Looking for the best views in Barcelona? Are you a sucker for a good panoramic view? Do you love places you can see Barcelona from above? Don’t worry – me too. Finding amazing views is probably my number one thing to do in each new city I visit.
So after living in Barcelona for a while, I can confidently say I explored all Barcelona views very thoroughly. This city is definitely blessed in the view department, with lots of park-filled hills surrounding the city and a hefty amount of rooftops with 360 views of Barcelona, too.
Some of these views are from hilltops or hikes surrounded by nature, and others are from rooftop vantage points where you can climb stairs or take an elevator if you’re lucky. One thing all these Barcelona viewpoints have in common is that you can see lots of jaw-dropping expanses of the city from them – from above.
Many of these viewpoints include some of the best Barcelona outdoor activities if you are in the mood for adventure. If you prefer to watch on video, here’s my tiktok/reel of Barcelona from above too!
Tibidabo
Tibidabo is a mountaintop point overlooking ALL of Barcelona, with a theme park and HUGE church that looks like a castle (Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus). You can see Tibidabo from pretty much EVERYWHERE in the city – standing sentinel over Barcelona like a protector and a bit or a North Star.
Getting There: You can reach Tibidabo in a few different ways. You can take a train to bus 111 (which goes right to the very top), or you can take the metro to Vallcarca. From Vallcarca, you must walk to the Tibidabo Funicular, where you can either pay €13.50 to go up on the funicular or HIKE right from the base of it! The funicular ticket is free if you also purchase a ticket to the panoramic area or amusement park, however.
Whichever option you choose, the views of Barcelona from the top are insane. Enjoy the view from the church, or pay a little extra to enjoy the Tibidabo theme park Ferris wheel, roller coaster, and other rides looking over the city. This spot also has an amazing Barcelona night view – you can see the Ferris wheel lit up at night from all over the city, and vice versa.
Barcelona Bunkers de Carmel (Mirador de les Bateries)
The Carmel Bunkers, seen as “MUHBA Turó de la Rovira’ on Google Maps, are surely one of the most epic views in Barcelona. Old Spanish Civil War airplane-defense bunkers look out over the whole city – now totally covered in graffiti.
Getting there: You can take a few busses or metros to get here, but you will have to do a bit of a hike to reach the top no matter what. Bus 24 and 119 take you the closest, as does the metro stop Hospital de Sant Pau.
The brief uphill walk with plenty of stairs will be worthwhile when you reach the top! This spot is GREAT for photography, and really popular for groups of friends to bring drinks and smokes and see a great Barcelona sunset view.
Montjuic
Montjuic Hill is probably my favorite place in Barcelona. It’s a big rocky hill that juts straight up from the Barcelona port to the city, and has beautiful gardens, multiple castles, the Barcelona Olympic park, and SO many trails and viewpoints.
It’s a must on any Barcelona itinerary, but there are lots of different viewpoints on Montjuic. Below are my favorite 4 Barcelona views on Montjuic – all in different areas.
Montjuic Castle
Montjuic Castle is the highest point of Montjuic Hill. In the daytime, you can go inside the castle and learn about its history dating back to the 1600’s. But to get the best views, walk in a circle around the castle on a dirt trail that provides panoramic views from the sea to the Barcelona Port to the rest. of the city.
Getting There: To get to the castle, you can walk up the hill past tons of beautiful gardens and views, or you can take the Montjuic cable car (Teleferic de Montjuic) from Parc Montjuïc for €12 one-way and €17.10 return. You can get to Parc Montjuïc via a funicular from the Paral-lel metro station on the green line.
My top tip for visiting the Castell de Montjuïc is to walk at least one of the ways. There are fantastic viewpoints throughout the walk! It’s open from 10am until 8pm from March to October, so plan a nice time to watch the sunset. It’s open till 6pm in the otehr months.
Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya MNAC for Sunset
Outside the Palau Nacional, or the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, you will find a huge set of stairs that looks out straight towards the sunset over the Magic Fountain and Placa d’Espanya. Here you can sit and enjoy the views from the steps and what is called ‘Mirador Barcelona’ right next door.
