Casa Milà (La Pedrera) Visit Guide: Epic Facts & Tips (2023)

Casa Milà is the last mansion Catalan wonder architect Antoni Gaudí designed before ultimately giving his life (quite literally) to the Sagrada Familia.

This modernist apartment block, also known as La Pedrera (Stone Quarry), gives new meaning to the phrase ‘chiselled out of stone’ – more than 1,000,000 tourists line up to visit Casa Mila every year.

With this Casa Mila guide, I hope to show you why.

Before You Go: La Pedrera Tickets

La Pedrera is one of the most visited monuments in Spain.

It’s essential to get your tickets online in advance – hourly visits are capped and often sell out.

You’ll find many online ticket resellers, but we recommend relying on our collaborator Tiqets, which help us to keep this blog (which we’ve given 1000’s of hours to) free 🙂

Buying online using Tiqets also gets you a handy €3.00 discount:

Every booking helps us get closer to doing this blog for a living, so thank you 🙏

Casa Milà (La Pedrera): History, Tickets, and Photos

First things first: who designed Casà Mila?

This unconventional, modernist apartment block designed by master architect Antoni Gaudi was commissioned by the opulent industrialist Pere Milà in 1906.

I won’t delve into Gaudi’s mind too much, but this amazing video pretty much sums up his vision:

As you can see, this World Heritage Site has a unique, completely self-supported limestone façade and is a constant curve owing to Gaudi’s refusal to use straight lines.

It’s actually two different curved buildings structured around two courtyards. In fact, if you look at Casa Mila from aerial shots, you’ll see that it was designed in an asymmetrical eight shape.

See that jungle foliage reclaiming the concrete? That’s the vibrant, green Casa Mila ground floor.

All that said, Casa Milà is most famous for its rooftop terrace and its twisted, haunting chimneys called ‘The Garden of Warriors’ – which you may have seen in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, but more on that later.

What to See at Casa Milà

The Casa Milà Roof

There’s nothing like it! This is why most tourists buy Casa Mila tickets and put them at the top of their Barcelona itinerary.

The photo above doesn’t do it justice. My only advice is to get the cameras ready – going out onto the Casa Mila rooftop is like stepping into an alternate reality.

The highlight is the wavy floors crawling up the walls giving way to 28 chimneys that look like carnival masks, Darth Vader, and the Grim Reaper all in one.

From here, look down into the courtyard to see Gaudi’s constant curve vision – in some weird way, the curves make Casa Mila look like wobbling jello.

The view of the city (and Sagrada Familia) from the La Pedrera roof is spectacular.

The Casa Milà Courtyard

Though Casa Mila was built as two individual apartment blocks, it’s at the courtyards that the buildings intersect or almost blend into each other like two waves of water.

The Casa Mila interior is speckled with floral motif murals that are lit up perfectly by the day. You’ll spend a lot of time looking up at the forms and taking pictures – aside from the roof, this is the most photographed place in the whole building.

Inside Casa Milà (The Apartment)

The fourth floor of La Pedrera is home to two different dwellings, one of which is an audiovisual presentation room covering the time period between Tragic Week (1909) and the World’s Fair (1929).

Then there’s the famous La Pedrera apartment where Pere Milà lived with his family.

The interior remains exactly how it was the day he moved in – this is a great window into upper-class life in the early part of the last century.

The bedrooms, living room, bathroom, kitchen, and even the children’s toys remain creepily intact, seemingly frozen in time.

Related: Casa Mila or Casa Batllo?

The Casa Milà Attic

The La Pedrera attic originally housed the building’s laundry room.

Tourists love Casa Mila for the 270 parabolic arches that support the roof terrace above. They give it a slight claustrophobic and catacomb-like feel. One reader described it as a walk inside an undulating whale skeleton.

The area is now home to the Espai Gaudi – a museum dedicated to the great architect. Here you’ll find plastic models of his other famous works, art, videos, and a great explanation/display of how Gaudi let Barcelona’s nature influence his work.

The Casa Mila attic is divided into seven different areas, with one dedicated entirely to La Pedrera.

Casa Milà Tickets

Hourly visits to Casa Mila are capped. So if you show up expecting to buy Casa Mila tickets on-site, you’ll likely be forced into a later time slot than you envisioned.

There is also a €3.00 ticket window surcharge per visitor.

