We have visited both and we will tell you which one is better for you
For some reason, you can only visit one of Gaudí’s houses. You see them from the outside, and both seem interesting, but you can only access one. Let’s go through the differences between the two visits and determine which one is best to visit.
- Two houses, different starting points
- Both are Gaudí’s works, but from different periods
- Prices: both equally prohibitive
- Pre-booking options and extra experiences
- Audio-guided tours: one is better than the other
- Areas visited: one has the main floor, but the other doesn’t
- Charming areas: both have them, but it’s a matter of personal taste
- The rooftop: one is much more spectacular than the other
- So… Which house is better to visit?
- Suggestions for nearby activities
- Other similar articles that may interest you
If you want to know more about Casa Batlló, you have the our article Is it worth visiting Casa Batlló? Our opinion, prices and schedule
Two houses, different starting points
Casa Batlló: It is a remodel of a previous house, although it underwent a profound transformation. Specifically, this renovation took place between 1904 and 1906.
La Pedrera/Casa Milà: It was built from scratch. Before its construction, there was a tower with a garden that was demolished. This way, Gaudí was able to build this house from the ground up.
Winner: La Pedrera/Casa Milà
Both are Gaudí’s works, but from different periods
Casa Batlló: It was designed during a phase of Gaudí’s maturation, with many ornamental elements. The architect already had a good reputation, so this work was not restrained. Gaudí put his heart into both the construction and the furniture.
La Pedrera/Casa Milà: It was constructed later, during a mature phase of Gaudí’s career. Now, the architect was more professional and fearlessly created a monumental building, paying attention to every detail. In fact, the City Council criticized him for constantly changing plans, but Gaudí didn’t want to be tied down; if something needed changing, he would do it. The focus was on achieving excellence in the final result.
Winner: A tie. Both are excellent, and while La Pedrera starts from scratch, Casa Batlló is also remarkable.
Prices: both equally prohibitive
Casa Batlló: General admission ranges from 25 Euros (+4 Euros if purchased at the ticket office) to 35 Euros. Prices vary according to the time of entry. For residents, there’s a 2-for-1 offer on many tickets.
La Pedrera/Casa Milà: General admission is 25 Euros (+3 Euros if purchased at the ticket office). For residents, there’s a promotional rate of 12.5 Euros.
Winner: La Pedrera/Casa Milà. Despite both being equally expensive, La Pedrera offers a better discount formula than Casa Batlló, which requires finding a resident companion. Even for non-residents, the variable prices at Casa Batlló are usually higher than those at La Pedrera.
Pre-booking options and extra experiences
Casa Batlló: Offers several extras, including a 3D augmented reality experience, access to additional rooms, night visits with concerts, or being among the first visitors with fewer crowds. These experiences come at an additional cost on top of the general admission fee. The essential experience also includes the Gaudí Cube, a fun but short (3 minutes) experience.
La Pedrera/Casa Milà: Also offers an augmented reality experience, a night visit, or a sunset experience. Additionally, during our visit, there was an exhibition of sculptures by Jaume Plensa, which was an added bonus.
Winner: Casa Batlló. It offers a larger variety of experiences and includes the Gaudí Cube, which adds value even with the basic ticket.
Audio-guided tours: one is better than the other
Casa Batlló: The audio guide is included in the price. You go through the areas and mark the numbers for explanations. However, the narration is like reading from a Wikipedia page and lacks dynamism.
La Pedrera/Casa Milà: The audio guide is also included in the price. It automatically activates when you reach specific zones, eliminating the need to manually mark numbers (though it occasionally activates too soon). Moreover, the narration feels like Gaudí speaking to you, making it more engaging.
Winner: La Pedrera/Casa Milà
Areas visited: one has the main floor, but the other doesn’t
Casa Batlló: We visit the main floor, the back patio, the staircase, an intermediate floor, the attic, the rooftop, the basement with the Gaudí Cube, and the ground floor.
La Pedrera/Casa Milà: We visit the ground floor, the fifth floor, the attic, and the rooftop.
Winner: Casa Batlló. By a small margin, we consider it the winner because it allows you to see the main floor (the most important one) and experience the Gaudí Cube in the basement. On the other hand, La Pedrera doesn’t allow us to see the innovative garage system created by Gaudí, and we don’t understand why.
Charming areas: both have them, but it’s a matter of personal taste
Casa Batlló: The main floor, especially the vestibule, is incredible. The staircase also feels like pure fantasy. The attic features a very ingenious solution with natural lighting and shapes, making it beautiful. However, the terrace disappoints. Although it presents attractive façade features, when you’re up there, it’s just an ordinary terrace. Additionally, with the bar and tables set up for refreshments, the space is quite limited.
La Pedrera/Casa Milà: The interior courtyards are also spectacular, though they are different from those at Casa Batlló. The tenant’s apartment is well-arranged, but what really impressed us were the attic and the rooftop – simply incredible. These spaces are unparalleled.
Winner: La Pedrera/Casa Milà. By a narrow margin, each house has its own charm.
The rooftop: one is much more spectacular than the other
Casa Batlló: We emphasize this area because it’s one of the most iconic parts of the houses. In this case, the beauty lies in the exterior façade. The rest of the rooftop is relatively ordinary.
La Pedrera/Casa Milà: The entire rooftop is like a sculpture. From the chimneys to the overall shapes, it’s like a dream. You can explore the entire rooftop, which is a significant advantage.
Winner: La Pedrera/Casa Milà. If we only consider this area, there’s a clear winner.
So… Which house is better to visit?
Both houses are closely matched, and it almost seems intentional. We need to consider the overall experience to decide.
If we consider the total visitable area in square meters or unique spaces, La Pedrera wins. It also wins in terms of price, as while both start at 25 Euros, Casa Batlló’s price varies and can reach 35 Euros at certain times, while La Pedrera’s doesn’t.
However, Casa Batlló has areas not found in the other house, such as the main floor, the (very different) attic, and the innovative Gaudí Cube.
So, do we dare to pick one? We would choose, by a small margin, La Pedrera. But we must be clear: it was a tough decision for us.
Suggestions for nearby activities
In partnership with Civitatis, we propose the following activities to complement your visit or provide additional experiences:
| Admission to La Pedrera (25 Euros) |  |
| Night visit and show at La Pedrera (38 Euros) | |
| Free Gaudí and Modernist Barcelona tour (free) | |
| Barcelona Tourist Bus (33 Euros) | |
| Gaudí Wonders Tour (89 Euros) | |
We recommend visiting the Civitatis website to find the updated prices for these attractions, as the prices we’ve mentioned are based on the time of writing this article.
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