Parc Guell, Barcelona

We went here on our last day of our holiday and though we were knackered we were really glad we made the effort to go. We got the metro to Lesseps and then trudged up the steepest hill ever and entered at the back. I think if you went the other way you would avoid such a steep hill.

It was lovely, once you get to the monument bit there are huge pillars with mosaic on the ceiling, trees with parrots flying about, two houses that look like gingerbread houses and of course the mosaic lizard. It is free in and there is a cafe and public toilets. Also there are loads of nice little shops selling Gaudi stuff quite cheaply.

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I got there using the Bus Turistic, which leaves you at the road. You have to go up the hill to get to the park, apparently someone mentioned that there are electric staircases but we didn’t find them. The Park Guells was built in 1900-1914, designed by Gaudi. It is situated to the north of the city and enjoys great views of Barcelona. One of the most known images of the park is the benches with the mosaic drawings. The two lovely houses by the entrance look like they have been brought out from a fairy tale story. The entrance to the park is free.

During my visit only a minor hiccup with the waiter at the cafeteria, who apart from being a miserable sod does not have a clue how to treat clients. It was raining and he didn’t want to move a table under an umbrella for us!

An amazing walk through a park where you can see several Gaudi's works.
I really enjoyed the sunday in this park, totally away from traffic.It's the only park where I have been where you not just enjoy nature but also some great examples of art.

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Parc Guell, made by brilliant architect Antoni Gaudi, is like a little fairyland, where you can dive to find the miracles, for all day.

Gaudi, acclaimed in all over the world, was carve out this park in fact as city district for exclusive recreation.
They completed only five house, what look like from fairy-tale Hansel and Gretel, with a chilly and shadowy agora, sunny plaza, fountains and miraculous footpath, what curving around the hills.
But then, years ago, feel this place to bee too far from center of city, and so it stay unfinished...

Park contains amazing stone structures, stunning tiling and fascinating buildings. At the entrance is the Gaudi dragon fountain. This dragon is adorned in beautiful coloured tiling and there is something rather hypnotic and magical about it.
There you can see a rock pillars that seem to be growing out of the ground like tree trunks. Although these are rather irregular in shape they do feel strangely natural too.
Gaudi was strongly influenced by natural shapes and used them in his work.

At the top of park is a terraced area where is a wonderful view of the park and of Barcelona City. Here is multi-coloured tiled mosaic seats. The vibrant colours of the tiles are truly breathtaking.

I think, the Park Guell will be well worth the visit.

Open hours form 10:00 (closing time varies for different times of year but is normally around 19:00).
Entrance - Free

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For locals parc guell has been a place to stroll and take a breath from the city down there for so long. And actually its a 100% touristy place.. probably since 1992 when BCN became a popular city.. before then u just could see tourist in summer.. after Olympics all year round. And Parc Guell focused so many attention for Gaudi's world attraction.. the park has so many special unique features.. designed and built under Gaudi's supervision is nowadays a preety place to stroll on a summer day by its different places.. Take a look on my pics

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To be honest we would expect a litle more from this famous park. It has some Gaudi art and you will be able to visit also the Gaudi museum-house, but if you already have seen the Casa Batlo or the Casa Milla you wont find this one so entusiastic.
Nice to visit if you have the time. Not a priority.

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Parc Guell is a great place to visit on a sunny day - it's really beautiful and has great views across the city, right to the sea. It gets busy, so if you are planning on taking photos and don't want lots of people in them, make sure you go early (before 11:30am) or late (after 4pm). It's free to get into the park but if you want to go into the casa-museu gaudi there's a charge for that (i wouldn't recommend it)

If you don't mind how many people are around you (although there's plenty of space for everyone!) it's nice to take my tip and go there for a lunchtime picnic - there are lots of places to sit and admire the views but I like the to sit on the main bench in the centre to eat my sandwiches!

To get there, I recommend taking the 28 bus to the side entrance, then walking round to the front. On the way back, why not walk down the hill to either Lesseps metro, or for a bus on the main street at the bottom of the hill, Traveserra de Dalt - lots of them go towards town from here.

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This park designed and built by the famouse architect Antonio Gaudi in the years 1900 to 1914.

"The park was originally idea of the Count Eusebi de Güell, whom the park was named after. The intention was to exploit the fresh air (well away from smoky factories) and beautiful views from the site, with sixty triangular lots being provided for luxury houses. Count Eusebi Güell added to the prestige of the development by moving in 1906 to live in Larrard House. In the event only two houses were built, neither designed by Gaudi. One was intended to be a show house, but on being completed in 1904 was put up for sale, and as no buyers came forward. Gaudi, at Güell's suggestion, bought it with his savings and moved in with his family and his father in 1906.
The focal point of the park is the main terrace, surrounded by a long bench in the form of a sea serpent. To design the curvature of the bench surface Gaudí used the shape of buttocks left by a naked workman sitting in wet clay. The curves of the serpent bench form a number of enclaves, creating a more social atmosphere. Gaudí incorporated many motifs of Catalan nationalism, and elements from religious mysticism and ancient poetry, into the Park. The visitor was originally greeted by two life-size mechanical gazelles (a major euphemistic symbol of 'the young beloved' in the Hebrew strand of the medieval love poetry of the region), but these have since been lost during the turbulence of war." (Source: Wikipedia)

Parc Güell is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Works of Antoni Gaudí".