Casa Vicens, located in the charming Gràcia neighborhood, is Antoni Gaudí’s very first architectural work in Barcelona. The house was designed and built for Manuel Vicens i Montaner. After a period of reconstruction and extensive renovation, Casa Vicens opened its doors to the public for the first time in November 2017. It’s a must-see, offering a unique look into Gaudí’s early period with a style that stands apart from his later works.
Table of contents
- What is Casa Vicens and why should you visit this?
- Casa Vicens in pictures
- Visit Casa Vicens
- Tickets & guided tours at Casa Vicens
- Practical information
- How to get to Casa Vicens?
- What can you see and do during your visit at Casa Vicens?
- History and architecture of Casa Vicens
- FAQs Casa Vicens
What is Casa Vicens and why should you visit this highlight?
Casa Vicens was the first work of the famous architect Antoni Gaudí. Opened to the public for the first time in 2017, it remains one of the city’s lesser-known attractions.
Casa Vicens is definitely worth a visit for those who have already been to Barcelona and seen much of Gaudí’s work, or for visitors who seek out hidden gems instead of the major tourist hotspots. Plus, you can book with a 10% discount through my site!
Personally, I think Casa Vicens is absolutely worth it. The style Gaudí used here is quite different from his later works, with unmistakable Eastern influences. A special aspect of Casa Vicens is the interaction with the staff: you’re welcome to ask them anything you’d like to know.
Casa Vicens in pictures
Visit Casa Vicens
At Casa Vicens, you won’t find long lines stretching down the street. In agreement with local residents, it was decided to limit the number of visitors allowed inside at any one time to help manage tourism’s impact on the neighborhood.
When facing the house, enter through the iron gate to the right. Once inside, you can go straight in if you’ve reserved your ticket in advance. Every twenty minutes, up to twenty people are admitted, so you’ll have plenty of space to explore, sit on a bench, and take photos at your own pace.
Tickets & guided tours Casa Vicens
Standard Ticket
Planning to visit Casa Vicens? Be sure to order your tickets in advance through our partner Tiqets. Tickets at the door cost €20,50, but through our partner you’ll receive a 10% discount, bringing the price down to €18. Children under 11 enter for free, while children aged 11 to 17, students, and seniors 65+ pay €16 (€18,50 without the discount).
Payments are easy via iDeal or Bancontact. Have your plans changed? No problem—cancellations or changes are free up to 24 hours in advance.
Tickets can also be bought at the door, though it’s not recommended, as time slots often fill up, and you may miss out. Plus, tickets at the door are €2,50 more expensive.
Guided Tour
You can also choose to visit Casa Vicens on a guided tour. The cost is €21, and the tour is led by a bilingual guide (English and Spanish). Children up to 11 years old can join for free, while those aged 11 to 17, students, and seniors 65+ can purchase a ticket for €19.
Combo Ticket: Casa Vicens + Casa Milà (La Pedrera)
Planning to visit both Casa Vicens and Casa Milà (La Pedrera)? It’s a great opportunity to compare these two important works by Gaudí. With this affordable combo ticket, you save money and can easily and securely order it here.
Combo Ticket: Casa Vicens + Casa Batlló + Casa Milà (La Pedrera)
If you want to fully experience Gaudí’s development and combine his most famous houses with his first one, this affordable combo ticket is the perfect choice. Order your discounted combo ticket here.
Practical information
| Casa Vicens | Tickets, opening hours & public transport |
|---|---|
| Tickets | Tickets €18 Book here with discount Youth aged 11 to 17, students and seniors (65+): €16 Book here with discount Kids under 11 can enter for free (make sure you book a ticket) Reserve online now |
| Address | Carrer de les Carolines 24 (Gràcia) |
| public transportation / subway | Metro: Fontana (L3) |
| Opening hours | April till October Every day: 10 am till 8 pm November till March Monday: 10 am till 5 pm Tuesday – Sunday: 10 am till 7 pm Closed on December 25th, January 6th and January 8th till 17th |
How to get to Casa Vicens
Metro
The best option is to take the L3 metro line (green line) and get off at Fontana station. Then, walk a short distance uphill along Carrer Gran de Gràcia and take the first street on the left, Carrer de les Carolines. Casa Vicens will be on your right.
Bus
You can also take the bus to Casa Vicens. Bus lines 22, 24, 27, 32, 87, 92, 114, and V17 stop along Carrer Gran de Gràcia nearby.
Cycling
Cycling from the city center is doable, but it’s uphill, so make sure you have a bike with enough gears. It’s especially easy with an electric bike.
Walking
Walking from the city center is possible, but it will take some time and involves a significant uphill walk. Be sure to allow plenty of time if you decide to walk.
What can you see and do during your visit at Casa Vicens?
Casa Vicens may not be Gaudí’s largest work, but there’s still plenty to see and experience.
