![Park Güell](/f/espana/barcelona/guia/parque-guell.jpg)
Park Güell
Park Güell is an enormous garden with stunning and distinct architectural elements designed by the renowned Catalan architect, Antoni Gaudí.
The Park is named after Eusebi Güell, a rich entrepreneur and count that had a great passion for Gaudí’s work and who became his patron. The park was originally conceived as part of a luxury residential complex, but over the years this idea was dropped and in its place Güell and Gaudí designed a park that could be the setting for a fairy tale.
The park was opened to the public in 1922 and since then has become one of Barcelona’s main tourist attractions. In 1984, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
What makes it so special?
This green space measures 17 hectares and includes rounded forms, columns that look like tree trunks, animal figures, and geometric shapes. Most of the architectonic elements are decorated with mosaics made from colorful ceramic pieces.
The architect, inspired by nature, decorated the park with exquisite structures that imitate natural forms where neither rigidity nor classicism exists. All the element’s sinuous and colorful forms are influenced by symbolism, both political and religious.
The artist made the most of a 196 Ft (60 m) slope in Carmel Hill, where the garden is located, to create a path of spiritual elevation, where Gaudí planned to build a chapel that was finally replaced by the “Monumento al Calvario”, a promontory located on the highest part of the park where visitors can obtain the best views over Barcelona.
The Park’s center is a large square that has a large bench that runs along the plaza, measuring 360 Ft (110 m) long. It's shaped like a long snake and is decorated with colorful mosaics.
Park Güell houses the Gaudí House Museum, where the architect and his family resided between 1906 and 1925. Currently, the house features a collection of furniture and objects designed by Gaudí. In our opinion, it's not very interesting to visit.
On either side of the main entrance are two houses that seem to have come from a fable. One of these buildings is now a shop, while the other is called the Casa del Guarda (Guard’s House). It features audiovisual exhibitions about how the park was built.
Well worth visiting
Park Güell is a magical and extremely unusual green space that will leave visitors astounded. It would be a real shame to visit Barcelona and not go to this magical green space.
Visitors will have to purchase a ticket to see the monumental part of the park. Normally, there are huge lines since approximately 400 people enter the park every half an hour, so we recommend you purchase your ticket online and thus avoid the endless queues. Online tickets are also slightly cheaper than tickets purchased at Güell Park. You can buy tickets via the following link:
![Park Güell, entrance](/f/espana/barcelona/galeria/thumbs/parque-guell-entrada.jpg)
![Park Güell, views from the Calvario](/f/espana/barcelona/galeria/thumbs/parque-guell-vistas.jpg)
![Park Güell, dragon](/f/espana/barcelona/galeria/thumbs/parque-guell-dragon.jpg)
![Barcelona, Park Güell](/f/espana/barcelona/galeria/thumbs/barcelona-park-guell.jpg)
Schedule
Every day from 9:30 am to 8 pm (the opening hours depend on the season)
Price
Access to the Regulated Zone of Park Güell:
Adults: € 10 (US$ 10.70)
Children (between 7 and 12) and Seniors (over 65) and reduced mobility: € 7 (US$ 7.50)
Children under 7 years old and handicapped people: free entry
Park Güell Guided Walking Tour € 32 (US$ 34)
Transport
Metro: Lesseps or Vallcarca, line L3.
Buses: lines H6 y D40.
Hop-on-hop-off bus: Park Güell stop on Avinguda de la Mare de Déu de Montserrat
Nearby places
Gaudí House Museum in Barcelona (138 m) Hospital de Santa Creu i de Sant Pau (1.9 km) Sagrada Familia (2.2 km) La Pedrera (Casa Milà) (2.2 km) Egyptian Museum in Barcelona (2.5 km)