free tour barcelona gaudi

Walking Tours Barcelona - Runner Bean Tours

Gaudí Free Tour

Tour Details

The Gaudí Free Tour is the best possible introduction to the architect and his stunning work. Learn about the life story and unusual techniques of one of the most influential architects while marvelling at some of his most important buildings in Barcelona .

2.5 hours approx. (not rushed but leisurely paced). We take the metro twice to cover the long distances between the buildings (fare not included).

Free (you decide the price)

This is the title given to tours that work on a donation basis. At the end you can give the guide what you felt the tour was worth. In our small company we are confident enough to let you decide the value.

Meeting Point

Plaça Reial (by the water fountain)

Tour itinerary

Plaça Reial / Palau Güell / Block of Discord / Casa Batlló / Passeig de Gràcia / Eixample architecture / La Pedrera / Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia

Wheelchair friendly tour

FIRST RATE BARCELONA GAUDI TOUR

"Pre-booked with Runner Bean Tours for the Gaudi tour and had a great time! Ann-Marie was incredibly knowledgeable and put everybody quickly at ease. I would recommend without reservation" Read on Trip Advisor

THEIR GAUDI TOUR IS A MUST DO

"Our guide, Tati, was amazing. She is very passionate and knowledgeable about Gaudi's work and will answer questions about Barcelona" Read on Trip Advisor

GREAT WAY TO LEARN ABOUT BARCELONA

"After the Gaudi tour we visited La Sagrada Familia and La Pedrera on own. We are glad we took the tour prior, it gave us additional knowledge we wouldn't have known while we were there! " Read on Trip Advisor

EXCELLENT TIME ON THE RUNNER BEAN GAUDI BARCELONA TOUR

"Jessi's knowledge of Gaudi is phenomenal and her energies are great. A few days after the tour we went on our own to Park Guell and Palau Guell, since she got us so interested in Gaudi." Read on Trip Advisor

"Learnt so much about Barcelona and Gaudi's architecture, got great tips from our tour guide Jarrod and he even took pictures of each person in the tour at major locations (Casa Batllo & Sagrada Familia)" Read on Trip Advisor

Plaça Reial  (by the water fountain)

How to find the guide

Our friendly guides will be waiting by the fountain in the middle of the square holding a big green umbrella and wearing a bright green vest and a name tag.

How to get to the meeting point

Nearest metro stop: Liceu (L3). Take the exit named “Sortida: Liceu” and walk down La Rambla towards the sea (the main Opera House will be on your right). After 2 minutes you will see a Kentucky Fried Chicken on your left. Take the next left into the square (Plaça Reial).

Other Free Tours in Barcelona start at the same meeting point. If you want the quality of a Runner Bean tour be sure it is a Runner Bean guide.

Tour Highlights

Plaça reial.

It has been a traditional meeting place in Barcelona since it was built in the XIX century. But this is not the only reason why our tour starts here. A young Gaudí has left some illuminating work in the square. It’s also the meeting point for our Gothic Quarter Free Walking Tour .

PALAU GÜELL

The first project for Gaudí’s patron and his first masterpiece. Situated in the midst of the old city, Palau Güell shines out amongst the surrounding buildings. Find out about Gaudí’s beginnings as an architect and his unusual approach to the design of the house.

BLOCK OF DISCORD

Three architects compete for the most striking building in the block. Known as La Manzana de la Discordia (Block of Discord) by local Barcelonans, we let you decide which one is your favorite of these architectural masterpieces.

CASA BATLLÓ

It has been called “a fairytale in stone” and “the house of yawns”. Today, nobody doubts that Casa Batlló is the architect’s most magical building. From knights in shining armour to traditional festivals, all is included in Gaudí’s imagination.

EIXAMPLE ARCHITECTURE

Designed by Idelfons Cerdà in the middle of the 19th century, the Eixample was the new playground for the bourgeoisie of the time. Here you will find the modern shops and restaurants but also the great masterpieces of the Modernisme architecture.

CASA MILÀ / LA PEDRERA

Gaudí’s masterpiece. A raw sculpture carved and moulded into Passeig de Gràcia. Offensive at the time, abandoned to its destiny and recovered to its grandeur, Casa Milà was a very troubled commission that included not only fights and court cases but also a few subtle acts of vengeance by its creator.

SAGRADA FAMILIA

The unfinished temple, Gaudí’s obsession and the symbol of a city. The Sagrada Familia is like a storybook that is missing many pages. Find out about the temple’s past, present and future and hear about the architect’s tragic end. Our tour finishes here with the hope that someday you’ll see Gaudí’s dream realised.

Important Info

• Reservations for the Gaudí Free Tour are essential as, in order to maintain the quality, numbers are limited in all our tours.
• It does not include a visit to the interior of the buildings.
• Because some of the attractions are quite far apart, two short metro trips will be involved (fare not included). If you can, please bring a metro pass.
• Our Free Walking Tours are geared towards independent travelers. If you are a group of more than 6 people please contact us for more information.

How does the free tour system work?

This is the title given to tours that work on a donation basis (at the end you can give the guide what you felt the tour was worth). In our small company we are confident enough to let you decide the value of the tour. You can not get a fairer system and this ensures that our guides give their best service every tour.

Do I need to make a reservation for the free tours?

Reservations are essential as for quality purposes, numbers are limited in all our tours. If you are a large group of 7 or more you will need to book a private tour.

Is there a maximum number of participants you take on tour?

Yes. The maximum number allowed per tour is 20 people.

What if I arrive late to the meeting point?

We can only hold reservations until the starting time so it is very important to arrive before then. Occasionally a tour might be full and late arrivals won’t be able to join in. This also includes customers with a reservation as their space will have been given away to the people on the waiting list.

Do we visit the interior of the monuments?

No. This is an introduction to Gaudí's life and architecture. We see the outside of the buildings and you can choose which one to visit later in your own time. Your guide can help you with opening times and recommendations. If you are interested in visiting the interior of the buildings with a guide, we do offer private tours.

Is there a lot of walking involved?

Not really. As long as you can do a short stroll around a city you are ready to walk a Runner Bean tour. Because some of the attractions are quite far apart, two short metro trips will be involved (fare not included). If you can, please bring a metro pass.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. Please let your guide know at the beginning of the tour so he/she can show you the lifts at the two metro stations.

What should I bring?

During the summer it can get very hot so don't forget your sunglasses, sun-tan lotion and a bottle of water. Although the temperatures in Barcelona are mild for most of the year, in winter it can be cold so dress accordingly.

What if it rains?

Our Walking Tours run in all kinds of weather. In the case of heavy rain the tour will run as usual so please bring suitable rain gear.

Can I leave before the tour ends?

That is not a problem but please let your guide know so he/she doesn't wait for you at the next stop.

Do we stop for a break?

We generally stop for a quick toilet break (5 minutes or so). The tour is not too long so we think that a food or drink stop is not necessary and you can decide where you would like to go afterwards. Your guide will be more than happy to help you with recommendations.

Other Tours of Interest

Gothic quarter free walking tour, free walking tour barcelona.

A leisurely stroll to unearth the secrets behind the stones of the medieval quarter. From Romans and saints to warriors and kings, this mix of imposing basilicas, charming squares and…

The Gaudí Experience

Private tours.

A stroll with our friendly guide to explore Gaudí’s apartments on Passeig de Gràcia (including one interior guided visit) plus a tour inside his unfinished church: Sagrada Familia. A must…

Terms & conditions Privacy & cookie policy

VISITING OTHER CITIES IN EUROPE?

FIND LOTS OF GREAT TIPS ON OUR BLOG

What to do in Barcelona: The Complete Guide How to skip the lines in Barcelona Free things to do in Barcelona Things to do in Barcelona with Kids Things to do at night in Barcelona Traditional food in Barcelona

WE SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

Runner Bean Tours is certified with the Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle for Commitment to Sustainable Tourism . This is awarded to a few tour operators who are committed to responsible and environmentally-friendly management, culture, decent working conditions, gender equity and social and economic benefits. Certificate number: BAT 004/2022 RTI.

On our tours, we are always sure we respect the local neighbourhoods and we only collaborate with small Barcelona businesses which help support the local economy.

Runner Bean Tours also holds the WTTC SafeTravels Stamp . This was created for travellers to recognise destinations and businesses around the world which have adopted the SafeTravels health and hygiene global standardised protocols.

Benefits of sustainable tourism

Have a positive impact in Barcelona

Privacy Overview

We have received your request correctly.

You will receive an email with a summary of your bookings.

Can't find it? Leave us your email and we'll send you a summary of your bookings.

Gaudí & Modernism Free Tour Barcelona

• 9.80 / 10 11,063 reviews | 69,948 travellers Excellent, our guide Cristina Garcia is a genius. Very pleasant and knowledgeable about everything we saw 10 Adrian Alberto
• X (Twitter)

If you're looking for the best free Gaudí tour in Barcelona , this tour is for you! Discover the heart of the Catalan Modernisme movement in Barcelona on this journey to see Spain's most important modernist symbols!

Tour Highlights

• Casa Batlló
• Casa Lleó Morera
• Casa Amatller
• Sagrada Família  

The Best Introduction to Gaudí and Modernism in Barcelona

Our tour will begin at the designated time in Plaza Cataluña , in the heart of Barcelona. Once we're all gathered, we'll begin our 2-hour walking tour of Gaudí's best works in Barcelona .

We'll delve into the epicentre of modernist Barcelona to reach our first stop - the so-called Manzana de la Discordia , which is where the majority of Gaudí's most famous works are found. We'll admire the splendour of Casa Batlló , the famous house of bones which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2005 .

As we continue on, we'll stroll past the Paseo de Gracia , where we'll see more of Gaudí's work, as well as other modernist buildings. From the natural forms of La Pedrera by Antonio Gaudí, to the elegance of Casa Lleó Morera , with its lavish sculptures and the Casa Amatller with its peculiar animals, you'll be amazed.

After appreciating the variety of modernist architecture at the Paseo de Gracia, the adventure will continue as we board the metro, heading towards an iconic symbol of Barcelona—the renowned Sagrada Família . Standing before this architectural masterpiece, we'll marvel at Gaudi's supreme expression of modernism.

Our tour will end after a total of 2 and a half hours, right in front of the Sagrada Familia.

Important Information

Audio guides.

The use of audio guides enriches your experience, making the information even easier to receive. The audio guide equipment is available for hire for those over 12 years of age for € 1 ( US$ 1.10) per person.

Group Sizes

This free tour of Barcelona is not available for groups of more than 6 people . If your group is more than 6 people, check out the Private Tour of Barcelona , or The Best of Gaudí Tour .

See Gaudí's Work in More Detail

If, during this free tour, you fall in love with Gaudí's work and want to see more, check out our skip-the-line ticket for Casa Battló , or our guided tour of the Sagrada Família .

More Information

2 hours 30 minutes.

The activity takes place with a guide that speaks in English.

Local English–speaking guide

Not included

Metro ticket: € 2.40 ( US$ 2.60)

Audioguide: € 1 ( US$ 1.10) per adult

When to book?

You can book up to the start time, as long as there are places remaining. Book now to guarantee your spot.

Type of voucher

Electronic. Show the voucher on your phone.

Accessibility

Physical : Wheelchair accessible. An accompanying person is required. Accessible toilets. Show more

Intellectual : Varies according to the attraction included. Information in easy-to-read format. Accessible toilets.

Sustainability

All services published on Civitatis are carried out in accordance with our Sustainability Code .

Our providers commit to:

• Provide a safe and satisfying experience.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle.
• Incorporate eco-conscious technologies.
• Uphold fair employment standards.
• Foster the growth of local communities.
• Preserve the integrity of local culture.
• Safeguard both cultural and environmental heritage.
• Ensure ethical treatment of animals.
• Operate with honesty and transparency.
• Encourage sustainable behaviors among customers and staff.

This particular activity contributes as follows:

• Printed material is avoided.
• No single-use plastics are used.
• The activity helps the dissemination of local cultural heritage.
• No printing of documentation required.
• Promotes local employment.
• Has a gender equality policy.
• Has a carbon footprint offset policy.

Barkeno Tours Show more

Corporate name: Pedro Vázquez Rodríguez

Frequently asked questions

Q - Can I join the free tour group after the tour has started?

A - No. It's important that you arrive at the meeting point in advance, since once the group has been formed, a spot is not guaranteed for people who arrive after the free tour has started.

Q - Why do this activity with Civitatis?

A - At Civitatis we guarantee the best quality and prices, click here if you want to know how we select our activities .

Q - How to book?

A - To reserve the activity, choose the date and complete the form on this page. You will receive your confirmation immediately.

Q - Is a minimum number of participants required?

A - This activity requires a minimum of 4 participants. Should this number not be reached, we'll get in touch with you to offer alternatives.

If you have any other questions please contact us.

Free cancellation

Meeting point, where does the activity end.

Corner of Calle Bergara and Plaza Cataluña.

Carrer de Mallorca, 401.

You may also be interested in

Sagrada Familia & Towers Guided Tour

Sagrada Familia Guided Tour

Montserrat Wine Tour

Login to add activities to your favorites and access them from any device

This site is reCAPTCHA protected and Google's privacy policy and terms of service apply.

Basic information regarding personal data protection

Person responsible for the processing: CIVITATIS TOURS, S.L. (CIVITATIS). Purpose: Provision of the services requested; Sending commercial communications about CIVITATIS products and services, for which commercial profiles of our customers may be drawn up; Sending surveys in order to assess the services offered and their degree of satisfaction, as well as the publication of opinions about the service received; Compliance with accounting, legal, fiscal and administrative obligations; Publication of customer images and processing of data for statistical purposes. Rights: You have the right to access, rectify and delete data, to limit its processing, to oppose its processing and to its portability. Additional Information: You can consult additional information on Data Protection in the General Terms and Conditions .

Log in to rate the opinions of other travelers

The Gaudí Free Tour

Come and discover with us the life of the genius Gaudí and his architectural wonders that distinguish Barcelona, Casa Batlló, La Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera

The Gaudí Free Tour , The architect born in Reus 1852 is considered a genius of modernism. In Barcelona he left numerous architectural jewels that every day attract thousands of people from all over the world.

Gaudí’s buildings stand out for their volume and shapes. In fact, he was advanced at that time because he was not using plans, but three-dimensional models. His work incorporates incredible details with materials such as ceramics. Using these different materials, tools, techniques and ideas made him a pioneer at that time.

We invite you to join us on a unique route through Gaudí’s buildings in Barcelona:  Casa Batlló,   La Pedrera  or his undeniable  Sagrada Familia , still unfinished. Along with other works of art by different modernists artists.

During our tour you will be accompanied by an expert guide in Gaudí’s work who will discover corners and curiosities of each building, as well as anecdotes of Gaudí’s life.  Do not miss the jewels of modernism in Barcelona on The  Gaudí Free Tour 🙂

We will discover

• The life of Gaudí
• The district of l’Eixample
• Passeig de Gracia
• The architecture of Gaudí
• Casa Batlló
• Casa Milà (La Pedrera)
• The Block of Discord
• The Sagrada Familia
• And much more!

Extra: You will need a metro ticket for this tour.  

