Accessible Montjuic Cable Car Barcelona
Accessibility :
Accessible Cable Car Stations,
Accessible Cable Car Gondolas,
Accessible Toilets nearby,
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For details of other wheelchair accessible hotels, wheelchair-friendly eating and drinking options and wheelchair accessible attractions in central Barcelona, see the Accessible Barcelona Guide
Getting to the Montjuïc Cable Car from central Barcelona (via the Montjuïc Funicular) :
The accessible Montjuïc Cable Car station is directly adjacent to the accessible Parc de Montjuïc Telefèric station (where you will arrive on the accessible Montjuïc Funicular from Paral.lel metro station – [MAP] – the Montjuïc Funicular will arrive at the building on the right, and the Montjuïc Cable Car leaves from the building on the left).
You can also get up there on the Barcelona Bus Turístic (Red Route), and regular Barcelona bus numbers 55 and 150.
For:
Those views of Barcelona from the cable car, as you fly high above Barcelona, just can’t be beat. And the birdseye view of Barcelona from the Mirador de l’Alcalde is sensational too.
Against:
There are some serious cobbles at Montjuïc Castle. But the view of Barcelona from the mirador is not to be missed..
Is it worth a trip on the accessible Montjuïc Cable Car for wheelchair-users then?
I’d say yes. Definitely. But only for the views of Barcelona from the cable car itself (and for the view over Barcelona from the Mirador de l’Alcalde).
Personally, I wouldn’t bother with Montjuïc Castle at all – and would just get off at the Mirador stop, (explained next).
Although the Mirador de l’Alcalde is on various levels, and is stepped, there is also a step-free path, which zig-zags all the way down to the main viewing area.
Boarding the Montjuïc Cable Car (Telefèric de Montjuïc):
The Montjuïc Cable Car slows to a crawl as gondolas pass through the stations, allowing passengers to board or exit.
However, the boarding staff will even stop the cable car completely if needed.
A word of caution though:
If a bulky powered wheelchair just looks too heavy, people have reported that they were prevented from boarding at all. The official reason given, is safety (which is entirely reasonable). However, as a bulky wheelchair, and an assistant takes up the same space as 4 other passengers, and as the queue to board can be long, the queue moves quicker if bulky wheelchairs are not carried. Which might just have influenced this decision too? 😉
So my advice would be to visit at quieter times (early in the day – and not at the weekend). Plus, don’t buy a ticket in advance: wait until you have the OK to board before parting with any of your money.
And when you do board, board head on. And for two reasons:
You’ll be facing Barcelona, and the door will be behind you – so you will have an uninterrupted view; plus:
This is the easiest way to board. So you will be able to see just how slowly the gondolas crawl through the station, which will give you more confidence for the return journey (as you will then be boarding in reverse – if you do decide just to come back down on the cable car that is):
The Recommended Montjuïc Route from central Barcelona:
1: First, head to the accessible Paral·lel metro station (Barcelona metro lines L2 & L3 will get you there – as will trains R1, R4, R7 and S1, plus Barcelona bus numbers D20, H14 & V11).
If arriving by bus (or on foot), the accessible lift entrance to Paral·lel metro station is located on the corner of Avinguda Paral·lel and Carrer Nou de la Rambla [MAP].
2: Take the accessible Montjuïc Funicular train from Paral·lel up to Parc de Montjuïc station.
Your Hola Barcelona Travel Card is also valid for travel on the Montjuïc Funicular.
If access to accessible toilets is not an issue for you when you arrive at the top of the Montjuïc Funicular (and the bottom of the Montjuïc Cable Car), then simply turn RIGHT as you exit the Parc de Montjuïc station, and you will immediately see the ramp leading up to the Montjuïc Cable Car station next door [MAP] (the Montjuïc Funicular will arrive at the lighter coloured building on the RIGHT of that picture, and the Montjuïc Cable Car leaves from the more modern building on the LEFT).
However, if you do reckon that you will need access to a toilet within the next hour or so, you have two choices:
a. Turn LEFT; trundle down to the first pedestrian crossing; after crossing here (dropped kerbs), turn LEFT again; and head down to the accessible Fundació Joan Miró. As well as some amazing modern art, and stupendous views of Barcelona – you will also find accessible toilets here; or
b. Turn RIGHT after crossing, and roll along to the Salts – Terrassa Bar which overlooks Barcelona (and, what was, the Olympic diving pool – it’s now a popular outdoor municipal swimming pool). Although you have to eat/drink here – this is a great spot to stop and relax or a while.
There are also free public toilets near here too, but they are not accessible (steps).
Then simply retrace your steps back to the Montjuïc Cable Car station.
3: If they’ll let you board the Montjuïc Cable Car (they don’t always – some wheelchairs just look too heavy) – only then should you buy a ticket. Your Hola Barcelona Travel Card is not valid for travel on the Montjuïc Cable Car though (so you will have to buy a ticket here).
The outward journey goes directly up to the Montjuïc Castle/Castell stop though (which you don’t want – unless you’re OK with the cobbles up there). So just stay on, until the second stop at Mirador (which is actually on the way back down the hill).
4: On arrival at the Mirador stop, exit the station, and cross the pedestrian crossing immediately outside of the station [MAP]. After crossing the road here (there are dropped kerbs on both sides), continue straight ahead, into the gardens, and when you see the sloping path on your left, roll down to the main viewing area [MAP].
5: After enjoying the amazing views of Barcelona, return to the same pedestrian crossing as before – but, if you don’t want to come back down on the cable car for any reason (there is always a queue here – as the gondoas are usually full with people who have boarded at the castle, and who are travelling all the way down), DO NOT CROSS THE ROAD. Instead, turn RIGHT, and trundle down a few metres to the bus stop (Pl de la Sardana bus stop – stop number 2326) [MAP]. Your Hola Barcelona Travel Card is valid for the bus journey (you can also just roll down to the funicular station instead).
6: The bus from here (bus number 150) would appear to give you two options for returning to central Barcelona: remain on the bus until the end of the line at Plaça d’Espanya, or get off midway at the Parc de Montjuïc stop, and take the Montjuïc Funicular train back down to Paral·lel metro station.
However, the metro station at Plaça d’Espanya is one of the few metro stations in Barcelona that is NOT accessible yet. So, you really have just the one option if you are coming back down on the bus:
GET OFF THE BUS AT THE PARC DE MONTJUIC STOP [MAP].
7: Regardless of whether you took bus 150 here, or returned on the cable car, go back down to Paral·lel metro station on the Montjuïc Funicular (your Hola Barcelona Travel Card is valid for this part of the journey too).
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For details of other accessible visitor attractions, accessible events, and accessible eating and drinking options in Barcelona, see the Accessible Barcelona Guide
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