Interior of Casa Batlló

Casa Batlló Vs Casa Milà Comparison - Gaudí Houses Compared

By <a href="#author-bio">Stuart Bak</a>
By Stuart Bak

Gaudí masterpieces don’t come much more spectacular than Casa Batlló and Casa Milá, eye-popping architectural stars of Barcelona’s fashionable Eixample district. Designed and completed by Gaudí in the early 20th Century, these near-neighbors should be considered bucket listers for aficionados of the maestro’s work. Though, frankly, they’re pretty much essential viewing for anyone who possesses a) even a passing interest in unusual architectural design and/or b) an Instagram account. We took a closer look at these iconic Gaudí houses in our Casa Batlló Vs Casa Milà comparison. Scroll for the lowdown…

Antoni Gaudí: a (Very) Short History

Skull mask balconies on the Casa Batllo facade

Born in rural Catalonia in 1852, Antoni Gaudí i Cornet rose from humble beginnings to become the chief exponent of Catalan Modernisme, popularizing an architectural style that’s near-impossible to categorize but is always distinctly, inimitably Gaudí. His calling cards included geometrical forms, neo-Gothic flair, colorful mosaic tiling and structures influenced by his deep love of nature – think bones, tree trunks, butterfly wings, and so on. The majority of Gaudí’s buildings – 12 in all – can be found in Barcelona, and are among the most-visited attractions in town. We’re talking the Sagrada Família, Park Güell, Casa Vicens and two of his most flamboyant confections: the UNESCO-listed Casa Batlló and Casa Milà, all of which are included with a Barcelona pass from Go City. Find out more about the pass and how to get yours here.

Casa Batlló: The Lowdown

Casa Batllo's distinctive bone-like carapace

Name: Casa Batlló is named for textile magnate Josep Batlló, who commissioned Gaudí’s building redesign in 1904. It’s known locally as the casa dels ossos (house of bones), for reasons which will become apparent…

Vital Statistics: Completed in 1906, it took 99 years before Casa Batlló was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. It’s located on the stylish Passeig de Gràcia in Barcelona’s Eixample district, and is one of the city’s most popular attractions, welcoming around a million visitors every year. 

Casa Batlló in Brief: Casa Batlló is a pure flight of fantasy, with a hallucinatory exterior that will appeal to everybody from high-art aficionados to fans of Game of Thrones. Considered one of Gaudí’s crowning glories, it’s truly a sight to behold. The striking dragon-crest roof fairly shimmers with blue-and-green ‘dragon scale’ tiles. Glass, stone and ceramic mosaic gives the facade a textured, rough-hewn look, while the skeletal carapace and creepy skull-mask balconies on the lower levels are what earned Casa Batlló its ‘house of bones’ nickname. Things are no less bonkers inside, where the staircase is designed to resemble a spine and the entrance hall feels  a bit like being in an underwater cave, complete with tortoise-shell skylights.

On the roof terrace at Casa Batllo

Three Highlights of Casa Batlló:

  • The Noble Floor. The former residence of the Batlló family features a gently undulating ceiling, mushroom-shaped fireplace and huge gallery which protrudes far over the Passeig de Gràcia.
  • Roof Terrace. Ogle fairytale mosaiced chimneys and get close-up views of the dragon’s scaly back.
  • Indoor Garden. This highly decorative terrace, with colorfully tiled floor and flowerpots is a tiny oasis in the heart of Barcelona.

Casa Milà: The Lowdown

Casa Mila aka La Pedrera

Name: Casa Milà is more commonly known locally as La Pedrera, aka ‘the quarry’, thanks to its unusual rough-hewn facade.

Vital Statistics: The last house Gaudí worked on before applying himself full-time to the Sagrada Família, Casa Milá was built between 1906 and 1912, and designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984. No more or less popular than its near-neighbor Casa Batlló, La Pedrera also attracts around a million annual visitors.

