“Parks and playgrounds are the soul of a city,” says Marty Rubin. Although when you think of Barcelona, you don’t imagine an abundance of green space. Despite being a busy metropolitan city with heavy traffic, Barcelona does indeed have some beautiful green spaces. Read on to see which ones we think are worth checking out.
Montjuïc
Escape the flurry of tourists and tiny streets on Montjuïc. This park is packed with numerous gardens and parks, with plenty of grass space to sprawl out on. Don’t miss the Laribal Gardens which feature a beautiful staircase path with little waterfalls along the edges, the Gardens of Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer which offer a colourful display of all types of flowers, and the Gardens of Mossèn Costa i Llobera which feature over 800 varieties of subtropical and desert plants.
Ciutadella Park
The classic. For those living in the centre, this is the meeting spot that people usually refer to as “the” park. Built over an old citadel, the grounds were donated to the city on the conditions that they be used as a public space. You’ll find a beautiful fountain here and scores of people doing a myriad of activities. It does get quite busy on the weekends and when the weather is good so be prepared to share your space with more people than you would in some of the other parks.
Laberint d’Horta Park
Even though this park is located in the mountains outside the centre of Barcelona, it’s worth a visit if you have more time to explore. Get lost in the labyrinth and then explore the plentiful gardens in the surrounding grounds. You’ll feel like you’ve left Barcelona since the amount of lush green vegetation is uncommon in the unusually dry city.
Parc Güell
Park Güell is instantly recognizable from Barcelona photos. And for good reason. Originally designed as a housing complex, the park was later opened up to the public and draws countless visitors each year. The iconic tiled bench is said to be the longest in the world and the cave-live structures add a further surrealist feel. This park mustn’t be missed! If you plan to enter the paid portion, make sure to get your tickets ahead of time.
Jardins del Palau de Pedralbes
This little-known park lies up near the end of Avinguda Diagonal. You’ll find sculptures, fountains, eucalyptus trees and at the North end, the Palau Reial de Pedralbes. The palace belonged to the Güell family before it was given to the city and then used as a royal residence.
Parc del Fòrum
Forget trees and flowers, this park by the sea is a vast industrial space. This massive area is used for large music festivals such as the famous Primavera Sound, Cruïlla, Off Sonar as well as for the Feria de Abril. There is also a large jungle gym beneath one of the roof structures. Come here if you have a bicycle as it’s easier to navigate the huge area.
Posted in The best of Barcelona, Things to do in Barcelona
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