Montjuïc Barcelona

Montjuïc is a mountain in the city. A true breath of fresh air. From every angle, you can enjoy stunning views of Barcelona. This iconic hill of Barcelona is located in the southwest of the city, between the port and Plaça d’Espanya. A real balcony overlooking the sea, it is home to many gardens, museums, sports facilities, and cultural venues. You’ll find the Montjuïc Castle, the National Palace, the Magic Fountain, and the Miró Foundation among others. It’s the perfect place for a walk, to enjoy panoramic views of the city, and to discover a calmer, greener side of Barcelona.

Montjuïc is a cultural and sporting landmark of Barcelona.

Montjuïc Castle is a major point of interest and offers a military museum along with a breathtaking panorama of the city. Just below the castle is the Palau Nacional, also known as the MNAC, which houses the largest collection of Catalan art in the world. Nearby escalators make it easier for visitors who prefer not to climb the stairs.

Just a few steps from the Palau Nacional is the Poble Espanyol, a village built for the 1929 Universal Exposition that showcases various styles of regional Spanish architecture. The Magic Fountain, located in front of the Palau Nacional, is a free and popular attraction that lights up in various colors to classical music.

Montjuïc was also the stage for the 1992 Olympic Games. The Olympic Stadium, Palau Sant Jordi, and the Olympic swimming pools on the hillside are must-see sites for sports enthusiasts. In the summer, open-air movie screenings on the walls of the Olympic pools are a favorite activity for locals and tourists alike. Take time to visit the Joan Miró Foundation, a museum dedicated to the great Catalan artist.

Finally, Montjuïc offers green spaces and picnic areas to relax with family or friends.

Montjuïc Tourist Tour

Here is a small selection of places to discover on Montjuïc hill.

Take advantage of our great recommendations such as restaurants and shops. They are also part of exploring a city.

Let’s start this sightseeing tour at the foot of Montjuïc hill with the very dynamic CaixaForum Barcelona.

CaixaForum Barcelona

The CaixaForum Barcelona is a vibrant cultural center housed in the former Casaramona textile factory, a jewel of modernist architecture designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch in the early 20th century. Elegantly renovated, the building blends exposed brick, wrought iron, and natural light. Today, CaixaForum offers a rich program of exhibitions on ancient, modern, and contemporary art, as well as concerts, lectures, and activities for all audiences. A lively venue where industrial heritage and contemporary creation coexist in harmony.

Av. de Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, 6-8, 08038 Barcelona, Spain

Mies van der Rohe Pavilion

The Barcelona Pavilion, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for the 1929 International Exposition, is an iconic masterpiece of modern architecture. With its clean lines, the building perfectly embodies the principles of the modernist movement: simplicity, elegance of materials (glass, steel, marble), and harmony with space. Reconstructed identically in 1986, this minimalist pavilion has become a pilgrimage site for architecture enthusiasts and symbolizes the radical break from past ornamentation in search of a new spatial order.

Avinguda Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, 7, 08038 Barcelona, Spain

Poble Espanyol

Poble Espanyol (Spanish Village) is a unique open-air museum built for the 1929 International Exposition. It brings together, in a picturesque setting, over one hundred life-sized replicas of typical buildings from different regions of Spain. This true architectural mosaic invites visitors to travel through the country’s cultural diversity, from Andalusian alleyways to Castilian squares and Catalan houses. The site also hosts artisan workshops, contemporary art exhibitions, restaurants, and performances, offering a lively immersion into Spanish traditions.

Avinguda Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, 13, 08038 Barcelona, Spain

National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC)

The National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC) is one of the most important museums in Spain, housed in the imposing Palau Nacional of Montjuïc, built for the 1929 International Exposition. It contains an exceptional collection spanning a thousand years of Catalan art, from Romanesque art — with world-renowned church frescoes — to Modernism, as well as Renaissance and Baroque art. A true cultural gem, the MNAC also offers a spectacular panoramic view of Barcelona from its terraces.

Palau Nacional, Parc de Montjuïc, s/n, 08038 Barcelona, Spain

Palau Sant Jordi

Palau Sant Jordi is a landmark multipurpose arena in Barcelona, designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki for the 1992 Olympic Games. Nestled on Montjuïc hill, this building stands out with its elegant and adaptable dome. Designed to host both sporting competitions and concerts or large cultural events, Palau Sant Jordi has become one of Barcelona's major cultural venues, renowned for its acoustics and versatility.

Passeig Olímpic, 5-7, 08038 Barcelona, Spain

Joan Miró Foundation

The Joan Miró Foundation is a must-visit for lovers of modern art, nestled on Montjuïc hill. Inaugurated in 1975, it was envisioned by Miró himself as a space open to contemporary creation. The building, designed by architect Josep Lluís Sert, blends natural light, white volumes, and Mediterranean patios in perfect harmony with the artist’s spirit. The foundation houses an exceptional collection of Miró’s paintings, sculptures, drawings, and tapestries, as well as temporary exhibitions by contemporary artists from around the world. A vibrant, poetic, and deeply inspiring place.

Parc de Montjuïc, s/n, 08038 Barcelona, Spain

How to Get to Montjuïc

Address: Montjuïc, 08038 Barcelona, Spain. Note that Montjuïc is a hill located in the southwest of Barcelona, Spain.

There are several ways to get to Montjuïc from downtown Barcelona:

By metro: Metro lines L1, L2, and L3 stop at Pl. Espanya, Paral·lel, and Poble Sec stations located at the base of Montjuïc. From there, you can take the Montjuïc funicular to go up the hill.

With the Montjuïc funicular and cable car: The Montjuïc funicular connects Paral·lel metro station (lines L2 and L3) to the lower part of Montjuïc hill, near the sports facilities and the Joan Miró Foundation. This funicular is part of the TMB metro network and operates on the same schedule every day, with variations depending on the season. From the funicular's arrival point, you can continue the ascent by taking the Montjuïc cable car (Telefèric de Montjuïc), which takes you to the top of the hill, right next to Montjuïc Castle, offering spectacular views of the city and the sea.

By bus: Several bus lines serve Montjuïc, including lines 13, 50, and 150. You can catch these buses from different parts of the city.

By car or taxi: If you prefer, you can also take a taxi or drive to Montjuïc, but be aware that parking may be difficult to find on the hill.

Where is Montjuïc in Barcelona?