Park Guell

Park Güell is one of the largest green spaces in Barcelona, next to the Sierra de Collserola. And what a park it is: visitors are truly immersed in Antoni Gaudí’s works, blending the natural and manmade effortlessly into a fantastical vision. Today, Park Güell is a UNESCO listed site.

Park Guell history

Park Güell began construction in 1900 as Barcelona boasted a modern and cosmopolitan metropolis, with a strong industry and over 500,000 inhabitants. The city walls had been destroyed in the 19th century, and the new city plan known as the Cerdà Plan or Eixample project had exploded from the 1860s. It was this project, exhibited in the Universal Exhibition of 1888, that highlighted the Catalan Modernisme movement of which Antoni Gaudí was at the heart.

The vision of Catalan Modernisme combined and celebrated tradition and radical modernity. By this time, Gaudí had developed a relationship with entrepreneur Eusebi Güell, building his house the Palau Güell in the city’s Nou de la Rambla. In 1900, Gaudí was assigned to design Park Güell as an estate for rich families on the Muntanya Pelada.

However while construction had started in the autumn of 1900 and national events were held in the great square by 1907, the complex sale conditions, lack of a suitable transport system and exclusive nature of the development ended construction. The park therefore became a private garden, used for public events and containing only 2 of the planned 60 homes.

Eusebi Güell died in his home in 1918, his heirs leaving the park to the City Council to open the municipal park in 1926. In 1963, the park opened to the public and has been recognised as both an artistic monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Park Guell today

Today, Park Güell is one of Barcelona’s most iconic locations, receiving visitors every day. While the park is open year-round, standard entry for tourists is priced at €10 to maintain and preserve the site. However, once inside, you will not fail to be disappointed by the park or its splendid views.

Visitors are greeted at the entrance by a large flight of stairs guarded by a richly mosaic-covered dragon. At the top of the stairs an ornate colonnade in characteristic Gaudí style opens the path to the park’s other features which include, the Hypostyle Room, the Austria Gardens, the Viaducts and the Greek Theatre or Nature Square. Take comfortable shoes and a sun hat because you can spend all day exploring this incredible hillside artistic landscape.

Getting to Park Guell

Barcelona has an extensive public transport system, so getting the Metro green line L3 to Lesseps of Vallcarca stops is a 20 minute walk up-hill to the park. Alternately, both a 10 minute walk from Park Güell, the tourist buses on the blue line or the city bus H6 or D40 will take you to Park Güell and Travessera de Dalt stops respectively.