It is no coincidence that Casa Batlló is one of the most visited monuments in Spain. At Randomtrip we can tell you that it was one of the visits we enjoyed the most in Barcelona of all the jewels created by Gaudí that we visited.
Strolling through the Casa Batlló is like a dive into an underwater world at ground level, in the middle of Barcelona’s Passeig de Gràcia, without the need for an oxygen tank. Of course, this modernist immersion is in high demand so we recommend that you buy your ticket as far in advance as possible.
In this guide, we tell you everything you need to know to organize your visit to Casa Batlló (types of tickets, opening hours, and discounts) and curiosities for you to enjoy and learn as much as possible in this living architectural jewel.
Being Barcelona the cradle of modernist architecture in the country and Antoni Gaudí one of the most emblematic architects, Casa Batlló is considered a masterpiece of modernism, one of the happiest and most impressive works of the architect, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005.
In addition, getting into this masterpiece is a very complete guided tour and, in our opinion, essential if you want to understand what was going on in the mind of the famous architect, how he articulated his ideas, and how, finally, he transferred them (and improvised) to reality. We would dare to say that of all the visits to Gaudí’s architectural gems that we made in the city, this was the one where we learned the most and the one that helped us the most to understand everything we would see later, so we would advise you to visit it in the first days of your trip to Barcelona.
The façade of Casa BatllóThe window of the Salon de la Planta Noble of Casa Batlló
Ticket types and discounts at Casa Batlló
There are different types of tickets to visit Casa Batlló in Barcelona, tickets for the General Visit (currently with a 2×1 promotion for residents in Spain), and special tickets (Magical Nights, A Winter Night and Be The First).
At Randomtrip we chose the GOLD General Visit ticket as it includes access to everything (including the Batlló’s private house) and fast-track entry without queues at the time we chose. Book here your ticket to Casa Batlló
Tickets for the General Visit: select General Visit, the day and time of the visit (the price varies depending on the number of visitors) and once you have chosen the day and time, you can choose between Blue, Silver, or Gold tickets:
BLUE ticket from 29€/person*(2×1 for residents in Spain): with the Blue ticket you can take the tour of the Casa Batlló with an audio guide included and access, at the end of the visit, to the Gaudí Cube, a 360º audiovisual experience created by the artist Refik Anadol, which will help us enter the mind of the architect Antoni Gaudí. Also during this summer, if your visit is from Thursday to Monday from 18:00, you will be invited to a glass of cava with your ticket.
SILVER ticket from 37€/person*(2×1 for residents in Spain): the Silver ticket includes, in addition to the audio guide, a tablet with augmented reality (in 15 languages) with which during the tour of the house takes us to the early twentieth century showing us how each space of the Casa Batlló was when the Batlló family lived there (how it was furnished, accessories, etc.). The tablet also helps us to get into Gaudí’s mind with some architectural ideas that jump from the walls to augmented reality. With the Silver ticket, you will also start the visit in the Gaudí Dôme, an immersive experience on a moving walkway that takes us to Gaudí’s childhood and his greatest source of inspiration, nature, through this rotating room with more than 1,000 screens. You will also enter the building’s Original Concierge Room, decorated in the style of the original. At the end of the tour you will enter the Gaudí Cube and, this summer, if you go from Monday to Thursday from 18:00, your glass of cava, of course.
GOLD ticket from 39€/person*(2×1 for residents in Spain): the Gold ticket is the most complete. It includes everything included in the Silver (audio guide, augmented reality tablet, Gaudí Dôme at the beginning of the tour, Original Concierge Room, Gaudí Cube at the end of the tour) but also gives access to the private home of the Batlló family. As we tell you below in the tour of the visit, the Batlló family rented other floors of the building, and their private home is something that is not shown in the Blue or Silver tour. In addition, with the Gold ticket, you will also have FastPass (fast-track entry, no queues), date change, and free cancellation. Considering that the Gold is 2€ more than the Silver, it was the ticket we chose at Randomtrip
*The price mentioned is the lowest price for each ticket category (Blue, Silver or Gold) and may increase depending on the season, the time of the visit and the capacity. There are tickets with better price (green color) and tickets with higher price (yellow color). We explain it better in the section Discounts.
