🩵 One day in Barcelona: MONTJUIC mountain

[alserrod]

A DAY IN BARCELONA

Montjuic Mountain

 

Do you already know the entire Gothic quarter of Barcelona and the Sagrada Familia? Do you want to do something different while enjoying part of the city's most recent history as well as incredible views?

 

Montjuic Mountain has witnessed the last century and will show us a different Barcelona.

 

There have been TWO major events that Montjuich hosted in the 20th century and that completely changed the city:
- Universal Exhibition of 1929
- 1992 Olympic Games

 

==> GET TO MONTJUIC

 

** By Cable Car

 

It is not the fastest way to get there but it is the way you will enjoy the best views.
In 2023 the round trip price is 13 euros.
Open from 10:00 to 18:00 in winter, from 10:00 to 21:00 in summer

You can check updated prices and schedules here
https://www.telefericdemontjuic.cat/en
(English website)

You can also do the route in reverse. Go up to Montjuic through other places and take advantage of a round trip with the cable car

 

** By taxi
There is no need to explain much more.
Visit this Cruise Critic community link and you can have more information
https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2976917-transport-in-barcelona-taxi-metro-bus-etc-to-the-city-port-and-airport-all-information-and-questions/

 

** By subway and escalators
From the Plaza de España there are 22 flights of escalators that take you more than 50 meters up the hill.
It is not as fast as the taxi but cheaper and allows you to get to know a little more about Barcelona: Underground transport.
From the pier you must take the shuttle to the Drassanes stop and there take line 3 for only 3 stops until you reach Plaza de España (no transfers necessary). That is the main access to Montjuic.
Going up with escalators you can learn more about the city.
Check out more information and updates here
https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2976917-transport-in-barcelona-taxi-metro-bus-etc-to-the-city-port-and-airport-all-information-and-questions/

 

 

==> WHAT TO SEE IN MONTJUIC?

 

In addition to the fact that you can find some Free Tour, here are some suggestions
- View of Barcelona from the "Mayor's Viewpoint"
- Montjuic Castle
- Joan Miro Foundation
- Generalife Stairs
- Olympic Zone
- National Museum of Art of Catalonia
- Visit all of Spain in the "Spanish Village"
- Light and sound show at the Montjuic Fountain

 

And just some information about them

 

 

**View of Barcelona. There are several viewpoints. This is the best of all but you will find several more from where you can have an aerial view of the city

Mayor's Viewpoint (search for "Mirador del Alcalde")

 

 

** Montjuic Castle

 

It is an old military fortress.
There is a guided tour IN ENGLISH on Saturdays and Sundays at 1:00 p.m.
You also have audio guides
Did you know that Barcelona and Paris have the same coordinates and that Montjuic Castle was used to define the world's prime meridian?

More information in
https://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/castelldemontjuic/en

 

** Joan Miró foundation

 

A museum dedicated to one of the best surrealist authors in the world

More information in
https://www.fmirobcn.org/en/

 

** Generalife Stairs

 

It is one of the most beautiful walks through Montjuic. It is next to the Joan Miró Foundation and next to the art museum

 

** Olympic area

 

1992 Olympic stadium, swimming pool complex, Sant Jordi pavilion and communications tower designed by Santiago Calatrava. Everything is in a very small environment and from there you will have other beautiful views of the city

** Art musem of Catalonia

 

In this museum you will find everything from original paintings of Romanesque churches to paintings by other famous painters (Picasso, Dali, Zurbarán, etc...)

More information in
https://www.museunacional.cat/en

 

 

** Pueblo Español (Spanish village)

(a visit to many corners of Spain through a great exhibition)

In 1929 this particular exhibition was taken to Barcelona where it represented many small picturesque towns throughout Spain. Buildings of popular architecture or well-known sites have always been selected from very small but very interesting towns. They are all in the same venue that has been adapted to the needs of a 21st century visit.

The entrance costs 9 euros (in 2023) and in addition to being able to see a lot of popular Spanish architecture as well as some traditions, inside there are restaurants, terraces and more cultural programming

https://poble-espanyol.com/en/

 

** Montjuic fountain

 

It is a light and sound show in a fountain.
It works only at night (if you visit Barcelona for a single day you will not be able to see it but if you start or end the cruise in Barcelona you will be able to)

Check the operating hours according to the month of the year on the official website of Barcelona City Council

https://www.barcelona.cat/es/que-hacer-en-bcn/fuente-magica/horarios-de-la-fuente-magica

The fountain is located at the beginning of Montjuic mountain, next to the Plaza de España metro stop and next to the escalators.

