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Barcelona, Spain

Visiting the Montjuïc neighborhood in Barcelona in one day

16 February 2023

Rich in history, Montjuïc Hill is a must-see during a stay in Barcelona. With its castle, Olympic stadium, botanical gardens, and cable car that traverses the old port, it takes at least a day to discover everything this little mountain has to offer!

How to get to Montjuïc?

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.

Going to Montjuïc by cable car

It is possible to reach the top 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 top of Montjuïc.

🚠 Old Port Cable Car: It begins its ascent from the old port and offers a magnificent view of the entire city before reaching the mid-height of the hill. You can then finish the path on foot or by bus.

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Red cabin of the cable car from the port to Barcelona
Cable car of the Port

Telepherique of Montjuïc

💰  Prices: starting from 16 € return per person.

🎟️  Buy my ticket online

🕓  Opening Hours: Open all year round. Schedules vary by month, you can find the official schedules here.

 

Barcelona being a very touristy city, we advise you to book the attractions you wish to visit at least the day before. In addition, the official Montjuïc Cable Car website offers you 10% off your return ticket if you buy your ticket online.

Cable car of the Old Port

💰  Prices: 12.50€ one way and 20€ return per person. Tickets are sold on-site.

🕓  Opening hours: Open all year round. Opening hours vary by season, you can find the official schedule here.

📍  Address: Pg. de Joan de Borbó, 8 in Barcelona.
ℹ️  More information on the official website of the Telefèric del Port.

Getting to Montjuïc on foot

Nothing too complicated to climb all the way to the top of Montjuïc hill and castle on foot. With a little patience and frequent stops, everyone can reach the summit on foot. In addition, you can enjoy the various panoramic views of Barcelona at your own pace, and trust us, it's worth it! 🙂
 

It is nevertheless advisable to avoid this effort during the hot summer months.

View on the cable car of the port from the hill of Montjuïc in Barcelona

What to see and do in Montjuïc in one day?

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

Climbing Montjuïc Hill on foot

We start from the Christopher Columbus statue, and head towards the del Mirador del Poble Sec park where we begin to climb.

 

The paths wind through the gardens and after a few minutes' walk, we arrive at the Plaça de l’Armada where the Miramar hotel is located, as well as the cable car arrival from the old port. We stay for a few moments to admire the impressive view of Barcelona and the Sagrada Familia, which dominates the entire city.

View from the Plaça de l'Armada of Barcelona and the Sagrada Familia
View from the Plaça de l'Armada
Hotel Miramar on the hill of Montjuïc in Barcelona

Discover Barcelona off the beaten path

While ascending Parc del Mirador del Poble Sec, we missed the Mossèn Costa i Llobera Gardens, which boasts a wide variety of cacti and, apparently, is worth the visit.

🌵  Address: Ctra. de Miramar, 38 in Barcelona.

The Armada square is located roughly halfway up the hill, but from there, the slope is a little steeper (though not insurmountable).

We continue our journey by passing through the Joan Brossa Gardens and the Mirador Gardens, which offer a beautiful view of the old port and the city, before reaching the summit and the Montjuïc castle.

Gardens of the Lookout Montjuïc Barcelona
Panorama over the Old Port of Barcelona
Walk ramparts Montjuïc Barcelona
Walls of Montjuïc Castle

Montjuïc Castle

The Montjuïc Castle was a strategic location throughout its history. Built during the 17th and 18th centuries, this fortress evolved with the wars and revolts that the city of Barcelona experienced. Its history was strongly marked by the Civil War, during which the castle served as a prison and witnessed numerous massacres.

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

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Rampart Castle Montjuïc Barcelona
Indoor course Château Montjuïc Barcelona
Gardens of the castle of Montjuïc Barcelona
Panorama rooftop château Montjuïc Barcelona

Practical information

💰  Prices: starting at 12€ per adult.

🎟️   Buy my tickets online.

🕓  Hours: Open all year. Hours vary by season, you can find the official hours here.

📍  Address: Ctra. de Montjuïc, 66 in Barcelona.

Olympic Stadium of Montjuïc

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

In 1992, Barcelona hosted the Olympic Games and many infrastructures (including the Olympic Stadium) were built on Montjuïc hill.

We recommend visiting the esplanade of the Olympic Ring which connects the Olympic Stadium, the Palau Sant Jordi and the impressive communication tower. While today it's mainly a relaxing spot for Barcelonians, it's easy to imagine the excitement the place must have experienced during the Olympic Games!

Facade of the Olympic Stadium of Barcelona
Interior of the Olympic Stadium of Barcelona
Interior of the Olympic Stadium
Detail of the athletics track of the Olympic Stadium of Barcelona
Details of the Olympic Stadium Barcelona stands
Esplanade of the Olympic Ring in Barcelona
Official entrance to the Olympic Stadium of Barcelona
Esplanade of the Olympic Ring in Barcelona
Esplanade of the Olympic Ring

National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC)

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

If the museum building is already worth a visit in itself, it is once we reach the Barcelona mirador that we understand why this place is a must-see during a visit to Barcelona! Indeed, it overlooks the Plaça de les Cascades and the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc.

National Museum of Catalan Art in Barcelona
MNCA

The Magic Fountain of Barcelona

If you descend from Plaça de les Cascades towards Plaça d'Espanya, you might have the chance 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 approximately 20 minutes and the frequency is every 30 minutes.


Unfortunately, we were unable to attend this famous show, as the fountains are currently inactive due to the drought affecting Barcelona for many months now. You can find all the information and show times of the Magic Fountain on the official website of the city of Barcelona.

Magic Fountain of Barcelona
The 4 columns in Barcelona
Plaza of the Cascades in Barcelona
The National Museum of Catalan Art since the Magic Fountain

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 to have given you ideas for exploring Montjuïc in one day!

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

👉  Visiting Barcelona: what to do in 5 days?

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