Park Güell and Palau Güell are two of Gaudi’s incredible creations, which are also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site under “ Works of Antoni Gaudi.”
On one hand, Park Güell offers an outdoor experience with colorful mosaics and playful designs.
And on the other hand, Palau Güell (Guell Palace) showcases Gaudí’s architectural brilliance in a magnificent mansion.
Both are beautiful and choosing between them can be a delightful dilemma.
In this article, we’ll explore the distinctive features of each attraction to help you decide which Gaudí masterpiece suits your preferences for a memorable visit to Barcelona.
Palau Guell vs Park Guell: A Brief Introduction
Park Güell is like a stunning garden on Carmel Hill, filled with colorful designs and architectural elements.
It is known for its innovative use of architectural elements, colorful mosaic works, organic shapes, and unique landscaping.
Palau Güell, also known as the Guell Palace, is a stunning mansion with several apartments and event and exhibition rooms.
It is an exemplary work of modernism and is known for its innovative architectural elements, use of materials, and intricate detailing.
Palau Guell was built between 1886 and 1888, while Park Guell was built in the 1900s. Industrial engineer Eusebi Güell commissioned both attractions.
Our Recommendation: Palau Guell or Park Guell
When choosing between Palau Güell and Park Güell, our top recommendation is Park Güell.
Park Güell is best for those seeking a wonderful and fun environment while exploring this architectural wonder.
It has open spaces, colorful mosaics, stunning viewpoints and a playful atmosphere.
The park’s focus on creativity and connection with nature also makes it a perfect option for a family trip (especially with kids).
If you have a whole day planned and want to explore Gaudi’s different creations, you can visit both attractions: the vibrant park and the aesthetic building.
Quick Comparison: Park Guell vs Palau Guell
| Park Guell | Palau Guell | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Fees: | Park Guell tickets cost €13 per person | Palau Guell tickets cost €12 per person |
| Know For: | Beautiful gardens with architectural elements, colorful mosaic works and organic shapes. | Stunning architecture with intricate mosaics, sculpted details, vibrant stained glass, and a rooftop terrace. |
| Address: | Gràcia, 08024 Barcelona, Spain | C/ Nou de la Rambla, 3-5, Ciutat Vella, 08001 Barcelona, Spain |
| Location: | It is located on Carmel Hill in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. | It is located on Carrer Nou de la Rambla, in the El Raval neighborhood of Barcelona, in Catalonia, Spain. |
| Commissioned by: | Industrial Eusebi Güell | Industrial Eusebi Güell |
| Architect: | Antoni Gaudí | Antoni Gaudí |
| Built-in: | It was built from 1900 to 1914 and was officially opened as a public park in 1926. | It was built between 1886 and 1888. |
| Crowds: | It is more crowded, with 9 million annual visitors. | It is less crowded compared to Park Guell. |
| Size: | It has an area of around 12 hectares. | It has an area of 2,850 square meters. |
| Opening Hours: | 9.30 am to 5.30 pm, depending on the time of year. | Tuesday to Sunday: 10 am to 5.30 pm, Monday: Closed |
| How to Reach | Buses: H6, D40, 24 and 92 Metro: Green Line (L3) | Metro: Liceu, line 3.Buses: V13, 59, 91 and 120. |
| Last admission: | Half an hour before closing time | One hour before closing time |
| Time Needed: | 1.5 to 2 hours | 1 to 1.5 hours |
| Best time to visit | March and April or late September and October Early morning, just after opening | Between June and August |
Palau Guell vs Park Guell Ticket Prices
Park Guell entry tickets cost €13 per person.
With Park Guell tickets in hand, you can gain entry inside the park and stay for as long as you want.
The tickets also provide admission to its monumental zone and access to the Hypostyle Room, Nature Square, and other amazing areas.
If you book your tickets in advance, you can also get a free audio guide app in multiple languages, like Spanish, Catalan, English, and French, at no extra cost.
On the other hand, Palau Guell entry tickets cost €12.
It provides you with skip-the-line access to the park and all the visitable areas of the building, including the rooftop.
Besides this, the tickets also provide you with a downloadable or physical audio guide in 13 languages.
