We present you a guide with the most beautiful Parks and Gardens in Barcelona. We are at the height of spring and the splendid sun that illuminates Barcelona invites you to take a walk, relax and enjoy while you discover some of the most beautiful natural spaces spread throughout the city. So you don’t miss out any detail, we offer you a list with the best Parks in Barcelona to enjoy nature in the middle of the city.
Park Güell
Designed by Gaudí at the beginning of the 20th century, Park Güell has become one of the main tourist attractions in Barcelona. The Catalan genius let its fantasy run free to perfectly integrate the modernist architecture with the nature, through a spectacular set of terraces, mosaics and sculptures that will make you feel just like in a fairy tale. Among all of them it highlights the charismatic ceramic salamander that presides over the main entrance and which has become one of the icons of Barcelona. A Venue full of magical corners from which you can also enjoy the spectacular panoramic views of the city.
Parc del Laberint d’Horta
The oldest and one of the most beautiful and romantic Parks in Barcelona. Originally designed in 1792 by the Italian engineer Domenico Bagutti, it was opened to the public in the 1970’s after different renovations to provide parterres, fountains, squares, temples, sculptures, large trees and even a waterfall. But the Park stands out especially for the beauty of the neoclassical garden that gives name to the Park, famous for being the stage of the film “The Perfume”. Its exceptional design and the charm of its decorative details make the labyrinth an architectural marvel where getting lost is an authentic pleasure.
Parc de la Ciutadella
To speak of parks in Barcelona is to speak of Parc de la Ciutadella, whose origin is closely linked to the history of the city. The park was built on an old military citadel (hence its name) which Felipe V ordered to built after conquering it in 1714. In addition, the park was the setting for the Universal Exhibition in 1888 and currently houses the zoo and the Parliament of Catalonia. With the imposing Arc del Triomf presiding over the entrance, Parc de la Ciutadella is an oasis in the heart of Barcelona that has large wooded areas, gardens and even a lake in which you can take a pleasant boat ride. In addition, the Park is an authentic open-air museum in which you can find an impressive monumental waterfall (designed in 1875 by Josep Fontsere in collaboration with a young Gaudí), the building of Castell dels Tres Dragons by Domènech i Montaner, the Umbracle (greenhouses built out of iron and glass) and the Hivernacle (made from brick and wood) which are a must for the botany lovers and a life-size stone sculpture of a mammoth, among other artistic pieces. Whether it is to enjoy these marvels or just to stroll through its romantic gardens surrounded by ancient trees, Parc de la Ciutadella is a wonder that you can’t miss.
Parc de Montjuïc
The visit to the immense Parc de Montjuïc will allow you to know the most beautiful gardens as well as the Olympic facilities and some of the main cultural centers of the city. You can start the tour in the Castle of Montjuïc, a former military fortress built in 1751 that emerges powerful at the top of the mountain. Then you can visit the main stages of Barcelona Olympic Games ‘92, such as Palau Sant Jordi or the Olympic Stadium of Montjuïc. You can’t miss Poble Espanyol (which brings together reproductions of typical buildings from all regions of Spain), La Fundació Miró and the Museu Nacional d’Art de Cataluña (MNAC), which invites you to discover a thousand years of Catalan art and which houses one of the largest collections of medieval art in Europe. The park also has a magnificent collection of themed gardens, among them we would like to highlight Mossèn Jacint Verdaguer, Joan Brossa and the Botanical Garden, where you will find species of trees and plants from all over the world. As an ideal plan to end the day, at nightfall the Font Màgica de Montjuïc offers a show of lights, music and water that surprises hundreds of visitors every night.
In addition to the ones in this list, Barcelona has other magnificent green areas such as the elegants Jardines del Palau Reial de Pedralbes, the immense Parque Natural de la Collserola (a protected area that is the main green lung of the Barcelona metropolitan area), Parque Cervantes or The Parc de l’Espanya Industrial. We invite you to discover them and do not hesitate to ask our staff if you have any questions. We will be happy to assist you!
