Barcelona’s Top 10 : City Views

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  1. Tibidabo

    The
    mountain of Tibidabo is the best vantage point for a bird’s-eye view of
    Barcelona. Thrill-seekers opt for a spin on the Tibidabo fairground
    attraction called La Atalaya, a rickety basket attached to an ancient crane-like
    contraption which gives a 360-degree view of Barcelona, the sea and the
    Pyrenees. A less giddy option is the Torre de Collserola
    with its transparent lift rising up 288 m (945 ft). And for those who
    wish to keep their feet firmly on solid ground – cocktail in hand –
    settle in at the Mirablau bar..




  2. Castell de Montjuïc

    Montjuïc
    offers myriad viewpoints. The best is from the castle and gardens with
    their superb panoramas over the port and the city. Take the cable car up
    to the castle and walk down through ever-changing vistas to the Font
    del Gat café to enjoy a cool drink in its romantic gardens. 




    Barcelona from Castell de Montjuïc

  3. Les Golondrines & Orsom Catamaran

    The sea offers a less vertiginous view of the cityscape. Glide out of the harbour on the pleasure boats known as golondrines
    or try the exhilarating trip under sail on an enormous catamaran. Both
    trips offer ample views of the city and of the new Port Olímpic area .

    Les Golondrines

  4. Cable Cars

    The
    swaying cable cars that glide slowly between the Port and Montjuïc are
    something of a Barcelona landmark. To those not afraid of heights, they
    reveal hidden aspects of the city and provide a pleasurable way to get
    to Montjuïc .

    • Miramar, Montjuïc/Port de Barcelona

    • Open daily Apr–May, Oct: 10am–7pm; Jun–Sep: 10am–9pm; Nov–Mar: 10am–6pm

    • Adm




  5. Mirador de Colom

    At
    the end of La Rambla, the statue of Christopher Columbus offers a good
    vantage point for viewing the city. The column, rising 80 m (262 ft),
    was built in 1888. The elevator that whisks visitors to the top has,
    fortunately, been renovated since then!

    • La Rambla/Drassanes


    • Open May–Oct: 9am–8:30pm daily; Nov–Apr: 10am–6:30pm daily

    • Adm




    City vista, Mirador de Colom

  6. Sagrada Família

    When
    work first began, Gaudí’s magical church lay on the outskirts of the
    city and Barcelona would have been just a shadow in the distance. A
    hundred years on, the church is located in the heart of the Eixample and
    the bell towers offer dizzying vistas of the entire city. An added
    bonus are the wonderful close-ups of the extraordinary Sagrada Família itself.




    Gargoyles and view, Sagrada Família



  7. El Corte Inglés

    The
    top floor of this department store has a glass-fronted cafeteria and
    restaurant – an excellent place to lunch or just have a coffee. From
    here there are views of the nearby Plaça de Catalunya, the old town and
    the Eixample. The enormous store below stocks just about anything you
    might need to buy.

    • Pl de Catalunya 14

    • Free

    • DA




  8. Parc Güell

    In the north of the city, Gaudí’s monumental Modernista
    park presents spectacular views across Barcelona and out to the
    Mediterranean from its various terraced levels. Trees and patches of
    woodland act as welcome shade from the fierce summer sun. 




    View of the city and Casa-Museu Gaudí, Parc Güell

  9. Barcelona Cathedral

    From
    the heart of the Barri Gòtic, the Cathedral rooftop offers one of the
    least changed vistas in the city. Look out over the ramshackle rooftops –
    some dating to the 12th century – and the narrow alleys that spill out
    in all directions. There is a small charge for the elevator to the top. 




  10. Helicopter Rides

    For
    a bird’s-eye view of Barcelona, consider a helicopter ride over the
    city. Cat Helicopters run tours of between five and 35 minutes over the
    city and as far as Montserrat. The five-minute tour over the port area
    costs €45 per person (maximum five people for each journey).