Casa Milá in Brief: La Pedrera was pretty controversial when it was first built. And by controversial we mean the locals hated it. Hence the somewhat unfair nickname. History has of course been much kinder to Gaudí’s legacy and this Barcelona icon is now widely accepted to be one of the finest examples of Catalan Modernisme, all sinuous limestone curves, intricate wrought-iron balconies, and soaring mosaic-clad chimneys. Great paintings, tapestries and frescoes adorn the eye-popping interiors; rooms are also kitted out with curvaceous furnishings by Gaudí himself, each designed to slot seamlessly into the building’s flowing waves and curves.

The roof terrace at La Pedrera

Three Highlights of Casa Milá:

  • Roof Terrace: a total of 28 extraordinary warrior-like stone chimneys stand sentinel on the Casa Milá rooftop, vying for attention against some fairly spectacular 360-degree views of the city skyline.
  • The Whale Attic. Come over all Jonah as you enter what appears to be the belly of a leviathan, thanks to 270 arches representing a whale’s ribcage. If that’s not enough, there’s also a quite excellent Gaudí exhibition to explore up here.
  • Courtyards don’t come much trippier than La Pedrera’s Flower Courtyard and Butterfly Courtyard, in which you can expect fantastical shapes and colors, complemented by beautiful blooms and great Ballard-esque insects that are quite at odds with the far more sober exterior.

Casa Batlló Vs Casa Milà Comparison: Which is Best?

Warrior-like chimneys at La Pedrera

Who could possibly pick a favorite from these two extraordinary Gaudí Houses? Both Casa Batlló and Casa Milà are like nothing you’ve seen before, each with its own set of architectural quirks and fantastic visual spectacles. Here’s the good news: you don’t have to visit just one or the other. Not only are these dreamlike townhouses just a few minutes’ walk from each other; both are included with a Barcelona pass from Go City. The pass is ideal if you’re planning to see a number of top attractions on your vacation, and includes entry to Casa Batlló and Casa Milà, plus other Gaudí masterpieces including Casa Vicens and tours of the Sagrada Família and Park Güell. It also gives you access to many more Barcelona tours, activities and attractions, like the Picasso Museum and Barcelona Zoo, and could save you up to 50% on regular prices. Find out more about the pass and get yours here.

Save on Attractions, Tours and Activities in Barcelona

Save money on Barcelona attractions, tours and activities with a pass from Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.

Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Freelance travel writer

Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.

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A bird's eye view over Barcelona
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Barcelona in November

With summer having long drawn to a close, the vibrant streets of Barcelona begin to embrace a period of respite from the tourist high season. Barcelona in November is blessed by milder days and cooler nights, with average temperatures flirting between 50 and 68°F. Alongside this cooldown comes a comparable reduction in tourism, though the city remains as vibrant as ever. This, among some of the reasons below, makes fall a fantastic time to visit the sprawling Catalan metropolis.   Barcelona Jazz Festival From the end of October, the Barcelona Jazz Festival typically runs for a little over a month and showcases – you guessed it – all things Jazz. One of the most significant events of its kind in the world, fans of the genre can jive with concerts from both celebrated names and up-and-coming artists. Those looking for just that little bit extra can even attend masterclasses led by titans of the Jazz scene. Film Festivals Galore Cinema lovers can rejoice at the fact that the city also hosts a multitude of film festivals throughout November. Whether you’re a connoisseur of independent movies, world cinema or short films, moviegoers are likely to find something here to whet their appetite. Recurring festivals include L’Alternativa Independent Film Festival, the In-Edit Festival, the Barcelona International Short Film Festival and the Asian Film Festival Barcelona. Note that some of these events may only offer admission to exclusive parties, but they will likely still be widely televised in this case. And wherever these festivals take place, you can be sure of a fantastic local ambience and some great afterparties. Thanksgiving We know – Thanksgiving isn’t a Spanish celebration in any sense, so you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d have to miss out on your visit to Barcelona. However, should you find yourself absent for the celebrations back home, you’re in luck. Seek out your nearest Irish pub, and you’ll be in good company with fellow American expats and tourists for a traditional Thanksgiving meal. If in doubt, Flaherty’s is a particularly popular venue for Americans abroad. Christmas Having seen out both summer and fall, Barcelona begins to prepare for winter and, more specifically, the holiday season. Towards the end of November, visitors will begin to see signs of the Christmas season popping up everywhere. The streets become adorned with lights and decorations, as market stalls begin to open up on seemingly every other street. Selling everything festive from mulled wine to roasted chestnuts alongside local artisan crafts, the Barcelona Christmas markets are truly a magnificent sight to behold. While there’s always a multitude of different markets dotted throughout the city, the largest and most famous market is Fira de Santa Llúcia, which can be found on Avinguda de la Catedral. November is a fantastic time to visit Barcelona. Experience everything the city has to offer without all of the summer crowds, while also engaging in the many local festivities taking place throughout the month. This month marks both a cultural and literal transition, as locals celebrate the passing of summer, enjoy the autumnal produce of fall, and embrace the coming of winter. See it all and save with a Barcelona attraction pass!
Robert Heaney
week in barcelona
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A Week in Barcelona

