The Guell Palace - Palau Güell

Built in 1888 by Antoni Gaudí, the Guell Palace, or "Palau Güell" in Catalan, was commissioned by the Güells, wealthy industrialists who, as we know, were Gaudí's patrons throughout his life, notably with the commission for the famous Park Güell. It is located in the Raval district of Barcelona, Spain, and was built between 1886 and 1890. The Güell Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Skip the line tickets and guided tours of Palau Güell at the best prices

The history of Barcelona's Güell Palace

The story of Güell Palace began when Eusebi Güell, a wealthy industrialist and patron of Gaudí, asked him to design a residence for his family. Güell had great admiration for Gaudí and gave him a great deal of creative freedom to design the building. The Güell Palace was one of the first major collaborations between Güell and Gaudí, marking the beginning of a long and fruitful professional relationship.

The architecture of the Güell Palace is characteristic of the style of Gaudí, who is often regarded as the father of Catalan modernism. The building is notable for its extravagant decorative elements, organic shapes, colourful ceramic tiles and artistically designed wrought-iron elements. One of the most emblematic features of the palace is the façade, adorned with intricate wrought-iron railings and fanciful chimneys that resemble medieval soldiers' helmets.

The Güell Palace in video tour:

What can you see inside Güell Palace?

The interior of Güell Palace is equally impressive, with richly decorated salons, elaborate vaulted ceilings and innovative use of natural light and space. Gaudí created a multi-purpose space for Güell, including living areas, reception areas and even a music room with exceptional acoustics.

Güell Palace was also designed with innovative features for the time, such as ramps for riding horses to the top of the building, where the stables were located. This design allowed Güell direct access to the chapel at the top of the building without having to leave his horse.

Unfortunately, Güell Palace was not widely used as a family residence, and was converted into a reception venue for social events. However, it remains an outstanding example of Gaudí's architecture and a popular tourist attraction in Barcelona.

In 1984, the Güell Palace was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in recognition of its outstanding architectural importance. Today, it is one of a series of major works designed by Gaudí in Barcelona, alongside the Sagrada Família, Parc Güell and Casa Batlló, which attract millions of visitors from all over the world every year.

When to visit Güell Palace?

Güell Palace has been open to the public for several decades. It was first opened as a tourist attraction in the 1960s. Since then, it has welcomed visitors from all over the world who wish to admire Antoni Gaudí's exceptional architecture and learn more about the history of the building and its owner, Eusebi Güell.

The restoration and preservation of Güell Palace has been undertaken over the years to ensure its beauty and architectural integrity. Visitors can explore the interior of the building, including the richly decorated rooms, its chapel and sublime terrace, as well as the magnificent exterior façade with its unique architectural details.

Our tip: Visit for the interior as much as for its magnificent façade. Güell Palace is a stone's throw from the Rambla Barcelona. The palace is less busy from 10 to 11 am and after 6 pm.

What types of ticket are available to visit Güell Palace? 

We offer two types of ticket to visit the Güell Palace:

> A skip the line ticket with audio guide in English, Basque, Catalan, Chinese, French, German, Galician, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. This ticket includes access to all the areas of the building that can be visited, including the roof.

>> A guided tour with access to all the areas of the building that can be visited, including the roof.

Be sure to choose a local guide who speaks your language on Saturdays or Sundays only:

Saturday :

10:30 am - English
12.00 pm - Spanish
16:00 - Catalan
Sunday :

10.30am - French
12pm - Catalan
4pm - Spanish

Good to know: Güell Palace is open free of charge every 1st Sunday of the month all year round.