Montjuic
A mountain full of options
At the southern end of Barcelona, next to the sea, stands a hill that has it all: Beautiful gardens, wonderful museums, a medieval fortress, a palace, an amphitheatre, an enormous cemetery and large sport stadiums. Montjuic has been key in Barcelona's history, even if it had to surrender its throne to other spots in the era of tourism. Still, the beautiful Mountain of Montjuic is one of the historical, most important landmarks of this beautiful Mediterranean city.
Montjuic is protected as part of Barcelona's heritage for many reasons, but especially for the presence there of the jewish cemetery of Montjuic, the largest medieval jewish cemetery in Europe.
Montjuic: A unique place with an interesting history
Montjuic has always been a key place in Barcelona. Nowadays, it can be overshadowed by other more famous attractions, such as the Sagrada Familia or the Park Guell - Even the Tibidabo mountain and amusement park have stolen the show, in terms of a high point to see the city. Still, Montjuic has had a long, interesting history as a strategic place in the city of Barcelona. Together with the old fortress that used to be located in the Parc de la Ciutadella, the mountain of Montjuic was key to keep the city under control. Many military men know this and used is as such in different Spanish wars. The Spanish Civil War was no different. It was the stage for many executions, including that of the Catalan president Lluís Companys, and the authorities of France used the castle as a prison until 1960.
However, not everything Montjuic has witnessed has been so tragic. The Olympic Games of 1992 gave some joy to the city and to the mountain, linking it to sports forever. Still, it wasn't the main big international event hosted there, since it had already seen the Expo celebrated in Barcelona in 1929. And did you know that the '92 Olympics weren't the first international sports event hosted in Montjuic? It used to be a Formula 1 circuit, but it was only used in four occasions - the last time, in 1975, an accident took the lives of 5 people from the audience, and it was judged as a too dangerous location.
What to see and do in Montjuic
Montjuic can be considered almost a city within the city. You can just climb up a little bit for the views, or you can enjoy the number of things and attractions. Your decision will probably depend on the amount of time you have in Barcelona, because even if the mountain is provided with all sort of attractions and entertainments, they are not among Barcelona's most visited or famous. Still, Montjuic has a special place in the heart of the locals, as it is, for them, one of the constants that they identify with Barcelona. Montjuic was a testimony of the Olympics, it hosts the most important cemetery of the city of Barcelona, and welcomes travellers that come from the south, as they border the mountain in the seaside highway. The Sagrada Familia and Las Ramblas may be more famous and an essential part of Barcelona, but Montjuic manages to still be a special, characteristic place while it still holds as one of Barcelona's still a bit more alienated from the city centre and the tourist crowds. All in all, Montjuic is a special place for the locals, and an interesting one for the tourists!
We've said much about how many things you can do in Montjuic, so you must be curious to know them. Buckle up, because the variety and the amount of options will make your jaw drop!
- The Olympic Ring: It's the name given to all the sports stadiums and venues located in the Mountain, such as the Palau Sant Jordi (also used nowadays for concerts and other events), the Olympic Stadium Lluís Companys or the Bernat Picornell Swimming Pools (which give an impressive background to the divers).
- Montjuic Castle: A military fortress with an interesting history - but the views of the city and the port are the best part!
- Montjuic Cemetery: One of the most impressive cemeteries you will ever see, as graves and monuments accumulate up the hill. You will have to keep the memory yourself, though, since pictures are not allowed.
- Botanic Gardens: You will be able to see over 2.000 species of plants. Did you know that it's in the same location where there used to be the old local rubbish tip?
- Poble Espanyol: Now, this will make a peculiar visit. Poble Espanyol ('Spanish Village' in Catalan) was built for the 1929 Expo and consists in an exact representation of some of the most beautiful spots in Spain. There are representations of all the most typical constructions of the different parts of the Spanish geography. It turns out that Montjuic will allow you to travel throughout the whole country!
- Joan Miró Foundation: A museum dedicated to the Catalan abstract artist, one of Barcelona's locals.
- Catalan Museum of National Art: Located in the beautiful palace of Montjuic, there you will be able to see the work of many important Catalan artists, and you will be able to visit the interior of the palace and the terraces. A great permanent collection as well as very interesting temporary exhibits. A must visit!
