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Parc Güell, Barcelona - Essential Information & Tickets

Antoni Gaudí UNESCO world Heritage site & public park since 1926. Commissioned by Eusebi Güell to be a luxury housing estate

Updated: Jul 29, 2023 by: Barcelona Travel Hacks Views: 1.8k

About Gaudí's Parc Güell

Park Güell is the famous Barcelona city park with the mosaics and the salamander in the Gràcia / La salut neighbourhood and is one of the most popular attractions in Barcelona, Spain.

Park Güell Background and History

Park Güell was originally designed to be a high-class housing estate funded by Count Eusebi Güell i Bacigalupi who commissioned Antoni Gaudí to build a housing estate inspired by the English Garden movement but it was a commercial failure.

In 1900, the site was a rocky hill with little vegetation and few trees, called Muntanya Pelada (Bare Mountain) and included a large country house called Larrard House or Muntaner de Dalt House. The site is behind a neighbourhood, La Salut, that was full of upper-class houses and the intention was to construct 60 luxury houses contained within triangular plots that would exploit the fresh air well away from smoky factories of industrial down town Barcelona.

Count Eusebi Güell added to the prestige of the development 1n 1906 by living in Larrard House. However, only two houses were built, neither designed by Gaudí. One was intended to be a show house, but on being completed in 1904 and put up for sale did not attract any buyers. Count Güell convinced Gaudí to buy it with his savings and it became the home of Gaudí his family and father from 1906 till Gaudí's death in 1926.

The Gaudí house (Now the Gaudí House Museum) was built by architect Francesc Berenguer i Mestres. Today it contains original works by Gaudí and several of his collaborators opening as a museum in 1963. In 1969 it was declared a historical artistic monument of national interest.

The second house constructed in Parc Güell is Casa Martí Trias i Domènech, built in 1905 on 2 triangles of land bought within the Güell housing estate in 1901. The house was commissioned by lawyer Martí Trias i Domènech and his wife Ana Maxenchs and built by the architect Juli Batllevell i Arús. The owner, Martí Trias died in 1914. His son, Alfonso was a Good friend of Gaudi.

In a bazar twist of fate, it was Alfonso, then a student of medicine, that identified the dead body of Antoni Gaudí in the Santa Cruz hospital after he had been brought in as an unknown patient, being hit by a tram on the corner of Gran via with Bailen street in 1926. Today Casa Martí Trias is a private residence and not open to the public.

In 1926, Parc Güell was opened as a municipal park.

In 1969, it was declared a historical artistic monument of national interest.

In 1984 Parc Güell was awarded UNESCO world Heritage status.

Visiting Gaudí's Parc Güell

Today Parc Güell is a municipal park with the site being divided into two parts. The upper section is free access to the public with opening hours that are approximately equal to daylight hours.

The lower Monumental Zone is a pay entry regulated area. The tickets can be bought in advance or at the ticket machine when you arrive. However, you must enter the regulated pay area no later than 30 minutes after the stated time on your ticket or you will forfeit the entry and staff will refuse access.

NOTE: Entry to Casa Gaudí Museum (Gaudí House Museum) is not included in the Parc Güell ticket but a combined Parc Güell + Gaudí House Museum ticket can be purchased.

UPDATE: Currently the whole of Parc Güell is pay entry with free entry to the upper part only for residents from 07:00h to 09:00h and 18:00h to 22:00h. Specifically residents of the neighborhoods adjacent to Park Güell (El Coll, Vallcarca-Penitents, la Salut, el Carmel, Can Baró and Baix Guinardo) If you are Empadronado in one of the neighborhoods mentioned, you can request the card by calling 010, or through the procedures website of Barcelona City Council.

What do you get to see in the Parc Güell regulated Monumental Zone?

The Monumental zone includes the Entrance pavilion with the ornate columns. it also includes the iconic staircase with the tiled lizard sculpture. The gate houses, some ornate balconies and a great viewpoint from on top of the main square.

Parc Güell is about 15 minutes walk from the nearest metro or Barcelona Bus Touristic Blue Route stop, via stairs or escalators so for those with reduced mobility I recomend a bus tour package.

Parc Güell Tickets

IMPORTANT: Parc Güell has regulated entry of 400 people every 30 minutes so to advoid long queues or disapointment, especially in high season please buy your ticket in advance.

Park Güell Opening Hours

Summary of Prices

Train/Bus Fare Entry Ticket Additional Information Train/Bus Fare Entry Ticket Additional Information Adult Zone 1 T-casual € 13.50 Over 65 years, 7 Euros Child T-familiar € 7.00 for 7-12 Years, Under 7 FREEGroup/Family Ticket? 10+ People - See Website.Notes Book Tickets at least 7 days in advance.

Getting to Gaudí's Parc Güell

Address: Avenida del Santuari de Sant Josep de la Muntanya, Barcelona. 08024

Nearest TMB METRO is Plaza Lesseps or Penitents on the Green (L3) line.

The Metro stations will lead you to Carrer de Larrard or Avenida del Santuari de Sant Josep de la Muntanya entrances to the park.

If you use a bus service it will drop you on the other side of the park in the Parc Güell bus parking zone in Carretera del Carmel which is on the same level as the main entrance to Parc Güell.

Documents for Gaudí's Parc Güell

Click on any one of the 2 PDFs to view in full screen and download.

\'Street

Street Map Parc Guell and Carmel Bunker

Author: Barcelona Travel Hacks

\'Metro

Metro Map Parc Guell

Author: www.tmb.cat

Wikiloc Trail for Gaudí's Parc Güell

BCN06 - Parc Guell and Carmel Bunkers

City walk in Barcelona from Plaza Leseps in Gracia to Parc Guell then on to Carmel bunkers and park Guinardo finishing at Alfonso X Metro.

Distance: 5.82 Km

Difficulty: Easy

Return Travel Fare: T-Casual Zone 1

Transport Network: Barcelona Metro

Weather for Barcelona

1 Attraction Nearby

Tags for Gaudí's Parc Güell

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