Complete guide to Barcelona’s Tibidabo Theme Park
EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE TIBIDABO PARK
Did you know there’s an amusement park in Barcelona, on top of a hill? And that it’s also the oldest theme park in Spain? I’m talking about the Tibidabo Amusement Park, of course! And since I’ve I’ve had their family yearly pass since my daughter was 6 years old (and the first year we went an average of once per month) I know it like the palm of my hand and I’ll share all my tricks and tips with you in this post!
The park envisioned by the local entrepreneur Salvador Andreu (his famous cough pills were a classic at every household), and it was officially innaugurated in 1905, at first with small rides and little by little more important attractions were added. Actually, some of them have become iconic landmarks of the Tibidabo mountain and they still run! In the 1990’s the park was saved from bankruptcy by the Barcelona City Council, who currently manages it and has invested in new rides, some of them even including virtual reality.
The amusement park spreads from the top of the Tibidabo Mount, and the rides and other services are organized in 6 different levels, some wider than the other, and all of them connected by either elevators, ramps or stairs, so it’s wise to get familiar with the rides available on each level, to avoid too much back and forth.
The Tibidabo Amusement Park rides
Often access to rides is limited to certain heights. There’s 4 “height classifications”, named after 4 animals that live in the Tibidabo mountain range that are also the mascots of the park: Golden orioles, Salamanders, Foxes and Boars. There’s measuring poles by the ticket office at the entrance of the Park, as well at the control point of the access between Level 5 and 6. You’ll also find poles at the access of each ride painted green, yellow and red.
Green means anyone of that height can enter the ride by themselves, yellow means people of that age need to enter the ride accompanied by an adult, and red means access denied to people of that height. The staff will also check the kids size at the entrance using a pole shaped like a candy stick. it can be a bit dramatic to be denied access at the door, so make sure to check the poles before joining the lines!
1
Golden Orioles (0 to 90cm /35.5in)
I must say that the youngest ones won't find a lot of variety of rides for them at Tibidabo, and specially if you are visiting with older kids, your toddlers are likely to get very frustrated to be refused access to many of the other rides where their older siblings can go. So often the best way to go will be to split from time to time, so the youngest ones can have some time away from the oldest and have fun in the rides specifically for their age. The advantage, though, is that the lines for these rides are often quite short.
These are our recommendations:
- Stay mostly in level 6. The carousel is beautiful and parents and older kids are also allowed on it. Then follow the path the starts behind the Airplane to find the Pony Rodeo, the Rio Grande train and the Cups (kids will need to be with an adult or older kid to access them). If you keep walking past them, you’ll find an area in the shade with slides, and nearby there’s the Interactive Fountains that are a great way to combat the heat in the Summer (bring clothe changes and a towel!).
- Level 5 can also be fun. The Lego and Robotics rooms are not just an opportunity to play but also a great way to get away from the sun and get to seat for a while. The Miramiralls mirrors are cool, although sometimes the lines can be slow. The Automaton Museum is quite fascinating, and kids love pushing buttons to make them work (just remember that some of them are very old and they have to “rest” for several minutes after each round, which is why they only word when the button turns green again). And make sure to check the schedule of the Marionetarium shows: beautiful puppet shows with vintage marionettes (it’s mostly music and movement, don’t worry about not speaking the local language, you’ll still get to enjoy it).
- Next skip to Level 2. Dididado is a 4D cinema, showing a short 10-minute or so movie in the morning and a different one in the afternoon. The seats move and rock, and that can be scary for the little ones, but the first row doesn’t move. The wait is an average of 10 to 20 minutes and you first enter a hall where an introductory video is shown. The other ride for little ones in this level is a favorite: the Alaska (commonly called “the seals”). Mini boats shaped as seals float along a water canal and go down a small slope. Kids under 90cm / 35.50 inches need to be accompanied by an older kid no taller than 140cm / 55.1 inches, though.
