Palau Güell, the Modernista palace Antoni Gaudí built for the Güell family (1886–1890) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, sits just off Las Ramblas at Carrer Nou de la Rambla 3-5, a 3-minute walk from Liceu metro (L3). General admission costs €12 (reduced €9, mini €5, under-10s free) and includes an audio guide. It opens Tuesday to Sunday (closed non-holiday Mondays): 10:00–20:00 in summer and 10:00–17:30 in winter. The visit takes about an hour, ending on a rooftop of 20 trencadís chimneys. Entry is free on the first Sunday of each month (book online in advance)
You may also be interested in
- Sagrada Familia
- Parc Güell
- Casa Milà (La Pedrera)
- Casa Batlló
- Palau de la Música Catalana
- Casa Vicens
What is Palau Güell?
Palau Güell is one of Barcelona’s best-kept secrets: the Modernista palace that Antoni Gaudí built between 1886 and 1890 for his patron, the industrialist Eusebi Güell — long before the Sagrada Família or Casa Milà made him a legend. A UNESCO World Heritage Site (inscribed in 1984), it draws far fewer visitors than the architect’s other landmarks, which makes it one of the most genuinely authentic and peaceful Gaudí experiences in the city. It reopened in 2011 after a careful seven-year restoration. As an early work, it already contains the essence of everything Gaudí would go on to create.
How much does Palau Güell cost in 2026?
General admission is €12 and includes access to all floors (including the rooftop terrace), the audio guide in several languages and the permanent furniture exhibition. Buying online is the same price as the box office but lets you skip the queue and choose your time slot.
| Ticket type | Price (2026) |
|---|---|
| General admission (adults 18+) | €12 |
| Reduced (EU seniors 65+, students 18+, Barcelona Card, Ruta del Modernisme) | €9 |
| Mini (ages 13–18, large/single-parent families, Youth Card holders) | €5 |
| Children under 10 | Free |
Official Palau Güell fares; weekend guided tours are included free with admission. Prices may change — check the official website before purchasing.
Free weekend guided tours in Spanish, Catalan, English and French are included with your ticket. Times rotate by language and day, so check the current schedule on the official website when you book.
When is Palau Güell free?
This is one of the most searched questions about the palace, and the answer is good news: Palau Güell holds free open-door days throughout the year. Capacity is strictly limited, so free tickets must be booked online in advance at entrades.palauguell.cat — first-Sunday tickets are released the previous Thursday at 10:00, and slots disappear fast.
- First Sunday of every month (year-round)
- 12 February — Santa Eulàlia Day
- 23 April — Sant Jordi (St George’s Day)
- Night of the Museums (May)
- 11 September — Catalan National Day (Diada)
- 24 September — La Mercè festival
- 15 December — anniversary of Eusebi Güell’s birth
Regardless of open-door events, the following always enter free of charge: children under 10, unemployed residents of Spain, people with a disability of 65% or above (plus one companion), official tourist guides and teachers accompanying school groups.
What are Palau Güell’s opening hours?
Palau Güell runs on two seasonal schedules and is closed on non-holiday Mondays:
- Summer (1 April – 31 October): Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00–20:00 (last entry 19:00).
- Winter (1 November – 31 March): Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00–17:30 (last entry 16:30).
- Closed: non-holiday Mondays, 25–26 December, 1 and 6 January, and the last week of January for annual maintenance.
The ticket office closes one hour before the building does, so booking online lets you arrive right up to the last entry time.
How long does a visit to Palau Güell take?
A complete visit following the audio guide takes about one hour. If you read the panels carefully, linger on the rooftop or join a guided tour, plan on 90 minutes to 2 hours. The route runs vertically, from the basement stables up floor by floor to the rooftop terrace (the lift is reserved for visitors with reduced mobility).
What can you see at Palau Güell?
- The underground stables: mushroom-capped brick columns and a helical ramp where the Güell family kept their horses — functional space turned into organic engineering.
- The limestone-and-iron façade: two parabolic wrought-iron gates bearing the intertwined «G» of the Güell family, among the earliest organic forms in modern architecture.
- The central hall and parabolic dome: the heart of the palace, a double-height reception room crowned by a dome pierced with small openings that fill the space with a starlit light.
- The family’s private rooms: bedrooms with original furniture designed for the palace, and the permanent exhibition on the furniture and restoration.
- The rooftop: the high point in every sense — over 400 m² crowned by 20 chimneys clad in coloured trencadís, no two alike, with exceptional views over El Raval and the Gothic Quarter.
💡 Tip: the rooftop may close during heavy rain or strong wind. If the weather looks uncertain, check with the palace before you go.
Where is Palau Güell and how to get there?
Palau Güell is at Carrer Nou de la Rambla 3-5, 08001 Barcelona, in El Raval, just steps from Las Ramblas — the most centrally located of all Gaudí’s major buildings. The nearest metro is Liceu (Line 3, green), a 3-minute walk; buses V13, 59, 91 and 120 and the Bus Turístic also stop nearby. On foot it’s about 1 minute from Las Ramblas, 7 minutes from La Boqueria and the Gothic Quarter, and 10 minutes from Plaça Catalunya.
Hotel Arc La Rambla: Your Base for Visiting Palau Güell
Hotel Arc La Rambla is just 3 minutes on foot from Palau Güell, at La Rambla 19-21. No metro, no taxi — step out the front door, turn right, and you’re there. That kind of proximity makes it the ideal base for exploring the quieter, more intimate side of Gaudí in Barcelona, and you’ll also have Las Ramblas, the Gothic Quarter and Port Vell right at hand. At reception we can point you toward free-entry dates and help with bookings, and you can leave your bags in our luggage store on your check-out day.
💡 Book on our website with the code ARCBLOG and enjoy a special perk as a blog reader.
Frequently Asked Questions about Palau Güell
Palau Güell — frequently asked questions
How much does Palau Güell cost?
General admission for adults (18+) costs €12. The reduced rate is €9 (EU seniors 65+, students 18+, Barcelona Card, Ruta del Modernisme) and the mini rate €5 (ages 13–18, large families, Youth Card holders). Children under 10 enter free. The audio guide is included.
When is Palau Güell free?
Entry is free on the first Sunday of every month and on 12 February (Santa Eulàlia), 23 April (Sant Jordi), the Night of the Museums (May), 11 September (Diada), 24 September (La Mercè) and 15 December. Capacity is limited and free tickets must be booked online in advance; first-Sunday tickets are released the previous Thursday at 10:00.
What are Palau Güell’s opening hours?
Summer (1 April–31 October): Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00–20:00 (last entry 19:00). Winter (1 November–31 March): Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00–17:30 (last entry 16:30). Closed on non-holiday Mondays, 25–26 December, 1 and 6 January, and the last week of January.
What is the difference between Palau Güell and Park Güell?
They are two different Gaudí works commissioned by the same patron, Eusebi Güell. Palau Güell (1886–1890) is an urban palace in the city centre; Park Güell is a hillside public park on the Carmel hill, designed between 1900 and 1914. Both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Is Palau Güell the same as Casa Gaudí?
No. Palau Güell is the palace Gaudí designed for the Güell family, not where the architect lived. The Gaudí House Museum, where Gaudí actually resided, is inside Park Güell.
Can I take photos inside Palau Güell?
Yes, personal photography is welcome throughout the building, but flash, tripods and selfie sticks are not permitted.
