When it comes to Barcelona, there is one architect whose name really stands out, one name that everyone knows…. Antoni Gaudí. No trip to Barcelona is complete without seeing some (if not all) of his works, they are in fact some of the best attractions in Barcelona.
Gaudí spent most of his life in Barcelona and the city boasts the largest concentration of his works in the world. His style is unique, often imitated but never matched.
There are many things to do in Barcelona, so while you head off on your adventure of one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, remember to keep your eyes open for some of these truly remarkable artistic creations that Gaudí planned, built and envisioned for his most favorite of cities. Take a look below at a few of his must-see attractions in Barcelona.
Parc Güell
Carrer d’Olot, 7
Parc Güell is arguably one of Gaudí’s most well-known & famous works (as well as one of Barcelona’s most famous parks). Park Güell boasts stunning hillside views of the whole city. Parc Güell is definitely one of the best places to go for a stunning panoramic view of the city, (second best to los bunkers del carmel).
You can enter the park for free, but if you want to get into the ‘Monumental zone’ (which is the well-known touristic part), you’ll pay around €8 to see the iconic mosaic bench and dragon, plus more gems. (Tip: Visit their website to book in advance online)
Parc Güell was built between 1900 and 1914 and today is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Most buildings & benches have the “trencadis” (surfaces covered with irregular ceramic pieces) that is characteristic of Gaudí and Art Nouveau. Chock-full of symbolism and nature motifs, this park, belonging to Gaudí’s naturalist phase, will spark anyone’s imaginative side.
La Sagrada Familia
Carrer de Mallorca, 401
This is the most famous of all of Gaudí’s works. If there is only one place you visit in Barcelona, Sagrada Familia has to be it. This 560 foot (170-meter) tall Roman Catholic church is the No. 1 attraction in Barcelona, and rightfully so.
Sagrada Familia has been under construction since 1892, but is expected to be completed in 2026. Although incomplete, Sagrada Familia was one of Gaudí’s lifelong dreams, he knew that he would never see it completed in his lifetime, but his vision was to create a highly celebrated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sagrada Familia is also home to the tomb of Antonio Gaudí who died on June 7, 1926 after being hit by a tram. You can visit his tomb while visiting the church.
Tip: Pre-book your tickets online you can skip the long lines to buy tickets, which runs out fast.
Casa Milà- La Pedrera
Provença, 261-265
Casa Milà, popularly known as La Pedrera, ‘the stone quarry’ because its exterior resembles an open quarry. This house was one of Antoni Gaudi’s last buildings before dedicating himself completely to Sagrada Familia.
Casa Milà was one of Gaudí’s main residential buildings and one of the most imaginative houses in the history of architecture. This building is more of a sculpture than a building.
Casa Mila was built between 1906 and 1912. The building is famous for its unique shape, rough limestone façade, twisting iron balconies and quirky-looking chimneys. It was actually disliked by locals during it’s construction. Luckily, everyone now has come to love this incredible & impressive building.
Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984, La Pedrera has featured in books, music videos and international films; such as Vicky Christina Barcelona, directed by Woody Allen.
Don’t miss the roof top with its unique collection of chimneys, it truly is something unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.
Casa Batlló
Passeig de Grácia, 43
Casa Batlló is one of Gaudí’s most well-known, visited, and photographed works. The house was actually built in 1877 by another architect, but Gaudí did significant renovations to the house from 1904 and 1906 for then owner Josep Batlló.
Located right in the middle of Barcelona, Gaudí’s renowned Casa Batlló building is one of his masterpieces. One of the city’s most popular landmarks, Casa Batlló is locally known as Casa dels Ossos or “House of Bones” because of its skeletal-inspired façade. Decorated with a colorful mosaic of broken tiles, the roof is said to resemble a dragon. The interior has irregular oval windows, vaulted curved walls, colorful mosaics, stained glass windows, and much more to explore. The roof terrace resembles the back of a dragon and also has a set of four colorful chimneys. Casa Batlló is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. Casa Batlló is a bit like an architectural funhouse!
There are many more incredible Gaudí works in Barcelona, including: Palau Güell (Carrer Nou de la Rambla, 3-5), Colonia Güell (Calle Claudi Güell, Santa Coloma de Cervelló), Casa Vices (Carrer de les Carolines, 24), El Drac de Gaudí at Finca Güell (Avenida de Pedralbes, 7), Casa Calvet (Carrer de Casp, 48) and Fanals (Lamps posts (Placa Real & Pla de Palau) .
No trip to Barcelona is complete without visiting some of Gaudí’s works. His architecture is unusual, unexpected & unforgettable. It’s no surprise that Gaudí’s works make a great sightseeing destination that you will never forget…