The price of tickets for both attractions doesn’t vary much. However, Park Guell provides more ticketing options with guided and combo tour tickets.
How do I save money?
Pre-book your tickets online to avoid the price hike due to crowds.
You can take advantage of discounts for seniors, children, and students.
If you are on a budget trip, you can avoid guided tours and book a direct entry ticket, including the free audio guide app.
However, if you are willing to spend more and want to gain insights, listen to stories and enjoy a lively atmosphere with a small group tour.
The guided tour of Park Guell starts at just €21 for adults and €12 for Guell Palace.
The Architecture of Palau Guell vs Park Guell
Both Palau Guell and Park Guell reflect Gaudi’s creation and, hence, share some architectural similarities and differences.
Park Guell belongs to the naturalist phase, which became popular in the first decade of the 20th century.
Reflecting the same style, the park is adorned with natural landscapes and
architectural elements, including the famous lizard statue at the entrance.
It features organic and flowing shapes like wavy benches, and the extensive use of colorful mosaic tiles adds a lively touch.
Besides the elements, the strategically placed hilltop location offers a stunning view of Barcelona.
In contrast to Park Guell’s outdoor design, which features colorful elements, Palau Güell reflects grandeur with its aesthetic architecture and intricate design.
Breaking away from traditional norms, the palace features innovation and modernism.
Its entrance has iron gates and a parabolic arch, which is also a signature Gaudí touch.
The mansion is centered around a grand reception room, where high-society guests are entertained.
It has a main party room with a tall ceiling featuring small holes near the top, creating a starlit sky effect when lanterns are hung at night.
The walls and ceilings are aesthetically adorned with ornate details.
It also has a basement that houses a livery stable for animals, combining functionality with aesthetics.
What can you expect at Palau Guell vs Park Guell?
There are a variety of things to see at Park Guell:
Gaudi House Museum: Even though Antoni Gaudi was an architect, Gaudi lived in this museum from 1906 to 1925, and he did not design it.
It showcases the furnishings he designed, objects and other documents linked to his life, which showcase the personal side of the renowned architect.
El Drac: You can also see the popular lizard, “El Drac,” at the park entrance, which is made with vibrant pieces of discarded ceramic tiles.
Hypostyle Room: Park Guell’s major attraction is Hypostyle Hall. You can access it via the Dragon Staircase. It has an uneven shape and is supported by 86 columns.
Tourists are particularly drawn to the viewing deck on the building’s roof, and the world’s longest bench is around its roof’s edge.
Austria Gardens: Park Guell contains a variety of species, like northern conifers and many other trees from Austria.
It looks beautiful and unique compared to the rest of the park.
Nature Square: Nature Square is an open space in the park surrounded by Antoni Gaudi’s beautiful carvings. It was once known as the Greek theater.
There are a variety of things to see at the beautiful mansion, Palau Guell:
Basement: The palace’s basement contains the stables for horses and sleeping quarters for the servants.
It contains two large, oval entrances, making it easy to get into the house in a horse-drawn carriage.
The ground floor: On the ground floor of the palace, you can see the workrooms, administrative rooms, entrance hall and library of the owner, Eusebi Güell.
The entrance hall: The magnificent entrance hall consists of a grand staircase leading to the Beletage, the floor of the master’s family.
The piano nobile: The mansion has a piano nobile, which is a 17-meter-high salon decorated with murals, and its roof contains a parabolic dome.
The salon was used for religious services and social occasions.
Private rooms: The family’s private rooms are located on the second floor, facing the window gallery and the large drawing room.
The attic: The attic is a part of the mansion that houses the domestic staff’s rooms and supply rooms, such as the pantry, kitchen, and washrooms.
Roof terrace: The rooftop is large and contains 20 chimneys for ventilation, and a long spire covers the salon’s dome.
It provides stunning views of the city’s skyline.
Opening Hours of Palau Guell vs Park Guell
The Park Guell is open from Monday to Sunday all year, but tourist access is divided into two seasons.
Between summer and autumn comes the high season of Park Güell, and the opening hours from March to October are from 9.30 am to 7.30 pm.
