Exploring Gaudí’s Casa Batlló in Barcelona, Inside and Out

Outside 43 Paseo de Gracia (Passeig de Gràcia in Catalan), you’ll always find crowds of people waiting to enter Casa Batlló, a house Antoni Gaudí designed for the wealthy businessman Josep Batlló between 1904 and 1906. 

Gaudí seemed to have a talent for designing homes and spaces for wealthy people with big imaginations, and Batlló gave him complete creative freedom to design his house.  Casa Batlló is an expression of Gaudí’s joyful and bold style — you can’t walk down Paseo de Gracia without stopping to admire it. 

What was Gaudí’s inspiration for Casa Batlló’s façade?  

Fans of Gaudí are split on how we should interpret the exterior design of Casa Batlló. Most people believe it symbolizes the legend of Saint George (Sant Jordi in Catalan), the patron saint of Catalonia. According to the legend, Saint George slayed a dragon that was threatening to destroy the village and devour a princess whose turn it was to be sacrificed.  

Tip: If you’re in Barcelona for Sant Jordi’s Day on April 23, stop by the Casa Batlló to see its façade decorated with roses.   

Based on this interpretation, the roof resembles the body of the dragon, the tower topped with a cross the handle of Saint George’s sword, and the bone-shaped columns outside the ground floor the bones of the dragon’s victims. That’s why you’ll sometimes hear it called “the house of bones.”

A less gruesome interpretation is that Casa Batlló represents an aquatic landscape. Like Salvador Dalí, you might see the shapes and colors of the sea in Gaudí’s design rather than a heroic legend. 

Explore brilliant designs by Gaudí and other Modernist masters

Barcelona Architecture Walking Tour With Optional Casa Batlló Upgrade

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A house full of art 

Casa Batlló isn’t all façade — you need to step inside to fully appreciate Gaudí’s genius. From the entrance hall that makes you feel like you’re underwater to the Instagram-worthy roof terrace (also known as the “dragon’s back”), every detail has a purpose but is also a piece of art, which is characteristic of Gaudí’s brand of Catalan modernism. 

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How to visit Casa Batlló

Casa Batlló is one of five modernist houses built during the period known as “the Apple of Discord,” where several popular architects were competing for a prize from the Barcelona City Council. 

On our Barcelona architecture tour, you’ll learn about all the modernist houses created during The Bone of Contention, as well as other architectural landmarks, including: 

• The façades of the Sagrada Família
• Sant Pau Recinte Modernista, a 27-building complex designed by one of the fathers of Catalan modernism Lluís Domènech i Montaner
• Casa Amatller, where you’ll learn about and sample Barcelona chocolate 

The best part? You can upgrade your experience to get a Golden Ticket to Casa Batlló, which gives special access to the Batlló family residence and includes an augmented reality tablet to really get inside Gaudí’s mind.

The history of Gaudí’s Casa Batlló

The transformation of Paseo de Gracia during an 1824 urbanization project was important to the development of Casa Batlló and other modernist homes built in the area. The street became a playground for aristocrats, and between 1904 and 1906, Batlló asked Gaudí to make the dull-looking building he purchased to be his family’s home match the neighboring Casa Amatller, designed by Puig i Cadafalch. 

Instead of demolishing the building like Batlló wanted, Gaudí convinced the businessman that a renovation was all that was needed. His vision was to create a beautiful home for the Batlló family that was also functional. 

Today, Casa Batlló is a UNESCO World Heritage site that attracts many visitors from around the world with its unique museum experience. It’s now considered to be “the house of Barcelona.” 

Tips for visiting Gaudí’s Casa Batlló

How long should I spend at Casa Batlló?

Casa Batlló is open every day from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the last entry at 8:45 p.m. Each visit is timed to be approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. 

How much does entry to Casa Batlló cost?  

If you buy your ticket online or in-person at Casa Batlló, prices vary since the attraction has different prices at different times as well as various options to customize your experience.

Our Barcelona Architecture Walking Tour includes an optional Casa Battló upgrade as an add-on to your experience. With this selection, your guide will give you your Casa Batlló Golden Ticket so you explore inside the house (with augmented reality tablet included!) after your tour.

Am I allowed to take pictures inside Casa Batlló?

Taking photos inside is permitted as long as they’re for personal use and you are using a camera without a tripod. 

How do I get to Casa Batlló? 

Casa Batlló is centrally located in Barcelona’s Eixample neighborhood and can easily be accessed by metro or bus: 

• Metro: L2, L3, and L4 
• Bus: H10, V15, 7, 22, and 24 

Is Casa Batlló accessible? 

Casa Batlló has lifts and other features that make it possible for visitors in wheelchairs to take the full tour and explore all areas of the house. They also provide audio guides accompanied by a written transcript in 15 languages for people with visual and hearing impairments. 

Explore more of Barcelona’s architecture

Walking around Barcelona is a great way to take in its unique architecture, but having a guide to explain the history and point out what to look for is even better. 

With our architecture walking tour, you’ll discover the hidden secrets behind some of the city’s most famous architectural landmarks, including Casa Batlló. But there’s more to Barcelona’s architectural landscape and our walking tour than Antoni Gaudí — we’ll introduce you to other masters of Catalan modernism like Lluís Domènech i Montaner and Josep Puig i Cadafalch.

Looking for more incredible Gaudí architecture? Check out our complete guide to the Sagrada Família.