8 must see parks in Barcelona

Barcelona, the capital city of Spain's region of Catalonia, is situated close to the Mediterranean Sea. It's one of the most visited cities in the country and has a very rich culture, incredible architecture and great restaurants. The city is rumored to be older than Rome, with some of its oldest ruins dating back to nearly 5,000 BC. It's also a great city for sports lovers to travel to since it's home to Europe's largest football stadium, Camp Nou.

On top of that, Barcelona has a warm climate that will have you wanting to spend as much time outside as possible. Being home to more than 68 public parks, one of which is actually the biggest metropolitan park in the whole world, having outdoor adventures has never been easier. All of the people who visit Barcelona, as well as the people who are fortunate enough to live here, should check out these beautiful parks.

As you discover Barcelona's green spaces, you'll soon agree that these spots have a lot to offer after a busy day of sightseeing. Find a place where you can leave your bags near Barcelona parks by downloading the bounce app and taking advantage of the convenient luggage storage locations around the city.

Park Güell

Park Güell is one of the best parks in Barcelona and also one of its most popular. This green space has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984 although it was built sometime between 1900 and 1914 and was actually designed by Antoni Gaudi, a famous Spanish architect. Park Güell is a gorgeous place with walking paths that wind throughout the grounds and bright, colorful tiles creating mosaics on the walls and structures of the park.

Being situated on top of Carmel Hill, you'll most definitely notice the incredible views of the city as well as the mountains and water that surround it during your time in the 17 hectare park. You'll instantly be captivated by the magical and vibrant sculptures, columns and staircases throughout the park, plus the equally as intriguing gardens with lavender, rosemary and magnolias or the woodlands of almond and olive trees.

It's important to note that there's an entrance fee to get into the park on most days, but it's well worth the price. If you can you should stop by on a Wednesday or a Sunday since that's when you'll be able to get in for free. If you don't mind paying an additional fee you can tag along on a guided tour of the grounds, and don't forget to check out the Gaudi House Museum, too.

Cervantes Park

Cervantes Park, locally known as Parc de Cervantes, is a lovely green space located in the Les Corts district of Barcelona. Despite its beauty, the park isn't as popular as some of the other Barcelona parks which makes it a great spot to go when you need to get away from the city for a while and just relax, or to have a picnic.

Cervantes Park is pleasant at all times of the year but is most impressive during the springtime since that's when all of the roses are in full bloom. The grounds are home to an average of 10,000 rose bushes which are not only gorgeous to look at, but also make the park smell great. You can take it all in as you sit on one of the benches or by the fountain. Being known for its floral competitions you just know this Barcelona park will be stunning. Every year during the month of May the park hosts the International New Rose Competition where talented horticulturists do their best to come up with new varieties of the flower to make the park even more impressive.

Attractions young kids will find interesting, like a games center and playground equipped with slides, swings and climbing areas make this a family oriented park.

Montjuïc Park

Montjuïc Park, or Parc de Montjuïc, is a green space found to the South of the Barcelona city center. It's a large area full of lush greenery with an impressive 17th century palace at the summit of Montjuïc Hill which is appropriately called the Castel de Montjuïc. If you venture inside the castle you'll find a military museum, plus breathtaking views of the city skyline and the sea. The best place to take in the picturesque views is from the Mirador de Montjuïc, an observation deck close to the building.

Additionally, the Mirador d'Ocell de Mar and the Mirador de Migdia are other nice spots overlooking the surrounding landscape. Just below the palace, you'll find the incredible Botanical Garden of Barcelona and the Museum of the Botanic Institute of Barcelona which can tell you all about the garden. Continuing on through the park you'll come across even more lovely gardens, including the Jardins de Joan Margall and the Historic Botanic Garden. They are both worth stopping by and feature nice fountains, plants and impressive architecture.

Montjuïc Park is also where you'll find the Olympic Stadium, which was used for the games back in 1992, and the University of Barcelona. You'll still find sports fields, a running track, skate park, field stadium and a rock climbing wall on site. Before you leave, check out the Barcelona Ethnology Museum, the Museum of Funeral Carriages and the Olympic Sport Museum.

Horta Labyrinth Park

More commonly known as Parc del Laberint d'Horta, this 42 acre public park situated just outside of the city dates back to 1791 when it was designed by Italian architect Domenico Bagutti. As you might have guessed from its name, there's a decently sized labyrinth made out of nicely maintained cypress trees in the heart of the park. If you happen to make your way through the maze you'll find a tranquil fountain and a statue of the Greek God of Love, Eros.

As you explore more of the park you'll spot small pavilions that resemble temples which are good places to admire wonderful views of the rest of the park. One pavilion in particular offers fantastic views and has a peaceful pond right next to it. There's a clear Greek theme throughout the entire area with different Greek Gods immortalized in statues around the grounds, like the nine muses and Theseus, for example.