- Montjuic Magic Fountain: In the evening, a spectacle of lights and music as the water from the fountain dances in front of you. A perfect way to put the cherry on top of your day!
- Montjuic cable car: A way of climbing to the top while enjoying the impressive views.
Montjuic online tickets
Of course, with so many things to do in Montjuic, there is also the option of getting your Montjuic online tickets in advance. As we have mentioned before, Montjuic is not a tourist hot spot, so you will probably be able to visit everything in there without enduring long queues. However, we still recommend getting Montjuic online tickets in advance, for two reasons: One, it may be a good way of squeezing many attractions in one same morning, afternoon or day, and thus making the most out of your visit to the mountain. And two, Montjuic can also be a party area: There are many interesting cultural and party events that are hosted in several parts of the mountain, which is why it may be worth checking the Montjuic online tickets beforehand. This way, you won't miss any event that might be interesting for you!
These are the Montjuic online tickets you can get in advance with GowithOh:
- Montjuic online tickets: MNAC: You can get your tickets for the National Museum of Catalan Art, which will allow you to visit the Palace, the museum or both, depending on the ticket you choose. You can also buy combined tickets for the MNAC and Poble Espanyol, as well as an articket that will allow you to visit up to 6 museums in Barcelona. Ticket prices start from 12 euros.
- Montjuic online tickets: Joan Miró Foundation: Also from 12 euros up, although children younger than 15 can enter for free and there are discounts for the elderly. They also offer family activities, so it's worth checking out the agenda.
- Montjuic online tickets: Poble Espanyol: A must if you're travelling with children, for all the reasons stated before. They offer family packs, combined tickets to visit also the MNAC, and night tickets. Check out the agenda, too, since Poble Espanyol is usually the location of concerts, parties and special events.
- Montjuic online tickets: Teatre grec: If you happen to travel to Barcelona in July, don't miss out on the opportunity of enjoying a show in Montjuic's amphitheatre, the Teatre Grec.
- Montjuic online tickets: Telefèric: You can also get your tickets for your 'flying' experience above Montjuic.
Remember that with GowithOh, besides getting your Montjuic online tickets, you can find the best apartment deals in whatever area of the city of Barcelona you prefer, including Montjuic!
Other useful information
Transportation in Montjuic can be a bit tricky, so it's better to plan ahead. The metro doesn't arrive right to the mountain, but the funicular, which works in a way similar to the metro, does. Bear in mind that the funicular isn't the same as the teleférico that we mentioned with the other attractions. We're aware that the naming can be confusing, since cable car can be a synonym of funicular. There is a clear difference in the case of Montjuic, though. The "Funicular de Montjuic" is a cable railway that works like the metro, even though it is a bit different because the railways are steeper than the metro's. You can take it in metro station Paral·lel (L2 and L3, purple and green lines respectively), and it works as a means of transportation. The schedules of the funicular are like the metro's (it opens early in the morning and closes at midnight), even if the frequency is lower, of course.
The teleférico isn't a means of transportation. It works as such, of course, since it will take you to the Montjuic Parc or the Castle, but the main reason why people use it is for the view. You will get a privileged sight of the sea, the city and the mountain, and it sure is a fun experience. Your kids will love it!
Apart from the teleférico and the funicular, there are buses that climb up to Montjuic - you will find different bus stops next to the road, usually close to the main attractions that are scattered about in the mountain. However, transportation can be tricky at night: There are no night buses that work around Montjuic, and getting a cab can be difficult, especially at the higher areas of the mountain. We recommend visiting Montjuic by day and hiking back down. You will soon arrive to the Montjuic Palace, where the Catalan Museum of National Art is located, and soon after you will find Plaça Espanya, right behind the majestic Venetian towers that welcome you into Montjuic. There, you will be able to access the two most important metro lines in the city, L1 (red) and L3 (green).
Are you ready to book your trip to Barcelona with GowithOh? We'll help you find the best apartment deals and provide you with the best tips to make the most out of your Montjuic online tickets!
-
-
1,5 hours
-
2.500.000
