Tibidabo

517 m

Spain

Also known as Тибидабо, el Tibidabo

Тибидабо · el Tibidabo

Elevation: 517 m
Prominence: 381 m
Difficulty: 1/10; Easy walk
Best Season: Oct–May
Routes: 1

Routes

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A shaded woodland walk in the Collserola Natural Park from the FGC station at Baixador de Vallvidrera and the park information centre (291 m) to the Plaça del Tibidabo and the Sagrat Cor at the summit. About 1 hour and 220 m of ascent; return via the Font de la Budellera for a 6.5 km loop.

Elevation Profile

Distance: 3.4 km; one way
Ascent: +302 m; start → summit
High Point: 519 m
Time Up: 1h 29m; DIN 33466
Time Down: 1h 11m; DIN 33466 · same way back

Take an FGC S1 or S2 train to Baixador de Vallvidrera and walk up the steps past Vil·la Joana to the Collserola Natural Park information centre (291 m). Follow the paved track below Els Xiprers school for about 200 m, then the Camí del Salze up through pine woods. Take the signed Budellera/Tibidabo path, cross the Torrent d'en Cardona and the Torrent de la Vinassa and turn left at the Font del Canet junction (380 m, 35 minutes). A narrow, rocky path leads to a residential area; follow the Camí de Sant Cugat and the Camí de Cal Totxo, then the road past the amusement park car park to the Plaça del Tibidabo (about 1 hour). The highest ground is occupied by the Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor and the Tibidabo amusement park. For the loop, go back past the car park, turn right on the Camí de Sant Cugat and left onto the Passeig dels Til·lers below the Torre de Collserola, and descend steps to the Font de la Budellera. Follow the torrent down, cross the BV-1462 at the Revolt de les Monges and continue through a shady valley to the Santa Maria de Vallvidrera picnic area and back to the station (about 2¼ hours for the loop). Signposting is good; the park's red-marked itinerary 4 covers much of the descent.

Start

Baixador de Vallvidrera237 m

Tibidabo funicular (Plaça del Doctor Andreu – Tibidabo)
FGC lines S1 and S2 (Barcelona–Vallès) to Baixador de Vallvidrera. Alternatively the Tibidabo funicular from Plaça del Doctor Andreu, or the Vallvidrera funicular plus TMB bus 111, reach the summit directly.
Parking at the trailhead

Stages

Day	Stage	km	m ascent	m descent	Time
1	Baixador de Vallvidrera → el Tibidabo	3.4	302	25	1h 29m

Waypoints

Station:
Baixador de Vallvidrera237 m
Trailhead:
Centre d'Informació del Parc290 m
Waypoint:
Font del Canet393 m
Feature:
Plaça del Tibidabo502 m
Summit:
el Tibidabo517 m

Key Passages

Narrow rocky path above the Font del Canet

Equipment

0/3 packed

Safety

Sun protectionsummer heatRecommended

Footwear

Walking shoesshort rocky path sectionsRequired

Other

Waterspring water on the route has no sanitary guaranteeRecommended

Downloads

Route confidence 85%

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Overview

Barcelona's 512 m house hill, the highest point of the Serra de Collserola, crowned by the Sagrat Cor church and a century-old amusement park. Woodland paths in the Collserola Natural Park reach it in about an hour from the train.

Tibidabo rises sharply behind Barcelona as the highest point of the Serra de Collserola, the coastal range that separates the city from the Vallès. The summit is fully built up: the Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor, topped by a statue of the Sacred Heart, stands on the top, beside the Tibidabo amusement park, and the Torre de Collserola telecommunications tower is a short walk away. All three are visible from most of the city.

This is not a mountaineering objective but a pleasant urban walk. The surrounding Collserola Natural Park has pine and oak woodland, springs and signposted paths that start from train stations. From the top the view covers Barcelona and the coast, Montserrat, the Montseny and the Garraf, and on very clear days the Serra de Tramuntana on Mallorca.

The name comes from the Latin Vulgate, 'tibi dabo' ('I will give you'), the Devil's words to Christ on a high mountain overlooking 'all the kingdoms of the world'.

Climbing Notes

Suitable for anyone who can walk two hours on woodland paths: about 300 m of ascent on the 6.5 km loop from Baixador de Vallvidrera. Wear walking shoes, carry water (the springs are not guaranteed drinkable) and avoid the midday heat in summer. It can be combined with the funicular or bus in either direction, and the church, its viewing lift and the amusement park's panoramic area can be visited at the top.

History

The Tibidabo funicular, the first in Spain, opened in 1901 and was modernised in 2021. The amusement park dates from 1899. The Sagrat Cor church, designed by Enric Sagnier, was begun in 1902 and took about 60 years to complete.

Season

Best Oct–May

January: Best (best window)
February: Best (best window)
March: Best (best window)
April: Best (best window)
May: Best (best window)
June: Good
July: Possible
August: Possible
September: Good
October: Best (best window)
November: Best (best window)
December: Best (best window)

Jan: Clear winter days give the best views
Jun: Warm; walk early or late
Jul: Hot; haze often limits the view
Aug: Hot; haze often limits the view

Access & Permits

Fees

Tibidabo funicular and amusement park are paid; the church and the panoramic area are free (a paid lift goes up to the statue)

Rules

Parc Natural de la Serra de Collserola: stay on paths and follow park rules

Getting There

Barcelona

Barcelona–El Prat (BCN)

FGC S1/S2 to Baixador de Vallvidrera for the walking route
Tibidabo funicular from Plaça del Doctor Andreu; bus TC2 links the funicular with Avinguda de Tibidabo metro station while the Tramvia Blau is out of service
FGC to Peu del Funicular, Vallvidrera funicular to Vallvidrera Superior, then TMB bus 111 to Tibidabo
Car: Ronda de Dalt and the BV-1462 via Vallvidrera to the amusement park car park