Casa Batlló

Casa Batlló is one of Barcelona’s most popular attractions. Designed by the legendary architect Antoni Gaudí, Casa Batlló is famous the world over for its otherworldly architectural appearance. Its vibrant façade features a rippling display of color—an effect created by Gaudí’s distinctive combination of glass, stone, and ceramics—while the entire structure eschews straight lines and hard angles. The result is a riot of shapes, colors, and details that add up to make Casa Batlló a truly unique site. Visitors to Casa Batlló can take their pick of multiple ticketed experiences that range from self-guided tours with audio guides to cutting-edge immersive installations.

History of Casa Batlló

Unlike nearby La Pedrera, Casa Batlló as we recognize it today actually represents Gaudí’s reworking of an existing building. The original building—which owed its design to one of Gaudí’s mentors, Emilio Sala Cortés—dates to 1877. This property was purchased in 1903 by Josep Batlló, a local businessman who made his fortune from the textile industry. Impressed by what he had seen of Gaudí’s previous work, Batlló hired the architect to remake the site as a personal residence; Batlló granted Gaudí total creative license to pursue his architectural vision wherever it might take him.

The result was something magical, a design that dazzles visitors to this day. Work on Casa Batlló was completed in 1906, and Batlló lived in the home until his death in 1934. The last member of the Batlló family to reside in the house died in the 1950s; from that time forward the site passed through the hands of multiple owners before opening to the public in 1995.

Casa Batlló Highlights

There are three tiers of “general visit”-tickets available at Casa Batlló: blue, silver, and gold. Blue is the most basic option and covers almost everything you’d want to see here, with the exceptions being it doesn’t include an augmented-reality tablet, the Gaudí Dôme immersive experience, or entry to the building’s original concierge room and first-floor private residence space. Unless any of the above components sound particularly appealing to you, most visitors enjoy their time here just fine with a blue ticket.

The general visit to Casa Batlló lasts about 75 minutes and includes an audio guide in your choice of 15 languages; children under the age of 12 years old may go on this self-guided tour for free. Along the way, you’ll encounter such Casa Batlló highlights as the main floor, where even the windows and doors take on beguiling shapes unlike anything else you’ve ever seen; the glowing white surfaces of the house’s angular attic; and the rooftop, renowned for its colorful ornamentation, artistic installations, and splendid views.

In addition to the many wonders of Gaudí’s original design, Casa Batlló today is routinely augmented by multiple projects that bring the modernist icon’s work into conversation with the work of contemporary artists and architects. Recent examples of this trend have seen the house’s stairs and atrium lined by an aluminum-bead curtain created by Kengo Kuma, while the house’s basement has hosted 360-degree immersive installations like Refik Anadol’s “In the Mind of Gaudí.”

More to See and Do at Casa Batlló

Casa Batlló has been restored recently, guaranteeing it’ll look better than ever during your upcoming visit. Now to help guarantee that upcoming visit itself is everything you’ve dreamed of, read on for more useful information and helpful tips.

*One of the newest experiences offered by Casa Batlló is called “Street Escape: Gaudí and the Hidden Treasure.” Billed as an “outdoor escape room,” this experience takes groups of two to five people on a two-hour adventure along approximately 1.6 miles of Barcelona streets as you and your group attempt to locate a “hidden treasure” by going from one city landmark to another. Throughout your journey you’ll pass such attractions as Casa Milà, Casa Fuster, Casa de les Punxes, and of course, Casa Batlló. Be advised, though, this tour package does not include admission to Casa Batlló itself.

*Throughout the year, the Casa Batlló calendar is full of entertaining programming worth checking out if you’ve got some wiggle room in your itinerary (and budget). On any given night, Casa Batlló might be hosting a concert or live event of note; for the most up-to-date information, be sure and visit the attraction’s official website.

*Casa Batlló’s in-house shop, Simbòlic, has an eclectic inventory that ranges from affordable souvenirs to high-end housewares. It’s a good place to pick up a Gaudí-themed gift, accessory, or book; if you’re feeling ambitious, Simbòlic stocks fashionable clothing and designer jewelry, too.

*If you plan to try and see Casa Batlló alongside other Gaudí masterpieces like Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera, and Park Güell, you might want to consider going on a guided architectural tour of Barcelona. A guided architectural tour of Barcelona can make for a terrific way to see multiple city landmarks in context with one another; it’s also more often than not a convenient sightseeing experience, as some Barcelona tourist passes cover the outing.

Why Casa Batlló Should Be on Your Must-See List

With so many wonderful things to see and do in Barcelona, the proverbial must-see list gets pretty lengthy here in a hurry; it can be a challenge to know where to draw the line. And while everyone’s dream Barcelona vacation will look a little different depending on what exactly it is they prioritize, one thing is for certain: if you’re a first-time visitor to Barcelona, you absolutely must see Casa Batlló firsthand. Few buildings anywhere in the world possess as much distinctive personality as this magnificent structure. Don’t be intimidated by the numerous different kinds of ticket packages on offer: pick the one that sounds most interesting to you—or best suits your budget—and make your reservations today.

Leave a Comment