visiting Gaudi attractions in Barcelona

I don't think they have "skip the line" tickets. What you can book are timed tickets for entrance. It's easy to do online. We got the audio guide for La Sagrada Famillia and it was fine. The couple we traveled with didn't and they didn't feel they missed anything by not having it. I think if you read ahead of time, that will help you absorb what you're seeing.

Thanks Patty, very good advice.

The audio guides are very good for Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila and Casa Batllo. They may offer video guides as well; I don't think those offer as much for the extra cost. I do highly recommend the audio guides though - there is much to be explained of Gaudi's architecture. Once you understand it better, it becomes more meaningful and not just odd.

I have also been dealing with advance tickets for some of these sites. It appears there are some very recent modifications to the system at Casa Batllo. There are evidently two lines, which can both be long at times. One is a line to buy tickets, which you can avoid by buying a timed ticket in advance online. The other is the line to enter with your timed ticket, which can be avoided by buying a Fast Pass for an extra €5 when booking. With both the timed ticket and the Fast Pass, you supposedly can bypass the lines and just get right in (I hope!). All this also includes a new video tour to accompany your visit.

Douglas and Larry thank you for your tips regarding visiting the Gaudi attractions, the audio tours and the fast pass ideas sounds like a great idea.

I would advise to intercalate visits to Gaudí's sites with works from other famous Modernists architects from the same period. This way you'll be able to compare and also to notice the different styles.

From Gaudí there are nearly a dozen in the city: aside Casa Batlló, Casa Milà, Palau Güell, Park Güell, and Sagrada Família one can also visit Torre Bellesguard, Casa Vicens, El Drac de Gaudí at Finca Güell (a.k.a. Güell Pavillions), Colònia Güell, Casa Calvet, etc.-

From other great Modernist architects there are plenty to choose from: Palau de la Música Catalana or Sant Pau Centre Modernista both UNESCO World Heritage Sites as well as Casa Lleó i Morera or Castell dels Tres Dragons all by Domènec i Montaner; or CaixaForum (former Fàbrica Casaramona, now an art exhibition centre), Els Quatre Gats cafe, Casa Ametller or Casa Macaya by Puig i Cadafalch; or Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor at Tibidabo mountain north of the city and Palau de Justícia by Sagnier, etc... A visit to the Museu del Modernisme Català is also a must. And if you don't feel like going indoors, just stroll l'Eixample district and admire hundreds of magnificent Modernist façades from private residences and offices alike or just follow the do-it-yourself Modernist Route.

And then, when you're tired of Modernism, delve into other architectural wonders that the city has to offer, from the Laietans (early settlers of the city) to the Romans to the Middle Age palaces to the bourgeois residences of the 1700s. Indeed a lot to visit... catering everybody's tastes!

We were able to skip the line in a tour we bought from Viator for the Sagrada Familia. Check them out for the other places you're interested in.

Enric
Thank you for your recommendations of other famous modernists architects in Barcelona.
I was not aware that there were so many other good examples in the city.
We will add these to our list of things to experience and we will definitely make a point to visit Museu del Modernisme Catala.

Be careful - the Modernista attractions start adding up, if you're seeing a number of them, as they're not cheap. So rather than seeing the four Gaudi sites you mentioned, I'd see two, and then pick some from other architects. That's what I did, and I enjoyed them rather than getting Gaudi fatigue. (In other words, I found myself saying, "next time I want to see the ones I missed" rather than "I never want to see another one again - I'm overloaded, and broke."). The number one of the non-Gaudi Modernista sites has to be the Palace of Catalan Music - breathtaking.

In answer to your question, I can say that for the Palace of Catalan Music is seen with a guided tour (no self-guiding), and the audio-video guide for the Casa Batllo (included with admission) is part of the fun. It explained the reasoning behind the architect's choices, and greatly enhanced my appreciation of the house. The entrance fee for this one is high, but I actually thought it was worth it.