This is a Free Tour. That means you pay what you want to the guide at the end of the tour.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 3:00pm

• Duration: 2.5 h.
• Meeting point: Plaça Catalunya, across the street from the Apple Store. Look for the Purple umbrella!

This tour is in English. For the Spanish Gaudí Free Tour click the flag above to change languages. The 3€ booking fee is to guarantee your spot on the tour, and helps us to provide the best experience possible. It does not go to the tour guide.

If for some act of god, like a hurricane, the tour doesn’t run, you will be reimbursed. Or can join another tour of the same cost.

Thanks for your understanding

Other Tours

You may also like…

• Live Flamenco Show Barcelona Experience the passion of dance in Flamenco Show Barcelona Talented artists and a unique atmosphere to feel and enjoy  Spanish dance. +info & Booking
• Best Bike Tours Barcelona Thanks to the extraordinary weather without slopes and facing the Mediterranean Sea discover why Barcelona is one of the best cities in the world to travel by bicycle. +info & Booking
• Alternative Free Tour of the Raval Leave the tourist side and explore the Raval de Barcelona , one of the most fascinating, unknown and exciting neighborhoods in the city, with a unique personality. +info & Booking

Plaça Catalunya,on the corner in front of the Apple Store.

Look for the Purple umbrella!

Work with us

• +34 622 65 18 14

We and our {{count}} partners use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your experience on our website. We may store and/or access information on a device and process personal data, such as your IP address and browsing data, for personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development. Additionally, we may utilize precise geolocation data and identification through device scanning.

Please note that your consent will be valid across all our subdomains. You can change or withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the “Consent Preferences” button at the bottom of your screen. We respect your choices and are committed to providing you with a transparent and secure browsing experience.

Privacy Overview

• Most purposes explained in this notice rely on the storage or accessing of information from your device when you use an app or visit a website. For example, a vendor or publisher might need to store a cookie on your device during your first visit on a website, to be able to recognise your device during your next visits (by accessing this cookie each time).
• A car manufacturer wants to promote its electric vehicles to environmentally conscious users living in the city after office hours. The advertising is presented on a page with related content (such as an article on climate change actions) after 6:30 p.m. to users whose non-precise location suggests that they are in an urban zone.
• A large producer of watercolour paints wants to carry out an online advertising campaign for its latest watercolour range, diversifying its audience to reach as many amateur and professional artists as possible and avoiding showing the ad next to mismatched content (for instance, articles about how to paint your house). The number of times that the ad has been presented to you is detected and limited, to avoid presenting it too often.
• If you read several articles about the best bike accessories to buy, this information could be used to create a profile about your interest in bike accessories. Such a profile may be used or improved later on, on the same or a different website or app to present you with advertising for a particular bike accessory brand. If you also look at a configurator for a vehicle on a luxury car manufacturer website, this information could be combined with your interest in bikes to refine your profile and make an assumption that you are interested in luxury cycling gear.
• An apparel company wishes to promote its new line of high-end baby clothes. It gets in touch with an agency that has a network of clients with high income customers (such as high-end supermarkets) and asks the agency to create profiles of young parents or couples who can be assumed to be wealthy and to have a new child, so that these can later be used to present advertising within partner apps based on those profiles.
• An online retailer wants to advertise a limited sale on running shoes. It wants to target advertising to users who previously looked at running shoes on its mobile app. Tracking technologies might be used to recognise that you have previously used the mobile app to consult running shoes, in order to present you with the corresponding advertisement on the app.
• A profile created for personalised advertising in relation to a person having searched for bike accessories on a website can be used to present the relevant advertisement for bike accessories on a mobile app of another organisation.
• You read several articles on how to build a treehouse on a social media platform. This information might be added to a profile to mark your interest in content related to outdoors as well as do-it-yourself guides (with the objective of allowing the personalisation of content, so that for example you are presented with more blog posts and articles on treehouses and wood cabins in the future).
• You have viewed three videos on space exploration across different TV apps. An unrelated news platform with which you have had no contact builds a profile based on that viewing behaviour, marking space exploration as a topic of possible interest for other videos.
• You read articles on vegetarian food on a social media platform and then use the cooking app of an unrelated company. The profile built about you on the social media platform will be used to present you vegetarian recipes on the welcome screen of the cooking app.
• You have viewed three videos about rowing across different websites. An unrelated video sharing platform will recommend five other videos on rowing that may be of interest to you when you use your TV app, based on a profile built about you when you visited those different websites to watch online videos.
• You have clicked on an advertisement about a “black Friday” discount by an online shop on the website of a publisher and purchased a product. Your click will be linked to this purchase. Your interaction and that of other users will be measured to know how many clicks on the ad led to a purchase.
• You are one of very few to have clicked on an advertisement about an “international appreciation day” discount by an online gift shop within the app of a publisher. The publisher wants to have reports to understand how often a specific ad placement within the app, and notably the “international appreciation day” ad, has been viewed or clicked by you and other users, in order to help the publisher and its partners (such as agencies) optimise ad placements.
• You have read a blog post about hiking on a mobile app of a publisher and followed a link to a recommended and related post. Your interactions will be recorded as showing that the initial hiking post was useful to you and that it was successful in interesting you in the related post. This will be measured to know whether to produce more posts on hiking in the future and where to place them on the home screen of the mobile app.
• You were presented a video on fashion trends, but you and several other users stopped watching after 30 seconds. This information is then used to evaluate the right length of future videos on fashion trends.
• The owner of an online bookstore wants commercial reporting showing the proportion of visitors who consulted and left its site without buying, or consulted and bought the last celebrity autobiography of the month, as well as the average age and the male/female distribution of each category. Data relating to your navigation on its site and to your personal characteristics is then used and combined with other such data to produce these statistics.
• An advertiser wants to better understand the type of audience interacting with its adverts. It calls upon a research institute to compare the characteristics of users who interacted with the ad with typical attributes of users of similar platforms, across different devices. This comparison reveals to the advertiser that its ad audience is mainly accessing the adverts through mobile devices and is likely in the 45-60 age range.
• A technology platform working with a social media provider notices a growth in mobile app users, and sees based on their profiles that many of them are connecting through mobile connections. It uses a new technology to deliver ads that are formatted for mobile devices and that are low-bandwidth, to improve their performance.
• An advertiser is looking for a way to display ads on a new type of consumer device. It collects information regarding the way users interact with this new kind of device to determine whether it can build a new mechanism for displaying advertising on this type of device.
• A travel magazine has published an article on its website about the new online courses proposed by a language school, to improve travelling experiences abroad. The school’s blog posts are inserted directly at the bottom of the page, and selected on the basis of your non-precise location (for instance, blog posts explaining the course curriculum for different languages than the language of the country you are situated in).
• A sports news mobile app has started a new section of articles covering the most recent football games. Each article includes videos hosted by a separate streaming platform showcasing the highlights of each match. If you fast-forward a video, this information may be used to select a shorter video to play next.
• An advertising intermediary delivers ads from various advertisers to its network of partnering websites. It notices a large increase in clicks on ads relating to one advertiser, and uses data regarding the source of the clicks to determine that 80% of the clicks come from bots rather than humans.
• Clicking on a link in an article might normally send you to another page or part of the article. To achieve this, 1°) your browser sends a request to a server linked to the website, 2°) the server answers back (“here is the article you asked for”), using technical information automatically included in the request sent by your device, to properly display the information / images that are part of the article you asked for. Technically, such exchange of information is necessary to deliver the content that appears on your screen.

• Private offer
• About & Partnership
• Alicante Spain
• Antwerp Belgium
• Barcelona Spain
• Belfast Northern Ireland
• Berlin Germany
• Bratislava Slovakia
• Bruges Belgium
• Brussels Belgium
• Bucharest Romania
• Budapest Hungary
• Bydgoszcz Poland
• Cadiz Spain
• Cordoba Spain
• Cork Ireland
• Dresden Germany
• Dublin Ireland
• Dubrovnik Croatia
• Edinburgh Scotland
• Galway Ireland
• Gdańsk Poland
• Ghent Belgium
• Glasgow Scotland
• Granada Spain
• Istanbul Turkey
• Jerusalem Israel
• Krakow Poland
• Leipzig Germany
• Lisbon Portugal
• Liverpool England
• Lodz Poland
• London England
• Lublin Poland
• Lviv Ukraine
• Madrid Spain
• Malaga Spain
• Mostar Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Munich Germany
• Naples Italy
• Nice France
• Paris France
• Porto Portugal
• Poznan Poland
• Prague Czechia
• Pula Croatia
• Riga Latvia
• Sarajevo Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Seville Spain
• Sibenik Croatia
• Sintra Portugal
• Sopot Poland
• Split Croatia
• Tel Aviv Israel
• Tirana Albania
• Torun Poland
• Valletta Malta
• Warsaw Poland
• Wroclaw Poland
• Zadar Croatia
• Zagreb Croatia
• Zakopane Poland

Gaudí, Sagrada Familia & Modernism

In those days, at the turn of the 19th and 20th century, Barcelona was changing rapidly. The city was going through spectacular urban development. The fast industrialization resulted in giant fortunes being made in the blink of an eye. The modern city was forming, based on the new ideas fuelled by the movement of the Catalan cultural revival. It expressed itself in many fields of art: poetry, painting, sculpting and theatre, but most of all in architecture and decorative art.    

Barcelona was right in the heart of the Catalan modernist movement. With the money coming from affluent families who wanted their houses decorated in the most opulent style and some of the most creative minds in the history of architecture, it was here that the greatest masterpieces of this era were created. The best known architect who made Barcelona modernism immortal was of course Antoni Gaudí. 

Join us and let’s discover together the style that makes Barcelona different and unique compared to all the other cities in the world. Let us introduce you to the one and only Catalan modernism! We will visit together the famous city block often called “the apple of discord” where four of Barcelona most significant modernist architects Lluís Domènech i Montaner, Antoni Gaudí, Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Enric Sagnier were fighting for the palm of primacy and where their entirely different ways of expression clashed. We will see some of Gaudí’s masterpieces including the crazy Casa Batlló, built with almost no straight lines, bringing to mind some fantastic beast and La Pedrera, with its 33 balconies and facade looking like a cliff sculpted by nature, wind and waves, both included on the UNESCO Heritage List. We will finish the tour at the undisputed symbol of Barcelona – La Sagrada Família, Gaudí’s ingenious, unfinished creation. It’s a tour you simply can’t miss!

During this 2,5 hour free walking tour, you will see and discover:

• Plaza Cataluña
• Eixample – district with many modernist buildings
• Passeig de Gràcia – one of the most important Barcelona avenues
• Manzana de la Discordia – the Apple of Discord – famous modernist city block with Casa Amatller, Casa Lleó Morera and Casa Batlló
• Sagrada Família
• and much, much more!

Very informative tour by Jules!

I attended the tour without knowing that much about the architecture of the city however during the tour not only got general information but also very interesting facts that Jules shared with. The tour was very engaging.

Great introductory tour

This was a very interesting tour with all the historical information and interesting quips to get you excited about seeing more of this area. I would highly recommend it as a precursor to going into the Gaudi sites.

Tour maravilhoso com Pedro

O tour com Pedro foi muito divertido e informativo. Ele conhece muito de arte e da história. Foi muito solícito e atencioso todo o percurso. Certamente participarei de novo!

Excelente guía y recorrido

Juan Pablo transmitió de manera increíble los mejores datos de cada edificio y de la historia

Enjoyable tour of the amazing architecture of Barcelona

Great tour explaining the history of the layout of the new town, stopping at 3 or 4 eye-catching buildings by Gaudi and others, finishing at Sagrada Familia. Highly recommmend

This tour is also available as a Private Tour.

To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.

• Gaudí & Modernism Barcelona Free Walking Tour
• Barcelona   /  
• Free Walking Tours   /  

Immerse yourself in modernist Barcelona with this two and a half hour free tour. Discover the main works of Gaudi and the most important monuments of Catalan modernism with a guide in English.

• Discover the main modernist works of Barcelona
• Learn about the history of the Block of Discord
• Admire Gaudí’s Casa Batlló and La Pedrera
• Be amazed by the Sagrada Familia, also Gaudi's masterpiece

Come and discover the main modernist symbols of Barcelona and Gaudí's universe in this free walking tour where you will appreciate an unparalleled architectural heritage.

We will start the tour in Plaza Catalunya to approach the famous Block of Discord , located on Paseo de Gràcia. In this very same block several of the modernist jewels of Barcelona are concentrated: the Lleó Morera house , by Domènech i Montaner, the Casa Amatller by Puig i Cadafalch and the famous Casa Batlló , designed by Gaudí.

Apart from learning the story of how three of the most famous architects of their time competed to build the most beautiful building on Passeig de Gràcia, you will discover how and why modernism flourished in Barcelona , as well as the origin of its peculiar forms. 

During the tour, your guide will also explain about the Cerdà Plan, which paved the way for the creaton of Barcelona's characteristic Eixample district, and we will see other nearby monuments such as La Pedrera or Casa Milà, also by Gaudí .

Next, we will take the metro to see the most iconic monument of Barcelona: the Sagrada Familia , Gaudi's masterpiece. 

Once there, you will be able to marvel at this impressive work as we take a walk around the temple to get to know the intricate details of the facade and learn about the symbolism behind each element. 

At approximately 6:30 p.m. the tour ends in front of the Sagrada Familia. 

How much does this tour cost?

The free tours do not have a set price. At the end of the tour, each person will contribute the amount they consider fair depending on the degree of satisfaction. 

Our guides are truly passionate about history and work exclusively on a pay-as-you-go basis, thus ensuring that you will have an unforgettable and meaningful experience.

Meeting Point

• Guided tour of Barcelona for 2 hours and a half
• Professional guide in English
• Metro Ticket
• Radioguide: 1 € per adult

Cancellation Policy

• The use of comfortable shoes and clothes is recommended. The entire tour is done on foot.
• Group reservations of more than 6 people are not allowed.
• The maximum allowed is 3 children per adult.

Additional Info

Radio guides used in the tour cost of €1 per person.

Related Tours

All cities > Barcelona Walking Tours > Barcelona Free Walking Tour of Gaudi

Barcelona Free Walking Tour of Gaudi

View modernism at its best.

Barcelona, Spain

From 2 hours, about this tour.

Immerse in Barcelona’s modernist structures on this free walking tour around the city. Marvel at masterpieces of Spanish architectural greats such as Antoni Gaudí, Domenech I Muntaner, and Puig I Cadafalch.

Ready for surprises like open-air museums one of a kind in entire Europe. Gear for an impressive modernism show displayed in the city buildings you will pass by as you stroll the streets of Barcelona.

End the tour at the Sagrada Familia after taking in the splendor of this state-of-the-art facility. It’s a significant creation by Gaudi.

Tour Highlights

• Gaze at the exterior of the city buildings
• See works of famous architects like Gaudí, Domenech I Muntaner, and Puig I Cadafalch
• Visit unique open-air museums
• Go to Sagrada Familia a display of modernism

Practical information

• Knowledgeable guide
• Accessible to persons with minimalized mobility
• Pet friendly
• A small group

Not Included:

• Admission fees to monuments
• Additional expenses
• No specific number of tourists is needed for the tour to take place

Additional information

Operated by DonkeyTours Barcelona

/10 (438 votes )

Very good tour, Maribel, an exceptional guide, made the experience super fun ❤️-As translated from Spanish.

