{"id":6508,"date":"2020-02-19T12:50:14","date_gmt":"2020-02-19T12:50:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tiqets-blog-staging.local\/visiting-park-guell\/"},"modified":"2025-08-29T10:00:37","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T10:00:37","slug":"visiting-park-guell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/visiting-park-guell\/","title":{"rendered":"Visiting Park G\u00fcell: History, Photobombs, and Gaud\u00ed&#8217;s Lizard","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong><em>\u2013<\/em>&nbsp;<em>This post was written by&nbsp;Oscar O&#8217;Connor<\/em>&nbsp;<em>\u2013<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What do you get when you cross Alice in Wonderland with a Barcelona park? Antoni Gaud\u00ed\u2019s psychedelic dreamland, Park G\u00fcell. Less <em>walk in the park <\/em>and more <em>trip down the rabbit hole, <\/em>visiting Park G\u00fcell has convinced many people that \u2018God\u2019s architect\u2019 divined his inspiration from the mind-expanding properties of certain exotic fungi.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether that\u2019s true or not, visiting Park G\u00fcell is enchanting, relaxing, and one of Barcelona\u2019s essential cultural experiences. Unbound by the structural limitations of one single building, Gaud\u00ed\u2019s artistic vision was set loose upon the side of Carmel Hill in all of its otherworldly glory, culminating in an urban green space that is quite unlike anything else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The park provides an open-air walking tour inside the mind of a certified creative genius, which is an awesome experience, especially when it&#8217;s framed by spectacular rooftop views over the sun-kissed city he adored and very much defined.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So if you\u2019re planning a trip to the Catalan capital, or you&#8217;re there already and squinting at this as the sun glares off your screen in the rabble of La Rambla, here\u2019s everything you need to know about visiting Park G\u00fcell, as well as some quirky Park G\u00fcell history to make the experience all the more magical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div data-tiqets-widget=\"availability\" data-layout=\"compact\" data-product-id=\"973888\" data-partner=\"tiqetsblog\" data-tq-campaign=\"visitingparkguell\"><\/div><script defer src=\"https:\/\/widgets.tiqets.com\/loader.js\"><\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"1-park-guell-history\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Park G\u00fcell History<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/park-guell2.jpg\" alt=\"The famous Park Guell in Barcelona, Spain - History\" class=\"wp-image-231992\" style=\"width:1000px;height:637px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The famous Park Guell in Barcelona, Spain. Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/vladitto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vladitto<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/famous-park-guell-barcelona-spain-107388332\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Named after its patron, Eusebi G\u00fcell, Park G\u00fcell was built between 1900 and 1914 in the quiet foothills of the Serra de Collserola mountains. It was originally intended to be an exclusive community for Barcelona\u2019s affluent citizens, sort of a Hollywood Hills-esque escape from the smoggy bustle below, with luxurious mod cons like running water and breathable air.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So G\u00fcell hired architectural psychonaut, personal friend, and pioneer of Catalan <em>Modernisme<\/em>, Antoni Gaud\u00ed to design the private residential park. Interpreting \u201cprivate residential park\u201d, to mean \u201ckaleidoscopic garden of earthly delights \u2013 go nuts!\u201d, Gaud\u00ed set to work on designing a city park inspired by nature and heaven, and the results were fittingly divine.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The project never gained very much traction though, with interest levels in the now-UNESCO World Heritage site hovering somewhere around whatever Catalan for \u201cmeh!\u201d is. Of the 60 luxury villas that were planned, only two homes were ever built. Barcelona\u2019s wealthy were apparently not ready for Gaud\u00ed \u2013 a penny for the thoughts of their grandkids now!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After consulting his trusty beard (and G\u00fcell), Gaud\u00ed decided to buy and move into one of the houses with his father in 1906, and they lived there for 20 years until the architect\u2019s unfortunate death after a tram accident in 1926. Park G\u00fcell was opened as a public park later that year, and it\u2019s left everyone who visits awestruck since. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"2-visiting-park-guell\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Visiting Park G\u00fcell<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"how-to-get-there\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to get there<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/shutterstock_552368572-1.jpg\" alt=\"Park guell colors in Barcelona, Spain. \" class=\"wp-image-231993\" style=\"width:1000px;height:637px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Park guell colors in Barcelona, Spain. Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/ismel+leal+pichs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ismel leal pichs<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/park-guell-colors-barcelona-spain-552368572\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Barcelona offers lots of transport options, so there are several ways to get to Park G\u00fcell. Taking the metro is possible, and there is a free shuttle bus to the gates of the park that departs from Alfons X metro station. The shuttle bus takes approximately 15 minutes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Regular buses will also take you within walking distance of the park, with lines 24 &#8211; 31 &#8211; 32 &#8211; H6 &#8211; 92 all operating within the vicinity. It is a steep walk up the hill though, so be prepared for some cardio if you go for this option!