Visit the district Montjuïc in Barcelona in one day

Like virtually all tourist destinations in Barcelona, it is possible to get to Montjuïc by public transport, but once at the foot of the hill several options are available to you: take bus 150, take the cable car or climb on foot.

It is possible to reach the summit of Montjuïc hill with one of the two cable cars:

🚠 Montjuïc Cable Car : It begins its ascent at the foot of the hill and takes you directly to the summit of Montjuïc.

🚠 Old Port Cable Car: It begins its ascent at the old port and offers a magnificent view of the whole city before arriving halfway up the hill. You can then finish the journey on foot or by bus.

Nothing too complicated to walk all the way up the hill and to Montjuïc Castle. With a little patience and frequent stops, it's possible for everyone to reach the summit on foot. Plus, you can enjoy the various panoramas of Barcelona at your own pace, and believe us, it's worth it! 🙂

However, it is not recommended to make this effort during the heat of summer.

During our stay in Barcelona last February, we spent a day in the Montjuïc district. We visited its must-sees and hidden gems less known to mass tourism.

We start from the statue of Christopher Columbus, and head towards the park del Mirador del Poble Sec where we start climbing.

The paths wind through the gardens and after a few minutes of walking, we arrive at the Plaça de l’Armada on which is the Miramar hotel but also the arrival of the old port cable car. We stay a few moments to observe the impressive view of Barcelona and the Sagrada Familia which dominates the entire city.

The Plaça de l’Armada is located about halfway up the hill, but from there, the slope is a little steeper (without being insurmountable).

We continue our route by crossing the Joan Brossa Gardens and the Mirador Gardens, which offer a beautiful view of the old port and the city, before arriving at the top and the Montjuïc Castle.

The Montjuïc Castle was a strategic place throughout its history. Built during the 17th and 18th centuries, this stronghold evolved with the wars and revolts that the city of Barcelona experienced. Its history will be strongly marked by the civil war, during which the castle served as a prison and experienced numerous massacres.

Today, the castle has become a tourist spot which, in addition to offering breathtaking views of the surroundings, also hosts exhibitions. Entry is paid, but at the beginning of the year, there are often open days and we take advantage of the festivities of the Fiestas de Santa Eulalia to enter for free.

After our visit to the castle, we decide to walk down in the direction of the Barcelona Olympic Stadium and its esplanade.

In 1992, Barcelona was the host city of the Olympic Games and numerous infrastructures (including the Olympic Stadium) were built on Montjuïc hill.

We advise you to go to the esplanade of the Anella Olimpica which links the Olympic Stadium, the Palau Sant Jordi and the impressive communication tower. If today, it is mainly a place of relaxation for the people of Barcelona, it is easy to imagine the excitement that the place must have known during the Olympic Games!

Right next to the Olympic stadium, after crossing a small park and going down a few escalators (yes, the slope is steep), we discover the building housing the National Art Museum of Catalonia. The MNAC is now renowned for its collections, particularly its Romanesque art works.

If the museum building itself is already worth a visit, it's once we arrive at the Barcelona viewpoint that we understand why this place is a must-see when visiting Barcelona! Indeed, it overlooks the plaça des cascades and the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc.

If you go down from Plaça des cascades towards Plaça d'Espanya, you might be lucky enough to admire the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc (Font Màgica de Montjuïc) in action. A spectacular water and light show that begins once the sun sets. The show lasts about 20 minutes and the frequency is every 30 minutes.

Unfortunately, we were unable to attend this famous show, because the fountains are stopped due to the drought that has affected Barcelona for many months now. You can find all the information and schedules of the Magic Fountain on the official website of the city of Barcelona.

During our stay in Barcelona, we spent a memorable day in the Montjuïc neighborhood. This hill is full of treasures to discover, whether well-known or more secret. We hope we've given you ideas for exploring Montjuïc in a day!

You can also find the complete itinerary of our stay in Barcelona in the link below.

👉 Visit Barcelona: what to do in 5 days?