Barcelona Pavilion
Barcelona, Spain
Magic Fountain of Montjuïc, Barcelona
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Photo: Freepenguin, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Free
- Hours
- Evening shows on set days
- Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 45 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Shows
- Evenings, on set days of the week
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Length
- ≈ 30 minutes
- Highlights
- Water, light and music, the palace view
- Drought
- Shows may be cancelled
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Location
- Montjuïc, Espanya metro (L1, L3)
Key facts
1929built for the International Exposition
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English WikipediaCarles Buïgasdesigned the fountain
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English Wikipedia1980smusic was added to the show
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English Wikipedia≈ 30 minlength of an evening show
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English WikipediaAbout the Magic Fountain
The engineer Carles Buïgas designed the fountain for the 1929 International Exposition, on the exhibition's main axis between Plaça d'Espanya and the Palau Nacional, amid a cascade of steps and pools. Even then its play of water and coloured light amazed visitors, earning it the name 'magic'.
Music was added in the 1980s, and by the 1992 Olympics the fountain had become a city symbol. Today its evening shows are among Barcelona's most popular free attractions: to classical music, opera, pop hits and film scores, the jets rise, fall and change colour.
What the show is like
The show begins at dusk, when the lights come on. Each performance is a series of musical numbers, and the fountain 'dances' differently to each, sometimes raising tall slow columns of water, sometimes bursting into fans of spray, with light shifting from gold to pink and blue.
Behind the fountain the Palau Nacional is floodlit, and from the steps you look down over Plaça d'Espanya and its twin towers. Children and adults alike love it, and the atmosphere of thousands of people sitting on the steps under a warm evening sky is part of the experience.
What to see around it
- The fountain — water, light and music.
- Palau Nacional — the floodlit palace above.
- The cascade — steps and pools up to the palace.
- The Four Columns — tall Ionic columns by the fountain.
- Plaça d'Espanya — its towers and fountain below.
- The palace terrace — the show and city from above.
Where to watch from
Closest is right by the basin, but it's crowded and you may get splashed. The best view is from the steps above the fountain on the way up to the Palau Nacional, taking in the whole fountain, Plaça d'Espanya and the city lights. Higher up, by the palace, there's more room and a view from above with the panorama.
Arrive 20 to 30 minutes early to get a spot on the steps. After the show the whole crowd heads for the metro at once, so linger a while, stroll on Montjuïc or have a drink in a bar by Plaça d'Espanya until it thins out.
How to get to the fountain
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Where are you starting from?
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On foot
- Barcelona Pavilion is about 3 min away on foot.
- National Art Museum of Catalonia is about 4 min away on foot.
- Plaça d'Espanya is about 9 min away on foot.
More tips
- Metro Espanya (L1, L3), exit to Plaça d'Espanya, then 5 to 7 minutes up the avenue.
- Walk up Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina between the two towers, straight to the fountain.
- Escalators climb from the fountain to the Palau Nacional.
- From Montjuïc, walk down through the gardens.
Tips for your visit
Pickpockets work the crowd, so keep your phone and bag close. Bring water and a light jumper, as it can get cool and damp by the fountain at night. With small children, sit on the upper steps where it's less crowded.
The show pairs well with an evening at the National Art Museum of Catalonia and sunset on its terrace, just a couple of minutes down the steps. Have dinner afterwards in Poble-sec at the foot of Montjuïc, full of tapas bars.
Before the show
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Places in Barcelona: compare and choose
Places in Barcelona rated by YesGo. Click a column header to sort.
| La Rambla | 51 | 1 h | Free | 37 min walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magic Fountain of Montjuïcyou are here | 42 | 45 min | Free | — |
| Torre Glòries | 41 | 1 h | Viewpoint paid | 4.8 km |
Nearby and on the way
National Art Museum of Catalonia
Barcelona, Spain
Plaça d'Espanya
Barcelona, Spain
Montjuïc
Barcelona, Spain
How to do it right
- Check the schedule on the day.
- Arrive half an hour early.
- Best view from the steps.
- Keep your belongings close.
Questions
When is the Magic Fountain show in Barcelona?
In the evening on set days: more often in summer, mostly Fridays and Saturdays in winter; see the city council's site.
Is the Magic Fountain show free?
Yes, it's free.
How long is the show?
About 30 minutes.
Where is the Magic Fountain?
On Montjuïc, between Plaça d'Espanya and the Palau Nacional; Espanya metro.
Where is the best place to watch?
From the steps above the fountain, on the way up to the Palau Nacional.
Does the fountain run in winter?
Yes, less often; shows may be cancelled in January and during droughts.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- English Wikipedia: Magic Fountain of Montjuïc
- Barcelona City Council schedule, barcelona.cat
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