Food and Travel Blog

Tango and Rakija

Casa Batllo (Barcelona) – Tour guide & Tips for visiting

Casa Batllo (Barcelona) – Tour guide & Tips for visiting

Casa Batllo (Barcelona) – Tour guide & Tips for visiting

Casa Batllo (Barcelona) - Tour guide & Tips for visiting - Patio of lights

Casa Batllo (Barcelona) – Tour guide & Tips for visiting

Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp
Email

WHAT IS CASA BATLLO?

Casa Batllo is another of masterpieces done by the most famous Catalan architect – Antoni Gaudi.

Gaudi’s work is recognizable by freedom of form, brave combinations of colors and textures and nature-inspired structures.

Casa Batllo (Barcelona) – Tour guide & Tips for visiting - front facade

 

Casa Batllo is located in the very central part of Barcelona in one of the busiest avenues – Passeig de Gracia and it’s, definitely, one of the major landmarks of the city.

Back to the beginnings of 20th century, the avenue Passeig de Gracia has become the favorite street of the wealthy businessman of Barcelona.

They were demonstrating their power by commissioning the construction of large houses on the boulevard competing, in a way, between themselves.

Everyone wanted to have the highest, the most beautiful, most unique house and they were hiring the most prominent architect of the epoch.

Gaudi was at the peak of his career (aged 52) when he was hired by family Batllo to construct the house that would stand out from the neighboring ones.

The family Batllo bought the old house that was constructed by one of Gaudi’s teachers. Batllos basically wanted to demolish it completely and hired Gaudi to build the whole new house on its place.

Instead, Gaudi decided to fully reconstruct it.

So, he did, and now we have one of the true masterpieces like no other.

Since few years ago, the house is open to public so you can admire it from inside as well.

The house was closed for visits during some months due to Corona-virus but, now it’s open again. 

They apply all the necessary hygiene measures, number of people in the house is reduced so there is no usual crowds. Face masks are mandatory as well as disinfecting your hands at the entrance.

Good thing about limiting the number of people in the house is that you can see it in peace with only few persons around.

From outside, the house stands out thanks to its façade decorated with a mosaic made of broken ceramic tiles in combination with glass and gives an impression of a lake surface with water lilies.

Pillars on the bottom part of the house looks like bones so the house is also, unofficially, called The House of Bones.

Casa Batllo (Barcelona) – Tour guide & Tips for visiting - House of Bones

Casa Batllo is also characteristic by its curvy structure (the whole house almost doesn’t have straight lines), and by its reptile-like roof terrace.

These are just some of the main and the most obvious characteristic of this house.

However, the whole house is a treasury of hidden meanings and metaphors – like any of Gaudi’s works.

WHAT THERE IS INSIDE?

  • The Entrance Hall on the ground floor is the first stop of the visit.

Here you can see the skylights that resemble turtles, curved walls and a wooden stairs that will lead you further.

Casa Batllo (Barcelona) – Tour guide & Tips for visiting - The entrance hall Casa Batllo (Barcelona) – Tour guide & Tips for visiting - The noble floor

Undulating lines and curved forms are everywhere, walls, ceilings, stairs, doorways… everything has unconventional forms and shapes but preserving the functionality.

  • The Noble Floor – is the central part of the house where you can see the mushroom-shaped fireplace and a large living room with massive windows looking at Paseo de Gracia.
  • Patio of lights is fundamental part of the house as it distributes the air and light that enter through the main skylight.

The patio is decorated in different shades of blue ceramic tiles.

This was one of our favorite parts of the house. Shades of blue are changing to darker as you go up to the next floor and gives beautiful reflection from the sun that comes in. So hypnotizing.

Casa Batllo (Barcelona) - Tour guide & Tips for visiting - Patio of lights

  • Indoor garden is located in the center of the Noble Floor and it used to serve as the Batllo family’s private dining room. It’s a real small green oasis where you can take a break and relax for a moment.

Casa Batllo (Barcelona) – Tour guide & Tips for visiting - Indoor Garden Bar Casa Batllo (Barcelona) – Tour guide & Tips for visiting - Indoor Garden Bar - Entrance

  • Exclusive room with the authentic setting and furniture from 1900s will bring you to another era.
    Basic, general ticket (Blue option) don’t include visit to this room so if you want to visit it, make sure to buy Silver or Gold ticket.

Casa Batllo, Barcelona - Tour Guide & Tips for Visiting- Exclusive Room, 1900s furniture Casa Batllo, Barcelona - Tour Guide & Tips for Visiting- Exclusive Room, 1900s furniture

  • The Loft area used to be a service area – laundry rooms, storage rooms etc.

This area of the house is totally different than the rest – the space is composed of a large number of white arches resembling the animal’s ribs.

Casa Batllo, Barcelona - Tour Guide & Tips for Visiting- The Loft

  • Rooftop terrace is also known as the dragon’s back – done in curvy lines and colorful ceramic tiles.

It is believed that it symbolically represents the legend of Saint George – the patron saint of Catalonia.

The four-armed cross symbolizes the sword that Saint George uses to kill the dragon.

During the summer, normally, are organized special music nights on the rooftop terrace so if you are interested to spend some more time enjoying beautiful views, drinks and music check out the official website for the actual events.