Spending a week in Barcelona for your vacation, but fearful of missing any of the city's highlights? Never fear; we're here to do all the work for you. Relax and read on as we outline a perfect week in Barcelona!   Day 1 We'll take things easy at the start! You may have been traveling for hours, and you'll have to get used to the time difference. Make your way to your hotel, hostel, or Airbnb, put your things away, and have a nice sit-down. You've earned it, buddy. When you have settled, head out and explore the local area. You may well be staying at one of the areas we mentioned in our neighborhoods or where to stay guides, so have a browse and see what's good. You'll doubtless find a local cafe to have a meal and a coffee, a restaurant if you want something more substantial, or dare we say, a bar if you're feeling daring. You could also check our market guide if you want to cook something back home. It's early days yet, so don't worry too much about being too busy. You've still got a week in Barcelona, after all! Then, get to the resting; big day tomorrow!   Day 2 For your second day in the Catalan capital, we suggest you see all the most recognizable of Barcelona's landmarks. With enough planning and forethought, this is more than possible to do on foot. However, we recommend you save yourself the trouble and board a hop-on, hop-off bus tour instead! These run all throughout the day, and will take you to all of the city's great architectural monuments! Highlights include Casa Batlló, Plaça Catalunya, Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, La Pedrera, and Mercat de Sarrià. Many of these are Gaudi's seminal works, and getting to all of them in a day is pretty good going! And the best thing is that if one takes your fancy, you can get off, go exploring, and then catch the next bus to the next destination. Feasibly, you could go and see everything up close, and still get to the end before the sun sets! Then, when you've seen it all, walk back and see what's going on in the city!   Day 3 On day three of your week in Barcelona, we're going to travel...through time itself! Sort of, at least, as we recommend you go and check out the city's more historic areas. Appropriately named 'Old Town', or Ciutat Vella if you want to get cultural, it's one of the most untouched places in the country. You'll see monuments to the old Roman occupation, medieval buildings that still stand tall (somehow), and plenty of winding cobbled streets filled with hidden cafes and pubs. If you want a deeper dive, take a guided tour of the area and learn all about what happened when. Get a few snaps at the gothic Barcelona Cathedral. Entry is free before midday, so all the more reason to venture out early. Then, visit Boqueria Market and follow the delightful smells to your snack of choice. End the day by exploring the neighborhood's surprisingly deep nightlife, if that's your thing, and try making some local friends along the way!   Day 4 Get up bright and early for this one, because on day four, we recommend you head outside of the city. We're heading to Montserrat, aka the Serrated Mountain, to explore one of Catalonia's most spiritual places. Thankfully, you can have all the travel taken care of by booking a bus tour from the city center. This air-conditioned vehicle ensures you can relax, save your strength for all the exploring you'll be doing, and you're free to take pictures throughout the journey! Once you arrive, admire the stunning views across the plains, go see the monastery, visit the nearby museum, and grab a spot of lunch at Mirador Restaurant. Right next door, you'll find the Stairway to Heaven sculpture, then you're free to continue on. Further up the mountain is the Santa Cova Chapel, and from there, Sant Miquel's Cross. All this exploring will take you most of the day, so make sure to bring plenty of water with you so you don't get dehydrated! Then, when the day is done, and you've filled up a camera roll, take the cable car back down the mountain and make your way home. Phew!   Day 5 Day five is culture day, so put on your most elaborate cultural hat and prepare for artsy and historical explorations! There's the Picasso Museum, where you'll get to explore the life, times, and works of the famous brushstroker. Modern art marvels can be explored at the Moco Museum, featuring works from current artists like Banksy as well as contemporary artists from the early 20th-century such as Dali. For family-filled fun, go explore the weird and wonderful offerings at the Museum of Illusions at the Big Fun Museum. To satisfy all your scientific curiosities, venture into CosmoCaixa, which lets you explore the smallest atom to the largest galaxy. Learn more about Catalonia and, by extension, Barcelona's rich history at the Museum of Catalonian History. Or, learn more about the musical heritage of the area at the Museum of Music! Whatever your cultural desires, you're bound to find them sated in the city.   Day 6 With your week in Barcelona nearly over, it's time to relax. If the weather's good, why not head to the beach? Barceloneta is the city's most famous and busiest beach, with plenty of beachside bars and restaurants to tuck into seafood treats. But, if you're looking for a quieter, more secluded stay, check out our guide to Barcelona's best beaches. Alternatively, if it's too hot or too cold to head beachside, why not take a picnic to one of Barcelona's fabulous parks? Coming in all shapes and sizes, there's bound to be one close by that ticks all your park-related boxes. Then, wander home and stop by a new restaurant for some authentic Catalonian tapas.   Day 7 And finally, we come to your final day in the city. Your week in Barcelona has flown by! So, let's look at doing some mop-up before you head home. If you want to pick up any presents for your people back home, why not take a trip to La Roca Village? If you'd like a look at Barcelona's evolving architecture throughout history, visit Poble Espanyol. Soccer fans might want to take a trip to Camp Nou and take a tour of FC Barcelona's famous stadium. Animal lovers could go see some critters at the zoo or the aquarium. Or, try seeing the city's skyline from a different perspective with a boat cruise! Then, go back, pack, and get some sleep in preparation for your trip home. And that's our guide to a week in Barcelona!
Dom Bewley
Art at the Picasso Museum in Barcelona (Image credit: Museu Picasso)
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Museu Picasso vs Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya - (MNAC) Comparison