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By far the most convenient way to get to Park G\u00fcell is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/barcelona-c66342\/hop-on-hop-off-bus-barcelona-p974325\/\">Barcelona Hop-on Hop-off Bus<\/a>. Stopping at all the city\u2019s major attractions, this bus will take you directly to the gates of the park, and then on to wherever it is you plan on going after, while providing a breezy open-top road trip around the city along the way.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div data-tiqets-widget=\"discovery\" data-cards-layout=\"responsive\" data-content-type=\"product\" data-item_count=\"3\" data-destination-type=\"venue\" data-destination-id=\"141902\" data-partner=\"tiqetsblog\" data-tq-campaign=\"visitingparkguell\"><\/div><script defer src=\"https:\/\/widgets.tiqets.com\/loader.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"park-guell-opening-times\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Park G\u00fcell opening times<\/strong>: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The park is open all year round, but the opening and closing times vary slightly throughout the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The park is currently open from <strong>9:30 &#8211; 19:30<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"the-best-time-to-visit-park-guell\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The best time to visit Park G\u00fcell<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The best time to visit Park G\u00fcell all depends on who you are. If you&#8217;re lucky enough to live in the vicinity of the park or are a member of the Gaudir M\u00e9s program, you get free entry to the park before and after its official opening and closing times. For everyone else, the best time to visit Park G\u00fcell is early in the morning, before the heaving daytime crowds show up en masse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"getting-into-park-guell\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Getting into Park G\u00fcell: <\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/shutterstock_10778065-2.jpg\" alt=\"Gingerbread houses designed by Gaudi in Park Guell, Barcelona. \" class=\"wp-image-231994\" style=\"width:1000px;height:637px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gingerbread houses designed by Gaudi in Park Guell, Barcelona. Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/dzain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Regien Paassen<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/ginger-bread-houses-designed-by-gaudi-10778065\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>First things first: Park G\u00fcell is big \u2013 19 hectares big. It\u2019s split into two zones, the unrestricted public area \u2013 comprising about 90% of the space, which is free to enter and amble around \u2013 and the monumental zone, where the vast majority of Gaud\u00ed\u2019s fairy-tale handiwork is to be found. With so much free area to explore, some people ask if the Park G\u00fcell monumental zone is worth it? To put it mildly, the answer is yes, it is definitely worth it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At just under \u20ac13 for an adult ticket and \u20ac9 for a child&#8217;s ticket, the monumental zone is relatively cheap for a must-see Barcelona attraction. However, the ticket queues to get inside tend to stretch as far as Madrid, and Barcelona is balmy at the best of times, so planning ahead is key. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Be smart and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/barcelona-c66342\/park-guell-p973888\/\">book your Park G\u00fcell tickets in advance<\/a> to avoid slow-cooking for hours in the daytime scorch, while other smug-looking culture nerds waltz right by you, laughing with lighthearted merriment, and somehow summoning their own private air conditioning. Be that smug nerd \u2013 book ahead!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tickets are time-slotted, so it\u2019s best to arrive a few minutes early when visiting Park Guell. You have 30 minutes to enter the park from the time stated on your ticket. So, for example, if the allocated time on your ticket is 10:00, you have until 10:30 to enter the monumental zone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once inside, you\u2019re free to stay as long as you like. If you want to know even more about the park as you explore, you can choose a skip-the-line ticket with a guided tour, and let an expert narrate all that fascinating Park Guell history in real-time \u2013 complete with some juicy insider knowledge! Either way, you can expect to be spoiled for all future parks. Be warned!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Tip &#8211; This is an equal-opportunities jaw-dropper, ideal for families, couples, groups of friends, and solo wanderers, but it\u2019s not exactly stroller-friendly in some parts, and high heels are probably not a great idea either. Wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring your own water and snacks.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Update<\/strong>: To comply with local safety measures and ensure everyone can enjoy a safe experience, everyone is currently required to wear a face mask at all times when visiting Park G\u00fcell. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"3-park-guell-highlightsnbsp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. <strong>Park G\u00fcell Highlights <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"the-porters-lodgenbsp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Porter\u2019s Lodge <\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/shutterstock_2163631081-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"The Porter's Lodge Pavilion in Park G\u00fcell.