Casa Batllo, Barcelona - Tour Guide & Tips for Visiting- Rooftop - Dragon Back Roof Casa Batllo, Barcelona - Tour Guide & Tips for Visiting- Rooftop Terrace Bar

Without extending this text even more, rest assured that this is just part of what you will learn and see during the actual visit.

AMENITIES

  • Free Augmented Reality Smart Video Guide
  • Wi-Fi
  • Gift-shop
  • Adapted Visit (wheelchair access, Information in Braille)
  • Air conditioning
  • Hand sanitizers distributed at several points within the property
  • Bar at the Indoor Garden
  • Bar at the rooftop terrace

FOOD & DRINK

There are two bars – one at the Indoor Garden and another one at the rooftop terrace.

You can order some drink at your own or you can buy some of the combo tickets that include a drink of choice with your entrance ticket.

TIME FOR VISIT:

The visit is limited to 1 hour so distribute the time wisely.

The house is not too big but has many details so anything can easily draw your attention for quite some time.

If you don’t manage to see all that you wanted you can claim the extended visit at the exit and they should give you an extension ticket which you can use any other day to see what you missed.

If you buy a ticket with a drink consummation, our suggestion is to take the drink at the rooftop terrace and not at the Indoor garden as the rooftop terrace is where your visit finishes so you can be sure to have visited all and then enjoy the drink at peace.

PRICES:

General ticket has 3 options:

  • Blue – Smart Guide (Augmented Reality) included – 15 eur for residents in Spain, 25 eur for non-residents
  • Silver – Smart Guide (Augmented Reality) + Exclusive Room (1900s furniture) included – 23 eur for residents in Spain, 33 eur for non-residents
  • Gold – Smart Guide (Augmented Reality) + Exclusive Room (1900s furniture) + Drink included – 25 eur for residents in Spain, 35 eur for non-residents

Special discounts:

  • Children up to 12 years old, Carnet Club Super3 – Free
  • Between 13 and 17 years old, Students (with student card), Carnet Jove, People from 65 years old – minus 3 eur
  • People with disabilities (only at the ticket office) – minus 3 eur
  • Companion to a blind person – Free
  • Tourist promotions (only at the ticket office)
  • Bus Turistic customers – minus 3 eur
  • Barcelona City Tours customers – minus 3 eur
  • Barcelona Card customers – minus 3 eur
  • Parcelona Pass customers – minus 3 eur
  • Ruta del Modernisme customers – minus 3 eur
  • Barcelona Walking Tours customers – minus 3 eur
    ** For more accurate information on prices visit the official website.

This summer (2020) there are special music events (Magic Nights 2020) taking place at the Rooftop terrace of Casa Batllo.

If you buy a ticket for Magic Nights it will include visit to the Casa Batllo + Music concert that is taking place at the rooftop terrace in duration of 1 hour + Welcome Drink.

Here, there are also 3 options of tickets: 

  • Blue – Visit (Smart Guide with Augmented Reality included) + Concert + Drink – 19 eur for residents and 29 eur for non-residents
  • Silver – Visit (Smart Guide with Augmented Reality included) + Concert + Drink + Better seats than in Blue option – 27 eur for residents and 37 eur for non-residents
  • Gold – Visit (Smart Guide with Augmented Reality included) + Exclusive Room (1900s furniture) + Concert + Drink + Front Row seats +Free Cancellation – 29 eur for residents and 39 eur for non-residents.

**For more accurate information about Magic Nights 2020 & tickets, visit the official website

OPENING HOURS:

From Wednesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM (last entry 5 PM)

LOCATION & HOW TO GET THERE:

Casa Batllo is located in the center of Barcelona, on the Passeig de Gracia.

Casa Batllo, Barcelona - Tour Guide & Tips for Visiting- Passeig de Gracia View from Casa Batllo

Address: Passeig de Gracia 43, 08007 Barcelona

Public Transport:

  • Metro: Passeig de Gracia L2, L3, L4
  • Train: RENFE – Passeig de Gracia Station
  • Bus: H10, V15, 7, 22, 24
  • Barcelona Tourist Bus (Red and Blue) – Casa Batllo – Fundacio Antoni Tapies
  • City Tours (Barcelona Tours) – 3 A, Passeig de Gracia – Casa Batllo

WHAT NEXT?

You finish your Casa Batllo tour and don’t know what to do next?

You can visit another of Gaudi’s works – Casa Mila (also called Pedrera) which is only 500 m away or the first house built by GaudiCasa Vicens which is located some 2 km away.

***

So, you are in Barcelona – don’t waste your time, there is plenty of things to do.

If you are a fan of Gaudi (who isn’t) check out his first work – Casa Vicens, also Casa Mila (Pedrera) and, of course, Sagrada Familia.

After all that sightseeing you will also need to relax and enjoy some good, local food – because there are things you should not afford to miss.

Check out our text about Best tapas bars in Barcelona and learn where and what to eat for the typical Catalan/Spanish gastronomic experience.

Happy Travels!

↓↓↓↓ IF YOU LIKE IT, PIN IT! ↓↓↓↓

Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp
Email

6 thoughts on “Casa Batllo (Barcelona) – Tour guide & Tips for visiting”

    1. Hey Lannie, thanks for reading 😉
      The exclusive room is somehow not easy to spot because it’s entrance is behind the curtain and it looks like it’s not permitted to enter there. We got there by coincidence 😀 It’s actually super cool inside with all the authentic setting and furniture 🙂

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.