Review by Maria - Chile

See more reviews

• Santiago de Chile
• Santiago de Compostela

Barcelona Gaudí & Modernism Free Tour

Discover the life and works of Barcelona’s beloved Antoni Gaudí

ABOUT THE Barcelona Gaudí & Modernism Free Tour

This 3-hour Gaudí and Modernism walking tour covers all the main sites of Antoni Gaudí and his work. Visit the Eixample district, hear about the Modernism movement and, of course, see the world-famous Sagrada Família. During this tour we dig deep into the roots of the movement and explore the social unrest and political issues that the glossy guidebooks ignore. The result is an unforgettable portrait of one of the world’s greatest cities and a tribute to some of its most talented designers.

Your Gaudí and Modernism Tour starts In front of the Apple Store, on Passeig de Gràcia 1, and finishes in front of the Sagrada Família.  We never cancel; tours run rain, hail or shine.

Gaudí's major masterpieces

Your expert local guide will take you on a tour of the must-see sites related to Gaudí in Barcelona. Millions come from around the world to see the famed Sagrada Família, but in fact, Gaudí’s stamp of genius is all over the city. Visit the stunning residential building Casa Milá (La Pedrera). See the Casa Batlló, adjusted by Gaudí from conventional house to masterpiece. As you stroll through the Eixample district, you’ll see works not only of Gaudí, but also of other stars of the Modernism movement.

The spirit of a generation

Much of Gaudí's genius can be attributed to social upheaval and the political issues of the time. On this walking tour, your expert guide will not only show you Gaudí's Barcelona masterpieces, but will also tell you about major events that impacted him, like the Tragic Week, when the Spanish Army clashed with Barcelona’s working class. You will need this background to fully appreciate his genius and the Zeitgeist of when he developed his creations.

The intriguing life and tragic death of Antoní Gaudí

Don’t just see the sites – hear about the life and genius of the man himself, including his poor health as a child, his devout Catholic faith and strict vegetarianism, unorthodox working style (he rarely drew complete plans), and of course, his tragic death.

The Barcelona Gaudí & Modernism Tour starts In front of the Apple Store, on Passeig de Gràcia 1

• Discover Gaudí's life, death and life's work
• Marvel at the world-famous Sagrada Família
• Be introduced to the stars of the Modernism era
• Visit other Gaudí masterpieces like Casa Batlló and Casa Milà (La Pedrera)
• Stroll down the Passeig de Gràcia and through the Eixample district
• See Casa Lleó-Morera

TOUR SCHEDULES

This tour doesn‘t run today

Click on 'See more dates' to check availability

• Local English-speaking guide
• Entrance to the Sagrada Família
• Transportation
• Gratuities for the guide (optional)
• Our business is connecting great guides and smart travelers, and we're proud that so many local guides employ us to welcome travelers like you on their journey through some of the world's best cities. No two tours are alike, and the sites, stories, and length of the tour will vary depending on what your freelance guide decides is best. That's why the tours we promote never get stale or feel scripted, and why both independent guides and savvy travelers prefer SANDEMANs
• Wheelchair accessible
• You will need to purchase a single metro ticket to join this tour

Customer reviews

Super fun and informative Gaudi and Modernism tour!

We had an amazing time on Onno's walking tour of Gaudi and Modernism. We had a group of about 10 people, which made for a nice, intimate experience. Onno was incredible - clearly very well versed in the history of artists in Barcelona, as well as Spanish history in general. He treated us to a fun, informative, interesting, and at times humorous tour. The tour lasted for about 2.5 hours, so just wear shoes you're comfortable walking in. Also: bring water if you're doing this tour in the summer! Definitely recommended whether you've been to Barcelona before or not. You'll discover some hidden gems of information that you'll be talking about for weeks (we still are!).

All about Gaudi and Modernism

We did the Sandemans Gaudi and Modernism walking tour yesterday. Our guide Patrick had all the information and interesting extras to share with us. Our tour finished at the Sagrada Familia where Patrick again shared all the details and had visuals of Gaudi and his plans to show us. An informative tour with a great guide.

Great Tour - Gaudi Modernism Tour

Our guide, Macu, was fantastic. He does a great job explaining Gaudi’s life through his design of homes through Barcelona and caps it off with a wonderful explanation of La Segrada Familia. On a side note, take the Free tour of Barcelona first. That way, you have some great perspective of the city and can then get more detailed with Gaudi.

Gaudi Modernism Tour

We went on the Gaudi Modernism tour with Jimi. This was my first Sandeman's tour and I was blown away! Jimi is incredibly knowledgeable and at the same time very approachable. He brought the art and architecture to life. We went on this tour after already visiting the Sagrada Familia and doing the audio tour there. We learned so much about the Sagrada from Jimi - he enabled us to see things that we had missed the day before. He was incredibly detailed and thorough and really captivated us with the stories. I highly recommend this tour and Jimi as a guide, even if you think you already know about Gaudi or the Sagrada Familia!

Modernism and Gaudi tour

We paid for this tour after hearing about it on the free walking tour and we do not regret this decision!!! Our tour guide was Macu - cheeky, funny and so informative. It was a fantastic insight into the architectural history of Barcelona and into Gaudi’s life and works. We just so happened to get our tickets for the Sagrada Familia for 1.45pm and the 10.30am tour finished at about 1.15pm so we managed to keep the flow of learning!! Would 100% recommend this and hopefully you get Macu as your guide as he was lovely! I took numerous notes on my phone of interesting facts and information to follow up on later. It rained for most of the tour but this didn’t really dampen our spirits, if you happen to get a wet day for it don’t let it put you off, it’s still a good way to spend your time in Barcelona.

What is a Free Tour?

The Free Tour is the best introduction to Barcelona! A general overview tour including many of the highlights of the city, the Free Tour usually lasts around 2.5 hours and is provided by a local freelance guide in partnership with SANDEMANs NEW Europe, so tour content can vary depending on your guide’s particular area of interest and expertise.

The Free Tour is a walking tour with no need for public transport and is designed for independent travellers, not groups. You can book your spot in advance online or simply show up at the start point on the day. There is no payment necessary at the start of the tour but you are welcome to tip your guide at the end!

We believe in supporting local communities and are committed to giving a voice to some of Amsterdam's best local freelance tour guides, who passionately share the city's history and culture with their own unique and always-entertaining style. They'll never pressure you to tip; we believe that, if money is given, it should be voluntary and in direct proportion to the quality of the tour and the budget of the traveler.

Why join the SANDEMANs FREE Tour?

• Expert local guides
• Theme specific tours
• Location specific tours
• The Free Tour is guaranteed to fit within your budget
• The guides performing tips-based Free Tours are incentivized to perform every time

Participation in tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe is strictly on a voluntary basis. Neither SANDEMANs NEW Europe, nor the self-employed freelance guides who are the providers of the tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe, will be held responsible in any way for injuries to body or property incurred during tours. The tour guides reserve the right to deny participation in any tour, to any person, for any reason. Thank you for your understanding.

Thank you! Your support means more to us than we can express in words. Chris Sandeman and the SANDEMANs Live Community

Give anything you want

Wrong price format. Please enter a valid price.

Please enter a price greater than 0.

Payment is secured with

Best Gaudi Tour in Barcelona (See All Famous Gaudí Buildings in 1 Day)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: January 15, 2024

If you are visiting Barcelona soon and are looking for the best walking tour that brings you to all the famous Gaudi buildings in Barcelona , then look no further. This article should answer all your questions and help you find the best Gaudi tour for your visit!

We recently visited Barcelona and, before our trip, we did a lot of research trying to find the very best Gaudi tour in Barcelona . After all, seeing Gaudi’s masterpieces is one of the must-do’s in Spain !

In this guide, you can read about the Gaudi architecture tour we chose and why we think that it’s the best Gaudi tour that you can do in Barcelona. Find out!

Good to know: If my enthusiasm about this Gaudi tour seems a bit exaggerated, it’s only because we truly loved it. It made our whole trip to Barcelona so much more memorable and I wish you the same unforgettable experience!

How to Choose Your Gaudi Tour in Barcelona

There are so many Gaudi tours in Barcelona ( over 140! different tours on our favorite tour booking site at the moment of writing). At first, it looks overwhelming… How do you choose?! But when you look closer, you’ll see that most of these tours aren’t really complete and it’s actually very hard to find a tour that brings you to all the famous Gaudi buildings in Barcelona.

Most ‘Gaudi tours’ actually only include visiting 1 or 2 Gaudi buildings in the city. Below is an overview of the most popular Gaudi tour options like that (they include just one or two Gaudi buildings):

• Guided Tours of Sagrada Familia with Skip-the-Line Tickets
• Sagrada Familia & Park Güell
• Guided Park Güell visit
• Casa Batllo Immersive 10D Experience (self-guided immersive experience)
• Casa Milà-La Pedrera: Skip The Line Ticket (self-guided with audio guide)

If you want to take it really easy, then the above options will give you a chance to explore Gaudi buildings to the fullest.

However, if you want to make the most out of your time and see as much as possible in one day , you may want to look for a more complete Gaudi tour. One that covers more Gaudi attractions.

When doing my research, I realized that just a handful of quality tours actually visit multiple Gaudi buildings in Barcelona , beyond the Basílica de la Sagrada Familia and Park Güell. These are the tours that I ended up looking at when trying to choose the best option for our trip. Because we wanted to see as much as possible in as short a time as possible. And out of 140+ Gaudi tours, there were just a handful of options left…

Below you can read about the Gaudi tour that we chose and what it covers. Take a look!

The Most Complete Gaudi Tour in Barcelona

The Gaudi tour that we ended up choosing features some of the very best Gaudi buildings in Barcelona. It includes Casa Batlló , Park Guell , and of course the Sagrada Familia with fast-track tickets. (Update: the pre-reserved La Sagrada Familia Tower climb is no longer included with this tour, so if you want to visit the tower, you would have to buy a separate ticket for that at the end of the tour.)

In addition, it also passes a few other architectural masterpieces of Gaudi’s Barcelona. You get to see the Casa Milà (La Pedrera) and also the very first building Gaudi designed, Casa Vicens .

Further below you can read about our experience and what we saw on this complete Gaudi tour. But first, some practical information.

Where to book: If you are interested in doing the exact same Gaudi tour as we did (and that’s described below), you can check reviews and availability on GetYourGuide . This is our favorite one-stop shop for all tour and ticket bookings when we travel. If you rather book directly with the company that runs this tour and read even more details about it, take a look here . Normally, the prices should be the same on both websites and they both offer free cancelation up to 24 hrs before the tour.

Good to know: The Gaudi walking tour that we took has limited availability, especially in the low season (Nov-March). And because it’s such a small group tour, it also sells out fast. So make sure to book well in advance. To give you an idea, we did this tour at the end of October and it was fully booked more than a month in advance.

The best alternative Gaudi Barcelona tour: If you are traveling in winter and the above tour is not available (or if it’s sold out), the very best alternative tour that I found is this day tour . It includes fast-track tickets to La Sagrada Familia, Park Güell entrance, and a visit to Casa Mila – La Pedrera (instead of Casa Battló).

In addition, this tour is a bit longer than the one we did and includes a walk through the Gothic Quarter in the Old Town of Barcelona. It’s also a small group tour, it has good reviews and runs the whole year-round, so it’s a very good alternative option.

What to Expect From This Barcelona Gaudi Tour – Our Experience

If you are familiar with our blog and the way we travel, you know that we don’t often book guided tours if we can avoid it. However, in Barcelona, we booked a few of them and didn’t regret it once.

Here are the main reasons why we chose this Gaudi tour :

• We wanted to see as many Gaudi buildings in Barcelona as possible in a short time without having to deal with crowds and long queues.
• It’s the most complete small-group Gaudi tour that we found and it has the best customer reviews by far.
• We loved the fact that this tour starts early in order to give you priority access to Casa Batllo before anyone else is in the building.
• We also love the fact that this tour ends inside La Sagrada Familia , giving you plenty of time to explore this incredible masterpiece at your own pace if you want to and you can then stay inside as long as you want.
• It was great to have a guide to explain the history and all the symbolism behind the architectural details. We would have never been able to appreciate the genius behind Gaudi’s work the same way without these insights from a very knowledgeable guide.
• It allowed us to see the best of Gaudi’s Barcelona buildings in just one day without having to worry about any practicalities.

Good to know: Despite this being a walking tour, the big distances such as between Casa Mila and Casa Vicens, Casa Vicens to Park Güell, and from Park Güell to La Sagrada Familia are actually covered by minibus. This makes it possible to see so much of Gaudi’s Barcelona in a short time without having to walk too much.

Therefore, this tour is suitable for anyone in a reasonable physical condition. The hardest part is coming down the stairs of the tower at La Sagrada Familia (you go up using an elevator).

Below, you can read about all the places we visited on this Gaudi tour and more details about each landmark. Take a look!

Casa Batlló

The very first place we visited on this Gaudi architecture tour in Barcelona, was Casa Batlló . This iconic building is now a  UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the must-see places in Barcelona.

With some magic powers, our guide made sure that we entered the building before anyone else did. We had it completely to ourselves for at least five minutes before other visitors started to come in. I’m not sure if they always manage to do this, but it’s a huge advantage of booking this tour over the others because it allows you to see one of the busiest places in Barcelona without the crowds.

In any case, the tour starts with Casa Batllo’s visit, so you’ll be one of the first ones inside the building either way.

Casa Batllo gets its name from a rich textile industrial who owned this house at the beginning of the 20th century. He hired Gaudi to demolish the old building and build a new one, but Gaudi managed to keep the original structure while transforming it into the real masterpiece that we see today.

The works took place between 1904 and 1906 and the result was this unique and very modernistic building that many people couldn’t really appreciate back in those days. In fact, Barcelonians jokingly called Batllo’s house ‘The Bone House’.

I’ll spare you more details and stories so as not to ruin the excitement of your visit. But I have to say that this is one of the most unique places that you can visit in Barcelona. If you visit without a guide, as a minimum, make sure to book tickets with an audio guide . Because otherwise, you’ll miss the whole context.

Casa Amatller, Casa Lleó Morera, and others

As you visit Casa Batllo, you’ll notice that it’s standing next to four other beautiful buildings: Casa Amatller , Casa Lleó Morera , Casa Mulleras , and Casa Josefina Bonet .

While these buildings aren’t Gaudi’s work, they were reformed at the same time by other prominent Barcelona architects who were competing for the urban awards by the Barcelona City Council. Spoiler alert – Gaudi didn’t win.

The most impressive buildings are Casa Amatller by the architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Casa Lleó Morera by the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner . The latter also designed the impressive Palau de la Música Catalana , as well as Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau , and many other architectural masterpieces. You really should try to see at least a few of his buildings if you have more time in Barcelona.

I’m glad that our tour guide took the time to highlight these other buildings as well. It was great to learn about the development of Passeig de Gràcia – one of the major avenues in Barcelona.

Casa Milà

One more of the Gaudi sights in Barcelona is the famous Casa Milà . This building is also known as La Pedrera or ‘The Stone Quarry’. Built right after Casa Battlo, from 1906 to 1912, it’s considered one of Gaudi’s most iconic residential buildings. It was also the last one he designed.

