15 Best Views in Barcelona for the Perfect Picture
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Looking for the best views in Barcelona?
If you’re visiting Barcelona for the first time, you might be surprised by how the city dips and rises, built on hills that resemble the waves of the ocean it’s next to.
This can sometimes make walking through Barcelona a bit more challenging, but the payoff comes in incredible sights.
Keep reading to find out where the best views in Barcelona are.
Best views in Barcelona
Torre de Collserola
The Torre De Collserola is a relatively new addition to Barcelona’s cityscape, being completed around 30 years ago. Located just outside the city, it offers an incredible 360-degree view of Barcelona, the ocean, and the surrounding neighborhoods.
The public can utilize the viewing deck called El Mirador on the tower’s tenth floor. You can see the city from over 375 feet in the air in all directions with the glass-paneled outer wall.
This bird’s eye view of Barcelona is something to behold at any time of day, whether it’s bright and sunny or the sunlight is fading away over the waves of the sea. There is a short walking trail that surrounds the tower that is best tackled in the day.
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Tibidabo
If you’re looking to get a good view of the city and a great way to spend a couple of hours in Barcelona (especially with kids), Tibidabo is the place to go.
Head up into the hills and find the second-oldest amusement park in Europe, constructed in 1899. Don’t worry, everything has been updated, and is safe to ride, but if you’re not a fan of the rides, the panoramic viewpoint is free to access for the public.
The amusement park neighbors some of the most famous sights in Barcelona, like the Torre de Collserola, the Temple Sagrat Cor de Jesús church, and the Jardins de Can Borni.
This is by far one of the best free views in Barcelona.
Arenas de Barcelona
Arenas de Barcelona provides not only one of the best views in Barcelona, but an exposure to the city’s history, and a great place to kill a couple of hours all in one.
Once a bull ring, now a main shopping center, but retains its historical charm with all the original architecture.
To access the viewpoint, you can pay 1 euro to use the outdoor lift to the top of the building, or head inside the shopping center and use the escalators for free.
Since this viewpoint is located within the actual city, you’ll get great close-ups of Barcelona’s most visited sights.
Telefèric
The Telefèric de Montjuïc easily has one of the best views in Barcelona.
You can ride this cable car from Parc Montjuïc to Castell Montjuïc, skipping over the strenuous hike and seeing Barcelona from the sky. You can choose whether you’d like to purchase only a one-way ticket or get a return one.
On the return trip, there is an optional stop at Mirador de l’Alcalde where you can take some time to relax amidst some of the city’s most beautiful greenery.
This is a fairly inexpensive way to see a million-dollar view of Barcelona.
Bunkers del Carmel
During the Spanish Civil War, Bunkers del Carmel was home to antiaircraft warfare and its facilities. There were never any bunkers here, as the name suggests.
Whatever it used to be, the view here is something you want to see. Venture to theTuró de la Rovira in the Carmel neighborhood to see the sun rise over the Mediterranean at a height of over 850 feet.
This spot showcases a 360-degree view of Barcelona while standing on a unique piece of its history.
Montjuïc
The Montjuïc Castle has two of the best views in Barcelona.
The castle, built in the 18th century, is almost perfectly preserved with its original design, missing only one tower that used to announce the arrival of ships.
Even without the tower, the castle has an excellent view of everything going on in the city below. And while you’re up there, you can head inside and tour the castle as well.
The second viewpoint on Montjuïc is Cami del Mar. It is located at the base of the castle and provides premium views of the sea.
Cathedral of Barcelona
The Cathedral of Barcelona embodies Gothic architecture, with intricate facades, vaulted ceilings, and stained glass windows. After reveling in the divine design of the interior, climb the stairs up to the terrace where you can gaze out upon the city.
There isn’t a time when the view is superior, but as this is a well-known tourist attraction, arriving close to opening or closing times will allow for a more intimate experience.
Regardless of the number of people around you, you’ll feel like you’re up in the clouds with the vision of the twists and turns in the Gothic Quarter.
Sagrada Familia
La Sagrada Familia is a must-visit for anyone traveling to Barcelona. This cathedral not only has some of the most enchanting architecture but also some of the best views from its accessible towers.
