Must See Gaudí Buildings in Barcelona

Barcelona is a city that is renowned for many things - its beautiful beach, sunny weather, tapas, football and Antoni Gaudí, a legendary Catalan architect who created many of the city’s notable buildings and landmarks. In fact, during a visit to Barcelona it’s almost impossible to escape Gaudí’s creative masterpieces that are scattered all around the city. His works are noted for being highly individual and creative, and Gaudí is widely considered the champion of Catalan Modernism. Easily identifiable, Gaudí succeeded in creating a whole host of magical structures in Barcelona, and we’ve selected some of his tops works that you should visit during a trip to this fascinating Spanish city.

La Sagrada Familia

One of Gaudí’s most important works and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984, La Sagrada Familia is one of Barcelona’s top sites, attracting around 5 million tourists a year. In fact, La Sagrada Familia is one of the country's top attractions and a popular excursion during holidays to Spain. Construction on this fairytale basilica was first started in 1882, and when Gaudí died in 1926, only a quarter of the building was actually completed. Still under construction today, the intricately-detailed building is set to be complete in 2026, meaning it will have taken almost a century and a half to construct. Once inside the building, you enter a world of colour and shapes, with huge ceilings, and sunlight cascading through the stained-glass windows.

Park Güell

Located in the north of Barcelona, Park Güell is also one of the city’s most iconic and highly-visited attractions and considered a must-see during any trip to Barcelona. UNESCO-listed, the park’s creator, Count Eusebi Güell, hired his good friend Gaudí to create a miniature city complete with 60 residences, a network of walkways, viaducts, steps and local vegetation. Creation of the park began in 1900, but was abandoned in 1914 after the park was deemed a commercial flop. After Eusebi Güell died in 1918, the park was handed to the city and became a public space, which saw a huge surge in its popularity. Gaudí's signature style is abundant throughout the park with fluid shapes, colourful tiles and fairytale stone creations present. In this beautiful park you can also visit the house that Gaudí himself lived for the last 20 years of his life.

Casa Batlló

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most strange yet wonderful residential buildings in the whole of Europe, Casa Batlló is a fantastic example of Gaudí showcasing augmented reality. The exterior of the building is sprinkled with blue, green, brown, yellow and mauve tiles, that create a natural feel which is in direct contrast to this unusual, man-made creation. The building has wave-shaped balconies and windows that rise up to an uneven lizard-like scaled rooftop filled with colours from the sea. Even outside the building, each tile of the pavement carries a symbol created by Gaudí himself. A must-see for those on a cultural tour of Barcelona, this magical creation consistently wins TripAdvisor awards and can easily be included in your itinerary. 

Casa Milà

Dating back to 1906, Casa Milà is widely dubbed Gaudí's most iconic work of civic architecture due to its functional yet artistic qualities. Also called 'La Pedrera' (the quarry), the combined apartment and office block has a grey stone exterior that ripples around the corner of the avenue. As well as admiring the exterior, visitors are now able to explore the top floor apartment and the incredible rooftop, which features huge chimney pots that resemble medieval knights. Casa Milà is also home to a small museum dedicated to Gaudí's work and a cafe and restaurant. During the summer months, the rooftop showcases concerts and offers a range of evening experiences, some of which include dinner.