 

 

[alserrod]

MIRADOR DEL ALCALDE

(Major's citiview)

 

It is just 1,5 km away from Olympic stadium or 1,0 from Joan Miro Foundation.

There are some citiview points, this is the best one

 

 

 

 

[alserrod]

Joan Miró Foundation

 

 

 

It opens (January 2024) Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 19:00

 

Cost, 15 euro,  14 if you book online

 

 

More information in their English website

https://www.fmirobcn.org/en/visit-us/opening-hours-and-prices/

 

 

This is the building. It is in Montjuic near the other items to visit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[alserrod]

Spanish Town / Poble Espanyol

 

 

 

In 1929, during the international exhibition in Barcelona, the "Spanish village" was built. It is a representation of 117 buildings of small Spanish towns on a real scale and with a configuration typical of a small town.

 

Like every small town it has its houses, buildings with many uses, church, theater, children's school, etc... aligned in a way that you have a sample of art but also culture and architecture.

 

All the buildings are replicas and you can search on the internet as you walk what the original building is like and compare it with what you see in front of you.

 

Entering Pueblo Español allows you to discover those details of Spanish culture that are not seen in large cities while taking a leisurely walk, eating and having a snack on a terrace.

[Harters]

We've visited Barcelona a number of times over the years. Most recently, last year, we were only there for one day pre-cruise. We spent the day using the "Hop on, hop off" bus to get around . The  highlight was the visit to the Miro Museum which we'd not visited before and is well worth a stop for any art lover. 

[alserrod]

About Spanish Village (Pueblo español / Poble espanyol)

 

 

 

[Clonmelgal]

Thank you for this great advice. One question: when you say escalators, are you meaning the funicular? I would especially like to take them up the hill. I want to walk from la rambla to the funicular station near fundacio Joan Miro. Thanks for your help!

[alserrod]

1 hour ago, Clonmelgal said:

Thank you for this great advice. One question: when you say escalators, are you meaning the funicular? I would especially like to take them up the hill. I want to walk from la rambla to the funicular station near fundacio Joan Miro. Thanks for your help!

 

 

 

When saying "escalators" I mean this

 

 

 

 

It comes from main entrance to Montjuic

 

 

IN ADDITION, you have Montjuic funicular

 

This is official webpage in English (from Barcelona public transport)

https://www.tmb.cat/en/barcelona/other-transport-tmb/montjuic-funicular

 

it is enough to arrive nearest underground station by metro and link there with the same ticket

 

 

If you need more information about Joan Miro museum let me know

 

 

 

[alserrod]

In addition,

 

Tibidabo is the highest mountain in Barcelona. It is 512m over sea level despite it is so near to the sea.

It has another funicular.

 

Tibidabo is seen as this from Barcelona

 

 

 

and 512m. There are countries with not so much altitudes.

 

 

and cityscape is...

 

 

This is Sagrada Familia seen from Tibidabo mountain

 

 

 

In 1901 a leisure park opened in Tibidabo. It was the first one in Spain and it remains opened.

 

In days of opening you can use a Funicular to reach there. Even if you do not want leisure park, the views deserves a visit.

You can buy tickets from here

https://tibidabo.cat/en/funicular/cuca-de-llum

 

It costs 12 euro (funicular only, the offer leisure park+funicular too) and it includes a shuttle bus from nearest metro station

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Clonmelgal]

Great thanks! 

[alserrod]

There's a third funicular in Barcelona

 

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4091779,2.111526,100m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu

 

It is enough to take the underground until "Peu del Funicular "Funicular foot"" and shuttle with the same ticket.

 

In this case, it is just a neighbourhood away from city centre but there are still some cityscapes from there

[Milhouse]

We really enjoyed the Montjuic fountain light show during a previous visit and were hoping to possibly see it again when we end our cruise in Barcelona this summer.  

I see that the show is temporarily suspended due to dought(?).  Wondering if there's any update to this and if there are any other issues stemming from the dry conditions. 

(We're likely going to have to implement extended water restrictions ourselves in Vancouver due to a lack of snowpack this winter that help supply our reservoirs.)

[alserrod]

22 minutes ago, Milhouse said:

We really enjoyed the Montjuic fountain light show during a previous visit and were hoping to possibly see it again when we end our cruise in Barcelona this summer.  

