Would you like to visit the Sagrada Família, Park Güell or one of Gaudí’s houses in Barcelona?

For some attractions, tickets are sold for specific times, and waiting until you get there to buy them could throw a spanner in the works of your whole itinerary.

I’d book the Sagrada Família and Park Güell first. For other attractions, it mainly depends on how fixed your plans are and whether you want a specific time slot, a special tour or free entry.

How far in advance should you book tickets?

In the table below, I’ve set out the lead time I’d recommend when planning your trip. These are recommendations, not deadlines by which tickets will automatically sell out.

Location	How far in advance to book	Booking link
Sagrada Família	2–4 weeks; 2–3 months for the towers	Official website
Park Güell	1–3 weeks	Official website
Picasso Museum	3–7 days; free entry when bookings open	Official website
Casa Batlló	3–7 days; special tours available earlier	Official website
Casa Milà, also known as La Pedrera	3–7 days	GetYourGuide
Palau de la Música Catalana	3–7 days for a tour	GetYourGuide

For summer, public holidays and weekends, I’d book the Sagrada Família and Park Güell as soon as you know your dates and tickets go on sale. Especially if you’re only in the city for 2–3 days and can’t easily reschedule your visit.

The Sagrada Família sells tickets around 2 months before your visit, whilst Park Güell sells them up to 3 months in advance.

If you can’t yet select a date further in the future, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s sold out. Tickets for that date may simply not be on sale yet.

Which bookings are really important

Not all entries in the table require the same level of planning.

• Sagrada Família and Park Güell: I’d use these two visits as the basis of my itinerary and plan the rest of the day around their times. Tickets are sold online; turning up at the ticket office won’t help if the slot is sold out.
• Picasso Museum: I’d book a paid admission several days in advance. If you want to take advantage of one of the free slots, bookings become available at 10.00 am, four days before your visit. So even free entry requires some planning.
• Casa Batlló, La Pedrera and Palau de la Música: I recommend booking in advance, mainly to choose your preferred time slot and ensure a comfortable itinerary. You don’t necessarily have to visit both of Gaudí’s buildings. First, check our guides to compare what you’ll see inside each one.

Are you also planning a trip to Montserrat? Make sure to arrange in advance, in particular, a close-up visit to the Black Madonna and any performance by the Escolania choir. The trip to the mountains itself is not the same as a booked visit to these sites.

Where to buy tickets for Barcelona’s attractions

For the Sagrada Família and Park Güell, I’d start with the official ticket outlets listed in the table.

When comparing offers, always check the final price and whether you’re buying just admission or a guided tour.

For La Pedrera and the Palau de la Música, I recommend GetYourGuide, where a standard adult ticket costs the same as at the official ticket office. Selected products also allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before your visit. For children’s, student and senior rates, please also check the official website.

For Casa Batlló, buying in advance can sometimes mean a lower price. Prices vary depending on the date and type of ticket, so be sure to compare the same date, time and tour option.

If you’re considering a combined ticket package, first take a look at our comparison of tourist cards in Barcelona and check how to book time slots for the included attractions.

What to do if tickets are sold out

First, check other time slots and all the days of your stay. A sold-out morning doesn’t necessarily mean the whole day is sold out.

Another option is to choose a different type of visit, such as a guided tour. However, make sure it actually includes entry to the venue, and compare the price. You may end up paying significantly more for an available slot.

I wouldn’t travel to Park Güell without a ticket, simply hoping to buy one at the ticket office. Tickets are sold online only.

At the Sagrada Família, you can buy tickets on the spot using QR codes, but this is still subject to availability.

If there are no reasonable options left, change your plans. Why not visit the Hospital de Sant Pau, for example, or choose another place from our guide to what to see in Barcelona?

Book your hotel and plan your transport too

Once you’ve set your travel dates, I’d sort out accommodation as well as the main tickets. For a first visit, I’d start in the Eixample district, which is a good base for planning visits to Gaudí’s buildings and travelling by metro.

• 👉 Compare prices and availability on Booking.com

You can find other neighbourhoods and specific hotels in our guide to where to stay in Barcelona.

Before buying timed entry tickets, do check the transport options too:

• On the day of your arrival, allow plenty of time. Factor in the journey into the city and the possibility of having to leave your luggage somewhere. We compare the options in the section on transport from Barcelona Airport.
• When visiting the sights, bear in mind the travel time between them. Park Güell is not located directly next to the Sagrada Família or the buildings on Passeig de Gràcia. Our guide to transport in Barcelona will make planning easier.

You can then decide whether to go for a stroll through the old town, head to the beaches or relax in Ciutadella Park depending on your mood and the weather. I’d only make firm bookings for the places you really don’t want to miss.