Discover the 11 Most Famous Buildings in Barcelona

Over-the-top, striking and playful, the Modernisme style is personified by the works of Antoni Gaudí, who, alongside his Modernist contemporaries, transformed Barcelona in the late 1800s. Combining intricate mosaics and organic shapes to create some of the most iconic buildings in Barcelona, these sites are filled with whimsy, creativity and colour, and reflect the vibrant identity of the Catalonian capital.

These theatrical buildings stand proud alongside medieval gothic cathedrals and elegant modern skyscrapers, making this top Spanish destination a sea of stunning architecture and unique UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Standing pride of place on the Passeig de Gràcia, Barcelona’s most lavish avenue, Casa Batlló is a shining example of Gaudí’s characteristic style. With its curved white balconies, glittering mosaic facade and dragon-scale rooftop, this breathtaking structure was constructed in 1904 in the centre of the booming Eixample district. While the outside showcases the elegant organic features that define the modernist style, the inside is a labyrinth of twisted ceilings, intricate stained glass and shimmering blue tiles, and is now home to an immersive museum and Gaudí art exhibit.

• Open 9am to 10pm
• Passeig de Gràcia, 43, L'Eixample, 08007 Barcelona

Colloquially known as La Pedrera, aka “the Quarry”, after its grey stone facade, this magnificent five-story sculpture was inspired by undulating waves and the Modernisme ideal of pairing intricate design with functionality. Delicate iron railings decorate the exterior, while the rooftop offers panoramic views of the city and twisting mosaic sculptures that make the whole building feel in motion. An open-air flower garden and 1900s apartment are just a few of the things to explore in this World Heritage exhibit.

• Open 9am to 6:30pm
• Passeig de Gràcia, 92, L'Eixample, 08008 Barcelona

The most well-known of all of Gaudí’s creations and the most famous building in Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia and its 13 spires have been dominating the Barcelona skyline for over a century.

Since breaking ground in 1882, this immense cathedral is still under construction as Gaudí died before its completion, and his original blueprints were lost during the Spanish Civil War. With its tree-like pillars, patterned ceiling and kaleidoscope stained glass, the interior is as stunning as the exterior. Head to the Sagrada Familia Museum on-site to discover more of this church’s incredible history and climb the Nativity or Passion towers for one of the best views of the city.

• Open 9am to 6pm
• Religious service every Sunday at 9am, and Saturday at 8pm
• Carrer de la Marina, 41, L'Eixample, 08013 Barcelona

Esteemed patron Eusebi Güell commissioned Gaudí to create not only his private residence, Palau Güell, but also this decadent residential park that is now a crowning monument to Catalonian modernism.

Set a little outside the city on Carmel Hill, this official UNESCO World Heritage site boasts vibrant ceramic mosaics, intricate archways, elaborate pavilions, and fantastic creatures hidden amongst 19 hectares of lush greenery and winding pathways. Visit Gaudí’s house, the Casa Museu Gaudí, where you can walk through his study and bedroom for an intimate look into the architect’s life, and spend a sun-drenched afternoon enjoying panoramic views of the city below.

• Open to tourists 9:30am to 6pm
• Tickets now mandatory
• Gràcia, 08024 Barcelona

With his prominent legacy painted across the city, you’d be forgiven for thinking the most famous buildings in Barcelona are all Gaudí’s creations. In truth, Gaudí was one of a number of artists striving to bring progressive Art Nouveau influence to the Catalonian capital. One such architect, and the mastermind behind this particular UNESCO site, was Lluís Domènech i Montaner.

The Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau was founded in the 1400s and later converted into a medical complex by Domènech i Montaner in 1902. Despite its ornate architecture, the complex was a working hospital right up until 2014, when it was renamed Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau and became a museum and cultural centre. This elaborate complex houses 27 separate buildings, 16 decorative pavilions and multiple connected walkways, and is a fascinating example of where art, health and culture combine.

• Open 9:30am to 6:30pm

• Carrer de Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167, 08025 Barcelona

Considered the crowning glory of Lluís Domènech i Montaner’s work, this opulent concert hall was completed in 1908 and is one of the seven UNESCO World Heritage buildings of Barcelona. Close to other famous buildings such as the Arc de Triomf, Santa Maria del Mar, and Parc de la Ciutadella, as well as many central hotels, this elaborate edifice showcases a combination of modernist, gothic and Moorish elements, with floral mosaics encircling busts of the musical grandmasters.

