Tibidabo: impressive view over Barcelona
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Tibidabo
My assessment:
+ The Tibidabo gives you a great view of Barcelona. Additionally, you can visit the church and go see the Torre de Collserola. If you have children, the amusement park might be for you.
- It’s not that easy, or quick, or inexpensive to get there. As an alternative, you could go to the Park Güell for a great view of Barcelona, too...
Last updated: 23 Jan 2019 | Celine Mülich
The details at a glance
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Amusement park
Opening times: Please check them on the official Website. Admission fee: for all attractions of the park 28.50 Euro for adults 10.30 Euro for children under 1,20 m 10 Euro for persons over the age of 60 years free admission for children under 90 cm Barcelona Card: 20 % reduced price (buy online) Church and Crypt: Opening times: November - February: 11.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m. March - May + October: 11.00 a.m. - 7.00 p.m. June - September: 9.00 a.m. - 8.15 p.m. Elevator up to the statue of Christ: during opening hours of the church Price: 3.50 Euro After taking the elevator you have to get up some stairs. |
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How to get there
Option A: The most expensive (€13.20 – €18.70)
Take the L7 (brown line) from Diagonal/Provenca to the final destination: Ave. Tibidabo (€1.00*). Switch to the Tramvia Blau there, it departs every five to ten minutes (€5.50 one way, takes around ten minutes).
At the final destination, switch to the Funicular (€7.70 round trip).
On the return journey, you can walk down and save some money on the Tramvia Blau :)
Option B: The compromise (€8.70 – €9.70)
Take the L7 (brown line) from Diagonal/Provenca to the final destination: Ave. Tibidabo (€1.00*). Switch to the bus number 196 towards Bellesguard (€1.00*). Exit at Av. Tibidabo 81, at the Funicular. Take the Funicular (€7.70, round trip).
Walk back down from the Funicular, or take the 196 bus again (€1.00*).
Option C: The easiest way (€3 – €6)
Take the bus T2A from Placa Catalunya, in front of the Desigual shop (€3.00 one way). The bus runs only when the park is opened. Starting at 10.15 a.m., every 20 minutes and it takes you all the way up to the park.
You can take the same route back.
Option D: The least expensive and most adventurous ;) (€2 - €4)
Take the S2 from Diagonal/Provenca towards Sabadell and exit at Peu del Funicular (four stops – this is a different Funicular because you start at a different hill). Take this Funicular to Vallvidrera Superior. Then switch to the 111 bus and exit at Tibidabo. The bus stops right in front of the church. The total price? I recall that back in 2012, I purchased only one trip using my TMB 10 trip card, so that would be €1.00*. I can’t be 100% certain though, so let’s say €2.00 – still the least expensive by a long shot.
You can take the same route back.
Take the L7 (brown line) from Diagonal/Provenca to the final destination: Ave. Tibidabo (€1.00*). Switch to the Tramvia Blau there, it departs every five to ten minutes (€5.50 one way, takes around ten minutes).
At the final destination, switch to the Funicular (€7.70 round trip).
On the return journey, you can walk down and save some money on the Tramvia Blau :)
Option B: The compromise (€8.70 – €9.70)
Take the L7 (brown line) from Diagonal/Provenca to the final destination: Ave. Tibidabo (€1.00*). Switch to the bus number 196 towards Bellesguard (€1.00*). Exit at Av. Tibidabo 81, at the Funicular. Take the Funicular (€7.70, round trip).
Walk back down from the Funicular, or take the 196 bus again (€1.00*).
Option C: The easiest way (€3 – €6)
Take the bus T2A from Placa Catalunya, in front of the Desigual shop (€3.00 one way). The bus runs only when the park is opened. Starting at 10.15 a.m., every 20 minutes and it takes you all the way up to the park.
You can take the same route back.
Option D: The least expensive and most adventurous ;) (€2 - €4)
Take the S2 from Diagonal/Provenca towards Sabadell and exit at Peu del Funicular (four stops – this is a different Funicular because you start at a different hill). Take this Funicular to Vallvidrera Superior. Then switch to the 111 bus and exit at Tibidabo. The bus stops right in front of the church. The total price? I recall that back in 2012, I purchased only one trip using my TMB 10 trip card, so that would be €1.00*. I can’t be 100% certain though, so let’s say €2.00 – still the least expensive by a long shot.
You can take the same route back.
Tramvia Blau
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Funicular
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And what’s there to see?
If you have clear skies, the view of Barcelona from this vantage point is fantastic. It’s probably the main reason why people visit this spot. You can see the entire city, the sea and the mountains, which form the natural city limits. It’s breathtaking.