- What’s on Level 1. The balloons can be accessed as long as the kid is accompanied by someone taller than 120cm/47.2 inches. And while they theoretically can enter the Fairytale Castle, beware some rooms inside are dark and the little ones might find it scary. Plus the lines tend to be slow… On the other side of Level 1 you’ll find the Tchu Tchu Train, which is similar to the rides on level 6, but it’s convenient when you need to wait for your older kids to get off other rides.
- Anything I don’t recommend? Sorry, the Airplane. I know, it’s vintage, it’s cute… but the looooooong waits aren’t worth the couple of turns and a few seconds of fake “flying”.
2
Salamanders (90cm to 120cm / 35.5 to 42.2 inches)
- Level 6 is still a winner. And besides the rides mentioned for Golden Orioles above, they are also allowed into the Ferris Wheel and the Talaia (a vintage basket that rises to 550m / 1805ft over the sea level) – accompanied by adults, of course. However… keep in mind that the lines move slowly, and young kids might get scared of heights (specially when the cabins stop at the top). It also tends to be cold at the top when it’s windy.
- Attention to this classic of Level 5. Now you can take your kid to the Embruixabruixes! This gondola is loved by adults for the impressive views over the city and the forest, and by the kids for the magical lights once you enter the tunnels. Plus at the end of the ride Guri Guri, the elf of the Tibidabo Amusement Park, will come say hi! The lines here go pretty fast even when they might look long. And while there’s a recording in Catalan that animates the ride, it’s totally OK to ignore it if you can’t understand it (I personally think it doesn’t add much to the experience). Kids can continue to access the rest of the rides on this level. BTW, Salamanders taller than 110cm/43.30in can also ride the InteracTibi 3D simulator.
- Welcome to level 4! While Golden Orioles didn’t have anything to do in this level, Salamanders can ride the Crashing Cars accompanied – lines are kind of long, though.
- Level 2 can be frustrating to navigate… While your kids can continue to enjoy all the Golden Oriole rides in this level, there’s some rides that are only available to SOME Salamanders.
- All Salamanders can get on the Trampolines.
- Only Salamanders taller than 105cm / 41.3in can ride the Mini Hurakan… but they can get on by themselves!
- Only Salamanders taller than 110cm / 43.3in can ride the Diavolo (flying chairs), but only on the double seats, accompanied. There’s two lines for this ride, so make sure to get on the one to the left or you’ll have to start queueing all over again if you get on the “solo chairs” line by mistake! Salamanders must seat on the inner chair of the double chair, as it’s the one equipped with extra safety straps. TIP: the line for the double chairs is actually faster than the one for solo chairs!
- And same goes for Level 1!
- All Salamanders can ride the Jumping Star, but accompanied.
- Only Salamanders over 100cm / 39.3in get to ride the Pirate Ship (accompanied) and the Tibidabo Express train (accompanied but without VR glasses – READ INFO BELOW).
- Only Salamanders taller than 110cm / 43.3in are allowed the TibiCity (road-safety educational cars, on their own).
- Only Salamanders taller than 110cm / 43.3in can ride the Mina d’Or (trunk splash boats, accompanied)
3
Foxes (120 to 130cm / 42.2 to 51 inches)
- Rides they can do on their own: Embruixabruixes (on Level 5), Mini Hurakan, Diavolo and Trampolines (on Level 2), Tibidabo Express with VR Glasses, Pirate Ship and Tibi City (on Level 1)
- Rides where they need to be accompanied: Jumping Star, Roller Coaster and Mina d’Or (L1)
- Rides where they can be companions: Rio Grande train, Cups and Pony Rodeo (on Level 6), Balloons and Tchu Tchu Train (on Level 1)
4
Boars (Taller than 130cm / 51.1 inches)
- All boars can ride by themselves: Jumping Star and Mina d’Or (Level 1)
- Boars shorter than 140cm / 55.11in continue to need to be accompanied at: Roller Coaster
- Boars taller than 140cm / 55.11in CANNOT ride anymore: Pony Rodeo (on Level 6), Alaska and Trampolines (on Level 2)
- Boars taller than 140cm / 55.11in CAN ride: Beyond (immersive VR experience – timed access is assigned on days of high attendance, ask at the entrance of the ride).
