This Beloved Barcelona Landmark Was Named The World's Top Travel Attraction For 2025

Drum roll, please! The 2025 winners have been announced for Tripadvisor's annual Travelers' Choice Awards. Taking first place for the Top Experience in the world is a tour (notably costing only a few dollars per person to participate) in Florence, the Italian city that Rick Steves calls "the Cultural Capital of Europe." London claimed the top spot in the category for Best Destinations in the world — find out when's the best time of year to plan a trip. And winning the award for the world's Top Attractions is the Basílica de la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain.

Designed by the celebrated architect Antoni Gaudí, the basilica has been under construction for more than 140 years. However, the landmark is expected to be completed in 2026, officials say, with the Chapel of Assumption scheduled for completion in 2025 and a final tower built the following year. At that point, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the Sagrada Familia will be the tallest church in the world. 

Anticipation is growing as the basilica's completion draws closer. The Sagrada Familia brought in 4.83 million visitors in 2024, a 2.7% increase from previous years and the highest annual total in the site's long history. But not so fast, says Esteve Camps, president of the organization overseeing construction: an exterior stairway could take another decade to build. "We are following Gaudí's plan to the letter," Camps told The Guardian. "We are his heirs and we can't renounce his project. The plan presented to the local authority in 1915, which was signed by Gaudí, includes the stairway."

Stairway or no stairway, the main building is on track to be finished in 2026 — the year that also marks the centenary of Gaudí's death, a milestone around which officials have already planned special events and celebrations. In the meantime, visitors can tour the Sagrada Familia every day. Hours vary according to the season, but generally, opening hours run from 9 a.m. to 6, 7, or 8 p.m. on weekdays, with slightly shorter hours on weekends. 

As of this writing, tickets cost 26 euros (admission is free for children under 11 years old), or 36 euros for tours that include access to the towers. Both options include audioguides, or you can pay a few more euros for a live tour guide who will point out Art Nouveau and Gothic highlights, from soaring arches and ribbed vaults to Gaudí's colorful stained glass windows and whimsical fruit motifs. Avoid the lines outside and purchase timed-entry tickets in advance. Learn more about the best ways to avoid crowds in Barcelona, according to locals.

For lunch or a snack near Basílica de la Sagrada Familia, try Hasta Los Andares, a casual wine and tapas bar located just around the corner. If you're looking for coffee or a morning meal before entering, several places in the neighborhood serve brunch, including Miss Simona and Brunch & Cake. Nearby lodgings include Hotel Boutique Hostemplo (from $192 in summer) and Sercotel Rosellón (from $167), whose rooftop terrace has views of the basilica. Barcelona's international airport is 30 minutes away by car, or 40 minutes using public transportation.