Is the only building designed by Antoni Gaudí in the historic center (Ciutat Vella) of Barcelona. It was commissioned by wealthy entrepreneur Eusebi Güell (who also commissioned the famous Park Güell) and was one of Gaudí’s early projects. Don’t be fooled by the modest exterior: the interior and rooftop of this palace are truly spectacular.
| Palau Güell | Tickets, Opening hours & public Transport |
|---|---|
| Tickets | Tickets €12 Book online Students and 65+ €10 Book online Children 10-17 years €5,50 Book online Children under 10 years can go inside for free (just make sure to order a ticket) Book online |
| Adress | Carrer Nou de la Rambla 3-5 |
| Public transport / metro | Metro: Liceu en Drassanes (L3) Bus: V13, 59, 91, 120 Hop-on Hop-off bus |
| Opening hours | April – September: 10.00 am – 8.00 pm (Last entrance 7.00 pm) October – March: 10.00 am – 5.30 pm (Last entrance 4.30 pm) Closed on mondays |
Custom bike tours along Barcelona’s highlights and hidden spots. Starting at €31.50.
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- What is Palau Güell?
- Plan your visit to Palau Güell
- Tickets and tours Palau Güell
- Practical information
- How to get to Palau Güell?
- What to see and do during your visit to Palau Güell
- History of Palau Güell
- All of Gaudí’s houses in Barcelona
What is Palau Güell?
Located in the El Raval neighborhood, Palau Güell is a hidden gem among Antoni Gaudí’s creations. It’s unique as the only building where Gaudí oversaw every detail from start to finish, making it a true reflection of his early genius. From the outside, the mansion may appear more modest compared to his later, more flamboyant works—but step inside, and you’ll find an interior that is every bit as imaginative and stunning as his more famous masterpieces.
The rooftop is another highlight, showcasing Gaudí’s signature chimneys in whimsical, colorful designs. It offers not only a fascinating architectural experience but also some great views of the surrounding neighborhood.
Since 1984, Palau Güell has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with several of Gaudí’s other iconic buildings. It’s an absolute must-see for fans of Gaudí and modernist architecture, and offers a deeper understanding of his innovative approach to space, light, and design.
Plan your visit to Palau Güell
Visiting Palau Güell pairs perfectly with a day or half-day exploring El Raval, the Gothic Quarter, or a leisurely stroll along La Rambla, as it’s just a short walk away from these iconic areas.
Keep in mind that Palau Güell is closed on Mondays, but aside from that, you can visit at any time of day. However, it’s good to note that the interior can feel quite dark, even during daylight hours—part of Gaudí’s design to create a dramatic atmosphere. Plan to spend about one to one and a half hours exploring the palace, giving yourself enough time to appreciate the intricate details and the rooftop.
Tickets and tours Palau Güell
Order your tickets online and save time!
For a hassle-free visit to Palau Güell, we recommend booking your tickets quickly and securely online through our partner Tiqets. You’ll have the flexibility to cancel for free up until shortly before your visit, giving you peace of mind if your plans change.
Choose the Standard Entrance Ticket if you prefer to explore Palau Güell at your own pace. Once on site, you can download the Palau Güell app, which includes a free audio guide to enrich your visit. Just remember to bring your own earphones and make sure your phone is fully charged, so you can enjoy the full experience without interruptions.
Book hereGuided tour
Would you like to tour Palau Güell with a guide? Then you can join guided tours (in English, Spanish, Catalan and French) organized in the house. A tour costs as much as a regular ticket and reservations can be made via the button below. Please note that the tours are only on weekends and the English-language tour is on Saturdays at 10:30 am.
Book herePractical information
Opening hours:
From April 1 to September 30, open between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. from Tuesday to Sunday. From October 1 to March 31, open between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. from Tuesday to Sunday. The ticket office closes one hour before closing time.
Closed on Mondays, December 25 and 26 and January 1 and 6.
Prices:
Adults: €12
Students and 65+: €9
Children (10-17 years): €5,50
Children under 10 years: free
Free visits
Palau Güell is open for free on certain days, but be prepared for longer queues and more visitors inside during these times
Free entry dates:
– First sunday of every month
– February 12
– April 12
– Museumnight (may)
– September 11
– September 24
– December 15
The Barcelona Card: unlimited public transport + free entrance and dicounts at museums
How to get to Palau Güell?