Despite the fact that ours was the most complete Gaudi tour we found, we didn’t visit the inside of Casa Mila. However, since it’s located just a few minutes’ walk from Casa Battlo, we went to see the exterior of the building.

Our guide gave us some explanation while we could admire the building from the outside. But the queues here are so long that it would require a few additional hours to visit Casa Mila. It would, therefore, make it difficult to see the other Gaudi buildings on the same tour.

If you have the time, by all means, Casa Mila is definitely worth a visit as well. Just make sure to book your skip-the-line tickets (with audio guides) in advance and plan 2-3 hours to visit this building another time.

Casa Vicens

The very first house designed by Gaudi, Casa Vicens looks nothing like the other Gaudi buildings in Barcelona. If anything, it seems to have a lot of Asian influence, with a touch of Japanese influence. Casa Vicens was a complete surprise to us. We had never heard about this building or seen it mentioned in any Barcelona travel guides.

Built by Gaudi between 1883 and 1885, this was Vicens’ family summer house in the former village of Gràcia. The building has been expanded in 1925 by another architect because Gaudi was devoting all his time and attention to Sagrada Familia by that time. Amazingly enough, the original style was kept incredibly well. It’s now hard to tell that this building has been more than doubled in size 40 years after it was originally built.

Casa Vicens remained private property for over 100 years. The building has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and just recently restored. It only opened to the public at the end of 2017. That’s probably the reason why it’s not as well known as the other Gaudi buildings in Barcelona…

From what I saw, none of the Gaudi architecture tours that include most other buildings visit Casa Vicens. Most of them don’t even go to see it (probably because it’s located quite far from the others). The Gaudi tour that we did doesn’t go inside either (again, it would require much more time). However, you can see the building from the outside and learn about it from your guide.

TIP: If you are visiting Casa Vicens on your own, and especially if it’s high season, make sure to also book your skip-the-line tickets in advance .

Park Güell

Probably the most-visited Gaudi attraction in Barcelona after La Sagrada Familia, Park Güell is a peculiar place.

Initially, it was designed to be a private and exclusive residential area. But the rich and the powerful of pre-war Barcelona didn’t want any privacy. They wanted the whole world to see their beautiful houses! And they wanted to live in the middle of the action… So nobody bought land here.

In the end, only three houses were built in this park: that of Mr. Güell, his lawyer, and a model-house where Gaudi moved in. I find it fascinating that such a famous architect ended up living in a model house…

There are also two impressive buildings at the main entrance of Park Guell that were designed by Gaudi. They were meant to be used as Guard’s House and a waiting room for the guests.

Gaudi also designed the public spaces, a beautiful lizard fountain, a market, and the stunning gardens of Park Guell. It’s a real masterpiece that shows how much ahead of time this genius was.

The biggest part of Park Guell is open to the public and can be visited freely. However, the nicest parts of Park Guell are enclosed and require a ticket.

After our tour, I heard from one of our followers that they didn’t get to see Park Güell when they visited Barcelona. Because, apparently, you have to book tickets online several days in advance.

Good to know: Park Güell tickets seem to always sell out at least a few days upfront, so you can’t just show up at Park Güell and expect to visit it. What a shame, but at least now you know… You can either get a park entrance ticket and explore the park on your own or book a ticket that includes a guided park visit. Either way, be sure to book in advance!

I have to admit that to us, Park Guell felt a bit like a tourist trap. Countless street vendors line the pathways of the park. Between them, huge crowds of tourists, and warnings to watch out for pickpockets, it was hard to appreciate the beauty of this place.

At the same time, I’m really glad we visited it. It’s such a unique place and no visit to Barcelona would be complete without seeing Gaudi’s Park Guell.

Once again, I’m glad that we came here with a guided tour. First, we would have never thought to buy tickets for a park in advance. Second, it’s so busy and overwhelming that it would have cost us lots of time just to figure out where to go… Now, we just followed the guide who safely navigated the crowds and brought us to all the best places in Guell Park.

After an introduction, we had some free time here and could explore the park without the group as well. I wish we had done that! But… we took this tour with kids and it was lunchtime… And, as you can imagine, hungry kids and sightseeing is not the best combination…

So we ended up spending our extra time queuing at a café. The good thing is that the food served inside the park turned out to be really delicious. As touristy as it looks, food quality was actually top.

TIP: If I were to do this Gaudi tour again, I’d pack something small for lunch. You can eat it while exploring the park. It would save you quite some time. Also, it would save you quite some money because the food prices here were the highest we had seen in Barcelona.

Is Park Güell worth it? To many, Park Guell is one of the nicest places in Barcelona, to others – a crowded touristy place that they couldn’t appreciate. Either way, it’s a real Gaudi masterpiece and I think that it’s definitely worth visiting. It would be a shame to come to Barcelona and not see one of its main landmarks. On the other hand, it really depends on how much time you have. For example, with just one day in Barcelona, I wouldn’t do it.

La Sagrada Familia

We kept the best for last and visited Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia at the end of our Gaudi walking tour. I think it’s also the best way to do it. This architectural masterpiece is so spectacular that you wouldn’t appreciate the other buildings the same way if you would have seen the Sagrada Familia first.

Who hasn’t seen pictures of this iconic Basilica in Barcelona? But no matter how many pictures you have seen, it will literally take your breath away! There is so much symbolism in this building, so many details, so much genius… It’s impossible to show it in pictures or to describe it in words.

If there is one place you visit in Barcelona, make it La Sagrada Familia! It’s also a place that you really should visit with a good local guide. You’ll never look at this building with the same eyes after you hear all the stories and explanations behind each and every single detail… It’s simply fascinating!

There is nothing that can prepare you for how it feels to enter Sagrada Familia and see its interior for the first time. Wow! Just wow!

We visited Sagrada Familia on a sunny autumn day when the sun was low, and the warm light falling through the colorful glass windows turned the interior of the church into a colorful kaleidoscope.

It’s like stepping into a fairytale, a dream… The most extraordinary experience that’s really impossible to portray in words…

We spent more than two hours inside La Sagrada Familia, including the tower visit. There is also a museum and you could easily spend another hour there. The good thing about this Gaudi tour is that it actually ends inside the Sagrada Familia. So you are free to stay inside the church as long as you want. Also, now that the tour no longer includes tower access, you could try and get a ticket for the tower separately and visit it after the tour.

Some facts: La Sagrada Familia is a work in progress that’s taken over 130 years already. The interior of La Sagrada Familia is practically finished and has been opened to the public over ten years ago. Whereas the exterior is still being built.

If all goes as planned, La Sagrada Familia should be finished by 2026, when Barcelona will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of Gaudi’s passing. But even as it is now, La Sagrada Familia is a phenomenal building that has no equals. It’s worth a trip to the other side of the world, just by itself.

Good to know: The practical side of visiting La Sagrada Familia might look a bit overwhelming. The church is huge and there are several entrances and exits. There is also very strict security control. And, of course, there are huge crowds of people…

Visiting with a guide, we didn’t have to worry about any of that. The only waiting time we had was the time that it took all 15 people to pass the security control. That’s it. In less than 10 minutes, we were inside the building.

TIP: If you are planning to visit the Basilica without an organized tour (or if you book a Gaudi tour that doesn’t include entrance tickets to Sagrada Familia), make sure to get Sagrada Familia skip-the-line tickets in advance .

Here you can get priority access tickets with a guided tour . Here you can get tickets that also include tower access . It will save you a lot of time and guarantee that you can actually visit the church.

Gaudi Walking Tour in Barcelona – Conclusion

So, this was our experience with a great Barcelona Gaudi tour. It allowed us to see all the most beautiful Gaudi buildings in Barcelona in just +- 6 hours. I hope that this write-up gives you a better idea of what to expect from a Barcelona Gaudi tour. Hopefully, it will also help you choose a tour that’s the right tour for you.

Once again, for visiting any Gaudi attractions in Barcelona, I really recommend joining an organized tour with a local guide. Having a guide makes your visit much more complete because you see more, notice more, and learn so much.

The history of the city, the way of life back at the beginning of the 20th century, and many stories give all these buildings a historical context and help to put things in a very different perspective.

After this excellent tour, we also visited many other incredible buildings in Barcelona. But even with audio guides, it was not comparable to having a knowledgeable local guide.

Is the complete Gaudi tour worth it? At first, this Gaudi architecture tour that we did looks quite expensive. But when you add the ticket cost of all the attractions, it’s actually not exaggerated at all. Furthermore, you get fast-track access everywhere and save lots of time. Not even to mention the convenient minibus that quickly brings you from one place to the other…

If you were to visit all these Gaudi buildings in Barcelona on your own, there is no way you could do it all in just 6 hours… Not even in a day. So yes, to us, it was absolutely worth it! I think it’s one of the very best walking tours that you can do in Barcelona.

How to book this Gaudi tour? If you want to do the same Gaudi tour as we did as described in this article, you can check availability and book it here . If this tour isn’t available for your travel dates, the very best comparable alternative is this day tour . Either way, make sure to book it well in advance!

So, this is our experience with visiting the most famous Gaudi buildings in Barcelona with a tour. Have you been to Barcelona? Feel free to share your experience by leaving a reply below. Planning a trip and have any questions about this Gaudi tour or Gaudi attractions that we visited, don’t hesitate to leave a reply below and I’ll try to help.

READ ALSO: Barcelona Top Sights & Tourist Attractions

More tips for your trip to Spain:

• Traveling to Barcelona – Tips & Tricks
• How to see the Best of Barcelona in 1 Day
• Weekend in Barcelona
• How to Visit Montserrat
• Montserrat Tour Review
• Seville in One Day
• Best Of Seville in Two Days
• Flamenco Tour in Seville
• How to See the Best of Madrid in One Day
• Madrid to Toledo Day Trip
• Credit cards: In Europe, we use credit cards with a pin. If you live in the U.S., we recommend getting one of these great travel credit cards for your trip to Europe.

If you found this post helpful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin this image!

More travel inspiration for European cities:

If you are visiting other European cities and are looking for in-depth information for your trip, take a look at some of our city guides:

• Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Antwerp, Belgium
• Bern, Switzerland
• Bologna, Italy
• Brasov, Romania
• Brussels, Belgium
• Bruges, Belgium
• Bucharest, Romania
• Colmar, France
• Edinburgh, UK
• Florence, Italy
• Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
• Geneva, Switzerland
• Krakow, Poland
• Lisbon, Portugal
• Liverpool, UK
• Lucerne, Switzerland
• Manchester, UK
• Milan, Italy
• Naples, Italy
• Paris, France
• Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal
• Ravenna, Italy
• Reykjavik, Iceland
• Rimini, Italy
• Rome, Italy
• Salzburg, Austria
• Sintra, Portugal
• Venice, Italy
• Verona, Italy
• For more… check our  destinations page.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Marilynn Reid

Sunday 7th of April 2024

Thank you for this very informative article/review. I am planning a trip to Spain/Portugal with a tour of the Gaudi buildings at top of my list. However, I am more interested in doing this tour by bicycle. A number of years ago I read an article about a bicycle tour to all of the buildings which the writer raved about saying it was the "best and most comprehensive tour. I have been searching on the internet for such a tour with very little success. Are you familiar with such tours and could you recommend one. Thank you so much.

Saturday 13th of April 2024

Thank you so much for your reply! I will check out the Gaudi "bike" tours. - Marilynn Reid

Hi Marilynn, there are quite a lot of Gaudi tours by bike in Barcelona, but most of them just pass the sights without visiting any of them. The issue with visiting several sites in a day is that nowadays you need to prebook timed tickets everywhere. So something that could have been easily arranged years ago might be practically impossible to do now. That's the reason why very few Gaudi tours in Barcelona actually visit more than one or two places inside. I didn't find any bike tour that actually visits several attractions, but there are some nice tours that include a visit to one of them. By far the most complete bike tour I was able to find is this one: E-bike private tour including Park Güell. This tour ends at La Sagrada Familia, so you can get tickets for it as well (read the description for the suggested time) and make a perfect Gaudi day trip itinerary including a bike ride and a visit to two main sights (Park Güell as part of the tour and La Sagrada Familia on your own). Here you can reserve La Sagrada Familia tickets including the tower access. On GetYourGuide, you can find a big selection of bike tours, but you have to read the descriptions in detail to know what's actually included. Hope this helps.

Yimmy Seifert

Saturday 8th of July 2023

Hi thanks so much for your detailed and in depth description of your experience. I am planning to do just a Gaudi trip in September but I am worried whether this tour is suitable for me. I am a senior and use a walking stick and can’t walk too fast, I don’t want to slow down the others but you mentioned that’would be transport by minibus between the long distance areas. I can walk around for a while especially if we are stopping to look at buildings. I know its hard for you to gayge but do you think I can do this trip?

Ymmy from Australia

Hi Yimmy, it's really difficult for me to say. There are quite some stairs that you'll have to do at Casa Batllo, there is also quite some walking involved in between the attractions. For example, you walk from Casa Batllo to Casa Mila (+-half kilometer), but then it also depends on where the minibus will be able to park, so it can be more than that. After that, the minibus drops you off at Casa Vicens, but there also, it stops where traffic allows, and there might be 5-10 minutes walking involved. Also at Park Guell, you have to walk through the park (also some stairs). So only you can decide how feasible it is for you. You may enjoy it more if you visit fewer attractions on your own or take a guided tour that only visits La Sagrada Familia, so you can benefit of the explanation by the guide without having to stress about walking or slowing down anyone. Hope this helps. Enjoy Barcelona!

Tuesday 3rd of January 2023

hi! i'm planning a barcelona trip for the spring and just wanted to make sure that this tour includes a tower visit at La Sagrada Familia? i love your review of this tour but i definitely don't want to miss that experience. thanks in advance!!

Saturday 7th of January 2023

Hi Christina, when we did this Gaudi tour, it included access to the tower of La Sagrada Familia at the very end of the tour. I'm not sure if it's still the case - tours change all the time and so it's possible the itinerary has changed (I know that quite some tours had adapted their itineraries due to covid guidelines (which keep on changing too)). I'm traveling right now and have no time to check it for you, but it should all be in the description of the tour. If the description is not clear and you want to be absolutely sure, you can also just opt for the guided tour of the church that includes the tower access. That way, you are 100% sure. Hope this helps.

Update: I contacted the company that organizes this tour and indeed, they no longer include tickets to the tower. You can still visit the tower after the tour ends inside La Sagrada Familia, but you would need to get separate tickets for that.

Monday 7th of November 2022

Thank you for all the very informative information! My husband wants to see all of Gaudi's exhibits in 5 days - any suggestions for that amount of time. Also, it will just be the two of us - any recommendations on where to stay?

Wednesday 9th of November 2022

Hi Sara, one of the best areas to stay in Barcelona is around Placa de Catalunya - it's very central and you can walk to most places in the center. There is lots to do, shops, restaurants, etc.For example, Exe Plaza Catalunya is a nice choice in that area and there are many more. For the Gaudi sights, with 5 days, you should be able to see all of them (and the rest of Barcelona). If you go on your own, try to concentrate on 2-3 Gaudi sights per day and book tickets in advance! Take a look at our guide to the best places to see in Barcelona for all the info about the best sites. If you also want to see some Gaudi landmarks outside the city, check out the Gaudi Crypt in Colonia Guell. Hope this helps. Good luck with the planning! PS You may also want to check our article with tips for visiting Barcelona.