So while you’re up here, you might as well take a look at the Sagrat Cor church. The crypt with the lower entrance area and the church itself are free to enter. The crypt is lavishly decorated – with wonderful lamps, stained-glass windows and sculptures. You could call it “kitschy”, but it has a general air of beauty about it. The main church on the other hand, located above the crypt, is kept simple, but the ceiling is surprisingly high and gives you an interesting and very unique impression of the place.
And then you can take the elevator up to the Jesus sculpture. It hovers above everything else, always looking at Barcelona from above. The elevator costs 3,50 Euro, though, and you still have to walk at least a couple of stairs at the end. But once you get there, you can basically almost touch the feet of Jesus Christ.
If you arrive as a family with children, the amusement park might be worth a look for you. The Ferris wheel, the flying swing, the little red airplane, and many others might be a children’s delight of the day.
And honestly, while you’re up there, take the nine-minute walk over to the Torre Collserola. The TV tower is accessible from there, too!
So while you’re up here, you might as well take a look at the Sagrat Cor church. The crypt with the lower entrance area and the church itself are free to enter. The crypt is lavishly decorated – with wonderful lamps, stained-glass windows and sculptures. You could call it “kitschy”, but it has a general air of beauty about it. The main church on the other hand, located above the crypt, is kept simple, but the ceiling is surprisingly high and gives you an interesting and very unique impression of the place.
And then you can take the elevator up to the Jesus sculpture. It hovers above everything else, always looking at Barcelona from above. The elevator costs 3,50 Euro, though, and you still have to walk at least a couple of stairs at the end. But once you get there, you can basically almost touch the feet of Jesus Christ.
If you arrive as a family with children, the amusement park might be worth a look for you. The Ferris wheel, the flying swing, the little red airplane, and many others might be a children’s delight of the day.
And honestly, while you’re up there, take the nine-minute walk over to the Torre Collserola. The TV tower is accessible from there, too!
Photogallery of Sagrat Cor & Tibidabo amusement park
A history of the Tibidabo
The Tibidabo is a 512 meter high mountain and part of the mountain range surrounding Barcelona: the Serra de Collserola.
The mountain is host to an amusement park and the Sagrat Cor church – this translates to Holy Heart or Heart of Christ.
The church itself began construction under the architect Enric Sagnier in 1902, and was completed by his son, Josep Maria Sagnier i Vidal, in 1961.
The fact that this Catholic church even exists is curious: In the 19th century, there were plans to build a Protestant church and a casino in this very spot. The “Congregation of Catholic Knights” then became highly motivated to purchase the land – and, as you can tell, they were successful.
Construction began on the crypt in 1903 and was completed in 1911, and then the church itself was added from 1915 to 1951. The towers weren’t completed until 1961, however – the year in which the church was consecrated as a Basilica Minor by Pope John XXIII.
The statue of Christ at the top of the church is a giant bronze sculpture created by Josep Miret in 1950. It replaced a sculpture by Frederic Marès, which had been mounted there until 1935. That year, it was removed and destroyed. Why, you ask? Good question, it’s not really known why. There might be a link to the Civil War, though.
But the idea is wonderful: The path from the crypt into the church and then up to Jesus Christ intends to represent the ascension and cleansing of the human condition through sacrifice and atonement.
The mountain is host to an amusement park and the Sagrat Cor church – this translates to Holy Heart or Heart of Christ.
The church itself began construction under the architect Enric Sagnier in 1902, and was completed by his son, Josep Maria Sagnier i Vidal, in 1961.
The fact that this Catholic church even exists is curious: In the 19th century, there were plans to build a Protestant church and a casino in this very spot. The “Congregation of Catholic Knights” then became highly motivated to purchase the land – and, as you can tell, they were successful.
Construction began on the crypt in 1903 and was completed in 1911, and then the church itself was added from 1915 to 1951. The towers weren’t completed until 1961, however – the year in which the church was consecrated as a Basilica Minor by Pope John XXIII.
The statue of Christ at the top of the church is a giant bronze sculpture created by Josep Miret in 1950. It replaced a sculpture by Frederic Marès, which had been mounted there until 1935. That year, it was removed and destroyed. Why, you ask? Good question, it’s not really known why. There might be a link to the Civil War, though.
But the idea is wonderful: The path from the crypt into the church and then up to Jesus Christ intends to represent the ascension and cleansing of the human condition through sacrifice and atonement.
Official website of Tibidabo Park (Catalan/English): tibidabo.cat
Text- and Image rights: © Céline Mülich, 2016-2019
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