- Boars taller than 150cm / 59in CANNOT ride anymore: TibiCity.
- Boars 8yo and older can access: Hotel 666 (formerly known as “Krueger Hotel”, the theme park’s Tunel of Terror) and Espai 666 (meet & greet with the characters of Hotel 666), on Level 4.
Planning your visit to the Tibidabo Amusement Park
5
Tibidabo Opening Hours
Understanding the opening hours of the Tibidabo Park can be a bit tricky, because it depends on the time of the year AND the visited area. The “Panoramic Area” refers to most of Level 6 and includes the Ferris Wheel, the Talaia, the Airplane, the Carousel and also de Automaton Museum on Level 5 (but not the rest of the rides).
The table below is a general guideline for the opening times to help you figuring out what day to go, but double check the Tibidabo Amusement Park website as some particular days their schedule might vary depending on local holidays, sunlight and other internal reasons.
Also take into account that levels 5 to 1 usually don’t open until about 1 hour after Level 6 (Panoramic Area) opens. And even then, the VR glasses at the Tibidabo Express aren’t handed out until around one hour after the ride opens.
| MONTH | PANORAMIC AREA | AMUSEMENT PARK |
|---|---|---|
| January | Only open January 2, 3, 4 and 5, from 11AM to 6PM | Same as Panoramic Area |
| February | Weekends, 11AM to 6PM | Closed |
| March |
Week days from 11AM to 5PM Weekends and bank holidays, 11AM to 7PM |
Weekends and bank holidays, 11AM to 7PM |
| April |
Week days from 11AM to 6PM Saturdays, 11AM to 9PM Sundays, 11AM to 8PM |
Saturdays, 11AM to 9PM Sundays, 11AM to 8PM |
| May |
Week days from 11AM to 6PM Saturdays, 11AM to 9PM Sundays, 11AM to 8PM |
Saturdays, 11AM to 9PM Sundays, 11AM to 8PM |
| June |
Week days from 11AM to 7PM Weekends, 11AM to 9PM |
Weekends, 11AM to 9PM |
| July |
Mon-Tues from 11AM to 8PM Wed-Fri from 11AM to 9PM Weekends, 11AM to 10PM |
Wed-Fri from 11AM to 9PM Weekends from noon to 10PM |
| August |
Mon-Tue from noon to 8PM Wed-Sun from noon to 10PM |
Wed-Sun from noon to 10PM |
| September |
Mon-Fri from 11AM to 6PM or 7PM Wed-Sun from 11AM to 9PM |
Weekends and first week of September from 11AM to 9PM |
| October |
Mon-Fri from 11AM to 6PM Saturday from 11AM to 9PM Sunday from 11AM to 8PM |
Saturday from 11AM to 9PM Sunday from 11AM to 8PM |
| November |
Mon-Fri from 11AM to 4PM Weekends from 11AM to 7PM |
Weekends from 11AM to 7PM |
| December |
Mon-Fri from 11AM to 4PM Weekends from 11AM to 6PM CLOSED ON DECEMBER 25 AND 26! |
Weekends and Christmas holidays from 11AM to 6PM CLOSED ON DECEMBER 25 AND 26! |
6
Amusement Park types of tickets
The type of tickets depends on what areas you want to access, your height and if you want to include the Cuca de Llum funicular or not.
- Panoramic area with no rides: Free access
- Panoramic area with rides: prices for people 90-120cm / 35.4-47.2 in tall, and for people taller than that.
- Amusement Park: prices for people 90-120cm / 35.4-47.2 in tall, and for people taller than that.
- Tibiclub yearly membership: options for families and individual tickets.
- Discounts available for seniors, single-parent families, large families and people with at least 33% discapacity (prove of discapacity and single-parent / large family conditions required)
- VR glasses are available for the Roller Coaster for an additional fee, payable at a stand near the access to the Roller Coaster line.
7
How to get to the Parc d'Atraccions del Tibidabo
ADDRESS
Parc d’Atraccions del Tibidabo. Plaça del Tibidabo, 4. Barcelona, 08035.BY CAR
- There’s a cheaper parking near the Vall d’Hebron subway stop: BSM Sant Genis – Vall d’Hebron. And from there you can take the TibiBus T2B to the Cuca de Llum.
