What to see and do in Montjuïc

With multiple sites of interest at the top of this place, Montjuic offers a lot of activities for all tastes. You will also be able to visit incredible places that make this a truly special place.

Places like the Montjuic Castle, the Poble Espanyol or the Magic Fountain of Montjuic, are some of the places you should not miss if you go up to Montjuic. I will tell you about amazing places that are surely included in the list of best things to see and do in Barcelona.

Montjuic Castle is a historical monument located on top of the hill with the same name and from where you can take beautiful pictures of the panoramic views of the city. But Montjuic Castle is much more than panoramic views, visiting it you can also learn about the history of the place that was built in 1640 to be used as a military fortress. It later served as a prison for many years.

The informative panels and exhibitions inside the castle are responsible for narrating the history of the architectural monument. In addition, you can see inside the Military Museum, which tells the military history of Catalonia from Roman times to the present. The gardens around the castle are ideal for relaxing and picnics. To get to the castle you can take the funicular or the cable car, you can also go up by bus or private car.

If you do not want to miss anything, you can take a guided tour, which are available in several languages. To enter the castle you will have to pay about 10 euros for adults and about 5 euros for children. I recommend you sign up for a tour of Barcelona to get to know this site which is open every day of the year between 10:00 and 18:00 or 20:00, depending on the season.

Another of the simply necessary activities that you have to do in the city, is to walk through the Montjuic Park, which is one of the largest green spaces in the city. It is one of those places that I recommend you to include in a bike tour in Barcelona. You will love to see its gardens and rest next to its fountain.

The park is home to the Castell de Montjuic, so when you want to visit the castle, you can take a walk through the park. Also in this park you can find other tourist sites that you can not miss in the city, among which are the Poble Espanyol, the Olympic Stadium Lluís Companys and the National Art Museum of Catalonia.

I recommend you to go with comfortable clothes and walking shoes, because you will have to walk up hills and stairs inside the place. You can visit Montjuic Park at different times, which vary according to the season of the year. You need to know that some attractions inside the park have specific schedules, so I recommend you to check the official website before you go.

It is certainly a good place to include in the list of things to do in Barcelona with kids because there are different playgrounds and even an aquarium. You can also find inside different stores and restaurants to eat inside the enclosure. You have the possibility to take guided tours if you want to learn more about the history of the park.

The Poble Espanyol is an open-air museum that is undoubtedly one of the best museums in Barcelona. Its history began in 1929, when it was inaugurated for the International Exhibition of Barcelona, with the aim of representing a typical Spanish village with buildings and architecture from different regions of Spain, whose premise is maintained to this day.

It is located on the hillside of Montjuïc and surrounded by gardens, from which you can appreciate one of the best views of the city. You will have to walk a long way inside the museum to see it completely, and as for visiting hours, you have to know that it opens between 9:00 and midnight during summer and from 9:00 to 20:00 in winter.

You will have to pay between 8 to 14 euros for adult entrance and between 6 and 10 euros for children's tickets. You can get to know the site by means of a guided tour or audio guides that you can ask for at the ticket office. If you go with children, they can participate in creative workshops and entertainment activities inside the museum.

The Joan Miró Foundation is a modern art museum founded in 1975 to present the work of Catalan artist Joan Miró to the public and to promote the study and dissemination of contemporary art in Spain. It is a good place to visit because inside you can see more than 14,000 works by the artist, as well as temporary exhibitions by other artists and collections.

You can take a free or guided tour of the Joan Miró Foundation and if you go with children, they can participate in activities and workshops. To enter the Joan Miró Foundation you will have to pay around 10 euros per person, although reduced tickets are also available for students, seniors and residents of Barcelona, while children under 14 get in for free.

A good way to get to know this place is to sign up for one of the best segway tours in Barcelona, which take you to some of the most interesting places in the city, including the Joan Miró Foundation itself.

If you like contemporary art, I recommend you to visit the National Art Museum of Catalonia which was founded in 1990 and exhibits a wide variety of Catalan art from all times and periods, from Romanesque to modern and contemporary. It houses a unique collection that includes paintings, sculptures, decorative objects and even antique jewelry.

It doesn't matter if you decide to go to Barcelona in autumn or in any season of the year, because inside the museum you can find temporary exhibitions throughout the year. For the city this place is really important thanks to the cultural and artistic contribution it makes. If you are staying longer in Barcelona, you can find unique educational opportunities to learn about Catalan art and its history.

