Like good tourists in Barcelona we got back on the open top tourist bus after our visit to the incredible Art Nouveau Hospital (see the previous post) and went to see Park Guell. The park is actually quite a distance from the bus stop…all uphill.
When we arrived we stood in the queue for a while until a very nice attendant informed us that we would have to wait at least 2 hours to get into the park. It was hot standing in the blazing sun by this time, so we thought we might move on.
When pressed for more information the attendant told us that the park is open in the morning at 6.00am and there is free entry until 8.00am. The lack of a fee wasn’t as tempting as the thought there would be few people at that hour.
We arrived the next morning at 7.00am to a completely empty park. This is the people free entrance.
The lovely staircase with the dragon is usually swarming with people, but we had it entirely to ourselves.
Park Guell was originally meant to be a luxury housing estate. Eusebi Guell employed Antoni Gaudi to design an organised estate with 60 triangular lots where houses would be built. Only 2 were built and when they failed to sell Gaudi bought one and moved his family there in 1906. He lived there until 1926 and the house is now a museum.
The staircase leads to the Hypostyle Room, which was to be the market place in the estate.
Look up to see the beautiful Gaudi designed tiled ceiling.
The beautiful terrace in the middle of the site was planned for staging open air shows. It is surrounded by a long bench in the form of a sea serpent.
There is an amazing colonnaded footpath under the roadway viaduct.
The gardens are beautifully maintained. We started to see a few Barcelona residents on their early morning runs as we walked along the paths.
We walked to the top of the park to the Turo de Tres Creus, Gaudi’s monument to the Cavalry for some great views of the city.
Thank you to the attendant who told us about the early opening. I recommend that you get up early and visit the park without other people…it will be worth it.
Park Guell is one of Barcelona’s most popular attractions and it is always busy in the middle of the day. Early in the morning you will have it to yourself and be able to enjoy it at a leisurely pace. I’m sure Gaudi would approve.
Beautiful photos, Debra! Definitely worth getting up a bit early to have this wonderful place all to yourself. I think it would be a decidedly different feeling to hemmed in by dozens of tourists.
By: Jackie Cangro on May 30, 2015
at 10:00 pm
It is packed throughout the day. The morning is definitely the best time to visit.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 31, 2015
at 8:00 am
You are so clever with the camera, Debra. Those pictures of the park and its surroundings are amazing!
By: Sandra Hoopmann on May 30, 2015
at 10:33 pm
Gaudi makes a great subject.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 31, 2015
at 8:00 am
Hey clever to get back there so early for such people free photos – and no doubt a great private stroll in the park. Bet you are loving photographing and viewing all of the amazing architecture by Gaudi in this city in particular.
By: Dianne CANT on May 30, 2015
at 11:02 pm
Gaudi’s work is a constant delight. What an amazing designer.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 31, 2015
at 8:01 am
What a shame the estate didn’t take on. Living there would have been magical! Great photos as usual Debra.
By: Donna & Audrey Mead on May 30, 2015
at 11:13 pm
Perhaps it is lucky for us. The city bought the site and now we can all enjoy it.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 31, 2015
at 8:01 am
We did exactly that – the hop on hop off bus is great there as Barcelona is quite large – it is worth it to go early and it’s much cooler and empty – loved it too
By: Liz Litzow on May 30, 2015
at 11:25 pm
We were very lucky the attendant told us about the early opening. It was a great experience to have the park to ourselves.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 31, 2015
at 8:02 am
Looks like the perfect time to visit…..the views are amazing.
By: Kerry & Jim on May 30, 2015
at 11:32 pm
It was a beautiful day, which always helps.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 31, 2015
at 8:03 am
Wonderful photos Debra! Will definitely put this on our list of things to do in Barcelona when we venture there…hopefully next year!
By: Lyn Weston on May 30, 2015
at 11:59 pm
Allow lots of time for Barcelona, there is much to see.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 31, 2015
at 8:03 am
Such an amazing place, I never get tired of seeing pictures of it…one day maybe it will be in real life. Ahh, one day.
By: cityhippyfarmgirl on May 31, 2015
at 5:34 am
Gaudi did some amazing things, Park Guell included.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 31, 2015
at 7:59 am
How terrific that you found out about going there early – thanks for passing along such a valuable tip! Are the two houses with the scalloped, checker-board roofs the ones Gaude completed? They look like they would be very interesting places to live.
By: sheilasunshine on May 31, 2015
at 7:06 am
They certainly look like Gaudi. He didn’t design the 2 houses inside the park. Last time we went to Barcelona we visited the house where he lived. It was lovely inside, with some of the original furniture. It wasn’t open for an early morning visit.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 31, 2015
at 7:59 am
Good tip – I’ll try to be there by 6 am!
By: Francis on May 31, 2015
at 7:26 am
The best time to be there.
By: Debra Kolkka on May 31, 2015
at 7:59 am
Your early arrival back at the park certainly paid off with great photos.
By: Karen on May 31, 2015
at 2:08 pm
Fabulous photos, Debra. I would also have taken the opportunity to get there early. 🙂
By: anotherday2paradise on May 31, 2015
at 7:39 pm
Beautiful place and wonderful suggestion. Sure seems a long way from center city.
By: aFrankAngle on May 31, 2015
at 9:07 pm
I wish I had known this tip before we went last summer. Arriving early in the afternoon, we too had a long wait to get it. We did enjoy seeing the park, homes and plaza, but yes, it would have even much nicer to see it without all the other people and long wait.
By: Tim and Joanne Joseph on May 31, 2015
at 10:14 pm
Barcelona is next on my list to visit Deb. I’ve missed some of your previous posts – in the middle of a move. This one caught my eye because of Park Guell. Gaudi is a genius I think. La Sagrada Familia is something I cannot wait to see up close. Good on you for getting there early, tis definitely what I would do.
By: meditatingmummy on June 1, 2015
at 1:52 am
How blissfully free of people your pictures are! It was overwhelmingly crowded when we went and we couldn’t wait to escape after less than a half hour battling the throngs there. Going (very) early is the key to avoiding crowds anywhere.
By: Madhu on June 1, 2015
at 8:29 am
I enjoyed your camera view of this lovely place! Thanks for the tour – brightens up my day.
By: samuelsonandscott on June 1, 2015
at 12:40 pm
Yes, fantastic photos Debra! We also loved visiting a number of Gaudi sites while visiting Barcelona a few years ago! Fortunately we didn’t have to wait to get into the park, but there were definitely more people in our shots! Great tip!
By: Pauline on June 2, 2015
at 3:45 am
I love Park Guell too, Debra! It reminds me of Nek Chand’s gardens in Chandigarh. I am from India and I blog on Italy 🙂
Ciao! My blog-
http://www.ishitasood.blogspot.in/
By: ishitasood on June 2, 2015
at 5:49 am
Unmissable! And to think you had it all to yourselves. You are one clever tourist!!!
By: janinevasta on June 2, 2015
at 11:32 am
Thanks Debra. Do you or anyone else know if Park Guell still opens at 6am? Their website obviously wouldn’t advertise that info…it still says 8am.
By: Cynthia Wan on June 12, 2016
at 8:11 pm
I can’t see why it would be different, I was there only a year ago. It is definitely the best time to be there.
By: Debra Kolkka on June 12, 2016
at 8:13 pm
Thanks Debra. Do you or anyone else know if Park Guell still opens at 6am? Their website obviously wouldn’t advertise that info…it still says 8am.
By: Cynthia Wan on June 12, 2016
at 8:11 pm