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2024 guide for visiting Montjuïc mountain in Barcelona

Maps, transport & guides for visiting the 19 attractions in Montjuïc mountain, from cable cars, castle, botanical gardens, art museums & Olympic stadiums

Updated: Jun 28, 2024 by: Barcelona Travel Hacks Views: 4.4k

About Montjuïc mountain

Montjuïc Hill is the small mountain behind the industrial Port of Barcelona with a fortress on top. It is a great place for easy city walks in nature whilst enjoying the multiple viewpoints of Barcelona city. Montjuïc has a variety of museums, sports complexes, historic monuments and landscaped Mediterranean gardens.

Montjuïc History

The development and history of Montjuïc has often been triggered by global events that Barcelona has hosted.

Medieval Montjuïc and Fortification

Montjuïc, pronounced "mon-ju-ic (the T is silent, accent the i), is a literal amalgamation of Mont (mountain) and Jueu (jewish). Montjuïc, the Jewish Mountain was, in medieval times, farmland and served as a prominent Jewish cemetery for Barcelona's large Jewish population.

Montjuïc, rising 173m above sea level, is a hill with clear views over the Llobregat delta and Barcelona city as well as the important port of Barcelona. This made Montjuïc an obvious location for fortification. Montjuïc has had a watchtower and signal beacon since at least as far back as 1073. Throughout history, Montjuïc Castle Fortress has grown in size with the current version dating from 1799.

In 1883 the Montjuïc was chosen to Become Barcelona's main cemetery due to the Expansion of Barcelona during the industrial revolution. Montjuïc Cemetery is still in use today and houses the Historic Funeral Carriages Museum.

Montjuïc and the 1888 Barcelona Universal Exposition

The 1888 Barcelona Universal Exposition was Spain's first International World Fair and ran from 8 April to 9 December 1888. The main legacy of the 1888 World Fair is Ciutadella Park, with the effect on Montjuïc being the expansion of quarrying to extract the sandstone that most of Barcelona's grand buildings are constructed from. Montjuïc was said to have up to 28 quarries, two of which can be visited today in the form of the Greek Theatre and the Historic Botanical Gardens.

Montjuïc and the 1929 World Exhibition

The second World Fair to be held in Barcelona, the first one being in 1888. It took place from 20 May 1929 to 15 January 1930 and was predominantly held in newly constructed venues around Montjuïc Mountain.

Using Stone quarried from Montjuïc, the Palau Nacional was constructed, This is the prominent building that you can see from the Magic Fountains and today houses the MNAC (Museo Nacional de Art Catalan). The pavilions of Fira 1 that surround the magic fountains are also part of the exhibition spaces constructed for the 1929 world fair.

Above and around the Palau Nacional, ornate Mediterranean Gardens (Jardins de Montjuïc), were built as walking spaces for the visitors. A quarry was repurposed into Montjuïc Greek Theatre and rose garden.

On the lower slopes of Montjuïc, a replica walled village was constructed called Poble Espanyol to illustrate some important Spanish architecture and the different styles used in the different autonomous regions of Spain. It houses craft shops, workshops and many varied restaurants and cafes.

The Montjuïc Funicular was opened in 1928 to provide access to the venues for the 1929 world fair.

The Estadi Lluís Companys was also constructed for the 1929 world fair with the idea of it being repurposed for the 1936 Summer Olympics, the bid actually being granted to Berlin, due to the Spanish civil War.

1992 Barcelona Olympic Games

The Lluís Companys Stadium is rebuilt and enlarged to be the main track and field arena for the Olympics as well as the additional constructions of the Palau Sant Jordi indoor arena for Gymnastics, volleyball, handball, etc. The Picornell Olympic swimming pools and the Torre Telefonica Communications Tower to transmit the Games on television.

Montjuïc also gained a diving swimming pool (Piscina de Salto) for the 1992 Olympics, located near to the Montjuïc Funicular.

Happy Exploring!

Things to do and see in Montjuïc mountain

Crossing the Border into France or Andorra are great Pyrenees mountain trails for a weekend getaway or longer rural break.

The 1929 World Exposition & Museums

Cable Cars, Castles & Gardens

Montjuïc Olympic and Botanical

Map of Montjuïc mountain

Attractions

Latitute: 41.4 Longitude: 2.2 Zoom Level: 11

Events in Montjuïc mountain

Montjuïc mountain Tickets and Tours

Starting from the heart of Barcelona, the Gothic Quarter, you'll pass by the seaside of the Old Port. Entering Montjuïc mountain, dive into the world of nature and magic views of the city and seaside. Passing through the different parks, you'll enter the square of Hotel Miramar and the station of the cable car viewpoint. Then, you will go up to the top of the mountain to Montjuïc Castle. On your way back downtown you will still have time to visit the Mirador de Alcalde, where you can admire the city coastline before climbing down the hills via MNAC.

