When Park Güell began to be built in 1900, Barcelona was a modern and cosmopolitan metropolis whose economy was based on the strength of its industry and which had over half a million inhabitants.
Its walls had been knocked down nearly half a century earlier and the new city, the Eixample planned by engineer Ildefons Cerdà, had grown spectacularly from 1860 onwards, in what was the largest 19th century city development project in Europe.
The association between entrepreneur Eusebi Güell and architect Antoni Gaudí began when Güell saw a window display that Gaudí had planned for glove retailer Esteve Comella at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1878. That same year, Güell commissioned him to make the furniture for the pantheon chapel at the Palau de Sobrellano in Comillas, a town on the Cantabrian coast, for his well-heeled father-in-law, Antonio López y López. The architect of that magnificent neo-gothic chapel was Joan Martorell i Montells, at whose studio Gaudí had worked.
Parc Güell by Antoni Gaudí The house in which Gaudí lived is now a museum
In 1886 Eusebi Güell entrusted Gaudí with building his new house, the Palau Güell in Nou de la Rambla street in the old quarter of the city. Later, in 1895 Gaudí built a winery in Garraf county in collaboration with Francesc Berenguer. In 1898 he planned the church for Colònia Güell, home to the workers at the large textile factory that the industrialist owned on the outskirts of Barcelona. And finally, in 1900, Gaudí was given the assignment of designing Park Güell.
Güell understood better than any of his contemporaries the meaning of Gaudí’s architecture. The relationship between the two men was not simply that of an artist and his patron, but a real story of friendship.
For many years the Güell family lived in the large family house (now a school) that stood on the land where the development was located, while Gaudí lived in one of the two houses that were built there.
In the businessman’s own lifetime, the park was already considered to be one of Barcelona’s great tourist attractions, and the large square was often let for staging Catalanist events, traditional Catalan sardana dancing and other civic and social events.
Recommended routes Purchase individual tickets Purchase tickets Organized Groups Go to map Emblematic points
Follow the recommended route in order to visit all the points of interest signposted within the monumental zone. The recommended routes allow all the points to be visited, whichever point of entry you use to get into Park Güell. Sant Josep de la Muntanya , Carrer d'Olot , Plaça de la Natura
Antoni Gaudí Güell Park - mosaic seating area adorned with multi-coloured tiles
Park Güell is an iconic space in the city of Barcelona, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and receiving large numbers of visitors each day. Regulating entry ensures the conservation and maintenance of the Monumental Zone, the most fragile and frequented part of the Park.
If you're visiting the park by metro be prepared for at least a 20 minutes walk. The last 200 m walk is up a steep hill. If you have difficulties going up steep steps then a taxi or bus may be a better means of transport. You'll find bus information at the tourist information office at Plaça de Catalunya.
Due to park Güell's location and size you'll need to schedule at least half a day for a visit to Güell park but it will be well worth the visit.
Metro stop "Lesseps" (Green Line, L3) On leaving the metro follow the street signposts for the park.
Open hours 2013 - 2014
25 October - 23 March
08:30 - 18:00
24 March - 19 October
08:00 - 21:30
Entrance fee to Park Güell
The entrance fee gives access to the area of the of the park where the majority of Gaudí's creations are situated. These include the ceramic seating areas, ceramic walls and the pillars seating area pillars.
The entrance tickets do not give access to the Gaudí house museum in the park. Tickets for the Gaudí house museum can be purchased separately at the house entrance itself.
1. At the entrances to Park Güell
2. At the ATMs outside Park Güell
3. Lesseps or Vallcarca metro stations
Entrance Fees
Adults: €8.00
Children 7 - 12 years: €5.60
Infants 0 - 6 years: €0.00
Over 65 years: €5.60
Disabled visitor: €5.60
There are some parts of the park that are free to enter however you will miss the best of Park Güell if you decide not to pay for entrance tickets.
Articles credited to Park Guell and Barcelona Tourist Guide