Barcelona cable car: Montjuïc, the Port Aeri and which one suits you
The city runs two cable cars and visitors mix them up constantly. One climbs to the castle for about €16 return, the other crosses the harbour in cabins from 1931. Here are the prices, the hours, the real queues and which one deserves your afternoon.
ⓘ Note: this is not the official website This is not the official website of the Telefèric de Montjuïc or the Port cable car. We are an independent guide: prices quoted come from the official operators and bookings are processed by authorised partners such as GetYourGuide.The essentials in 20 seconds
| Price | ~€16 return adult (€15.30 online) · ~€11.60 children 4–12 · free under 4 |
|---|---|
| Ride time | 8–10 minutes each way, with an intermediate stop (Mirador) |
| Route | Parc de Montjuïc → Mirador → Castell de Montjuïc |
| Validity | Return tickets are valid on the day of travel only |
| Getting to the base | Montjuïc funicular (covered by T-casual and Hola BCN) from metro Paral·lel (L2, L3) |
| Watch out | Castle admission is separate; the service closes in strong wind |
Indicative prices per the official operator and GetYourGuide; they vary by sales channel and season.
The two cable cars are not the same
This is where half the internet gets confused. Barcelona has two cable cars with similar names, different prices and opposite experiences:
| Telefèric de Montjuïc | Port cable car (Aeri) | |
|---|---|---|
| Route | Montjuïc park → castle (up the hillside) | Barceloneta (Torre Sant Sebastià) → Miramar, across the harbour |
| Approx. price | ~€16 return (€15.30 online) | ~€15 one way · ~€22 return |
| Cabins | Modern, 8 seats, wide glazing | Historic (1931), small, full of retro charm |
| Views | City, port and the Collserola hills from the slope | Flying over the harbour and beach: more spectacular |
| Queues | Moderate; worst at weekend midday | Long: limited capacity and no time-slot booking |
| Accessibility | Adapted, fine with strollers and wheelchairs | Limited: stairs and narrow cabins |
Indicative prices from both operators (August 2026). The Port Aeri takes no advance time slots: you queue at the ticket office.
What's up top and how long to allow
The Montjuïc cable car drops you at the gate of Montjuïc Castle, a 17th-century fortress with a moat, bastions and an uncomfortable history: it served as a prison and execution site under Franco — Catalan president Lluís Companys was executed there in 1940. Today it's a municipal space with exhibitions, and the ramparts give the best sustained view of the container port, the sea and the city.
The intermediate stop (Mirador) lets you get off for photos and re-board on the same ticket: use it, almost nobody does. And if you walk down from the castle, the path passes the Jardins de Costa i Llobera — giant cacti with sea views, one of the strangest gardens in the city.
Total time: 2–3 hours to ride up, tour the castle unhurried and come back down. Add the Fundació Miró, the MNAC or Poble Espanyol and you'll want the whole day on Montjuïc — there's more hill up there than it looks from below.
When to go and how to save
- Opening time or late afternoon. At opening there's no queue; at dusk the golden light over the port justifies the fare on its own.
- Avoid Saturday and Sunday middays: cruise passengers and local families arrive together and the wait spikes.
- Buy online: the operator discounts against the box-office price and you skip one of the two queues.
- Ride up cheaply: the Montjuïc funicular is part of the metro network — covered by the T-casual and Hola Barcelona Card — and leaves you at the cable car's base station. From there, either the cable car or a 20–25 minute uphill walk to the castle.
- City passes: several include or discount the cable car; check the list in our passes comparison before paying separately.
- Bad weather, zero risk: strong wind suspends the service. If the day looks unsettled, save the plan for another one.
Getting there
Metro: Paral·lel (L2 purple, L3 green), where the Montjuïc funicular departs from inside the station itself. Leaving the funicular, the cable car station is a couple of minutes on foot. Buses 150 and 55 also climb the hill, and the sightseeing bus stops in the area.
Cabins with a past (context in one minute)
The Port cable car opened in 1931 for the 1929 International Exposition — late to its own party — and crosses the harbour more than 70 metres up between two towers that look lifted from an adventure novel: the Torre de Sant Sebastià in Barceloneta and the Torre Jaume I beside the World Trade Center, one of the tallest cable-car towers in the world.
The Montjuïc line is the modern counterpart: opened in 1970 and completely rebuilt in 2007 with eight-seat panoramic cabins. It climbs the slope that hosted the 1992 Olympic venues and ends at a castle the city took decades to reclaim as public space. Two cable cars, two eras — and the two best ways to understand why Barcelona grew facing the sea.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Montjuïc cable car?
About €16 return for adults per the official operator (€15.30 online) and ~€11.60 for ages 4–12. Under-4s free; return tickets are same-day only.
Does it include castle admission?
No. The ticket is transport only; entry to Montjuïc Castle is paid at its own box office.
How many cable cars are there?
Two: Montjuïc (park → castle, modern cabins, cheaper) and the Port Aeri (Barceloneta ↔ Miramar, 1931 cabins, pricier with longer queues).
How long is the ride?
8–10 minutes each way on Montjuïc with an intermediate stop; about 10 minutes across the bay on the Port line. Allow 2–3 hours for the full plan.
What's the best time?
Opening time to skip the queue, or the last hour of the afternoon for the light. Weekend midday is the worst window.
Can I get up Montjuïc for free?
The funicular is covered by the T-casual and Hola BCN, and from its exit the castle is a 20–25 minute uphill walk. The cable car itself is always paid.
Does it close in bad weather?
Yes: strong wind, storms or maintenance suspend it without notice. Check the status before setting off if the weather looks rough.
Book your cable car ticket
Online costs less than the box office and saves you one of the two queues. Free cancellation on most options.
See dates and prices