MAGIC NIGHTS ticket from 59€/person(20€ discount for residents in Spain, limited capacity) between May and October: this is the most special ticket, and also the most expensive, as it allows you to access Casa Batlló after closing time, at 20:00h, to do the same tour you would do during the day (except the Gaudí Cube and the Batlló’s private house, for operational reasons) but with less people and also enjoy the sunset from the rooftop, with live concert, and your own table, of course. You will also enjoy a drink (included in the price) while enjoying the concert in your seat and at your table. The Magic Nights ticket concert starts at 21:00h and you can see the musical calendar when you select the day you would like to go (tickets start at 59€ and can go up to 99€/person depending on who performs and how many tickets are left so if you want to live this experience, book as far in advance as possible. Magic Nights ticket is only available between May and October.
A WINTER NIGHT ticket from 39€/person (2×1 for residents in Spain,limited capacity) between November and February: it is a night visit (first entry at 6:30 p.m. and last at 8:45 p.m.) very special because it tells the history of the Casa Batlló through the Batlló family with voice and projections that will make the visit something magical. To help tell this story, the augmented reality tablets have new content, the Gaudí Dôme immersive room is dressed in the Barcelona of the time and the soundtrack was composed exclusively for the experience. So now you know, if you travel to Barcelona for Christmas, don’t miss it. A Winter Night exists only between November and February.
BE THE FIRST ticket from 45€/person: Alert early risers and/or people who want to take pictures: this ticket interests you. With the Be the First ticket you can access Casa Batlló before it opens its doors to other visitors (Casa Batlló opens at 9:00h and with this ticket you can access at 08:30h or 08:45h) enjoying the house with few people (this ticket has limited capacity) and, in addition, with the morning light. You already know the importance of light for Gaudí so imagine enjoying the first rays of sunshine on the roof.
Gaudí Cube, a 360º audiovisual experience created by artist Refik Anadol, will help us understand Gaudí’s mind from his childhood. The Gaudí Cube is included in all General Admission tickets: BLUE, SILVER AND GOLD.
Children between 13 and 17 years of age, students, and people with functional diversity (free admission for accompanying person of a person with functional diversity): 6€ discount
At the end of the process, once you have chosen the day, time, and type of ticket you want (Blue, Silver, Gold, Magic Nights or Be The First), you will be able to select your discount if applicable (Resident, Student, Children under 12, Seniors over 65, etc.):
Free entrance to Casa Batlló
Unfortunately, for people over 12 years old, it is not possible to enter the Casa Batlló for free and the only thing you can see for free is its fascinating facade in Passeig de Gràcia, 43.
However, there is a trick for those who want to gossip the modernist courtyard of Casa Batlló from another perspective (this part of Casa Batlló is only accessed on the tour of the interior): access the terrace on the second floor of the huge DIY and hardware store Servei Estació. In exchange, you will have to buy some items you need for hardware, stationery, DIY, or printing. Note, this does not allow you to contemplate the jewel that is the interior of the house but, at least, you will be able to contemplate (almost) free of charge something beyond the facade.
Detail of the Modernist Courtyard of Casa Batlló
Special Events at Casa Batlló: Sant Jordi and Christmas
In addition, there are special events on special dates such as Sant Jordi, the patron saint of Catalonia which is celebrated every April 23rd, or Christmas, so if you visit the city on these dates, read on.
