That Barcelona became famous thanks to the work of the brilliant architect Antoni Gaudí is beyond doubt. His unique buildings attract thousands of people from all over the world daily who want to see these sights of Barcelona up close. But which buildings did Gaudí create in Barcelona, where are they located, and can you visit them? In this post, I will give you a list of the most important Gaudí buildings in Barcelona so you can visit them!
The Most Important Gaudí Buildings in Barcelona
If there’s one thing you can’t miss during a visit to Barcelona, it’s of course the Gaudí buildings. Places like the Sagrada Família and Park Güell attract thousands of visitors daily, and for good reason. But because Barcelona has many buildings by Gaudí, I’ve made a list of the six most important buildings that you definitely shouldn’t miss.
1. Sagrada Família
This unfinished Gaudí masterpiece is a breathtaking basilica with towering spires that dominate Barcelona’s skyline. The facades are decorated with intricate sculptures and detailed sculptures depicting biblical stories.
A visit to the inside of the Sagrada Família and the towers is more than worth it. Only then do you experience how Gaudí envisioned this church and see how he played with light, natural elements, and many more details.
Fun fact: Gaudí worked on the Sagrada Família all his life. When he died in 1926, only the Nativity Facade of the Sagrada Família was complete, but fortunately, he worked hard to leave all his plans and models for the Sagrada Família behind. However, most of them were destroyed during the Civil War, which caused a significant delay in the construction of the Sagrada Família. Something that has not changed much to this day. According to the latest calculations, the Sagrada Família will be finished in 2030.
It is also interesting to know that the Sagrada Família is a penance church, i.e., it is built solely through donations. Something that also caused a delay in the construction of the temple, especially in the past, when no one knew the Sagrada Família.
The Sagrada Família has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1969. In 2005, the crypt and the Nativity Facade of the Sagrada Família were declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
👉 Read more about tickets for La Sagrada Família here.
Address: Carrer Mallorca, 401 / Metro: Sagrada Família (L2 en L5)
2. Casa Milà (La Pedrera)
Casa Milà, also known as La Pedrera, is a striking building with a wavy facade and unique chimneys on the roof.
Built between 1906 and 1912 at number 92 on Passeig de Gràcia, this majestic building with a rocky appearance and futuristic design was quickly dubbed “La Pedrera,” the stone quarry, by the people of Barcelona. Needless to say, it caused quite a stir in Barcelona at the time. Gaudí was even unable to complete the final phase of the project due to differences with the owners.
The most notable details in this building include the beautiful chimneys, the circular courtyard, the stairs, and the iron balconies.
In 1986, Caixa Catalunya bought La Pedrera to make it a museum. You can still visit it today. La Pedrera has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1969 and the World Heritage List since 1984.
Fun fact: La Pedrera was built and treated as a giant sculpture. Large pieces of stone were brought here and polished on-site by stonemasons, resulting in lively architecture where the stone seems to change into waves.
👉 Read more about Casa Milà and buy your tickets directly here.
Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 92 / Metro: Diagonal (L3 en L5)
3. Casa Batlló
Just across from Casa Milà, at 43 Passeig de Gràcia, lies the enigmatic Casa Batlló (1904-1906). This is one of Gaudí’s most radical interventions, where he didn’t hesitate to transform the façade of the old building into a unique, organic front covered with mosaic tiles, arch-shaped windows, and a wavy roof reminiscent of a dragon’s backbone. As a result, it’s a fantastic house that steals the show on Passeig de Gràcia.
On the first floor of the building, Gaudí designed the house for the owners, the Batlló family, including all the furniture, windows, curved ceilings, and even a private chapel. A visit to the Casa Batlló museum allows you to see all these spaces, including the stunning roof and the house’s backyard.
An interesting detail: did you know that the tower with the cross above Casa Batlló was not meant to be on the left but actually intended to be in the center of the building?
