Do you know the best viewpoints in Barcelona? Here is a good repertoire of the best views of the city of Barcelona, as well as some secret viewpoints that only residents and locals know about.
With a privileged location, surrounded by sea and mountains, Barcelona is an unbeatable place to enjoy spectacular views and discover the city from a different perspective: whether you are looking for a relaxing getaway in Catalonia or a weekend with children. If it’s already brutal in itself, imagine it from the heights!
Hills, church steeples, terraces, hotels or shopping centers… Whether they are more popular places, emblematic, less known, free, paid, in Willy’s plan we tell you everything and we discover the places with the best views of Barcelona.
Turó de la Rovira or Bunkers of Carmel
The Carmel bunkers are located on the Turó or Rovira hill, with the sea as a backdrop. It is a corner full of history, as there are the ancient remains of anti-aircraft bunkers that were built to protect Barcelona from aerial bombardment during the Spanish Civil War.
It is the highest hill with almost 300 meters above sea level, but the best thing is that because of its characteristic of watchtower you have spectacular views of Barcelona. Good atmosphere, ambient music and it’s completely free. Today it is completely conditioned and surrounded by a super nice green area. The viewpoint has no schedule, but we especially recommend you to visit it at sunset or sunrise. You will enjoy a magical sunset while you play at recognizing the tallest buildings in the city: the Agbar Tower, the Sagrada Familia, the Mapfre Tower or the luxurious Arts Hotel with the sea in the background.
Until not long ago, this place was little visited by tourists, as it did not appear in tourist guides and the difficulty of access is an argument against it. However, it became especially fashionable because it is the viewpoint of Barcelona where it was filmed. Tengo ganas de ti, the movie starring Mario Casas.
Torre Baró viewpoint
Located in the Nou Barris district of Barcelona, the Torre Baró viewpoint provides incredible views of the entire city from a modest space.
The name of this viewpoint comes from the not very well known castle of Torre Baró which is located not far from this panoramic balcony, a monument which was built on top of the Collserola mountain range in the early twentieth century, and which gave the name to the neighborhood so well known today Torre Baró.
In this viewpoint, scenes from famous movies have been filmed, such as the one in Mario Casas’ “A 3 meters above the sky”, where the protagonist is doing a pull-up competition with other companions.
Mirador d'horta and swing of Barcelona
Do you want to surprise your partner with an original plan? These two places that we present to you are in our list of romantic viewpoints in Barcelona. So, pay attention and keep reading because below, we explain step by step how to get to the swing in Barcelona.
Located in the same Parc Natural de Collserola, the viewpoint d’horta and the swing of Barcelona are two viewpoints that offer incredible views of the entire city. Both are very close to each other, and you can visit them in the same afternoon.
To get there is super easy: you must arrive at the location we have left here, where you will find a small space to leave the car (just next to the picnic area). Then, you must follow the road on foot as if you were going towards Badalona, and at the first turn you find, you will see that on the left hand side there is a dirt road (this is the one you must take to start the route). If you decide to go by public transport, stop at the Mundet stop (line 3, the green one), it is about a 2 km walk with a steep climb.
Once on the road, we will find two forks: one a few meters after entering (we go straight on, i.e. to the right), and another one that we will have to take to the left. There we will find the first tree (which is not the one with the swing). We continue a little further up, and we should find the official swing.
Turó del Putxet Gardens
If you are in Barcelona city and do not want to go out, we offer you this option that is ideal to go with your partner, friends or children.
It is a park full of nature, where you can go for a quiet walk and enjoy a moment of disconnection. This park has benches, litter garbage cans and if you go to the top, you can enjoy incredible views of the city of Barcelona.
Carretera de les aigües
More than a viewpoint, it is a set of viewpoints and constant views. The Carretera de les Aigües is a dirt road that runs along the entire mountain of Tibidabo, and therefore you will be all the way seeing the city at your feet. You can start the route from past the restaurant mirablau, arriving by car or public transport (we leave our proposal for the start of the route in the location, where you will find a parking lot to leave your vehicle).
It is a pleasant route that you can do alone (running, walking, cycling…), as a couple, with friends, with your family… It is undoubtedly one of the best places with views of Barcelona, as along the way you have views. In addition, the path has a couple of seats so you can stand and enjoy the spectacular views of the entire city.
