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Barcelona’s most popular tourist attraction in 2023 was the Basílica de la Sagrada Família, registering approximately *** million visitors. With a difference of less than 100,000 visitors, Park Güell followed second in the ranking that year. Both monuments, created by the world-renowned architect Antoni Gaudí, are landmarks of the city.

The Basilica: Gaudí’s most famous work

The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, as this Catholic temple is officially known, was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1984. Its construction had begun around a century earlier but remains unfinished since the project is solely funded by private donors. The completion date, planned for 2026 as commemoration for the 100 years of Gaudí’s death, will have to be postponed due to the suspension of the construction works during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Prior to the global health crisis, La Sagrada Família received more than *** million visitors annually.

COVID-19 impact on tourism in Barcelona

As a result of being a major tourist hotspot for travelers worldwide, Barcelona’s tourism sector experienced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, the number of tourists staying in Barcelona’s hotels decreased by over million during the global health crisis. Due to lower tourist demand, the number of hotels open in Barcelona also contracted, from *** in 2019 to *** in 2020. With less than ** million passengers recorded at Barcelona Airport in 2020, down from roughly ** million travelers in 2019, the airport reached a two-decade low in traveler numbers during the pandemic.