Casa Batlló in Sant Jordi
Every year, the 23rd of April is very special and is lived with great enthusiasm in Catalonia because the day of its patron saint Sant Jordi coincides with the World Book Day. On this day the streets are filled with roses (according to legend, Sant Jordi saved his princess by slaying the dragon whose blood sprouted a rose bush) and books (April 23 is World Book Day promoted by Unesco). In Barcelona and, more specifically, in Casa Batlló it was not going to be less. If your trip to Barcelona coincides with Sant Jordi, go to Passeig de Gràcia 43 to contemplate the beauty of the Casa Batlló dressed in roses. The facade of Casa Batlló carries many elements of the Legend of Sant Jordi as the tiles that refer us to the scales of a dragon, the catenary arches to its belly, the columns to its bones, and the lobby to its tail. On this day, the entire facade is a rose bush, as if it were an ode to love and culture on behalf of Casa Batlló.
Detail on the rooftop of Casa Batlló
Casa Batlló at Christmas
Christmas is also a special time and, for that reason, Casa Batlló dresses up for Christmas and offers a special lighting and music show on its facade to those who want to come and see it, for free, during a 7 minutes show. This happens between:
From November 17th to January 7th, every 30 minutes, from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm everyday
From February 12th to February 18th, every 30 minutes, also from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm, Fridays to Sundays
In addition, during the same dates (between November 17th and February 18th) Casa Batlló also usually organizes a very special show called “A Winter Night”. It is a night visit (first entry at 6:30 p.m. and last at 8:45 p.m.) very special because it tells the history of the Casa Batlló through the Batlló family with voice and projections that will make the visit something magical. To help tell this story, the augmented reality tablets have new content, the Gaudí Dôme immersive room is dressed in the Barcelona of the time and the soundtrack was composed exclusively for the experience. So now you know, if you travel to Barcelona for Christmas, don’t miss it. More info and purchase tickets for this winter experience here.
RandomTip: Always buy your tickets online. In addition to guaranteeing that you have a ticket (not always the case if you want to buy it there, especially in high season), you save the queue and, most importantly, you save money! If you buy your tickets at the ticket office in Casa Batlló, you will have an extra 4€ for “management”. This is valid for Casa Batlló and for most attractions in Barcelona so buy online and as far in advance as possible.
Visiting hours to Casa Batlló
Casa Batlló is open every day of the year from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, with the last access at 7:15 pm. The duration of the visit is approximately 1:15 hours.
How to get to Casa Batlló
Barcelona is a city where it is very easy to move around the center walking or by public transport and being Casa Batlló in one of its main arteries, Passeig de Gràcia, it is very easy to get to it.
Metro: The metro stop right in front of Casa Batlló is Passeig de Gràcia and you can get there via metro lines L2, L3, and L4.
Bus: If you prefer to arrive by bus, you also have several options depending on where you are coming from. The bus lines stopping at Passeig de Gràcia are H10, V15, 7, 22 and 24.
Train: If you prefer to travel by train (or the train station is the one closest to the accommodation) you should know that Passeig de Gràcia station is connected to the Rodalies service (Renfe commuter train) and is located right in front of Casa Batlló. If, on the other hand, you are traveling by FCG (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya), ideally you should exit at Provença station and walk less than 10 minutes (900 meters) to Casa Batlló.
If you buy your tickets online (something we recommend you do since if you buy them at the box office you will have to pay 4€ more per ticket), you will receive them by email and you can show them directly from your smartphone to enter. When you buy the tickets, you will have to choose date and time, and it is important that you are there at the chosen time (there is 15 minutes of tolerance), otherwise access is not guaranteed. The visit lasts about 1h15, and here are the details.
Attention, from this point the modernist immersion through the Casa Batlló narrated by Randomtrip begins so if you do not want spoilers of the interior of the House and what you will see on the tour, skip directly to the point Where to Sleep or, if you get hungry, Where to Eat near Casa Batlló where we recommend some of the places that we tried around and we that we loved
The patio of lights of Casa Batlló
Brief History of Casa Batlló
Josep Batlló i Casanovas, a businessman who owned several factories of indianas (prints on fabric that were initially imported from India, hence its name), and Amàlia Godó i Belaunzarán, from the family of the Counts of Godó (publishers of the newspaper La Vanguardia), bought a building in 1903, at No. 43 Passeig de Gràcia, to live in. At this time Passeig de Gràcia was already one of the most important avenues of the city where the wealthiest bourgeoisie wanted to build their houses and show off their projects of the most prestigious architects of the time.
