Montjuïc Cable Car in Barcelona: tickets and practical guide 2027

What the Montjuïc Cable Car is and why it is worth the ride

The Telefèric de Montjuïc, as it is spelt in Catalan, is a gondola lift roughly 750 metres long that connects Parc de Montjuïc with Castell de Montjuïc. The hill already had a cable car in 1970, but the current installation was completely rebuilt and opened in 2007, with enclosed cabins for up to eight people and a detachable-grip system made by Leitner. It is run by Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB), the same public company that operates the city's metro and buses.

The appeal is not speed but perspective. From the cabin you can make out the cruise terminal, the port cranes, the coastline stretching towards the Besòs and, on clear days, the outline of the Sagrada Família with the Collserola hills behind. For first-time visitors it is a very intuitive way to understand the city's geography: sea, plain and mountains in a single glance.

The three stations of the Montjuïc Cable Car

• Parc de Montjuïc: the lower station, on Avinguda de Miramar, right next to the funicular's upper stop.
• Mirador: the intermediate station where the line turns at an angle, with open views over the port.
• Castell de Montjuïc: the upper station, a few steps from the fortress entrance.

How long the Montjuïc Cable Car ride takes

The full ride takes around eight minutes. If you are only going up, also allow for queuing time at the base station, which in summer and at weekends can be considerably longer than the journey itself.

Montjuïc Cable Car tickets: types and what they include

There are two basic options: a single journey and a return journey, each with an adult fare and a child fare for ages 4 to 12. Children under 4 ride free. Unlike the funicular, the ticket is not part of the metropolitan transport card, so it has to be bought separately.

Official Montjuïc Cable Car prices (indicative)

Indicative public prices, checked October 2026; buying a return ticket online in advance usually brings a small discount. Fares may be updated in 2027, so confirm the final amount when you book.

Single or return on the Montjuïc Cable Car

For many travellers the most practical choice is to go up by cabin and walk down. The descent from the castle along the park paths is pleasant, passes viewpoints and gardens and ends near the Fundació Joan Miró or Poble-sec. If you are travelling with young children or in the intense heat of July and August, the return ticket is worth it.

Montjuïc Cable Car opening hours by season

The gondola opens every day at 10:00, and closing time changes through the year. Based on the timetable published for 2026, the reference hours are:

• January and February: 10:00 to 18:00.
• March to May: 10:00 to 19:00.
• June to September: 10:00 to 21:00.
• October: 10:00 to 19:00.
• November and December: 10:00 to 18:00, with shorter hours on Christmas Day.

Every winter TMB usually stops the installation for a few weeks for its annual technical inspection, normally between January and March. During that closure the 150 bus is the recommended alternative for getting up to the castle. If your trip falls in that period, check that year's notice before you plan.

Best time to ride the Montjuïc Cable Car

First thing in the morning the light is clear and the queues are short. In summer, the last hour before closing brings warm light over the port and gentler temperatures. On very windy days the service may be suspended for safety, as is normal for any gondola lift, so it helps to have a backup plan for that slot.

How to get to the Montjuïc Cable Car station

The lower station is on Avinguda de Miramar, in the Sants-Montjuïc district. There are several ways to reach it from the centre.

By metro and funicular to the Montjuïc Cable Car

The classic route is to take the metro to Paral·lel (lines L2 and L3) and, without going out onto the street, change to the Montjuïc funicular, which climbs in a couple of minutes to Parc de Montjuïc station, right beside the cable car. The funicular is included in the metro fare, so with a valid transport card there is no extra charge. It was closed for works between October 2025 and spring 2026 and has since resumed service; even so, check for any one-off interruptions before you set off.

By bus to the Montjuïc Cable Car

Bus line 150 runs across the hill from Plaça d'Espanya to the castle, stopping near the main venues. Line 55 also climbs Montjuïc from the centre and stops next to the Fundació Joan Miró, a few minutes' walk from the base station.

On foot from Poble-sec

From the Poble-sec neighbourhood you can walk up via the park's stairways and paths. It is a steep climb, only recommended if you enjoy walking and it is not too hot.