Between winter and spring (November to February), the low season shortens the working day for guides, and the park closes early, at 5.30 pm.
Park Guell Opening Hours in 2024:
| Months | Timings |
|---|---|
| 1 January to 9 February | 9.30 am to 5.30 pm |
| 10 February to 30 March | 9.30 am to 6 pm |
| 31 March to 30 June | 9.30 am to 7.30 pm |
| 1 July to 31 August | 9 am to 7.30 pm |
| 1 September to 26 October | 9.30 am to 7.30 pm |
| 27 October to 31 December | 9.30 am to 5.30 pm |
Pro Tip 💡:
Want to know how to avail yourself of free entry at Park Guell?
Read the detailed article on its opening hours, holidays and free entry here!
Palau Guell Opening Hours:
The Palau Guell is open from Tuesday to Sunday and remains closed on Mondays.
| Months | Timing |
|---|---|
| 1 April to 30 September | 10 am to 8 pm |
| 1 October to 31 March | 10 am to 5.30 pm |
Location and Accessibility of Palau Guell vs Park Guell
Park Guell address: Gràcia, 08024 Barcelona, Spain
Palau Guell address: C/ Nou de la Rambla, 3-5, Ciutat Vella, 08001 Barcelona, Spain
When it comes to location and getting there easily, both Palau Güell and Park Güell provide accessibility.
Palau Güell is located in the El Raval neighborhood in the Raval district of Barcelona, Spain. You can find it on Carrer Nou de la Rambla, a few meters from the Rambla.
It’s in a busy part of the city so that it will provide a lively atmosphere.
You can reach it on foot if you’re already exploring downtown Barcelona or by using public transportation like buses V13, 59, 91 and 120 or the Metro Liceu, line 3.
On the other hand, Park Güell is situated in La Salut, a neighborhood in the Gràcia district of Barcelona.
It’s perched on Carmel Hill, offering a more relaxed and serene environment.
To reach Park Güell, you can use public transportation, including buses H6, D40, 24, and 92, or the Green Line (L3) metro.
Both places are accessible, but Palau Güell is more centrally located in the city, making it a more convenient option.
Meanwhile, Park Güell provides a bit of a getaway vibe with its uphill location, surrounded by nature.
These attractions are located 5.3 km away from each other. If you want to visit one after another, you can take Metro Line L3 or a taxi to travel between the attractions.
History of Park Guell vs Palau Guell
Park Güell’s history starts in the early 20th century when Eusebi Güell entrusted Antoni Gaudí to develop a residential estate on Bare Mountain.
The construction began in 1900, and after its completion, the park was initially conceived as a private estate.
However, it faced many challenges, including restrictive sales conditions and the lack of a suitable transport system.
Abandoned in 1914, the park transitioned from a private garden to a public space used for civic events.
Following Eusebi Güell’s death in 1918, his heirs offered the park to the City Council, and it became a municipal park in 1926 and later a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
The Palau Güell is a modernist mansion that was also commissioned by the industrialist Eusebi Güell and constructed by Antoni Gaudi between 1885 and 1890.
It is one of the early works of Gaudí in Barcelona and one of the most prominent buildings of modernism.
The palace was opened for the 1888 World Exhibition, although the work was not completed until then.
The distinctive 20 chimneys of the palace were later installed on the roof in 1895, which also ventilated the house.
In 1984, Palau Güell made its way to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
After its completion and opening, the building faced several issues, and after 7 years of renovation, it was reopened in 2011.
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Crowds at Palau Guell vs Park Guell
Palau Güell generally experiences fewer crowds compared to Park Güell.
The mansion’s limited capacity and its focus on only official Catalonia tourist guides and licensed guides for guided tours contribute to a more intimate atmosphere.
In contrast, Park Güell, being a popular public park, tends to attract larger crowds, especially during peak tourist seasons.
The spaciousness of the park allows for a more dispersed flow of visitors, but certain iconic areas may still be bustling, especially during peak hours.
If you want to avoid crowds and enjoy a pleasant visit, the best time to visit Park Guell is early in the morning, just after the park opens at 9.30 am.
Featured Image: Thenewbarcelonapost.com, Parkguell.barcelona