Sant Pau, Barcelona

The guided tour for Sant Pau lasts 75 minutes according to the website.

I've spent a lot more time there than that. It's a multi-building complex set in nice grounds. I'd say at least 2 hours, but I think I spent about 3 hours there on my second visit, and I read little if any of the (voluminous) information posted about the complex's life as a hospital. I do tend to be all-in when I go to a sight, though. YMMV.

I’m voting 2hr+. I think we spent at least an hour just in the main buildings. We would have been there longer but it was pouring rain and the buildings are spread across the campus. Not only is the architecture worth seeing, but the whole concept of the hospital is fascinating. One of the things that is especially nice is that it doesn’t tend to attract the crowds.

I’ve been twice, and spent about 90 minutes each time. It’s a lovely place to stroll around.

Thanks, everyone. We may try to see this twice.

Any idea how many of the buildings are open to tourists?

Thanks again.

In order to avoid confusion, a comment aimed to the general public in the forum:

• "Hospital de Sant Pau" is a functioning hospital; it has nothing to do with tourism.
• "Recinte Modernista Sant Pau" is the former complex where Hospital de Sant Pau used to be located. It is now open for visits.

If you say just "Sant Pau", any local will understand the hospital.

As always, I strongly advise NOT shortening the names of places, especially when you're not familiar with the local naming conventions, to avoid misunderstandings. The same goes for "Sagrada" ('sacred' in English)... it's "Sagrada Família" please! Saying "Sagrada" can lead to confusion as there are several places in the city with the word 'sacred' in its name.

Now, Recinte Modernista Sant Pau it's a vast complex, one part functions still as part of the hospital -research, and also they're building a new residential care centre for children with rare diseases I believe- while the rest is open as a museum for visits.

It's really something, well worth visiting. It is typical of an era in Catalan architectural history, where buildings were exquisitely decorated with nature and floral-like forms and shapes. This complex was designed and built by architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, the same one that created marvels like Palau de la Música Catalana or Institut Pere Mata among others.

There are two types of visits: guided and free, the first one is conducted by a professional tourist guide and lasts 75' approx. during which one is taken through several buildings of the former hospital as well as the subterranean corridors linking them while listening to the 600+ years of history of this institution. In the second one, there's no guide and the visitor can freely walk the site (the part of the complex open to the public, that is). The different displays have plaques in several languages.

Besides, fortunately, Recinte Modernista Sant Pau doesn't appear as much as some of the other 'modernista' sites in the travel guides, therefore it's far less crowded than say, Casa Batlló o Sagrada Família.

If you happen to be in Barcelona during Christmas, besides the visit to the site, at dusk they offer a light show and façade mapping which entices children and adults alike: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=025QERKCb0o

Enjoy!

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Thanks for all the replies. I was able to find a site that said there were 6 buildings open for visits here. Other buildings are used by organizations as WHO and UN.

We will plan to visit twice during our stay in Barcelona. One visit doesn't seem to be quite enough.

Thanks again.

We will plan to visit twice during our stay in Barcelona. One visit doesn't seem to be quite enough.

Honestly, tickets are fairly expensive like everywhere in Barcelona, it is not very central, there are places to sit and rest, and it is not that huge - some of the 6 buildings are small. You can definitely take it all in in a single visit. I spent like 1.5 hours there in Dec. 2023, and 15 minutes of those were spent lounging in a chair in the sunny yard.

I agree that one visit is enough. We spent maybe 2 hours there. There were some interesting things, but it wasn't as great as I expected.

I learned in Barcelona that I much prefer Montaner to Gaudi. I wish I had spent more time at Recinte Modernista Saint Pau and the Palace of Catalan Music and less at the Gaudi sites!

I also wish I had just admired Sagrada Familia from the outside and spent more time at Recinte Modernista Saint Pau. I hope there's time in your schedule for the Palace of Catalan Music.

https://www.palaumusica.cat/en

I'm just adding my vote to one visit of about 1.5 - 2 hours. The site is interesting, but, as noted, several buildings are closed to the public. Those buildings that are open have limited access to rooms and exhibits.

Quite honestly, I am a slow traveler who reads everything available and I can't imagine how some of the above posters spent the amount of time they did! I am not criticizing - I'd probably love to travel with those who spent 3+ hours. Either I missed something basic, or things have changed in recent years. (I visited exactly one year ago.)

The audio guide available at site indicates 60 - 90 minutes. https://santpaubarcelona.org/en/visita/visita-amb-audioguia/

I also concur with recommendation for the Palau de la Música Catalana as an alternative to a second visit to Modernista Sant Pau. Or, allocate the time to a relaxed visit to Park Guell. Or one of the Gaudi houses or Casa Amatller.

Thanks, everyone! We are going to have a grand time in Barcelona!