We had a jam-packed day planned for our first full day in Spain. Antoni Gaudí is known for his unique display of architecture – weaving Modernism throughout the city of Barcelona.

Our first stop, was Park Güell. Chances are, if you’ve ever looked up Barcelona, you’ve likely seen pictures of this park. Park Güell was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. We love exploring the world and finding these gems throughout our adventures.

Our ticket time was for 10 am, and we couldn’t believe that it was already hot and sticky. Our journey took us through viaducts, up to different houses, and over to nature square that looked over two buildings that ended up being a museum and a bookstore. The view was from above, but later in our tour we were able to get closer to them.

As we continued through the tour, we stopped underneath the nature square in a place called the Hypostyle Room, which had beautiful mosaics lining the ceiling lined with pillars. This was the way down to the museum and the bookstore, but we made a quick pit stop to look at one of the famous mosaic iguanas that Gaudí had created. The lines were long for both the museum and bookstore, so we opted to skip both of those.

We had our next tour booked at Casa Batlló – we had originally thought we might be able to walk since it was all downhill. But it was still about a 45 minute walk. Time was of the essence – so we opted to get a cab over there. (Just a note if you’re trying to sneak in a few visits in Barcelona as well!)

Casa Batlló is another modernist masterpiece by Gaudí. Often referred to as the “House of Bones” due to its organic, skeletal design, this UNESCO World Heritage site dazzles with its beautiful exterior, vibrant mosaics, and whimsical, nature-inspired details on the interior. The building’s colorful, scaled roof resembles a dragon’s back, while the interior is equally stunning, with flowing lines, intricate woodwork, and stained glass that floods the space with light. It felt like we were stepping into another world. We absolutely LOVED this stop!

From Casa Batlló, we found a place nearby before making our way to Palau Güell. Palau Güell is a hidden gem in Barcelona and one of Gaudí’s early masterpieces. Built in the late 1800s for the wealthy Güell family, it’s a blend of luxury and creativity. It’s obvious very quickly that Gaudí was involved in the design!

The palace has cool features like intricate ironwork, unique arches, and a rooftop covered in colorful chimneys that look like something out of a fairy tale. (Think Dr. Seuss!) The main hall is especially impressive, with a dome and stained glass windows that fill the space with gorgeous light, and there’s even an elegant pipe organ that adds to the grandeur. (It plays different songs every 30 minutes or so, so you get to see it in action).

The Güell family was a big deal in Barcelona, with Eusebi Güell being a major figure in the city’s cultural and economic scene. He was a close friend of Gaudí and wanted Palau Güell to be more than just a home—it was a statement piece that showed off his love for art and design. We really enjoyed being able to see more unique features

We rounded out the day by walking down La Rambla and visiting the Columbus statue near the Mediterranean. (We had a fun realization that America’s Cup is being held in Barcelona, so we saw lots of billboards and signs, but sadly won’t be able to do anything on this trip with it).

Our dogs were barking with almost 20,000 steps by the end of the day. We had a delicious meal at Indian Herbs and called it a day.

Up Next:
– Corgi Cafe
– Tour of Sagrada Familia