Rick and I first went to Barcelona back in 2018 and we fell in love with the city and immediately knew we wanted to return! And we got lucky enough to head back to Spain in November 2024 and explore Madrid and return to Barcelona.

Barcelona is such a unique city and a lot of that is due to its architecture. Specifically the architecture by one man: Antoni Gaudi. 

We love visiting the sites he had a hand in crafting as they’re so stunning, and almost feel unreal. We’ve been able to cross a few of his buildings off our must-see in Barcelona list and we’re going to share our favorites, in order of must-sees to if there’s time you could squeeze it into your Barcelona itinerary.

Ranking Gaudi’s buildings and work in Barcelona 

1. Sagrada Familia

There is no way La Sagrada Familia isn’t first on our list. You cannot skip the magical experience that is visiting this church. No amount of time spent here is enough to take it all in. It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen – and it’s not even complete yet.

It was supposed to be completed in 2026, a hundred years after Gaudi’s death, but I don’t think that will be happening. There is still so much more to do and build, but it gives us a reason to keep going back to compare how much has been done between visits! Though next time we’re definitely buying tickets to the top of one of the towers to enjoy an aerial view of the city from the church. 

Originally designed in 1882 in a Neo-gothic style, complete with flying buttresses, Gaudi took over the next year and came up with a new vision for the basilica. Gaudi was only 31 when he took over the project and spent the rest of his life working on it, though at the time of his death, only 25% of the construction was complete. It received UNESCO designation in 2005, even though it’s still unfinished. 

It’s stunning both from the outside and on the inside. The sheer amount of details built into the cathedral, like the animal and human figures carved into the exterior, and gorgeous use of color in the Glory Facade and Passion Facade’s stained glass makes this a photographer’s dream. I feel like 90% of my photos from our time in Barcelona were just of Sagrada Familia and trying to get fun shots of all the tiny details that have been incorporated into the design. 

2. Park Guell 

Park Guell is next up on the list as it’s a stunning park with gardens and buildings with Gaudi’s signature touch and flair. Park Guell features stunning tile work, wavy benches, giant animal statues, and great views of the city below.

While the park was originally supposed to be a gated community for the wealthy, that operation failed and it’s now a park and home to the Hall of 100 Columns (count ‘em, there’s only 86), a viewing terrace, and the Gaudi House Museum. 

If you have time, you might pop into the museum if you’re interested in learning more about the man and his artistic contributions to Barcelona. 

3. La Pedrera or Casa Mila

La Pedrera, also known as Casa Mila, is the first Gaudi building and apartment complex on our list. See the apartments and roof terrace after taking a delightful walk along Passeig de Gracia. 

This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of his last civic architectural projects. Casa Mila or La Pedrera is part a work of art, part housing development, and part museum. Free of load-bearing walls and innovative structural choices, Casa Mila is a fan-favorite in Barcelona, especially when you get to the rooftop with the storm troopers-esque ventilation pipes. Be sure to peep the top of Sagrada Familia from the roof! 

4. Casa Battlo

We went to Casa Batllo for this first time on our last visit and it was worth the trip. We explored it bottom to top and did an immersive VR tour with an English audioguide. 

It’s such a unique home that was reworked between 1904 and 1906. The home is artistic but also super functional, it was so neat hearing about the windows and ventilation systems that kept the home cool, but also let in a lot of light. 

The home was opened to the public in 1995 after being bought by the Bernat family. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site and Gaudi’s style has been so lovingly preserved and celebrated here. 

There was a cool film, Gaudi’s Dreams, at the end that showcased Gaudi’s work and style that was projected on all the walls. It was so cool and colorful, but as someone who experiences motion sickness, there were times I had to remember I was just in a room or close my eyes. 

5. Casa Vicens

Elements of Casa Vicens are similar to Casa Battle but the home also had a different feel. It was very focused on florals with floral tiles and floral themes woven into the ceiling. It too had a fun rooftop with colorful chimneys and some great ironwork (featuring more floral designs). 

We got to tour the first floor that was designed for hosting guests and dinners, as well as areas for the men and women to gather separately. We also got to tour some of the bedrooms and bathrooms, which made us grateful for our modern plumbing at our own home.

6. Palau Guell 

We moved onto our next Gaudi building by visiting Palau Guell. This too was both distinctly Gaudi by featuring arches and nods to nature, but also different. 

The house wasn’t as bright or colorful as Casa Batllo, though the chimneys did have the colorful tiles I expect when seeing Gaudi’s homes. This was probably our least favorite home of his. It is beautiful in its own way, but almost felt more dark and gothic than his other light and airy work. It has his signature on the design, but didn’t have that same bright charm that we’re used to with his work.

The home was designed and built between 1886 and 1888, and underwent some serious reconstruction work in the 2000s.

What Gaudi site is your favorite in Barcelona? Tell us why in the comments below!