What are the best Gaudí tours in Barcelona?
It’s curious how Gaudí’s eccentric, avant-garde design appeals to so many people. I suppose it’s thanks to the dreamy atmosphere many of his works create. I think just about any type of visitor can enjoy that.
When I planned my last visit to Barcelona, I wanted to catch up on some Gaudí sites I hadn’t seen on previous trips.
I got a chance to see most of the Gaudi sites on 3 visits to Barcelona over the years.
Going inside Gaudi’s masterpieces to see the interior is an experience you don’t want to miss. It really feels like you enter into a fantasy world.
You can visit many of his creations with an audio guide or on a guided tour.
When I studied his work more deeply through guided tours and audio guides, I learnt a lot about what’s behind the dazzling surfaces: the symbolism, historical context, and his own personal biography.
This guide will help you find the best Gaudí tours in Barcelona to add to your itinerary.
Table of contents
Who’s Gaudí?
If you need a quick intro to Gaudí, watch this video:
The book covers his entire career.
This is by no means a traveller-friendly book, it’s a heavy, 512-page, hardcover book.
If you want a delightful preparation for your Barcelona trip, or a souvenir from that trip, have a look at this book. I first saw it in a bookshop and later found it online.
See the most famous Gaudí buildings in Barcelona
Each Gaudí building in Barcelona has its own story and unique design. They’re all spectacular.
You can see the interior on a guided tour or on a self-guided tour with an audio guide.
Here are some of the best Barcelona Gaudi tours:
Casa Batlló
Casa Batlló is one of the most famous Gaudí buildings in Barcelona.
It has a striking, fantasy like façade and is considered one of Gaudí’s masterpieces.
Visiting the interior was a treat. There’s so much creativity in each and every part of this wonderful house.
You can visit Casa Batlló on a self-guided tour or with a guide.
Read the full review of my Casa Batlló visit
I visited Casa Batlló on a self-guided tour with a multimedia guide and enjoyed every minute of it.
It’s best to book tickets in advance, as it’s a very popular attraction, plus online prices are cheaper than at the ticket desk.
When you book your ticket you can choose between Blue, Silver, and Gold tickets. I recommend you get either a Gold or Silver ticket because they include the multimedia guide. Without it, your visit will not be quite as immersive.
You can also visit Casa Batlló on a small group tour led by a professional guide.
I didn’t know about this tour when I visited Casa Batlló, but it has excellent reviews.
For anyone who prefers a live guide to an audio guide, this is a great option.
La Sagrada Familia
La Sagrada Familia is an iconic church in Barcelona. You can see its towers from many different parts of the city.
It’s Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece with a unique style, blending Gothic and Art Nouveau (Catalan Modernism) with many intriguing design details and sculptures.
Construction began in 1882 and has never been completed, which is part of the fascinating story of this building. You can learn more about the background story while you visit the interior.
It’s very popular, so you want to book ahead.
Get ticket to La Sagrada Familia
See Sagrada Familia on a private tour
Park Güell
Park Güell looks like a playful, surreal wonderland on a hill.
It’s famous for its colourful mosaic-tiled benches and Gaudi’s ceramic sculptures.
I went there on my first trip to Barcelona and it was unforgettable. You do need to climb uphill to see the park, but you’ll also get some great views of the city when you visit.
You can see some parts of the park for free, but with an entry ticket, you can see all the design and architectural highlights. You’ll also get better panoramic views.
Book ahead, as it’s a popular attraction.
Casa Milà (La Pedrera)
Another famous house by Gaudí in the city centre was nicknamed “La Pedrera” (The Quarry) because of its curving stone façade.
Its original name is Casa Milà (after the family it was built for) and its quirky exterior is hard to miss.
It’s located just a short walk away from Casa Batllo.
When you go inside, you can see the innovative interior design and the rooftop terrace. The entry ticket includes an audio guide.
Palau Güell
One of Gaudí’s earliest works, this tall building has a fascinating mix of styles and a sophisticated design.
Gaudí created it for a wealthy family with careful attention to each and every detail.
The house has two main highlights: the stunning central hall and the whimsical rooftop.
You can visit with an audio guide included in the ticket, which I highly recommend. It gives you the full story of the house.
Read my full review of Güell Palace
Casa Vicens
Gaudí’s first commissioned building has an architectural style blending Moorish and Mudéjar influences. If you like oriental architecture, don’t skip this house.
It’s a colourful building that stands out immediately on a small street in the Gràcia district. Every time I passed by it I saw people taking pictures of it across the street.
You can get inside and see the interior with an audio guide, including the garden and roof terrace.
Visit both Casa Vicens and Casa Milà
Gaudí guided tours in Barcelona
Some of Gaudí’s buildings are within a short distance from each other, so you can see them on a Barcelona Gaudí walking tour.
The Gaudí and Barcelona Legends Walking Tour is a highlights tour, including Casa Mila and Casa Batllo, which are on the same street.
It’s a small group tour that lets you learn about the facedes and the history of the buildings. It covers works by Gaudí and other well-known local architects.
It doesn’t include entry tickets, but I think this tour is a good option if you need a quick introduction to the great architecture in the city centre of Barcelona.
Other masterpieces are quite far apart and require transportation, but you can still see a few in one day with careful planning, by taking a guided tour that includes transfers.
It’s a good option if you want to save time while in Barcelona but still see the main highlights, including the interiors.
Budget-friendly Gaudí tours in Barcelona
I found a few ways to save money on Gaudí tours in Barcelona.
1. Free Gaudí tour
As an introductory tour, you can book a place on the Free Gaudí & Modernism Tour to see the exteriors of some of the main highlights by Gaudí, such as Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, and Sagrada Família.
On a free tour, you tip the guide as much as you like at the end of the tour.
The guides are professionals and have extensive knowledge of the city and its architecture.
2. Self-guided Gaudí tours
Another affordable option is a self-guided Gaudí audio tour. This is a good way to see Gaudí’s masterpieces at your own pace using an audio guide and a map on your phone.
I also found some great Gaudí walking tour maps on the official Barcelona tourism board website.
The Modernista Route map and the Gaudí Route map are both excellent and give you general information about each spot on the route.
TIP: I copied the maps into my own Google Maps app and used them alongside my own map when walking around the city.
3. Combined tickets
To save money on seeing the interiors, you can get combined tickets:
The Gaudi Bundle: a combined ticket for Park Guell and La Sagrada Familia.
3 houses: combined ticket for Casa Batllo, La Pedrera, and Casa Vicens.