Strolling among trees, flowers, and fountains is one of the best ways to discover another side of the city, especially in spring, when everything bursts back into bloom. Barcelona has plenty of spaces where nature still runs the show, from gardens that seem enchanted to big outdoor play areas for little ones. Out of all of them, we at Lugaris have picked ten to create our list of the most beautiful parks in Barcelona. You’ll find must-see classics as well as a few hidden gems, and we’ll tell you how to get to each one from our apartments in Barcelona.
IDEAL PARKS FOR CHILDREN IN BARCELONA
Making the most of the good weather is always a great idea if you’re visiting Barcelona with kids. The city has a wide network of public parks where little ones will have a blast, and many of them are free. If you’re looking for vacation apartments in Barcelona for a family trip, take note of our picks.
Park Güell
At Park Güell, one of the best-known Gaudí works in Barcelona, your kids can let their imaginations run wild while discovering Catalan Modernisme. To get into the Monumental Zone, home to the trencadís dragon and the famous wavy bench, you’ll need to buy a ticket and book a time slot. But the park goes far beyond its monuments. The forest area, which is free to enter, offers a network of paths and charming nooks where kids can run around to their hearts’ content. Walk along the stone viaducts that connect the different areas, climb up to the lookout at Turó de les Tres Creus, and let the little ones play hide-and-seek among the porticoes and staircases you’ll come across along the way.
Where is it? Besides the main entrance on Carrer d’Olot, several side entrances lead straight into the free forest area. By metro, get off at Lesseps or Vallcarca (L3) and get ready for an uphill walk of about 20 minutes.
Parque de Cervantes
Opened in 1965, this public park is the perfect place for a picnic with the kids without leaving the city. Its greatest treasure is the rose garden, with thousands of rose bushes in hundreds of different varieties that fill the air with an amazing fragrance, especially between April and June. Every spring, it also hosts Barcelona’s International New Rose Competition. The pergolas provide shade for much of the day, and kids will have a blast in the playground.
Where is it? At Avinguda Diagonal, 706, next to the Zona Universitària metro stop (L3).
Parque de la Ciutadella
If you’re looking for fun things to do in Barcelona, Ciutadella Park has all the makings of your perfect spot. Part of the La Ribera neighborhood once stood on these grounds, until it was torn down after 1714 to build a military citadel. When the citadel was demolished, the space became a park and hosted the 1888 Universal Exposition.
Today, it’s one of the most beautiful parks in Barcelona and one of the liveliest, perfect for lounging on the grass or joining one of the activities that are often held there. The Barcelona Zoo is also on the grounds. Kids can admire the stone mammoth next to the Cascada Monumental, which a young Gaudí helped work on, and play in the park’s playgrounds. You can also take a rowboat out on the lake: rentals cost between 7 and 11 euros for half an hour, depending on the number of people.
Where is it? Between El Born and Vila Olímpica. From our apartments in Poblenou, the easiest way to get there is the L4 to Ciutadella | Vila Olímpica. You can also take the L1 to Arc de Triomf.
Parque de la Creueta del Coll
If you’re looking for a place to cool off as well as a playground, Creueta del Coll is ideal. This former quarry turned park has a large plaza with play equipment, and in summer, its lake transforms into the largest and cheapest outdoor swimming pool in Barcelona. It covers more than 2,000 m² and is shallow, so it’s perfect for little ones. Water shoes are recommended. Hanging over the lake is Eduardo Chillida’s sculpture Elogio del agua, one of the most photogenic sights in the park. You can also set off on one of the bike routes around Barcelona from here. Are you up for a ride?
Where is it? At Passeig de la Mare de Déu del Coll, 77. The nearest metro stop is El Coll | La Teixonera (L5).
Parc del Centre de Poblenou
If you’re looking for a playground near our beach apartments in Barcelona, this is your best bet. Architect Jean Nouvel, the mind behind the iconic Torre Glòries (formerly Torre Agbar), designed this park, which opened in 2008 in the heart of Poblenou, and he added a nod to Gaudí: you enter through a Gaudí-inspired gate set into a wall covered in bougainvillea. Inside, kids can follow the spiral path of the Cráter-Pozo del Mundo, which looks like a volcano, or hide in the huts surrounding the plaza de la Sardana. If you’re staying at Lugaris Rambla, our apartments on the Rambla del Poblenou, it’s just a pleasant stroll away: simply head up the Rambla to Diagonal.
