Park Güell
Barcelona, Spain
Parc Güell
Gaudí's hillside garden city: the mosaic dragon, the serpentine bench and views to the sea.
Checked 6 October 2026
Park Güell is the hillside estate Gaudí laid out for Eusebi Güell above Gràcia, now a public park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since 2020 the whole park inside the walls needs a named ticket for a 30-minute entry slot, sold online only at parkguell.barcelona (€18). There is no free zone and no free early-morning entry for visitors any more, and same-day tickets are often gone, so book before you climb the hill.
About Park Güell
Park Güell was meant to be a gated garden suburb for wealthy families. In 1899 the industrialist Eusebi Güell bought a rocky country estate on the hill above Gràcia and asked Antoni Gaudí to lay it out: around 60 house plots, a gatehouse, a covered market, a great square for gatherings and three kilometres of roads and viaducts that follow the slope.
Building started in 1900 and stopped in 1914. Only two houses were ever built and sold: one became Gaudí's own home from 1906 to 1925, now the Gaudí House Museum. The city completed its purchase of the estate in the 1920s and opened it as a public park. It became a Spanish monument in 1969 and part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing of Gaudí's works in 1984.
What you come for is in a compact core: the two gingerbread-like pavilions at the gate, the double Dragon Stairway with its mosaic salamander, the forest of columns in the market hall, and above it the Nature Square, a terrace edged by a long wavy bench covered in broken-tile mosaic (trencadís), with Barcelona and the sea below. Around it run Gaudí's rubble-stone viaducts and leaning porticoes, built to look as if they had grown from the hill.
The park now draws millions of visitors a year to a residential neighbourhood, and the city has tightened access step by step: a ticketed zone in 2013, the whole park regulated since July 2020, online-only sales since July 2024 and, since March 2026, a residents-only free pass. Plan it like a timed museum visit, not a stroll in a park.
What to see
Dragon Stairway and the salamander
The double staircase from the main gate, with grottoes, fountains and the multicoloured salamander (El Drac) at its centre. It is the most crowded spot in the park and sits in an inner one-way zone with its own controlled access, so expect a short wait. Pets are not allowed in this zone.
Hypostyle Room
The covered hall under the terrace, designed as the estate's market, is a grid of fluted Doric-style columns. Look up for the round mosaic ceiling medallions between them. It is also the coolest, shadiest place on a hot day.
Nature Square and the serpentine bench
The large terrace on top of the Hypostyle Room, edged by the long, wave-shaped mosaic bench, is the view over Barcelona to the sea. You may sit on the bench, but lying on it or taking your shoes off is not allowed.
Laundry Room Portico
A curving gallery of slanted stone columns under the road, named after a sculpted figure of a washerwoman on one column. It is one of the most photographed parts of the park and is inside the controlled inner zone.
Entrance pavilions and the Porter's Lodge
The two pavilions at the Carrer d'Olot gate. One houses a shop and bookshop; the other, the Porter's Lodge, holds a three-floor exhibition on the park and modernista Barcelona run by the city history museum (MUHBA). It needs the €22 combined ticket and has limited capacity.
Gaudí House Museum
The pink house with a pointed tower where Gaudí lived from 1906 to 1925, with furniture he designed for Casa Batlló, Casa Calvet and the Colònia Güell crypt. Since 2024 it is run by the city company BSM as part of the park, and it is sold only as the €24 combined ticket on the park site; the standard ticket does not include it.
Viaducts and the Three Crosses
Gaudí's stone viaducts carry the upper paths along the hill. The highest point, the Three Crosses mound at about 182 metres, has the widest view over the city. Some upper paths (between Coll del Portell, Forat del Vent and Casa Trias) are closed for drainage and lighting works expected to run about 18 months from 2026.
Park Güell tickets: which to buy and where
Buy the €18 Park Güell ticket from parkguell.barcelona for a fixed 30-minute slot. You must enter within 30 minutes of the time on your ticket or you lose it, and once you leave you cannot go back in. Tickets carry your name, cannot be cancelled or refunded, and the ticket desks stopped selling in July 2024, so buy online before you go.