\u00a0\" class=\"wp-image-231996\" style=\"width:1000px;height:auto\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Porter&#8217;s Lodge Pavilion in Park G\u00fcell.&nbsp;Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/nicolecedik\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nikola Cedikova<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/porters-lodge-pavilion-park-catalan-monument-2163631081\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The first installment of enchanting architecture you\u2019ll encounter in the <s>real eye-candy zone<\/s> monumental zone arrives in the form of two impossibly charming gate lodges. They appear to be constructed entirely out of gingerbread \u2013 complete with frosted rooftops and candy-cane spires. Classic Gaud\u00ed. The undulating curved lines are an ode to nature and a motif that features prominently throughout the park. Do not attempt to eat the houses. You will be removed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The gate lodges are admittedly more impressive from the outside, as they now function as an information centre and a gift shop. You can take a look inside, but you will have to queue up, and you didn\u2019t really come halfway up Carmel Hill to be cooped up indoors now did you? Onwards!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"the-dragon-stairway\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Dragon Stairway<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/shutterstock_734700268-1.jpg\" alt=\"View on the Dragon stairway and terrace with tourists in Guell park\" class=\"wp-image-231997\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.5698587127158556;width:1000px;height:auto\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">View on the Dragon stairway and terrace with tourists in Guell park. Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/RossHelen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">RossHelen<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/barcelona-spain-august-17-2017-view-734700268\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>It\u2019ll definitely have caught your eye on the way in, as it\u2019s kind of hard to miss: the Dragon Stairway is exactly what you\u2019d expect a stairway into wonderland to look like. Two plunging white staircases with a bombastic scaly balustrade part-like waves around small pockets of huddled shrubbery, flower beds, and trickling dragon fountains. Curiouser and curiouser!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Halfway up the steps, on the first landing, there\u2019s a small dragon fountain proudly poking out from the yellow and red emblem of Catalonia. He\u2019s pretty cute, but it\u2019s his big brother a few steps up that has grown into a symbol of Barcelona and a defining icon of Park G\u00fcell history, and hence tends to attract all the attention. He goes by the name of&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"el-drac-the-park-guell-lizard\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>El Drac \u2013 the Park G\u00fcell lizard<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/shutterstock_1019677735-1-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"Stairway with sculpture Salamanders Mosaic lizard ceramic tile, decoration in Park Guell, Barcelona, Spain.\" class=\"wp-image-232001\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Stairway with sculpture Salamanders Mosaic lizard ceramic tile, decoration in Park Guell, Barcelona, Spain. Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/witty\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">VladyslaV Travel photo<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/stairway-sculpture-salamanders-mosaic-lizard-ceramic-1019677735\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>He might sound like the heavily mustachioed leader of a scary biker gang, but <em>El Drac<\/em> is, in fact, a flamboyant lizard and the friendly guardian of Park G\u00fcell. Meaning \u2018the dragon\u2019 in Catalan, El Drac\u2019s fancy scales are fashioned out of broken shards of mosaic tiles, a style known as <em>trencad\u00eds<\/em>, which Gaud\u00ed helped to pioneer.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gaud\u00ed&#8217;s asymmetrical arrangement of different shapes, sizes, and colors of the tiles is perhaps another nod to nature\u2019s imperfect perfection, and you\u2019ll see plenty of trencad\u00eds while visiting Park G\u00fcell. What\u2019s really cool? Gaud\u00ed used discarded tiles from a local factory instead of buying new ones for his Park G\u00fcell lizard. He really did put nature first.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Arguably the most famous part of the park, El Drac singlehandedly keeps several dedicated Instagram servers overheating on a daily basis. At peak times, you might have to wait for the planets to align before you can snap a photobomb-free selfie. But every seasoned selfie-hunter knows that saintly patience and simmering misanthropy are all part of the fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"the-hypostyle-room\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Hypostyle Room<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/shutterstock_1326524294-1.jpg\" alt=\"Hypostyle Room in Park Guell in Barcelona, Spain\" class=\"wp-image-232002\" style=\"width:1000px;height:auto\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hypostyle Room in Park Guell in Barcelona, Spain. Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/Chun+Ju+Wu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mo Wu<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/hypostyle-room-park-guell-barcelona-spain-1326524294\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>After gaining an audience with the Park G\u00fcell lizard, hop to the top of the Dragon Stairway and you\u2019re in Ancient Greece. Kind of. A big fan of Classical architecture, Gaud\u00ed designed the would-be marketplace of Park G\u00fcell with a colossal open hall supported by 86 Doric Order-style columns, called it the Hypostyle Room, and presumably enacted a strict toga-only dress code.