Sharon Gilliland

Wednesday 6th of April 2022

What is the actual name of the tour company that you recommended for Barcelona to see the Gaudi sights? I see the link - but not the name of the company. Your review sounded great!

Thursday 14th of April 2022

Hi Sharon, The name of the company is listed when you open the link, but you have to look for it ;). Anyway, it's a company called 'Walks' and you can also book this same tour directly with them. We recommend booking via GYG because of the more flexible cancelation policy. The price is usually the same no matter where you book. Hope this helps.

Free Walking Tours by Locals

Barcelona | granada | lisbon | london | malaga | madrid | prague | san sebastian, gaudí free walking tour barcelona.

The tour starts near the famous La Rambla boulevard, where one of his first masterpieces is located. Shortly after we head towards Passeig de Gràcia to explore his two most well known houses. Sagrada Familia , his unfinished church, is the last stop on this wonderful adventure through Gaudí’s universe.

These are some of the attractions we visit on this tour (exterior only):

• Plaça Reial
• Palau Güell
• Casa Batlló
• Casa Milà (La Pedrera)
• Sagrada Familia

Duration : 2.5 hours

Price : Donation based

Find more information and make reservations on our website: Gaudí Free Walking Tour .

We all know that the arrival of multinationals can push the small man out of business and the walking tour industry is no different. This is why a few of us, local companies with a like-minded vision, got together to be sure that you can still hear about us. This website is our meeting point where we can introduce ourselves and tell you what we do. We strongly believe that keeping it small and local is the only way to achieve great quality . Read more

Because we, as guides, live and breathe our city's everyday life, a great inside knowledge is something that already comes in the package. With professional, knowledgeable, enthusiastic and fun guides , the tours on offer have been highly recommended through guidebooks, internet sites and mouth to mouth (our favourite one!). Our walking tours are not about selling other products, it is about offering a great product in itself. Hard selling is just not our style. Read more

If you have had enough of manufactured tourism and you enjoy discovering and learning about the places you visit from a more local point of view, maybe we are what you are looking for. Each of the walking tour companies in the network is individually listed only in their own cities so their incomes generate within their communities. A big plus: walking and taking public transport when necessary is also a great way to protect the environment. Read more

Best things to do and see in Barcelona

Barcelona is located in the northeast of Spain and it is the capital of the Catalonian province. It is the second-largest city in the country, coming in behind only Madrid and it is considered to be one of the most frequented tourist destinations in the world because of everything it has to offer, from its vibrant culture and history, reflected in its unique architecture, to its exquisite Mediterranean cuisine. 

There are options available to do your free walking tour in Barcelona in the morning, afternoon and evening with tour guides who are locals. You can also find a variety of different tours that are centered on topics ranging from Anton Gaudí and Modernism, (the avant-garde architect of The Sagrada Familia) and walks through the Gothic Sector of the old town including The Born and Gracía Neighborhoods. Other areas of interest that you should check out when you visit include: The Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Batlló House, Casa Milá-or the Pedrera, (stone-quarry house) The Rambla Avenue, the prominent hill that overlooks the harbor-Montjuic, also the amazing Magic Fountain of Montjuic, the Boqueria Market, The Catalonian Square, the Picasso Museum, the Cathedral, Ciudadela Park, Barcelona’s football stadium-Camp Nou, the Tibidabo-the tallest mountain in the area, the harbor district- the Barceloneta, The Christopher Colombus Monument, The City Aquarium and The Arc de Triomf. Learn more about best things to do in Barcelona, Spain. 

To make sure you get the best experience, you can read the opinions and ratings of other walkers who have already had the chance to do one of the free city tours in Barcelona . As you will see, many of the walkers there often repeat and do other tours of the same city, or do a guruwalk in their next destination, like Valencia, Alicante or Pamplona. Make your reservation for free and enjoy the company of one of our local guides who will help you to get to know the most interesting parts of the Barcelonan culture. 

Free walking tour near Barcelona

Others cities to visit after barcelona, find other guruwalks in barcelona, where are you traveling to.

Sagrada Free Tours Barcelona

The most unique free walking tours in barcelona.

Sagrada Familia Exterior Free Walking Tour

Hear the stories, see the symbolism, understand the architecture and discover the meaning behind Gaudí's genius vision on this 1h15m free walking tour of the Exterior of Sagrada Familia.

Spanish Civil War Free Walking Tour

Learn the  history behind the often forgotten War that many consider to be the warm-up to World War II on the Spanish Civil War Free Walking Tour in Barcelona.

All-in-One: Old Town + Gaudí Architecture

The 2 most iconic areas in Barcelona in 1 Tour! The Old Town and the Modernist "Gaudi" Part of of Barcelona. Complete free walking tour of all Barcelona top sights. BOOK NOW

This website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience and analyze the use of the website. Learn More

Self-Guided Gaudí Tour of Barcelona

This post is a Gaudi tour of Barcelona. Use can use it to get around on your own or to discover some of the magnificent city architecture associated with Gaudi and Modernism.

There are numerous "free tours" or rather pay-what-you-wish tours that cover Gaudi buildings.

Related Tours in Barcelona:

• Self-Guided Gothic Tour of Barcelona
• Top Things to do in Barcelona

Self-guided Barcelona Gaudí  Tour

If you prefer to explore on your own this self-guided tour will take you to all of the main Gaudí sites.

As they are spread out, we will need to twice jump on the metro system.

The Barcelona metro is safe, clean and efficient. You can buy one, two or three day passes, but most people choose the flexibility of the T-10 ticket. The T-10 gives you 10 journeys, which can be shared between your group and have no expiration date, for less than 10€.

If you are planning on paying to enter the Gaudí houses, the monumental zone of the Park Güell , or la Sagrada Família , you should plan ahead and book tickets to avoid the lines.

STOP ONE: Begin the tour in Plaça Reial, just off Las Ramblas (closest metro, Liceu on line 3, the green line). If you did the Gothic Walking Tour we recommend (Hyper-Link), you will have already visited the square.

Antoni Gaudí i Cornet was born in the Catalan countryside, near the town of Reus in 1852.

His father was a Coppersmith and metal work would be a feature of his designs throughout his life. He came to Barcelona to study architecture, graduating in 1878. As a student he worked on many projects under various masters, his first and only public works are the street lamps here in Plaça Reial.

They show the city crest of Barcelona and are topped by the helmet of Hermes, a symbol for commerce. Barcelona has more symbols of Hermes than any other city in the world. Walking the streets today it may seem very relaxed, but in Gaudí’s day the city was a hive of activity with industry booming and revolutionizing the city.

STOP TWO: Head back to Las Ramblas and take the road opposite, C/Nou de la Rambla.

On the left you will see Palau Güell . You may also have seen this on our self-guided gothic walking tour.

This palace was built by Gaudí between 1886 and 1888 for Eusebi Güell. Güell would be the architect’s main patron throughout his life. Note the letters E and G sculpted into the two gates.

The parabolic arch of the two gates is very typical of Gaudí and would be a recurring theme in his work. So too, the trencadis cracked ceramic decoration on the building’s colorful chimneys.

This is the cheapest Gaudí building to enter . The ticket office is to the left of the building. On the first Sunday of the month there are a limited number of free entrances available after 4pm.

STOP THREE : Head back to Las Ramblas and turn left, up the hill. Go down into the metro using the stairs on the right of Las Ramblas as you look up the hill. If you do not already have a ticket, use the touch screen machines to buy your ticket paying in cash or by card. Un Viatge is a one-journey ticket. As we will be using the metro again later, we recommend buying the T-10 ticket.

Take the metro (Line 3, there is only one line in this station) in direction Trinitat Nova. Get off at Passeig de Gràcia station. Head to the exit and up into the light.

You will come out of the metro by the Manzana de la Discordia, the most famous block of Modernista architecture in the world.

Manzana de la Discordia

Passeig de Gràcia is the most expensive street in Spain. You will notice the streets around here are all in blocks. This is the Eixample neighborhood, built according to a plan laid out after the city’s walls were destroyed in the mid-nineteenth century.

The Apple of Discord is a Greek legend about an apple fought over by the goddesses in order to be considered the most beautiful. Here the name is used an allegory. We have five buildings by five different Modernista architects, all fighting to be considered the most beautiful!

Casa Batlló

Considered by many as their favorite Gaudí building, Casa Batlló was renovated by Gaudí between 1904 and 1906, for Señor Batlló, a rich textile magnate. It is typical of Gaudí’s dislike of straight lines and preoccupation with color.

He was a devout Catholic and saw God as the world’s ultimate architect, trying to copy his maker’s work as much as possible in everything he built.

Casa Batlló is often called the house of bones for the columns in the lower windows and its balconies that look like skulls. Many see the Catalan legend of Sant Jordi slaying his dragon in the scaly skin-like tiled roof with the crossed topped tower representing the knight’s lance entering his victim.

At the time of writing Casa Batlló is 20€ to enter and the queues can be very long. We recommend booking in advance to avoid unnecessary waiting times.

For a free peek at the back of Casa Batlló go around the corner onto C/Aragó and check out the view from inside the hardware store.

STOP FOUR: Head up Passeig de Gràcia to Casa Milà. Note the tiles under your feet on Passeig de Gràcia, they were designed by Gaudí for the inside of Casa Batlló.

Casa Milà, or La Pedrera, was designed by Gaudí as a luxury apartment building for the Milà family. It was the first building in the world where the walls are not load bearing. Instead Gaudí designed a central skeleton frame and then hung the giant, undulating stones off of the fame.

Each metal balcony is hand-hammered and unique. On the roof you will see more examples of trencadís tile mosaics. Where the façade meets the roof you will see small inscriptions in Catalan of the Catholic prayer and directly above the door a small letter M.

This represents María or Mary, mother of Christ. Casa Milà was built between 1906 and 1912, but Gaudí quit the project before finishing it due to arguments about money and design with the Milà family.

Many in Barcelona did not like Gaudí’s designs and Casa Milà was nicknamed La Pedrera, or the quarry as an insult. The original plan was for a statue of María on the corner of the building, but the Milà family scrapped this idea after a series of church burnings in 1909.

A visit to La Pedrera is also 20€ or you may choose to visit at night for live Jazz music on the roof. You may have already seen the roof in Michelangelo Antonioni’s film the Passenger featuring Jack Nicholson!

STOP FIVE: Continue up Passeig de Gràcia and enter the Diagonal metro station. Take Line 3 again (the green line) in direction Trinitat Nova. Get off at Vallcarca.

Walk down Avinguda de Vallcarca and then turn left up the hill on C/de les Medes. Two escalators will help you climb the hill. Turn left on Avinguda del Coll del Portell and enter the Park via the back entrance.

This is the back entrance of Park Güell and allows us to first see the incredible view of Barcelona from the Park’s pinnacle, the three crosses. This is representative of Jesus’s crucifixion on Calvary hill. The whole Park leads up this way with the incredible snaking raised walkways built by Gaudí.

The Park was built between 1900 and 1914 and was originally conceived as a luxury gated community for Barcelona’s elite, but due to it’s remoteness from the city there was little interest in building on the 60 planned lots and in the end only two houses were built, neither of them designed by Gaudí.

The architect eventually moved into one of the houses in the park.

The use of the English, Park, instead of the Catalan, Parc, is a reflection of Güell’s interest in the English garden city movement.

As you head down through Park Güell, you will eventually reach the Monumental Zone. This is where the most impressive of Gaudí’s designs are to be found, including the world famous mosaic bench.

To enter this area you now have to pay ( 8€ at the time of writing, with a 1€ off for buying online ). You may want to consider downloading the free mobile app audio guide for Android or Apple .

This is perhaps the most fairytale like of Gaudí’s work and it is no coincidence the architect was inspired by the tale of Hansel and Gretal. As you go down the stairs you will encounter the most iconic Gaudí image, the trencadís mosaic lizard.

You can then walk amongst the columns that hold up the platform with the bench where you were standing earlier. This was designed as a central market place for traders to enter the Park and sell to the rich residents, but as only two houses where built it never got put to use.

You can pay extra to visit Gaudí’ house, though many are underwhelmed by the information inside.

A better option is the 4D Gaudí Cinema on C/Larrard, outside of the main gates as you head downhill towards Lesseps metro. This virtual tour is just 9€ and will show you inside of all of Gaudí’s main buildings.

It’s great for big and small kids alike as you fly on a simulator through turn of the 20 th Century Barcelona!

Once you’re done with the Park, head downhill to the Travessera de Dalt ring road and turn right until you see Lesseps metro. More energetic travellers may wish to take the ring road the other way, walk to the Modernista Hospital Sant Pau by the architect Domènech i Montaner, and then down to La Sagrada Família.

If you’re taking the metro it’s line 3 again, this time in direction Zone Universitària. Go two stops to Diagonal and change for the blue line, 5. Take this in direction Vall d’Hebron, two stops and get off at Sagrada Família.

Sagrada Famíla

Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece has 3 main façades. Start with the Passion façade to the west of the church on C/Sardenya.

The idea to build a church here was not Gaudí’s but after one year the chief architect was fired and Gaudí got the job in 1883. Many at the time were concerned about the loss of faith amongst the lower classes and Gaudí’s design was intended to make the church a beacon calling the masses back to faith.

After ending his work on Casa Milà, Gaudí argued with the Milà family about his fee. At this time his last remaining family members died leaving the unmarried Gaudí alone. Seeing a corrupt world around him Gaudí decided only to work on religious projects for the remainder of his life.

In 1926 the 73 year old architect decided to move into the construction site at Sagrada Família and one day after work that same year he was heading down to a church in the old city to prey when he was hit by a tram, later dying of his injuries.

The great architect’s tomb is inside his masterpiece, so he did not finish the project, but he said it would take 200 years to complete his design, so he knew he would not himself finish it.

The sculptures of the final days of Jesus’ life on the Passion façade are by Josep María Subirachs. They should be read from bottom left to top right in an S shape, starting with the last supper on the bottom left and ending with the crucifixion at the top.

This whole side is symbolic of death with the sun setting on this façade. Walk around the church to the opposite façade to see what Gaudí finished in his own lifetime.

The darker stained stone shows us exactly what Gaudí finished during his life. This is the nativity façade and shows the traditional images from the birth of Christ.

The smaller triangular portico to the left is dedicated to Joseph and shows scenes from before the birth, the small portico to the right is dedicated to Mary and shows scenes of Jesus growing up, and the grand central triangular portico is dedicated to Jesus and shows the baby Jesus in a manger at the bottom above the doors.

To the left and right are the shepherds and kings bringing their gifts and all around angels celebrate the birth with celestial music.

The four imposing towers are replicated on the other side and will be replicated again on the bottom façade when it’s finished. These twelve towers will represent the apostles.

When the project is finished there will be an additional tower to Mary at the back, four towers to the evangelists in the middle and the largest tower representing Christ will rise from the middle to a height of 174m making this the tallest church in the world.

