by missj1981

London, England, United Kingdom

November 3, 2012

by Zhebiton

Moscow, Moskva, Russia

January 19, 2011

by Zhebiton

Moscow, Moskva, Russia

July 15, 2010

by travelprone

Carlsbad, California

May 3, 2004

Hours Vary with season-in Oct. Sat, Sun noon-8 only

Because it was there, our son just HAD to go to Tibidabo. However, because he was using an old guidebook he did not know that the Parc is only open on weekends during October when we visited. The tram that takes visitors up to the top where the Parc is located doesn’t run during the week. So, when he arrived at the terminus of the FGC funicular, he saw the only way to go further was by climbing. Even he balked at doing so, and he was glad he hadn’t when he met a group of British tourists who had gone up and down in a taxi. They informed him that none of the rides and attractions were open. If you are in Barcelona during July and August, the attractions are open from noon on every day and the famed Tramvia Blau will transport you up the hill.

For other months, hours and days vary. Check www.barcelona.moodmapper.com for details on some of the rides available on "La Muntanya Magica," as it’s called and phone the above number to verify opening hours on the day you visit. It’s pricey at $14.40 or so for adults, but for seniors (over 64) it’s only around $3.60 or so, according to this site. There’s a lot of appeal to adventurers who enjoy variety and danger in their rides. This is where Barcelonans have summer fun and get way from summer heat in the city.

Our son was disappointed he didn’t get to the top, but he did feel the view was outstanding from here, better even than from Parc Guell and Montjuic. The name of this mountain on which a communications tower was added for the 1992 Olympics is explained in most guidebooks for those who don’t know Latin and/or are not familiar with the New Testament account of Satan’s tempting Christ by offering him dominion over all he could see from the highest mountaintop if he would swear allegiance to a devilish master. "I will give to you ( all that you see)" is a rough translation of what the name Tibidabo means.

The church you see on Tibidabo is the Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor (Sacred Heart); the architect was NOT Gaudi and its architecture is not particularly remarkable. Remarkable is the Torre de Collserola that has an observatory with telescope and public viewing area that shows the whole of Barcelona.

Designed by the famous English architect Norman Foster and completed for the 1992 Olympics, the tower is open Wed to Sun from 11am-2:30pm and 3:30-6pm (7 or 8pm in summer). From Tibidabo funicular terminus, take bus 211 to the Torre.

by Lee Van Horn

Blair, Nebraska

November 1, 2003

To get to TiBiDaBo, you can take a ride on the Funicular. It is a train that runs straight up the mountain, an exciting adventure on its own.

by JMAK

Tampere, Finland

January 11, 2003

You start by taking the subway (actually the Renfe's Tibidabo local train) to the last stop, Avinguda Tibidabo (for example, from Placa Catalunya). From there, take the Tramvia Blau, which is an old streetcar, up Av. Tibidabo. Buy a return ticket if you don't plan on walking back--it is cheaper. Taking the streetcar may not be the most local thing to do, but well, you are a tourist!!! The road up to the funicular station is somewhat steep already, so it is not a bad idea at all to save a few steps, since there are so many other places where you can walk!

While in this old restored streetcar (very pretty itself already), you can see some very fancy houses that just seem to get bigger and fancier the higher you go. In Barcelona, traditionally, the prices for apartments and houses rise by the altitude . . .

Once you get off the streetcar, you are in a small plaza where there are a couple of restaurants and the funicular station. Buy the return ticket again and step on the brightly colored funicular for some very steep uphill climbing. The trip lasts several minutes, and if you're sitting in the "down" part of the car, you get some very great views of Barcelona--and see how steep the route is!

Up on Mount Tibidabo, you'll first see a large church and hear the bells. When we were there, it sounded as if the bells came from a tape that was not in the best working condition anymore--don't know if it was my ears or what . . . The church was quite pretty inside, but featured electric candles that you could light by inserting money in the machine--I had not seen electric ones before. Climb up the stairs for some more amazing views of Barcelona. You can take a different picture with the fun-fair equipment in the front!

There is also a fun fair with traditional carousels, etc. (the entrance was 20 euros!!!--which included use of the rides, but still . . . we did not go).

The Torre Calatrava is close by; there should be some form of transportation from the funicular. The views should be even better, but in my opinion, there are so many places for great views already that I cannot see the point in going there, too . . .

by Jose Kevo

Middle-of-Nowhere, Missouri

July 13, 2001

Unless you're traveling with young children, the Fun Fair Amusement Park atop the mountain won't be much of a reason for making this trip. Your priority for coming should be the Temple de Sacrat Cor (Temple of the Sacred Heart) that is actually two churches built on top of the other and, at night, are illuminated in white seen from anywhere within Barcelona below. The outer structural works, carvings and statues are more impressive than anything inside and can be better seen from outdoor terraces on several different levels. However, no trip here would be complete without taking the elevator ride (which is almost easy to miss as it's not well marked) for 200 pesetas to the stairs leading to the base of the Christ statue of the cathedral dome.

If you're lucky, the crowds will be sparse giving you an uninterrupted, 360-degree view of the surrounding areas. The mountain of Montserrat is easy to detect off to the Southwest, there's more rolling hills and mountains to the west and north. And to the east, the entire metropolis of Barcelona spills out into a glistening Mediterranean reflecting the afternoon sun. And while endlessly gazing, keep in mind that the name, TIBI DABO, comes from the Latin translation of when the devil took Christ to a high place and tried to tempt Him. "All this I will give you if you will fall down and worship me."

The nearby Torre de Collserola, another abstract constructed transmission tower, is also open with an observation deck, but the Sacrat Cor observation deck appears higher and more centrally located...and definitely cheaper.

Other than the "tempting" views from Tibidabo, getting to/from here is the other bonus of the trip. First, take the FGC line which leaves from the underground station where La Rambla intersects with SE Placa Catalunya. (Most maps make it look like the train leaves from the SW corner!) A one-way ticket to Avinguda de Tibidabo was 145. From here, follow the crowds above ground to where you'll board the last remianing blue-line tram/trolley car. It's a very ambling ride curving up the side of the mountain through mansions, estates and landscapes from various time periods that definitely left me making mental comparisons to several places from around the world...including the Caribbean! The trolley stops at the base of another funicular which will take you to the top of Tibidabo should you chose not to walk on one of the many trails. Return is the same way.

by Rucas

Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

November 27, 2000

The mount is the highest point in the Sierra of Collserola at about 532 meters above sea level. The Park of Attractions, dating from 1908, but continually renovated, are the Expiatory Temple of the Sacred Heart from 1902-1911 and the Tower of Collserola, or Tower of Telecommunications built by Norman Foster in 1992, with a height 268 meters. They can be seen from many points of the city. On one of those mythical clear days you can see across to Montserrat and the Pyrenees, and out to sea even as far as Mallorca. All around there are pleasant walks through the woods.