Garden and Patio
From the garden, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the brightly colored exterior walls of Casa Vicens. A small café, operated by the famous patisserie Hoffman, is planned to open in the back patio area.
Interior
Once inside, you can explore the ground floor, as well as the first and second floors. On the top floor, you’ll find a model of the house and can watch an audiovisual presentation about Casa Vicens. On the lower floors, you can visit various rooms, restored to their original state.
The Roof
The rooftop terrace is also open to the public and available for visits. From the rooftop, you can get a closer look at the beautiful turrets and enjoy a view over the Gràcia neighborhood.
History and Architecture of Casa Vicens
In 1878, barely having received his diploma, Antoni Gaudí was asked by Manuel Vicens i Montaner to design a summer house in the then-village of Vila de Gràcia, just outside of Barcelona. At that time, Gaudí had no experience in residential design, and when he finally started construction five years later—due to Vicens not having the funds immediately—he still lacked that experience. However, even then, Gaudí let his imagination run wild. In 1883, the Vicens family moved into Gaudí’s first building.
Anyone familiar with Gaudí’s later masterpieces in Barcelona will notice the difference immediately: the round shapes and flowing walls so characteristic of Gaudí’s later work are absent in Casa Vicens. The signature trencadís mosaic style is also missing. It’s clear that the architect was searching for his own architectural identity and style from the very beginning. In the narrow street of otherwise ordinary houses, this flamboyant building immediately draws attention, not only because of its unusual shape but also due to its exuberant decoration and striking wrought-iron fencing in the Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) style.
The tiles, which were highly favored by Vicens i Montaner, are present throughout the building. In contrast to the traditional checkerboard patterns, Gaudí used brightly colored tiles painted with floral designs, inspired by the marigolds growing on the construction site.
For the iron gates around the house, the architect drew inspiration from the dwarf palms that grew in the garden, which you can still see today. At the back of the garden, a café will be opened by the renowned patisserie Hofmann, exclusively for visitors, where you can enjoy a delicious cake along with a drink!
In the basement, you’ll find the museum shop, offering beautiful reference books and souvenirs.
The first two floors are designed in a Spanish style, but as you go higher, you almost feel as though you’ve entered the Arab world. The most beautiful rooms, in our opinion, are the ‘smoking room,’ where the men of the house gathered to smoke, and the ‘tocador‘, the women’s room.
Colors, embellishments, mosaics: it’s unmistakably Gaudí. Our favorite rooms are the ‘smoking room,’ where the Catalan master architect was partially inspired by nature for his first house in Barcelona, as he spent much of his childhood there. Gaudí had juvenile arthritis and needed to stay active, so he often ventured out into the mountains and forests surrounding the city. The upper floors are particularly thought to have been inspired by countries like India and Japan.
When Casa Vicens was completed in 1888, the people of Barcelona were very impressed and much more enthusiastic than when Gaudí presented Casa Milà on the Passeig de Gràcia a few years later. Many found it hard to get used to the ‘Pedrera,’ which has since become one of his most famous works.
Since 2005, Casa Vicens has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
FAQs – Casa Vicens
No, you need to buy a ticket online to visit Casa Vicens. Tickets are often sold out in advance, so make sure you book them on time.
Casa Vicens is located in the Gràcia district. The nearest metro stations are Fontana and Lesseps. Both green lines (L3) stops here.
Casa Vicens spans four floors, each featuring distinct spaces with unique designs and styles. Visitors can explore areas such as the veranda, the smoking room, the bathroom, and the rooftop terrace. There are also exhibition rooms offering insights into the history and architecture of the house.
To fully appreciate Casa Vicens, you should plan to spend around 75-90 minutes exploring the house. This allows ample time to explore all the spaces and view the exhibitions.
Yes, Casa Vicens is accessible for individuals with reduced mobility. A specially designed route through the house ensures that everyone can enjoy visiting this unique building.
While Casa Vicens is accessible for those with reduced mobility, some areas and staircases are narrow, making it challenging to navigate with a stroller. Using a baby carrier is recommended for young children.
The house is certainly enjoyable for older children. Its colorful interiors and the freedom to explore make it an engaging experience. For younger children (under 6), it might be less captivating.
Children under the age of 11 can enter Casa Vicens for free but they do need a ticket.
Yes, lockers are available at the entrance, allowing visitors to securely store their personal belongings during their visit.
Yes, Casa Vicens offers guided tours in multiple languages, including Catalan, Spanish, English, and French. It is recommended to book in advance and check the availability of tours in your preferred language.
Yes, there is a café in the garden of Casa Vicens where visitors can enjoy a coffee or tea. Additionally, there is a gift shop in the basement offering a selection of design items and books about Gaudí and Modernism.
Yes, photography is allowed inside Casa Vicens for personal use. However, the use of flash or tripods is prohibited. For commercial photography, prior permission is required.
