Antoni Gaudí spent more than forty years reshaping Barcelona, and his buildings still draw the longest queues in the city. You cannot see everything in one trip, so start with the four places that explain him best.

Sagrada Família

Gaudí’s unfinished basilica is the one to book first, because timed tickets sell out days ahead in summer. Go in the morning for the east-facing Nativity facade and in the late afternoon for the colored light that floods the nave. Add a tower ticket only if you are comfortable with narrow spiral stairs.

Casa Batlló and Casa Milà

These two apartment buildings sit a few minutes apart on Passeig de Gràcia. Casa Batlló is the more theatrical, with its bone-shaped balconies and dragon-scale roof. Casa Milà, known as La Pedrera, is calmer inside, and its rooftop of sculpted chimneys is worth the visit on its own.

Park Güell

The mosaic terrace and gingerbread-style pavilions sit inside a paid monumental zone with timed entry. The rest of the park is free to wander, and the walk up from the Gràcia side is far quieter than the main gate on Carrer d’Olot.

What to leave for next time

Casa Vicens and Palau Güell are beautiful, but they suit a second visit. On a first trip, spend that hour in Plaça Reial instead and look up at the ornate lampposts, one of Gaudí’s first public commissions as a young architect.