The official ticket site
Park Güell (Barcelona de Serveis Municipals, BSM, for Barcelona City Council)
The official site is parkguell.barcelona, run by the city company BSM. Its BUY buttons open the booking engine at parkguellonline.cat, which is also official. The park states it has no commercial agreement with any other company to sell its tickets and will not handle problems with tickets bought elsewhere.
Park Güell Visit (general ticket)
€18; ages 7–12 and over 65 €13.50; under 7 free (still need a ticket); disabled visitors free, one companion €13.50
Official ticketsSkips the ticket line
- Includes
- Timed entry to the whole 12-hectare park, including the Dragon Stairway, Hypostyle Room, Nature Square and viaducts, staying as long as you like. You can enter up to 30 minutes after your slot time. Does not include the Gaudí House Museum.
- Best for
- Most visitors
Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Park Güell with Gaudí House Museum
€24; ages 7–12 and over 65 €19.50; under 7 free
Official ticketsSkips the ticket line
- Includes
- The general ticket plus entry to the house where Gaudí lived, with his furniture and personal items.
- Best for
- Gaudí fans who want the personal side of the architect
Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Park Güell with the Porter's Lodge
€22; ages 7–12 and over 65 €17.50; under 7 free
Official ticketsSkips the ticket line
- Includes
- The general ticket plus the gatekeeper's pavilion at the main gate and its exhibition on Güell, Gaudí and Barcelona. Capacity inside the lodge is limited.
- Best for
- Visitors who want the history of the estate and a look inside one of the gate pavilions
Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Park Güell with official guided tour
€35; ages 7–12 and over 65 €30.50
Official ticketsSkips the ticket line
- Includes
- Entry plus the park's own 50-minute guided tour in Catalan, Spanish, English or French, groups of up to 25, meeting at Carretera del Carmel 23.
- Best for
- A short, factual introduction from the park's own guides
Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Park Güell: Entry Ticket + Audio Guide
lowest fare shown €17 (not necessarily the adult price; see checkout)
ResellerSkips the ticket line
- Includes
- Timed entry plus an audio guide; checkout also offers a guided tour, a Gaudí House Museum version and a hosted entry. Free cancellation on some options.
- Best for
- Travellers who want free cancellation or to bundle with other Barcelona sights
Tiqets · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)
How to buy
- Go to parkguell.barcelona/en/buy-tickets and choose Park Güell Visit, or one of the combined tickets.
- Pick a date (up to about three months ahead) and a 30-minute slot. The availability page on the official site shows a colour-coded week ahead.
- Enter each visitor's name as it appears on their passport or ID; it cannot be changed later. Up to 7 tickets per purchase; groups of 8 or more must book through the groups section.
- Pay and keep the QR code on your phone; there is no need to print. Check your spam folder if the email does not arrive.
- Plan to reach your entrance before your slot. You can go in up to 30 minutes after the time printed; after that the ticket is void. Date or time changes are possible up to the day before, if there is space; cancellations are not refunded.
Look-alike sites
The only official sources are parkguell.barcelona and its booking engine parkguellonline.cat, both run by the city company BSM (contact address ending @bsmsa.cat). Sites that use 'Park Güell' and 'tickets' in their name, or show a general adult price above €18, are resellers or agencies. The park says it has no sales agreement with any of them and prices above €18 include fees it has not approved. Tour platforms are open about being intermediaries; look-alike 'official' sites are not.
We can never guarantee a ticket seller, tour company or deal. Prices, opening hours and what is included change, often without notice: check the details on the seller’s own page before you pay, and book through the official site where you can. How to avoid ticket scams · Disclaimer.
Guided tours of Park Güell
The park itself is easy to understand with the official free app and the map, and the core route takes about an hour. A guide adds the story of the failed housing estate and the symbolism, and only official, licensed guides may lead tours inside. The park's own tours are cheap, but platform tours are sometimes the easiest way in when individual slots have sold out.
Official guided visit
Park Güell Guided Tour
Park Güell (official)
Run by the park's guides in Catalan, Spanish, English or French; groups of up to 25. Meets at Carretera del Carmel 23. Book up to 90 days ahead; under 7s pay nothing for the tour but need a €0 ticket.