Take your time exploring the many shaded walking paths which will take you around the park, through wooded areas and past an artificial lake, and feel free to stop and rest at any of the brick and stone benches along the way. Inside the park, there's also a big mansion called Torre Soberana that was constructed in the 14th century, and although you aren't allowed to go inside you'll be able to take a peak at the exterior of the building through its gates.

Ciutadella Park

As you explore the green spaces in Barcelona make sure to include Ciutadella Park, or Parc de la Ciutadella, on your list. It has a great location in the heart of town and is the biggest park in the whole city, so you'll find plenty of spots to enjoy the great outdoors. In total, the park encompasses 70 acres of space and has been around since some time in the mid 1800s. However, the space was being used way back in 1774 when it housed a citadel.

You can rent row boats on site to get out onto the lake, and the 19th century gardens and tropical greenhouse are always a good place to take a leisurely stroll. The winter garden, which is called the Hivernacle, is sometimes used as a venue for concerts. Make sure you check out the Cascada Fountain and the Castell dels Tres Dragons, the park's most popular landmark, added for the World's Fair in 1888.

Ciutadella Park is the perfect place to go on a family outing since it's where you'll find the Barcelona Zoo, home to nearly 2,000 animals from 400 different species. The Parliament building, which is actually made of the remnants of the old citadel, is worth checking out as well and houses a modern art museum. Ciutadella Park is loved by everyone in the city, both tourists and locals alike, and has plenty of statues, sculptures, and other hidden gems to discover.

Laribal Gardens

The Laribal Gardens cover five hectares of space and are situated close to a slightly bigger garden, the Jardins de Joan Maragall. This one is pretty special since it was built for the Barcelona World's Fair in 1929, and it's also where you'll find the Joan Miro Foundation Museum. Not too far away from the museum are the Escales del Genaralife which you can't miss while you're in the park. Climbing the stone steps is a good way to get active and there are plenty of ponds and benches where you can rest along the way. Close by is the Greek Theater, or Teatre Grec, which is surrounded by beautiful gardens as well.

The gardens are filled with different species of trees like cypress, palm and fig, as well as several landscaped gardens displaying geraniums, rosemary and lavender. The rose garden, which goes by the name of Colla de l'Arros, is a nice romantic place for a date.

Scattered throughout the rest of the grounds are fountains, sculptures and picnic areas where you can meet up with friends or spend time alone enjoying the fresh air. A common favorite spot to picnic is the Font del Gat, which translates to Fountain of the Cat, which also has a cafe located not too far away.

Tamarita Gardens

The next time you're looking for somewhere to take a walk in Barcelona head straight to Tamarita Gardens, or the Jardins de la Tamarita, which are found by Passeig de Sant Gervasi. Back when these gardens were constructed in the early 1900s it was common for the middle class citizens of Catalan to have big mansions on perfectly manicured grounds, which is exactly what you'll find here.

In the center of the gardens is a gorgeous house you'll want to see, but it won't be long before you get distracted by everything else in the park and head off exploring. Small ponds and charming fountains are placed around the gardens, offering picturesque spots to picnic or settle down with a good book.

The gardens aren't very big so you can definitely make your way through the entirety of them in a day, and for those traveling with kids, you won't have to worry about them wandering off too far. There's also a little adventure playground on site where children can go to play.

Turó de la Peira Park

Turó de la Peira Park is known for its panoramic views of Barcelona which can be admired from the highest point in the park, 140 meters high. If you follow the paths of the park you'll end up at the summit and can check out everything else that the eight hectare green space has to offer from there.

You'll see areas with picnic tables, big fields where you can throw a ball around, plus playgrounds where the kids can go to get their energy out. You'll have lots of opportunities for outdoor activities like basketball, volleyball, soccer, football and bocce on the various sports fields, plus there are table tennis courts.

The Turó de la Peira Park even has an on site dog park. Bring your four legged friends to enjoy the fresh air as well. As soon as you enter the park's main entrance you'll be set up for a whole afternoon of fun.

Enjoy the great outdoors in Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is an incredible Mediterranean city that's home to many green spaces. They act as places for the people of Barcelona to meet up and host events, and also to be active. As you walk around the parks you'll also find lookout points, historic buildings and landmarks, so you can learn more about the history and culture of the city at the same time.

Did you know that, after the Olympic Games in 1992, Barcelona created a few artificial beaches? Grab a towel and stake your spot on one of the beaches near Barcelona. For fun in the sun of a different kind, take a trek to a hiking spot in Barcelona. Before you land in Barcelona Airport, plan a fun filled itinerary with parks, museums, and top dining spots on the list.