Telefèric de Montjuïc, want to discover Barcelona from the sky?
If you’re heading off on a trip soon to discover Barcelona, you have an exciting adventure ahead of you. The city has a thousand different faces, secrets and attractions all ready and waiting to be explored. And there are plenty of ways to do it. On foot, getting lost in the myriad of streets, admiring the monuments, markets and enjoying all the amazing Mediterranean cuisine, not forgetting all the cultural attractions and tourist destinations within easy reach.
Or simply mingling among the locals and soaking up all the character of one of the most cosmopolitan and open cities in Europe. You can also admire the city’s wide range of fantastic sights by dropping in on one of the many amazing viewpoints in Barcelona. If, however, you’re someone who likes to fly high and want to appreciate the majesty of our inimitable city, we highly recommend you take a trip on the Telefèric de Montjuïc.
What to see in Montjuïc?
Montjuïc Mountain is one of only two geographically significant elevations in the entire city of Barcelona, alongside Tibidabo. Its strategically advantageous position made Montjuïc a lookout post of unquestionable military importance way back in medieval times. Indeed, over the centuries, its original use as a wartime vantage point may have fallen by the wayside, but it has transformed over time into one of the most popular tourist destinations in town for those wanting to really discover Barcelona.
Particularly during the 20th century, as the area grew to its full potential and became a key part of the Universal Exhibition of 1929 and the 1992 Olympic Games, both accelerating its development. Visitors can see the Magical Fountain of Montjuïc, the Cataluña National Museum of Art, the Botanical Gardens, as well as the Fundación Joan Miró museum of modern art, among many other places of interest.
Telefèric de Montjuïc, the perfect way of ‘dominating’ all of Barcelona
Barcelona’s aerial cable cars — commonly known as the Teleférico — were designed by Carles Buigas, Ramón Calzada and Josep M. Roda in 1926. The line connects Miramar on the slopes of Montjuïc Mountain to the Port of Barcelona. The original purpose of the Telefèric de Montjuïc was to connect the 1929 Universal Exhibition with its maritime section and, ever since, has been one of the best ways to access the most impressive views of the city.
Besides the incredible views of the cityscape, Telefèric de Montjuïc makes various ‘technical stops’ so that riders can hop on and off and make the most of the opportunity to visit some historic monuments and tourist attractions along the route. At the Parc de Montjuïc stop, users can easily access the Cataluña National Museum of Art, Poble Espanyol and the Fundación Joan Miró museum, as well as being very close to one of the most symbolic historic spaces from Barcelona ‘92: the Olympic Ring.
If you don’t want to endure the exhausting climb up to Montjuïc Castle, let the Telefèric take the strain by simply jumping off at the stop nearby. If you decide to make your own way back down into town on foot — something much more bearable — we recommend you stop off at some of Montjuïc’s gardens, including the Barcelona Botanical Gardens, Joan Brossa Gardens, as well as Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer Gardens.
The Mirador stop, from where you can enjoy the very best views of Barcelona, also takes you up close to some of the greenest, most beautiful parts of Montjuïc. And it’s not just a place to rest and recharge those batteries. You’ll also be able to discover some of the rarest plants you’ve ever seen whilst taking in the breathtaking views over Barcelona and its charming terraces. Make sure to see the Mirador del Alcalde, Miramar Gardens, as well as the Mossèn Costa i Llobera Gardens.
Categories: barcelona
