Six weeks after our cable car journey over the Welsh mountains in Llandudno, we took in a very different kind of view as we drifted across Barcelona’s old harbour from Mount Montjuïc to Barcelona Beach via the Port Cable Car.
We made the mistake of walking to the wrong cable car station at first (yes, there’s two, about a mile or so apart), arriving at the terminus for the 1970-built Monjuïc Cable Car (Telefèric de Montjuïc), which goes up the hillside to connect with the summit of Mount Montjuïc and the Montjuïc Castle.
It’s a fair walk further on to the Port Cable Car terminal – and some steep climbs – but it does take in some splendid views on the way.
Looking over Barcelona.
You can see the cable car in the distance, to the right.
Our cable car arrives.
The journey only takes around ten minutes, but it takes in some stunning views of the city.
It was quite windy on the day, so the car was buffeted around from time to time, which added to the excitement.
Looking across to the busy container port.
The iconic Sagrada Família church.
The Torre Glòries skyscraper, a 38-storey ‘Gherkin-like‘ landmark, which opened in June 2005.
The Introducing Barcelona site has more details about the Port Cable Car:
The Port Cable Car or aerial tramway was designed for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition, but was not inaugurated until 1931. The Telefèric del Port crosses Barcelona’s old harbour called Port Vell from Torre Sant Sebastià, located in Barceloneta Beach, to the Miramar Gardens viewpoint in Mount Montjuïc.
During the Spanish Civil War, the cable car was closed and the cables were removed and the towers were used to defend the port. In 1963, the tramway started to operate again until 1995, when the tourist attraction was renovated. Presently, the Teleferic is still one of the most popular rides in Barcelona and offers magnificent views of the city and its harbor.
The touristic ride is 0.8 miles (1.3 km) long and reaches an altitude of 57m.
The cable car winding wheel.
Passengers alighting.
The cable car terminal from the beach.
Details
As of October 2018, the price of a one-way journey is 11 euros and a return ticket is 16,50€.
Opening times
- 1 January – 28 February: 11 am – 5:30 pm.
- 1 March – 5 June: 10.30 am – 7 pm.
- 1 June – 1o September: 10.30 am – 8 pm.
- 11 September – 29 October: 10.30 am – 7 pm.
- 30 October – 31 December: 11 am – 5:30 pm.
(Closed 25 Dec)
Directions to the Port Cable Car?
- Torre Sant Sebastià: Metro: Barceloneta, line 4. Bus: 17, 39, 45, 64, 57, 59 and 157.
- Torre Jaume I: Closed temporarily.
- Miramar: Buses 50, 100 and 193.
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