€17 plus the €18 ticket (€35 in total)
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)Official small-group visit
Plus Guided Tour
Park Güell (official)
Groups of up to 15, in English or Spanish. Covers the park and its quieter outer paths, starts with a short film at Casa Jaqués and includes a souvenir. Meets at Avinguda del Santuari de Sant Josep de la Muntanya 46. Private official tours (2–6 people, €40 per person plus ticket) were listed as not available on 6 October 2026.
€29 plus the park ticket
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)Guided group tour with entry
Barcelona: Park Guell Guided Tour with Skip The Line Entry
Golden Tour Guide (sold via GetYourGuide)Meets at Carretera del Carmel 23. English, Spanish, French, German and Italian; headsets. You can only enter with the guide, and latecomers are not let in. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Cheaper than the official ticket plus tour on the day we checked, but prices vary by date.
from €25 including entry
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)Guided group tour with entry
Barcelona: Park Güell Guided Tour with Skip-the-line Entry
Julia Travel Gray Line (sold via GetYourGuide)Check in 15 minutes early at the Gaudí Experience office, Carrer de Larrard 41, near the main gate. Five languages; headsets for groups over 5. An option adds the Gaudí Experience, a nearby 4D show. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Combined guided tour of two Gaudí sights
Barcelona: Sagrada Familia and Park Güell Tour
Julia Travel Gray Line (sold via GetYourGuide)About 1.5 hours guided in each, with free time. The transfer between the two is only in some options; otherwise you make your own way across the city. Compare with booking the official tickets for both (€18 plus €26) and spending the difference on a taxi.
We can never guarantee a ticket seller, tour company or deal. Prices, opening hours and what is included change, often without notice: check the details on the seller’s own page before you pay, and book through the official site where you can. How to avoid ticket scams · Disclaimer.
Park Güell deals and discounts
The official €18 ticket is the best buy for independent visitors, and the official guided tour adds only €17. There is no longer any free way in for visitors: free entry is for Barcelona residents only.
Children under 7 free
Under 7s go in free but still need a ticket in their name for the slot, as they count towards capacity. A booking cannot be for €0 alone, so add them to a paying adult's order. Ages 7–12 pay €13.50.
Over 65s pay €13.50
The senior rate is €13.50 instead of €18. Bring proof of age: discounts must be shown at the entrance.
Disabled visitors free, companion €13.50
Visitors with a disability enter free and one companion pays the reduced €13.50. Bring official proof. Wheelchairs can be booked in advance by email.
MUHBA or Ruta del Modernisme ticket: €14.50
Holders of a ticket from Barcelona's city history museum (MUHBA) or of the Ruta del Modernisme ticket pay €14.50. Not combinable with other offers.
Gaudí House Museum for €6 more
The combined ticket with the Gaudí House Museum costs €24, or €22 with the Porter's Lodge instead. Neither house is in the standard ticket.
Free for Barcelona residents only
Registered Barcelona residents can enter free with a same-day Passi Verd booking made with their Spanish ID number, and people in the neighbouring districts have a resident card. Since 27 March 2026 the Gaudir Més card no longer gives free entry. Visitors cannot use either scheme.
Best time to visit Park Güell
Book the first slot of the day, 9:30 (9:00 in July and August), before the tour groups build up. The hours before that, from 7:00, are reserved for residents, so there is no earlier way in for visitors.
In winter, the last slots (16:30–17:30) give low sun over the city and the sea; the park has no lighting, which is why hours follow daylight.
Weekdays are calmer than Friday to Sunday, when the buses up the hill are fullest. In summer the terrace and the paths have little shade at midday: go early, or use the Hypostyle Room and the porticoes for shade.
The park closes in strong wind or heavy rain for safety. Wet mosaic and stone paths are slippery, so check the official site on stormy days.
Tips and tricks
Gathered from travel forums, locals and the sight’s own advice, rewritten in our own words. What worked for others, not a guarantee.
Buy before you climb the hill
The ticket desks stopped selling in July 2024. The park's access regulations still mention ticket machines at the entrances, but do not count on them: the FAQ says entry without an advance ticket cannot be guaranteed. Mobile signal at the upper gates is weak, and visitors report struggling to buy on a phone at the entrance.
