4 of the Most Stunning Views in Barcelona

Barcelona is one of the most well-known cities in Spain, with rich history and authentic culture. Restaurants advertising paella and tapas line the busy streets as the sun shines down onto the city full of travelers and locals alike. Take a look around you at the magnificent scenery surrounding the famous structures from Gaudí. These are some of the most breathtaking views that I found during my time in Barcelona, places that I will forever long to revisit.

1. Parc de Montjuïc

I hiked through miles of vibrant gardens in the Parc de Montjuïc area on my first day in Barcelona. The gardens are very well kept, allowing you to get lost in the acres of trees and flowers. While searching for more beautiful and serene sections of the park, I stumbled across one of the best views from the hills of Barcelona.

Here you can see for miles across the entire city, with the tightly packed buildings and even the larger structures peeking through in between. All the way across the horizon is the area near Park Güell, one of the other best views in Barcelona.

If you head up to the Parc de Montjuïc, you can also make some stops at the Olympic Stadium, the Font Màgica which stands before the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, or the Plaça Espanya. All are within walking distance of Montjuïc and have very large backgrounds in Barcelona’s history.

2. Park Güell

I took another long walk one morning to the famous Park Güell, a spot where I was accompanied by hundreds of other visitors. The park has many different buildings and museums throughout its borders. You can pay an additional fee for tickets to these locations, or you can just stroll through the park for free like I did.

From this side of Barcelona, you can see across the city onto the Balearic Sea, where boats can sometimes be spotted floating in the soft blue hues. This view of Barcelona also allows you to see the magnificent structures of the unfinished Sagrada Familia and other large buildings. The park provides a nice, scenic background to the views. I even was able to sit and listen to the peaceful music of a guitar player along the paths.

While walking to the Park Güell area, you can also see other well-known buildings in Barcelona, such as the Casa Mila and Casa Batllo, both designed by Gaudí. Even just journeying down the shopping streets provides for great fun.

3. Barceloneta Beach

On one of the warmest days of my stay in Barcelona, I made the trek down to the Barceloneta Beach area. Although it was too cold to swim or lay out in a bathing suit, I still enjoyed the sunshine along the sandy shores. I was not the only one taking advantage of the weather; dozens of others lounged in the sun. Even in the springtime, surfers still practice out on the waves.

Many small shops and restaurants line the beach, so you can stop in for a quick bite or a souvenir. I couldn’t resist splurging on some gelato to compliment the bright weather. I got to wear my sunglasses for the first time in Europe, something I didn’t know I could be so excited about. The Barceloneta area is so exciting, yet is still a nice spot for a relaxing day.

On your way to the beach, stop by Port Vell for a view of the harbor or into the various churches for a look into Barcelona’s religious culture. I also visited the Arc de Triomf and the Parc de la Ciutadella. Whichever road you take to the beach, you’re guaranteed to run across something great.

4. Monistrol de Montserrat

This breathtaking view is not directly in Barcelona, but easily accessible by train. The train ride is about 1.5 hours from the Pl. Espanya station in Barcelona. You have to buy a ticket to take either a train or cable car up to the top of the mountain as well. The cost was about 21 Euros for a round trip. You can purchase additional tickets for guided tours or museum entrance on the mountain if you are interested.

The mountain has a nice little village area that you can walk through, with restaurants, shops and even better views of the valleys below. There are also higher spots on the mountains for the hiking lovers. Trains and lifts can take you to different spots as well. We couldn’t have asked for a better day to enjoy the scenery. The sunshine was illuminating the ground below us and provided one of the most breathtaking views I’ve ever seen.

You don’t need an entire day to make the trip up to Montserrat. A few hours in the area itself is enough to enjoy the natural beauty and even grab a snack while you’re there. Make sure to check the timetables for the trains before you head out; there are different trains running on different days of the week. Although, it wouldn’t be the worst thing to be on the mountain at night!

If you decide to head to Spain for a trip at some point, know that you are headed to one of the most gorgeous spots in Europe. The bold view of the water and scenery is enough to make anyone want to stay forever. Take part in the Spanish culture and enjoy!