You can also visit the Palau Nacional Rooftop. For €2 more (or €12 including museum admission) you can actually CLIMB to the top of the National Palace! While the view from the front is already spectacular (and you can get drinks from a little cafe and usually listen to live music) if you want to take your view of Barcelona from above to the NEXT level, buy a ticket to the rooftop.
There are a few different patios you can visit with views in different directions – from the ocean to Tibidabo to the old city. Make sure to arrive early before sunset so you can explore ALL these different Barcelona sunset views. It’s also worth actually looking in the museum itself (rather than just the views from it)… grab a ticket in advance here.
Hotel Miramar/Mirador de Miramar
If you access Montjuïc from Poble Sec, chances are that you will arrive at the Mirador de Miramar as your first viewpoint. There are plenty of trails going up here from Poble Sec, which present views of the city and both ports. The viewpoint is outside the Hotel Miramar, which has beautiful rooms, gardens, and occasional events.
Getting There: Walk up from Poble Sec (which is a stop on the green metro line). It’s a hike but worth it!
Placa de Sant Jordi
ALL the way on the other side of Montjuic Hill, we have the Barcelona Olympic Park. With multiple massive stadiums and sports fields, it’s definitely worth checking out. The Placa de Sant Jordi is a tiny little park overlook that faces sunset perfectly. Enjoy a beautiful sunset behind a large statue here, overlooking Sants.
Barcelona Cable Cars
Yes, there are TWO Barcelona cable cars! It’s confusing, I know. This is the difference and what kinds of Barcelona views you can see from each:
Telefèric de Montjuïc: Montjuic Cable Car
The Montjuic Cable car, or the teleferic de Montjuic, takes you from the base of Montjuic to the castle at the top. This cable car is more for convenience, as you can walk this whole journey if you want (but the views from the sky are also amazing)!
I recommend doing the port cable car below, or doing this cable car as part of a whole tour around Montjuic where you can learn about the area while looking at amazing views.
Telefèric de Port: Port Cable Car
The port cable car is a clear winner for some of the BEST views in Barcelona over the most important attractions. This cable car starts in Montjuic (right by the Mirador Miramar) and takes you on a ride right over Port Vell, Maremagnum mall, and Barceloneta.
You can’t miss the cable car tower of Barceloneta, standing almost taller than the W hotel and presenting AMAZING 360 Barcelona views.
Park Guell
Park Guell is one of the most famous and best views in Barcelona. Designed by the famous architect Antoni Gaudi, Park Guell was initially supposed to be a housing development that was converted into a public park.
Park Guell has tons of walking trails as well as unique and colorful buildings and quirky architecture that is famous of Gaudi. Hike around the park or just relax on the vibrant tiled benches to see Barcelona from above.
Getting there: You can walk up to the park from Lesseps or Vallcarca metro stations – it will be uphill both ways!
Las Arenas de Barcelona
This is one of the most unique Barcelona viewpoints. Las Arenas is a huge circular arena made of bricks that was once a bullfighting ring built in 1900. It has now been fully repurposed into a massive mall with a rooftop presenting the best Barcelona 360 view.
There are about 6 or 7 restaurants lining the rooftop – all facing different directions to present different Barcelona views. You can go up to the rooftop just for the view for €1.50 (taking a really cool outdoor glass elevator next to the Placa d’Espanya), or you can apparenty get up there for free if you take the escalators from inside. Once up there, you can select a happy hour or food cuisine to eat. Choose from sushi, Italian, tapas, seafood, and more.
Montserrat
Montserrat is an INCREDIBLE jagged mountain range with an old historic monastery tucked into the cliffs – about an hour outside Barcelona. If you have time, Montserrat is absolutely worth checking out. There are some incredible hiking trails (try the Cova Santa Trail) and you can also visit the monastery with the famous Black Madonna figure.
Getting there: You can take a train and a cable car from Placa de Espanya. It’s a bit confusing to navigate alone; I recommend taking the tour below so you can have everything sorted for you.