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Walking tour of Barcelona Old Town and visit the famous Boqueria Market and Las Ramblas. Continue your walking tour to discover Rambla del Raval. Take the Montjuic funicular and prepare yourself for a bird’s eye view of Barcelona. Enjoy the breath-taking views from the Montjuic cable car as you gaze down on Barcelona’s iconic skyline. At the top of the funicular, you’ll reach Montjuic Castle, enjoying a private visit exclusively with your small group. Explore the military fortress, and enjoy access to exclusive areas, like the building’s dungeons. Ticket includes funicular, cable car and castle entry tickets.

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Getting to Montjuïc mountain

Montjuïc is linked to Barceloneta from the Mirador de Miramar (sea viewpoint) via the Miramar Mirador red cable car that goes over the port of Barcelona.

Montjuïc is also served by the Montjuïc funicular from metro Parallel on the green (L3) and purple (L2) lines. The Montjuïc funicular upper stations is next to the Olympic diving pools. From here there is the Montjuïc Gondola cable car to Montjuïc castle.

MNAC, Montjuïc Magic fountains, Poble Espanyol, Montjuïc gardens and Caixa Forum are within easy walking distance of metro Plaça España on the red (L1) and green (L3) lines. Plus Plaça España is the terminus for the FGC Anoia-Llobregat lines.

The 150 bus from Plaça España runs a route which passes via most of the attractions in Montjuïc.

The most popular excursion to Montjuïc is to take the Funicular then change on to the teleferico gondola cable car to the Fortress.

Use a T-Casual or Hola-Barcelona travel card which covers Metro, Montjuïc funicular and bus services but not the two cable cars.

Parking in Montjuïc

Where to Eat Montjuïc mountain

Montjuïc is mostly parks and gardens with very few restaurants but there are sandwich kiosks where you can get a beer and a hot or cold sandwich.

Montjuïc restaurants for a full meal

Montjuïc Snack Kiosks

Expect to pay €2 euros for a cold drink, €3 for a cold beer and €5 for a sandwich.

Other places to Eat in Montjuïc

The Following Attractions have canteen style restaurants inside:

Documents for Montjuïc mountain

Click on any one of the 5 PDFs to view in full screen and download.

Weather for Barcelona

What to take with you for Montjuïc mountain

I recommend comfortable shoes and a small water bottle that can be topped up in the drinking water fountains in the gardens.

Wikiloc Trail for Montjuïc mountain

BCN01 - Montjuic castle and gardens

A city walk in the Gardens of Montjuic passing via Venetian towers, Magic fountains, Museum of Catalan Art (MNAC), Greek theatre, Montjuic Castle ans Miramar cable car.

Distance: 7.37 Km

Difficulty: Easy

Return Travel Fare: T-Casual Zone 1

Transport Network: Metro

BCN08 - Olympic Montjuic

City walk in barcelona via Olimpic Montjuic. Museum of Catalan Art (MNAC), Palau Jordi, Olimpic Stadium, Botanical gardens, Olympic museum of sport and Olympic diving pools.

Distance: 7.07 Km

Difficulty: Easy

Return Travel Fare: T-Casual Zone 1

Transport Network: Metro

Where to stay overnight in the Montjuic Mountain area of barcelona



How much does Montjuïc mountain Day Trip Cost?

Montjuïc is Free to walk around in and explore the Gardens. The bellow attractions charge a fee to enter.

Description Adult Adult Discounts Child Child Discounts
Montjuic Ethnological Museum € 5.00 16-29 years, Over 65, €3.50 FREE For under 16 Years
Montjuic Castle Fortress € 9.00 16-29 years, Over 65, €6 FREE for under 8 Years
Montjuïc Gondola Cable Car € 14.40 13+ years old € 10.40 for 4-12 Years, Under 4 FREE
Montjuïc Miramar to Barceloneta Cable Car € 20.00 € 20.00 FREE for under 6 years old's
MNAC Museo Nacional Art Catalunya € 12.00 FREE for over 65 years FREE for under 16 years old's
Caixa Forum Barcelona € 6.00 Free for La Caixa bank customers FREE for under 16 year olds
Poble Espanyol Replica Walled Village € 13.50 for over 13 years old € 9.00 for 9-12 years old. Under three FREE
Montjuic Botanical Gardens € 5.00 16-29 years, Over 65, €2.50 FREE for under 16 Years
Museu Olimpic Esport Joan Antoni Samaranch € 5.80 FREE for Over 65, €3.60 students & 8-17 years old FREE for under 8 Years
Refugi307 Air Raid Shelter € 3.50 FREE for under 7 Years
€ 94.20 Adult Total € 39.40 Child Total

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