For this reason, buying Casa Mila tickets using Tiqets for the lowest prices is essential.

Let’s look at how to buy Casa Mila skip-the-line tickets.

Casa Milà Essential: Audio Guide + Skip the Line

Your basic Casa Mila ticket includes a full English audio guide with each ticket purchase.

Tickets are staggered every 15 minutes (:00, 15, 30, and:45), and once inside Casa Mila, you’re allowed to stay as long as you want. But how long does Casa Mila take? In my experience, a typical visit takes 90 minutes.

Looking to book group tickets for 10+ guests? You’ll need to do so using the La Pedrera group ticket form.

Related: Is It Worth It Going Inside Casa Mila?

Casa Milà Guided Tour: The Unseen Pedrera

There’s great value here if you’re looking for a Casa Mila guided tour in English.

While guided tours for places like Sagrada Familia can cost up to €13.00 more, for an extra €3.00 (€28.00 per person) you can get a full guided tour of La Pedrera with:

• Admission to Casa Mila
• 90-minute guided tour with a Barcelona architecture expert
• Access to off-limit areas like the parking lot, back façade, and first-floor corridor.
• Free rescheduling up to 24 hours before the tour

These small group Casa Mila tours are capped out at a maximum of 15 people.

This is a newly launched product for 2023, and by the looks of the La Pedrera guided tour reviews, it’s a real hit.

La Pedrera Full Experience: Skip the Line + Audio Guide + Virtual Experience

If you’re looking at the total La Pedrera package, this is it: La Pedrera tickets with audio guide, mixed reality glasses, exclusive access to the first floor, and more.

Buying Casa Mila Tickets Online with the Gaudi Super Combi 3-in-1

In 2023 the hottest new product online is the 3 Houses of Gaudi ticket package that allows you to skip the lines and see all three of Gaudi’s famous Barcelona mansions:

• Casa Batlló 10D Experience with audio guide
• Casa Milá (La Pedrera) with English audio guide.
• Casa Vicens (open ticket).
• Barcelona City audio guide app with 100+ points of interest/itineraries
• Save money with a 10% discount on other attractions.

You can buy your 3 Houses of Gaudí tickets online by clicking the button below:

Passes

Save up to €30 on your Barcelona holiday right from the couch.

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Casa Milà Hours 2023

The closure of the upper floors begins 15 minutes before scheduled closure times.

How to Get to Casa Milà Barcelona

You can find La Pedrera at Passeig de Gràcia 92 in the attraction-heavy Eixample district – a fantastic place to find a Barcelona holiday apartment.

When deciding how to get to La Pedrera, expect to budget no more than 15 minutes using public transport or 30 minutes walking from most central areas.

The closest Barcelona metro stop to Casa Mila is Diagonal (green line L3 or blue line L5).

RENFE Spanish railway: Passeig de Gracia.

Buses: 7,16,17, 22, 24 and V17.

🚌 Heading to La Pedrera? Make sure you know how to get around Barcelona on public transport first.

How to Get to Other Attractions from Casa Milà

• Casa Batllò: Cross the street and walk 5 minutes downhill on Passeig de Gracia (towards the sea).
• Sagrada Familia: Take the blue line of the metro at Diagonal and get off at the Sagrada Familia stop. It’ll take about 15 minutes.
• Park Güell: Take bus 24 right outside on Passeig de Gracia. It’ll take 30 minutes.
• Plaça Catalunya and La Rambla: Walk about 20 minutes downhill in the direction of the sea, or take the green line of the metro from Diagonal to Plaça Catalunya.
• Camp Nou: Take the green line of the metro at Diagonal and get off at Palau Reial. It’ll take about 30 minutes.

Tips for Visiting Casa Milà

• Buy Casa Mila tickets online to avoid long lines at ticket windows.
• Leave around 1.5 hours for the tour of the interior + roof.
• Go between 9:00 am and 10:00 am and after 4:30 pm for the smallest crowds.
• Book your Casa Batllo tour for around the same time (they’re 5 minutes walking apart).
• Little information is provided, so I recommend paying an extra €3.00 for the Casa Mila Guided Tour.
• Wear comfortable shoes because you’ll be doing a lot of stairs.
• There is an elevator to the roof for those with mobility issues.
• If the elevator has no line, start by taking it to the top and working your way down.
• Visiting after 5:00 pm has better photography light and fewer crowds.
• You can get 10% off Casa Mila tickets with the Bus Turistic.
• Check the Barcelona weather forecast before booking – the rooftop is closed when it rains.

