Gaudi… the Park Güell… I was really looking forward to our visit. I looked at countless videos and pictures that different bloggers have made of this park and I was always intrigued. How would it feel to really be there?
We preordered our tickets online. It doesn’t save a lot of money, but that saved one euro is enough to get an ice cream elsewhere. So we had a date and a time for our visit, the weather was good and the metro trip to the park wasn’t long.
All that visitors need to do when they get off the metro is to follow the signs to the park and a 20-minute walk will bring them there.
The park is divided into two sections – one can be entered for free, the other one is subject to a charge. We had tickets and were let into the park exactly on time (it wasn’t even a minute earlier). I later read that for every time slot a maximum of 400 tickets is sold. Visitors can stay on the premises for as long as they wish. I can imagine that it gets quite busy during peak season as the area is also a lot smaller than I had anticipated.
Two houses, both designed by Gaudí, are in the park. The distinctive gingerbread style roofs have a high recognition value and I like them a lot. One house is open to visitors. It is currently home to an exhibition about Gaudí that we didn’t find very enjoyable.
The famous stairs with the wonderful stonework and the salamander fountain were firstly a lot smaller than I thought and secondly also very crowded. Everyone wanted a picture, ideally right next to the salamander. I liked the tiles and the ceramic works of the stairs a lot.
In the centre of the park is a large patio with an extraordinary framing. The bench is covered in ceramic works and mosaics and is one of the main foto stops for visitors. I managed to get a picture of a little bit of it without any other visitors! We didn’t sit down even though it is said that the bench has an ergonomic shape and is therefore very comfortable.
I liked the stone tunnel the most. It is integrated into the side of the slope. I imagine I’d feel very comfortable in there on a hot day.The free section of the park is significantly bigger.
It is full of nicely laid out paths for walks, spots for picknicks and some design elements that make it truly unique. Visitors can marvel at a beautiful bridge and the stone arcades beneath it.
Compared to other tourist attractions the 8€ admission fee is almost a bargain. A visit to the Park Güell is well worth it when one takes the time to also explore the free section of the park.
Address:
Carrer d’Olot, 3
08024 Barcelona
Opening Hours (in 2016):
30th of October to 26th of March: 08.30 – 18.15
27th of March to 1st of May: 08.00 – 20.30
2nd of May to 28th of August: 08.00 – 21.30
29th of August to 29th of October: 08.00 – 20.30
Admission (in 2016):
Adults: 8€
Adults online pre-order: 7€
Discounts are available
This post brought back great memories to our visit there about 10 years ago. I loved all of the Gaudi properties and this one definitely produced some of the best pictures. I was there in the summer but apparently at the right time of day because it wasn’t miserably crowded.
I’ve seen photos of the park before and always wanted to go. I think for 8 Euros you can’t really go wrong in such an interesting and photogenic place. I expect it to be quite busy as with the rest of the city but that’s just part of it being popular I guess. I always remember my Grandparents phone book when I was a kid having the Salamander on the front and wondering for a long time what it even was!!
The Gueell Park looks a great place to be at. I love those two houses designed by Gaudi for their distinct style. This place is so inspiring with so much to explore and feel. Some portion of it reminds me of Rock Garden at Chandigarh, India.
Barcelona is very high on my list of places I want to go to, particularly because of all of Gaudi’s fascinating architecture! It’s good to read your honest review of the park. I’ll skip the museum, but I’ll definitely visit the rest of the park whenever I make it to this city!
We haven’t been to Barcelona yet, but it looks an incredible city so it’s definitely on the list! The architecture here looks so unique and it looks a great place to explore., especially when you also include the free section of the park. It sounds like its best to book in advance to ensure you secure a time slot so will bear that in mind.
Beautiful photos ! Sounds like the free park is good enough, maybe not recommended to take the paid one ?
I love Barcelona but did not book my ticket in advance for Park Güell – dang! I wandered in the free zone and felt like I got a sense of the place. Next time, I will be booking in advance. Gaudi is so worth it!
I’ve never been to Park Guell before, so I couldn’t really speak for myself. But thank you for pointing out that the building and area are smaller than you thought it would be. I mean, honestly, I’ve seen a lot of pictures for this place, and I really thought it would be majestic. Thanks for sharing! :)
I went to Güell in summer of 2017 and loved it. I love ALL things Gaudí though. I was amazed at the signs that guided you the entire way to the park. And yep, just like you said I was let in right on time, not a minute earlier or later. It was a beautiful, clear day and I even got photos from the prime viewing spot without anyone in them (had to wait a while for that). I totally agree that Park Güell is absolutely worth it!
Lovely photos! I visited Barcelona last year but we didn’t plan ahead to get tickets to Park Güell in advance so sadly didn’t get to enter. Wish I’d read this before then, great advice!