Park Guell receives 9 million annual visitors, making it the second most visited attraction in Barcelona after the Sagrada Familia.
Due to its popularity, it is often busy with huge crowds, and tackling such crowds can be a massive task.
To foresee such conditions, you can plan your trip in advance and learn a few important tips for visiting Park Guell beforehand.
This article contains some of the best Park Geull tips to make your experience hassle-free and memorable.
1. Book your Park Guell Tickets Online in Advance
As the attraction attracts 9 million visitors annually, booking your tickets at the ticketing office can result in long lines lasting for 1 to 2 hours, especially in peak season.
There is also a risk that tickets might sell out since the park has hourly visitor limits (1400 tourists per hour).
We recommend booking your Park Guell tickets online in advance to avoid all these problems.
Online tickets provide various options, like basic entry tickets, audio-guided or guided tours, and combo tickets. Providing ease to compare and choose!
Booking online tickets also lets you choose your preferred date and time slot for the visit.
Also, discounted tickets are available online, which are not available onsite.
2. Park Guell Tips for a Free Visit
Do you know you can take advantage of a chance to visit Park Guell for free?
Park Guell provides free entry to the local residents living in adjacent neighborhoods like El Coll, La Salut, Vallcarca-Penitents, El Carmel, Baix Guinardó, and Can Baró.
The park guarantees them free, unrestricted access all year round and has certain hours (mentioned below) fixed only for them to enter.
Another way to gain free entry is through the Gaudir Mes.
“Gaudir Més” is a Barcelona City Council program designed to teach people about the history and culture of the city.
You can join this program and enjoy discounts and perks, including free entry to Park Güell.
To join, just sign up at the Citizen Help and Information Office (OAC), and as a member, you can easily download your free Park Güell ticket from the program’s website.
The following Park Guell hours are reserved exclusively for neighbors and Gaudir Més members:
BON DIA BARCELONA: From 7 am to 9.30 am
BON VESPRE BARCELONA: From 6 pm to 10 pm
3. Opt for a Bus to Reach and Choose the Right Entrance
One of the best Park Guell travel tips is to choose the right entrance and the suitable transport option.
Park Guell is located on Carmel Hill, and it’s an uphill walk to reach the park.
Avoiding the uphill walk is advisable for those with limited mobility, special needs, or health issues.
You can, instead, opt for accessible transportation options like buses, metros, or taxis.
Taking a bus is particularly recommended to get to Park Guell, as the uphill route can be challenging for walking.
And even if you choose the metro, there’s still about a 1 km uphill walk from the nearest metro station to the park.
However, if you wish to, you can walk downhill or take a metro on your way back!
Choose the right exit:
Another important tip for visiting Park Guell involves choosing the right Park Guell entrance to enter.
The park has three entrances: Carrer de Larrard, Carretera del Carmel and Av. del Santuari de Sant Josep de la Muntanya.
If you want to avoid crowds and have a pre-booked ticket, you must avoid the Carrer de Larrard Entrance. This is the main entrance and is often filled with crowds.
Carretera del Carmel is the right entrance for those reaching the park via metro Line L5, as it is closer to the bus stop.
Those with reduced mobility can also choose this entrance, as it provides free parking spaces for them.
For those reaching the park using Metro Line L3 to Lesseps Station, Av. del Santuari de Sant Josep de la Muntanya is the closest entrance. An escalator can also access it.
If you haven’t booked your tickets in advance, a ticket booth is present at all the entrances.
Pro Tip💡 : If you reach Park Guell by car, make sure to use designated safe parking areas, as leaving your car elsewhere may pose a risk of break-ins and theft.
Read our article on parking near Park Guell to find a perfect spot.
4. Tips for Avoiding Crowds at Park Guell
Park Guell can be very crowded, especially during peak hours from 11 am to 4 pm.
For a more relaxed visit to Park Güell, it’s important to know the best time to visit the park: a weekday morning.
Plan your visit on a weekday morning rather than weekends if you can. You can arrive early and explore the garden, which is open at 9.30 am.
The morning hours offer a less crowded experience and pleasant weather.
On the other side, visiting in the afternoon, especially during the summer, might not be the best idea as it tends to get busier.
Also, if you are planning in advance, then the best time to go to Park Guell is during the low tourist season, from October to April.
Park Guell Tips in a Nutshell:
- Plan the visit ahead of time
- Opt for weekdays over weekends for fewer crowds
- Arrive early in the morning or during non-peak hours
- Learn more about the best time to visit, depending on the time of year
Pro Tip💡
Want to know more tips about avoiding crowds and choosing the right time to visit?
Read our detailed guide on the best time to visit Park Guell.
5. Allocate Plenty of Time to Visit
Park Güell is a huge place with amazing things to see, like colorful mosaics and special sculptures made by the famous architect Antoni Gaudi.
If you rush, you might miss out on some really interesting spots.
So, when you enter, make sure to give yourself plenty of time to explore. It takes around 3 to 4 hours to see everything and enjoy the beautiful views.
Don’t forget to check out Gaudi’s awesome creations, like the world’s longest bench shaped like a mosaic snake, the mosaic lizard called El Drac, and the dragon staircase.
You can also visit the Gaudi House Museum right at the entrance by booking a Park Guell and Gaudi House Museum combo ticket.
It is where Gaudi once lived and contains his personal belongings and more stuff related to his life and creations.
