The first striking fact about the Ciutadella Park is that it was Barcelona’s first park. This place is not only a meeting point for many locals, but also acts as an oasis in the fast-paced lifestyle of the great Catalan capital.
It was in 1951 when this park was finally declared a Historic-Artistic Monument. It is also considered an open-air museum as it has many works of art and sculptures of great cultural and historical importance. If you want to discover the history, hidden spots and other details about this incredible park, keep reading our post!
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History of the Ciutadella Park Barcelona
Barcelona’s Ciutadella Park was built at the end of the 19th century, making it the first park ever built in the city. It is located where Philip V ordered the military citadel to be built in 1715. In fact, the Catalan word “ciutadella” means fortress.
Subsequently, this space was handed over to Barcelona to support the city’s industrial bourgeoisie, with one condition: the land had to be converted into a public park. It was then that it was transformed into the impressive green space it is today.
Today, the Ciutadella Park is one of Barcelona’s greatest treasures, since in addition to being the lungs of the city, it is home to many of the city’s significant features and landmarks, such as works by Gaudí himself and Josep Fontseré. This is certainly a place you cannot miss on your visit to Barcelona.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What to see in the Ciutadella Park Barcelona?
Inside this enormous park, which covers 31 hectares of land, you can find much more than just plants. Discover the infinite number of activities to do, as well as places and monuments to visit and admire. Here are some of the things you can’t miss on your visit to the park.
Ciutadella Park Zoo
This is one of the must-sees if you go to the park. With an area of almost 13 hectares, you can see more than 7,500 different animals. It is one of the ideal things to do if you are travelling with children, as they will be fascinated by the number of species in this zoo. You are sure to have a great time!
The sculptures in the park
The Ciutadella Park is full of famous statues, although the most symbolic is the life-size mammoth statue. You will discover them as you walk through the park, each with its own personality and peculiarities. Another of the most important is the great Statue of General Prim. Don’t forget to bring your camera!
Zoological Museum
This museum is in the Three Dragons Castle, a slender building that is sure to impress. Inside you can take a tour while admiring different exhibitions of taxidermy animals and skeletons, as well as many works of art and science.
Boats on the lake
One of the best things to do in Barcelona’s Ciutadella Park, for locals and travellers alike, is to take a boat trip on the lake. Enjoy a pleasant hour and a half floating on its waters. This experience is even more amazing if you go at sunset – you’ll love it!
Governor’s Palace
This palace is one of the most interesting monuments in the park, and is currently the IES Verdaguer secondary school.
Cascada Monumental
This small waterfall and its sculptures will fascinate anyone who loves architecture. In addition to its incredible artistic value, you can experience true tranquillity in this corner of the park. It was designed by the famous Josep Fontseré in 1875.
The Greenhouse
This place is divided into three different buildings, and its original purpose was the cultivation and exhibition of tropical plants. It is now abandoned and closed to the public, but it is still an interesting place to visit.
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Where to eat near Ciutadella Park Barcelona?
Although you can find a café inside Barcelona’s Ciutadella Park, we recommend going to restaurants or bars in the surrounding area.
– If you’re looking for good Italian food, we recommend you try Murivecchi Restaurant. It’s important to make a reservation, as it tends to get quite busy, but it’s really worth it. You can enjoy excellent Italian dishes within walking distance of the park.
– Another exceptional place is La Paradeta, which focuses mainly on seafood dishes. Although the prices are not cheap, the quality is certainly worth it and they have a great variety.
– If you fancy a good Mexican restaurant, don’t hesitate to visit Tlaxcal Cantina y Taqueria Gastronomica, located just a 5-minute walk from the Ciutadella Park. You can try amazing tacos and other Mexican dishes, as well as enjoying five-star service.
– Finally, we suggest Llamber, a well-kept restaurant where you can enjoy a wide range of tapas and high quality Catalan and Asturian dishes. You’ll love it!
Frequently asked questions
There are several ways to get to the Ciutadella Park using public transport, depending on where you are and your budget.
– If you go by metro, you can take the L4 line and get off at Ciutadella Villa Olímpica or Barceloneta, or you can take L2 and then the suburban train stopping at Arc de Triomf.
– Another option is to take the T4 tram and get off at the last stop at Ciutadella Villa Olímpica.
– Finally, you can take bus lines 14, 39, 49, 41, 51 and 141.
A boat trip on the lake can cost around €6 for two people for about an hour and a half, while for groups of 4 or 5 people, the price rises to €10.
The Ciutadella Park is open daily from 8:00 am to 10:30 pm.
A ticket for 12 years and over costs €21.40, while a ticket for children aged 3 to 12 is only €12.95.
How to plan your visit to the Ciutadella Park Barcelona?
Download the Passporter app:
- Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
- Save important information about the destinations you want to visit that you have found on the internet. Just install the Chrome extension and save everything useful for your trip.
- Save your tickets and reservations.
- Organise your route on Google maps with your accommodation as the starting point or any other that you indicate.
- Find out the best travel option for each place.
- Save and publish your own photos and experiences as you go along, so that when someone asks you “How was your trip to the Ciutadella Park in Barcelona?” you can reply “Visit my traveller profile on Passporter!”
If you want to learn more about how to get the most out of the Passporter app, you can read our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
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