A Day in Gaudí’s Magical World - Discovering Park Güell

Hello dear travel lovers. Today I want to tell you about the walk I took in Park Güell with my friends. There are a few entrances to the park but I prefer the side entrance where buses 24 and V19 stop. That way you start from the top and walk downhill without climbing. I recommend buying your ticket a week or even two weeks in advance, depending on the season.

The entrance fee is 18 euros per person. We stop at a fork in the path where there are signs showing what's where. There’s also a map in the park where you can see your location and the main areas. You can download an app using a QR code. I tried the app but it only provided a short three-page document with basic information. So we decided to keep walking and explore the park on our own.

This area was originally planned as a luxury residential site for wealthy families. Sixty houses were supposed to be built, combining beauty and prestige. But things didn’t go as expected. Buyers weren’t interested and the project was paused. Only a few houses and public spaces were completed. In the end an unfinished development turned into one of the most famous tourist attractions in Barcelona. If the land had been sold as planned, this place would have been a private elite complex and we probably wouldn’t even be allowed in. Maybe we’d just see pictures of it in magazines.

It was hot but it started to rain, even though the weather forecast didn’t predict it. The park is beautiful and interesting. The walls are made of stone and nothing is repetitive. Everything is unique, detailed and made of small elements. It looks like special mixtures were used. These structures were built more than a century ago.

We walked up to a private house located within the park. You can't go inside since it still belongs to someone. You can clearly see the outside, but there’s no information about the interior. If you use the park map or the app, this spot is marked as number four and shows the house. But there’s no additional information available. You can still walk around comfortably even in rainy weather. Just don’t forget your umbrella. Rain might even make the park less crowded and easier to enjoy.

We approached the house and looked through the windows. The view from there is amazing. You can see the whole city from above, even the large ships in the distance. But there’s no extra information about this house. The brochure only says the name of the house. We don’t know who it was built for or which architect designed it. All we know is that it’s private property and we can’t enter. For a ticket that costs 18 euros, not having this kind of basic information feels disappointing.

Gaudí was very inspired by nature and you feel this everywhere in the park. Everything blends with nature. I believe parks like this should be free in today’s world. Eighteen euros is a high price, especially when there is no audio guide or any extra material. A small donation, like three euros, would have been enough. That money could support music events or help preserve the park. Artists like Gaudí and the millionaires who funded this project were clearly not in it for profit.

There’s also a resting area with picnic tables and a children’s playground. You can bring your own food, no one checks. All the park infrastructure is available to you, including a drinking fountain. You can fill your bottle there if you’re thirsty. Since it was raining, we couldn’t sit down and rest. We came across a memorial plaque for Jeroni de Moragas. He was an important doctor in Barcelona between 1901 and 1965, especially known for his work on children's mental health and learning problems.

Then we arrived at a place called Tres Cruces, meaning Three Crosses Hill. Gaudí had planned to build a chapel here, but only the crosses were placed. These crosses are symbols of faith and represent the place where Jesus was crucified. There was also a street musician nearby and some eye-catching green parrots. A lot of parrots live in the park.

Next we headed to the most famous houses and beautiful parts of the park: the stairs, the Caretaker’s House and the Hall of a Hundred Columns. These are the park’s main highlights. We walked path after path until we reached the best part of the park.

It felt mysterious and no one else was around. The nature was beautiful and the views were stunning. The spruce trees looked amazing. The park overall is impressive. At first glance, it may not look like there’s much to see, but you need to understand the original goal of this project. Houses were supposed to be built here. The paths we are walking on now were meant for wealthy families. If the project had been completed, everything would have turned out differently. Without this information, a tourist might think the park was only made for fancy benches and candy-like houses.

The park is full of greenery. We reached the most popular and crowded area. Not many tourists get here since it’s in the upper part of the park. Most people start at the bottom near the Caretaker’s House and don’t walk all the way up.

Here there are animal-head-shaped water spouts designed to direct rainwater away from the benches. The water is collected, filtered and then flows out of these heads. The Trencadís technique is used here, where broken tiles form patterns. Holes are made to let the water flow through so it doesn’t pool on the benches. You might feel the dampness but you don’t actually get wet.

The most famous view is here, at the far end where the crowds gather. Everyone comes here for photos. It’s always crowded no matter the weather.

I recommend starting from the upper entrance. If you enter from the lower part where the bus stops are, you don’t see much at first. As you walk downhill, the scenery and details become more interesting.

The park has many green corridors, strange-shaped paths, bridges and columns. Everything is alive and irregular. Gaudí designed everything by imitating shapes from nature. We reached the house where Gaudí once lived. It’s now a museum, but the 18 euro ticket does not include this part. Entry is separate, around 7 or 8 euros. Tickets are limited and need to be bought on the same day as your park entry.

This area was planned as a public space for the local community. Each column is different, each stone is different and there are no visible connectors. Everything is solid and artistic in Gaudí’s style. It feels like a new version of nature. These curved shapes look like a tornado made of stone.

We finally reached the Hall of a Hundred Columns. In fact, there are fewer than one hundred columns. This area was designed to be a market for local people. The ceiling above is decorated with round mosaic medallions, all unique. The strength of the columns and the beauty of the wall patterns are stunning. The reliefs and repeated shapes on the ceiling are hard to describe. This hall is always crowded but perfect for photos.

We started walking down to the main entrance. There, at the planned main gate, is the Salamander figure. Rubbing its nose is said to bring luck. It’s also a fountain but currently dry due to drought. You need to wait in line to see it. People line up for photos. This colorful salamander is one of Gaudí’s most famous symbols. You see it sold everywhere as a souvenir.

We walked down the main staircase, designed as both entrance and exit. We met the lucky Salamander and wanted to touch it for good luck. But again, there were lines of people in front of both houses nearby.

We reached the end of the park, or more accurately, the starting point. Most tourists begin from here. I recommend starting from the top and exploring the park that way.

I really enjoyed the park. It’s definitely worth visiting. You’ll have an unforgettable experience with its amazing nature, mysterious paths and Gaudí’s genius architecture. The Salamander stands at the center of the park, reminding us how beautiful and vast the world can be.

We spent about two hours in the park. If you’re planning to visit, make sure to buy your tickets in advance online. That’s all for today. Sending you all warm wishes. See you soon.