Where is it? At Avinguda Diagonal, 130. You can get there by tram (T4, Pere IV and Fluvià stops) or by metro to Poblenou (L4).
THE MOST ROMANTIC PARKS IN BARCELONA
Vacationing in the Catalan capital without the kids? Want to discover the city’s most romantic spots? Here are some of the most beautiful parks in Barcelona to visit as a couple.
Horta labyrinth
This is the oldest garden in the city, created in the late 18th century in the Horta neighborhood. Besides its cypress maze, it’s famous as one of the movie filming locations in Barcelona, including Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.
Keep in mind that the hedge maze has been closed for improvements since 2025 and isn’t expected to reopen until early 2027. The rest of the park is still open and well worth a visit: stroll through the romantic garden, the pond area, and the neoclassical pavilion, all perfect spots to sweep your partner off their feet. Admission is 2.23 euros and free on Wednesdays and Sundays. Card payment only.
How to get there: By metro, get off at Mundet (L3). The park is right above the Marià Cañardo gardens, on Passeig dels Castanyers.
Jardines de Can Sentmenat
This is one of Barcelona’s hidden gems. Located in upper Sarrià, at the foot of Collserola, this Romantic-style garden with a French flair surrounds the former palace of the Marquises of Sentmenat, renovated in the 19th century and now home to the EINA design school. With so few visitors, you can stroll at your leisure among the seven female statues representing the family’s lineages and enjoy stunning views of the city from the terrace.
How to get there: The gardens are at Carrer de Can Caralleu, 6-14, about a 17-minute walk from Reina Elisenda station (FGC).
Jardines del Grec
The Grec Gardens are one of the lesser-known spots on Montjuïc and also one of the most special. They started as rose gardens for the 1929 International Exposition and surround the open-air theater that hosts the Grec Festival every summer. After taking a peek at the amphitheater, wander through the geometric flower beds and enjoy the scent of the roses. To round off the perfect date, finish by heading down through the neighboring Laribal Gardens to the Font del Gat.
How to get there: Take the stairs up from Passeig de Santa Madrona, 38, in the Poble-sec neighborhood. Keep in mind that access may be limited during the Grec Festival in July.
Jardines de la Tamarita
Peaceful and tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the Tamarita Gardens are one of the most romantic places in Barcelona. This former private garden, created in the early 20th century and now open to the public, is divided into two very distinct areas: one landscaped and the other more wooded. Explore its fountains, shady nooks, and the neoclassical statues you’ll find along the way.
How to get there: At Passeig de Sant Gervasi, 47-49, right across from the exit of Avinguda Tibidabo station (FGC L7). Open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. April through October, and until 7 p.m. the rest of the year.
Botanical Garden of Montjuïc
Another of the most beautiful parks in Barcelona is on Montjuïc, and it’s the perfect place to unplug. Opened in 1999, its 14 hectares bring together plants from regions of the world with a Mediterranean climate, such as the Mediterranean Basin, California, Chile, South Africa, and Australia. It has become a benchmark for conservation and sustainable garden design, and its paths offer spectacular views of the city.
How to get there: It’s between the castle and the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium, on Carrer del Doctor Font i Quer. Admission is 5 euros and free on Sundays from 3 p.m. and on the first Sunday of every month.
EXTRAS
Now that you know the most beautiful parks in Barcelona, here are a couple of lesser-known alternatives that are just as appealing.
The first is Castell de l’Oreneta Park, in Sarrià. On Sunday and holiday mornings, kids can hop aboard a miniature steam train that winds through the woods, over bridges, and through tunnels. Tickets cost 3 euros per person per ride.
The other option, better suited to couples, is the Palau de les Heures gardens, at the foot of Collserola and very close to the Horta Labyrinth. They surround a French-style mansion and are laid out in terraces with fountains and rose bushes. Admission is free, and the nearest metro stop is Mundet (L3).
With so many parks to discover, it’s worth taking your time. At Lugaris, we offer apartments by the day or by the week, as well as mid-term stays in Barcelona. If you’re looking for the best apartments in Barcelona to enjoy both city and nature, at Lugaris Beach you’ll find luxury apartments just steps from the beach, and at Lugaris Rambla, all the neighborhood charm of the Rambla del Poblenou.
And if you’d like to add a park to our list or tell us about your experience if you’ve already visited, leave your recommendations in the comments!
