Gaudí in Barcelona: Which Building Should You Visit—Casa Milà or Casa Batlló? 🌀

If you're walking around Barcelona, there's no escaping the name Gaudí. And honestly, why would you want to?

Antoni Gaudí, the Catalan architect and pioneer of Art Nouveau in Spain, left a mark so bold that it practically bends the streets. His creations feel alive—curved, organic, and full of symbolic detail inspired by nature: plants, seashells, skeletons, flowers, animals, and even fruits.

From cathedrals to apartment buildings, parks to industrial designs, his architecture doesn’t follow the rules—it creates its own language.

If you're planning a Gaudí day and wondering which building to visit, here’s our honest breakdown—and why (if you can) you should really see both.

🪨 Casa Milà (aka La Pedrera): Our Top Pick

If you only have time or budget for one Gaudí masterpiece, start here.

• Location: Passeig de Gràcia, in the Eixample district

• Built: 1906–1910

• Nickname: La Pedrera (The Stone Quarry) due to its unconventional appearance

• Purpose: Originally designed as luxury apartments and offices for Pere Milà

The façade mimics the waves of the sea with balconies that look like tangled seaweed, and once you step inside, it only gets wilder. The rooftop is an open-air sculpture garden of spiraling chimneys and surreal shapes—you’ve never seen a roof like this.

🎧 What We Loved

• The free audio guide is fantastic (and included in the ticket)

• The attic space displays Gaudí’s influences—real animal skeletons, shell patterns, and architectural models

• The route is intuitive: start from the top, descend through apartments, and end in the museum

🏆 UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984

🎟️ Admission

• Students: €16.50

• Adults: €22

• 📅 Hours:

  • March 1 – November 4: 9:00 AM – 8:30 PM

  • November 5 – February 28: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM

🐉 Casa Batlló: Bones, Waves, and Augmented Reality?

Just a few minutes’ walk away is the equally wild Casa Batlló, located in the Mansana de la Discòrdia—a block known for its flamboyant architecture.

Originally a conventional building, it was transformed by Gaudí in 1906 at the request of textile magnate Josep Batlló i Casanovas.

The result? A mythical, aquatic façade that looks like a calm lake surface. In fact, Salvador Dalí once said the building looked like “a house in the sea.” Some call it the House of Bones because of the skeletal columns on the lower balconies.

🤳 Modern Touches (That You Might Love… or Not)

Casa Batlló recently introduced augmented reality guides—interactive tablets that show furniture, décor, and historical facts through your screen.

We liked the idea, but honestly? Don’t forget to look up from the screen. The architecture deserves your full attention.

🏆 UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005

🎟️ Admission

• Students: €21.50

• Adults: €24.50

• 📅 Hours: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

• 🧠 Audio guide included + optional AR experience

✨ Final Thoughts: Which One Should You Choose?

FeatureCasa Milà (La Pedrera)Casa BatllóPriceLowerSlightly higherRooftopSculptural, surrealColorful, curved tilesExperienceMore architectural historyMore visual spectacleTech IntegrationTraditional audio guideAugmented realityVesper's Favorite 💫✅

If you're tight on time or budget, go with Casa Milà—it’s cheaper, slightly less crowded, and the storytelling around Gaudí’s vision is richer. But if you’re fascinated by color, curves, and immersive experiences, Casa Batlló is unforgettable too.

Travel Tip: Both buildings are on Passeig de Gràcia, so you can visit both in one day—yes, it’s totally doable!

📸 Tag @studio.vesper in your favorite Gaudí photo—we’ll repost our favorites!

Ready to explore more Art Nouveau magic in Barcelona? Check out our Sagrada Família and Park Güell guides next.