Discovering Park Güell

The Park Güell, named after Eusebi Güell, the entrepreneur of refined and artistic tastes who commissioned and paid for the park, is one of Barcelona's undisputed gems. Nestled in a privileged location in the foothills of the Collserola mountain range, it is a mysterious garden where nothing is as it seems; if Alice's Wonderland were ever a place on Earth, it would look very much like this architectural gem. More than a recreational area, this is a symbol of Barcelona.

Thus, the city's inhabitants rarely visit it for two reasons: its price and its usual overcrowding of tourists. Let's bear in mind that admission was free not so long ago, and the connotation of belonging to the park was much greater than it is now, which is close to being little more than a school visit.

The people who live in the city have been stripped of their most iconic places, and Park Güell is one of them. So if you want to be a respectful visitor who responsibly appreciates and admires this artistic marvel that in 1984 was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, here's a helpful guide to visiting it.

Park Güell is nowhere near the centre of Barcelona; it's uphill, so better prepare and wear comfortable shoes and a bottle of water. You can access it by metro or bus, which will take 20 and 10 minutes, respectively. Obviously, as this city has many means of transport, you can get to the park by car. Still, we advise against this option because, apart from being the least sustainable, it causes a lot of inconvenience to the neighbours of the neighbourhood where the tourist attraction is located, who are already starting to be suffocated by so many people walking the streets. We also recommend booking the tickets in advance because the park's capacity is limited.

The best way to get the most out of your experience in the park is to join one of the guided tours, which will give you knowledge, context and tools to understand all that can be found in this beautiful place. Going on your own is also possible, of course, and some people hate groups; in that case, we advise you to get a good paper guide or do some research before entering this maze of mosaics and dreamy figures. Gaudí's architecture is unique in the world and, for that reason, deserves a long walk with time and delight.

There are many places to discover in Park Güell, but as a first visit, we recommend following the marked routes that you'll find on the map you can pick up there. Don't miss the dragon's staircase, one of the city's mascots, the Hippolyta room, the Plaza de la Naturaleza, the Pórtico de la Lavandera, the Jardines de Austria en Flor, the Mirador Natural, and the Casa del Guarda.

You can also enjoy the nature surrounding you because the park is rich in biodiversity. You can lose yourself in its nooks and crannies, sit on its benches and think, imagine how Gaudí came to conceive a place that escapes from the hard lines, integrates into the environment and transports you to another planet.