Are you looking for picnic areas in Barcelona? Here we are going to detail what we consider to be the 8 best picnic areas to go with children, whether you want to have a romantic picnic with your partner or a brunch with friends.
Now with autumn, whether on the beach, on a terrace or in a park, Barcelona is a city with an ideal climate for outdoor activities and enjoy the sun and nature while you have a drink with your family and friends.
The city of Barcelona hides many cozy, quiet and secluded corners where you can stretch out the checkered tablecloth, open the cooler or the wicker basket and set up a meal or snack outdoors. There are few gastronomic pleasures more rewarding than enjoying your favorite snacks in a natural setting, enjoying the sun, the weekend and the autumn breeze. Treat yourself to a relaxing getaway in Catalonia and discover our selection of the best picnic spots in Barcelona and the best picnic areas in Catalonia!
1. Ciutadella Park
In the heart of the city we find the best known park for picnics, the Ciutadella, the meeting point for the locals, especially popular on weekends.
Located in the Ciutat Vella district, it was for many years the only public park in Barcelona. Erected on the grounds of the former military fortress that gives it its name and very similar to the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, it was built between 1872 and 1888, following the design of José Fontseré. In 1888, it hosted the Universal Exposition of Barcelona. In addition to the Barcelona Zoo, plants that only grow in tropical forests, fountains or sculptures, among its attractions you have the old Zoology Museum, the Hivernacle, a military church and the Parliament of Catalonia, in front of which there is a lake with the sculpture El Desconsol, by Josep Llimona. It is also very close to the Arc de Triomf, one of the icons of Barcelona.
You can also find a wide variety of activities to do on the large grassy areas in addition to spreading out your tablecloth and enjoying a good snack. You have swing dancing, boat rides, concerts, street shows, yoga classes, theaters… In short, one of the best parks for a picnic in Barcelona and a classic picnic in Catalonia.
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Montjuïc
The mountain of Montjuïc is one of the green lungs of the city, with plenty of places to sit and eat outdoors.
Another option for a romantic dinner is to take some snacks and settle down on the steps of the Font Màgica while watching the water and sound choreography show.
One of its emblematic spaces is the Mirador de l’Alcalde gardens, full of paths, flowerbeds, vegetation, a pond, fountains, rest areas and, of course, incredible panoramic views of Barcelona. Inside Montjuic you also have the Mossen Costa i Llober Gardens, popularly known as the cactus garden. With an extension of six hectares, more than 800 species of cactus and other flowers and fleshy plants, its name is a tribute to the Mallorcan poet Miquel Costa i Llobera. This park is gorgeous for photos if you want to show off on Instagram, with unique views in the whole city, and it smells surprisingly good too.
Another of the best places to have a picnic in Barcelona within Montjuic is the Garden of Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer, a very large place, full of grass, trees perfect for lying down to read, flowers of various shades and even an artificial lake. They also have a playground and facilities for children.
Don’t miss our Route from the Castell de Montjuic to the Mayor’s Viewpoint!
3. Mar Bella Park
The Mar Bella urban sports park, next to the Ronda del Litoral, is an ideal place to take the whole picnic equipment. If you or your companions are passionate about skating, you can’t miss this incredible spot next to the best beaches in Barcelona.
This green corner, of about 3,000 m2, has everything necessary to unload adrenaline on the skateboard, such as ramps prepared for skateboarders to make jumps, turns and pirouettes. At the end of the physical exercise, a large expanse of lawn in very good condition is the ideal excuse to sit down to recharge your batteries with a snack and perhaps then take a nice walk along the sea to bring your meal down.
If you like the beach, you should take a look at our post about The 10 best beaches in Catalonia.
4.Turó de la Peira
Another great place to have your picnic in Barcelona would be at the top of the Turó de la Peira, in the Carmel.
This is an area where the anti-aircraft bunkers of the civil war used to be located and which, today, is one of the most impressive viewpoints of the city. Here, you will find both tourists and locals who come to play their guitars, have a few beers or have a snack with friends.
