Epic Gaudí Attractions In Barcelona You Don’t Want To Miss

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Updated on January 16, 2025

When most people think of Barcelona, the images they conjure are the works of architect Antoni Gaudí. The iconic architectural design of Gaudí defines Barcelona today. Gaudí attractions draw hundreds of tourists to the city every year.

If you’re visiting Barcelona and want to immerse yourself in his works, here’s a guide to the top 5 Gaudí attractions you must include in your visit.

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5 Must-See Gaudí Attractions

While Gaudí’s architecture punctuates much of the city, I’ve compiled a list of the top 5 Gaudí attractions you won’t want to miss. As a city, Barcelona has many sights to offer. But if you have an interest in the works of Gaudí, a visit to the 5 attractions below won’t leave you disappointed.

1. La Sagrada Família

Probably Gaudí’s most famous undertaking and an icon of Barcelona. No trip is complete without a visit to La Sagrada Família.

Construction began in 1882, and the project is still incomplete to this day. The aim is to complete the building by 2026, to mark the 100^th anniversary of Gaudí’s death.

Gaudí took over as chief engineer in 1883 and transformed the project with his engineering and architectural styles. Using a combination of Gothic and Art Nouveau forms, La Sagrada Família is Gaudí’s masterpiece. He worked on the project until his death in 1926, and construction is still taking place daily.

When you visit La Sagrada Família, you will understand why it has taken almost a century and a half to build. The intricacy of the external façade tells the story of the life of Jesus in exquisite detail through the use of statues adorning the outside of the building.

While you can see the outside of the building from the street, to fully appreciate it’s beauty, you need to experience La Sagrada Família from the inside.

In contrast, the inside of the building is relatively plain. Very few statues are found inside and there is a large, open-plan design. But this is what emphasizes the beauty inside the building.

Inspired by nature, Gaudí has designed a forest inside La Sagrada Família. Towering columns echo tree trunks. Intricate skylights give the feeling of light filtering through the leaves.

Perhaps the most stunning element of the interior is the colorful stained-glass windows. Designed tonally to maximize sunrise and sunset, the pretty colors reflect throughout the interior of the building. The colors dance around, creating a magical wonderland that is mesmerizing.

Visiting La Sagrada Família

When visiting La Sagrada Família, it is vital that you pre-book tickets. Queues amass quickly during the day but booking gives you an allocated entry slot to avoid a lengthy wait.

Another tip would be to book the earliest slot available. Entry starts from 9am and if you can get this slot you won’t regret the early start.

As soon as the doors open a constant stream of tourists filter through the basilica. If you can get in at 9am, you can enjoy La Sagrada Família in relative peace and fully immerse yourself in the building without the bustling crowds.

Booking your tickets online also allows you to include the audio tour as part of your ticket. I’d strongly recommend including this in your visit. The carefully curated audio tour guides you through La Sagrada Família and points out interesting nuances in the architecture you might otherwise miss.

When you’ve completed the audio tour, there is an optional museum at the end of the visit. The museum is well worth a look, as it features models of how La Sagrada Família was originally designed to look before Gaudí took over as lead architect. It is safe to say it would have been a very different building and is unlikely to have had the same global appeal!

2. Casa Milà

Casa Milà, otherwise known as La Pedrera or ‘the stone quarry,’ was the last private residence designed by Gaudí. It was built between 1906 and 1912 in the modernist style.

Perhaps the most famous part of the building is the roof. The undulating rooftop affords visitors some spectacular views of the city. It is also guarded by warrior-like chimneys that have become synonymous with Gaudí.

The loft is a large open-plan space with vaulted ceilings. Although common today, Gaudí’s open-plan design was innovative and hadn’t previously been achieved.

The apartments provide a glimpse into how the wealthy once lived in Barcelona. The grand rooms and elaborate furnishings give the impression of stepping back in time to a life of luxury.

The building itself towers around a central courtyard. The entrance to the courtyard is via an ornate wrought-iron gate, which allowed the owners to access the underground carpark. The ceiling and walls around the gate are covered with delicate, colorful paintings.

Tickets are available on the day for Casa Milà, although queues can get long. If you book online you can avoid wait times.

There are multiple ticket options available, including the premium option which allows you to visit on any date. But if you know when you’re planning on visiting I’d recommend booking a time slot on your preferred date with the essential ticket. The online booking includes an audio guide of the building.

