Casa Batllo is the house Gaudi turned inside out for the textile manufacturer Josep Batllo. Almost nothing in it is straight: the facade ripples with colour and skull-like balconies, the roof arches like a dragon's back, and the interior light-well shades from white to deep blue as it rises.
The Batllo family's own apartment, with its wave-form walls and ceilings, mushroom-shaped fireplace nook and doors and windows shaped to the body.
The central atrium tiled in graduated blues to spread light evenly, with a curving timber staircase like a spine.
The dragon-back ridge of iridescent scales, the four-armed chimney stacks and the cross that tops the turret, with rooftop views along Passeig de Gracia.
Entry is by timed ticket bought online, with several tiers from a standard visit to early-access and small-group options, and prices vary accordingly. A tablet or augmented-reality guide is normally included. It is one of the busiest paid sights in the city, so book ahead. Confirm on casabatllo.es.
Casa Batllo sells out on the day in peak season. The first slots after opening are the least crowded for photographs of the light-well and roof.
The same block, the Illa de la Discordia, holds Casa Amatller and Casa Lleo Morera by Gaudi's contemporaries, so you can compare three Modernista houses in a few steps.
Gaudi's other Passeig de Gracia building, Casa Mila, is a five minute walk north and makes a natural second stop.
Do I need to book Casa Batllo in advance?
Yes. Timed tickets regularly sell out for the day in high season. Book online and arrive within your slot.
What is included in the ticket?
A self-guided route with an included tablet or augmented-reality guide. Higher tiers add early access, smaller groups or a rooftop experience.
How long does a visit take?
Most visitors spend about an hour to 90 minutes, from the Noble Floor up to the roof terrace.
Can I just see the facade?
Yes, and many people do. The exterior is free to view from the street, though the pavement gets crowded.
Casa Batllo was originally a conventional 1877 apartment block. The industrialist Josep Batllo bought it and, from 1904 to 1906, had Antoni Gaudi rebuild the facade, the main floor, the light-well and the roof rather than demolish it.
It is one of the components of the Works of Antoni Gaudi UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since 2002 it has been open to the public and is privately managed, with a long programme of restoration and added visitor experiences.
This page is an independent guide for visitors, covering the operator of Casa Batllo.