Barcelona has quite the pedigree when it comes to art. Not to put too fine a point on it, we’re talking about the self-same region that nurtured Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí and Joan Miró. Heck, this part of Spain is about as central to the development of European art as just about anywhere else on the continent. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the city’s fine art museums, among which the extraordinary Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya and epic Museu Picasso are among the very best. We took a closer look at these two titans of the Barça art scene, including a little bit of history and the treasures you can expect to find within… Museu Picasso: The Lowdown Vital Statistics: Opened in 1963, Barcelona’s Museu Picasso was the world’s first museum dedicated entirely to the maestro’s work, and the only one to open in his lifetime. Even today, the museum’s collection of 4,000+ pieces, located in the very neighborhood where Picasso lived and studied as a teenager, makes it one of the three largest Picasso collections on the planet, alongside the Picasso Museum in Paris, and the mighty Prado in Madrid. The museum attracts over a million visitors annually. Picasso Museum in Brief: Picasso’s fledgling art career first took wing in the medieval streets of the medieval Gothic Quarter. Here’s where he lived with his family, studied at the School of Fine Arts, and found inspiration for his celebrated ‘Les Demoiselles d'Avignon’ at a Carrer d'Avinyó brothel. It’s appropriate then that this extensive collection of his work – and particularly his earlier, pre-Cubist work – should be exhibited here, close to the very neighborhood Picasso once called home. This is no ordinary museum either. Art of this quality deserves a setting just as impressive, and the series of five adjoining medieval palaces in Le Ribera, in which the collection is housed, more than delivers. The mind-boggling number of exhibits (some 4,251 at last count) is helpfully organized into sections that primarily cover Picasso’s early years, training period and celebrated Blue Period, taking in a fairly substantial hoard of sketches and paintings from those eras, as well as a much smaller collection of pieces from his Cubist period and beyond. Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya: The Lowdown Vital Statistics: A stalwart of the Barcelona art scene since 1934, MNAC is *the* go-to for anyone with even a passing interest in Catalan art from the last 1,000 years. Set high on Montjuïc hill, this majestic collection is displayed within the historic Palau Nacional, a jaw-dropping confection that marries elements of St Peter's Basilica, Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, and other major masterpieces of European architecture. Something of a work of art in its own right then, this palatial Italian-style confection also just happens to command some of the best Barcelona panoramas in town. No wonder then that it draws in a similar number of tourists to the Picasso Museum – around a million – every year. MNAC in Brief: Go for the art and stay for the sweeping city views: visitors to the museum enjoy access to the roof terrace for unrivaled panoramas of the skyline, taking in everything from the Montjuïc Magic Fountain below to the familiar lines and angles of the Sagrada Família, and the Mediterranean beyond. It’s worth taking a peek inside too, of course. For here’s where you can marvel at Romanesque religious murals par excellence, lovingly transported here from crumbling medieval churches in the Pyrenees, as well as key pieces from the Gothic and Renaissance eras, and some of the