Everyone knows the beauty of Barcelona, it’s history, its architecture, its people. It is true that walking through the streets and alleyways of the various neighbourhoods can sometimes feel like you’ve been taken back in time, back to a period of imperialism and decadence. However Barcelona is just as beautiful from afar, if you want to step back and take it all in there are a number of great viewpoints in Barcelona that give you a unique view and perspective of the city.

View of the Collserola from Turó de la Rovira

They all give you a different sense of what the city is about. Whether it’s a waterside vantage point overlooking Port Vell and the luxury yachts cruising into their mooring spots, or the mountain top views from the old Spanish Civil War military bunkers that make the city below look like a cluster of toy houses all piled up on top of each other, there’s something for everyone.

Best Viewpoints in Barcelona

So, without further ado, here are my five best viewpoints in Barcelona for capturing the perfect photograph.

1) Bunkers del Carmel

Probably one of the most well-known viewpoints overlooking the city, Bunkers del Carmel is where the military stationed anti-aircraft artillery during the Spanish Civil War due to it’s vantage point over the city.

These days though it’s become a very popular spot to go with friends, a few beers and to watch the sunset.

The view from Bunkers del Carmel

Because of it’s amazing view over Barcelona you can expect a pretty big crowd to be up there, especially in the summer months. The atmosphere is great though, people are listening to music, chatting and just generally enjoying this special spot.

If you are a morning person and can get up there for sunrise, you’ll have the chance to photograph the sun rising over the sea which is absolutely stunning.

Sunrise over Barcelona from the Bunkers

2) Tibidabo

Tibidabo is another mountain that traps the city between itself and the sea, you will probably notice a church which is lit up at night on the top of it. It’s another well-known place for its views over the city. As well as the church there is an amusement park there, but I just go for the amazing views.

I actually went there specifically to take some photos for this article and just as I got there it started to rain.

The view from Tibidabo, just as it started to rain

Then this happened on the other side of Tibidabo.

View from Tibidabo

It just goes to show that you should never give up when it comes to photography! A mentor of mine once said, “bad weather is great, the best conditions to shoot landscapes often come just after a storm passes”.

3) World Trade Center

The World Trade Center in Barcelona is a building right on the waterfront at the entrance to the marina. It is mainly offices, a few restaurants for the workers and a hotel. It’s not really somewhere people go as it’s not in the direction of much else and there isn’t too much to do there. However, what most people don’t realise is that it has publicly accessible balconies that look out over the water.

View from the World Trade Centre

It has balconies on either side, facing North towards Port Vell where the smaller boats are, or South towards Montjuïc where the bigger cruise ships and cargo ships are.

View from the World Trade Centre

To get there you have to walk into the courtyard through the main entrance and up one of the staircases either to your left or right hand side.

4) Barceló Hotel Rooftop

The Barceló Hotel found on Rambla de Raval is an odd-looking building when you first see it. It looks out-of-place surrounded by the more traditional style of architecture in this part of Barcelona.

The main attraction though is the 360 degree views from its rooftop bar.

View from the Barcelo Hotel in Raval

Admittedly it’s not the cheapest bar in town, for obvious reasons, but I see lots of people up there who appear to have gone just to take a look. So if you’re on a budget you don’t necessarily have to have a drink, but if you do then it’s a great place to watch the sunset whilst sipping on a cold San Miguel.

View from the Barcelo Hotel in Raval

5) Montjuïc

The last place on this list is a special one. Montjuïc is a hill on the edge on the city centre that was completely transformed into what it is today as a result of the 1992 Olympics which were held in Barcelona. Many of the Olympic stadiums are still there and many parks/viewpoints were built for the occasion.

The 1992 Olympics changed Barcelona in many ways but Montjuïc is maybe one if its biggest legacies.

There are so many great viewpoints to be found, I’ve done a lot of exploring on Montjuïc and every time I come across something new I find myself totally shocked that I didn’t know about it before. There are so many hidden gems dotted around this big hill it would take forever to find them all!

This is maybe one of my favourites though.

View from Montjuïc

It’s quite a walk to get there so really you need a car or bike, on top of that it’s almost impossible to explain where it is as Montjuïc is full of tiny roads that you can easily get lost on. In general though Montjuïc is littered with awesome viewpoints just like this so if you’re feeling adventurous (and up for a good walk!) then go and explore. If you find your own great spot to photograph the city from I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

A view of the docks from Montjuïc

Final Thoughts

I hope that has given you some ideas of where you can watch the sunset/sunrise over Barcelona and get some great pictures. From a travel photography point of view, it’s a nice way to add some context to your trip. Instead of only taking pictures of the famous sights, it helps to convey a bigger picture of the city.

Thanks for reading!