Casa Batlló is a vivid example of Gaudí’s creative spirit and his ability to transform ordinary buildings into extraordinary works of art. The interior is as fascinating as the exterior. Casa Batlló has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2005, and rightfully so.
👉 Read more about Casa Batlló and buy your tickets directly here.
Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 43 / Metro: Passeig de Gràcia (L2, L3 en L4)
4. Park Güell
This colorful park offers visitors the chance to experience Gaudí’s cheerful and surreal designs amidst a lush natural setting.
Park Güell was conceived as a private garden city for Barcelona’s elite. It was to be a self-sufficient space with everything the residents needed: a chapel, a market, a school, theaters, water… Gaudí even lived there for a while with his father and niece in the pink house, now a museum but then one of the model homes.
The project, which began in 1900, was unfortunately never completed due to various reasons.
Now, it’s a monumental park housing several beautiful structures by Gaudí, like the famous staircase with the salamander, the snake-shaped bench with trencadís, and the hall of a hundred columns.
Park Güell has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1984 and a National Monument since 1969.
👉 Read more about Park Güell tickets here.
Adres: Carrer d’Olot / Metro: Lesseps (L3)
5. Palau Güell
Palau Güell, built at 3-5 Carrer Nou de la Rambla between 1886 and 1888, was the house Gaudí built for the Güell family, his greatest patrons. Palau Güell embodies Gaudí’s early style and is a masterpiece of his early years.
The mansion has an orderly and sober facade, but inside, it’s all about colors, light, and space. The structuring and decoration of the spaces in the palace are among Gaudí’s greatest achievements and are definitely worth seeing. The colorful chimneys on the roof are also another distinctive feature of this building.
Fun fact: In 1944, an American wanted to buy the palace and bring it to America. Fortunately, this did not happen, and the Regional Council of Barcelona began restoring the building, which now serves as a museum. Palau Güell was also declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984.
👉 Read more about Palau Güell and buy your tickets directly here.
Address: Carrer Nou de la Rambla, 3-5 / Metro: Liceu (L3)
6. Casa Vicens
Casa Vicens was one of Gaudí’s earliest works. Built as a summer house for the Vicens family between 1883 and 1888, it features Moorish influences, vibrant tiles, and extravagant decorations. It provides a good insight into his early style and is a wonderful example of his development as an architect.
For many years, Casa Vicens was a private building, but it opened as a museum in 2017. It’s recognized as one of Gaudí’s first significant works and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1969.
Address: Carrer Carolines, 18 / Metro: Fontana (L3)
Discovering the Best of Gaudí
Want to see the best of Gaudí in one day? Follow my special Gaudí walking route along the most important buildings of Gaudí. If you buy a special discount card for Gaudí’s buildings, you can also visit them from the inside at a discounted rate!
It’s also fun to visit the Gaudí Experiència, where you can dive into the world of Gaudí through an interactive 4D film and various exhibitions.
Frequently Asked Questions about Gaudí’s Buildings
Antoni Gaudí is known for his groundbreaking contributions to architecture, particularly for his unique and innovative approach to Modernism, the Catalan version of Art Nouveau or Jugendstil. His style is characterized by organic forms, the integration of natural elements into his designs, and the use of bold construction techniques. He is considered one of the most influential architects of the 20th century.
Gaudí worked on as many as 90 projects throughout his career. Some of his most famous include the Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló, Casa Milà (La Pedrera), Park Güell, Palau Güell, and Casa Vicens, all located in Barcelona.
Gaudí’s work is spread throughout Spain, although most of his buildings are in the city of Barcelona.
Which Gaudí house you should visit depends on your personal preferences and interests. If you’re interested in his religious architecture, then the Sagrada Família is a must-see. For his innovative approach to residential houses, Casa Batlló and Casa Milà (La Pedrera) are excellent choices. If you want to experience the harmony between architecture and nature, then Park Güell is a fantastic place to visit.
Each house contributes to understanding Gaudí’s unique vision of architecture, so it’s worth visiting multiple of his works if the opportunity arises.
