If you’re like me you probably thought you saw the world’s coolest house on MTV Cribs.
Well, that was before your Barcelona holiday stop.
Today more than 2000 tourists a day line up and pay for tickets to Antoni Gaudi’s Casa Batllo – one of the most creatively designed houses in the world.
So allow me to tell you all about this masterpiece and then show you how to get your Casa Batllo tickets online and skip all the hassle visiting like a pro.
Already convinced? Get your tickets clicking the button below:
Index
1 – General information
2 – What to see
3 – Tickets (skip the lines + free video guide)
4 – Prices
5 – Opening hours
6 – Directions
7 – Casa Batllo hacks
8 – FAQ
Casa Batllo Facts
Aside from super-heavyweight Sagrada Familia this peculiar house is Gaudi’s pièce de résistance.
So what exactly is it?
- A marine-inspired 32 meter high Art-Nouveau mansion.
- A universe of symbolism.
- Nature in building form.
- A building said to have almost no straight lines.
- A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- One of Barcelona’s most visited landmarks (700,000+ annual visits).
What to See at Casa Batllo
Casa Batllo is a vortex of waves and curves in homage to Gaudi’s refusal to use straight lines.
All Casa Batllo’s amazing architectural details were created by Gaudi himself: the handrails, roof chimneys, door knobs, windows and even the furniture all came from his genius mind.
Here’s a sneak preview of the interior of the house through the augmented reality video guide:
Looks cool? That video guide is included with your tickets buying with my links below.
But first let’s see what else Casa Batllo has to offer:
The Exterior
Casa Batllo is known informally as Casa Dels Ossos (‘House of Bones’) and it’s easy to understand why: the balconies are shaped like the jaw bones of some demented alien creature hell-bent on enslaving humanity.
On the exterior you’ll see a facade covered in mosaics made from ceramic tile shards – the technique (known as trencadís) originated in France but was perfected by Gaudi for his many masterpieces.
The colourful and odd-shaped shards that form the patterns on Casa Batllo were taken from broken cups and plates at local factories. You’ll see the colours of the mosaics gently drift from golden orange to greenish blue.
The oval-shaped feature windows are cut across by bone-like stone columns and the balconies are said to be designed after masks or even bats – interpret what you will!
The Noble Floor
The Casa Batllo interior is the former residence of the man it was built for: wealthy cotton baron Josep Batlló.
Enter the private entrance hall and get taken to a sort of underwater cave lit by tortoise shell skylights. The nearly wobbling walls and their lack of straight lines make people dizzy! At the stairway and its animal spine banister you know you’re on the right track.
Here you’ll get a view of Casa Batllo’s most photographed area: the blue-tiled building well.
The main suite is made up of three interconnected rooms that are lit up by the massive windows seen over Passeig de Gracia. The wavy, almost whirlpool-like effect makes you feel the power of the sea.
The noble floor also hosts a museum: both have only been open to the public since 2002.
The Loft
No other part of Casa Batllo so aptly combines the freaky with the functional: what was once a service area where tenants could utilize storage space and do laundry is now the building’s most peculiar portion.
The simplistic whites and straight forward shapes of this well-lit room seem so practical until you realise you’re standing amidst 60 catenary arches that look like the rib cage of an animal.
It’s speculated that this is the rib cage of the animal whose top half we see on the roof.
The Roof Terrace
If you look really closely you’ll see that the Casa Batllo’s roof imitates the scales of a dragon’s back.
Gaudi’s creativity is really on display here: he used mosaics to create an animal’s spine on the street side of the roof while using the colourful trencadís on the other for contrast.
Make sure you check out the four chimneys and the four-pointed cross which some say is Saint George’s sword in the dragon’s back. Others believe it is Gaudi’s statement that the building, and the nature that inspired it, is god’s alone and not to be confused with the glorification of wealth.
The view of Barcelona from the roof at Casa Batllo is amazing.
Where to Buy Casa Batllo Tickets
You’ll pay €4.00 more per ticket buying at ticket windows – always buy online.
I’ve just launched an integrated web shop with Clorian: the official e-ticket manager for Barcelona’s top attractions. They sell over 8,000,000 tickets a year in the city.
Here you get the lowest prices while at no extra cost to you earning me a small commission to cover the expenses and time I put in… if you think I’ve helped please reserve using the blue buttons below.
