A guide to Montjuïc in Barcelona

Montjuïc is a hill in the southern part of Barcelona. It was the original settlement of the city and eventually became its main quarry. The hill has been historically the site of numerous events, such as the International Exposition in 1929 and the Olympic Games in 1992, from which many of the actual sites derive. It was also important in Catalan political history, since it was the site of containment of the anarchist movement, as well as the place where the exiled Catalan president Lluís Companys was shot during Franco’s dictatorship.

1. Palau Nacional and the Magic Fountain

In the northern part of the hill you will find the site of the International Exposition, including Palau National, the main building of the exhibition, which hosts the MNAC (National Museum of Catalan Art). This exhibition is particularly interesting because it is home to art of different periods in Catalonia, including a collection of Romanesque art from mural paintings in churches. You can buy your tickets and avoid the lines through this link.

If you climb up the stairs of Palau Nacional and turn around, you will see a fantastic view of the city. Also, just below Palau Nacional, four pillars representing the red stripes of the Catalan flag mark the site of Montjuïc’s Magic Fountain. This fountain was also built for the Exposition and it has music and lights shows every weekend, which are extended during the summer.

Plaça Espanya and Arenas de Barcelona

For the best view of the whole Exposition area including Palau Nacional, you should head to Plaça Espanya, the square in front of it, and walk in the Arenas de Barcelona mall. This shopping mall was built using the structure of a refurbished bullfighting court. The upper level is a floating terrace with bars and restaurants, and offers amazing views to the square and Montjuïc.

3. Poble Espanyol

There are many sites besides the Palau Nacional in the Montjuïc hill. On the western part, you can find Poble Espanyol, an open air architectural museum. Its name means “Spanish Village”, since it recreates buildings from different Spanish villages. It was also built for the Exposition as a way to exhibit the architecture and culture of Spain, and it contains a theater, restaurants, artisan workshops and a museum of contemporary art.

Get tickets with 10% discount through this link.

Poble Espanyol recreates several Spanish villages in a single complex. Photo credit: Shadowgate licensed CC BY 2.0

4. Anella Olímpica

Also on the western part stands Anella Olímpica, the sports complex built for the Olympic Games of 1992. This includes the Olympic Stadium, the Palau Sant Jordi sports hall, now used as a concert hall and the famous Montjuïc Communications Tower.

5. Montjuïc Castle

Montjuïc Castle is an old military fortress from 1640 on the top of the hill. Now it serves as a municipality’s facility, but the grounds can be accessed by the public. It is a nice place to grab a cold drink during the summer months while seating atop of the city, and it has a fantastic viewpoint for great views of the city!

6. Fundació Joan Miró

If you are interested in Joan Miró‘s art, there is no better place than this museum dedicated to this artist’s work. There are pieces from other artists as well, including Peter Greenaway, Chillida, Tàpies, etc. as well as a space for contemporary art by young artists called Espai 13. Get your tickets and skip the lines through this link.

Closing statement

Besides the mentioned attractions, there are other things you can do in Montjuïc, like visiting the Botanical Garden or take the Telefèric (cable car) to enjoy the views of Barcelona and the sea from the Miramar viewpoint, or visit the wonderful Montjuïc Cemetery.

Monjuïc is and has been an essencial part of the city of Barcelona, especially since much of it was built with stone from its quarry. It has also been the center of important events in the city’s history. For this reasons, I think it is nice to take some time to explore this hill and all it has to offer.

Keep reading about the wonders of this city in our general post about Barcelona:

Top 10 things to do in Barcelona

Make sure you don’t miss out on experiences in Barcelona by buying tickets for its attractions in Tiqets.com and skipping the lines:

In particular I recommend purchasing the Barcelona Card if you are interested in visiting some of the city’s museums and attractions. With this card you get free entrance to many museums and attractions as well as unlimited use to the public transport for an amount of time as well as transport from and to the airport. It also includes a discount coupon booklet that you can use for other attractions, tours and entertainment in the city.

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