Although the initial idea of the Batlló couple wasto destroy the original building, a classical style building from 1877, to build a more modern one (and thus compete in the already existing modernist “Block of Discord”), Antoni Gaudí, the fashionable architect chosen by the family in 1904 to carry out the project, convinced them not to do so. As a curiosity, the architect who designed the original building, Emilio Sala Cortés, was Gaudí’s professor in his architectural studies.
Josep Batlló i Casanovas and Amàlia Godó i Belaunzarán, photographs hung in their private home in Casa Batlló, which can only be accessed with a GOLD ticket.
The Batlló family agreed with Gaudí and gave him total freedom to express his creativity in the projects for the building. The result: a complete renovation of a classical-style building transformed into a work of art full of fantasy with two protagonists: light and color. The renovation began in 1904 and was completed in 1906, full of imagination and creativity. Casa Batlló, considered a masterpiece of modernism, evokes the beauty of nature, especially underwater.
Details of the lightwell that take us to a modernist immersion of Gaudí at the bottom of the sea.
The Batlló family lived on the main floor of Casa Batlló between 1903 and 1954 (you can access their private home with the Gold Entrance) and rented the other floors, a common practice of the bourgeoisie of the time. In 1934 Josep Batlló died and 6 years later Amàlia Godó died.
The five sons of both managed the house, being that Chamartín animation studios are installed in the Casa Batlló in 1941, until 1954 when the insurance company Iberia was installed there. In the 90s the Casa Batlló was acquired by its current owners, the Bernat family, who were responsible for restoring the facade and the courtyard in 2000, being that in 2001 it was already preparing to open to the public(in this link you can find a brief chronology). Casa Batlló is, since 2005, a Unesco World Heritage Site.
The facade of Casa Batlló needs no introduction and is probably the most recognizable element of this architectural jewel worldwide. The building does not go unnoticed by those who stroll along one of the most famous streets of Barcelona, Passeig de Gràcia.
It is curious to know that the architect Antoni Gaudí directed the work from the outside, without plans, and with a plaster model modeled by himself. We were told on the guided tour that Gaudí, creating this facade, was not only an architect, he was also a painter and sculptor creating an explosion of colors from five different materials. As we were told in the guided tour and very well summarized, the facade of Casa Batlló is a“hymn to fantasy and imagination, full of myths and legends and a whole aquatic universe“.
The Lobby of Casa Batlló
As soon as we enter the communal area on the first floor of Casa Batlló, the building’s lobby, we feel as if we are descending into the depths of the ocean because it transports us to an underwater grotto, and it is already clear what we are about to experience: a world in which architecture is reflected in nature, especially in an underwater nature.
By the way, as a curiosity, tell you that the elevator in the lobby is one of the first elevators of the time.
The lobby of the Casa Batlló
The entrance hall of Casa Batlló
In the guided tour we are told that Gaudí’s intention is to transport us to a fantastic world of Jules Verne and the truth is that when we enter the Batlló’s house, Gaudí’s intention is clear. The skylights in the hall take us to turtle shells (augmented reality tablets help us to approach this aquatic nature) and its beautiful hardwood staircase to the spine of an aquatic animal.
Here we begin to understand why light and color are the protagonists of this fantastic natural world of Casa Batlló: the color of the foyer changes with the light thanks to the high-quality lime stucco.
The Casa Batlló Office
After climbing the stairs and passing the entrance hall of the house, we entered the office with a refractory ceramic fireplace and a drawing in the stucco with 24-carat gold leaf.
The Salon of the Noble Floor of Casa Batlló
In the main hall, when you can close your mouth because it makes an impact upon entering (at least at Randomtrip it made an impact on us) you will understand why some people call it the Sistine Chapel of Modernism (it is true that the interior of the Sagrada Familia was far from competing at this time). This room actually brings together three rooms that become one, separated by doors and windows that constantly refer us to an immersion without a bottle in Gaudí’s watery world.
