Torre Glòries, Barcelona

About Torre Glòries

The skyscraper was designed by the French architect Jean Nouvel and opened in 2005 as headquarters of the city's water company, hence its old name, Agbar. Its shape, a smooth rounded cylinder with a domed top, earned it nicknames at once: locals compare it to a geyser, a rocket and a cucumber.

Nouvel was inspired by the Montserrat mountains and by jets of water bursting from the ground. The façade is glass over thousands of coloured panels in blues and reds, with LEDs hidden behind them. At about 144 metres, it's one of the city's tallest buildings.

Its structure is unusual: a concrete core hides behind a double skin of glass and metal, and thousands of small glass louvres open and close to control light and heat, which long made it a showcase of green design. The windows are scattered across the façade like pixels, placed to keep the inside bright but not hot, and in the evening lights they combine into glowing pictures visible across the city.

The viewing deck

In 2022 a viewing deck opened on the top floor, a round hall under the dome with panoramic windows. From here you see the whole city: the Sagrada Família close by, Avinguda Diagonal, the sea, Montjuïc and Tibidabo. Interactive screens help you pick out the landmarks.

In the centre hangs Argentine artist Tomás Saraceno's installation *Cloud Cities*, a huge net of cables and transparent spheres that you can climb right up to the dome. It's unexpectedly fun for children and adults alike, and climbing it needs a separate or upgraded ticket.

What to see at the tower and nearby

• The façade — glass over thousands of coloured panels.
• Evening lights — colour washes across the tower.
• The viewing deck — a 360-degree panorama.
• Cloud Cities — the net installation under the dome.
• Design Museum — nearby on Plaça de les Glòries.
• Els Encants — a flea market under a mirrored roof.

The evening light show

After sunset the façade becomes a giant screen, its LEDs shifting through blue, red, purple and green, with special colours and patterns on holidays. The best view is from Plaça de les Glòries and along Avinguda Diagonal.

A good plan is to go up at sunset, watch Barcelona's lights come on, then step outside to see the tower itself lit up. Around it is the new 22@ business district, with modern architecture, the Design Museum and a park on Plaça de les Glòries.

Tips for your visit

The tower is away from the old town, so pair it with the Sagrada Família or the Poblenou beaches, 15 minutes' walk away. Next door is the Els Encants flea market under a huge mirrored roof, selling everything from furniture to vintage records on several days a week.

The viewing deck is great for families: children love climbing the net, adults love photographing the city from above. If you're nervous of heights, the standard ticket without the net is perfectly comfortable, as the hall is enclosed with big windows.

Places in Barcelona: compare and choose

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How to do it right

• Formerly Torre Agbar.
• Sunset is the best time.
• The net climb is a separate ticket.
• Els Encants and the Design Museum are next door.

Questions