Casa Batllo Ticket Options and Prices
Simply pick your date and time (there are entrances every 15 minutes) and skip the lines.
Once you’ve bought the tickets you’ll be emailed them and simply have to present them at the entrance via smart phone to be let right through.
One tip: you’ll receive a 20% discount on Casa Batllo tickets and skip lines booking them online using the Barcelona City Pass. This discount pass also gets you 20% off about 60 other attractions and is a godsend to tourists with a lot to see.
FYI: as Casa Batllo is not a public entity there are no discounts for disabled visitors.
Blue Ticket (General)
| Product | Online Price | Price at Ticket Windows |
| Adult | €25.00 | €29.00 |
| Minors (7 – 18) | €22.00 | €26.00 |
| Kids (0 – 6) | free | free |
| Students | €22.00 | €26.00 |
| 65+ | €22.00 | €26.00 |
With the blue standard ticket for Casa Batllo you’ll receive:
- Entrance to the house
- Audio guide in English with standard headphones
Silver Ticket (Premium)
| Product | Online Price | Price at Ticket Windows |
| Adult | €33.00 | €35.00 |
| Minors (7 – 18) | €30.00 | €32.00 |
| Kids (0 – 6) | free | free |
| Students | €30.00 | €32.00 |
| 65+ | €30.00 | €32.00 |
With the silver premium ticket for Casa Batllo you’ll receive:
- Entrance to the house
- Access to the Private Hall
- Augmented reality video/audio guide in English with superior headphones
Gold Ticket (VIP)
| Product | Online Price | Price at Ticket Windows |
| Adult | €35.00 | €39.00 |
| Minors (7 – 18) | €32.00 | €36.00 |
| Kids (0 – 6) | free | free |
| Students | €32.00 | €36.00 |
| 65+ | €32.00 | €36.00 |
With the gold VIP ticket for Casa Batllo you’ll receive:
- Entrance to the house
- Access to the Private Hall
- A cool photo where you dress up in vintage clothing like an 1870’s socialite
- Augmented reality video/audio guide in English with superior headphones
- Fast pass/skip the line access
Gaudi Super Combi 3-in-1
In 2019 the hottest new product online for Gaudi lovers is the ticket package that allows you to skip the lines and see all three of Gaudi’s famous Barcelona mansions:
- Casa Batlló with English video/augmented reality guide.
- Casa Milá (La Pedrera) with English audio guide.
- Casa Vicens (open ticket).
You can buy this package (with a €4.00 discount) by clicking the blue button below.
Be the First Tickets
For those with more money to throw around you have the option to visit Casa Batllo when it’s empty.
This extremely exclusive tour allows a maximum of 30 people in at 8:30 am.
You’ll be able to see the first rays of sunshine come through the stained glass windows of the Nobel Floor or even see the sunrise from the roof in winter.
You can get Be the First entrance at Casa Batllo for €39.00.
This option is recommended for serious photographers and crowd-a-phobes – the value offered here is extremely slim otherwise.
Magic Nights
From June to October you’ll have the option to have a drink and watch live music at the house’s legendary Dragon’s Rooftop Terrace. This is a great option for those looking for something romantic to do in Barcelona.
Music at the one hour concert ranges from jazz to R&B to classical to salsa.
All tickets include two drinks (cava wine or beer).
Tickets for Magic Nights cost €39.00 and include a visit to the house with smart guide, free WiFi, and the aforementioned drinks.
Casa Batllo Opening Hours
You’ll find Casa Batllo has long hours to accommodate the sheer volume of tourists and for this reason it is open 365 days a year.
The building interior is open from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm every day.
The last entrance for visitors is at 8:00 pm so make sure you arrive with plenty of time.
Opening hours may be restricted due to private parties but this is extremely rare.
How to Get to Casa Batllo
You’ll find Casa Batllo in the heart of the hip Eixample district on the upscale shopping street Passeig de Gracia.
The address of Casa Batllo is Passeig de Gràcia 43.
- The closest metro/RENFE station is Passeig de Gracia.
- Other metro stations reachable on foot are Diagonal and Catalunya.
- There’s also an FGC stop called Provença.
- You can also arrive using buses H10, V15, 7, 22 or 24.
- The Bus Turistic stop is Casa Batlló – Fundació Antoni Tàpies.
