Unlike other major European cities like London, Paris and even Madrid, Barcelona is not a city with a lot of green space. In fact, it’s one of the densest cities in Europe.
Spend some time getting to know the city, though, and you’ll find that there are some excellent parks to visit and relax in. You just need to know where to go.
Here are our top 4 parks to visit in Barcelona. All of them are accessible by eBike and some of them are featured in our eBike tours.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Parc de la Ciutadella
We’ll start with one of the most popular but also one of the most idyllic parks in Barcelona. The Parc de La Ciutadella is a centrally-located oasis that has lots of meandering trails around water features, greenhouses, monuments and gardens.
There’s a boating lake and Zoo to enjoy as well as the spectacular Cascada Monumental fountain (pictured above). At 280,000m2, It’s one of Barcelona’s biggest parks and the Barca equivalent of Central Park, or El Retiro.
There are also various historical sites to enjoy in the Park, which dates back to the 1700s (why we feature the park in lots of our eBike tours). And the impressive Catalan parliament buildings are here too.
Don’t forget to stop by and see the famous Arc de Triomf, near the park’s main entrance: This monumental archway is another must-see in central Barcelona.
Montjuïc
The prominent hill that you see rising up in the distance when you’re in Barcelona is actually the Montjuïc ‘mountain’ – which includes lots of parks and attractions in one area. It’s one of the biggest overall green spaces in Barcelona.
There is a lot to see and do and you’d be advised to take some time to fit it all in. There are botanic gardens to relax in, a castle to explore, and this is also where several of the main Olympic venues from the 92 Olympics are. On a simpler note: the panoramic views over Barcelona from the various viewpoints are unbeatable.
Being on the top of a 185m hill, getting there is not quite as simple as some of the other parks in this article but you can arrive in style by Cable Car, or on the Funicular from Parallel metro. Or, if you want to really feel the ambience of the city, you could rent an eBike and travel through the city’s colourful neighborhoods to get there – and then ascend the hill with ease.
Note we also run a Montjuic eBike tour that features the main attractions in 3 hours.
Parc Güell
This park is famous because of the Gaudi buildings and structures that the park is formed around. Photography of Barcelona viewed from Parc Güell’s Gaudi buildings is extremely popular online, so you might have already had a glimpse of the park already.
Don’t let the popularity put you off though, this park is a must-see. It includes Gaudi’s otherworldly architecture in harmony with nature and framing panoramic views over the city. The byzantine paths that snake around the park are full of atmosphere.
It can be crowded at weekends though, so if you get a chance then go during the week when the atmosphere is more intimate. Since 2013 there has been an entrance fee of around 8 Eur although if you’re a local living near the park you can get in free once you’ve applied for an entrance card from the city council!
Tip: the laid-back Parc del Guinardó has similarly stunning views over Barcelona. It doesn’t have any Gaudi buildings but can be a good alternative to Parc Güell with fewer crowds and an even bigger space to enjoy.
Parc del Laberint d’Horta
This park is magical because the gardens are set around an elaborate cypress maze (pictured above). The 300-year-old maze was designed by the architect Dominic Bagutti in the 1700s.
While the maze is the centerpiece, the well-maintained and peaceful gardens set around the labyrinth are worth enjoying too.
This is probably the least well known park in this article but that’s an excuse to go. If you head there midweek you can enjoy the enchanted atmosphere and get lost in the maze almost all by yourself.
The park’s located a little out of the way, on the outskirts of Barcelona near the neighborhood of Horta. But the metro station ‘Mundet’ is nearby and can be reached directly on the green line from Catalunya.
While Barcelona might not have the sheer amount of green space that other cities have, it certainly makes up for it in quality. Enjoy your stay and some of the interesting and tranquil green spaces that the city has to offer. And if you’d like to rent an ebike to get here or go around a tour to some of them, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