Mirador dels xiprers
This is a viewpoint that we find almost at the end of the road of les aigües (just above pedrables). It is there where you will be able to appreciate some of the best views of Barcelona city, from a perspective different from all the others. Right at the foot of this viewpoint, we find the Camp Nou and Sagrada Familia in the distance.
If you are an athlete and want an excuse to get to this viewpoint, we inform you that just before reaching this viewpoint, there is an area for workout, with bars to do pull-ups.
Ruins of Sant Pere Màrtir
The viewpoint of Puig d’ossa (or also known as the mountain of Sant Pere Màrtir), apart from being one of our secret viewpoints in Barcelona (since only local people know about it), carries with it a lot of history.
And following our list of free viewpoints in Barcelona, and being able to reach it from the same road of les Aigües, we find the runes of Sant Pere Màrtir: one of the highest viewpoints of the city of Barcelona, from where you can appreciate panoramic views of the whole city.
Going up from the previous viewpoint (mirador dels xiprers) through some narrow dirt roads, we will reach the top of the mountain of which we are going to tell you some curious anecdotes of this place.
At the top of the mountain, there is a hermitage, an aerial battery (since there was a military presence) and there are indications that there was also an Iberian settlement. Let’s take it one step at a time:
The name of the mountain Puig d’Ossa, comes from the toponym “Monte de Ursa”, documented since 986. On the other hand, we can also find someone who addresses him with the name of Sant Pere màrtir, since in the seventeenth century was built on its summit a chapel with that name (which was abandoned in 1792), as it became a fortification of military detachment from the war of the Segadors until the Spanish Civil War.
The reason for this military presence is due to its strategic position, which allows it to have a wide enough field of view to control the area. In fact, this viewpoint connects the tracks that connect the Llobregat River with the city of Barcelona.
Due to its privileged location, the Fort of Sant Pere Màrtir was used during the civil war when an anti-aircraft battery was installed, known today as the anti-aircraft battery of Sant Pere Màrtir. This battery is part of the Democratic Memorial.
Parc Güell
It is a classic on the route of any tourist visiting the city for the first time. Full of sculptures, fountains and naturist style buildings, Park Güell is not only one of Gaudí’s best works, but also a classic must-see in Barcelona and another of the best viewpoints in the city.
The park is divided into two zones, the monumental zone and the free zone. The first is where you will find the balconies with many colorful tiles and mosaics or the famous lizard that guards the entrance of the park. The famous cross called the Turó de les Tres Creus, at 182 meters high, is located on the free one. A lot of people visit this park and you will probably have to wait, but it will be worth it to delight yourself with this symbiosis of fantasy architecture and spectacular views of Barcelona.
Montjuïc Castle
Vegetation, trails and amazing views. In the mountain of Montjuic, the green lung of the city, you will find some of the secret viewpoints that Barcelona has to offer.
The castle of Montjuïc, located on the highest point of the mountain that also bears its name, has incredible views of the city and the coast of Barcelona. This ancient military fortress has experienced different episodes of war during its more than 300 years of history and stands out for its bastions and artillery pieces, as well as for its strategic location.
In its walls you will find the Mirador del Migdia, where you can contemplate views of the port of Barcelona, the huge cemetery of Montjuic, the Zona Franca, the airport and the Baix Llobregat. This viewpoint is especially beautiful at sunset, as you will see the sun set behind the hills of the Garraf Natural Park, where you can find the best mountain routes in Barcelona.
Mirador de l'alcalde
Descending from Montjuic Castle, you will reach the Mirador del Alcalde. A wonderful place to enjoy views of part of the old port, next to the Columbus Monument or the famous W Barcelona Hotel. One of the most recent and modern viewpoints in the city, it is located on the 26th floor of this luxury hotel, known as the Hotel Vela among the locals, because of its sailboat shape and its walls, which are the windows of the rooms.
Discover our Route from the Castell de Montjuic to the Mayor’s viewpoint !
The towers of the Sagrada Familia
If you want to marvel at Gaudí’s architecture, the towers of the Sagrada Familia offer an interesting possibility to see part of the center of Barcelona from above. If you climb the Nativity Tower you will have a complete panoramic view of the eastern half of Barcelona, and from the Passion Tower of the west. It is a marvel to walk in front of the sculpted rock of the towers and admire the view from one of the many balconies that complete the tour. It is very important that this visit is booked in advance, as this is the most visited monument in Barcelona. There’s a reason for that, isn’t there 😉?
Terraces of the MNAC (National Art Museum of Catalonia)
The National Art Museum of Catalonia, besides having one of the most important collections of Romanesque art in the world, has some of the best views of Barcelona.
