Visit the Parc Güell, the emblematic monument of Barcelona

Visit the Parc Güell in Barcelona, a must-see place in the Catalan capital imagined by local architect Antoni Gaudí!

Emblematic symbol of the city of Barcelona, Parc Güell is the centenary fruit of the architectural creations of Gaudí (1852-1926), an eponymous work of his patron, Eusebi Güell (1846-1918), a Catalan industrialist.

Built from 1900 to 1914 and registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, Parc Güell has established itself through the 20th century as one of the immanquable sites to be visited, in the same way as the famous Sagrada Familia in the Catalan capital. It attracts over 2.5 million visitors every year.

Did you plan to visit Parc Güell? So you'll soon find out all the information you need for your visit!

History of Park Güell

The Park Güell was originally a garden city, which Eusebi Güell asked Gaudi to build on the hill El Carmel . The idea of departure was to build a garden city, inspired by the English gardens, with some 60 houses, guardhouses, a market, a school and a chapel.

Despite the commitment of Güell and Gaudí in the project, it was a total commercial failure: The high prices and the location a little outside the city, at the time, made that only two plots of land could be sold in time. As a result, only four houses and the park of Güell were completed. In 1914, the beginning of the First World War ended Gaudí's work and the 17-hectare park was bought by the city of Barcelona a few years later.

Following this, architects José Antonio Martínez Lapeña and Elías Torres restored it from 1984 to 1993.

What to see and do at Parc Güell?

If you come to visit the Park Güell, you must know that it is divided into 2 separate areas: Monumental area (not grayed), for which you have to buy an entry, and the Free access area which is open to all visitors free of charge.

In addition to the many architectural details, several monuments and works are a must-see when visiting the Parc Güell. Obviously, the most interesting part is in the paid part. Here's what you shouldn't miss:

• The Dragon and the Escalier: A true symbol of the Park Güell and leading to the Hypostyle room, these stairs are divided by fountains and the famous mosaic salamander.
• The Hypostyle room with one hundred doric columns: It actually counts only 86 columns of 6 meters high! This room was to be used as a market and referred to a forest.
• The place of nature: This is where you will discover the longest undulating bench in the world, with its 110 meters of mosaics! This place offers a nice view of Barcelona and the entrance to the park. This includes one of the entrance pavilions, now the shop of the park, and the concierge service (Casa del Guarda) that you can visit if you want to learn more about Gaudi’s life and his work.
• Pórtico de la Lavandera (Le porche de la lavandière)
• Gaudi's house and gardens: Here you can discover several rooms with some furniture belonging to the architect. In the gardens, you can discover the Pont de Baix.
• Gardens of Austria
• Le Belvédère du Parc Güell : A 360-degree view awaits you!

Finally, visit Parc Güell will teach you Gaudí's biography. To do this, we'd rather prefer it guided walking tour . For example, to create the Park Güell, Gaudí was inspired by the Jardins de la Fontaine de Nîmes, where he stayed during his youth. This visit will also appeal to lovers looking for a romantic getaway.

How to get to Parc Güell

Parc Güell is not entirely located in the centre of Barcelona. There are several solutions to go. You can of course go on foot, or by taxi, but the best way remains the metro or the bus. From La Rambla or Plaza Catalunya, take the bus number 92 or 24 .

If you take it metro (Green Line L3) to go to Parc Güell, stop at Lesseps (near Parc Güell), or Vallcarca (on the top of the park). For both stations, it will take 15 minutes to walk, knowing that you will have to climb if you go out to Lesseps.

To help you get around in Barcelona, feel free to read our article “ Detailed maps and plans of Barcelona ".

Timetables & rates at Parc Güell

HORARI

Winter: 8:30 am - 6:15 pm Eté : 8h00 – 21h30 Spring: 8:00 – 8:30

You can view the schedules for the day of your visit by clicking here .

RATES

The visit to the Monumental Zone has been paid since 2013. The park is the public property of the city of Barcelona, but as often, the cost of maintaining and safeguarding public monuments are borne in part by visitors...

It is possible to book your ticket online for Parc Güell .

By setting your entry ticket on site, the rates are as follows:

• Adults: 10€
• Children (7 to 12 years old) and over 65 years old: 7€
• Persons with reduced mobility: 7€

Good to know: The entrance will include the direct shuttle transport from Alfons X to Park Güell. In addition, tickets to visit the regulated area do not include the Gaudí Museum House visit

Finally, your ticket to Parc Güell can be booked up to three months in advance. Access to the Monumental Zone of Parc Güell is limited to 400 admissions every half hour: it is better to think about booking your ticket before the visit!

The application of an entry rate and the installation of a ticket office revealed long queues. Visit smart! Go for the cut-file ticket! Otherwise, access to the park’s gardens on the hill’s heights is free. Prepare to take a full view as you overlook the whole city of Barcelona!