modern masterworks that inspired Dalí, Picasso, Gaudí and Miró. In summary, MNAC boasts what is quite possibly (nay, almost certainly) the finest collection of Catalan art, ancient and modern, on this planet we call Earth. Museu Picasso: Highlights & What to Expect The Museu Picasso works hard to convey the artist’s relationship with Barcelona, from the formative years spent learning his craft in this very district to his continuing connection with the city in death. Guided tours of the local neighborhood flesh this out, revealing Picasso’s family homes, teenage hangouts and more. One such tour is included with a Barcelona pass from Go City, which also includes entry to the museum, as well as other Barcelona attractions including Gaudí’s Casa Batlló and the Sagrada Família. Find out more about the Barcelona pass and buy yours here. Cool fact: during renovations in 1960, the Mural paintings of the Conquest of Majorca were discovered concealed beneath plaster in Palau Aguilar, one of the five medieval palaces in which Museu Picasso is housed. Considered a masterpiece of 13th-century Catalan art, these magnificent murals now form the focal point of the Gothic galleries at MNAC. Back to the present day Museu Picasso now, where highlights include: ‘The First Communion’ and ‘Science and Charity’. Some of his earliest major works, these oil paintings date from 1896-1897, when Picasso was still a teenager. Must-see Blue Period works at the museum include ‘The Dead Woman’, a striking portrait of a recently deceased subject, rendered in the trademark sickly blues and greens Picasso favored between 1901 and 1904. In 1957, Picasso set about re-imagining Velazquez’s iconic 17th-century royal portrait ‘Las Meninas’, bringing his own inimitable style to the project across 58 (count ‘em) separate paintings. The resulting collection, displayed in its entirety here is, quite frankly, unmissable. MNAC: Highlights & What to Expect  For an overview of Catalan art across the centuries, the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya is second-to-none, taking in everything from medieval Romanesque and Gothic murals to Renaissance masterpieces and modern art. Highlights of this 300,000-strong collection are many, but here are a few you absolutely must not miss: Baroque and Renaissance Spanish art provides some of the museum’s undisputed highlights. We’re talking masterpieces from the likes of El Greco, Velázquez, Zurbarán and more. Don’t miss one of the collection’s signature pieces: the unsettling ‘Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew’ by José de Ribera’, in which the titular Bart’s desperate, pleading eyes seem to meet the gaze of the unsuspecting viewer (i.e. you). Murals including the Master of Taull’s majestic ‘Apse of St Taull’ and the epic Linear Gothic Catalan masterpiece that is the Mural paintings of the Conquest of Majorca, are among some of the finest examples of early medieval Romanesque art anywhere on the planet. The modern art collection covers around 150 years from the early 19th century onwards, with Romantic, realist and neoclassical pieces that preempt the work of Gaudí, Miró, Picasso et al. Check out sculptures by Campeny and the Vallmitjana brothers, and paintings by Flaugier and Fortuny, for the win. Top tip: admission to MNAC is free after 3PM on Saturdays and on the first Sunday of each month. You can book tickets for these as well as paid entry slots here. Save on Attractions, Tours and Activities in Barcelona Save money on Barcelona attractions, tours and activities with a pass from Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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