Palau Güell is located in the El Raval neighborhood, just off Las Ramblas. It’s one of the few works by the great modernist architects in the historic center of the city.
Metro: Liceu (L3) is the closest metro station, or you can get off at Drassanes (L3).
Hop-on Hop-off Bus: The nearest stop is at the Columbus statue at the bottom of Las Ramblas.
Bus: Lines 14, 59, 91, and 120 stop near the entrance.
By bike: From Plaça Catalunya, it’s a 5-10 minute ride.
Walking: It’s about a 15-minute walk from Plaça Catalunya.
What to see and do during your visit to Palau Güell
Façade
The façade of Palau Güell is noticeably more understated than Gaudí’s later, more flamboyant creations. Yet, Gaudí himself considered it the best choice among 25 different design proposals he developed for the project. The building is a hallmark of Gaudí’s “Oriental” phase (1883–1888), during which he drew inspiration from Middle Eastern, Indian, Persian, Japanese, and Spanish Islamic art and architecture. These influences are reflected in the decorative ironwork, intricate stone carvings, and exotic motifs that subtly adorn the otherwise sober exterior.
The large parabolic gates at the front were designed to accommodate guests arriving in horse-drawn carriages, allowing them to enter directly into the building. Below, the basement stables housed the horses. However, during the Spanish Civil War, this same basement took on a darker role when it was converted into a prison—a somber chapter in the building’s long history.
Materials and Design
For Palau Güell, Gaudí made extensive use of ceramics, alongside traditional materials such as wood, glass, and stone. The building itself is constructed from chalk stone quarried in the Garraf region, where Gaudí owned an estate. His careful selection of materials reflects both practicality and his desire to integrate local resources into his designs.
The Interior
With a floor plan of just 18 by 22 meters, Palau Güell isn’t particularly large by palace standards. However, what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in architectural brilliance and attention to detail.
As you explore the palace, you can visit several key areas:
- The central hall,
- The basement,
- The old coach house,
- Eusebi Güell’s private workrooms,
- The family’s private living quarters, including bedrooms,
- And finally, the rooftop.
The Central Hall
The central hall is one of the most striking spaces in the palace. It served as a reception area for distinguished guests and frequently hosted private concerts. Gaudí designed a magnificent dome at the top of the hall, creating exceptional acoustics that allow the organ’s sound to echo beautifully throughout the space. Gaudí deliberately emphasized the grandeur of this hall, knowing how important it was for Eusebi Güell to entertain and impress his visitors.
Furnishings
Today, most rooms are unfurnished, as much of the original furniture remains in the possession of the Güell family. Some pieces have been acquired by the Province of Barcelona and are on display, giving visitors a glimpse into the original décor.
Private Spaces
As a visitor, you can also step into Eusebi Güell’s former bedroom, see the lodgings of his eighteen staff members, and, of course, make your way up to the rooftop. There, Gaudí’s playful creativity shines—his signature shapes and colors in the chimneys and mosaics leave no doubt that Palau Güell is an unmistakable Gaudí masterpiece.
Rooftop
From the street below, you’d never imagine that the rooftop of Palau Güell transforms into a whimsical, colorful world straight out of a fairytale. Up here, Gaudí’s creativity is on full display. You’ll find beautifully decorated towers of chimneys and the dome of the central reception hall, which, when viewed from inside, evokes the feeling of standing beneath a starry sky.
In total, there are twenty distinct chimneys, each uniquely designed. Gaudí employed his signature trencadís technique, using thousands of recycled ceramic shards to create vibrant mosaics that shimmer in the sunlight. Among these, you’ll spot a conical, pointed tower—often referred to as the “needle”—which elegantly rises above the dome, adding to the skyline’s charm.
Exhibitions
In addition to the palace’s permanent collection, which includes select pieces of original Palau Güell furniture, the museum frequently hosts temporary exhibitions. These exhibits often focus on themes related to Gaudí, Catalan modernism, and other artistic or historical topics, offering visitors something new to discover with each visit.
History of Palau Güell
Entrepreneur Eusebi Güell first encountered the work of Antoni Gaudí at the 1878 World’s Fair in Paris. Impressed by the young architect’s visionary designs, Güell sought him out upon returning to Barcelona. They met in the workshop of Eudald Puntí, a skilled carpenter whose studio Gaudí frequented throughout his career. It was here that Gaudí worked on several notable projects, including the lanterns for Plaça Reial and Palau Güell.