Related: How Long to Visit Casa Mila?

Related: How Many Days Should I Stay in Barcelona?

Related: Top Things to Do in Barcelona at Night

Restaurants Near Casa Milà

If you’re starving after all those stairs, check out my list of best restaurants near La Pedrera.

For great traditional Catalan food, hit either value paella spot Bodega Joan (Carrer Rosselló 164) or Can Punyetes (Carrer Francisco Giner 8-10). Both offer all the classic tapas dishes like tortilla de patatas, pan con tomate, paella, and more.

Those looking to spoil themselves should look at El Nacional – this high-end culinary space is home to 4 restaurants (meat, fish, tapas, and deli/pastry) and four bars (beer, wine, cocktail, oyster), each featuring different facets of the Iberian Peninsula.

UPDATE: I’ve just worked out a deal with Bodega Joan that offers my blog readers 25% off their paella-tasting menu. You can find out all the juicy details by clicking the banner below:

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Casa Mila La Pedrera FAQ

• How do I skip the lines at Casa Milà?

  The only way to skip the lines at La Pedrera is to buy your Casa Mila tickets in advance online.

• How long does it take to visit Casa Mila?

  The typical Casa Mila visit time is around 1 to 2 hours. However, feel free to take your time, wander through the unique spaces, marvel at the rooftop views, and dive into the details of this extraordinary building.

• What happens if I don’t buy Casa Mila tickets online?

  You’ll be forced to line up at ticket booths. These lines can push 60-90 minutes at peak times and 15-20 minutes off-peak.

• What happens if I arrive late to Casa Milà?

  If you’re just a few minutes late, it won’t be a problem (there is no official courtesy limit). But if you know you’re going to be late it’s always better to inform them at [email protected] or calling 932 142 576 ASAP.

  Otherwise, you’ll risk losing your ticket.

• If I have a Casa Milà discount code can I redeem it online?

  No. Casa Mila discount vouchers can only be redeemed at ticket windows.

• How do I get Casa Milà discount codes online?

  The only way to get a Casa Mila tickets discount is by buying via a Barcelona discount pass. For example, the Barcelona Pass lets you save 10% on La Pedrera plus 60 other top attractions.

  All the booking is done online, and you can skip lines.

• Is the Casa Mila audio guide really free? And does it include other languages?

  Yes, there are no hidden costs here. The audio guide is also available in Spanish, Catalan, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese.

• Can I get a student discount at Casa Milà if I’m attending school outside of Spain?

  Yes, all international student IDs are accepted when buying Casa Mila tickets. You must present the ID at ticket booths after having booked the ticket in advance online.

• Are disabled visitors entitled to a discount at Casa Milà and how can it be redeemed?

  Yes. Visitors with a 33% disability can get discounted La Pedrera tickets for €16.50, while those with a 65%+ disability can enter free.

  You’ll be required to show relevant accreditation at ticket windows.

• Can disabled visitors get the full experience at Casa Milà?

  Yes and no. The public parts of the house itself are fully adapted for disabled visitors though the roof terrace, unfortunately, is not due to the uneven terrain.

  Disabled/limited mobility visitors can still enjoy the view from the roof, as there is a platform outside the lift.

• Is there a time limit to my Casa Milà visit?

  No. You’re free to stay all day if you like, but the average tour should take about 90 minutes.

Bus Turistic

See the entire city in two hours for the price of a paella.

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Visiting Casa Milà La Pedrera?

I’ve shown you how to get fast lane access by buying Casa Mila tickets in advance online. And I’ve left you with a bunch of tips. But it doesn’t end here – if you have any questions about your Barcelona holiday, I am here.

And ticket buyers – was Casa Mila worth the price in the end? Let our readers know in the comments below.

Also, don’t be afraid to join the La Pedrera discussion by giving me a like on the Barcelona Hacks Facebook page and then joining my group; I’m Off to Barcelona. Here you can ask any questions, air grievances, and chat with thousands of Barcelona travellers.

Enjoy Casa Mila 📸

Related: Where to Buy Tickets to Casa Mila