Casa Milà or Casa Batlló: which Gaudí house is better

This post was updated in April 2025

The most frequently asked question on our Gaudí Private Tours is this one: “Which Gaudí house to visit: Casa Batlló or Casa Milà?”. The easiest answer is to visit both if you can, as each one is a masterpiece in its own right. However, not everyone has enough time in Barcelona or maybe they prefer to see other attractions to make their visit more varied.

Let me explain the pros and cons of each of these UNESCO World Heritage buildings so you can make an informed decision. At the end of the article, I will also tell you which one is my personal favourite and how you can book official tickets and skip the queues. Don’t forget that Casa Milà has a nickname: La Pedrera.

Casa Batlló vs Casa Milà: What is the best Gaudí building to visit?

The architecture

Many people love the colourful, ornate facade of Casa Batlló. It is full of eye-catching tiles that make the house impossible to miss when strolling past. With its bone-like balconies and curvy reptile roof, this facade is usually preferred to that of La Pedrera. While Casa Batlló certainly followed the fashions of the time, it is not strictly 100 per cent Gaudí. The architect was commissioned to remodel this 1870s building in keeping with the Art Nouveau fashion of the day.

I always ask guests on my tours to dig a little deeper to see the genius in Casa Milà too. This apartment block was designed from the ground up and Gaudí abandoned colour for form. It is so original and unlike any construction from this period. You will either love or hate the recycled welded iron balconies on its wavy limestone front.

Both masterpieces can be seen from the outside, so, no agonising choices here. However, as regards layout, ingenuity, new construction methods and importance, La Pedrera would get the critics thumbs up.

OUR TIP: Looking at both houses from the outside? Decided on which to enter? Get online and book. It is also cheaper than paying at the entrance.

Is it worth going inside Casa Batlló or Casa Milà?

Let’s discuss the interiors. What do you get to visit? Which one is better?

Entrances, courtyards and patios

In both houses, you see the inside patio (two in la Pedrera), the stairway, an individual apartment, the attic and the roof terrace. I prefer the entranceway to Casa Batlló by far. It is like entering a jewelry box, and the carved wooden staircase up to the apartment will blow you away. If you are a tile person, the interior patio is all about decoration. It is beautifully done in shades of blue giving the atmosphere of submergence in the ocean depths.

Casa Milà’s entranceway starts at a modern-looking ticket office where you put your belongings through a security check. But once through to the first patio, you can breathe a sigh of relief as it is round and spacious, catering to larger numbers. While the patios are a lot plainer inside, there are some eye-catching painted frescoes around.

OUR TIP: If the queue for the lift to the roof terrace in La Pedrera looks long, ask the staff to show you the stairway off the patio (servants used it in the olden days). It is 8 floors up so make sure you are fit and ready for the climb.

Living quarters

The living quarters of Casa Batlló are not furnished, and a lot of rooms (kitchen, servants’ quarters and bathroom) are missing, so it lacks that sense of a real lived-in apartment. Despite this, some people do prefer the interior. Sculpted wooden doors, colourful stained glass windows and rounded plaster ceilings transport guests to a fairy wonderland. The family terrace is open to visitors, affording a view of the back part of the house, a feature which is not available in Casa Milà.

La Pedrera’s apartment is furnished, giving a great insight into how people lived and decorated their abodes in this era. Wandering from room to room disorients most as the layout follows the curve of the round patio, which is so unusual in any construction. Subtle and brilliant, it does, however, miss that immediate first impression, the wow factor of Casa Batlló.

OUR TIP: Both living quarters and exhibition spaces can feel quite cramped when busy, so try to catch the late evening visits (about 1.5 hours before closing time).

The Attic

The white plastered, ribbed walls of the attic in Casa Batlló make you feel that the nickname “House of Bones” is very fitting for this dwelling. In parts, it can be narrow and if crowded, a bit claustrophobic, but this impressive passageway must be walked to arrive at the roof terrace. Look out for a mesmerising art installation by Refik Anadol. Enchanting as the piece is, I feel it takes away from the original characteristics of the house.

Casa Milà’s loft has bare ribbed walls and ceilings made from red brick, immediately creating a warm and relaxed atmosphere. It’s an enormous space and is dotted with small windows, so one does not feel boxed in or stuffy. Excellent models, videos, charts, furniture, and more give visitors a fantastic insight into all of Gaudí’s work, a display that Casa Batlló lacks.

OUR TIP: One exhibit not to be missed in Casa Milà’s rafters is the hanging chain model of Colonia Güell. It explains Gaudí’s genius by looking in the mirror below.

The roof terrace

Casa Batlló has started charging extra to visit its rooftop. It houses ceramic chimneys, a mosaic water tank (a great backdrop for a holiday pic) and a tiled tower top.