La Sagrada Familia is unique because it is still under construction. When it is completed, there will be 18 towers with insane views of Barcelona, but as of right now, visitors can only access two: the Nativity and the Passion towers.
This cathedral has some of the best views of Barcelona, but it always is one of the best views of Barcelona.
Palau Nacional
The Palau Nacional is one of my favorite spots in Barcelona.
With Greco-Roman-inspired architecture, this art museum sits atop a hill like a beacon of refinement. Fountains and greenery accompany you the entire way up the castle-like steps where you can stop and enjoy the view at any point.
Making this trek at night allows you to see the city’s levels clearly, lit up from the Ferris wheel on Tidibado to the cluster of store lights on La Rambla.
If you come before the museum closes, you can reach an even greater vantage point on the rooftop of Palau Nacional. A ticket to reach it costs 2 euros, or it is included in the entrance fee.
Basilica of Santa María del Pi
The Basilica of Santa María del Pi has staked its claim as a must-see in a Barcelona itinerary for many reasons, but one of them is this church has one of the best viewpoints in Barcelona.
If you want to get straight to it, once you’re inside the Basilica you can head straight to the top of the bell tower, where Antònia, the biggest of the six bells, has been ringing since the 14th century.
However, spending a little time inside the building is worth it. Walk beneath the vaulted ceilings, some of the highest in Spain, while the interior is colored by the original stained glass windows. You can also learn a little about life at this time in the country in the nave.
La Pedrera
La Pedrera is officially called Casa Mila but was nicknamed ‘stone quarry’ because its open-faced, gray-white exterior resembles one, which is likely exactly what the architect, Antoni Gaudí, intended.
Gaudí is Barcelona’s prized architect whose work can be seen all throughout the city. La Pedrera was his final work of civic architecture before losing his life in a tram accident. Visitors from all over the world come to pay tribute to Gaudí by reveling in his work.
Head up to La Pedrera’s rooftop viewpoint to witness a view Gaudí thought was worth showing off.
Park Güell
Park Güell is another one of Gaudí’s prized works. Filled with his creations, the entire park is an artistic wonderland, a mix of natural and man-made beauty.
It also has one of the best views in Barcelona, but if you want to visit during the day you must book your ticket far in advance. Due to the park’s popularity, tickets sell out daily.
However, if you want to try your luck, there is a ticketless option where you can visit the viewpoint before or after the park’s opening hours, making it a perfect spot for sunrise or sunset.
Creueta del Coll Park
Creueta del Coll Park has one of the best views in Barcelona not just of the city, but of its vegetation and natural beauty as well.
It is located right next to Park Güell, making it an easy next destination, or if you were unable to visit Park Güell, it is a great second.
The park is known for its public bathing pool; during the hot summer months, you are more than welcome to dip in it. Other outdoor activities can be enjoyed here like biking, basketball, ping-pong, and more.
To see the incredible view of the city, meander up the paths to the top of the hill where you can find a picnic area and Barcelona laid out in front of you.
Santa Maria del Mar
Santa Maria del Mar is a wonder of historical architecture.
In a world of taking hundreds of years to complete cathedrals (La Sagrada Familia, for example), Santa Maria del Mar was built in just 55 years, and completed in 1384.
It is also the only surviving church erected in the pure Catalan style.
Take to the rooftops of the Basilica to imagine what Barcelona would’ve looked like 700 years ago with a 360-degree view.
Casa Batllo
The final place on our list of best viewpoints in Barcelona comes once again from the hands of Gaudí.
This Spanish marvel is one of Barcelona’s most visited tourist destinations. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a must-see for any fan of Gaudí.
Once you’ve walked through the house, you can witness the view of the city that has been home to some of the most brilliant minds and workers in history, appreciating not only the vista before you, but all the people who have made seeing such a thing possible.
Final Thoughts: Best Barcelona Viewpoints
The best views in Barcelona are sprinkled all over the city, from the ocean to the mountains, and in all different mediums, from natural to manmade.
It is certainly hard to choose which one to visit, but I suggest basing it off of your itinerary and the time you have in the city. You can’t go wrong with a single one of them.
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