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 World Heritage 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 2025

Most significant:

• Total annual number of visitors with paid ticket:   4,369,157 pax
• Total annual number of visitors with free pass (local residents):    553,945 pax
• Total number of school visits:  2,546 schools (57,644 children)

Visitor profile:

The largest age group is 25 to 34 years (24.2%), and visits are usually made as a couple or in family groups. International visitors account for 89.5% of the total, with a strong presence of visitors from the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany. They are followed by visitors from other parts of Spain (5.4%), from the city of Barcelona (3.4%), from other areas of Catalonia (1.3%) and, finally, from the metropolitan area of Barcelona (0.4%). The main reasons for visiting Park Güell are interest in Gaudí’s architecture (25.6%), the fact that it is an iconic landmark (19.2%) and recommendations or reviews received (15.9%).

Leisure activities and attendees:

The year 2025 closed with a high level of cultural and educational activity, reaffirming Park Güell as an iconic space not only for visitors but also for local residents. Among the most notable activities were:

• For the first time, Park Güell was one of the venues for La Mercè, with an open day for local residents and a performance by Cia. Vöel, which brought together 1,203 people
• Spring children’s workshops were organised, with nearly 100 attendees over several sessions, aimed at local residents and neighbours
• In the educational sphere, the event “Les escoles de Gràcia i Horta al Park Güell” brought together 1,054 pupils from 20 schools, offering creative and educational days focused on Gaudí’s work. As a new feature, this year saw the participation of schools from the Horta district
• Schools in the area around the park enjoyed exclusive activities such as the bookmark competition “Sant Jordi i el Drac” and the activity “Vestim de Nadal el Park Güell”, with the participation of 1,045 pupils
• The annual science and technology activity STEAM, aimed at promoting scientific vocations among young people, brought together 587 participants. These figures confirm the Park’s commitment to education and cultural outreach.
• Throughout the year, we collaborated in ESG initiatives that benefited 468 people
• We also hosted community initiatives and activities from districts bordering the park, enjoyed by 3,030 Barcelona residents
• Finally, the concerts in Plaça Natura attracted 1,450 attendees, and the open-air cinema drew more than 598 people, closing the year with great attendance and reaffirming the diversity of events that Park Güell offers