The oak front door adapts to the curves of the ceiling (or the other way around) and the impressive stained glass window evokes the shapes of mollusks that take us to the bottom of the sea. The walls also reflect nature, evoking “the skin of an animal that changes as we move forward as if it were a living house” as we are told in the audio guide.
From the huge window, a work of engineering whose windows open with a system of weights and counterweights that allow to turn it into a balcony, we get a privileged view of Passeig de Gràcia that invites whoever passes by on the street to sneak inside: a house in the block of Discord to see and be seen (but only if the Batlló family so wished). It was precisely in front of this window that the chapel of the House was located, behind a wooden door.
In Barcelona, there is something you can never forget to do, outside (on the street between incredible buildings) and inside: look up. And in this room it is essential: the ceiling, in a spiral, revolves around itself, as if it were a sea whirlpool, absorbing you.
The dining room was, as the name suggests, the meeting place where the Batlló family shared their family meals with their five children. The dining room lamp has a shape that emulates the effect of a drop falling into the water and the columns, although they are in a complicated place by obligation, Gaudí managed to give them a design with personality.
The Modernist Courtyard of Casa Batlló
The courtyard of the house was conceived as a garden where the Batlló family could enjoy the outdoor space. From this modernist courtyard, you can see the adjacent buildings that make up the set of the “Block of Discord” of Barcelona’s modernism.
The Block of Discord refers to the block located on Passeig de Gràcia where the Casa Lleó Morera (by Domènech i Montaner), at number 35, the Casa Amatller (by Puig i Cadafalch) at number 41, and the Casa Batlló (by Antoni Gaudí), at number 43, reflect different architectural trends in their facades. Why the “discord”? Because of the professional rivalry between these architects, Montaner, Puig i Cadafalch and Gaudí.
Facade of Casa Amatler on the left (at number 41 Passeig de Gràcia) next to Casa Batlló, on the right (at number 43 Passeig de Gràcia).
It is in the courtyard where we learned the most about a fundamental element in Gaudí’s work, not only visible in this courtyard as in the facade of Casa Batlló, the famous“trencadís”. This ornamental formula and one of his most characteristic decorative contributions was one of the architect’s favorite techniques.
The trencadís is generated from fragments of ceramic and glass waste (broken pieces from demolished buildings, for example) creating colorful ceramics, as opposed to the symmetrical mosaics, and denoting concern for reuse coupled with aesthetic value. Beauty always combined with functionality, one of Gaudí’s maxims.
This is the courtyard that you can gawk at from afar, accessing the terrace on the second floor of the DIY and hardware store Servei Estació. Remember that, in exchange, you will have to buy some hardware, stationery, DIY or printing items.
Intelligent architecture and Gaudí’s efficient innovations: The ventilation system of Casa Batlló
Did you know that Gaudí conceived an innovative ventilation and aeration system that would bring the perfect air to every corner of the house, with energy efficiency criteria?
He did this through different openings in the windows of the house, panels that mimic the gills of a fish, which are manually operated and allow the air to be regulated precisely without having to open them completely. The design of the central lightwells also had an influence, since that is where most of the air enters, so the lightwells help conserve heat in winter and ventilate in summer.
The lightwells have not only been central to the ventilation but also to the two protagonists of Casa Batlló: light and color. We tell you more about this in the next point, the Lightwells of the Casa Batlló.
The lightwells of the Casa Batlló
And we arrived at the lightwells or, as they explained to us in Casa Batlló, “the lungs of the house”, since it is the two central patios that allow the air and the light that enters through the main skylight to circulate.
Gaudí arranged two lightwells instead of one, something unusual at the time, combining, as always, art and function (something essential for the architect) so that light could enter every corner of the Casa Batlló.