While still imaginative and, no mistake, a Gaudí rooftop, I get the feeling that, after completion, the architect thought to himself: “I can definitely do better in my next house“. And that, my friends, would be La Pedrera.

The terrace of Casa Milà is one of the most magical places in Barcelona and a sculptural masterpiece. Stairwells, ventilation towers and chimneys are the 3 main elements that combine to make a highly original and wonderful space. It is not a flat surface (like Casa Batlló), and you will be climbing up and downstairs to see the sights, so those with bad knees, be aware.

As a plus, you can actually enjoy beautiful views of Barcelona from La Pedrera’s roof terrace (a classic photo pic is the one of Sagrada Familia framed by one of the arches). Even famous film directors like Michelangelo Antonioni found the place irresistible enough to use it as a backdrop for a movie, “The Passenger” with Jack Nicholson.

The only disadvantage of La Pedrera’s roof terrace compared to Casa Batlló’s is that it will be closed when it rains. So, check the weather forecast beforehand so you don’t leave Barcelona without experiencing it.

OUR TIP: On Summer nights, both La Pedrera and Casa Batlló offer night shows on their roof terraces. Both are great, and I can’t think of a better way to enjoy the atmosphere of these special places, accompanied by great music and surrounded by Gaudí’s endless imagination.

The price

There is no way out here: both houses are quite expensive (especially Casa Batlló with the new interactive experiences), although there are some discounts for seniors and students. Families, don’t despair. Casa Batlló and La Pedrera allow children under 12 in for free. In Casa Batlló, they even get interactive mini-tablets to keep them occupied.

Bear in mind that there is a surcharge of €4 in Casa Batlló and €1 in La Pedrera if you decide to buy your ticket at their box offices. This is one of the reasons why it is advisable to pre-book online. In La Pedrera, your online purchase will entitle you to wait in the fast-moving pre-booked tickets queue, which will save precious holiday time.

Casa Batlló has skip-the-line entry, but it is steeply priced (see below).

One word of warning: nowadays, there are many websites selling tickets to the Gaudí attractions. Most of them will charge an extra booking fee, so you will end up paying more than you should. Even worse, there are some scamming sites selling fake tickets that, of course, won’t be valid. If you want to pay the official price, always book through an official site. These are the official sites where you can purchase tickets to both buildings with no surprises:

What type of ticket to buy for Casa Batlló and La Pedrera

Both houses have a large choice of tickets. They vary in price depending on what experience you choose. It can be very confusing when you land on the ticket page. Some entrances include more spaces in the house, some virtual experiences, night experiences and early morning experiences. Let’s break it down simply for you. You can also compare them and book the ticket that suits you best in the informative grid at the end of the article.

The Basic must-see tickets!

Let’s start with the basic visit without frills or expensive hikes in price (the areas explained above in the blog). These are the classic visits offered before the houses decided on creative ways to make more of a profit on their tickets.

La Pedrera Essential

This informative audio-guided tour includes all the important and impressive locations of the building: courtyards, tenants’ apartment, whale attic and warrior roof terrace. In all honesty, there is a wealth of things to see on this visit.

Price: €29 (discounts available for seniors, children, students, etc).

Casa Batlló General visit: BLUE TICKET

This audio-guided tour includes all the main areas of the building EXCEPT the roof terrace: entrance, apartment, interior & exterior patios and attic. A new addition is to go down a back stairway, decorated by the architect Kengo Kuma. An installation of tactile aluminium chains surrounds you until you reach the 360-degree experience Gaudí cube located in the basement.

Price: €25 to €35 (discounts available for seniors, children, students, etc. Free for children under 12).

The price difference is because the booking system shows different entrance fees depending on the time of the year and demand.

Upgrade on basic must-see tickets

La Pedrera Art Season

This includes the above basic visit and free entrance to their temporary art exhibitions. It is much cheaper to buy this combo ticket if you are interested in seeing the temporary art show and the essential visit. The pieces on display are located on the main floor where the patrons used to live.

Price: €35 (discounts available for seniors, children, students, etc).

Casa Batlló General ticket: SILVER, GOLD and PLATINUM tickets

Once you click to confirm your general ticket, you can choose between Blue (basic ticket), Silver, Gold or Platinum.

The SILVER TICKET gives you everything in the basic ticket and allows access to the whimsical roof terrace.

Price: €5 extra on top of the Basic Ticket

The GOLD TICKET gives you everything that is included in the silver and more.

It includes an interactive mini-tablet that you twirl around, showing period photos of the decoration in each room. At other locations, little animations pop up. Access is also given to see the dome, an immersive area giving you insight into Gaudí’s inspirations from nature. It’s very gimmicky, but in all fairness, kids and teenagers love it.

Also, you get access to a first-floor dwelling (Batlló’s private residence)  furnished with Art Nouveau pieces. It is a small space but jaw-droppingly beautiful and a far cry from the modern tech in other parts of the building.