Inside, you’ll find an ornate organ surrounded by 16 musical muses, an intricately decorated ceiling hung with crystal chandeliers, and an immense stained glass skylight that fills the hall with streaming natural light. You can tour the hall during the day, but the best way to experience this venue is to book tickets for one of their musical events held throughout the year.

• Open for tours 9am to 3:30pm
• Carrer de Palau de la Música, 4-6, Ciutat Vella, 08003 Barcelona

Next to Gaudí’s own Casa Batlló on the Passeig de Gràcia, you’ll find Josep Puig i Cadafalch’s Casa Amatller, whose geometric Moorish-inspired design was built in 1875 for the famous chocolatier Antoni Amatller and now houses the Catalan Modernist Museum and Amatller Art Institute.

Alongside Casa Batlló and Domènech i Montaner’s Casa Lleó Morera, this gothic structure is one of the three famous buildings that make up the Illa de la Discòrdia (Block of Discord) on Barcelona’s most extravagant boulevard. Book a guided tour of Casa Amatller, which comes with a complementary box of Amatller chocolates, or sign up for a chocolate tasting in the museum for a truly decadent experience.

• Open 10am to 7pm
• Passeig de Gràcia, 41, L'Eixample, 08007 Barcelona

Stepping out of the Eixample district and into the Gothic Quarter, you’ll find the Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia, also known as the Cathedral of Barcelona. This towering structure was built in the early 1400s, and while not as famous as Gaudí’s modernist masterpiece, this gothic revival church is a dramatic example of traditional medieval and Spanish architecture, covered in reliefs, gargoyles and picturesque stained glass.

Inside, you’ll find multiple chapels and sculptures dedicated to various Catholic saints and the elaborately carved golden choir stalls built in the 1500s. Stop by the central cloister garden to see the famous resident white geese before heading to the rooftop for yet another spectacular view of the city.

• Open weekdays 9:30am to 6:30pm
• Holds religious ceremonies on weekends
• Plaça de la Seu, s/n, Ciutat Vella, 08002 Barcelona

In the middle of the Gothic Quarter, opposite the seat of the Catalan regional government, you’ll find Casa de la Ciutat, the historic City Hall, built in the 14th century at the Plaça Sant Jaume, an ancient meeting place for political debate in the city. Over the years, many famous artists have added their touch to this building, including Arnau Bargués and Lluís Domènech i Montaner, who designed the royal rooms. Though the outside may look imposing, inside, you’ll find painted ceilings, renaissance art and vast medieval murals.

• Open to visitors 10am to 1pm on Sundays only
• Admission free
• Plaça de Sant Jaume, 1, 08002 Barcelona

Set over 170m above Barcelona, Montjuïc, once a military fortress and political prison, now hosts the National Museum of Catalan Art (MNAC) and some of the best nighttime views of the city. Starting with the Montjuïc funicular, a small train that takes you halfway up the hill, you can then ride the Telefèric de Montjuïc, the Barcelona cable car, that gives you unparalleled views of Barcelona from the sky.

Once at the top, you can explore multiple famous buildings, such as the castle, museum, botanical gardens, an open-air architectural village designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch, and the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc that puts on a choreographed water show every night.

• Castle open 10am to 6pm. Carretera de Montjuïc, 66, Sants-Montjuïc, 08038 Barcelona
• Cable Car open 10am to 6pm.
• Spanish Village open 9am to 8pm.
• Botanical Gardens open 10am to sunset.

Barcelona may be a hub of gothic, renaissance and modernist design, but that hasn’t stopped modern architects from making their mark on the city. Torre Glòries, formerly called Torre Agbar, is a 38-story skyscraper built by Jean Neuvel in 2004 and stands as a symbol of contemporary Barcelona architecture.

This bullet-shaped building was constructed with thousands of panes of coloured glass and over 4,500 LED lights that illuminate the structure at night. While most of the interior is private office space, there is an observation deck on the 30th floor open to the public that includes art exhibits and installations.

• Observation deck open 10am to 9pm
• Avinguda Diagonal, 211, Sant Martí, 08018 Barcelona

From gothic cathedrals to modernist masterpieces, Barcelona is a city defined by its stunning and progressive architecture and a thriving celebration of Catalonian culture.