If you’re an early riser, the sunrise is another great moment that deserves a trip to this viewpoint, and even better if you go up with a full thermos of coffee and stop at the Santantoni pastry shop to buy croissants fresh from the oven. A very pro breakfast to enjoy on a picnic in Barcelona 😉.
Cervantes Park
In the very Avenida Diagonal we find another of the best places to have a picnic in Barcelona.
Designed by Lluís Riudor i Carol and inaugurated in 1965, with an area of 87,665 m2, this green oasis is famous for its impressive variety of trees (from cypresses to lime trees and a row of olive trees) but, above all, for its plantation of nearly 10,000 rose bushes of more than 2,000 different species. In spring, when they bloom, they are quite a spectacle, and between the months of May and July some 150,000 roses can bloom at a time.
The presence of pergolas and sculptures and an area equipped with tables and benches put the finishing touch. A highly recommended place for a brunch where you will feel like in a fairy tale with a floral aroma. It has a picnic area under a pine forest, where tai chi is sometimes practiced. The perfect place to disconnect!
Despite its undeniable charm, this space is little frequented by tourists, so it is perfect if you want to immerse yourself in the most authentic Barcelona and at the same time a little quieter.
6. Oreneta Park
Parc de l’Oreneta, with 17 hectares to enjoy nature and stop breathing car smoke, is one of the best parks where to have a picnic in Barcelona.
Inaugurated in 1978 and remodeled in 1993, it is located in the foothills of the Collserola mountain range, one of the best natural parks in Catalonia, and in the Sarrià-Sant Gervasi district, one of the most elegant and quietest in Barcelona. With a vegetation dominated by oaks, pines and carob trees, this was the site of the Oreneta castle, built in 1910 and destroyed during the Civil War. It also housed a farmhouse, Can Bonavista, which was acquired by the Red Cross for the construction of a hospital that never materialized.
More like an urban forest, it is one of the most complete in terms of leisure infrastructure, as it has a playground, a small restaurant, a pony club, a children’s train that runs on weekends, plenty of space to run and play and a pond full of fish that kids love to watch. This park, undoubtedly the most kid friendly, one of the best picnic areas in Barcelona to go with children, as it is the ideal location for a children’s celebration. So now you know, treat yourself to a getaway with children in Catalonia.
Can Borni Nursery
The Can Borni nursery is located in the district of Horta-Guinardó, in the iconic Tibidabo mountain. Built between 1917 and 1923 and restored in 2006, it was a former nursery for new plants of the Institute of Parks and Gardens of Barcelona, before becoming one of the public gardens of Barcelona.
Located in the middle of the Collserola mountain, for a more complete experience you can go by bike or on foot. (You can check here The best bike routes in Barcelona). These gardens stand out for their abundant vegetation, among which we find an extensive lawn area equipped with tables and wooden benches ideal to spread out your tablecloth and make your snack.
Among our selection of the best places to go picnicking in Barcelona, this is the least urban and perhaps the least known, even by the locals themselves. The advantage of that is that you will have the feeling that you have really escaped from the city, so it is a real luxury.
Horta Labyrinth
This historic garden, located in the district of Horta-Guinardó, besides being the oldest garden in the city, is one of the best options for picnics in Barcelona for being a perfect combination of nature and architecture.
The creation of this garden is due to the Catalan aristocratic family of the Desvalls and dates back to 1791. During the 17th and 19th centuries it was an important center of social activity, but in 1967 it was ceded to the Barcelona City Council, which opened it to the public as a museum garden.
Of romantic and neoclassical style, its main attraction is a plant labyrinth created with cut cypress trees. To this should be added numerous mythological sculptures, lush vegetation, ponds, fountains, waterfalls and a canal that crosses the upper enclosure. Spanish monarchs such as Charles IV, Ferdinand VII and Alfonso XIII have passed through here, and it has also been the stage for several plays and cultural events. Of course, in addition to the famous labyrinth garden, this park has an area of tables ideal for picnicking. Undoubtedly, another of the iconic places that you can not miss for a picnic in Barcelona.
Did you like our selection of the best places for picnics in Barcelona? If you miss any of them, feel free to recommend them in the comments! 