You will also get a peek into the doorman’s little office, the concierge room.

Price: €10 extra on top of the Basic Ticket

The PLATINUM TICKET gives you everything that is included in the silver and more.

The extra price hike allows you to skip the line, which is quite long in high season. Cancellation is free and you have flexibility when you want to visit.

Price: €20 extra on top of the Basic Ticket

Night visits

Both Houses offer special nighttime visits, which are more expensive but offer a very different experience!

La Pedrera Night Experience

This is a more personal experience as they limit the number of people per group, led by a helpful guide answering queries. You will see the wonderfully lit courtyards without the crowds, the beautifully decorated apartment and the eerily quiet attic. The roof terrace takes on a magical dimension by moonlight. You will be treated to a light-projected show and round off with a glass of cava.

Price: €39 (discounts available for seniors, children, students, etc).

Casa Batlló: A Winter Night (only until  March 20th)

This is showbiz at its best. The apartment is lit up in the most magical, fantasy-like colours. There is no private tour leader here, but the audio guide is different from the daytime one. The narrator guides you from one room to the next, recounting his childhood memories. You see different parts of the house depending on your Blue, Silver, Gold or Platinum ticket. Unfortunately, no glass of cava unless you pay the inflated prices for one at their bar on the roof!

Price: €39 to €59 (discounts available for seniors, children, students, etc).

Early Morning visits

Both houses have the option of touring the house before the official opening time. The idea is that visitors can beat the crowds and have the house more or less to themselves!

However, if you are on a tight budget, enter either house on basic tickets about 1.5 hours before the day’s closing time. Crowds and group tours have melted away by this stage.

La Pedrera sunrise

Price: €39 (discounts available for seniors, children, students, etc).

Casa Batlló: Be the first

Price: €45 (discounts available for seniors, children, students, etc).

At a fixed price, this option is quite a good value for Casa Batlló. You can access all areas of the building without choosing which colour ticket to buy!

The queues and crowds in the Gaudí buildings

Casa Batlló is a smaller building, and in the high season feels very crowded. Sometimes it is hard to appreciate the interior as there are way too many people inside. A few times on my Gaudí private tours, we got caught in a human traffic jam through the narrow attic that leads to the roof terrace.

The queues are always long to get into this house, also, maybe because it is more popular or because it moves slower. I always advise clients to go early in the evening when most people have finished sightseeing and are heading off for dinner.

Casa Milà is a larger space and more able to cater to a larger number of people. Even in the high season, the queues are manageable. However, because of this, tour groups are regularly brought here, and it is not unusual to see a tour bus or two parked around the corner. The group entrance is a separate one from the individual travellers so it will not affect the line to get in.

Casa Milà or Casa Batlló? My personal choice

Casa Milà

My personal favourite is Casa Milà. As a tour guide bringing people around, there is so much more to dig your teeth into. The building is a leap forward in construction methods. Maybe its modern front is not to everyone’s taste, but it is uniquely original for its time. The roof terrace is a winner in everyone’s book, while the attic is amazing and has a more complete exhibition space. The apartment on view has a unique layout, cleverly designed by Gaudí. Another bonus is that all rooms are still present (nothing has been torn down), with furniture. If you are in any way interested in architecture, this is the one to pick.

Casa Batlló

However, one can not dismiss Casa Batlló, even though it had only been remodelled by Gaudí. It is a masterpiece of craftwork and, if not a bit over the top, fuels the imagination. Many clients I have had on my tours preferred Casa Batlló for this reason, especially families with kids. The mini-tablet guide keeps the children well-occupied and fires up their interest.

There have been many modern additions by well-known artists to Casa Batlló in the last few years.  The full-on 360-Degree Experience designed by Refik Anadol started in May 2021. The beautiful chain installation decorating the descending back staircase, by Kengo Kuma. The attic contains more eye-catching digital pieces on show by contemporary artists. And of course, the gimmicky if not atmospheric Gaudí dome.

Some people feel these additions add more depth to the visit, while others feel it cheapens Gaudí’s vision.

I think Casa Batlló has come up with ways to compensate for many missing areas of the apartment. These were lost over the long years. I am not a fan of the hi-tech additions. On the other hand, I love Kenga Kumas installation. An architect by trade, he integrated a modern aspect and paid tribute to Gaudí without compromising the house.

Casa Milà / La Pedrera: What ticket to buy

We only recommend the official site to book skip-the-line Casa Milà / La Pedrera tickets at the official prices

Casa Batlló: What ticket to buy

We only recommend the official site to book skip-the-line Casa Batlló tickets at the official price

If you are looking for other activities here, don’t forget to check the very complete guide for What to do in Barcelona. You definitely won’t be short of things to do!

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Main photograph: Casa Milà/La Pedrera by Antonio Tajuelo and Casa Batlló by Casal Partiu