From any hostel or holiday apartment in the centre expect about 20 minutes maximum travel time via public transport. I recommend walking because the surroundings of the Ruta del Modernisme are too beautiful to miss by taking the metro.
If you have any problems with how to get to Casa Batllo drop me a line in the comments below with your lodging address and I’ll be sure to help.
How to Get to Other Attractions from Casa Batllo
- La Pedrera: Cross the street and walk 5 minutes uphill on Passeig de Gracia.
- La Sagrada Familia: Take the purple line at Passeig de Gracia and get off at Sagrada Familia. It’ll take about 15 minutes.
- Park Güell: Take bus 24 on Passeig de Gracia. It’ll take about 35 minutes.
- Plaça Catalunya and La Rambla: Walk about 15 minutes downhill Passeig de Gracia in the direction of the sea or get on the metro at Passeig de Gracia and take the green line one stop to Catalunya.
- Camp Nou: Take the green line at Passeig de Gracia and get off at Palau Reial. 30 minutes.
Casa Batllo Hacks
- Go early morning or late afternoon for smaller crowds.
- Book your Casa Batllo tickets for the opening (8:30 AM) to ensure the quietest time.
- Leave 60-90 minutes for the visit but you can stay as long as you want.
- Take the stairs or you’ll miss the ensemble of light and colour in the inside patio.
- They have free wifi so you can tell the world you’re there 😉
- Go straight to the top and work your way down.
- Pass by again at night to see it lit up beautifully.
- Step into the water room before descending the stairs and close the door for max effect.
- Germaphobes and quality audio lovers: bring your own headphones if you’ve got them.
- Visit during Christmas or Sant Jordi to see Casa Batllo decorated for the holidays.
- Ask at the Tourist Office if Casa Batllo is undergoing any works.
- See Casa Batllo’s program of events for special concerts and more.
- Check their social networks for hashtag photo contests to win a Fujifilm XA2, good luck!
- Buy from the Casa Batllo gift shop online to save time.
- If you’re also doing Casa Mila start there first then go downhill to Casa Batllo.
- Parents will have to leave prams/strollers at the bottom floor.
- Spoil yourself with a tasty Spanish meal at nearby Bodega Joan: I even have a special 25% off paella tasting menus for blog readers and you can find more information clicking the banner below:
Casa Batllo FAQ
Should I buy my Casa Batllo tickets online or are ticket windows enough?
Online tickets are always recommended to avoid lengthy lines.
Are there any further Casa Batllo discounts available?
Depending on your needs there are multiple Barcelona tourist passes that offer discounts.
The famous Barcelona Card gives you unlimited transport, airport connection, free entry to 25 museums, and discounts on 85 attractions including a €3.00 Casa Batllo discount.
The Barcelona City Pass offers entrance to Sagrada Familia and Park Guell plus a ride on the Bus Turistic and 20% discounts on a ton of attractions like Casa Batllo.
Still not sure? Get at me in the comments below and I’ll help you get the right Casa Batllo ticket.
Can I combine these Casa Batllo discounts with other offers?
No.
Why are Casa Batllo tickets so expensive?
As it is not a public entity and does not benefit from government subsidies Casa Batllo is entirely self-financing. For this reason the upkeep costs are huge and costs are justified to maintain its beauty.
How long is the audio guide in total?
If you follow it completely it runs about 90 minutes.
If I buy a student discount Casa Batllo ticket how do I redeem it?
You must show a valid piece of student ID to gain entrance – all international student IDs are accepted.
Is there a time limit to the visit?
No. Guests can stay as long as they like until the 9 pm closing time.
Are there any places to eat or cafes at Casa Batllo?
No. You can only find vending machines on the first floor and the attic, but nearby you’ll find an area full of amazing restaurants and top cafes.
Is there any elevator for limited mobility and elderly guests?
Yes.
Wheelchairs are available that fit in the elevators but please note the elevator does not reach the roof terrace.
The elevator is only recommended in these occasions because taking the stairs allows you to see the magnificent light play of the inner patio.
Are there wheelchairs available for guests with limited mobility?
Yes.
Is Casa Batllo good for the visually impaired?
In addition to house information being given in Braille there are spatial references included in the audio guide which will help guests position themselves.
Also, the companion of the visually impaired guest gets free entrance.
Is Casa Batllo good for the hearing impaired?
Yes. Audio guide texts are available in English, Spanish, Catalan, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, and Russian.