To get to the museum, you can travel by public transport, cab or car, or you can even take the Barcelona tourist bus, which will drop you off nearby. Visiting hours vary according to the season, although it is usually open between 10:00 and 18:00, Monday through Friday. Tickets are priced at approximately 12 euros for adults, while they are free for children under 16 and seniors over 65.

A quite fun place to meet and enjoy the show is the Teatre Grec, an open-air theater where you can enjoy different types of shows, from music, dance and theater to circus and magic performances. In fact, in this theater you can enjoy some of the best flamenco shows in Barcelona.

This breadth in the repertoire of the Grec Theater, makes it one of the most important in the city, also characterized by its unique and impressive structure that you will surely want to photograph. In fact, I recommend you to visit it during the day so you can appreciate all the art of its structure and take pictures, and then at night to see one of its shows.

The latter are, without a doubt, the main attraction of the place, thanks to the fact that they present everything from classical plays to modern musical productions or contemporary theater. If what you want is to disconnect a little but at the same time enjoy the nightlife, this is one of the best things to do in Barcelona at night thanks to its relaxed and artistic atmosphere.

To clear your mind a little and get in touch with nature, I recommend a visit to the Botanical Garden, which is an enclosure that houses a wide variety of species of plants and flowers of all sizes and colors. But besides flowers, you can also find and enjoy a wide collection of trees and shrubs, as well as herbs, cactus and aquatic plants.

You can also find poisonous and medicinal plants of which you can learn about their characteristics. You don't have to worry about not knowing which plants you should not come in contact with because each space is clearly marked, and the specialized staff is always attentive to inform you about them.

I recommend you to visit the park with comfortable clothes and shoes, taking into account that it is a space with many areas to walk and explore. I also recommend you bring sunscreen and a hat if you go to Barcelona in summer, when temperatures are higher. The best thing about this park is that they allow you to enter with food, so it is the perfect place to have a picnic.

You can also take a guided tour in which you go around the park knowing every corner and every place. Throughout its green areas you will find information panels and brochures about the history and flora of the park. Children will also enjoy this site thanks to its paths and recreational spaces for them.

Located on the mountain of Montjuic, the Palace of the same name is a beautiful building built in 1929 and has had several uses over time. Currently, it is used to present cultural events and exhibitions. Inside you will find the National Art Museum of Catalonia, which has been renovated and modernized over time, maintaining its beauty and historical charm.

You will love to visit the Palace of Montjuïc because it is an important place in Barcelona that attracts thousands of tourists every year thanks to its historical importance. You can enjoy guided tours throughout the year, so you can learn not only the palace inside, but also its history and the importance that this Palace has had for the development of Barcelona.

Throughout all seasons of the year you can enjoy different events and special exhibitions that are organized inside. I also recommend you to take the kids with you, because inside you can find interesting activities for them to learn about the Palace as well.

Once in Montjuic you can't miss the light and color show of the Magic Fountain of Montjuic which is located in the Plaza de España in Barcelona, very close to the National Palace of Montjuic. The show is much more than just lights, because you can also see and enjoy the soundtrack that is synchronized with the music.

Access to the fountain is free and to get there you can use public transport, or walk from nearby tourist sites, such as the Palace of Montjuic. The fountain operates only at certain times, so before going to see the show, I recommend you to enter the official website to check the schedules, although they are generally from 20:00 to 23:00 from Friday to Saturday.

You should know that these schedules vary considerably according to the time of year, and may also be affected when there are special events at the venue. Likewise, if you go at any other time, you can stop by the fountain and take a couple of pictures of the place.

The Mirador del Alcalde, offers one of the most beautiful panoramic views of Montjuic, and from which you can clearly see the whole city of Barcelona. It is located in the district of Gracia, where is also the Paseo de Gracia, and can be accessed on foot or by public transport.

I recommend you to take many pictures from the Mirador del Alcalde, just before continuing to know the whole town of Montjuic, where you can find many attractions such as museums, gardens and theaters. It is definitely a place to visit if you plan to stay in Barcelona for 4 days or more, to dedicate a single day to explore the place.

In fact, I assure you that this is one of the best activities you can do in Barcelona at night, thanks to the incredible view that you can see from here, and see how the sun sets behind the city, it is one of the most beautiful landscapes.