Casa Vicens, Antoni Gaudí’s very first house (1883–1885) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is in the Gràcia district, about 250 m from Fontana metro (L3). It opens every day, roughly 9:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m. in summer and 9:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m. in winter. General self-guided admission costs €18 and the reduced fare €16; children under 11 enter free. The visit lasts 1 to 2 hours and includes the interiors, terrace, garden and a free audio guide in 16 languages. Book online with a date and time.
You may also be interested in
- Sagrada Familia
- Parc Güell
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- Casa Batlló
- Palau de la Música Catalana
- Palau Güell
What is Casa Vicens and why visit it?
Casa Vicens is the first house Antoni Gaudí ever designed and one of Barcelona’s best-kept secrets, tucked behind a palmetto-leaf railing in the Gràcia district. He built it between 1883 and 1885 as a summer residence, commissioned by Manuel Vicens i Montaner, long before the Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló or La Pedrera. Here the master of modernisme was already playing with colourful tiles, turrets and nature-inspired forms, blending Mudéjar and oriental tradition with a style that was still emerging. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005 and has been open as a house museum since 2017.
How much do Casa Vicens tickets cost in 2026?
There are several ticket types depending on how you want to experience the visit. It’s usually better value to buy online and skip the queue. All options include full access to the house (interiors, terrace and garden), the exhibitions and the free audio guide.
| Ticket type | Price (2026) |
|---|---|
| General admission (self-guided) | €18 |
| Reduced fare | €16 |
| Children under 11 | Free |
| Visitor with a disability and companion | Free |
| Guided tour (small group, max. 12) | Higher |
| Sweet Gaudí (self-guided + artisan ice cream) | Small surcharge |
The reduced fare applies to students aged 12–25, over-65s, large or single-parent families and visitors with a disability, on showing valid ID. Check the exact price on the official website.
When can you visit Casa Vicens for free?
There are occasions when entry is free: children under 11 always, visitors with a disability and their companion, and on open-door days such as International Museum Day (18 May) and the Nit dels Museus / Night of Museums, plus some local festivities. Open-door dates are announced each year, so it’s worth checking the official calendar if you want your visit to coincide with a free day.
What are Casa Vicens’s opening hours?
Casa Vicens opens every day of the year except 25 December and 6 January. Hours change by season: from April to October it opens roughly 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and from November to March from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The last entry is about 40 minutes before closing. As times may be adjusted on special dates, it’s safest to check the “Hours and fares” section on casavicens.org on the day of your visit.
What you’ll see inside Casa Vicens
Casa Vicens is an explosion of colour and fantasy where Gaudí tried out many ideas he would later develop. These are the must-sees:
- The façade: brick, stone and thousands of ceramic tiles bearing the famous yellow marigold motif, the flower that grew on the original plot.
- The main rooms: the dining room, the smoking room with its Arab-inspired muqarnas ceiling, and rooms decorated with plant and bird motifs.
- The permanent exhibition: “Casa Vicens, Gaudí’s first house”, with drawings, manuscripts and historical context of the Barcelona of the time.
- The terrace and Mediterranean garden: an oasis of calm that shows how Gaudí turned nature into architecture.
When is the best time to visit Casa Vicens?
The best time to visit Casa Vicens is the first slot of the morning, right when it opens, or late afternoon: these are the times with fewer groups and the best light for photographing the tiled façade and the garden. Weekdays are quieter than weekends. As capacity is limited, booking a date and time is the best way to guarantee a relaxed visit, especially from April to October.
What are the 3 Gaudí houses?
When people talk about “the 3 houses of Gaudí” in Barcelona, they usually mean Casa Vicens (his first house, in Gràcia), Casa Batlló (the house of bones, on Passeig de Gràcia) and Casa Milà or La Pedrera (his last great civil house, also on Passeig de Gràcia). All three are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and many visitors combine them on a single modernista route; there are even combined tickets to discover them in one go.
Where is Casa Vicens and how to get there?
Casa Vicens is at Carrer de les Carolines 20-26, 08012 Barcelona, right in the Gràcia district. The nearest metro stop is Fontana (L3), about 250 m away, with Lesseps (L3) also close by. There is also the Gràcia FGC station (L6, L7, S1, S2, S5, S55) and several bus lines (22, 24, 27, 87, 114, H6, V17, D40 and N4). Gràcia is connected to the centre by the L3 (green) line, so from the La Rambla and harbour area you’ll get there directly, with no transfers.
Hotel Arc La Rambla — your basecamp for the most authentic Gaudí
From Hotel Arc La Rambla (La Rambla 19-21, next to Drassanes metro, L3), Casa Vicens is a direct metro ride away: the same green line (L3) takes you, with no transfers, to Fontana, just a few metres from the house. So you can start the morning in the heart of Barcelona and stand before Gaudí’s first work in barely 20 minutes. On the way back you’ll have La Rambla, the Gothic Quarter and Port Vell right at hand to keep exploring. At reception we can help with tickets and timings, and if you explore the city on your check-out day you can leave your bags in our luggage store.
💡 Book on our website with the code ARCBLOG and enjoy a special perk as a blog reader.
Frequently asked questions
Casa Vicens — frequently asked questions
How much do Casa Vicens tickets cost?
General self-guided admission costs €18 and the reduced fare €16 (students aged 12–25, over-65s, large or single-parent families and visitors with a disability). Children under 11 enter free, and guided tours or the Sweet Gaudí option cost a little more.
What are Casa Vicens’s opening hours?
It opens every day except 25 December and 6 January. From April to October, roughly 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; from November to March, 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The last entry is about 40 minutes before closing.
How long does a visit to Casa Vicens take?
The visit takes between 1 and 2 hours, about 75 minutes on average, and includes the interiors, the terrace, the garden and the exhibitions. With the free audio guide you can go at your own pace.
What are the 3 houses of Gaudí?
Casa Vicens (his first house, in Gràcia), Casa Batlló and Casa Milà or La Pedrera (both on Passeig de Gràcia). All three are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Is Casa Vicens worth visiting?
Yes. It is Gaudí’s first work and the least crowded of his houses, which makes for a relaxed visit. Anyone who wants to understand how the master of modernisme began will find here, as early as 1883, many of the ideas he would later develop in Casa Batlló, La Pedrera and the Sagrada Família.
Who owned Casa Vicens?
The house was commissioned by Manuel Vicens i Montaner, who wanted it as a summer residence for his family — hence the name. After several owners, the financial group MoraBanc acquired it in 2014, restored it and opened it as a house museum in 2017.
