Getting to the Gaudí House Museum
The Gaudí House Museum is situated within Park Güell in the Gràcia district of Barcelona. Getting there is easy, thanks to Barcelona’s excellent public transport network. It’s run by TMB and includes trams, buses and metros. The latter is the best way to reach the Gaudí House Museum from city centre locations like the Gothic Quarter and El Born.
You can hop on line 3 (green) metros from Liceu, just off La Rambla, and get off at Lesseps or Vallcarca station. It’s then a 10-minute walk from either to reach Park Güell’s main entrance on Carrer d’Olet.
Alternatively, jump on line 4 (yellow) metro services from Jaume I, disembark at Trinat Nova and take the 116 bus to Park Güell. Once you’re in the park, follow the signs to the Gaudí House Museum.
The Barcelona metro system regularly runs between:
- Monday to Thursday: 05:00 until midnight
- Friday: 05:00 to 02:00
- Saturday: 05:00 until midnight
- Sunday: midnight to midnight
You can buy tickets for your journey at any station, on the TMB website or through the TMB app. A handy thing to know is that your ticket will be valid on any TMB service, whether that’s a bus or a metro. Prices start at €2.40 for single tickets. To save money, you might be better buying a travel card like the T-Casual, which lets you take ten trips for €11.35.
Things to do at the Gaudí House Museum
Antoni Gaudí was the creative force behind Barcelona’s most iconic sites, including Casa Batlló, Casa Milà and the Sagrada Familia. This museum shines a light on his incredible talent while also giving you access to one of the most serene settings in the city.
Not sure what to expect on a visit to the Gaudí House Museum? Here are just a few highlights.
Learn about Gaudí’s life and works
The primary purpose of the Gaudí House Museum is to give visitors insight into the life and works of Antoni Gaudí. While not born in the city or even in Spain, he profoundly influenced its architecture and spent most of his life there.
The museum building was Gaudí’s former home, and two of its four floors are now taken over to extraordinary exhibits. This includes photos and plans of various buildings designed by Gaudí and original furnishings created by him and some of his students.
Some of the rooms are even set out like when he lived there; see where Gaudí used to sleep and visit his studio where he came up with many of his most inspiring ideas.
Climb to the top of the tower
The tower is one of the most enchanting features of the building. Climb up the spiral staircase to the top to enjoy fantastic views across Barcelona.
While the house wasn’t designed by Gaudí, he did influence its interiors. Look carefully at the turret walls to see an excellent example of his signature mosaic technique. This design uses shards of glass and tile to create an eye-catching pattern.
Enjoy views from the terrace
It’s not just the turret where you can enjoy epic vistas. The architect’s former home also features a terrace that benefits from a glorious outlook across Park Güell and beyond. Spend a minute gazing out over the trees and picture Gaudí doing precisely the same thing over 100 years ago.
Stroll around the leafy gardens
As well as being set in the grounds of Park Güell, the Gaudí House Museum has its own private garden. This would have been used by both Gaudí and his family when they lived there in the early 1900s.
Stroll down pretty pathways lined with verdant foliage and look for pieces of metalwork created by Gaudí. This includes intricate iron gates and a metal cross that initially belonged to the Miralles Estate, one of his lesser-known architectural projects.
History and buildings facts
There’s a reason this attraction is called the Gaudí House Museum. That’s because it was once the architect’s family home, from 1906 right up until 1925.
The beginnings
To understand the Gaudí House Museum’s beginnings, you have to first look at Park Güell’s history. The public park was initially planned as a private housing estate for the city’s elite during the late 1800s. The idea was thought up by wealthy businessman Eusebi Guell who approached Antoni Gaudí to bring his vision to life.
While Gaudí designed many of Park Güell’s most notable features, his friend and colleague Francesc Berenguer designed the Gaudí House Museum building. It was finished in 1905. Less than a year later, a new tenant moved in.
Becoming Gaudí’s home
The Gaudí House Museum building was initially used as a show home for the estate until Gaudí moved in with his father and niece in 1906. The architect lived and worked there for nearly 20 years. The housing development never took off, and only one other house was ever built.
In 1925, Gaudí moved into the workshop of the Sagrada Familia to be closer to his work. The following year he passed away. In his will, he left the property to the Sagrada Familia Foundation board, who ultimately decided to sell it.
New ownership
The buyers were an Italian trader, Francesca Chiappo, and his wife, Josefina. They moved into the property in December 1926. Gaudí had stated in his will that he wanted any profits from the sale to go directly to helping fund the construction of the Sagrada Familia. The new owners put their own stamp on the house but always called it the Gaudí House.
The Gaudí House Museum
The Gaudí House was kept in the Chiappo family for the next few decades until they were approached by the La Sagrada Familia Foundation. They repurchased it off the family in 1960, and it finally became the museum in 1963.
Initially, it was a home for students studying Gaudí’s work and exhibition space for numerous furnishings and objects designed by the architect. There was so much to display that only the museum was created in the end.
Only two floors of the four-storey house are used for the museum today. The property’s second floor is home to the Eric Casanelles Library; however, it can only be visited with special permission and appointment.
You might think the Gaudí House Museum is currently owned and run by Barcelona City Council, just like the rest of Park Güell. In fact, it’s privately owned by the Construction Board of the La Sagrada Familia Foundation, who received the house in 1992. They take care of its upkeep and source new documents and artefacts to add to its intriguing exhibitions.
Gaudí House Museum opening times and prices
If you’re already planning a trip to Park Güell, why not pop into the Gaudí House Museum? As well as learning about Antoni Gaudí, one of Barcelona’s most famous ex-residents, you’ll be able to view a truly stunning house surrounded by lush, leafy gardens.
The Gaudí House Museum is open every day, although its hours depend on the time of year.
- October to March: 10:00 to 18:00
- April to September: 09:00 to 20:00
The best time to visit the Gaudí House Museum and Park Güell is in the morning or between 14:00 and 16:00 when locals enjoy their siesta.
Ticket prices
You’ll need to purchase tickets separately to your Park Güell entrance fee to visit the Gaudí House Museum. Buy your tickets on the La Sagrada Familia website or when you arrive.
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Tickets |
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Adults |
€5.50 |
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Children (under 11) |
Free |
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Students |
€4.50 |
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Over 65s |
€4.50 |
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Disabled visitors |
Free |
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School groups (age 11 to 18) |
€3.50 per child |
Prices correct as of January 2022
Travelling to Barcelona by train?
Thanks to the extensive rail network operated by Renfe, you can travel by train to Barcelona from most cities in Spain. Some of the most popular routes include Madrid to Barcelona (2h 30m), Malaga to Barcelona (5h 32m) and Seville to Barcelona (5h 32m).
Looking for more information about travelling to Barcelona by train? Check out our expert guide to trains to Barcelona.