The Best Views of Barcelona - Mount Tibidabo and Hotel Florida
Sometimes a vacation takes an unexpected turn and you find yourself grateful for the pivot because of where it leads you. After exploring the main city attractions in Barcelona, we embarked on a 5-day adventure in Costa Brava (stay tuned for more details in an upcoming post). As our trip neared its end, we found ourselves back in Barcelona with a day to spare. That’s when we decided to visit Mount Tibidabo – a recommendation from a fellow traveler. And oh, what a decision it was! The Tibidabo Panoramic Area, perched 500 meters above sea level, offered unparalleled and awe-inspiring views of the vibrant city below. From this vantage point, Barcelona’s cityscape is unobstructed and breathtaking. Half of our group took a taxi while the other half piled in our rental and my wife fearlessly navigated the switchbacks.
Fun Fact: Since 1899, Tibidabo has been enchanting visitors as the second-oldest amusement park in Europe. Truly a hidden gem worth exploring!
Church of the Sacred Heart
You can read all about the surrounding area here: Tibidabo Amusement Park - Theme Park in Barcelona but here are the must-see and do rides at Tibidabo Panoramic Area which can all be seen from the balcony of the church.
1. The Carrusel, a classic attraction at Tibidabo, first opened its doors in 1989. This is your classic two-story carousel with magical horses, carriages and meticulosity crafted paintings that recreate the iconic scenes from Tibidabo and the vibrant city of Barcelona. For those with acrophobia like me, this is your safest bet. In fact, this was the only attraction that I went on. The rest of the rides are from my wife’s POV, because I kept my feet safely planted on solid ground.
2. The Giradabo, a panoramic Ferris wheel unveiled in 2014, stands atop the mountain, offering breathtaking views of Barcelona as it ascends toward the clouds. Start here and warm up to the views/heights and know that the next ride only gets higher!
3. Talaia: Since 1921, Talaia has provided a 360° panoramic view of Barcelona, situated 550 meters above sea level. This extraordinary attraction offers a genuine balcony overlooking the city of Barcelona, where visitors can behold the finest vistas of the urban landscape, the sparkling sea, and the natural beauty of the Serra de Collserola. My wife took our 8-year-old and 3-year-old on this ride – imagine loading into a construction bucket and it continues to rise into the air until you are 180° from ground level. While another group loads into their bucket, you stay at this height, wind blowing, until you start to ascend down. This picture captured at the height of this ride shows just how high you are in the sky!
4. The Avió is Tibidabo’s most iconic attraction! It represents the first flight simulator in history and is a replica of the inaugural plane that completed the Barcelona-Madrid flight in 1927. This captivating attraction is powered by its own propeller and still houses original elements, including the 1933 radiotelephony station
Whether you opt for individual tickets or a convenient wristband, one thing is certain: your wallet will thank you compared to a day at Disney. Our Tibidabo adventure included a thrilling elevator ride to the top of the Church of the Sacred Heart, where exceptional vistas awaited. From the church’s tower, the panoramic views were nothing short of breathtaking. On clear days, lucky visitors might even catch a glimpse of the distant Balearic Islands.
But before you descend the mountain, indulge in a quick 5-minute drive to the Gran Hotel La Florida. Luxury 5 Stars Hotel in Barcelona, Spain | Gran Hotel La Florida (hotelfloridabarcelona.com) There, sipping a cocktail while overlooking the infinity-edge pool, you’ll find yourself pondering, “Why aren’t we staying here for the night?” It’s a question well worth asking in this enchanting setting! And it comes close to topping the views we had in Costa Brava, stay tuned to read about those next!