From Rick Steves Spain forum thread, November 2025; Park Güell official FAQ, 2026
Pick the entrance that matches your route
Coming by bus 24 or V19, use the Carretera del Carmel entrance (no stairs, toilets, the official tour meeting point). From metro L3 Lesseps, head for the escalators on Avinguda del Santuari de Sant Josep de la Muntanya. The gate on Carrer d'Olot below the Dragon Stairway serves mainly as an exit.
From Park Güell official 'How to get there' and FAQ pages, 2026
Get off at Lesseps rather than Vallcarca
The official FAQ says the Baixada de la Glòria escalators from Vallcarca metro are out of service, which makes that approach a steep climb, while the park's own how-to-get-there page still recommends them. The official pages disagree, so Lesseps, with the escalators on Avinguda del Santuari de Sant Josep de la Muntanya, is the safer choice.
From Park Güell official FAQ and How to get there page, October 2026
Download the app and map beforehand
There are no paper maps. The free official app and the map on the website show the main route and the step-free routes; download both on hotel wifi. Signposting inside is sparse, so keep track of which gate you came in by.
From Park Güell maps page; Rick Steves Spain forum thread, 2025
Expect a second queue at the core
The Dragon Stairway, Hypostyle Room, Nature Square, Laundry Room Portico and Austria Gardens sit inside an inner one-way zone with its own access control. Do it first after you enter, before the next slots fill it.
From Park Güell 'Why are the access points regulated' page, 2026
Bring water and a hat
The official advice for hot days is water, sun protection and comfortable shoes; there are drinking fountains along the route. Smoking is banned because of the fire risk.
From Park Güell access regulations and FAQ, 2026
Know the park rules
No lying on the benches, no taking shoes off, no climbing on the mosaics, no bikes. Dogs on a lead are allowed except in the inner core. Commercial photo or film shoots need permission.
From Park Güell access regulations, 2026
Do not take bus 116
Bus 116 is a small neighbourhood line for local and elderly residents and was removed from Google Maps in 2024 to stop it filling with visitors. Use the 24 or V19, which have been reinforced for the park.
From NacióDigital and Ara, April 2024
How to get to Park Güell
- Bus: lines 24 (from Plaça de Catalunya and Passeig de Gràcia) and V19 (from Barceloneta via Passeig de Sant Joan) stop on Carretera del Carmel, close to the east entrance. Both are packed on weekends; drivers warn passengers that there is no entry without an advance ticket. Lines H6 and D40 stop on Travessera de Dalt, a 10-minute walk from the escalator entrance.
- Metro: L3 (green) to Lesseps, then about 20 minutes uphill to the entrance on Avinguda del Santuari de Sant Josep de la Muntanya, which has escalators. The route from Vallcarca (L3) uses the Baixada de la Glòria escalators: the park's FAQ says they are out of service, its how-to-get-there page still recommends them, so check before relying on them.
- Hop-on hop-off: the Barcelona Bus Turístic blue route and Barcelona City Tour east (green) route stop at 'Park Güell' on Avinguda de la Mare de Déu de Montserrat, about 10 minutes on foot from the Carretera del Carmel entrance.
- Taxi and car: the taxi rank is on Carretera del Carmel. Streets around the park are residents-only; drivers can use the BSM Travessera de Dalt – Park Güell car park. Coaches must book through zonabus.cat.
Scams and problems to watch for
Reseller sites posing as the official one
Search results are full of sites with 'Park Güell' in the name selling the same timed slot for more. The park says it has no agreement with any reseller and that higher prices are unapproved fees. The tell-tale sign: a domain other than parkguell.barcelona or parkguellonline.cat, or a basic adult ticket above €18.
Out-of-date 'the outer park is free' information
Older guides and some reseller pages still say you can walk the outer park for free and only pay for the Monumental Zone. That has not been true since July 2020: visitors need a ticket for the whole park. Information that mentions a free outer park or a 'Monumental Zone' ticket is out of date, so check it against the official site before you climb the hill.