With a privileged location on the mountain of Montjuic, this museum located inside the huge National Palace, opened a few years ago two terraces; the first with views of Avenida Reina Cristina, the Fountain of Montjuic, Plaza España, to the distant Tower of Collserola and Tibidabo and the second in which stand out among the buildings of the city, the Sagrada Familia and the Agbar Tower.It is in this second viewpoint where you can also see part of the Olympic Ring with the Palau Sant Jordi, the Telecommunications Tower and the Olympic Stadium Lluís Companys. We recommend this place especially at night, when the Font Màgica (Magic Fountain) is lit. Impressive!
Basilica Santa Maria del Pi
The basilica of Santa Maria del Pi, in the heart of the Gothic Quarter, is an architectural jewel that unjustly goes somewhat unnoticed in front of the cathedral, but has nothing to envy. Moreover, at the top of its bell tower hides one of the best viewpoints in Barcelona.
Legend has it that the church stands on the place where a fisherman found the image of the Virgin. It was inside the trunk of a pine tree that he cut down to make a boat. Hence “María del Pino”, pi in Catalan.
The interior of this Gothic church stands out for its fantastic stained glass windows, a large vault and an important collection of Catalan gold and silver work. In addition, as it is a guided tour, while you go up its 54 meters high, by its narrow spiral staircase, you will learn about the history and construction method of the tower.
In the final part you will see its 6 bells from before the eighteenth century, from where you will enjoy unique views of the entire historic center and the entire city, only surpassed by its spectacular terrace, from where the 360 degree panoramic views are simply incredible.
If you want to enjoy other viewpoints of Barcelona in churches, you also have the terrace of the Basilica of Santa Maria del Maro the Basilica dels Sants Màrtirs Just i Pastor and of course the terraces of the Cathedral of Barcelona, where you find yourself face to face with the spires of the towers.
To enter the cathedral, you have to pay: from Monday to Friday from 10 am to 6 pm, 4€ if you go on your own or 8,5€ if you ask for a guided tour and a climb to the bell tower. But fortunately, there is the possibility of free access (without the option to access the museum spaces) every day from Monday to Friday outside the aforementioned hours, and on Sunday mornings.
Las Arenas Shopping Center
Have you heard about the Las Arenas viewpoint but don’t know where it is? Don’t worry, in this article we explain it to you.
After a long renovation process, the former bullring of Barcelona was converted into a shopping center. They have kept the original appearance and structure and although inside it is like any other shopping center, its top floor is a fantastic panoramic viewpoint to enjoy views of the Plaza España and the National Palace. On this same floor you will also find a variety of bars and restaurants that are also very good viewpoints in Barcelona.
Collserola Tower
If you like nature and good views, we highly recommend this place. The viewpoint that you will find in the Torre de Collserola, is one of the most charismatic and secret of the city of Barcelona. It is a viewpoint that although it is not well known, you will find many people circulating, as it is a way of passage for all those who want to walk to Tibidabo. In fact, following the path (very well marked by the way), you can reach the amusement park itself, where you can enjoy other incredible views of Barcelona.
Tibidabo viewpoint
Viewpoints of Barcelona to go by car? If you want to enjoy the most complete views, although somewhat distant from the city, visit the Tibidabo mountain. Climbing to the summit, which is 512 meters high, you will find several panoramic points that will let you see not only the city, but the entire metropolitan area.
The terrace viewpoint inside the Tibidabo amusement park is one of the highest you will find in Barcelona, from which you can see the city. Next to the park’s attractions, there is also the expiatory temple of the Sacred Heart, which allows you to appreciate the views from an even higher point with the Tibidabo Ferris wheel in the foreground. If another viewpoint is more or less at the same height, you can climb the Collserola Tower from where you can see the city, the mountain and the forests from 560 meters high.
To end the evening, if you are looking for a place to enjoy the best night views of Barcelona with a drink in your hand, on the slope of the Tibidabo mountain you will find legendary bars with terraces such as Mirablau, Balconet and Mirabé.
Sarrià viewpoint
Without moving away from the Tibidabo mountain, we find one of the few views that we can include in our list of viewpoints in Barcelona that can be reached by car. We met him in fact, going up to the Tibidabo amusement park itself, in one of its many curves. There is a space where a few cars fit, and there are many who take advantage of this space to leave the car and enjoy the views, making this place another of our romantic viewpoints in Barcelona.