When we start to climb up the patio it is as if we were swimming in an inverted sea, where the greatest depth is at the top and the surface is at the bottom. To give us this sensation, the architect used several techniques such as covering the patio with tiles whose tonality changes as we go up, more intense at the top and lighter at the bottom, to give the sensation of the depth of the sea and also to achieve a more uniform distribution of light. Another technique was the size of the patio windows: the upper windows, where the tiles are more intense blue, are smaller windows than the lower windows, where more light can enter, thus normalizing the amount of light on all floors.
Other elements used by Gaudí to make us feel in an authentic modernist dip are the windows with cathedral glass that simulate the sensation of being underwater and even the balconies with metal grating reminiscent of a fishing net.
To create all these elements, Gaudí surrounded himself with the best professionals of the time, from ceramists and blacksmiths to cabinetmakers. For example, the doors (which seem to be sculpted by the sea) do not have numbers, but letters designed by Gaudí himself, and the handles were made by the architect’s own hands.
In the central part of the courtyard, Gaudí installed the elevator, whose original wooden cabin is still in operation and is the one used when some people with functional diversity who visit the House cannot go up the stairs.
The Loft of Casa Batlló
The loft of the house was dedicated to housework with adjoining rooms for washing clothes and ironing so it was not intended for the bourgeois Batlló family, but for the working class hired to do so. We were told at Casa Batlló that precisely because of this, Gaudí wanted to prioritize white architecture, contrasting with the color of the rest of the house, to let in plenty of light and to circulate enough air in the days of those who worked here. On a personal Randomtrip note, we would like to think that the Batlló family prioritized the working conditions and wages of the working class of Casa Batlló as much as Gaudí thought about the lighting and ventilation of their workspace but, unfortunately, we know that the class dynamics between workers and bosses have not changed as much as one would expect since the beginning of the 20th century.
The catenary arch is a fundamental structure and one of the most remarkable architectural innovations of Antoni Gaudi’s work, which we can see in this part, and the succession of arches in the corridor makes the room resemble the ribs of a whale. On the sides, the walls open like the gills of a fish, allowing light and air to circulate.
If you also visit La Pedrera, in its loft you will be able to see more catenary arches, as well as a detailed textual and visual explanation of their origin and how Gaudí used them, hanging ropes from a circular base upside down, with weights, and visualizing the arches with a mirror.
Explanation of Gaudí’s catenary arch according to the Sagrada Família website: “If we hold a chain at both ends, a curve is formed. If instead of looking down we look up this would be a catenary arch. Antoni Gaudí calculated how many of his emblematic buildings should be with the catenary arch that allows them to support much more weight than the rest of the arches. To see how it would look, he hung threads from the ceiling and put sandbags as counterweights that simulated the weight of the cathedral. The threads arch into catenary-shaped curves. With a mirror underneath, he inverted the image and the catenary arches appeared as they should have been to support the weight he had assumed with the sandbags.”
The Roof Terrace of Casa Batlló
The truth is that both because of the care of the lighting and ventilation of Gaudí and the impeccable organization of the visit, we did not feel overwhelmed at any time walking through the interior of the Casa Batlló; but finally it was time to meet the roof terrace of the Casa Batlló and enjoy the outdoors and its views. Gaudí designed the roof terrace so that from it you could perfectly contemplate the city, the sea, and other works of his such as Casa Milà/La Pedrera or the Sagrada Familia itself, but the city has been growing and the views have been changing over time.
The roof terrace is an open space with 27 ceramic and glass chimneys, covered with the famous trencadís, which Gaudí decided to group rather than separate, uniting, once again, beauty and functionality. The groups of chimneys remind us of groups of knights ready to defend the House in any circumstance.
On the roof terrace, we can observe another of Gaudí’s innovations in his intelligent architecture. In this case, the skylights, with their drains, insulate the building from the accumulation of water and humidity, inspired by the industrial design of the time and very innovative for an apartment building.