If I visit with a toddler can I enter with a stroller?
Those visiting Barcelona with kids should note that strollers will restrict your mobility greatly. You’re free to leave your stroller with staff and take your toddler in a front pack baby carrier.
Do children under 7 years old need to show ID to get in free?
Unless they’re noticeably young they will need to show ID.
Can I leave my bags or suitcases while I visit?
Yes, there is an allocated space for this purpose.
Am I allowed to take photos at Casa Batllo?
Yes, but flash photography is not permitted.
What language ares available with the audio and/or augmented reality video guide?
In addition to English the guides are available in Catalan, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, and Korean
Get at Me in the Comments NOW
So you’ve bought your Casa Batllo tickets online and skipped the lines – was it worth all the hype?
If you have any question about your Barcelona holiday or any comments about how I can improve this resource please don’t forget harass me in the comments below.
Also don’t be afraid to join the Casa Batllo discussion in my new Facebook group called I’m Off to Barcelona – here you can ask any questions, air out grievances, chat with fellow travelers, and more – anything goes!
Melissa werger
Hello Ash! First, thank you for your site! Such an amazing service!
So I have questions! We are arriving late on a Sunday night. Per your advice, we have an 11 am Gotic walking tour on Monday and Sagrada Familia 6pm in Monday to catch late afternoon sun. Tuesday we go to Park Guell at 9:30 am. Weds we want to see the fountains at night. We leave Thurs morning. We have our two teen boys, 13 and 15. Looking for recos on if any of the night experiences should be done (Milo, Battlo, etc). And looking for your recos of where to fit in Battlo, Mila, Picasso museum, Barceloneta, Montjuic, Montserrat, Pedrera, and Tobitabo (excuse the spelling am on a NY subway and going from memory — always in a NY rush!). Any and all suggestions welcome. Also — this may be harder — any tapas suggestions for my 15 yr old vegetarian? And last — and this is sacrilege so please forgive — we won’t be able to catch a game in Barcelona, should we (and I am ducking under the table) catch Real Madrid when in Madrid?
Thank you!!!!!
Ash
Hello Melissa,
I wrote you on Facebook but will copy the message here so others can benefit from the tips.
Let’s see, in case you haven’t read I would point you toward my 3 day itinerary post:
https://www.barcelonahacks.com/3-days-in-barcelona/
Because I plan it out to minimize travel times and bunch the attractions in the same areas. That said, if you’ve already booked some of the stuff we can work with that as well.
In general I’d try and work in Picasso Museum and Barceloneta in the 2-3 hours you have between the walking tour and Sagrada. Both should be easily accessible from the tour ending point.
I would think teenagers would prefer the Casa Mila Night Tour to the Casa Batllo one… you could schedule that for Tuesday evening.
Wednesday seems to be the day to fit in a bunch of stuff with a big gap in the middle of it… this would be the time to go to Tibidabo as you don’t want to be rushed.
Then you could fit in Montjuic right before the fountains.
As for Casa Batllo you could walk by it on the way to Casa Mila… if you want to visit it on the inside though you can definitely fit it in on the Wednesday afternoon.
Keep in mind though this is a full on itinerary! You’ll need to keep hydrated and be used to being on the move… but I suppose being from NY you’re already used to that
Montserrat is very far away and I would either do that or Tibidabo, but not both… depends what you’re looking for!
As for the vegetarian teen I have a list of vegetarian restaurants here:
https://www.barcelonahacks.com/vegetarian-restaurants-barcelona/
For tapas the best bet for vegeterians and picky people in general is to eat pintxos:
https://www.barcelonahacks.com/pintxos-barcelona/
Because there 30-40 varieties and something for everybody. I’d recommend La Tasqueta del Blai.
And as somebody who secretly despises Barcelona FC, regardless of my love for the city, I would say seeing Real Madrid is a very good consolation prize
Cheers,
Ash
Kathleen
Hi Ash – We only have 3 days in Barcelona and I don’t want to book too many sites. We really love just walking around and discovering. We already are going to Sagrada, Park Guell and the Picasso museum. So, if you had to choose, which would you do, Casa Batllo or Casa Mila? Also, in comments above you noted that with the blue and silver tickets you will have to wait in line, but you also noted that you can skip the line with blue and silver, you will just have to wait in a 5-10 minute queue. Can you please confirm which is accurate? Thanks.