- There’s also a more expensive parking at the Amusement Park, but often the lines to get in are terrible.
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
- Option 1. L3 (green) or L5 (blue) subway lines to Vall d’Hebron, and from there the Tibibus T2B to the Cuca de Llum funicular that takes you to the Amusement Park. If you do this, you can retrieve your park band or buy your tickets at the box offices of the Tibidabo Amusement Park.
- Option 2. L7 (brown) FFCC train line to Av. Tibidabo or V15 bus line to Balmes-Pl Kennedy, and from there the TibiBus T2C or 196 Bus to the Cuca de Llum funicular. You can get your tickets or your band at the Tibidabo Store on Passeig de St. Gervasi 36. The lines tend to be shorter there than at the Amusement Park.
- Option 3. FFCC trains to Baixador de Vallvidrera (S1 and S2 Lines), then 111 Bus to the Amusement Park. It’s probably the cheapest option if you don’t have pre-purchased tickets that already include the Cuca de Llum funicular, but it’s a really slow way to get there!
Wasn’t there a Blue Tram?
That’s the thing… It WAS. The service of is nostalgic vintage tram painted in blue that used to connect Plaça Kennedy with the Funicular station on Plaça del Doctor Andreu was discontinued in 2018 with the promise of having it back as soon as the infrastructure could be refurbished. Unfortunately, there’s no news of it coming back so far. In the meantime, the buses 196 and Tibibus T2C cover the same itinerary.What's the Cuca de Llum?
"Firefly" in Catalan, it's the new name of the renovated Funicular del Tibidabo, connecting Plaça del Doctor Andreu with the main entrance of the Tibidabo Theme Park. There's two carriages running at the same time and crossing in the middle of the track. One is red, and the other is white. The views are quite spectacular, but other than that it's just like a train doing uphill.8
Tibidabo restaurants and snack points >> picnic!
LUNCH & DINNER
- Level 6. Masia del Tibidabo (Catalan food restaurant, right outside the amusement park main entrance). Enrique Tomas (Spanish ham, sandwiches and basic tapas). La Terrassa (focaccias and sandwiches).
- Level 1. Bar de l’Estació (train station cafe with burgers, chicken and salads – we love that it has an indoors seating area). Bar Piratta (outdoor cafe serving hot dogs, chicken nuggets and sandwiches). Taberna del Castell (Pizza)
SNACKS
- Level 6. Escriba (epic gauffres). Iogurteria (iogurt ice cream). Xurreria (hot chocolate and churros). Barbapapa (cotton candy)
- Level 4. Tibidolç (candy store). Food Truck 666 (hot dogs).
- Level 1. Diavolo Food Truck (empanadas and their epic slushes). La Gelateria (ice cream). Bar Piratta (coffee, drinks, bakeries).
PICNIC AREAS
Did you know you can bring your own food to the Tibidabo Amusement Park? You just can’t eat it anywhere. There’s two designated picnic areas (it’s not allowed to eat your own food at the tables of the theme park restaurants). You’ll find one picnic area in level 1 near the Balloons and Merlin (but the tables on the shade are hard to get), and another more secluded one at the end of the Cami del Cel, passed the Interactive Water Fountains.
To be honest, when we decide to bring our own food, we prefer the area near the Interactive Fountains BUT we don’t really go all the way down to the picnic area (too far): we seat on some bench near the slides between the Poney Rodeo and Beyond. There’s shade, the kids can play while the adults rest, and being on the shade under the trees is nice. We’ve never been told off for eating our sandwiches there, even if it’s technically not allowed… (clean after your mess, of course).
9
What are the longest lines / waits for the rides?
LEVEL 6
- Airplane. The craft only takes about a dozen people per ride, so even when the line looks relatively short, you are likely to have to wait way longer than you expected (and there’s the risk that the ride will get out of order: it’s a vintage ride, after all).
