Barcelona has taken a drastic measure at decongesting one of their most popular attractions by dramatically reducing the number of visitors allowed. Tourists have been dealt a huge blow as 500,000 fewer people will be allowed to set foot into the famous mosaic-filled Park Güell.
Designed by famed Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, the world famous public park officially opened to the public in 1926. In 1984, UNESCO designated the park a World Heritage Site, recognising it as part of the “Works of Antoni Gaudí” collection. However, from 2027 the iconic park and gardens will see 500,000 fewer visitors.
Currently, 4.5 million tickets to the park – costing almost €20 each – are released to the general public every year. This will reduce the current 4.4 million visitors each year to approximately 3.9 million.
In other words, Park Güell will welcome 1,365 fewer tourists each day and around 130 fewer each hour. A decrease of 11% compared to current attendance.
The leader of ERC (Republican Left) in the City Council, Elisenda Alamany, says the measure is necessary as it will mean the park will “belong to the people of Barcelona again”.
In a stark warning, Alamany added that the capacity will continue to be reduced in the future.
The conservative Partido Popular (PP) was the only mainstream party to vote against the plan.
It is hoped that the new measure will decrease the ever-increasing pressure of tourism on the area and lower the number of tourists who disrupt residents in nearby neighbourhoods such as Horta-Guinardó and trendy Gracia.
Over the past couple of years the neighbourhoods of La Salut and Turó de la Rovira have been up in arms due to overcrowding in the area. In June 2024 the Carmel road was closed every weekend to warn about the congestion of this road, caused by one of the park’s entrances.
Jordi Coronas, a local ERC councillor, described the move as a ‘much-needed step’, but added that more needed to be done.