3. Casa Batlló

Located in the center of Barcelona, Casa Batlló is one of Gaudí’s masterpieces. Originally built in 1877, Gaudí was commissioned to redesign the building in 1904. The house was bought by Josep Batlló in 1900 who requested Gaudí create a house that was like no other.

It’s safe to say he met the criteria!

As is often seen in Gaudí’s works, the design of the house is inspired by nature. Stepping through the doors you will feel yourself immersed in the ocean. The distinctly nautical design runs through the entire building, making the tour through Casa Batlló a cohesive and whimsical experience.

Possibly the most audacious of all Gaudí’s creations, Casa Batlló can surprisingly be overlooked by tourists. While not his most famous work, Casa Batlló is the one that gives the best glimpse into the mind of Antoni Gaudí. Of all of the Gaudí attractions listed, this one was my favorite.

As with all the Gaudí attractions, pre-booking tickets is recommended. Once you enter the building, a comprehensive audio and augmented reality guide will direct you from room to room. It gives you an overview of the history of Barcelona, the building, and shows you what it looked like during the time of the Batlló family.

4. Park Güell

Located on the northern face of Carmel Hill, Park Güell is a large public park. Originally built between 1900-1914, the park first opened to the public in 1926. In 1984 UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site.

Most of the park is free to enter. On a sunny day, a stroll around the park is a relaxing break from the constant flow of the city. You can admire street performers and birdsong in this green oasis.

In recent years an entrance fee has been applied to the Monumental Zone. The Monumental Zone includes the main entrance, terrace, and areas with significant mosaic detail, including the iconic salamander.

Having an entrance fee is designed to preserve the area. However, as the number of visitors is limited to 400 every 30 minutes, it means you can enjoy the architecture with significantly less crowding than in prior years. Overall, it lends itself to a more pleasant experience.

While a stroll in Park Güell is beautiful, I’d strongly advise a visit to the Monumental Zone. This area of the park further exemplifies Gaudí’s unique architectural skill. However, seeing it in the landscape of the park gives a different perspective from the Gaudí houses.

If you want to visit the Monumental Zone on your visit, you must pre-book tickets. Tickets are great value at only €10* per person, but to guarantee entry, need to be booked 24 hours in advance. They can easily be booked online and you can choose your preferred 30-minute entry slot.

5. Gaudí House Museum

Located within Park Güell, this historic house was home to Antoni Gaudí for almost 20 years. Gaudí lived in the house between 1906 and 1925 until he relocated to La Sagrada Familia to oversee the development.

The house itself was commissioned by Eusebi Güell i Bacigalupi. He was inspired to build a garden city after a stay in England. The project was designed to develop 60 houses, but ultimately only 2 were built.

The Gaudí Museum house was designed as a show property. Unfortunately, it attracted no buyers so Gaudí bought the house in 1906. He moved there with his father and niece, who both died in the years after the move. Gaudí then continued to live in the house alone until he moved into the workshop at La Sagrada Família.

Although only a small museum, it gives a great insight into the life of the man behind Barcelona’s most iconic buildings. You can see how the house would have been used by Gaudí during his tenancy. There is also a collection of furniture designed by Gaudí on display at the house, which highlights how Gaudí was a master of all areas of design.

Now belonging to the Construction Board of La Sagrada Família, you can pre-book a joint ticket to both attractions. We would recommend including a visit to the Gaudí House Museum when you book your tickets for La Sagrada Família.

Other Gaudí Attractions

If you’ve fallen in love with the work of Antoni Gaudí, why not explore the following attractions on your visit:

• Casa Vicens – Built between 1883 and 1885 as a summer house for the Vicens family, Casa Vicens is Gaudí’s first masterpiece.
• Palau Güell – Commissioned as a peculiar urban palace as an extension to a family home on La Rambla, Palau Güell is another example of Gaudí’s early work.
• Gaudi Experience – a unique 4D augmented reality experience allows you to experience Gaudí’s works from a new perspective.

>> If you have a few days in Barcelona and want to explore more of what the city has on offer, why not check out this 3-day itinerary? <<

What are your favourite Gaudí Attractions?

So, if you are visiting, be sure to bookmark this page or pin it so you can visit these top Gaudí attractions on your trip!

Which is your favourite Gaudí attraction? I’d love to hear about your visit! Let’s connect on Instagram and send me a DM and tell me which is your favourite Gaudí attraction in Barcelona!

Until our next adventure,

*Prices as of February 2021

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