen closely Summer party-goers because I'’ve got some GREAT news! What if I told you about a place where you can dance your heart out all night long, and not feel like you have to bring a change of clothes for the outfit that you’ll undoubtedly sweat through within 5 minutes of arriving at your favorite Barcelona disco?? Sounds good right? Nestled in the side of the Montjuic hill lays our solution - La Terrazza Barcelona! La Terrazza Barcelona is an amazing open-air nightclub in Poble Español, where you can enjoy the beats of DJs from around the world and dance the night away under the stars. That’s right, I said “under the stars,” meaning 90% of the club is outdoors so there’s plenty off fresh air to go around for you and hundreds of your closest friends. Here, you can leisurely sip on your slightly overpriced Vodka Limon without the urge to dump out its entire contents over your head just to cool off.

The atmosphere

But it’s the atmosphere at La Terrazza Barcelona that makes it worth the trip outside of the Barcelona center. They don’t call it the “Atmospherical Fun Club” for nothin’. After entering Poble Espanyol, you’ll wind your way back along the cobble stone streets (ladies, keep this in mind when choosing your footwear), following the faint sound of  electro beats, until you finally arrive at Casa Son Berga, the magnificent mansion housing the club. Once inside, you’'ll be entranced by the visual spectacle of colorful lights and projections cast against the walls and enormous palm trees that line the courtyard. When you finally snap out of it, you’ll quickly notice yourself surrounded by a chic and eclectic mix of people from all over the world, either hanging out at one of the few outdoor bars or dancing around (or on top of) the central stage.

Time surely flies...

Then before you know it, it’s 6:30 am and you’ll be leaving just in time to take in a breathtaking birds-eye view of the city as the sun is coming up and you’re finally calling it a night. It’s by far the “coolest” Barcelona fiesta around, in every sense of the word. Now pay attention because here are a few tips to make your evening way more convenient and economical: HOW TO GET THERE: A FREE bus leaves every 20 minutes from right outside the Barcelona Hard Rock Café starting from 00:20h until 3:20h. HOW TO GET HOME: Buses running non stop from Poble Espanyol to Plaza Espanya from 5:30h to 6:45h. HOW TO AVOID THE 18 € COVER CHARGE: Go on Facebook and join the group “'La Terrrazza Barcelona, Atmospherical fun club',” find the date of the event you want to attend, and put your name plus however many friends you’ll be bringing (the more the merrier) on the guest list at least 24 hours before the party starts. If you show up before 2 am you’ll get in for only 5 euros! So, La Terraza Barcelona gives us a cool, open-air clubbing experience with a unique vibe, incredible view, and great music at a totally reasonable cost. How can you argue with that?

Barcelona City - uncovered Barcelona just for you!

How well do you know Barcelona City?

Barcelona is unforgiving by way of entertainment and like it or not after a very short time living in this City you'll know what Barcelona bars serve up the best drinks, what Barcelona restaurants serve the best Barcelona Tapas, where to shop, when to stop , and even have a favourite Barcelona Beach. Barcelona City is littered with advertisements, posters are pasted carelessly on to walls, thousands of leaflets are handed out daily and you'll even hear the odd instantly recognisable sound of a helicopters rotar blade slicing through the sky with a giant banner in tow. Everywhere you look there's an invitation to discover something new and before long you yourself become a walking A-Z of Barcelona. However, have you ever sat down and considered how well you really know Barcelona City? There'll be a small majority out there who appear to know everything, characters with such a wealth of knowledge they impress and astound even the brightest of folk. Yet, with a past and present as colourful, complex and diverse as Barcelona's it is impossible to know it all! So read on and make room for a few more nuggets of information about Barcelona's past and present that may have escaped you until now.

Barcelona City History and Traditions uncovered

When it comes to famous faces gone by and remarkable Barcelona architecture archives definitely border on the verge of impressive. The city is drenched in history and for every building, structure, space and name there is a story to be told. Look up and marvel at the impressive La Seu Cathedral, Sagrada Familia, and Casa Batlló. Wander through Parc Guell and be blown away by Gaudi's incredible us of colour. Take a glimpse at the famous Picasso museum or go in search of the impressive collection of photographs from Dali's life currently exhibited in the old town. So, where did it all start?
Legend suggests the city was founded by Hercules, 400 years before Rome however, others argue the city got it name from the great Barca family of Carthage and was founded in the 3rd century BC. This City is constantly full of surprises and the unsolved mystery of how Barcelona came to be only adds to its intrigue. Along with its history,  Tapas is the word commonly associated with Barcelona City. Few have been here and not sampled Barcelona Tapas. Suffice to say every other restaurant you walk past specialises or at least dabbles in tapas. Thousands flock daily to the hugely popular haunts like Xampanyet whilst others take a smaller, less crowded approach to the Barcelona Tapas dish. Whichever way it comes it may interest you to know that Tapas isn't a type of food. Tapas is a way of eating food, a small dish, mainly taken with a drink. Alongside Tapas, many who know Barcelona City also associate it with the magnificent, spectacular Flamenco performances that are showcased here. In fact, "Flamenco dance" is a phrase that's echoed all over the City. Fascinating then to discover it isn't predominately a dance! In fact Flamenco contains four main elements, the Guitar, the vocals, las palmas (hand claps) and in fourth place comes the dancing. It's also interesting to learn that Flamenco originated in the South of Spain (and isn't even really a Barcelona tradition) especially when you consider that Barcelona City does Flamenco so very well.

