I’ve traveled to Barcelona many times and have already visited and re-visited the most famous Gaudi landmarks like the Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, Casa Mila and Casa Battlo. However, on my most recent trip to Barcelona I noticed that my accommodation happened to be near a Gaudi building I’d never explored before: Palau Guell.
Naturally, I had to find out if Palau Guell is worth visiting! In this guide I’ll walk you through what you can expect to see inside and outside the grand home, how to book Palau Guell tickets the right way, and whether or not Palau Guell is worth visiting on your next Barcelona trip.
Note: I paid in full for my ticket to Palau Guell and didn’t disclose that I was a blogger.
What is Palau Guell?
Palau Guell is a mansion that was designed by the architect Anton Gaudi. It was one of his earliest constructions, predating the more famous Casa Mila and Casa Battlo.
Palau Guell was built for the wealthy tycoon Eusebi Guell, who also commissioned several other developments from Gaudi including the famous Parc Guell. He and his family of ten (!) lived in Palau Guell for nearly twenty years before eventually moving to their new home in their eponymous park.
Palau Guell has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984, and underwent seven years of renovations and restorations in the early 2000s.
Palau Guell Exterior
I personally find the facade of Palau Guell quite interesting because to me, it comes across as much harsher than the other more whimsical designs that Gaudi is better known for.
The large gates on the front were designed to allow guests to enter the property by horse-drawn carriage. Between them there is a statue of a phoenix, and the other bronze carvings on the front seem to blur the line between natural and mechanical.
What to See Inside Palau Guell
The Palau Guell interior is exceptionally diverse. Your visit will likely start at the basement level, which was built to be used as stables but was later used as a prison during the Spanish Civil War. Here, simplicity and utility is the name of the game. Then, returning to the ground level, you’ll ascend the remarkable main staircase, alight with the colors of the Catalan flag.
The higher up you ascend, the more ornate the interior becomes. The main floor features more public rooms such as the dining room and reception room, along with halls that once held dance parties. There is also an outdoor terrace that abuts the neighboring house. The Guell family had a longstanding feud with their neighbors, who refused to allow them to extend the mansion any further.
The next level up is home to the Guell family’s private living quarters, including the two rooms where Eusebi Guell and his wife slept separately, the bedrooms shared by the eight children, and the one tiny bathroom that all ten family members used. Some of these rooms are furnished with beautiful Modernist furniture, on loan from nearby museums.
Above that, the attic space hosts temporary exhibits. At the time of my visit there was a display about Gaudi’s interest in windows, across all of the buildings he designed.
The Palau Guell Rooftop
A highlight of your visit to Palau Guell will definitely be a visit to the rooftop, which features twenty mosaic-covered chimneys around a central spire. The chimneys aren’t original, as they had to be replaced shortly before the 1992 Summer Olympics to ensure that the original pieces didn’t crumble and fall onto any of the visitors on the street below.
Is Palau Guell worth visiting?
Overall, I am really glad that I found time in my Barcelona itinerary to visit Palau Guell. It was interesting to visit a lesser-known Gaudi building, and some of the features like the grand entrance staircase and the tiled rooftop chimneys are unforgettable. If you have more than two or three days in Barcelona, of if you’ve visited the city before and have already been to the more famous Gaudi sites, then Palau Guell is definitely worth visiting on your next trip.
Special Experiences at Palau Guell
You might have noticed that my photos of the Palau Guell interior looked a little bit dark. That’s because I happened to be in Barcelona on the second Saturday of the month, which is when they run a special tour called “The Secret Palau Güell”. Taking place in the evening, this takes visitors on a two-hour tour that includes some parts of the building that normally aren’t open to the public.
Palau Guell also offers more typical guided tours every weekend, including options in Spanish, Catalan, English and French.
Where to Buy Palau Guell Tickets
As with any Barcelona attraction, the best place to buy Palau Guell tickets is through the official website, which is operated by the regional government (Diputacio Barcelona). General admission starts at €15, with discounts for children and seniors. I recommend buying your tickets a few days in advance, especially in high season.
If you’re not able to secure tickets through the official site, or you are looking for a guided tour, you could try a third-party vendor like GetYourGuide or Viator.
How to Get to Palau Guell
Palau Guell is located at Carrer Nou de la Rambla, 3-5, just half a block off La Rambla in the heart of Barcelona’s Ciutat Vella (Old Town). Technically speaking it’s located in the El Raval district, but it’s only a couple of steps away from the Barri Gotic as well. The two nearest metro stations are Liceu and Drassanes, both on the green (L3) line.
If you arrive a bit early or have time to spare after your visit, you can duck through the nondescript archway across from the mansion (Carrer de les Penedides) and turn right at Carrer de la Unió. A few doors down you’ll find Bar Cañete, a Michelin-recommended restaurant known for its elevated tapas.
Planning a trip to Barcelona? Check out my other guides!
✈️ How to Get from the Barcelona Airport to the City Centre
☀️ Where to Stay in Barcelona (Solo Female Traveled Approved!)
⭐ The 25 Best Things to Do in Barcelona, Spain
🗺️ One Day in Barcelona, Spain: The Perfect (and Easy!) Itinerary
⚜️ How to Take a Day Trip to Tarragona’s Roman Ruins from Barcelona
🍅 The Best Barcelona Markets to Explore (Beyond La Boqueria)
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