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The ceiling of the Hypostyle Room is a pristine wave of concave domes decorated with beautiful \u2013 yep, you guessed it \u2013 mosaics. Also interesting to note are the outer columns which are slanted as opposed to standing straight, contradicting the conventions of Classical form in favour of reflecting the fluidity of nature. This also helped to lend some additional support to the structure. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/EHWgy_sW-YDzJMUYMBVPCa62-j8yDzU-QkkZD8skJzCcnA5LbWBN-YVWPo8blJR3zqbd0sbC-vyRYDkwlneX-VPKCexvHFluZ2b4Sihw0FK9xtTioN70KR_L55TGgnQfqtBmwlRH\" alt=\"A view of the roof of the Hypostyle Room marketplace.\" style=\"width:1000px;height:637px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Speaking of the fluidity of nature and engineering trickery, the Doric columns were also designed as part of an ingenious water-drainage system. The system collected rainwater from the roof of the Hypostyle Room, filtered it through porous precast concrete, then channelled it down through hollows in each column and into a large reservoir. This ensured structural integrity, provided filtered water for the community, and irrigation for the park. Talk about spotting a gap in the market!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cool, but was any potential overspill from the underground cisterns designed to shoot dramatically out of the mouth of El Drac during heavy rainfall, you ask?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes. Yes it was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div data-tiqets-widget=\"discovery\" data-cards-layout=\"responsive\" data-content-type=\"product\" data-content-ids=\"977686,1027521\" data-partner=\"tiqetsblog\" data-tq-campaign=\"visitingparkguell\"><\/div><script defer src=\"https:\/\/widgets.tiqets.com\/loader.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"placa-de-la-naturanbsp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Pla\u00e7a de la Natura <\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/shutterstock_442555828-1.jpg\" alt=\"Tourists at Serpentine Bench in Park Guell in Barcelona in Spain.\" class=\"wp-image-232004\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tourists at Serpentine Bench in Park Guell in Barcelona in Spain. Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/romanbabakin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Roman Babakin<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/barcelona-spain-august-13-2010-tourists-442555828\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The Classical theme continues above the Hypostyle Room with an enormous open forum reminiscent of an Agora (central public space) of Ancient Greece. This was originally dubbed the Greek Theater but has since been renamed <em>Pla\u00e7a de la Natura<\/em>, or Nature Square. It doesn\u2019t take long to figure out what inspired the name change. Remember those sunkissed rooftop views we talked about?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On a clear day, you\u2019ve got swaying green palm groves on one side of the plaza, and on the other, a panoramic cityscape stretching languidly out to where the azure sky and the Mediterranean meet and melt into a fuzzy blue horizon line \u2013 all framed by a battle royale of fencing selfie-sticks! This is one of those moments everyone wants to capture. So wait for an opening in the crowd, then pounce!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While not striking your most windswept and \u2018grammable poses with the coast of Catalonia, you might notice that the entire area of Pla\u00e7a de la Natura is unpaved. As you are standing above the Hypostyle Room, the ground you&#8217;re walking on is designed to be porous to filter surface water, remember?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, you might not notice this at all. Instead, your eye might be drawn to the conspicuously sidewinding rainbow bench that encircles the square like an enormous snake\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"the-serpentine-bench\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Serpentine Bench<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/shutterstock_184059011.jpg\" alt=\"The Serpentine Bench Park Guell \" class=\"wp-image-232003\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ceramic mosaic Park Guell. Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/vladitto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vladitto<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/barcelona-spain-july-19-ceramic-mosaic-184059011\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>At this point in the adventure, with wanderlust levels and your ability to appreciate intricate mosaics plateauing off just a teeny bit, it\u2019s time to chill, rest your weary bones, and take a break from all those mosaics. And there\u2019s no better way to put mosaics to the back of your mind than checking out a gigantic snake bench, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wrong! Every inch of the spectacular Serpentine Bench is emblazoned with exquisite fragments of technicolor tiles, making it one of the park&#8217;s most iconic spots, and arguably Gaud\u00ed&#8217;s trencad\u00eds masterpiece \u2013 even if the Park G\u00fcell lizard is more famous. Just as awesome to look at as it is to sit down on, the Serpentine Bench is usually quite busy, but the sheer scale of it means you never have to wait too long to find a place to sit and inspect the artistic majesty.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a good idea to bring your own food and bottled water while visiting Park G\u00fcell, and the Serpentine Bench makes for the perfect rest area where you can sit with a picnic, gaze out over the city, soak up some rays, and be at peace with nature. Or, taste the sweet venom of revenge, and deliberately photobomb other people\u2019s perfect moment. Hey, they don\u2019t call it the Serpentine Bench for nothing. <em>Sssssss!