We are now in the final phase of building and for a fascinating insight into how they are going about it, check out the current chief architects talk .

The planned completion date in 2026, for the 100 th anniversary of Gaudí’s death, whether or not they make that, you do not have to wait to see the project completed as there is a fantastic computer simulation of the finished project.

If you pre-booked a ticket for Sagrada Família you enter on the nativity side of the church, if you did not you can queue up on the passion façade side.

If do go inside, you are not paying an entrance fee, you are giving a charitable donation to the Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Família.

Choose a Destination... I want them all PLUS general travel tips. Amsterdam Berlin Boston Charleston Chicago Dubai Lisbon London Los Angeles Miami Nashville New York City New Orleans Paris Philadelphia Prague Rome San Francisco Washington DC

About The Author

Stephen Pickhardt

North america, united kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.

Award-winning Free Walking Tours in Barcelona

A local family-run company offering walking tours since 2010.

GOTHIC QUARTER

Free walking tour.

Explore the enchanting medieval part of Barcelona while learning about the history, legends and traditions of the city. Enter its narrow streets and charming squares on this Free walking Tour of the Gothic Quarter .

If there is one name associated to Barcelona, that is Antoni Gaudí . On this Free Tour we talk about the man and his vision while admiring four of his masterpieces. Sagrada Familia is the grand finale.

Getty Images

Watch the Barcelona sunrise from Park Güell.

With its stunning architecture, delicious food, sandy beaches, rich history and proximity to scenic mountains, Barcelona offers no shortage of things to do. To help you navigate the city's plethora of attractions , rely on the assistance of an informed local to help you make the most of your visit. Using both expert opinion and traveler sentiment, U.S. News identified 18 of the top Barcelona tours. Whether on foot, by bike or aboard a boat, these tours will help enhance your Barcelona experience.

Barcelona Segway Tour

Price: Adults from 49 euros (about $54); minors from 45 euros (around $49) Duration: 2 hours

Explore Barcelona's waterfront via Segway on this two-hour tour. Along the nearly 8-mile excursion, you can expect to glide by Marina Port Vell, Parc de la Ciutadella and   La Barceloneta , the city's popular beach, among other key points of interest. Reviewers praise guides for their knowledge and attention to safety, and say riding the Segway was a fun way to see the waterfront. What's more, because the Segways are equipped with audio speakers, you won't miss any of your guide's commentary – another highlight for past participants.

Tours depart from the Arc de Triomf multiple times each day. Tickets cost approximately 49 euros (about $54) for adults and 45 euros (around $49) per minor (age 16), and include use of a Segway and a helmet, as well as bottled water and insights from a local resident. Groups are limited to six participants. The company also runs a Gaudi-themed Segway tour and a tour that visits some of the sites used for the 1992 Summer Olympics, among others.

View & Book Tickets: Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3

Photo Bike Tour Barcelona – 4 Hours Discovering Barcelona

Price: Adults from 65 euros (about $71); kids from 45 euros (about $50) Duration: 4 hours

This roughly four-hour trip on electric bicycles covers a lot of territory, from the waterfront to parks to celebrated landmarks to various neighborhoods with frequent stops for photos. Tour-takers effusively praise the guides for their enthusiasm, friendliness, knowledge and photography skills. They also say that it is an incredible way to explore the city.

Tours are generally offered daily at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets start 65 euros (about $71) for adults and 45 euros (about $50) for children ages 11 and younger. Tours conclude with a stop at a local restaurant for tapas and a drink (included in the ticket). Among the company's other offerings are private biking tours and tapas walking tours.

View & Book Tickets: Viator

Runner Bean Tours Barcelona – Gaudí Free Tour

Price: Free Duration: 2.5 hours

The Gaudí Free Tour highlights distinctive sites around the city associated with the imaginative architect Antoni Gaudí. The approximately 2 1/2-hour walking tour includes stops at Palau Güell, Casa Batlló, Casa Milà , and the fantastical, and yet-to-be-finished, Sagrada Família , among other spots. The English-speaking guides consistently win praise for their knowledge of the buildings and their histories.

Though tours are offered at no charge, donations are welcome. To guarantee your spot on the tour, the company recommends reserving a ticket on its website; bookings cost 2.50 euros (about $2.75) per person and the fee is nonrefundable. The excursion entails a couple of metro trips; tour-takers are responsible for their own fares. Tours run daily at 11 a.m. Runner Bean also offers free tours of the Gothic Quarter as well as ticketed nighttime and family-oriented outings.

View & Book Tickets: Runner Bean Tours

Free Walking Tours Barcelona – Gothic Quarter Free Tour of Barcelona

The Free Gothic Quarter Tour explores its namesake neighborhood and weaves through popular destinations in the city, including Roman ruins, the Picasso murals and Las Ramblas (Barcelona's best-known boulevard), among others. Tourgoers describe guides as personable and well-versed in local history and architecture. Reviewers also appreciated the restaurant and bar recommendations shared by guides at the end of the tour.

The approximately 2 1/2-hour tours begin at Plaça de Catalunya at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily. Compensation for the tours is donation-based, meaning you can give your guide what you feel the experience is worth at its conclusion. Among the company's other offerings are a free Gaudi-themed walking tour and a fee-based bike tour.

View & Book Tickets: Free Walking Tours Barcelona

Courtesy of David Saenz | Devour Barcelona Food Tours

Along the Barcelona Tapas, Taverns & History Tour, participants will stop at three historic tapas bars in the Gothic Quarter.

Devour Barcelona Food Tours – Barcelona Tapas, Taverns & History Tour

Price: From 109 euros (about $120) Duration: 3.5 hours

Appealing to history buffs and foodies alike, this 3.5-hour tour examines the cuisines and civilizations that continue to have an influence on Barcelona's dining scene. Along with a 50-minute history tour, the experience also includes stops at three historic tapas bars in the Gothic Quarter. Reviewers raved about the friendly, well-versed guides and said the food portions are plentiful.

Tours are generally offered Monday through Saturday several times a day. Tickets start at 109 euros (about $120) per adult. If you're looking for a family-friendly option, consider the company's Tastes & Traditions of Barcelona Food Tour, which features stops for some of Barcelona's traditional dishes like paella.

Barcelona Day Tours – Barcelona & Montserrat Tour

Price: From 109 euros (about $120) Duration: 8 hours

See both Barcelona and nearby Montserrat with this eight-hour daytrip operated by Barcelona Day Tours. Among the Barcelona highlights are several sites designed by Gaudí, including Park Güell , the National Museum of Art of Catalonia and a variety of monuments, parks and plazas. After touring the city, participants will hop on a 12-person van to Montserrat (about 35 miles north of Barcelona) to see its monastery, incredible rock formations and spectacular views. Along the way, guides offer insightful, amusing commentary on the area's history, according to reviewers. Tourgoers were also pleased with the skilled driver and appreciated the that groups are kept small (between four and 12 participants).

Tickets cost about 109 euros (about $120) and include pickup and drop-off at area hotels , the cruise port or the airport. Barcelona Day Tours also operate excursions to Girona and the Costa Brava region, among other options.

View & Book Tickets: Option 1 | Option 2

We Barcelona – 360º Barcelona: Helicopter Flight, Walking Tour & Boat Cruise

Price: Adults from 130 euros (about $143); kids from 110 euros (about $121) Duration: 3.5 hours

A combination of three tours in one, this We Barcelona excursion includes a guided walk, a helicopter ride and a short sail along the Mediterranean Sea. Travelers begin this trip with a walking tour through the Gothic and Jewish quarters before taking a six-minute helicopter ride over the city and a boat ride along its shoreline. The multilingual guides receive high marks for their knowledge and professionalism. Participants were particularly impressed with the helicopter ride.

The 3.5 to four-hour outings are offered daily at 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.; on Sundays, tours are only offered at 9:30 a.m. Tickets cost approximately 130 euros (around $145) for adults and 110 euros (about $123) for children ages 4 to 8. Sailing tours, day tours to Montserrat and cooking classes are also available to book through We Barcelona.

Fat Tire Tours – City Bike Tour

Price: Adults from 34 euros (about $37); kids from 30 euros (about $33) Duration: 4.5 hours

Spend 4 1/2-hours navigating Barcelona's streets by bike with Fat Tire Tours. During the approximately 7-mile ride, you'll stop outside several key destinations, such as Plaça Sant Jaume (the starting point), La Catedral , Palau de la Música Catalana and Parc de la Ciutadella. The morning tour makes a lunch stop, while the afternoon tour stops at a beach bar (food and drinks not included in the tour ticket). Tourgoers rave about the fun and informative guides. Reviewers also report the ride is relatively flat and safe and that the bikes are in great condition.

Tours are offered daily at 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets start at 34 euros (about $38) for adults and 30 euros (about $33) for kids ages 4 to 12. The price includes use of a bicycle and a helmet, but not lunch, snacks or drinks. Groups are limited to 16 cyclists. Fat Tire also offers private tours, tours using electric bikes and an evening bike tour, among others.

The Gothic Quarter is one of many sights you'll see on the free walking tour from Sandemans New Europe.

Sandemans New Europe – Free Tour of Barcelona

Stroll through the Gothic Quarter and El Born District with a local guide by your side on this 2.5-hour tour. Along the way, you'll admire sights like the Barcelona Cathedral, Santa Maria del Mar, Plaça Sant Jaume and more. Plus, guides share stories about Catalan legends and heroes and the city's Roman heritage.

The tour is technically free, but if you'd like to guarantee your spot, consider booking a ticket, which costs 3 euros (about $3) per person. Gratuities for your guide are optional. Reviewers describe guides as funny and intelligent, and say it's worth paying the small reservation fee to guarantee your spot on the tour (some participants said they saw a few travelers who had not made a reservation being turned away on the day of the tour due to capacity restrictions). The company also offers a free walking tour all about Gaudí, as well as private tours.

View & Book Tickets: Sandemans New Europe

Steel Donkey Bike Tours – The Legendary Steel Donkey Off the Beaten Track Bike Tour

Price: From 33 euros (around $36) Duration: 3-4 hours

Steel Donkey Bike Tours prides itself on offering participants a local's perspective of Barcelona. The rides do not stick to a preordained route; instead, they meander through backstreets to off-the-beaten-path attractions. Stops may include flea markets and cemeteries, as well as beaches and churches. Many riders appreciate the chance to visit areas of the city they might have otherwise missed. Others applaud the informative, friendly guides and recommend taking this on your first day in Barcelona to get your bearings.

Rides are offered daily at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tour prices start at 33 euros (about $36) for the three-hour afternoon tour and include the use of bikes; morning bike trips last around four hours and start at 39 euros (about $43). Tours usually include a stop for a refreshment, which is not covered by the ticket price. From December to February, tours are offered Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Groups are restricted to eight cyclists. Private tours are also available.

BrightSide Tours – Half Day Barcelona City Tour

Price: From 145 euros (about $159) Duration: 3.5 hours

You choose the sights you want to see on this customizable motorcycle tour. During the 3.5-hour ride, you and up to one other person will ride on the back of the motorcycle or in its sidecar. Because the tours are designed by participants, the trips run at a leisurely pace and include plenty of stops for photos. Each vehicle can accommodate one driver/guide and two passengers, who communicate via intercoms mounted on helmets. Tourgoers rave about the guides, praising them for the knowledge of Barcelona and attention to safety. Reviewers also say this unique tour is a great option for hard-to-please teens.

Pricing depends on the number of passengers per bike, but typically starts at about 145 euros (or $159) per person on a motorcycle with two passengers; fees are a bit higher for single riders. Excursions run at 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. each day. BrightSide also operates full-day sidecar tours and van tours for larger groups.

Montserrat makes a great daytrip from Barcelona; Castlexperience Wine Tours will not only take you there, but will also help you to experience the region's wine.

Castlexperience Wine Tours – Montserrat, Food & Wine

Price: Adults from 105 euros (about $115); kids from 95 euros (around $104) Duration: 10 hours

Explore Montserrat, a mountainous region located about 40 miles northwest of Barcelona, with this approximately 10-hour excursion from Castlexperience Wine Tours. Following a guided, hourlong tour of the monastery, you'll have a couple hours to explore the area on your own, perhaps by viewing Dalí and Picasso paintings at the local museum, taking a short hike or listening to the Escolania de Montserrat Boys' Choir (schedule permitting). Following lunch at a local restaurant, you'll enjoy a tour and a tasting at a family-run winery. This excursion is highly regarded by tourgoers as well-organized, with beautiful scenery and very competent guides.

Tickets for the full-day tour cost approximately 105 euros (around $115) for adults and around 95 euros (about $104) per child ages 4 to 12. Tours depart daily around 9 a.m. Shorter Montserrat tours are also available.

View & Book Tickets: Viator | GetYourGuide

Food Lover Tour – Barcelona Tapas Crawl Tour

Price: Adults from 69 euros (about $76); kids from 45 euros (about $50) Duration: 3 hours

A food-focused bar crawl, this small-group tour travels through two neighborhoods – Poble Sec and Sant Antoni in the Eixample district – with stops at four restaurants and bars serving tapas and drinks. Over the course of the three-hour stroll, guides provide background regarding regional cuisine and Spanish culture. Participants applaud both the unique restaurants and the storytelling skills of the informative guides. Reviewers highly recommend this tour if you want to see where the locals dine.

Tours take place at 6 p.m. daily. Tickets cost approximately 69 euros (about $76) for participants ages 2 and older and 45 euros (about $50) for infants 1 and younger, and include 10 to 12 tapas servings, the equivalent of a meal, as well as four or five drinks. Groups consist of at least four and no more than 10 people. Food Lover Tour also offers a brunch-themed tapas tour and a market tour, amongst other offerings.

Barcelona Architecture Walks – Barcelona & Gaudí

Price: From 42 euros (about $46) Duration: 3 hours

If you're looking for in-depth conversations about the history and ideas that helped give rise to the city's famous structures, the Barcelona & Gaudí Tour is for you. Along the way, you'll pass by Casa Calvet and Casa Batlló, among other Gaudí designs. Professional architects and architecture critics lead the tour and are routinely described as extraordinarily knowledgeable, insightful experts regarding history, architecture and engineering.

Tickets for the three-hour tour start 42 euros (about $46) per person and children 11 and younger tour free. Tours start every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m.; beginning in October, tours are only offered Tuesday and Friday. Groups are limited to 20 architecture enthusiasts. Barcelona Architecture Walks also offers tours themed around urbanism and Barcelona's newest architecture, among others.

Spanish Trails – Costa Brava & Medieval Girona Day Trip

Price: From 140 euros (about $154) Duration: 9.5 hours

Escape to Costa Brava – the "rugged coast" – on this day tour hosted by Spanish Trails. During the approximately 9.5-hour excursion, you'll see unrivaled views of the Mediterranean Sea, secluded beaches and fishing villages, as well as the medieval walled city of Girona. In Girona, you'll enjoy a three-course lunch in a traditional Catalan restaurant, as well as entrance to the cathedral and Museum of Jewish History. Guides regularly earn accolades for their informative and entertaining storytelling. Travelers also praise the gorgeous views in Costa Brava.

