The Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona achieved a new record with almost 4.9m visitors in 2025.
This heritage icon continues to draw large numbers of tourists, highlighting the strength of cultural and architectural tourism in Spain and benefiting surrounding hospitality services in the city. The surge in tourism coincides with significant progress on the structure:
- Central Tower Completion: On 20 February 2026, the installation of the cross atop the Tower of Jesus Christ was completed, marking the highest point of the basilica at 172.5 metres.
- World’s Tallest Church: With the completion of this tower, the Sagrada Família officially surpassed Germany’s Ulm Minster to become the tallest church in the world.
- Final Works: While external works on the main towers are finishing, interior artistic work and the construction of the Glory facade are expected to continue through 2027 and 2028.
The figure follows a steady climb in popularity, with 4.7 million visitors recorded in 2023 and 4.8 million in 2024. As an “expiatory temple,” the ongoing construction remains funded entirely by donations and the ticket sales from these millions of international visitors
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