Press Kit

PARK GÜELL’S HISTORY AND MANAGEMENT

Park Güell is one of the most representative examples of Antoni Gaudí’s architecture as well as an iconic heritage space in Barcelona. The Catalan architect, commissioned by the industrialist Eusebi Güell in 1900, attempted to recreate England’s residential parks in his project in order to house the city’s well-to-do families.

The project failed and the industrialist’s heirs agreed to sell the Park to Barcelona City Council, which opened it as a public park in 1926.

The Park has been a meeting point ever since, playing host to every type of ceremony and event, from cultural competitions to communal lunches, and noted above all for the sardana ring-dance gatherings. In addition, today’s Austria Gardens became a municipal incubator and the Güell family’s house a state school, named after the educator Baldiri Reixac and still in use to this day.

UNESCO declared it a Cultural Heritage of Humanity site in 1984, giving it the impetus for achieving the worldwide significance it enjoys today. It is likewise a Cultural Asset of National Interest, a status awarded by the Government of Catalonia (Generalitat) in 1993. Then in October 2013, Barcelona City Council implemented its Park Güell Monument Area regulations, giving priority to preserving this 12-hectare space and protecting it from mass tourism.
 

The purpose is to protect, study and disseminate Gaudí's work for humanity as a whole, as required by UNESCO, while providing a quality visit experience. It is also to enable the Park to remain an urban park, a space for the community and even a space for individual and collective memories. 

Park Güell’s new management model came into force on 1 July 2020, with the aim of facilitating the city’s re-connection with the park. Hence the regulated visitor capacity for its entire surface area, to avoid overcrowding, improve visitor experiences and ensure compliance with the park’s safety, protection and preservation measures.

The challenge, therefore, lies in finding a balance between tourist activities and social uses, above all so that residents from the Park's surrounding neighbourhoods can enjoy it in peace and quiet. Consequently, local residents will be given free access throughout the year and all proceeds raised by the regulation will be reinvested in the Park under various improvement and renovation projects for green spaces, viewing points, paths, play areas and so on.

PARK GÜELL: HARMONY WITH LOCAL RESIDENTS

Park Güell’s challenge is to strike a balance between tourist activities and social uses, above all so that residents from the Park's surrounding neighbourhoods can enjoy it in peace and quiet. Two time slots have been adapted for that very purpose, one called “Bon dia Barcelona” and the other “Bon vespre Barcelona” during which local residents and anyone who is registered with Gaudir Més can enjoy free, unrestricted access when the Park is open.

The aim is to facilitate Barcelona’s re-connection with Park Güell.

PARK GÜELL DATA FOR 2024

Most significant:

• Total annual number of visitors with paid ticket:   4.483.143 pax
• Total annual number of visitors with free pass (local residents):    509.833 pax
• Total number of school visits:  2.524 schools (56.883 children)

Visitor profile:

Most visitors to Park Güell are between 45 and 54 years old and typically visit with their partner or in family groups.
International visitors represent 86.5% of the total, with a significant presence from France, the United States, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Following them are visitors from other parts of Spain (6.4%), the city of Barcelona (4.3%), other areas of Catalonia (2%), and finally, the metropolitan area of Barcelona (0.7%).
The main reasons for visiting Park Güell are interest in Gaudí's architecture (28.5%), its status as a landmark (26.1%), and recommendations or reviews (12.7%).

Leisure activities and attendees:

The year 2024 concluded with a strong cultural and educational presence, reaffirming Park Güell as an iconic space not only for visitors but also for the local community. Some of the most notable activities included:

• The cultural event celebrating the 40th anniversary of Park Güell’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with 1,666 participants
• LEGO workshops, with over 300 attendees across multiple sessions throughout the year, establishing themselves as a key educational initiative
• In the educational field, the event “The Schools of Gràcia and Park Güell” engaged 584 students from 17 schools, offering creative and educational sessions on Gaudí's work
• The annual STEAM science and technology activity, aimed at inspiring young people to pursue scientific careers, brought together 527 participants. These figures confirm Park Güell’s commitment to education and cultural outreach
• Finally, concerts at Plaça Natura attracted 1,503 attendees, while open-air cinema screenings gathered more than 800 people, closing the year with great success and reinforcing the diverse range of events offered by Park Güell