My Experience of Visiting Parc Güell in Barcelona + Some Tips

The famous Gaudi mosaic lizard in Parc Güell

"Oh, you're going to Barcelona? Do you like Gaudi?" This is the response to my year abroad I've heard most in the past few months. Well, since I decided on Barcelona in fact. The architect is so closely entwined with the city and its connotations, and in many ways I like this. Barcelona does get a bad rep for pickpocketing, but for foreigners to immediately think of its culture suggests a longstanding reputation as a vibrant and exciting city, particularly for the ones among us that appreciate all things arty and creative. As soon as I had settled into Barcelona, a trip to Parc Güell was essential.

I went with my sister, Jenny, who is staying with me until next Thursday, to Parc Güell on Wednesday. We were out of the flat quite early, and got the Metro to Lessops (the stop nearest to Parc Güell) at around half past eight. The walk from Lessops to the park is perhaps further than you'd imagine, and it does include quite an intense hill. I was fine with it, but Jenny, who has almost forgotten how to use her legs since learning to drive before Christmas, was muttering a fair amount of obscenities and was on the verge of panting.

Does this remind you of a gingerbread house?

The entrance to the park is fantastic, and you're immediately faced with things you want to take photos of on all angles. You can then go up a level, through this wonderful hall with incredible columns and ceiling mosaics. Walking up a further slope (or stairs if you want to move along quickly), you get to a sandy platform that is bordered with a mosaic seat-type structure (called the serpentine bench, supposedly the longest bench in the world).

The view here causes even the least touristy types to snap out their cameras, and for good reason. You can see a great deal of Barcelona, and it's quite odd being able to piece together all those major Barcelona landmarks in one glance. It's the perfect spot to sit for a while, and it appeared quite normal for male middle-aged Spaniards to choose the spot for a 9am nap.

The view across Barcelona from Parc Güell

Moving further up (yes, the park seems to have an endless amount of levels, much to Jenny's disappointment), you continue to view the view from various paths that wrap up around the hill. Along the way you can see the house that Gaudi lived in from 1906-1926, which is now Casa Museu Gaudí, alongside various other displays of great architecture. A great deal further up the hill, over on the other side of the park, we spotted three stone crosses on a raised area. Jenny, needless to say, responded to my interest by declaring quickly, "not a chance".

The largest cross on the peak of Parc Güell

I kept pushing to go higher and higher up the paths, and, won over by yet more incredible views, Jenny followed. The three crosses on the peak were now just above us, and, with the promise of an incredible Facebook display picture, Jenny followed me to the top. The stone steps to it were frightening and precarious, but definitely worth it. The view was incredible, and we could see the Sagrada Familia in the distance, surrounded by the usual cranes and scaffolding. Tibidabo was on the other side, surrounded by vicious storm clouds at the time.

It's definitely worth the trip to Parc Güell, as well as the upward climb! I'd recommend that you...

• Arrive as early as you can. We arrived before 9, although the park had been open from 8am on that day. As we got there so early, we were rewarded with there being no crowds or large groups to induce claustrophobia or blocked photographs!
• Bring water. Being the tourist hotspot that it is, all prices seemed very inflated, particularly within the park.
• Certainly bring a camera!
• Consider the Metro. Lessops is easily accessible from the major Barcelona stations, and the walk from it isn't too bad. Signposts tell you where to go, and even I didn't get lost (it's very easily done). If you're travelling with someone who has a disability or can't walk a great deal, however, look into bus transport, even if just up the last hill.
  
  

  

  La Sagrada Familia, as seen from Parc Güell on a cloudy day

  
  
  
  

Introductions

I'm Lucy and I'm studying a BA English & Spanish degree at Exeter University. As I'm studying a languages degree, I have a mandatory year abroad to enjoy/endure! I've organised an eight-month placement at a travel company in Barcelona, and I've already started doing some work remotely. This has so far included writing articles and website landing pages, which I must say I've enjoyed. From our brief communication thus far, the people I'll be working with seem lovely!

I'm living in a flat in the Eixample region of Barcelona, which I'll be sure to write a separate post on shortly. I moved in on Monday, and I'm really glad I chose this area. My sister's staying with me for ten days, both to help me settle in and to have a cheap holiday, and we've been doing all the touristy stuff this week. Today we visited the incredible Parc Guell, and yesterday we braved Las Ramblas and La Boqueria market.

This blog will act as a document of my travels, both of the good times and the bad times, and an account of my eternal quest to avoid the sun. Essentially, it's the story of a pale girl in Barcelona.