Groups range from two to eight participants. Tours depart Barcelona by van at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays and return to the city around 7 p.m. Tickets start at 140 euros (about $154) and include a three-course lunch at a restaurant in Girona. Spanish Trails also runs a hiking tour in Costa Brava and several tours in Barcelona.

View & Book Tickets: Spanish Trails

Explore Catalunya – Three Countries in One Day: France, Andorra and Spain from Barcelona

Price: From 139 euros (about $153) Duration: 12 hours

This tour from Explore Catalunya packs stops in multiple countries into a single, roughly 12-hour journey. The tour focuses on small villages, including Bagà in Spain, Ax-Les-Thermes in France and Andorra's capital, where travelers are encouraged to shop or hike. Reviewers routinely praise the stops along the tour and say it provides a relaxing contrast to the busyness of Barcelona. Additionally, guides are regularly lauded for their insights regarding the various medieval towns and mountainous peaks on view during this tour.

Tickets start at 139 euros (roughly $153). Excursions start at 7 a.m. daily. Group size is restricted to 20 participants. Explore Catalunya offers a variety of tours that depart from Barcelona, including a tour of Costa Brava and the Pyrenees Mountains.

Barcelona Local Experiences – Skip the line: Sagrada Familia and Park Güell guided tour

Price: Adults from 104 euros (about $114); kids from 69 euros (about $76) Duration: 4 hours

Visit two of Barcelona's most famous attractions – Park Güell and La Sagrada Família – on this approximately four-hour tour. You'll enjoy skip-the-line access to both sites and private transportation between the park and the church. Travelers describe the tour as well-structured and especially appreciated the organized transportation from the park to the cathedral. Reviewers were also impressed with the passionate guides. What's more, tour sizes are capped at 12 participants, ensuring an intimate experience.

The tour is generally offered daily at 10 a.m.; on select days, only private tours are available. Tickets start at 104 euros (about $114) for adults and 69 euros (about $76) for kids ages 10 and younger. If you're only interested in seeing the Sagrada Família, Barcelona Local Experiences offers a 90-minute guided tour inside the UNESCO World Heritage-listed building, among other tours.

In Out Barcelona Tours – Girona and Dali Museum Small Group Tour with Hotel Pick-up from Barcelona

Price: Adults from 119.50 euros (about $131); kids from 98.50 euros (about $108) Duration: 10 hours

If you're a Dalí fan, this tour is for you. On this 10-hour tour, you'll hop in a van headed for the medieval town of Girona. After touring Girona – which is home to the best-preserved Jewish quarter in Europe – you'll venture to Figueres, a small town near the French border and the birthplace of Salvador Dalí. You'll visit the Dalí Theatre-Museum and see some of the places the influential artist frequented as an adult. Travelers say that though this tour covers a lot of ground and subject matter, it never feels overwhelming thanks to the small group (up to eight participants) and attentive guide. Others said this a particularly good option for solo travelers.

Tickets, which include round-trip hotel transportation and museum entrance, start at 119.50 euros (about $131) for adults and 98.50 euros (about $108) for kids ages 10 and younger. Tours depart from Barcelona Tuesday through Sunday at 8:30 a.m. This tour operator runs a variety of other tours, including daytrips to Montserrat and Sitges, among other destinations.

You may also be interested in:

• The Best Things to Do in Barcelona
• The Best Hotels in Barcelona
• The Best Places to Visit in Spain
• The Best Places to Visit in Europe
• The Best Beaches in Spain

Tags: Tours , Travel , Vacations , Europe Vacations

World's Best Places To Visit

• # 1 South Island, New Zealand
• # 4 Bora Bora

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

You May Also Like

The best places to celebrate juneteenth.

Suzanne Mason June 6, 2024

The Best Salem Tours

Lyn Mettler June 6, 2024

The Best Key Largo Snorkeling Tours

Gwen Pratesi June 6, 2024

The Best London Tours

Kim Foley MacKinnon June 5, 2024

Celebrity Ascent Review

Megan duBois June 5, 2024

The Best Graceland Tours

Gwen Pratesi June 5, 2024

Top Things to Do in Orange County, CA

Brittany Chrusciel and Sharael Kolberg June 4, 2024

Fun Things to Do in Arkansas

Ben Luthi and Justine Harrington June 3, 2024

Top Things to Do in Florida

Gwen Pratesi May 31, 2024

The Best Travel Neck Pillows

Timothy J. Forster and Amanda Norcross May 30, 2024

• Tours en Barcelona

Free Tour de Gaudí y la Barcelona Modernista

Visión general del tour en Barcelona

¡Gente como usted nos ha elegido como el mejor tour de Gaudí de la ciudad! Vence al calor con nuestro tour de las 9 de la mañana. Sumérjase en el fantástico mundo de Antoni Gaudí en el corazón de Barcelona con este tour gratuito que le llevará a descubrir algunas de las joyas modernistas más increíbles del mundo. Visitaremos la famosa Casa Batlló y La Pedrera, dos de las obras más icónicas de Gaudí, descubriendo sus secretos y los rincones más sorprendentes de la ciudad, admiraremos la elegancia del modernismo que nos llevará a nuestra parada final, la Sagrada Família la obra más impresionante de Gaudí y desvelaremos sus secretos. IMPORTANTE En nuestros tours utilizamos radioguías. Es obligatorio por el ayuntamiento. El alquiler es de 1€ por persona. Por favor, recuerde que la propina sugerida al final de un tour como este es de 15-30€ por persona, dependiendo de su satisfacción.

• Plaça de Catalunya
• Passeig de Gràcia Avenue
• La Sagrada Familia
• Eixample Teatre
• Casa Batlló
• Sagrada Família
• Casa Amatller
• Casa Lleó i Morera
• Passeig de Gràcia
• Plaza Cataluña

Nuestros guías

Punto de encuentro

FNAC de plaza Cataluña (calle Bergara esquina plaza Cataluña)

A la llegada

Nos encontrarás justo fuera de la tienda FNAC, en la esquina de la calle Bergara con Plaza Cataluña, con un paraguas PINK. Estación de metro Catalunya, líneas 1 (roja) o 3 (verde)

Aspectos importantes

Si no puede asistir a la visita, anule la reserva. Es posible que necesite un billete de metro para ir de La Pedrera a la Sagrada Familia. °A partir del 1 de marzo de 2023, la visita se realizará con radioguías que costarán 1 euro por persona. Los niños DEBEN estar incluidos en la reserva. Como hay un máximo de personas permitidas por ley en un tour si no llegas a tiempo tu plaza podría ser cedida a otra persona. Si sois un grupo de más de 6 personas, incluso en reservas diferentes, tendréis que pagar un mínimo de 12 € por persona antes de que empiece la excursión.

Cancelación Gratuita

Puedes cancelar tu reserva en cualquier momento. Te recordamos cancelar las reservas a las que no puedas asistir. Ser reportado como ausente disminuye tus puntos de nivel de cliente y los beneficios que ello conlleva.

• Unirse a Freetour
• Acceder como proveedor
• Programa de Afiliados
• Acerca de nosotros
• Seguridad y Privacidad
• Términos e información legal
• Política de cookies
• Freetour Awards
• Calificaciones y comentarios por

Take advantage of the search to browse through the World Heritage Centre information.

Share on social media

Unesco social media, works of antoni gaudí.

• Description

Seven properties built by the architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) in or near Barcelona testify to Gaudí’s exceptional creative contribution to the development of architecture and building technology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These monuments represent an eclectic, as well as a very personal, style which was given free reign in the design of gardens, sculpture and all decorative arts, as well as architecture. The seven buildings are: Parque Güell; Palacio Güell; Casa Mila; Casa Vicens; Gaudí’s work on the Nativity façade and Crypt of La Sagrada Familia; Casa Batlló; Crypt in Colonia Güell.

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Œuvres d’Antoni Gaudí

Sept biens construits par l’architecte Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926), à Barcelone ou à proximité, inscrits sur la Liste du patrimoine mondial en 1984 témoignent de la contribution créative exceptionnelle de Gaudí au développement de l’architecture et des techniques de construction à la fin du XIXe et au début du XXe siècle. Ces monuments sont l’expression d’un style à la fois éclectique et très personnel qui s’est donné libre cours non seulement dans l’architecture mais aussi dans l’art des jardins, la sculpture et toutes les formes d’arts décoratifs. Les 7 bâtiments sont : le parc Güell, le palais Güell, la Casa Mila, la Casa Vicens, le travail de Gaudí sur la façade de la Nativité et la crypte de la cathédrale de la Sagrada Familia, la Casa Batlló, la crypte de la Colònia Güell.

أعمال أنطوني غاودي

أملاك سبعة بناها المهندس أنطوني غاودي (1852-1926) في برشلونة أو على مقربة منها وهي مدرجة على قائمة التراث العالمي عام 1984 وتجسّد مساهمة غاودي المبدعة في تطوّر الهندسة وتقنيّات البناء أواخر القرن التاسع عشر ومطلع القرن العشرين. وتشكّل هذه التحف خير تعبير عن طراز انتقائي وشخصي أطلق فيه العنان لذاته ليس فقط في الهندسة وإنما أيضاً في فنّ الحدائق والنحت ومختلف أشكال الفنون التزينييّة. والمباني السبعة هي منتزه غويل، قصر غويل، كاسا ميلا، كاسا فيسنس، أعماله في مشهد الميلاد وقاعة كاتدرائية العائلة المقدسة وكاسا باتلو ومدفن كولونيا غويل.

source: UNESCO/CPE Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

安东尼•高迪的建筑作品

在巴塞罗那市区或近郊的7处安东尼·高迪的建筑作品，见证了他对19世纪末和20世纪初建筑技术的杰出创意与贡献。圭尔公园、圭尔宫、米拉大楼、文生宅圣家大教堂、巴特里奥之家和克洛尼亚古埃尔宫，这些建筑物都呈现了折衷主义风格，非常人性化，这对花园、雕塑以及所有装饰艺术和建筑的设计产生了极大影响。

Obras de Antoni Gaudí

Siete edificios construidos por el arquitecto Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) en Barcelona o sus proximidades. Inscritos en la Lista del Patrimonio Mundial en 1984 y 2005. Estas obras atestiguan la excepcional contribución de las creaciones de Gaudí a la evolución de la arquitectura y las técnicas de construcción a finales del siglo XIX y principios del XX. Son la expresión de un estilo ecléctico y sumamente personal al que su autor dio rienda suelta no sólo en la arquitectura, sino también en la jardinería, la escultura y muchas otras artes decorativas. Los siete edificios son: Parque Güell, Palacio Güell, Casa Milá, Casa Vicens, la obra de Gaudí en la fachada de la Natividad y la cripta de la Sagrada Familia, la Casa Batlló y la cripta de la Colonia Güell.

アントニ・ガウディの作品群

source: NFUAJ

Werken van Antoni Gaudí

De architect Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926) realiseerde zeven bouwwerken in of nabij Barcelona: Parque Güell, Palacio Güell, Casa Milà, Casa Vicens, de gevel en crypte van de Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló en de Crypte van de Colonia Güell. Ze getuigen van Gaudi's uitzonderlijk creatieve bijdrage aan de ontwikkeling van de architectuur en bouwtechniek in de laat 19e en vroeg 20e eeuw. De monumenten tonen een eclectische en tegelijkertijd zeer persoonlijke stijl die vrijelijk werd toegepast bij het ontwerp van tuinen, beelden, decoratieve kunsten en architectuur. Gaudí's werk getuigt van de culturele en artistieke stromingen in zijn tijd, vertegenwoordigd door het Modernisme van Catalonië.

Source: unesco.nl

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief synthesis

The Works of Antoni Gaudí is a serial property consisting of seven buildings by the architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) located in Barcelona and its surrounding areas. The property attests to the exceptional creative contribution of this architect to the development of architecture and construction technology in the 19th and early 20th centuries . The Park Güell , the Palau Güell , the Casa Milà-La Pedrera, the Casa Vicens , the Nativity Façade and the Crypt of the Sagrada Família , the Casa Batlló, and the Crypt of the Colònia Güell reflect an eclectic, very personal style to which Gaudí gave free rein in the field of architecture, as well as in the design of gardens , sculptures, and indeed all the arts.

The Works of Antoni Gaudí is an exceptional and outstanding creative contribution to the architectural heritage of modern times. His work is rooted in the particular character of the period, drawing on the one hand from traditional Catalan patriotic sources and on the other from the technical and scientific progress of modern industry. Gaudí’s work is a remarkable reflection of all these different facets of society and has a unique and singular character. In fact, his works are particularly associated with Modernisme , and in this sense, Gaudí can be regarded as the most representative and outstanding of the Modernista architects.

Gaudí’s work is an exceptional creative synthesis of several 19th-century artistic schools, such as the Arts and Crafts movement, Symbolism, Expressionism, and Rationalism, and is directly associated with the cultural apogee of Catalonia. Gaudí also presaged and influenced many forms and techniques of 20th-century Modernism.  

Criterion (i):  The work of Antoni Gaudí represents an exceptional and outstanding creative contribution to the development of architecture and building technology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Criterion (ii):  Gaudí's work exhibits an important interchange of values closely associated with the cultural and artistic currents of his time, as represented in el Modernisme of Catalonia. It anticipated and influenced many of the forms and techniques that were relevant to the development of modern construction in the 20th century.

Criterion (iv):  Gaudí's work represents a series of outstanding examples of the building typology in the architecture of the early 20th century, residential as well as public, to the development of which he made a significant and creative contribution.  

In general, all the component parts of the property enjoy a high degree of integrity and have retained a good relationship with their surroundings, whether urban or natural.

The Palau Güell, originally a family home, is now a cultural and tourist facility that retains its architectural integrity, form, and original decoration. The Park Güell is still used as a public park and green space, the purpose for which it was designed; now combining this with tourist and cultural use, while conserving the original features in their entirety. The Casa Milà-La Pedrera and the Casa Batlló, a pre-existing building remodelled by Gaudí, largely conserve their original design as apartment buildings, combining this in present day with other uses, such as offices and cultural and tourist facilities. Some monuments, such as the Casa Vicens, have retained over time both their physical appearance and their use as family homes. The Crypt of the church of the Colònia Güell is the only component to have been built as part of a larger project for the church. Subsequently, a temporary roof was erected over the Crypt. The present roof maintains the overall integrity of the Crypt as constructed by Gaudí. It also currently retains its use as the church of the Colònia Güell. In the case of the Sagrada Família, the integrity of the part built by Gaudí is intact. Furthermore, its current function as a church corresponds with the use originally intended, maintaining its religious symbolism and being a landmark for the city of Barcelona.  

Authenticity

In general, all the buildings by Antoni Gaudí that are part of the serial property possess a fair degree of authenticity. Restoration works have reflected these qualities in the conditions for interventions.

The Palau Güell has undergone a general restoration to improve its conservation and enhance its cultural use, highlighting the authenticity of its architectural and decorative features. The Park Güell has undergone a variety of minor and structural restorations to repair damage caused by its intensive public use and exposure to the elements. The Casa Milà-La Pedrera has been comprehensively restored to improve its state of conservation, highlight certain unique features such as the roof, attics, “noble” floor, etc., and to make it more suitable for cultural uses and public visits. The Casa Vicens has undergone only minor conservation and restoration work. The Casa Batlló has been restored to improve its state of conservation and enhance its use for cultural purposes.