But the element that stands out the most and does not go unnoticed on the roof terrace is the roof itself, or rather, the dragon’s back. Upon closer inspection, we see that Gaudí arranged the stones that cover the roof emulating the skin of a reptile, so realistic that even the tone is changing, giving it movement.
In Casa Batlló nothing is left to chance and there are several elements related to the Legend of Sant Jordi, the most important of Catalan culture, such as this roof that reminds us of a dragon. Also, the four-armed cross simulates the hilt of the sword that Sant Jordi stuck in the dragon, freeing the people of Barcelona from his fury.
Gaudí’s Catholic religiosity (in addition to his famous trencadís) is clearly evident in the cross that crowns the façade with letters referring to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
More loft and Photo Op
After contemplating the dragon’s back on the roof terrace, we went into its belly, which is really another part of the loft that we contemplated just before getting to know the roof terrace.
This loft is supported by catenary arches, one of Gaudí’s greatest innovations, minimizing costs and expanding the space (it avoids using load-bearing walls and buttresses). It transports us to the rib cage of a large animal, as if a skeleton were supporting the roof. Throughout the visit Gaudí reminds us to breathe, that we are underwater, to enjoy and contemplate the details of this natural underwater world.
But suddenly we realize that we are on a guided tour of one of the most important monuments in the country because it is here that there is the opportunity to take the typical paid photo for tourists. We don’t know any more details, we run away through the belly of the dragon and escape from that “realistic” queue.
End of the visit
As we go down a staircase all that we have climbed little by little while learning about Gaudí’s universe (it really did not seem so much during the tour), Casa Batlló invites us to reflect on what we have lived and learned. The staircase was converted into art with chain curtains by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma.
Finally, the visit ends with the Gaudí Cube, a 360º audiovisual experience created by the artist Refik Anadol, which will help us enter the mind of the architect Antoni Gaudí.
Although we have told you about this fascinating immersion in great detail through one of Gaudí’s works of art, we highly recommend that you experience it personally because, truly, the photographs and what we have told you do not do justice to this living aquatic house.
Our experience at Casa Batlló and a difficult question: Casa Batlló or Casa Milà/La Pedrera?
If you are short on time and/or budget, you probably won’t be able to visit all the Gaudí works you would like to in Barcelona so you may be wondering: Is it better to visit Casa Batlló or Casa Milà/La Pedrera?
At Randomtrip we are going to give you our opinion. If we had to choose between visiting Casa Batlló or Casa Milà/La Pedrera, we would choose Casa Batlló. Although we really liked the visit to La Pedrera and we were very excited to finally step on its famous rooftop, we found the visit to Casa Batlló much more complete and better organized. It is true that opting for the Gold entrance to Casa Batlló was a success because, in addition to the audio guide, we had an augmented reality tablet that transported us to the life of the Batlló family at the time and, at the same time, helped us to immerse ourselves in Gaudí’s universe. But even with the Blue option, the most basic, the information provided is so complete that every visitor leaves this modernist jewel with a much better understanding of Gaudí’s choices.
Casa Batlló (left) or Casa Milà/La Pedrera (right). If you have to choose, at Randomtrip we are clear about it.
In terms of logistics and organization, in Casa Batlló we did not feel the crowds of people in each room and in the corridors that we felt in La Pedrera. Perhaps it was luck, we went to one in the afternoon (Casa Batlló) and the other at lunchtime (Casa Milà/La Pedrera) precisely to avoid crowds, but it was precisely in La Pedrera where we found more concentration of people.
And on a highly subjective and personal level, architecturally speaking, Casa Batlló surprised and impressed us even more than La Pedrera, although we recognize that maybe the fact that we are sea lovers may have influenced…
So, in our opinion, if you have to choose, the entrance to Casa Batlló seems to us to be better value for money. If you don’t have to choose, don’t even hesitate, go to both. At Randomtrip that’s what we did and we have zero regrets.
By the way, we wanted to go inside Casa Vicens, Gaudí’s first house in Barcelona. We approached it when we were strolling through the neighborhood of Gràcia and only the facade alone seemed amazing, so we can’t imagine its impressive interior. It will be noted for our next trip to Barcelona.
