Tourists throng the small stretch of pavement outside the Sagrada Familia, each eager to capture the perfect selfie. They crowd the pavement in front of the famous Gaudí-designed basilica, occasionally stepping onto the road for a better angle. However, this influx of visitors, all chasing an Instagram-worthy shot, often disrupts the daily lives of residents.

For over a decade, locals have voiced their frustrations with the large crowds that obstruct pedestrian movement and cause traffic congestion around the site. In response, Barcelona city authorities have unveiled plans to address this issue and better manage the influx of tourists. As one of Spain's most popular destinations, the Sagrada Familia is central to Barcelona’s tourism. To alleviate the overcrowding around the religious site, the city council has announced plans to create a designated area where visitors can pause and take selfies before entering the basilica.

This dedicated space will help reduce pedestrian and traffic congestion, giving locals more room to navigate the area.

The planned area will cover 6,200 square meters and will be located between the Nativity façade of the basilica and Plaça Gaudí, on Carrer de la Marina. The initiative aims to reconcile the needs of the millions of visitors with those of the surrounding neighborhood.

Plaça Gaudí, the square near the basilica, has faced its own set of challenges with tourism. Recently, it became a popular spot for a TikTok trend where tourists would film themselves on metro escalators with the Sagrada Familia in the background. This practice clogged station exits and led to the eventual banning of the trend due to the disruption it caused.

“The new project helps resolve the conflict between the use of the space by visitors to the temple and the neighborhood,” the Barcelona city council said in a press release.

The construction of the gathering zone is set to begin after the summer and is expected to be completed by April 2026, in time for the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death. The €2.7 million (£2.3 million) project is part of a broader €15.5 million (£13.4 million) initiative aimed at improving infrastructure and visitor management around the Sagrada Familia.

The basilica, which attracts 4.7 million visitors annually, is the second most-visited site in Spain, just behind the Alhambra in Granada. With Barcelona itself receiving 32 million tourists per year, managing this influx has become a pressing issue for the city.

In recent years, Barcelona has implemented various strategies to tackle overtourism. In 2024, the city launched a €44 million (£38 million) plan to regulate crowds at 16 major tourist hotspots by increasing the presence of cleaners and police officers to maintain order and safety.

Additionally, Barcelona made headlines last year by rebranding its tourism slogan, moving away from “Visit Barcelona” (used for 15 years) to the new “This is Barcelona.” The rebranding reflects the city’s efforts to shift away from mass tourism and emphasise a more sustainable approach.

As part of its long-term goals, Barcelona has pledged to eliminate short-term apartment rentals for tourists by 2028 and limit the number of cruise ships disembarking in the city.

Speaking about these initiatives, the city’s mayor, Jaume Collboni, emphasised the importance of tourism serving the needs of the city rather than overtaking it. "Tourism needs to be serving the city's model, not the opposite," he said.