At the time, Eusebi Güell was living in the family home on La Rambla, which he had inherited from his father, Joan Güell, following his death in 1872. The elder Güell had made his fortune in Cuba, part of Spain’s colonial empire. Wishing to expand and modernize his residence, Eusebi commissioned Gaudí to design a new family palace on Carrer Nou de la Rambla.
In July 1886, Güell purchased the building at No. 5 Carrer Nou de la Rambla, the site for the palace’s main entrance. A year later, he acquired No. 3 Carrer de Lancaster, which would serve as the location for the rear of Palau Güell.
Eusebi and his wife, Isabel López Bru—daughter of the Marquis of Comillas—had ten children, so the new home needed to accommodate not just their large family, but also the many social and cultural events they hosted. For four years, Gaudí worked intensively on Palau Güell, overseeing every aspect of its design and construction. This was the only project he managed from start to finish. The palace opened during the 1888 World’s Fair, but was not completely finished until 1890.
To ease tensions with neighbors who may have been inconvenienced by the construction or the palace’s presence, Güell later purchased additional properties. In 1894, he bought the house at No. 9 Carrer Nou de la Rambla, located at the corner with Carrer de Lancaster. He also acquired Nos. 5 and 7 on Carrer de Lancaster, further expanding the family’s holdings.
Eusebi Güell lived in Palau Güell until 1906, when he moved to Casa Larrard in what is now Park Güell, where he remained until his death in 1918. Afterward, his wife Isabel López inherited the palace, which later passed to their daughters Maria Lluïsa and Mercè Güell i López.
During the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), Palau Güell was requisitioned and used as a police station. In 1944, an American millionaire made an offer to purchase the palace, but instead, it was eventually transferred to the Province of Barcelona, ensuring its preservation as a public heritage site.
Restoration and preservation
In 1945, Mercè Güell, the youngest daughter of Eusebi Güell and then-owner of Palau Güell, transferred ownership of the building to the Province of Barcelona. She did so under one important condition: that the palace be well maintained and dedicated to cultural, scientific, or artistic purposes.
Over the following decades, Palau Güell took on several roles. It became home to the Association of Friends of Gaudí (now located in the Casa Museu Gaudí at Park Güell), as well as the Theater Institute and the Museum of Performing Arts, among others. Despite these various uses, the building remained an important symbol of Gaudí’s architectural legacy.
Between 2005 and 2011, Palau Güell underwent an extensive restoration project, led by architect Antoni González. The ambitious restoration, which cost 9 million euros, included a comprehensive refurbishment of the roof, the façade, and many other structural and decorative elements. González’s approach was not focused on recreating how the Güell family once lived in the house, but rather on highlighting Gaudí’s architectural genius, allowing visitors to fully appreciate the innovation and artistry of his work.
Today, thanks to these efforts, Palau Güell stands as a beautifully restored UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering visitors an authentic experience of Gaudí’s early mastery.
Special Events: Nits del Palau Güell
During the summer months (July and August), Palau Güell hosts its popular Nits del Palau Güell—a series of evening rooftop concerts. These intimate performances feature a variety of musical styles, from jazz and tango to rock, all set against the magical backdrop of Gaudí’s colorful chimneys and the Barcelona skyline at dusk.
🎟️ Tickets are €35 per person and include:
- A guided tour of Palau Güell
- A glass of cava
- Snacks to enjoy during the concert
In case of rain, you’ll receive a full refund.
To book, send an email to palauguell@diba.cat.
(For reservations in Dutch: Voor reserveringen mail palauguell@diba.cat)
Where to Eat Nearby
If you’re looking for a great meal before or after your visit to Palau Güell, we highly recommend:
🍽️ My Fucking Restaurant – Creative Mediterranean cuisine with a modern twist.
🍽️ Bar Cañete – A classic choice for traditional Spanish tapas and seafood, always buzzing with energy.
Both spots are favorites of ours and just a short walk from the palace!
All of Gaudí’s houses in Barcelona
Palau Güell is not Gaudí’s only residential work in Barcelona. His other famous buildings include La Pedrera, Casa Batlló, and Casa Vicens. Of course, Gaudí is also well-known for his work on the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell.
