# Montjuïc, Barcelona > Montjuïc is a green hill about 185 metres above Barcelona's port, the city's great park of gardens, museums and sea views. It hosted the 1929 International Exposition and the 1992 Olympics, which left the Palau Nacional, the Magic Fountain and the Olympic Ring. Walking the hill is free, and a funicular and cable cars take you up; allow half a day. Web page: https://yesgo.io/spain/barcelona/montjuic - City: [Barcelona](https://yesgo.io/spain/barcelona), Spain - YesGo score: 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 3 h - Opening hours: Park always open; museums and cable car by day - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Hill and gardens free - Getting up: Funicular, cable cars, escalators - Highlights: Palau Nacional, the fountain, gardens, Fundació Miró - Time needed: Half a day - Fountain: Evening shows on set days - Location: Espanya or Paral·lel metro - Coordinates: 41.36417, 2.15806 - Facts checked: 11.11.2026 ## Key facts - **≈ 185 m** — height of the hill above the sea (source: English Wikipedia) - **1929** — the International Exposition was held here (source: English Wikipedia) - **1992** — the main Olympic events took place here (source: English Wikipedia) - **1975** — the Fundació Joan Miró opened (source: English Wikipedia) ## About Montjuïc Montjuïc is a flat-topped green hill by the sea, south-west of the old town. Almost everything on it was built for two big events. The **1929 International Exposition** brought broad stairways, palaces and a cascade of fountains from Plaça d'Espanya up to the **Palau Nacional**, plus the Poble Espanyol, a village of copies of buildings from across Spain. For the **1992 Olympics** the stadium was renewed and the Olympic Ring built, with its pools and sports hall. Today Montjuïc is a favourite local park for running, family walks, picnics in the gardens and watching the sunset over the port. ## What to see on Montjuïc Start at **Plaça d'Espanya**: from its two Venetian towers a wide avenue with fountains and escalators climbs to the **Magic Fountain** and the Palau Nacional, now home to the [National Art Museum of Catalonia](https://yesgo.io/spain/barcelona/mnac). The terrace in front of the palace has one of the best views of Barcelona. Nearby are Mies van der Rohe's austere [Barcelona Pavilion](https://yesgo.io/spain/barcelona/barcelona-pavilion) and the **Poble Espanyol** with its craft workshops. Higher up are the **Fundació Joan Miró**, full of bright paintings and sculpture, the Olympic Ring and several gardens: a cactus garden above the port, a rose garden and the romantic Joan Maragall gardens. ## What to see on the hill - **The Magic Fountain** — an evening show of water, light and music. - **Palau Nacional** — the art museum and its view terrace. - **Barcelona Pavilion** — Mies van der Rohe's modernist classic. - **Poble Espanyol** — streets and houses from all over Spain. - **Fundació Miró** — Joan Miró's paintings and sculpture. - **The gardens** — cacti above the port, roses and fountains. > **Getting up the hill** The easiest way is the funicular from Paral·lel metro, which climbs in a couple of minutes on a normal transport ticket. A cable car continues towards the summit. Another, the port cable car, swings across the harbour from Barceloneta beach. Outdoor escalators run from Plaça d'Espanya up to the palace. ## The Magic Fountain The **Magic Fountain of Montjuïc** was built for the 1929 Exposition, and music was added in the 1980s. In the evening its jets dance to music and change colour while crowds gather on the steps and along the cascade. The show is free and lasts about half an hour. The schedule varies with the season: shows are more frequent and later in summer, rarer in winter, and the fountain may be switched off during droughts. Check the timetable on the city's site before you go and arrive early to get a spot on the stairs by the palace, where you can see both the fountain and the city. ## How to get to Montjuïc 1. Metro **Espanya** (L1, L3) for Plaça d'Espanya, the fountain and the palace. 2. Metro **Paral·lel** (L2, L3) to change for the Montjuïc funicular. 3. The port cable car, from Barceloneta beach across the harbour. 4. Bus **150** climbs the hill from Plaça d'Espanya to the summit. ## Tips for your walk A good route is to ride the funicular and cable car to the top, then walk down through the gardens to the Palau Nacional and the fountain, ending with the evening show. That way it's all downhill and you see the highlights in half a day. Bring water in summer, as there's little shade and cafés are far apart. Montjuïc is great for a picnic, with lawns and benches overlooking the port. With children, the Poble Espanyol and the fountains work well, and art lovers have two big museums, best not crammed into one day. Head back in the evening from Espanya metro. ## Walk checklist Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Ride the funicular from Paral·lel - [ ] Walk through the gardens above the port - [ ] Take in the view from the Palau Nacional terrace - [ ] Check the Magic Fountain schedule - [ ] Stay for the evening show ## Places in Barcelona: compare and choose Places in Barcelona rated by YesGo. - [Sagrada Família](https://yesgo.io/spain/barcelona/sagrada-familia) — YesGo score 69/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · Paid - [Barcelona Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/spain/barcelona/barcelona-cathedral) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 50 min · Paid by day - [Park Güell](https://yesgo.io/spain/barcelona/park-guell) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 45 min · Paid - [Montjuïc](https://yesgo.io/spain/barcelona/montjuic) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Free - [Columbus Monument](https://yesgo.io/spain/barcelona/columbus-monument) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 25 min · Free outside - [Plaça d'Espanya](https://yesgo.io/spain/barcelona/placa-d-espanya) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 25 min · Free - [Torre Glòries](https://yesgo.io/spain/barcelona/torre-glories) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Viewpoint paid - [Casa Milà](https://yesgo.io/spain/barcelona/casa-mila) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · Paid - [Tibidabo](https://yesgo.io/spain/barcelona/tibidabo) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Summit free - [National Art Museum of Catalonia](https://yesgo.io/spain/barcelona/mnac) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · Paid - [Montserrat](https://yesgo.io/spain/barcelona/montserrat) — YesGo score 33/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 5 h · Basilica free ## Montjuïc in half a day The Palau Nacional, the Barcelona Pavilion and the hill. 1. [Montjuïc](https://yesgo.io/spain/barcelona/montjuic) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Free 2. [National Art Museum of Catalonia](https://yesgo.io/spain/barcelona/mnac) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · Paid 3. [Barcelona Pavilion](https://yesgo.io/spain/barcelona/barcelona-pavilion) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · Paid ## Don't mix it up Montjuïc and Tibidabo are two different Barcelona hills. Tibidabo is higher and further from the sea, with a church and an old amusement park on top. ## Tips - Funicular up, walk down. - Stay for the fountain show. - Bring water: little shade. - Best view from the Palau Nacional. ## Questions ### What is there to see on Montjuïc? The Magic Fountain, the Palau Nacional museum, the Barcelona Pavilion, the Poble Espanyol, the Fundació Miró and the gardens. ### How do you get up Montjuïc? By funicular from Paral·lel metro, by cable car or by the escalators from Plaça d'Espanya. ### How long do you need on Montjuïc? Half a day, or into the evening with the fountain show. ### Is Montjuïc free? Yes, the hill and gardens are free; the museums and cable car are paid. ### When does the Magic Fountain run? In the evening on set days; the schedule varies by season, so check the city's site. ### Is Montjuïc good with kids? Yes: the gardens, fountains, Poble Espanyol and cable car are all popular with children. ## How we checked Facts from English Wikipedia. Hours, prices and the fountain schedule weren't confirmed with an official source — hence the 'checking' badge. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Montjuïc - Barcelona City Council tourism portal, barcelona.cat --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.