- Talaia. The capacity of the two cabins isn’t big, and they allow you to stay at the top for quite a while. Because of that, the lines also move very slowly.
- Ferris Wheel. Slow queues seem to be a theme for all the vintage rides at the theme park…
- Beyond. Here it depends a lot on the people in front of you, because the experience doesn’t have a standard duration: it depends on how fast each person goes through the virtual world that they have chosen. Ask the staff at the door how long they expect the line to be. And don’t leave it for the end of your visit, as sometimes they have to close the lines earlier than expected so the ride can close at the same time of the other rides.
LEVEL 5
The only attraction that sometimes has long lines here are the mirrors at Miramiralls, as it depends a lot on how long people decide to stay inside. The rest of the rides are quite fast (even Embruixabruixes despite the lines looking longer).
LEVEL 4
The lines at the Crash Cars are usually longish, and the lines for the Hotel 666 get longer as sunset approaches.
LEVEL 2
- Trampolines. With only 6 trampolines and kids being given a generous time to jump, the lines may be short but they tend to feel very slow.
- Dididado. The lines for the 4D cinema may seem long, but they are rarely longer than 20 minutes, because they let people in every 10 minutes to watch the preview, before they watch the movie in a different room (around 10 more minutes). Worth the wait.
LEVEL 1
- Fairytale Castle. One of those rides that you expect to move fast… but it doesn’t.
- Tibidabo Express. Probably the longest wait, but it’s totally worth it.
- Piratta. The lines might look long, but they aren’t too bad.
- Roller Coaster. Because there’s two carriages, taking a dozen people each per ride, the lines might seem long but they are faster than the Tibidabo Express.
- Mina d’Or (splash trunks). Very slow line.
- Tibicity. The lines are surprisingly slow for a ride for little kids, mostly because it involves a longish speech about driving safety.
- Merli. To be inaugurated at the end of May 2024, the first year the lines are likely to be long due to the novelty.
10
Other questions about Mount Tibidabo Amusement Park
Is the Basilica of the Sagrat Cor included in the ticket?
No, the impressive church is located right outside of the amusement park. The entrance to the church is free, but there’s a small fee to take the elevator to the vantage point at the top.
Is the Torre de Collserola included in the ticket?
No, while this huge telecommunications antenna is open for visits, the admission is completely separate from that of the park. I’ts a 4 minutes car ride between them or 12 minutes walk (the 111 bus can spare you 4 minutes, but most of the time it’s not worth the wait).
Are there lockers at the park?
Yes, there’s (paid) lockers near the entrances on Level 1 and Level 6. But unless you are carrying heavy stuff that you won’t be needing, you may not need to use them. When bags are not allowed in a ride, riders are instructed where to leave them (usually on the exit side of the tracks, or somewhere where non-riders can’t reach them).
Can you smoke inside the amusement park?
Only in designated areas. There’s a handful of them, and they are quite well hidden, so smokers aren’t easily seen by visiting kids.
Are the rides adapted for wheelchairs and other handicaps?
People with at least a 33% handicap can request a discounted ticket by presenting their ID/passport and handicap certificate at the Tibidabo Park ticket offices. With that they’ll be given a special band that will give them and their group access to the Functional Diversity priority lanes (ATTENTION: there’s no such line for the roller coaster!).
Many rides are adapted. Click here for a detailed list.
Are there shows for people to watch?
Yes! If you need a break from the rides, there’s several shows you may want to consider:
- Tibidabo Mascots. There’s a show at 6PM, and several meet and greets in the afternoon, near the park entrance on Level 6.
- Marionetarium. A personal favorite, a beautiful vintage marionette show taking place every hour from 1PM (except lunch break) on their theater next to the Embruixabruixes line on Level 5.
- Music / Dance / Magic / Science shows. The shows vary depending on the season, and they usually take place at 7.30PM on the plaza of Level 5.
Enjoy your visit to the Tibidabo Theme Park!
Marta
Marta is the founder of ForeverBarcelona. She is a passionate tour guide that loves Barcelona and loves writing too. She is the main author of our Blog, and is committed to sharing her knowledge about Barcelona and her best tips with our readers.
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