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Tibidabo The
mountain of Tibidabo is the best vantage point for a bird’s-eye view of
Barcelona. Thrill-seekers opt for a spin on the Tibidabo fairground
attraction called La Atalaya, a rickety basket attached to an ancient crane-like
contraption which gives a 360-degree view of Barcelona, the sea and the
Pyrenees. A less giddy option is the Torre de Collserola
with its transparent lift rising up 288 m (945 ft). And for those who
wish to keep their feet firmly on solid ground – cocktail in hand –
settle in at the Mirablau bar..
Castell de Montjuïc Montjuïc
offers myriad viewpoints. The best is from the castle and gardens with
their superb panoramas over the port and the city. Take the cable car up
to the castle and walk down through ever-changing vistas to the Font
del Gat café to enjoy a cool drink in its romantic gardens.
Barcelona from Castell de Montjuïc
Les Golondrines & Orsom Catamaran The sea offers a less vertiginous view of the cityscape. Glide out of the harbour on the pleasure boats known as golondrines
or try the exhilarating trip under sail on an enormous catamaran. Both
trips offer ample views of the city and of the new Port Olímpic area . Les GolondrinesCable Cars The
swaying cable cars that glide slowly between the Port and Montjuïc are
something of a Barcelona landmark. To those not afraid of heights, they
reveal hidden aspects of the city and provide a pleasurable way to get
to Montjuïc . Miramar, Montjuïc/Port de Barcelona Open daily Apr–May, Oct: 10am–7pm; Jun–Sep: 10am–9pm; Nov–Mar: 10am–6pm
Adm
Mirador de Colom At
the end of La Rambla, the statue of Christopher Columbus offers a good
vantage point for viewing the city. The column, rising 80 m (262 ft),
was built in 1888. The elevator that whisks visitors to the top has,
fortunately, been renovated since then!
City vista, Mirador de Colom
Sagrada Família When
work first began, Gaudí’s magical church lay on the outskirts of the
city and Barcelona would have been just a shadow in the distance. A
hundred years on, the church is located in the heart of the Eixample and
the bell towers offer dizzying vistas of the entire city. An added
bonus are the wonderful close-ups of the extraordinary Sagrada Família itself.
Gargoyles and view, Sagrada Família
El Corte Inglés The
top floor of this department store has a glass-fronted cafeteria and
restaurant – an excellent place to lunch or just have a coffee. From
here there are views of the nearby Plaça de Catalunya, the old town and
the Eixample. The enormous store below stocks just about anything you
might need to buy.
Parc Güell In the north of the city, Gaudí’s monumental Modernista
park presents spectacular views across Barcelona and out to the
Mediterranean from its various terraced levels. Trees and patches of
woodland act as welcome shade from the fierce summer sun.
View of the city and Casa-Museu Gaudí, Parc Güell
Barcelona Cathedral From
the heart of the Barri Gòtic, the Cathedral rooftop offers one of the
least changed vistas in the city. Look out over the ramshackle rooftops –
some dating to the 12th century – and the narrow alleys that spill out
in all directions. There is a small charge for the elevator to the top.
Helicopter Rides For
a bird’s-eye view of Barcelona, consider a helicopter ride over the
city. Cat Helicopters run tours of between five and 35 minutes over the
city and as far as Montserrat. The five-minute tour over the port area
costs €45 per person (maximum five people for each journey).
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