Ash
Hi Kathleen,
If I had to choose just one it would be Casa Batllo… they’ve really spent much more time of the marketing and presentation. The video guide is superb and in my mind there are more interesting things to visit on the inside.
As for the tickets… there are two lines… one is for buying tickets and one is for getting in. The Silver and Blue ones will naturally get you past the original ticket line, but you’ll still have to wait to get in where as the Gold ones you get your own VIP queue which is empty and you go right on in.
It’s a bit confusing, but if you aren’t so much interested in the Gold option a silver is fine since you probably still won’t have to wait all that long.
Cheers,
Ash
Kathleen Mulhearn
Thanks so much for your speedy response!
Ash
No problem! 🙂
Desiree
Quick question on Casa Battlo tickets. The Silver and Gold include the Modernist Hall. Is it worth the extra cost? I am just not sure if I would be missing out if I didn’t upgrade my ticket.
Thank you so much…..love your site!!!
Ash
Hi Desiree,
The modernist hall is the most thoroughly decorated and most impressive of the rooms… if you’re really interested in going back in time and having a walk through a room as it would’ve been when Casa Batllo was at its peak then I would definitely grab the Silver or Gold tickets.
If it doesn’t bother you much I’d just go for the Blue 🙂
Cheers and thanks for the kind words!
Ash
Desiree
Thank you so much Ash!!!!
Ash
No problem! 🙂
Stef
Hi Ash,
This is such an amazing page! But what I can’t find is, if I would like to buy the basic ticket online, how long will the queue to enter the building be?
And if you’re to choose Casa Battlo or Sagrada Familia, which one you prefer to visit first in the morning and later in the afternoon, to avoid a too long queue?
Thank you,
Stef
Ash
Hi Stef,
Thanks for the very kind words and welcome to the page 🙂
if you buy the basic ticket you’ll skip the ticket line but you’ll still have to queue up with the other people of your time slot… it may be 5-10 minutes maximum so no worries there.
For either attraction you won’t be waiting in line very much as long as you book your tickets online in advance… it won’t make a difference either way. I would just book according to your convenience 🙂
Ash
Anand
We are trying to decide between the ‘Be the first’ and the gold option for tickets to Casa Batllo. If we buy the ‘Be the first’ tickets, what happens after 9am? Are there individual lines for each room? If so, do we still get priority access and get to skip the lines for the other rooms, just like the gold ticket holders?
Ash
Hi Anand,
After 9 am they’ll let in the ‘general public’ or the people who have time slots for this hour… obviously it’ll be a bit more traffic inside but having the house almost to yourself for 30 minutes between 8:30 and 9:00 is almost enough to get it all done, and you’ll be up near the roof by 9 and the others will have to catch up!
There normally aren’t individual lines to enter the rooms… the crowd kind of just flows in and out of them… but if there were, it wouldn’t have anything to do with your ticket. The skip the line stuff only refers to the entrance of the building itself.
Ash
Katia
Hi there! Trying to figure out tickets for the Magic Nights. We’ll have our 8-year-old twins with us…worth buying gold for all four of us? Feel like they really won’t benefit from those “two free drinks”.
Ash
Hi Katia,
Indeed, even if they substitute some soft drinks it certainly wouldn’t be as valuable as the wine. Provided you don’t mind waiting a tiny bit in line without the line skipping potential (which isn’t the biggest deal anyway) I’d go for the silver one… no need to go for gold in this case imo 🙂
Ash
Sarah
Hi Ash,
thanks for the super helpful article. Hope you can help me with some questions about the magic nights:
If I purchase a ticket for magic night, can I skip the line for the entrance as well? Or only with the “Magic night gold ticket” again and with other tickets you still have to wait in line?
Do you know if I can come earlier than 20:00 for the visit if I have a magic night ticket? it says entrance at 20:00 and concert at 21:00 so that leaves a maximum of 60 min for the visit itself, while if you purchase a regular ticket you can stay there as long as you want… I would like to have a bit more than an hour to look at everything and not be in a rush….
I would greatly appreciate any tips for that 🙂
Thanks a lot!
Best wishes, Sarah
Sarah
… And if I have to wait in line, I guess it’s not that bad, since it will be in the evening…?