To help you find your way around, you can use a Park Guell Map and allocate different areas within it.
If you want more time, you can come to the park in the morning and stay until the afternoon.
If you arrive in the afternoon, you can also stay till late evening, find a comfy spot on one of the rooftop benches, and enjoy the beautiful sunset view.
So, spend lots of time, enjoy it, and make sure to capture some awesome pictures!
6. Wear Comfortable Clothes and Shoes
Park Guell covers a vast area of 17 hectares, and you’ll have to do quite a bit of walking to explore it.
So, one of the most important tips for going to Park Guell is to wear comfortable clothes, especially shoes.
Comfortable shoes will allow you to walk for longer periods without discomfort or fatigue, especially through the uneven terrain around the park.
Trust us, your feet will thank you!
Besides shoes, it’s also a good idea to bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen, especially on a sunny day, to protect yourself from the heat.
7. Carry Water and Snacks with you
When visiting Park Guell, don’t forget to bring water and snacks!
Exploring the park will take hours; it will be fun, but you’ll get tired, so having snacks and water will energize you.
Also, uphill, there’s not much to munch on, and whatever is available can be a bit pricey. So, carrying your own food and water is a good idea.
There are designated picnic areas available around the park, so take advantage of that to relax, grab a bite in between and stay hydrated.
Make sure to use the picnic areas and do not eat in any other locations around the park.
8. Leave your Luggage at the Hotel
The Park Guell doesn’t have a specific area for storing luggage and belongings. Also, pulling a trolley along the hilly terrain can be a tough task.
So, it is advisable to leave your large bags at home/hotel rooms and bring only the essentials.
This way, you can move around freely, explore comfortably, and enjoy yourself without worrying about your belongings.
Pro Tip💡
One of the important tips for going to Park Guell is to be cautious of pickpocketers and also avoid carrying valuable items, as they may be stolen.
9. Consider Taking a Guided Tour or Downloading the Park Guell App
Visiting Park Guell alone or with different attractions can be quite challenging, especially for first-time visitors.
To make your visit enjoyable, informative and complete, another tip is to opt for a Park Guell guided tour.
There are a variety of guided tours available online from which you can choose.
Guided tours are led by expert local guides who will provide insights and inside stories about the attractions, their history, architecture and architect Antoni Gaudi.
They also help you effectively utilize your time and visit without missing important attractions, saving you time.
If you want to enjoy a self-guided tour, you can also opt for Park Guell tickets with audio guides in multiple languages.
If you want to take a self-guided tour and still learn more about the park, you can also download the Park Guell App for free.
The app will help you navigate the park and get insights about it without paying more.
10. Park Guell Photography Tips
Park Guell has plenty of picture-perfect spots. So, make sure to bring a camera and take plenty of Instagram-worthy pictures there.
Some of the best picture points to not miss while visiting Park Guell are:
The Monumental Zone: The main entrance has two pavilions and a dragon—perfect for pictures.
The Hypostyle room, with its 86 columns, is a unique spot, too.
Plaza de la Naturaleza is the most popular photo spot, but it can be busy, and clicking pictures without people can be challenging.
To click the best picture, you can aim to visit during the early morning or around sunset hours when sunlight is softer and the vibrant park colors are clearly visible.
But remember, you can’t take photos or videos for commercial reasons without getting permission from the park authorities.
Pro Tip💡
If you are going to Park Guell with your partner and want to get full Instagram-worthy pictures, you can book a professional photoshoot tour.
Contents
FAQs
1. What is the best way to visit Park Guell?
The best way to visit Park Guell is to plan your trip in advance, book your tickets online in advance and allocate plenty of time to visit.
You can also download the Park Guell app to navigate around.
2. Can I bring water into Park Güell?
It’s advisable to bring water with you when visiting Park Güell, as exploring the park may take hours, and staying hydrated is important.
3. Can I bring food to Park Güell?
Yes, bringing food or snacks is one of the essential tips to go to Park Guell.
There are designated picnic areas to relax, have a snack, and stay energized during your visit.
4. Is there a dress code for Park Güell?
There is no specific dress code for Park Güell. However, wearing comfortable clothes and shoes is advisable, as the park covers a vast area with uneven terrain.
5. Does Park Güell have toilets?
Yes, Park Güell has several public toilets located at Carretera del Carmel (entrance gate), Passeig de les Palmeres (next to “Plaça de la Natura”) and the Carrer d’Olot entrance.
You can also allocate these toilets using the Park Guell Map.
6. Can you bring a backpack to Park Güell?
Yes, you can bring a backpack to the park. But make sure it is small and has only the essentials.
Large bags may be inconvenient to carry around the park, and there are no specific storage areas for luggage within the park.
7. Should you buy tickets in advance for Park Güell?
Buying tickets in advance is highly recommended and is one of the most important Park Guell tips.
Park Güell is a popular attraction with hourly visitor limits, and tickets may sell out, especially during peak seasons.
Booking online in advance ensures your preferred date and time and provides various options and discounts unavailable onsite.
8. Are pets allowed in Park Guell?
Yes, pets can enter Park Güell, provided they are kept on a lead throughout the visit.
However, there are specific areas, such as Nature Square, the Hypostyle Room, the Dragon Stairway, the Austria Gardens, and the Laundry Room Portico, where pets are not allowed to ensure safety and protection.
Owners are responsible for any damage caused by their pets.