Helicopter Tour of Barcelona
A helicopter tour of Barcelona would probably present the best Barcelona views on this list because you can travel to ALL areas overlooking the city! And, you’ll see better coastal views from a helicopter than any hills or rooftops. It’s not cost-prohibitive, either… prices start at just €79 for a short heli trip leaving from the port.
Collserola Tower Mirador
The Collserola Tower is actually the highest point in Barcelona. Like Tibidabo, this tower is visible from pretty much everywhere in the city, but few even know that there’s a public viewpoint inside, or take the time to actually visit it.
You can hike up to the Collserola Tower from close by to Tibidabo (they are on the same mountain). There’s a small park up there but the real viewpoint is up a glass elevator in the middle of the tower. From here you will TRULY see Barcelona from above – the highest Barcelona viewpoint that isn’t a helicopter or plane!
Sagrada Familia
Did you know there is a viewpoint inside Barcelona’s most famous tourist attraction? If you visit the Sagrada Familia, don’t forget to climb up the towers and have a look out over the city.
These towers are one of the highest points in the city and most unique places to visit in Barcelona. Make sure to purchase a skip-the-line ticket in advance to save time and see one of the most sought-after Barcelona viewpoints.
Best Barcelona Rooftop Views
If you don’t want to climb a hill, these are my favorite rooftops for views and drinks. If you love rooftops bars, check out my full roundup of rooftop bars in Barcelona below.
Gaudi Rooftops: Casa Batlló + Casa Milà (La Pedrera)
If you prefer to view Barcelona from above, with more incredible Gaudi works of art – check out Casa Batlló and Casa Mila, which are very close to each other in Eixample near the Passeig de Gracia.
Both of these Gaudi-designed buildings have rooftops where you can not only take in his incredible architecture – different in each building – but also the rooftops of Barcelona around you.
Barcelo Raval Barcelona 360 View Bar
The Barcelo Ravel rooftop bar makes it to the top 3 bar views in the city because of its circular panoramic view of Barcelona. It’s a casual bar at the top of a hotel where you can order drinks at the bar and sit wherever you like.
All seats and tables face outwards, and you can literally pick ANY direction to view – Montjuic, Tibidabo, Sants, the city, or the ocean. Which will you choose?
Eclipse Bar at the W
This is debatably the BEST Barcelona view from a bar. Inside the swanky W hotel, you will find Eclipse Bar, which has the most panoramic and all-encompassing view of Barceloneta EVER.
You will see the entire beach and the city sprawling out behind it. You might spend a bit more, but what is a good view worth to you?!
Where to Stay in Barcelona
I have stayed in tons of different parts of Barcelona, and these are my top recommendations. Or, check out my popular article on Unique stays in Barcelona.
Epic Hotel with a Rooftop View: Vincca Gala Hotel
This stylish hotel in the well-connected and upscale neighborhood of Eixample has a GORGEOUS rooftop view… and something tells me you like a good view! 😉
Relax at the rooftop pool at Vincci Gala, or get to El Born, the Gothic Quarter, and Parc de la Ciutadella within 5 minutes. It’s a fab location for a decent price – with a view.
More Best’s in BCN from my adventures:
- Best Breakfast and brunch in Barcelona
- Barcelona’s best tapas bars
- Barcelona’s best coffee + Cafes
- Hidden Gems in Barcelona
Passionate, full-time travel blogger with over 230k on social media and 150kMPV blog. Extraordinary photographer with two DSLR's + a drone with a love for capturing candid moments, epic drone shots, and magical compositions. I'm a natural-born content creator originally from California, but I've been on the road for 9 years living, working, traveling, blogging, and photographing my way around the world. I recommend the most amazingly adventurous and unique + boutique travel experiences/stays and helpful products to my audience and write comprehensive guides on my website that have helped millions of travelers so far. I love to inspire people to plan their dream trips, and many readers have given feedback as such. The reach on my platforms continues to soar, especially when combining cutting-edge social content with optimized articles on my high-authority website.