Ash
Yes it won’t be as bad as during peak times! Hopefully only 15 minutes or so 🙂
Sarah
Thanks a lot! I’ll risk it then to not get a gold ticket. 😉
and do you know if I can get into the house already before 8 with the magic night ticket?
Ash
Hi Sarah,
To my knowledge you can only get into the house at the indicated hour on the ticket… but not to worry, you should be able to see everything in the hour before the concert! It took me maybe 45 minutes to wander the house and I was making sure to stop and photograph everything.
Ash
Sarah
great, thanks!
Ash
No problem at all 🙂
Rosemary Wilmot
We want to visit Casa Batllo, i am just checking the wording on the Gold Pass please it says fast pass/skip the line? This is not mentioned on the Silver Pass, So if you buy a Blue or Silver pass this does not enable you to skip the line.
Absolutely love your website it is truly brilliant – thank you
Take Care
Rosemary
Ash
Hi Rosemary,
Yes indeed, unfortunately with the Blue and Silver you won’t be able to skip the lines… this could be no big deal at some points but quite a hassle during peak times.
Thanks so much for your kind words 🙂
Ash
Rosemary Wilmot
Thank you very much Ash for the information. We will be there from the 20th-27th July. So I would expect it to be busy
We will be visiting Sagrada Familia probably on the guided tour.Casa Battlo and hopefully the evening light show at Casablanca Mila-La Pedrera. We will be using taxis for transfer from the Airport. So would it be any point in buying either of the discount options?
Thanks
Rosemary
Ash
Hi Rosemary,
I am going to assume you’re referring to the City Pass and the Barcelona Card?
If you’re not going to take advantage of the Aerobus nor the Bus Turistic (which make up a fairly large part of it) then I would recommend just buying the tickets individually as you won’t be able to make up the value.
As for the Barcelona Card… it doesn’t include Sagrada, you’re not needing it for airport transport, and you’re not visiting museums so it won’t get you any value either! I’d just buy the tickets individually.
Cheers,
Ash
Irina
Hello Ash,
Can you please tell me how would we get from Sagrada Familia to Casa Batllo by public transportation?
Thank you
Irina
Ash
Hi Irina,
Just grab the purple line of the metro to a Passeig de Gracia and from here it’s just a few minutes walk 🙂
Ash
Irina
Thanks!
Ash
No problem 🙂
Irina
Ash, I am really harassing you in the comments. So sorry for so many questions. Just can’t figure out some things and hope on your help. I need your advice with our schedule.
So, here is our schedule:
June 29 we arrive in Barcelona sometime in the morning.Maybe around 9 am or so. Staying in Eric Vokel Aparthotel(Carrer Grassot,4). We have a dinner reservation at 8:00 pm at Xiringuito Escriba.
Nothing else planned yet. So what would you suggest?
June 30 from 10 am till 3 pm we have private tour which I’ve booked long time ago before knowing your website:-) It’s a car tour and we will see some attractions ( Catalonia Square,Gothic Quarter,The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia,Arco de Triunfo de Barcelona,Plaça d’Espanya, Montjuic, Olympic Stadium, Port Olympic, Born)
That evening we’ve booked “7 portes” restaurant for dinner at 8 pm.
So maybe there is something we can do in between as well. Something small. Because after our tour we would come back to our hotel, rest a little bit and get change. But maybe there is something on the way to the restaurant or in that area..?
July 1: 9:00 am Park Guell
July 2: 2:00 pm Sagrada Familia English Guided Tour
Since we have a City Pass which I’ve got through ticketbar we would need to figure out what day it is better for us to use our Hop on Hop 1 day tickets,what day and time we do Casa Mila and Casa Batllo. Also we would like to see a Magic Fountain and Park Tibidado. If you have any other suggestions I would really appreciate it.
Can’t thank you enough.
Irina
Ash
Hi Irina,
No worries about the ‘harassment’ as that’s what I’m here for 😉
Let’s see, my first impression of this itinerary is that it’s missing the beach (well, the Port Olimpic sure but not full on) and the traditional fishing neighbourhood of Barceloneta. In the summer this is one of the top things to do!
I would do this on day one… you could have a great stroll along the waterfront and duck into some nice bars for a quick vermut (the local drink!) in a place like Bar Leo or Bitacora. You could then walk up into the fashionable Born district and see the Santa Maria del Mar and maybe do some artisan shopping.