Barcelona Today uncovered

Loving Barcelona City comes from a mixture of history, of traditions and of what's been introduced more recently. Nowhere, will you find the combination of New and Old living so perfectly in unison. For the city's modern society it wouldn't be the same without the lasting stretch of sand that creates the Barcelona beaches we all know and love. Yet, although the majority recognise that those beaches are man-made, what's impressive is that until 1992 there were none! Yet, for everything we love this City for unfortunately it's not completely perfect and one gripe shared by many living here, often involves the chaos of the traffic. In today's society Barcelona City and traffic go as hand in hand as a red rag and a bull, quite aggressively to say the least. However, the extent of the anarchy on the roads only becomes apparent when you look at the facts. Some suggest at one time there was an accident happening every 90 seconds! Probably why a large amount of people choose to walk. Also, bearing in mind there's a whole 130 acres, that’s 260 football pitches, dedicated to walking zones why wouldn't you? So, next time you’re stumbling through this familiar City just stop and think. Question how much you actually do know because in reality when you start digging deeper, Barcelona City has a tendency to reveal some hidden secrets making it all the more exciting. - Kerry Jessop

Beat the Queue at Gaudi's Sagrada Familia - be prepared!

Todays blog will be about how to beat the queue at Sagrada Familia, if you're reading this then you're just one of thousands trying to work out when is the best time to go and how on earth you can avoid that god forsaken queue! Well you're in a luck, because I have the solution to all your troubles...
Gaudi's Church is truly remarkable and the on going project is extremely ambitious and one that should really be admired and cherished. However the last thing you want to do is have a bad experience at Sagrada. Gaudi was an artistic genius hut not even the great Gaudi could orchestrate or anticipate the popularity his church would generate. So don't let a long queue be your only experience of this magnificent building. So what are we waiting for ... lets find out how to beat the queue at Sagrada Familia.

BOOK ONLINE IN ADVANCE!!!!

Right okay step one to beat the queue at Sagrada Familia .... its the most obvious one which is to book in advance! I know it sounds silly but we are lazy creatures let's be honest. We expect to come to the city and just walk right in to the most crowded touristy places without any struggle, well let me tell you now that its not the case and NEVER will be! So this is a must! Whether you're planning to visit this city or already in Barcelona you need to book tickets well in advance online. A tour guide is included and you'll be jumping the queues (shouting 'SUCKERS!!!' as you pass by the helpless individuals in the ever-growing queue) in no time. Remember you can't go straight to the gates. With your advanced ticket you can jump the queue to the meeting point where you shall all be escorted further.

EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM!!

Now for those who forgot to book in advance this is what you need to do to beat the queue at Sagrada Familia. Come close... Are you listening ??? Okay you need to make sure you arrive VERY early in the morning! Trying to buy a ticket during the day or towards the evening is next to impossible and theres no need for you to be waiting a ridiculous amount of time. Sagrada opens at 9:00am and the tourists usually starts quite early too, therefore you will have to anticipate and plan properly. There is no guarantee that even if you wake up at 6am that you will be at the front of the queue as its all about the luck of the day! But what I can be sure of is that if you time it right in the morning you can certainly reduce your waiting time SIGNIFICANTLY!
Now if you haven't even booked your flight yet and your sole purpose for coming to Barcelona is to see the Sagrada Familia then you would be wise to choose your dates accordingly. This is the perfect way to beat the queue at Sagrada Familia as this enables you to avoid all the touristy periods which tend to be near the spring and summer season. So an ideal period would be during winter around November to late February. However there is a reason why this isn't a touristy period because the weather isn't the greatest. Hope you guys enjoyed the blog guys and if you have any comments please do share them below, maybe there's another way to beat the queue at Sagrada Familia that we haven't heard of? For more information on Sagrada Familia Click here! You can buy your tickets in advance here!