Everything You Need to Know about Parc Güell

If you haven’t heard of Parc Güell, where have you been? This park is one of the top must-see attractions in Barcelona.

But what do you need to know before you go?

Here at easyGuide we’ve put a short guide together to help get you familiar with this wonderful park before your visit.

Not only that, but we’ve also got the best deals on tickets. Grab yours now and enjoy an expertly guided tour, and skip-the-line access!

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Its a UNESCO World Heritage Site

First up on our list is that Parc Güell is a UNESCO world heritage site.

It was originally intended to be a lavish housing estate but was opened to the public in 1914.

70 years later in 1984, the park was recognised for its historic architecture and gardens and was added to the world heritage list under the ‘works of Antoni Gaudí’.

Gaudí was commissioned by Güell to design this state of the art park. Now the park is visited by millions of people every year!

Be Inspired by the Work of Gaudí

Secondly, you will be inspired by the work of Antoni Gaudí.

When you step into the park you will be blown away by the modern Catalan architecture.

This work can be seen dotted around the city, but Gaudí’s best work is found in Parc Güell.

Here, Gaudí really perfected his personal style and found himself inspired by organic shapes.

You can see this flowing throughout the park, and we’ve listed some of our favourites below:

1. The Hypostyle Room

Firstly we have The Hypostyle room which was originally intended as a market place for the estate.

This room is built upon 83 doric columns and Gaudí stated it was meant to resemble a forest.

The small domed ceilings are filled with tile-shard mosaics made by Joseph M. Jujol, one of Gaudí’s trusted assistants.

So, when you step inside this beautiful room, be sure to look up and take in the breath-taking artwork above you!

2. The Greek Theatre

Next up is the immense Greek theatre, which is supported by the Hypostyle room below.

Why is this one of our favourites? Well once up there, you will see some of the best views of the park and Barcelona below.

A truly mesmerising experience.

3. Austria Gardens

Number 3 on our list of favourites is the Austria Gardens.

The first thing you’ll notice about this place is that it is quite different from the rest of the park. In fact, it is actually a municipal plant nursery, and so it is full of all different kinds of natural vegetation.

The park was named after the donation of trees from Austria in 1977.

Inside the park you will also find two houses, one of which was once home to the Gaudí family and is now the Gaudí House Museum.

4. The Laundry Room Portico

Our final favourite pick is the Laundry Room Portico.

This is undeniably one of the best examples of the organic architecture loved by Gaudí.

The room is set on slanted columns, which gives the image of a large encassing wave.

Also, keep an eye out for the original iron door leading into the gardens of Casa Larrard, the former mansion of Güell, and which has now been a school since 1931!

Admire the Catalan Style of Trencadís

So, you’ve had a sneak-peek of the brilliant architecture you can expect to see during your visit.

But what else is there to admire?

Well, Parc Güell is also home to some of the finest examples of Trencadís.

Trencadís is a type of mosaic made from tile shards and broken chinaware being cemented together.

Gaudí tended to create patterns in his Trencadís works, and prefered brightly coloured glazed ceramic shards.

Some notable mentions include the mosaic salamander, and the main walls of the terrace.

You’ll Receive a Guided Tour

As part of your ticket to the park, you will also receive a guided tour of the park by one of their certified experts.

So, don’t worry if you’re a bit overwhelmed by the amount to see, or you’re lost on what to do first. This guided tour covers all the best bits you need to see on your visit!

Oh, and be sure to take advantage of your queue jump included in your ticket price.

Visit the Barcelona History Museum

Once you’ve finished exploring the wonders of Parc Güell, you can stop by the Barcelona History Museum, also known as The Musea d’Historia de Barcelona (MUHBA).

The MUHBA has several locations across the city, but the one in Parc Güell is a fan favourite.

The museum is housed in a small building which was originally intended for the caretaker of the estate.

Due to the complexity found in and around this building, despite its small size, the house was added to the MUHBA collection.

Once inside the building, you can visit the exhibition on Güell, Gaudí and Barcelona, and The Expression of An Urban Ideal.

This exhibit focuses on the people of the house, the park itself and the city, each topic with its own dedicated floor.

So, be sure to stop by this museum and delve even deeper into the minds of Güell and Gaudí, and discover more about Barcelona’s modernist architecture!

Discover more great things to do in Barcelona in this guide.