Near 7 Portes there’s the aquarium and the Maremagnum shopping centre but it’s not all that special… you could walk about 10 minutes from there and find the Catalan History Museum which explains everything about the Barcelona region dating back as far as can be.
Keep in mind there is no fountain show on the 1st or 2nd so you’ll have to squeeze that in on the 29th or 30th but I don’t know how that’s possible since your dinner plans will cut into it 🙁
I would put Tibidabo in on the 1st after Park Guell since you’re already half way up the mountain 😉 And then put the Gaudi mansions on the 2nd after Sagrada Familia.
This will hopefully minimize travel and stress!
Ash
Irina
Thanks for letting me know that there are no Magic Fountain Shows on 1st and 2nd. I looked at the map and seems like 7 portes is a little closer to the Fountain than Xiringuito Escriba and also 7 portes opens until 1am so we do the show on 30th then.
In this case we have 3 options.
First one: I can change our dinner reservation for earlier like 7 pm(but I think the restaurant will be completely empty:)) and come to the show by 9:30pm.
Second option:we leave our dinner reservation as it is at 8pm, but in this case we may arrive to the show closer to its ending…
And the third option would be go to the Show by 9:30,and then go to eat dinner around 10:30pm since 7 portes opens until 1 am..:) What option would you suggest?
Ash
Hi Irina,
Indeed, 7 Portes will be considerably closer so this would be the superior dinner-fountain combo!
I would hate to see you rush through dinner or sit in an empty restaurant so my choice would be to eat as the Spaniards do. I know it sounds crazy but having dinner at 10:30 is totally normal here, so this may even add to the authenticity of the trip 🙂
Ash
Irina
Hello Ash,
I included all off your suggestions in our itinerary and now our schedule seems much better and more organized 🙂 I have booked Casa Batllo(regular visit) for 5 pm and after that ‘Casa Mila at Night’ at the same day as you have suggested.
I still have a few questions for you. What day would you suggest to use Hop on Hop ? I thought maybe on a day when we are doing Guell and Tibidado since it will be done at the first part of the day and the rest of the day is free.. We only have one day Hop on Hope, so for the other days should we get The Hola Barcelona Travel Card?
And can you please also recommend a good places for breakfast near Eric Vokel Aparthotel(Carrer Grassot,4)
Thanks a lot
Irina
Ash
Hi Irina,
I would indeed recommend doing the Bus Turistic as you have planned for the reason that it’s your day with the most free time… and also, Park Guell and Tibidabo are your most distant attractions and so using the Bus Turistic for these takes away the hassle of getting there independently.
If you’re on the blue line of the Bus Turistic you can get off at the Tramvia Blau – Tibidabo stop and from there you can easily access Tibidabo.
For the rest of the transport the Hola BCN is the best for people doing heavy sightseeing as it takes the thought and hassle away from transport with your unlimited card.
For breakfast around your hotel I would recommend either Granja Petitbo or Cheese and Cake… the latter I have not tried but I’ve heard some great things. If you’re looking for a modern, brunchy type spot it will be worth a try 🙂
Ash
Irina
Thanks again,Ash for all recommendations!
Irina
Ash
No problem at all 🙂
Irina
Ash,it’s me again:-) I read on your website here that Casa Mila and Casa Batllo should be combined at the same day since they are close and it makes sense of course. But if we do ‘Casa Mila at night’ and here is the information from barcelonacitypassticketbar :”It is available every 20 minutes from 7pm to 10pm. Please make sure that you are available to do the visit during the full timeframe”. So do I understand it correctly that we have to be available from 7 to 10 pm and we can’t plan anything at this time frame? In this case if we are doing the Casa Batllo at the same night it is another hour or so. I am not sure what time we can eat dinner then and I can’t see the Casa Mila dinner option..:-(
Thank you.
Irina
Ash
Hi Irina,
Yes indeed, unfortunately with the City Pass they’ll be scheduling the time slot for you and you’ll need to be free during this time frame… were you planning on the Casa Batllo Magic Nights visit as well? I am not following. If you’re just doing a regular visit you could schedule it for around 5 and you’ll get to Mila with plenty of time!
Also, keep in mind Spaniards eat dinner around 10! The restaurants will be empty around 8 or 9 anyway… so maybe it’s a ‘when in Rome…’ situation and you can eat after 😉 If not, just schedule the Batllo visit for earlier and have a snack to hold you over.