I see that the show is temporarily suspended due to dought(?).  Wondering if there's any update to this and if there are any other issues stemming from the dry conditions. 

(We're likely going to have to implement extended water restrictions ourselves in Vancouver due to a lack of snowpack this winter that help supply our reservoirs.)

 

 

 

Hello

 

All updated information is released here, in the official Barcelona town hall webpage

This is the link for Montjuic fountain

 

https://www.barcelona.cat/en/what-to-do-in-bcn/magic-fountain/magic-fountains-show-times

 

 

As you say, today is stopped due to dought. That corner of Spain has having a strong dought and several restrictions apply.

 

You can look for updated information there.

 

I am afraid but the message is written only in Catalan (even in Spanish version, it is only in Catalan). Something has fallen in the webpage.

 

The message is this one

"Aturada com a mesura d’estalvi d’aigua per sequera.La Font Màgica i les fonts de l’eix Maria Cristina romandran apagades a causa de l’activació del protocol de sequera a la ciutat"

 

but it is so easy as copy-paste in google translator and choose "detect language"

 

 

 

[perakcruiser]

Just one thing to add, even it looks so attractive and inviting from the port, you cannot walk up Montjuic directly. There is no way to cross the road B-10, you will end up at an underpass that is unfortunately closed. If you want to walk you need to go all the way to the Drassanes roundabout first and then back. 

 

For public transport you can use the busses 88 und 89 from the stop Moll Ponent to Metro Parallel and then onwards. Unfortunately it is not possible to buy a useful ticket on the bus. Also cannot buy a T-familiar card as a foreigner online. 

 

So there is no real practical solution, but when your cruise ends or starts in Barcelona, you can get the T-familiar at the airport already. 

[alserrod]

2 hours ago, perakcruiser said:

Just one thing to add, even it looks so attractive and inviting from the port, you cannot walk up Montjuic directly. There is no way to cross the road B-10, you will end up at an underpass that is unfortunately closed. If you want to walk you need to go all the way to the Drassanes roundabout first and then back. 

 

For public transport you can use the busses 88 und 89 from the stop Moll Ponent to Metro Parallel and then onwards. Unfortunately it is not possible to buy a useful ticket on the bus. Also cannot buy a T-familiar card as a foreigner online. 

 

So there is no real practical solution, but when your cruise ends or starts in Barcelona, you can get the T-familiar at the airport already. 

 

 

Hello

 

There are 2,8 km walking from Colom statue in the Port. It is where "Shuttle T3" has terminus.

I really guess nobody will go walking through the Barcelona piers just to save Shuttle ticket or a taxi ticket (there are some kilometres over piers, piers and piers only).

 

I just considered grabbing a taxi to Plaza España or using public transport but.... indeed you can walk from the Port Entrance too.

 

 

[perakcruiser]

1 hour ago, alserrod said:

I really guess nobody will go walking through the Barcelona piers just to save Shuttle ticket or a taxi ticket (there are some kilometres over piers, piers and piers only).

So where does this endless line of people walking over the Europa bridge come from? 😄

But as said before, it depends on the terminal, if it is B it is only 2 km to Colom. 

 

And don´t forget, there are people who are fit and want to walk. In our earlier days we walked all the way from the port to Sagrada Familia and back. It is not such a big thing. The walk from the Terminal behind E to A feels longer. And probably is😉 

 

 

[alserrod]

Yes, I understand that there are people who like to walk. Barcelona is big enough.
To summarize the information, it had indicated how to get there by walking from the beginning of the mountain at its main entrance.
Of course you can walk from the port through the docks, the boats and all the loops for cars and trucks. Whether to go to Monjuic Mountain or to go to the Sagrada Familia or any other place.
And it is true that if you want to walk from the ship to Montjuic you have to take a detour along a highway that passes by there.

If, on the other hand, you use transportation from the port to the start, you go by taxi, public transportation or any other option that does not involve walking through the port, there is no problem.

There have been many people who have told their stories of visits to Barcelona. Normally getting around by taxi, there are those who have opted for public transport and, of course, also walking.

But I think that if there is something that is inadvisable, it is walking through the port since it is just several kilometers away.
Therefore, I had not even taken it into account but you are right. It should be noted that those who wish to go to Montjuic walking more than 5 km from the port should be aware that there is a detour at the end of the port, which is not the straightest path.

For those who move with another type of transportation other than walking from the port, the previous comment does not apply.