Free entry 'hacks'
Websites used to explain how visitors could get free tickets through the Gaudir Més residents' scheme or come in before 9:30. The scheme no longer covers the park (March 2026), the free Passi Verd checks your entry in the Barcelona residents' register, and early hours are residents-only. Any page still explaining a free way in for visitors is out of date.
Tickets offered on the street
Tickets carry the visitor's name and may be checked against ID; reselling is banned and resold tickets are cancelled without refund. Someone at the gate with spare tickets or a 'group voucher' cannot get you in legally.
Unlicensed guides
By Catalan law only official guides licensed by the Catalan government, MUHBA guides and school teachers may lead tours inside the park. A freelance 'guide' touting at the gate is not allowed to guide you and cannot sell you entry.
Accessibility
The park is on a steep hill with uneven paths, ramps and stairs, and not all of it is accessible. The park recommends arriving at the Carretera del Carmel entrance (or Carrer Marianao) and suggests two easier routes: an architectural route of about 50 minutes past the main sights, and a 20-minute route along the viaduct to Casa Trias. The free official app marks the most accessible areas. Wheelchairs can be booked in advance by emailing parkguell@bsmsa.cat, and the official guided tours have a step-free alternative route. There are three free parking places for accredited vehicles at the coach park opposite the Carretera del Carmel entrance. Disabled visitors enter free and one companion pays €13.50.
Combine it with
Sagrada Família
On SightsaleGaudí's basilica, about 20 minutes away by taxi or by bus V19 down Passeig de Sant Joan. Book its timed ticket separately and leave at least two hours between the two slots.
Bunkers del Carmel (Turó de la Rovira)
Civil War anti-aircraft battery on the next hill, with a free 360-degree view of the city, reached by bus 24 or V19 or a steep walk. It is a residential area with its own crowding problems, so go quietly and not at night.
Gràcia
The village-like district below the park, with small squares, local bars and independent shops. Walk down from the Carrer d'Olot exit through La Salut to Plaça de la Virreina or Plaça del Sol for lunch.
Casa Vicens
Gaudí's first house, a tiled summer villa on Carrer de les Carolines in Gràcia, near Fontana and Lesseps metro. Much quieter than his later buildings and easy to add on the way down.
Questions people ask about visiting Park Güell
Is Park Güell free to visit?
No, not for visitors. Since July 2020 the whole park inside the walls needs a ticket (€18 for adults, as of October 2026). Free entry is only for registered Barcelona residents through the Passi Verd and for residents of the surrounding districts.
How do I buy Park Güell tickets?
Online at parkguell.barcelona, which sends you to its booking engine parkguellonline.cat. The ticket is for a 30-minute slot and carries your name. Since July 2024 the ticket desks no longer sell tickets, so buy before you go.
How far in advance should I book Park Güell?
Slots go on sale up to about three months ahead, and the park says availability is very limited, so book as soon as your date is fixed. Visitors report that winter weekdays are easier, while weekends, holidays and summer, and the first morning slot, go first. On 6 October 2026 the official site showed that day as sold out.
What happens if I am late for my time slot?
You can enter up to 30 minutes after the time on your ticket. After that the ticket is no longer valid and is not refunded. Changes of date or time can be requested up to the day before, subject to space.
Can I visit Park Güell early in the morning for free?
Not any more. From 7:00 to 9:30 and in the evening the park is reserved for residents and Passi Verd holders, and visitors are not admitted. The first visitor slot is 9:30 (9:00 in July and August).
How long do you need at Park Güell?
The park estimates about an hour for the main route. Allow 1.5–2 hours to include the viaducts and the Three Crosses viewpoint, plus the Gaudí House Museum if you buy the combined ticket. Once inside you can stay as long as you like, but you cannot re-enter.
Is a guided tour of Park Güell worth it?
If you want the story behind the estate and the symbols, yes: the official 50-minute tour adds only €17 to the ticket. Platform tours from about €25–35 including entry can still have space when individual slots are sold out. Otherwise the free official app and map cover the essentials.
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Before you go
The things that apply at every big sight: booking ahead, what skip-the-line really means, and the scams that follow tourists everywhere.