What to see after the Montjuïc Cable Car: the castle

The upper station drops you at the entrance to Castell de Montjuïc, a fortress with a long and often harsh history. The first fortification went up in 1640, during the Catalan revolt against Philip IV. In the mid-18th century the engineer Juan Martín Cermeño completely redesigned it, adding a moat, cisterns and bastions, and that is essentially the structure you walk through today. Lluís Companys, President of the Generalitat, was executed at the castle on 15 October 1940. In 2007 the fortress passed to Barcelona City Council, which runs it as a space for remembrance, culture and viewpoints.

Castle entry after the Montjuïc Cable Car

General admission to the castle costs €12 and the reduced ticket €8 (indicative prices, checked October 2026), with a guided tour option. Entry is free on Sundays from 15:00 and all day on the first Sunday of each month, as well as for children under 8. Reference opening hours are 10:00 to 20:00 from March to October and 10:00 to 18:00 from November to February.

The views, the real reward of the Montjuïc Cable Car

The castle terraces offer an almost 360-degree panorama: the port and the Zona Franca to the south, the old town and the Eixample to the north. Allow at least an hour for the grounds, the moat and the bastions.

The Montjuïc Cable Car and the Magic Fountain

Many visitors pair the gondola with the light, water and music show of the Font Màgica (Magic Fountain), at the foot of the Palau Nacional. The fountain was switched off for more than three years because of the drought and came back on during the La Mercè festivities, on 24 September 2025. The show is free and needs no ticket.

Magic Fountain times to combine with the Montjuïc Cable Car

During the summer 2026 season the fountain ran from Wednesday to Sunday from 21:30, and in October on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 21:00. Days and times change with the season and there are maintenance weeks, so check the schedule for the day. A plan that works well in summer is to ride up in the late afternoon, explore the castle, stroll down through the gardens and finish in front of the fountain at dusk.

Practical tips for the Montjuïc Cable Car

• Queues: in July, August and on long weekends, arrive at opening time or buy a timed ticket in advance.
• Fear of heights: the cabins are enclosed and the movement is smooth, but the ride is fairly high up; if someone in your group struggles with that, the 150 bus goes to the same place.
• Luggage: the cabins are small, and large suitcases or bulky bags make boarding awkward.
• Pushchairs and reduced mobility: ask at the ticket office about that day's access conditions before going up.
• Heat: in summer some stretches of the hill have little shade; bring water and sun protection.
• Photography: the side facing the port gives the best shots on the way up.

With children on the Montjuïc Cable Car

For younger children the cabin is often the highlight of the day. Under-4s ride free and the child fare covers ages up to 12. Combine the ride with the surrounding gardens so the day does not turn into one queue after another.

Montjuïc Cable Car in 2027 and what to do nearby

Montjuïc packs a large share of Barcelona's cultural offer onto a single hill. From the base station, the Fundació Joan Miró is a short walk away, and on the other side of the hill is Poble Espanyol, where Tablao de Carmen performs in the evenings. Further down, the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya occupies the Palau Nacional, facing the grand stairways that lead down to Plaça d'Espanya.

2027 calendar around the Montjuïc Cable Car

Spring and autumn offer the best balance between weather and crowds. In summer the city fills up: every year the Grec Festival programmes theatre and music at the Teatre Grec on the hill, and at the end of September the La Mercè festivities bring the streets to life. If you are coming to Barcelona in June 2027 for a concert or a festival, a morning cabin ride is a good way to take a break from the noise of the city.

Book the Montjuïc Cable Car from the calendar

At the top of this page you will find a calendar. Select the day you plan to be on Montjuïc and press "Check availability": we check whether there are places left for that date and tell you straight away. If availability for 2027 is not open yet, leave your email and we will write to you as soon as online booking lets you choose that day.

What you get when you book the Montjuïc Cable Car

The booking is handled by our booking partner and the ticket arrives on your phone, ready to show at the station entrance. Before paying you will see the exact price for the day, the type of journey and the applicable change or cancellation conditions.