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"walk-this-way-park-guells-viaducts-and-passages\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Walk this way! Park G\u00fcell\u2019s viaducts and passages <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/shutterstock_2305480685-1.jpg\" alt=\"Stairs and buildings in the Park Guell by architect Gaudi.\" class=\"wp-image-232005\" style=\"width:1000px;height:auto\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Stairs and buildings in the Park Guell by architect Gaudi. Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/bborriss\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bborriss.67<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/barcelonaspain-july-18-2018-stairs-buildings-2305480685\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The idea of a shared space was central to Park G\u00fcell\u2019s foundation. However, nestled on the side of a mountain as it was, it presented Gaud\u00ed with the unique challenge of designing the space so that it felt like a community, rather than a series of disconnected villas in the hills. Mountains, after all, are famously difficult to move.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unique challenges were Gaud\u00ed&#8217;s idea of fun though, and so he designed a winding web of walkways, bridges and viaducts to connect the higher and lower reaches of the park. He was never one to build a simple walkway where a beautiful one would do, so needless to say, these are some of the coolest parts of Park G\u00fcell. Picture gnarled, arching tree-like columns that look like they were forged by woodland elf-folk aeons ago, and you\u2019re pretty close.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The three viaducts are called Pont de Baix, Pont del Mig, and Pont de Dalt, and each one is an engineering marvel. As is the hypnotic walkway known as The Laundry Room Portico, whose slanting wavy columns are among the most photographed parts of the park. These areas also can provide some much-needed shade from the sweltering heat.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"the-austria-gardensnbsp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Austria Gardens <\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/shutterstock_1417182209-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"Picturesque garden: an alley among the gardens of the Guell Park, designed, in Barcelona, Spain.\" class=\"wp-image-232006\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Picturesque garden: an alley among the gardens of the Guell Park, designed, in Barcelona, Spain. Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/Preisler\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Preisler<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/picturesque-garden-alley-among-gardens-guell-1417182209\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Given the zany, unconventional nature of Park G\u00fcell, perhaps the strangest part of the park is ironically its most normal<em>. <\/em>The Austria Gardens sit on the site where many of the community&#8217;s houses were intended to be built. After it was opened as a public park, this land was instead used as a plant nursery, and in 1977 many trees and plants were donated by Austria, hence the name.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Being the newest chapter of Park G\u00fcell history, the foreign flora of the Austria Gardens stands in stark contrast to the rest of the park, with northern conifers and evergreens looking decidedly non-tropical in the midst of all those sun-washed palms. Although the Austria Gardens came into being long after Gaud\u00ed\u2019s passing, the master of quirky landscaping probably would\u2019ve appreciated the weirdness of its conspicuous normality!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"the-public-park-park-guell-free-area\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The public park \u2013 Park G\u00fcell free area<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/shutterstock_1146730880-1.jpg\" alt=\"Walking Path, Steps and Viewpoint in Park Guell in Barcelona, Spain\" class=\"wp-image-232007\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Walking Path, Steps and Viewpoint in Park Guell in Barcelona, Spain. Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/Rolf+E.+Staerk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rolf E. Staerk<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/walking-path-steps-viewpoint-park-guell-1146730880\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>After you\u2019ve basked in the glory of Gaud\u00ed&#8217;s sublime designs, admired the regal Park G\u00fcell lizard, and given your camera roll a decidedly mosaic-driven feel, take some time to explore some of the public areas of Park G\u00fcell. While perhaps slightly less architecturally stunning than the treasures of the monumental zone, the park&#8217;s free section still has plenty of charm, masterful landscaping, and beautiful nature to enjoy. It\u2019s also less crowded and thus makes for the perfect way to unwind after all that busy sightseeing and photobombing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div data-tiqets-widget=\"discovery\" data-currency=\"EUR\" data-language=\"en\" data-cards-layout=\"responsive\" data-partner=\"tiqetsblog\" data-product-ids=\"973888,1013859,977686\" data-tq-campaign=\"visitingparkguell\"><\/div><script defer=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/widgets.tiqets.com\/loader.