During your stay in Barcelona, a must-do activity is to go up the Collserola Mountains and spend some time visiting the Tibidabo Amusement Park.
This iconic place is beloved by many locals.
Many grew up spending their afternoons enjoying its rides and attractions.
Immersed in a natural area, the park encapsulates over a century of history and now blends tradition with modernity.
A short train ride will take you to this fascinating spot, where you can also take in some incredible views of the city.
Are you ready to discover a leisure destination that’s unforgettable for both adults and children?
The origin of Tibidabo Amusement Park
Located at the highest hill in the Collserola mountain range, at an altitude of 512 m, this park is full of magic and fantasy.
Right next to it stands the Temple del Sagrat Cor (Temple of the Sacred Heart).
It is an enchanting building crowned by a statue reminiscent of Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer.
But, why would someone want to build an amusement park in a natural area near Barcelona, much like Montserrat Monastery?
Before the park’s opening, few people ventured to Tibidabo Mountain.
Salvador Andreu i Grau, an avid and enterprising pharmacist, saw an opportunity to provide the city’s people with a place to enjoy themselves.
He promoted an urbanization project that would include the construction of a tramway, a funicular, and the Tibidabo Amusement Park.
In 1901 the funicular leading to the park was inaugurated, and throughout the first decade of the century, some small amusements began to appear.
Some of them were telescopes and binoculars, mirrors, automatons, or a carrier pigeon station.
The first major ride, the Ferrocarril Aeri (Aerial Railway), opened in 1915, and since then, other attractions have been added.
The amusement park grew, and the people of Barcelona have always been enthusiastic about it.
Since its beginnings, the place offered a quick way to reach the top of the city and enjoy breathtaking views!
Tram Blau and Cuca de Llum: how to get there
How about a morning of fun at the park and a magic afternoon tasting Barcelona’s delicious food on a tapas tour?
It’s an amazing plan for your vacation day, don’t you think?
But first, how do you get to the park?
If you have a car, you can enjoy a splendid ride with your private vehicle.
The views while going up the mountain are breathtaking!
Alternatively, you can use the public transport.
Or start your Tibidabo Amusement Park experience right from the beginning by stepping into the well-known funicular, now named Cuca de Llum.
Until 2018, the iconic Tram Blau took visitors to the foot of the Tibidabo funicular on a route spotted with modernist buildings.
Currently under renovation, direct access to the park is now provided by Cuca de Llum.
The new funicular, with only a four-minute ride, takes you from Plaça Doctor Andreu to the top of the mountain.
The best attractions and zones of the park
Walt Disney once said that the Tibidabo was one of the most magical and enchanting places he had ever visited.
Exploring the city center is undoubtedly a highlight of your trip.
But what about spending some time in nature?
Some options are visiting Montserrat Mountain and enjoying a wine-tasting experience.
Or, of course, heading up the Collserola Mountains and enjoying the Tibidabo area, just like Walt Disney.
Levels and rides
Nowadays, the park is divided into “levels”.
Years before, there were “neighborhoods” that grouped the attractions.
Of the six present levels, five are accessible to the public.
The third one houses some technical facilities necessary for the Tibidabo Amusement Park operation, being inaccessible.
Each level groups some attractions, rides, bars, and cafés with a similar theme:
- Somnis, level 5: one of the most fantastic zones, spend some time here to dream in the Marionetarium, a theater offering puppet shows.
Do not miss CreaTibi by LEGO Education, especially if you are traveling with kids.
Let them unleash all their imagination with LEGO pieces!
- 666, level 4: to feel the thrill, visit 666, the area where the terrifying haunted house, Hotel 666, lies.
- Xerinola, level 2: a floor that invites you to relive the fun and joy of your childhood years.
Enjoy some films at Dididado, a 4D cinema, for new viewing experiences.
Let tradition and modernity converge!
Panoramic Area
A feature that enchanted the people of Barcelona once the Tibidabo Amusement Park opened was the views of the city that it offered.
This makes the spot an amazing viewpoint, especially the Panoramic Area!
It refers to the sixth level of the park, a magical one that recalls the ancient Tibidabo.
Here, you’ll find the emblematic attractions and rides that the park featured in its first decades, a century ago.
The iconic Avió, Giradabo, or Talaia are in the Panoramic Area.
To your delight, entrance to this zone is free!
You do need tickets to enjoy the rides and access other zones of the park, but you can freely stroll through the Panoramic Area.
However, if you wish to ride its attractions, you will need to pay a fee.
Whatever the case, don’t miss visiting it.
You will find magic views!
More about Collserola Mountains, where Tibidabo Amusement Park is located
How about a morning or an afternoon enjoying yourself in the park?
Certainly, sounds good!
Moreover, in the Collserola mountain range, the place where it is located, you can enjoy other activities.
Imagine walking through the woods and beautiful trails, then letting off some adrenaline on the attractions.
Or perhaps climbing the Torre de Collserola (Collserola Tower) to reach its lookout at 560 m above sea level.
What an amazing experience! Enjoy yourself in this scenic area and at the Tibidabo Amusement Park to return to downtown with recharged energy.