At the Crypt of the Colònia Güell, the structure has been restored, preserving and consolidating Gaudí’s Crypt, substituting the stairs and the deteriorating temporary roof. The new roof is based on modern design criteria and does not interfere with visibility from the surrounding area. There were also structural problems, due to the fact that the columns were not receiving the load they were originally designed to take. Nonetheless, the work by Gaudí in the Crypt has been correctly restored and has not lost its originality.

In the case of the Sagrada Família, the authenticity of the part built by Gaudí – the Nativity Façade and the Crypt – has been preserved in terms of its material, form, and workmanship.

Construction work on the church is continuing at the present time. The work originally performed by Gaudí must be considered in the context of the overall project that he himself had planned, which is now close to being brought to completion in accordance with the evidence and guidelines that have been drawn up and scientifically verified.  

Protection and management requirements

Protection legislation includes Law 16/1985 of 25 June concerning Spanish Historical Heritage, Law 9/1993 of 30 September concerning Catalan Cultural Heritage, and Decree 276/2005 concerning Territorial Commissions for the Cultural Heritage. Legislation at the municipal level, including the Metropolitan General Plan, the Special Plan to protect the architectural heritage of the city of Barcelona, and the Special Plan to protect the architectural heritage of the Colònia Güell residential district, grants additional protection.

In terms of management, there are numerous authorities involved in decision making at the levels of the State, the Autonomous Community, and the municipality. Similarly, ownership is varied: Park Güell is owned by the Barcelona City Council, Palau Güell by the Barcelona Provincial Council, Casa Milà-La Pedrera by the Fundació Catalunya - La Pedrera, and Casa Vicens is private property. Casa Batlló is owned by Inmobiliaria Casa Batlló SL, Sagrada Família by the Board of the Sagrada Família, and the Crypt of the Colònia Güell by Colònia Güell Consortium. Management of the property also has to reconcile diverse uses such as public garden (Park Güell), culture and tourism, and religious and residential use.

The Territorial Commission for the Cultural Heritage of Barcelona and the Territorial Commission of the city of Barcelona are ultimately responsible for the management and administration of the inscribed property, in accordance with the legislative and regulatory framework. In addition, different component parts have specific conservation, maintenance, and master plans to address particular conditions. The management of the property will need to respond effectively to the increased pressure from the growing number of visitors and continue its work on the protection and restoration of the structural and decorative elements, with attention paid to the behaviour and decay processes of the materials used (iron, ceramics, etc.).

The property “Parque Güell, Palacio Güell and Casa Mila in Barcelona”, previously inscribed on the World Heritage List, is part of the “Works of Antoni Gaudí”.

• Crypt of the Colònia Güell
• Casa Vicens
• Palau Güell (in Spanish)
• Colònia Güell
• La Pedrera (in Spanish)
• Casa Batlló
• Taller de Escultura Luís Gueilburt - Colección Antoni Gaudí

The Nomination files produced by the States Parties are published by the World Heritage Centre at its website and/or in working documents in order to ensure transparency, access to information and to facilitate the preparations of comparative analysis by other nominating States Parties.

The sole responsibility for the content of each Nomination file lies with the State Party concerned. The publication of the Nomination file, including the maps and names, does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of the World Heritage Committee or of the Secretariat of UNESCO concerning the history or legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its boundaries.

State of Conservation (SOC)

10 Best Barcelona Shore Excursions in 2024

B arcelona is a city that is steeped in history and oozing with unique character. From the inspiring architecture (much of which is designed by the world-renowned architect Antoni Gaudí) to the nearby scenic beaches, there really is something for everyone in this beautiful Spanish city.

It’s no wonder that Barcelona is a popular stop for cruise ships, allowing cruisers the opportunity to spend a day in this glorious city.

As a travel advisor, I have many clients that sail from Barcelona. It is one of the most popular ports on European Cruise Itineraries as well as one of the most beloved Spain Cruise Ports .

In this article, I’m going to dive into my favorite Barcelona shore excursions for cruisers.

I can plan your excursions (and cruise) for you FOR FREE!

Planning a cruise or excursion can be overwhelming and stressful. Let me take care of it for you – I can book your cruise or excursions at no additional cost.

Top Barcelona Shore Excursions for Cruisers

1. la sagrada familia guided tour with skip-the-line tickets.

⭐️ Rating: 4.5/5 ⌛️Tour Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes ✅ Book it Here

La Sagrada Familia , arguably the most famous landmark in the city, is a basilica located in the heart of Barcelona. It was designed by renowned architect Antoni Gaudí and is considered one of his most important works.

Construction on La Sagrada Familia began in 1882 and continues to this day, making it one of the longest-running construction projects in the world.

Due to the monument’s popularity, queues to visit can get pretty lengthy. The good news is that if you book a guided tour of La Sagrada Familia , you will get skip-the-line tickets.

This tour, which boasts excellent online reviews, comes with fast-track entry and a knowledgeable guide, so you can learn all about the construction of this spectacular basilica.

If you are planning to see more of Gaudí’s famous works throughout the city, you can combine a tour of La Sagrada Familia with a visit to Park Güell on this guided tour.

2. Park Güell Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Tickets

⭐️ Rating: 4.5/5 ⌛️ Tour Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes ✅ Book it here

Park Güell is a public park designed by Antoni Gaudí, perched on a hill in the Gracia district of Barcelona. The tranquil park is renowned for its whimsical and colorful design, blending natural forms with elements of Art Nouveau architecture.

One of the most iconic features of the park is the ‘Dragon’ fountain, which is located at the park’s entrance and is decorated with a mosaic of colorful ceramic tiles.

Being such a popular attraction in the city, queues to the entrance can get long, so it’s advisable to book an online tour which includes the ability to skip the line.

One of the most popular tours of Park Güell is this private tour. To make your experience as relaxing as possible, your guide will pick you up from your hotel or Barcelona cruise port in a taxi which will take you directly to the park. You can then explore Park Güell at your own pace and don’t have to worry about queues.

If you’d like to explore more of the city, this tour combines a visit to Park Güell with other highlights of Barcelona: Casa Mila, Montjuic, and Port Olimpic.

3. Montserrat Tour

⭐️Rating: 5/5 ⌛️ Tour Time: 7 hours ✅ Book it Here

Montserrat is a dramatic mountain range, made-up of unique rock formations, just outside the city of Barcelona. The highest peak, Sant Jeroni, stands at an impressive 1,236 meters (4,055 feet) above sea level.

The area also houses the famous Benedictine monastery of Montserrat, which is located about 720 meters (2,360 feet) above sea level and has sweeping views of the jaw-dropping landscape.

There are a number of tours available to Montserrat including this highly-rated one which is a half-day tour and also includes wine tasting and tapas . It’s a small group tour for up to 20 people.

Alternatively, tours with private guides are also available, such as this one.

If you would like to spend more time in Montserrat then full-day tours are also available.

4. City Sightseeing Barcelona Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

⭐️ Rating: 4/5 ⌛️ Tour Time: 2 hours ✅ Book it Here

The Hop-On Hop-Off City Bus is a fantastic way to explore Barcelona’s key sights at your own pace. The bus passes through all of Barcelona’s famous attractions including the Gothic Quarter and La Sagrada Familia.

A day pass allows you to get off the bus whenever you please and then board it again when you are ready to move to the next site.

You can book your bus pass online in advance.

The bus operates between 9 am and 7 pm every day and comes roughly every 20-30 minutes.

The closest bus stop to Barcelona cruise port is Pla de Palau, around a 20-minute walk from the World Trade Center pier.

If your cruise ship is docked at Adossat Quay then you will need to take the shuttle bus to the Columbus Monument which is around a 10-minute walk from the bus stop.

5. Highlights of Barcelona Tour

⭐️ Rating: ⌛️Tour Time: ✅ Book it Here

If you want to visit all of Barcelona’s most famous monuments on a guided tour, then taking a Highlights of Barcelona tour with skip-the-line tickets may be just what you’re looking for.

The tour will take you to the city’s key attractions including Gaudí’s La Pedrera along Passeig de Gracia, Park Güell, La Sagrada Familia, a walking tour through the Gothic Quarter, and more.

A knowledgeable guide and round-trip transfer are included in the tour.

Private tours which feature similar activities and include a private transfer are also available.

6. Tapas and Wine Experience Walking Tour

⭐️Rating: 5/5 ⌛️Tour Time: 3 hours ✅ Book it Here

Hidden within the quaint streets of Barcelona’s city center are a variety of eateries that serve traditional Spanish tapas.

One of the best ways to enjoy a range of dishes and local wines is to embark on a tapas and wine-tasting tour which will visit some of the best restaurants in Barcelona.

On this tour, you will be accompanied by a knowledgeable guide who can tell you more about the authentic dishes and regional wines that you are sampling.

The excursion can be completed at either lunchtime or in the evening and it takes approximately 3 hours.

7. Barcelona Sailing Adventure

⭐️ Rating: 4.5/5 ⌛️ Tour Time: 4 hours ✅ Book it Here

Another way to admire the beautiful city of Barcelona is from the comfort of a luxury sailing yacht.

Set sail on an intimate small-group boating adventure from Port Olimpic, which journeys down the picturesque coastline to Alella Harbor.

Alella is famous for its wine production. On this excursion, you will get the opportunity to tour a local vineyard and sample the wine.

Alternatively, this sailing excursion includes stand-up paddleboarding and the opportunity to swim in the Mediterranean Sea. The tour comes with drinks including a refreshing glass of champagne.

8. Costa Brava Excursion

⭐️ Rating: 5/5 ⌛️ Tour Time: 6 hours ✅ Book it Here

Characterized by its steep cliffs, hidden coves, and sandy beaches, Costa Brava is a coastal region in northeastern Spain, located in the province of Girona. The name ‘Costa Brava’ means wild coast’, named after its rugged, rocky coastline.

The Costa Brava stretches for about 200 kilometers (124 miles) from Blanes in the south to the French border in the north and begins around an hour’s drive away from Barcelona.

One of the best ways to enjoy this beautiful stretch of coastline is via a kayaking and snorkeling tour. On this tour, you can paddle inside quaint caves and snorkel amongst a range of marine life.

9. Casa Batlló Tour with Skip-the-Line Tickets

⭐️ Rating: 5/5 ⌛️ Tour Time: 2.5 hours ✅ Book it Here

Casa Batlló is a famous architectural masterpiece located in the heart of Barcelona, designed by Antoni Gaudí.

The incredible building is located on Passeig de Gracia, one of the city’s most prestigious streets, and is known for its striking appearance and unique design.

The fascinating monument doubles up as a museum, offering visitors the chance to explore its unique design whilst at the same time learning about Gaudí’s creative process.

You can visit Casa Batlló as part of a guided tour with skip-the-line tickets.

Alternatively, you can combine your visit to Casa Batlló with other famous attractions. For example, this popular tour visits some of Gaudí’s most famous works including Park Guell and Sagrada Família.

10. Spanish Cooking Class Experience

⭐️ Rating: 5/5 ⌛️ Tour Time: 3 hours ✅ Book it Here

Immerse yourself in Spanish culture by learning how to cook one of Spain’s most iconic dishes – paella.

A cooking class is a fun, hands-on way to enjoy the local cuisine and the good news is there are a number of shore excursions that offer this experience.

In this cooking class with great reviews, you will visit a local market in order to purchase fresh, local ingredients for your masterpiece.

You will then learn how to make seafood paella, Spanish tapas, and sangria, which you can sip throughout the class.

This fun cooking class, taught by a talented Spanish chef , allows you the opportunity to make a range of different starters including Spanish omelets, Pimientos del Padron, and much more.

Barcelona Shore Excursions Guide & FAQ

What is the best way to explore barcelona.

Barcelona is a vast city with iconic sights at each corner of it. Therefore walking isn’t the best way to explore the city.

Instead, you may wish to consider the Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing bus, which arrives at regular intervals and journeys to all of the major attractions.

The bus is best for those who want to view Barcelona at their own pace.

Alternatively, visiting the highlights of Barcelona via guided tour is an equally great way to explore the city and is best for those who want included transfers and to learn from a knowledgeable guide.

Is Barcelona a Walkable City?

Whilst some attractions are relatively close together much of the popular sights in Barcelona are spaced out which makes walking between them less than ideal.

You can visit pockets of the city on foot, such as the Gothic Quarter, but if you want to see as many of Barcelona’s highlights as possible, then journeying through the city via bus or taxi is preferable.

What is the Best Month to go to Barcelona?

The good news is that Barcelona is pretty much a year-round destination.

It is most popular during the height of summer as this is when Barcelona has the best weather. This is a good time if you’d like to visit the coast and have a swim in the ocean.

However, if Barcelona’s city attractions are a must for you, you will be contending with large crowds at this time of year.

I’d therefore recommend visiting Barcelona outside of the holidays. May is a nice balance between warm weather and fewer crowds, as are September and October.

What is the Nicest Part of Barcelona?

The nicest part of Barcelona really comes down to your personal preferences and tastes.

The Gothic Quarter is perfect for those who love medieval monuments and winding narrow streets.

It is the oldest part of the city and home to several important landmarks, including the Cathedral of Barcelona, which is one of the city’s most impressive Gothic structures.

Another highlight in Barcelona is Passeig de Gràcia. Passeig de Gràcia is a popular street, famed for being lined with luxurious stores and housing two of Gaudí’s most famous works – Casa Milà and Casa Batlló.

This is considered one of the most beautiful parts of Barcelona.

Is Barcelona Cheap or Expensive?

Compared to other Spanish cities, Barcelona is expensive to visit. However, compared to other cities in Western Europe such as Paris and London, it isn’t as expensive.

You can decrease the cost of your Barcelona visit by eating at restaurants which aren’t in the most tourist parts of the city.

You can also cut costs by purchasing tours that combine multiple attractions as typically paying for single attractions is more expensive.

Shore Excursions in Barcelona Final Thoughts

Barcelona is a lively and colorful city which is teeming with exciting things to see and do. With its rich history, fantastic architecture, and incredible food scene, there really is something for everyone in Barcelona.

Due to the plethora of sights that you can enjoy in Barcelona, I’d recommend booking a shore excursion which combines some of the main attractions in order to make the most of your day in this incredible city.

Cruise Resources

These are my tried and true, favorite cruise-planning helpers:

➡️ Cruise Critic – for reviews, deck plans, and cabin choices

➡️ Parking – for saving on your long-term parking

➡️ Travel Insurance Master – Because, yes, you do need insurance

➡️ Trip Advisor –

For Reviewing Tours and Excursions

➡️ Viator – For Shore Excursions

➡️ Shore Excursions Group – More choices for small group excursions

➡️ Resort for a day Passes in Mexico, the Caribbean, and the Bahamas

➡️ Atlantis Day Pass

➡️Cruise Packing List for Caribbean , Mediterranean or Alaska

➡️ Cruise Tips

➡️Also, if you don’t want the hassle and stress of booking your own cruise, I can do it for you at no additional cost! You can read more about

These products are services I have used myself and trust. Purchasing through the links above, helps me continue my blog at no additional cost to you, and I appreciate it so much!