If you want to stay near Casa Batlló, all these options are within walking distance (and there are for all budgets), in Passeig de Gràcia, or just a few steps away. Also in this neighborhood, Dreta de L’Eixample, you will have several other attractions to see so staying a couple of nights here is not a bad idea:
Safestay Barcelona Passeig de Gràcia (from 50€/night, depending on the season): if you are traveling to Barcelona on a tighter budget but want to stay a night near the famous “Block of Discord” (including Casa Batlló), this is your option. In this hostel you have from double, triple or quadruple rooms to beds in shared dorms so you can choose the one that best suits your needs. In addition, you can relax on their amazing rooftop terrace.
One Shot Aragó 257 (from 93€/night): 1 minute walk from Casa Batlló, this 3-star hotel offers several room types
Bcn Paseo De Gracia Rocamora Apartment (from 170€, depending on the size of the apartment and the season): If you are traveling to Barcelona in a group or if you are a family with kids, maybe this option fits you. Here you will find 1, 2 or 3 bedroom apartments, some with terrace, in the heart of Passeig de Gracia.
Hotel Margot House (from 245€/night): it couldn’t be closer, since from this exquisite 4-star hotel you can even contemplate the façade of Casa Batlló from your room (not all of them have this view but some do). It is located in the heart of Paseo de Gracia and is incredible, from the comfort of the rooms to the buffet breakfast.
Bcn Luxury Apartments (from 521€/night for 10 people). Probably the best option if you travel to Barcelona in a large group of 10 people is to enjoy this apartment with 5 bedrooms and, best of all, that pool on the rooftop.
If you are a large group, the Bcn Luxury Apartments cost 52€/person for 10 people. Photo from Booking
In this case, we would recommend you do what we did: cross the Passeig de Gràcia from the Dreta de l’Eixample to the neighborhood of Gràcia to find more options that fit our budget (and that fled from multinational chains). More specifically in this area, we recommend:
La Pepita ( a 13-minute walk from Casa Batlló): one of the biggest gastronomic surprises we had on our last trip to Barcelona. It was recommended by our friend Marcelo (who should be trusted for gastronomic tips) and, although the anchovy tapa with dulce de leche took the cake for originality, the truth is that it gives us the feeling that anything we had ordered from the menu would have been delicious. Of course, its fame spread quickly and if you don’t book in advance, you will probably have to wait in a long line to try it. Perhaps that is why they have opened next door, a couple of numbers further down the same street, the Mini Pepita, with the same menu but smaller.
Can Punyetes (15 minutes walk from Casa Batlló): It is not a unique place as there are actually three in Barcelona (and two in Madrid) but it is highly recommended. This is located in the neighborhood of Gràcia and is ideal for tasting Catalan cuisine dishes such as the famous calçots (if in season), butifarra and, of course, some good torrades amb tomáquet with different garnishes such as escalivada, trout or longaniza (sausage).
La Pubilla (18 minutes walk from Casa Batlló): Also a Catalan cuisine restaurant, with daily menus if you go at noon and delicious dishes.
If you can, book La Pepita before or after your visit to Casa Batlló and you will not regret it.
What are you waiting for to discover Gaudí’s masterpiece and book your modernist immersion?Book your tickets here!
Casa Batlló, one of the visits we enjoyed the most and where we learned the most in Barcelona.
All photos and contents are copyrighted by Randomtrip (except those that clearly state their source) and all rights are reserved.
Disclaimer: This travel guide contains affiliate links. When using them, Randomtrip receives a small fee. It doesn't add any cost for you and sometimes you even get a discount, and while using them you are helping and motivating us to create more free complete travel guides like this one.
Did you like our guide? Save money and support us!
If you liked our travel guide and it was helpful in planning your trip, you can support us and save money on your travel bookings using the following links:
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsAceitar
Este site usa cookies
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