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"4-what-to-add-to-your-barcelona-itinerary\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. <strong>What to Add to Your Barcelona Itinerary<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Park G\u00fcell is definitely one of Barcelona\u2019s essential cultural attractions. But there is so much more <a href=\"https:\/\/tiqets.com\/blog\/modernisme-architecture-in-barcelona\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">spellbinding architecture to see in the city<\/a>. If the park piqued your interest in the fantastical buildings of Antoni Gaud\u00ed, you absolutely cannot leave the city without seeing his pi\u00e8ce de r\u00e9sistance, the mind-blowing <a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/barcelona-c66342\/sagrada-familia-fast-track-p918256\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sagrada Familia<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/shutterstock_580081957-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. \" class=\"wp-image-232008\" style=\"width:1000px;height:auto\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/dimbar76\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dimbar76<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/barcelona-spain-september-152015-sagrada-familia-580081957\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Widely considered Gaud\u00ed\u2019s masterpiece, construction on this huge basilica began in 1882 and is scheduled to finish in 2026, one hundred years after his death. Every square foot of this towering temple is decorated with intricate spiritual and naturalistic art. It is the abiding symbol of Barcelona and with very good reason. Best. Church. Ever!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For something slightly less bombastic, but equally quirky and quintessentially Gaud\u00ed, stop by some of his imaginative city residences, like <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/barcelona-c66342\/casa-batllo-blue-p973672\/\" target=\"_blank\">Casa Batll\u00f3<\/a>, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/barcelona-c66342\/la-pedrera-essential-skip-the-line-p973460\/\" target=\"_blank\">Casa Mil\u00e0 (La Pedrera)<\/a>, or the first house he ever designed, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/barcelona-c66342\/gaudis-casa-vicens-guided-visit-p976722\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Casa Vicens<\/a>. Each one of these incredible dwellings is unique, but each also displays Gaud\u00ed&#8217;s limitless imagination and playful creativity.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/shutterstock_744185545-1.jpg\" alt=\"Spain Barcelona Casa Batllo, Antonio Gaudi\" class=\"wp-image-232009\" style=\"width:1000px;height:auto\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Spain Barcelona Casa Batllo, Antonio Gaudi. Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/g\/Dunaeva+Natalia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dunaeva Natalia<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/spain-barcelona-casa-batllo-antonio-gaudi-744185545\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div data-tiqets-widget=\"discovery\" data-currency=\"EUR\" data-language=\"en\" data-cards-layout=\"responsive\" data-partner=\"tiqetsblog\" data-product-ids=\"918256,976734,996683\" data-tq-campaign=\"visitingparkguell\"><\/div><script defer=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/widgets.tiqets.com\/loader.js\"><\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/what-to-see-in-barcelona-if-youre-not-a-gaudi-fan\/\">all Gaud\u00ed&#8217;d out<\/a> after visiting Park G\u00fcell there are plenty of other magical activities and attractions around Barcelona to keep you double-taking, from amazing art museums and galleries to world-class aquariums and zoos, cable-car rides high over the city, the home of one of the world\u2019s best football teams, tours to the jaw-dropping natural splendor<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/barcelona-c66342\/montserrat-guided-tour-from-barcelona-p977196\/\"> of Montserrat<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/barcelona-c66342\/category\/entertainment-t438\/\">flamenco shows<\/a>, and plenty of pretty districts to wander around, chill on a terrace with tapas and a cold drink. <em>Salutacions<\/em>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"make-sure-you-book-your-park-guell-tickets-in-advance-to-discover-this-playground-of-dazzling-architecture-during-your-stay-in-barcelona-and-keep-an-eye-on-the-tiqets-blog-for-more-culture-and-travel\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Make sure you<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/barcelona-c66342\/park-guell-p973888\/\"><strong> book your Park G\u00fcell tickets in advance<\/strong>,<\/a> to discover this playground of dazzling architecture during your stay in Barcelona. And keep an eye on the Tiqets blog for more culture and travel tips in Barcelona and beyond.<\/h4>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Visiting Park G\u00fcell is enchanting, relaxing, and one of Barcelona\u2019s essential cultural experiences. Here&#8217;s everything you need to know before you go.<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":32,"featured_media":6509,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[47,35],"tags":[78],"class_list":["post-6508","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-museums","category-venue-guides","tag-trending-now"],"acf":[],"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"link","format":"url"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6508","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/32"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6508"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6508\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20827,"href":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6508\/revisions\/20827"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6509"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6508"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6508"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6508"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}