Torre de Collserola: an unusual TV tower

Torre de Collserola

My assessment: 4 stars

+ Norman Foster designed this unusual TV tower. You can enjoy a great view of Barcelona from the tenth floor. Combine it with a visit to Tibidabo.

- There really wasn’t much information at the entrance. After ten minutes of standing around, an employee showed up and directed us to the elevator. The security person was no help, either, and rather grumpy...

Last updated: 23 Jan 2019 | Celine Mülich

The details at a glance

Opening times:
June 15th - September 11th: Wednesday - Sunday, 12.00 a.m. - 1.45 p.m. + 3.30 p.m. - 7.45 p.m.*
May + October: Saturdays + Sundays: 12.00 a.m. - 1.45 p.m. + 3.30 p.m. - 6.45 p.m.*
November, December, March + April: Saturdays + Sundays: 12.00 a.m. - 1.45 p.m. + 3.30 p.m. - 5.45 p.m.*
Closed in January + February

*Find more special opening days in these month on the official website.
Last elevator 15 minutes before closing.

admission fee:
5,60 Euro
reduced 3,30 Euro (for children between 4 and 14 years, people over 60 years)
reduced 3,10 Euro (disabled people)
free admission for children under 4 years

Barcelona Card:
no

How to get there:
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 Ctra. de Vallvidrera-Cruilla de Carreteres.
OR: Take a look at the other possibilities listet on the Tibidabo explanation.

And what’s there to see?

Barcelona’s TV tower offers a wonderful view of Barcelona and the Tibidabo from the tenth floor, 115 meters from the ground (and 560 meters above sea level). The 360-degree roundabout walk offers a variety of signs with information on what exactly you’re looking at.

In the elevator waiting area, there’s a gallery with the highest towers in the world. Of the 24 examples listed, the Torre de Collserola is ranked 15th (at 288 meters), right after the Sydney Tower (304 meters) and the Eiffel Tower (324 meters).

You then take a glass elevator up to the platform. Weather permitting, you might be able to see as far as 70 kilometers into the distance! Unfortunately, I was there on a very cloudy day... but you should check it out for yourself anyway!

Photogallery of Torre de Collserola

A history of the Torre de Collserola

The city of Barcelona wanted to update and clean up its cityscape in preparation for the 1992 Olympic Games, and wanted to add a TV tower to the concept. A new, iconic symbol of Barcelona was the idea. So this TV tower was supposed to be more than just a useful addition, it had to be visually exceptional as well.

Then came the year 1987 and with it a call for proposals. The British architect Norman Foster ended up submitting the proposal that got the commission. In 1990, construction began and in 1992, the tower was officially inaugurated. In 1993, the tenth floor was opened to the public.

Norman Foster is also responsible for the domed ceiling on the German Reichstag in Berlin, the 30 St Mary Axe or - the Gherkin - in London and the new Apple Park in Silicon Valley, which will open in April 2017.

A quick side note: On our way back from the Torre de Collserola to the Tibidabo, we met this little family of wild hogs. They didn’t mind us, but we did give them a wide berth, just to be safe ;)