From the little train at Parc de l’Oreneta to the medieval monastery of Pedralbes
There is a Barcelona that reveals itself away from the centre and the busiest routes, where greenery takes centre stage and time seems to move at a different pace. This is the Barcelona of the parks in the upper part of the city, in the Sarrià-Sant Gervasi district: woodlands, stately gardens and viewpoints that offer some of the finest views over the city. We propose a route designed to be enjoyed as a family, in solitude or in good company, combining nature, history and a few surprises that will delight everyone.
Parc de l’Oreneta: a little train, ponies and the Collserola woods
At the foot of the Collserola mountain range, in the Pedralbes neighbourhood, Parc de l’Oreneta is one of those spaces children never forget. Its main attraction is the tren de l’Oreneta (the “swallow train,” in Catalan), a miniature railway running since 1981 along more than half a kilometre of track through tunnels and greenery. It operates on Sundays and public holidays, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with a ticket priced at €2 per ride. The park also has a pony farm where children can take a ride, several play areas, and the remains of the old Castell de l’Oreneta.
A brief practical note: due to health measures linked to African swine fever, access to the park remains restricted and can currently only be made via Passatge de la Blada; the train itself continues to operate as usual.
A short walk away stands the Monestir de Pedralbes, founded in 1327 by Queen Elisenda de Montcada and home to an uninterrupted community of Poor Clare nuns ever since. Its three-storey cloister, considered one of the most harmonious examples of Catalan Gothic architecture, together with the light filtering through its stained-glass windows, makes for a wonderfully calm visit either before or after the park. It is open Tuesday to Sunday (closed Mondays), with general admission at €5 (reduced €3.50) and free entry on the first Sunday of each month.
Jardins de la Tamarita: Sant Gervasi’s hidden garden
Behind a wall of stone and wrought iron in Sant Gervasi lie the Jardins de la Tamarita, a former private estate belonging to the Craywinckel family, acquired in the early twentieth century by industrialist Alfredo Mata, who commissioned landscape architect Nicolau M. Rubió i Tudurí to design its grounds. Two hectares of ponds, sculptures and varied vegetation, including a 23-metre-tall centenary Pyrenean oak, sit alongside children’s play areas, a table-tennis table and a large open lawn for running around. It’s the perfect stop before or after heading up to Tibidabo.
Parc de Monterols: silence and views over the hill
Also in Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Parc de Monterols occupies the former estate of the Gil family, set on a 121-metre hill. Its circular gravel paths climb among tall trees — cork oaks, holm oaks, cypresses and carob trees, a vestige of the neighbourhood’s agricultural past — up to a viewpoint with open views over Barcelona. It’s a discreet corner, rarely visited by tourists, ideal for those seeking real quiet within the city.
Carretera de les Aigües: Collserola’s natural balcony
We’ve written about this before in our earlier post Carretera de les Aigües: a panoramic walk in the heart of Collserola, but it deserves a mention here too: this flat, roughly 10-kilometre trail runs through the Collserola natural park with spectacular panoramic views over the entire city. Our recommendation is to reach it via the Vallvidrera funicular, which has a stop right on the Carretera de les Aigües itself.
Sarrià-Sant Gervasi and its green spaces await you
If your next stay in Barcelona includes family time, a search for peace and quiet, or simply a break after a busy work schedule, these four green corners offer a different, and very much our own, way of getting to know the city. Sarrià-Sant Gervasi is a district set apart from the bustle and the centre, yet well worth enjoying in true Barcelona style. From Hotel Continental Barcelona and Hotel Continental Palacete, we’ll be delighted to help you find your way to each of them.
