Museums, beaches, sculpture, squares, unique architecture... Barcelona has everything. No wonder it’s one of Spain’s most popular cities. The best way to see all this beauty at a glance is to go up to one of the fantastic viewing points on the mountains around the city, or at the top of its most iconic buildings. Come and discover a bird’s-eye view of Barcelona.
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Park Güell
If there is one sight that everyone coming to Barcelona for the first time needs to see, it’s Park Güell. This is a place full of magic and colour, where you can see wonderful mosaics created by the peerless Gaudí. As well as enjoying this architectural complex, one of the finest examples of Catalan Art Nouveau, you can also see one of the finest views of the city from here, with the skyline silhouetted against the sea.
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Montjuïc Castle
Climbing the mountain of Montjuïc is a unique experience, whether you walk up, with plenty of interesting sights on the way, or you take the cable car, flying over Barcelona for a literal bird’s-eye view. At the top of the mountain is Montjuïc castle, a military fortress offering a fantastic vantage point over the city.
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The Carmel Bunkers
The Carmel Bunkers are in one of the most attractive spots in Barcelona. At an altitude of 250 metres, at the top of the hill Turó de la Rovira, this unique location is close to the centre but has views over the entire city. It’s a great place to go for a picnic at sunset and watch the lights slowly go on all over the metropolis.
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Tibidabo
Another iconic, magical location with different views over the city, where you can see Barcelona in all its splendour, is Tibidabo park. Whether you try out some of the 30-plus rides in the amusement park, go to the free viewing point, or visit the Fabra Observatory, from the top of this mountain you can enjoy some amazing views over the entire city.
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Basilica of Santa María del Pi
There is another great view of Barcelona from the belltower of the Basilica of Santa Maria del Pi. In the past it was a watchtower, but now this medieval Gothic belltower offers tourists a beautiful place to look out over the city’s historic quarter. Explore its history and climb the 54 metres of its narrow spiral staircase to see Barcelona as you’d never imagined it.
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Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya MNAC
The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, MNAC has one of the widest-ranging art collections in Barcelona, and two spectacular rooftop terraces where visitors gather to see views from above of the Montjuïc fountain, Collserola tower, Tibidabo, the Sagrada Familia, the Olympic Ring, and other landmarks.
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Collserola Tower
The highest viewing point in the city is Collserola tower, an iconic structure and one of the symbols of Barcelona, on the mountain range of the same name. A visit here feels like a privilege, as it gives you a unique, memorable 360-degree view of Barcelona. How do you think you’ll feel 560 metres above sea level?
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The Sagrada Familia
One of the essential sights of Barcelona also has a place on this list of the city’s best viewing points: the Sagrada Familia has lovely views over its immediate neighbourhood and the Eixample district. At the moment we still can’t climb the tallest tower, which will be 170 metres high when finished, but views from the existing towers and the suspended walkway are magnificent.
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Other viewing points in Barcelona:
Las Arenas, the Colón monument, Guinardó park, Turó del Putxet park, La Pedrera, rooftops of the Catedral del Mar, rooftops of Barcelona Cathedral, and the Joan Sales viewing point.
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