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Visit Casa Batlló: Complete Guide

Casa Batlló is one of the most iconic buildings in Barcelona. Its distinctive facade is the focus of hundreds of tourists’ cameras every day. If you’re planning a trip to Barcelona and would like to explore Casa Batlló, keep reading this comprehensive guide from Loca Barcelona. Let’s get started!

History of Casa Batlló

To understand the origin of this house, we need to go back to 1860 when an ambitious urban plan (Plan Cerdà) was approved in Barcelona. This plan aimed to make Paseo de Gracia its main axis, attracting some of the city’s most illustrious families. In the 19th century, this street became a promenade for pedestrians and horse-drawn carriages, and by the 20th century, it became a major avenue for automobiles.

One of the houses on this new street was Casa Batlló, built in 1877 by Emilio Sala Cortés, one of Gaudí’s architecture professors. In 1903, it was purchased by Josep Batlló y Casanovas, a prominent textile industrialist and businessman.

When Josep Batlló settled in, he wanted to demolish the building and construct a new one designed by the renowned architect Antoni Gaudí. However, thanks to Gaudí’s ingenuity, the demolition was avoided, and a complete renovation took place between 1904 and 1906.

The architect completely changed the facade, redistributed the interior walls, expanded the light well, and created an interior that is a true work of art. Due to the brilliance of his work, Gaudí is now considered one of the pioneers of the architectural vanguards of the late 20th century.

Today, the house no longer belongs to the Batlló family; they sold it in the 1950s. After passing through various companies and individuals, it ended up in the hands of the current owners, the Bernat family, in the 1990s. This family opened the house to the public in 1995 to showcase this architectural gem to the world and began hosting events. Cultural visits started in 2002.

How is the interior of the Casa Batlló?

Even though the facade alone makes it one of the architectural highlights of l’Eixample, the interior is equally impressive. Gaudí collaborated with the best artisans of the time to create unique decorative elements such as stained glass and ceramic tiles.

As you tour Casa Batlló, you’ll encounter dozens of details that will continually surprise you. For example, the doors of the apartments are marked with modernist-styled letters, and the glass in each stairwell distorts the tiles in the light well, transforming them into beautiful water waves. The doorknobs and railings are ergonomically shaped, reflecting Gaudí’s essence in even the simplest elements.

The interior is divided into six main sections:

1. The Entrance Hall

On the ground floor is the communal lobby, from which you can access the Batlló family’s private lobby through an imposing modernist gate. This space evokes an underwater ambiance, transporting you to the fantastical world of the famous writer Jules Verne. This room features skylights resembling turtle shells, vaulted walls with sinuous shapes, and a spectacular wooden staircase with a hand-carved railing.

2. The Noble Floor

The Noble Floor is the heart of Casa Batlló, a unique living room that is the ultimate expression of modernism, showcasing how the bourgeoisie of the time lived. The first thing you see upon reaching this floor is Mr. Batlló’s office and a curious mushroom-shaped fireplace. Other notable elements of the room include its large oak doors, carved columns, and the large window overlooking Paseo de Gracia.

3. The Lightwell

The light well is one of the most attractive parts of Casa Batlló and a fundamental feature of the house. It distributes the air and light entering through the main skylight. Gaudí expanded the light well (from one to two) to maximize natural light in all rooms. He also lined the well with tiles in various shades of blue to achieve an even distribution of light (darker tiles at the top, lighter ones at the bottom).

Following the same lighting logic, the upper windows are larger than the lower ones to let in more light. Curiously, the lower windows have wooden slats that can be opened or closed to regulate ventilation.

In the center of the light well, Gaudí installed an elevator, still featuring its original wooden cabin.

4. Indoor Garden

From the private dining room on the Noble Floor, you can access a rear patio, a small oasis in the city designed to be enjoyed in the afternoon. The most striking feature of this space is its floor, decorated with an elegant ceramic pattern, adding light and elegance to the area.

5. Loft

While the attic is usually the most mundane part of any house, that’s not the case at Casa Batlló. This is undoubtedly one of the most unique spaces, offering an exquisite combination of aesthetics and functionality. It serves as a service area for tenants, including laundry rooms and storage.

The decoration of this area is characterized by simple shapes, Mediterranean inspiration reflected in the white color, and a series of 60 catenary arches.

6. Rooftop

The rooftop’s most notable feature is the “dragon’s back,” which characterizes the facade, represented by tiles of various colors. However, there are other interesting decorations, such as the chimney sets.

Where to buy tickets?

There are several platforms where you can buy tickets for Casa Batlló, but we recommend purchasing them through their official website. Ticket prices range from 25 to 59 euros, depending on the experience you choose. Keep in mind that children can enter for free depending on the time of the visit.

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Opening hours of Casa Batlló

Casa Batlló is open every day of the week from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM, so you don’t need to worry about that. Since l’Eixample has many iconic places to visit, we recommend planning a full-day route through this great district of Barcelona. Note that depending on the time, there may be different types of visits, so check this before buying your ticket.

How to get to Casa Batlló by public transport

Casa Batlló is located at 43 Paseo de Gracia, making it very easy to reach by public transport. The quickest and most accessible option from the rest of Barcelona is the metro. If you choose to go by metro, you have these two options:

Paseo de Gracia stop: You can reach this station on the purple and yellow lines of the Barcelona metro. Once there, it’s just a 5-minute walk north on the street.
Diagonal stop: If you have a green or blue line station near your tourist accommodation in Barcelona, choose this option. The only difference is that you’ll walk south on Paseo de Gracia for 3 minutes to reach Casa Batlló.

FAQS

Who is the current owner of Casa Batlló?

Since the 1990s, Casa Batlló has belonged to the Bernat family. Originally, it belonged to the Batlló family, which is why it still bears this name.

Is it possible to visit Casa Batlló for free?

Only children up to 12 years old can visit for free, except for occasional promotions during certain holidays.

What are the lighting hours of Casa Batlló?

The hours depend on the time of year you visit, but the lights turn on at sunset. In winter, there is a light show every day from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM.

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