Ash
Irina
Hi Ash,
I am planning to purchase Casa Batllo tickets with Barcelona City Pass discount and there are two options: Casa Battlo Plus and Casa Battlo Basic Tickets. Which one would you recommend? So with Casa Battlo Plus we would see Casa Vicens. Do you think it worth to pay extra to see it?
Also another question about Casa Mila, we are thinking to do Casa Mila Night tour. But I don’t see on a ticketbar website (I followed the link when I’ve got my citypass confirmation with 20% discount) the option Origins+Dinner. First of all I would like to ask your advice for the family of 4 (two adults two kids age 3.5 and 5.5) is Origins+Dinner a good option? And second of all if this option is available at all with City Pass?
Thanks again for all of your help.
Irina
Ash
Hi Irina,
I assume this would be the Casa Batllo Gold vs. Casa Batllo Blue tickets? I don’t currently have this on my list of City Pass attractions and it’s possible they just updated it (they add things all the time) without telling me haha. Without knowing the prices and exactly what products these are I don’t want to steer you the wrong way.
Can you send me the links they gave you and I can take a better look?
Again, on my list I see ‘Casa Mila at night’ for City Pass buyers… are you sure there is only the dinner option? Honestly, with so many good restaurants in the area like El Nacional, Ciudad Condal, Bodega Joan etc. I would suggest skipping the dinner option… but it’s just a rule I have: if the food is the secondary attraction it’s probably going to be lacking something 😉
Again, I haven’t tried it myself but I do remember being invited to one of their open nights for marketing people and the tapas spreads were not that impressive at all.
The Night Tour should be available… maybe you should double check the list? On my list here it is available.
Ash
Irina
Hi Ash,
And thanks again. https://barcelonacitypass.rgi.ticketbar.eu/en/ticketbar-barcelona/casa-batllo-/ here is the link to Casa Batllo tickets.
With regard to Casa Mila I was unclear. Sorry. What I meant was I couldn’t find the dinner option, but I could find “Casa Mila at night”. But after reading what you wrote I agree, I would not do the dinner since there are plenty of good restaurants around.
Would you suggest to visit Casa Batllo magic nights or just a regular visit? And if you suggest the Casa Batllo Magic Nights then should I do it at the same day as Casa Mila? And actually I can’t see the option “Casa Batllo magic nights”..
Irina
Ash
Hi Irina,
Thanks for sharing the link! It appears I’m very much behind in the times as I was looking at an older link from 2018… now that it’s all clear I can make some sense of it 😉
Unfortunately the Casa Batllo Magic Nights ticket is not included in the City Pass… that said, the performances and the show they put on is quite unique and impressive. If you’re fans of live music and want a unique experience for a bit extra money I would highly recommend it.
Ash
Connie/Folsom,ca
Hi Ash,
Just wondering if you know the June dates for Casa Battlo’s Magic Nights. I am very interested in attending. I have been to their site to purchase tickets online, however, there are no dates. I would appreciate your help.
Thanks,
Connie
Ash
Hi Connie,
Yes indeed it’s getting a bit late here! I’ve been checking back looking for info but they still haven’t released. In case you haven’t seen already they’ve got an email list to sign up to for any updates… I imagine they’ll let you know ASAP if you’re registered there.
You can find it here:
https://www.casabatllo.es/en/online-tickets/visit-magic-nights/
Otherwise, keep your eyes peeled here and I will have the dates as they come available!
Ash
Connie
Thanks for your quick and helpful reply.
Ash
No problem Connie, please let me know if you need any more help 🙂
Gigi Ross
Hi Ash,
Fabulous site! If only there were one of you in every city :). Two questions:
1. We are going to be in Barcelona June 26 (arriving afternoon) and leaving Monday 7/1. Will the Casa Batllo still be under construction the last week of June? We have two moody teens with us and if there’s tons of construction or a lot they cant see, they may hate it. What do you recommend?
2 Also, we had already booked part of itinerary when I found your 3 day plan. We are staying right above Bodega Joan (I see you mention it here!). Right now we have no plan for our first evening, June 26…what would you recommend? We’ve go the following mapped out:
June 27 – Gothic Quarter walking tour, perhaps boqueria and las ramblas wandering, maybe Casa Battlo depending on construction
June 28 Park Guell and Sagrada
June 29 & 30 still open