Montjuïc Castle Barcelona: Hours, Tickets and Free Entry
Montjuïc Castle opens daily from 10:00; general tickets cost 12 € and reduced 8 €. Seasonal hours, free entry and how to get up the hill.
The Castell de Montjuïc (Montjuïc Castle) is open every day. From November to February it opens from 10:00 to 18:00, and from March to October from 10.00 to 20.00. A general ticket costs 12 €, a reduced ticket 8 €, and the city also lists free entry.
The castle is an 18th-century fortress at the top of Montjuïc hill, above the port. People go for the walls, bastions and moats, for the exhibitions inside, and for one of the widest views over Barcelona and the sea. The fortress is run by the Ajuntament de Barcelona (Barcelona City Council) as a municipal heritage and culture site.
What is Montjuïc Castle?
A first fort went up on the hill in 1640, and it saw its first battle in January 1641, during the Catalan Revolt against the Spanish crown. New bastions were added in 1694, and the fort became a castle. According to the Museus de Barcelona page for the castle, the structure standing today was redesigned by the engineer Juan Martín Cermeño, planned in 1751 and built between 1753 and 1779. The Wikipedia article on the castle gives a slightly different timeline, with major works between 1779 and 1799, when it was armed with 120 cannons. The city’s dates are the ones to trust if you see them quoted differently.
The castle has a heavy place in Catalan memory. It became a symbol after the Catalan defeat of 1714, prisoners including anarchists were tortured there in the late 19th century, and Lluís Companys, president of the Generalitat (Catalan government) during the Spanish Civil War, was executed there in 1940. In June 1963 Francisco Franco opened a military museum inside. The Spanish government handed the castle to the City Council in April 2007, and the military museum closed in 2010 while the roof and a watchtower were restored.
What can you see and do there?
The site keeps its walls, bastions, moats and terraces, and you can walk around them for the views of the city and the port. The castle now hosts exhibitions, activities and projects on historical memory and contemporary culture. Your ticket covers both the permanent exhibition and any temporary ones.
Exhibitions and educational activities close half an hour before the castle itself, so arrive early enough to see them before you head out to the terraces. On a short day in winter that leaves less time than many visitors expect.
What are the opening hours?
- March to October: every day, 10.00 to 20.00
- November to February: every day, 10:00 to 18:00
- La Nit dels Museus (Museums Night): late opening with free entry; the 2026 edition was on May 16, from 19.00 to 01.00
The city’s table lists no weekly closing day. Check the official page before a holiday visit in case of changes.
How much do tickets cost, and when is entry free?
- General ticket: 12 €
- Reduced ticket: 8 €
- Free ticket: listed by the city for both seasons
The city’s listing does not spell out who qualifies for the reduced or free ticket, so confirm your case with the castle before buying. The cable car is priced separately, and its fare does not include castle admission.
If you are planning several museum visits, our guide to art museums in Barcelona with hours and prices covers other paid and free options in the city.
How do you get to Montjuïc Castle?
The address is Carretera de Montjuïc 66, 08038, Barcelona. The castle’s own getting-here page lists these routes:
- Funicular and on foot: take metro lines 2 and 3 to Paral·lel, ride the Funicular de Montjuïc up, then walk. The climb from the upper funicular station, next to the cable car station, takes about 20 to 25 minutes. It is uphill all the way and steep in places, through gardens named after Joan Brossa and Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer.
- Bus 150: run by TMB (Barcelona’s bus and metro operator), it starts on Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina and ends at the castle after circling the hill. From Plaça d’Espanya the ride takes about 20 minutes, and the trip back down takes about the same. It also stops at Avinguda de Miramar-Estació del Funicular.
- Cable car: it starts on Avinguda Miramar, stops at Plaça de la Sardana, and drops you in front of the castle.
- Bicycle: there is bike parking in the bastion of Santa Amàlia.
- Car or coach: a large public car park sits near the castle, with a coach area. Its entrance is on Carrer dels Tarongers.
Wikipedia also notes that the Port Vell Aerial Tramway runs up the hill from the old harbour.
Tips for visiting
- In winter the castle closes at 18:00, and exhibitions finish half an hour earlier. Start in the exhibition rooms and save the walls for last.
- The walk from the funicular is steep. With small children or limited mobility, bus 150 or the cable car is easier. Our list of things to do in Barcelona with kids has more family outings with hours and prices.
- Budget for the cable car on top of your castle ticket if you use it.
- For questions, the castle answers on 93.256.44.40 or at [email protected], Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 16.00.
- If you want another hilltop view with a timed ticket, compare it with Park Güell tickets and time slots.
Quick answers
Is Montjuïc Castle free?
The city lists a free ticket alongside the 12 € general and 8 € reduced tickets, but it does not say who qualifies. Entry was also free on La Nit dels Museus, which in 2026 fell on May 16.
How long does it take to walk up to the castle?
About 20 to 25 minutes from the upper funicular station, on a steady uphill path.
Does the cable car ticket include the castle?
No. The cable car and castle admission are paid separately.
Can you see the exhibitions with a general ticket?
Yes. Admission includes the permanent exhibition and the temporary ones.
Checked against official sources in November 2026. Hours, prices and rules change: confirm on the official page before you go or apply.
