U.S. News Insider Tip: For more sweeping city views and fewer tourists, grab a five-minute taxi or walk 20 minutes uphill to reach Bunkers del Carmel – a viewpoint popular with locals, especially at sunset, when the lighting over the city is spectacular. – Laura French

Antoni Gaudí's Park Güell is as whimsical as parks can get. The park was originally supposed to be a housing community for the rich, commissioned by Eusebi Güell. Güell hired Gaudí but the project eventually folded due to the land's incompatible building conditions. Gaudí continued on, modeling the park after gardens he had seen in England (Güell means English in Catalan) and building around the natural elements of the land instead of tearing them down.

Today's park covers more than 45 acres and features everyday park props with a twist that is quintessentially Gaudí. Instead of numerous benches spread throughout, here visitors will be greeted with one long, wavy stone bench adorned with vibrant mosaics and equipped with views of the ocean. And instead of drab administrative buildings, the welcome centers here (which house park souvenirs and learning materials on Gaudí and the park) look like buildings you'd see in a Dr. Seuss book. You'll also find plenty of picturesque pathways that weave along verdant vegetation, down cascading tiled staircases and through jagged stone columns and tunnels. While you're here, don't miss the chance to see the Sala Hipóstila. Located right at the entrance, the Sala Hipóstila was originally intended to be a marketplace. Today it serves as nothing more than to dazzle visitors with its stately stone columns and beautiful mosaic works, which you'll find dotted all over the ceiling. Other popular attractions here include the Casa Museu Gaudí (Gaudí House Museum), Gaudí's former home turned museum, and Turó de les Tres Creus, a lookout point with pretty impressive views of the city situated in the southwestern point of the park.

Travelers found Park Güell to be a lovely place to spend a sunny day in Barcelona. Visitors loved the beautiful architecture of the park and how it seamlessly weaved into its natural surroundings. Some strongly suggested taking part in a guided tour to better understand the history and architectural detail of the park (guided tours are available at the park with the purchase of a guided tour ticket). Others also recommended taking time to explore the trails Park Güell has to offer, but make sure to come prepared. Being built on a hill, trails feature steep inclines and unpaved pathways. And keep in mind that since this is one of Barcelona's most popular attractions, there will seldom be a time when there aren't crowds.

Park Güell is open year-round, but hours vary depending on the season. You must buy tickets to enter. Tickets cost 10 euros (around $11) for adults and 7 euros (about $8) for kids ages 7 to 12; children 6 and younger can enter for free. Some visitors complained of not being able to be admitted to the park the day they arrived due to capacity restrictions, so getting a ticket in advance online is advised, especially if you're short on time. If you'd like to take the metro, hop on the green line (L3) to the Lesseps station. From there, it's a 20-minute walk to the entrance on Avinguda del Santuari de Sant Josep de la Muntanya, which has an escalator. The park is also accessible by bus on lines H6 and D40. For more information, visit Park Güell's website.