The Jardi Botanic Marimurtra, a hidden gem of the Costa Brava
BEST TIPS TO VISIT THE MARIMURTRA GARDEN
Looking for a stunning garden to visit near Barcelona, Spain? Marimurtra is one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in Europe. Located on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean, this hidden gem is home to over 4,000 plant species from around the world. Just a short day trip from Barcelona, it is the perfect place to enjoy nature, capture amazing photos, and experience the beauty of the Costa Brava.
The Botanical Garden Marimurtra in Blanes, the first village of the Costa Brava, has recently become viral in social media thanks to the breathtaking views that its vantage points offer over the Mediterranean Sea. But until recently it had been a hidden gem only visited by the locals and the few lucky ones vacationing in the area that would hear about it. In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to plan your visit, from opening hours to the best viewpoints.
Learning the basics about the Jardin Botanico Marimurtra
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The dream of a man
And in 1908 he quitted the company that had brought him to Spain, to found his own metal company with a partner. He became a member of many local societies, namely the Hiking Club of Catalonia which organized outings to explore the region. It was during those treks that he discovered the Blanes, a then quaint seaside village in the Costa Brava. There in 1918 he purchased some real state over the cliffs right outside Blanes. With the help of the Catalan architect Josep Goday he built there a house and a library, and outlined the designed of the botanical garden of his dreams. But it wouldn’t be until 1927 that the garden started taking shape thanks to the Swiss garden planner Zenon Schreiber and a small team of builders.
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) didn’t damage the Marimurtra garden, but seeing the risk of having the property expropiated, Faust decided to create a Foundation in Switzerland to protect it. His German passport, though, didn’t make things easy for him – specially after World War II, and his foundation didn’t see the light until 1951, just one year before he passed away. But by then, the Jardi Botanic Marimurtra was already a reality.
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The collection
Visiting the Marimurtra Gardens
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The entrance
If you have purchased tickets for one of the guided tours organized by Marimurtra, instead of going in you’ll need to wait outside in by the corner of the patio where you’ll see a sign for the guided tours meeting point.
GROUPS ENTRANCE: Groups larger than 10 people with a reservation will access through a gate on Carrer Jardi that will only be open for them. That access leads to the top of the second garden, near the bar and picnic area.
EVENTS ENTRANCE: People attending an event will access via the events gate where Passeig Carles Faust ends and Carrer de l’Ermita starts. That access leads to the top of the third garden where the water lilies pond is.
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The first garden
As you leave behind a group of rockery to your left, the path splits in three more alleys. The one to the right takes you to the WC, the one in the middle is a shortcut that you want to avoid for now. The one to the left are a flight of some 20 steps taking you to the main area of the first garden: the pergola and the cacti collection. The pergola is a wooden structure crossed by labyrinthine paths and planted with lush vegetation that provides the perfect shade to scape the Summer heat. Follow the central one to go past a small pond and an authentic Greek bathtub filled with water and water plants.
At the end of the pergola, towards the bottom left corner, you’ll find a bust of Karl Faust, founder of the botanical garden, and a vantage point from where to admire a panoramic view over the arid lands displaying their collection of American and African cacti and euphorbias. Retrace your steps back to the entrance of the pergola, and take the other stair that takes you back to where the 3 paths join again. From there you’ll be entering the second garden.
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The second garden
You’ll also be passing the cafeteria and picnic tables, before rejoining the main path through some other steps. From there take the path that continues downhill until you reach another crossing, one of my favorite corners. Here the founder of the garden decided to preserve an old well and a farmers hut that were already there before he purchased the state, and continue to bear testimony of the land’s past.
Now continue in the same direction you were going, leaving the well behind you. To the right you’ll be passing the bottom of the stairs of the Camí d’Avelina Rabassa that we skipped at the beginning – we aren’t doing them yet either. Your path continues down, gently bending to the left until it opens into a secluded plaza, then the path continues passed the ethnobotanical area and the tallest tree in Marimurtra: the Araucaria Bidwilli, an Australian tree that grows to 25m / 82ft. If you are lucky you may be able to see one of its giant pinecones… the size of a football! It is also the oldest trees in the gardens, planted by Mr. Faust himself. And just as you pass it, to the right you’ll start seeing the bamboo forest. The path is joined by the shortcut that takes you back to the well – but you’ll use take it later. Now it’s time to go through the tunnel under the street that takes us to the third garden.
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The third garden
The path soon opens into a scenic plaza dedicated to Goethe (to honor the German origins of Karl Faust). This circular space has a small waterlily pond attached to a wall that displays a ceramic mural with a small text by Goethe about Spain and its orange blossoms. You’ll find here stone benches where to sit and relax. And when you are ready, here starts one of the monumental staircases, the Epicurus Stair, that elegantly descends lined up with tall cypress trees and dew-flower bushes (drosanthemum floribundum) that tinge the path of bright pink when they bloom in May – it lasts only 3 weeks!
At the end of the 81 steps opens the plaza with the most famous corner of this botanical garden: the Linné Pavilion. This classic gazebo offers scenic views over the Mediterranean Sea and the Cala Sa Forcanera cove. The structure is dedicated to the Sweedish naturalist Carl Von Linnaeus that created the scientific taxonomy – that is the system to name organisms. It’s a gorgeous space where you’ll find it hard to stop taking pictures.
When you are ready, continue your exploration of the gardens by taking the path that heads up along the cliffs. You’ll be first passing a small circular balcony, the Mirador de Ramon Margalef. After that, leave behind a path on the left and continue up a flight of wide steps until you reach another vantage point, the Mirador de Carlos Pau. There, to the right you’ll have more beautiful views over the sea, and to the left you’ll have another handsome stairway: the Escala de Font i Quer.
My recommendation is to just enjoy the view of the stairway from the bottom rather than walking it up: there’s one more vantage point you won’t want to miss, and you’ll get get only if you continue the path that continues up along the cliffs instead. At the top end of the garden you’ll reach the “Caseta dels Guardies“, the house of the sentries or “guardia civiles” (a Spanish military police) that from here used to keep an eye on the local smugglers. Nowadays it’s a whitewashed tower, whose roof is accessible via a narrow staircase – the inside is not visitable.
Behind the the building you’ll find a semi-circular flower bed, and some stairs leading to a couple of verandas and quaint seating areas. And near them there’s a larger circular opening that is usually closed for private events. Check them out, but get back to the Sentries’ House, as the main path continues from there and around the top of the garden towards the last unique element of the Jardi Botanic Marimurtra: the water lilies pond, built at the bottom of a small stone quarry. A small wooden bridge allows you to approach the water to see the koi fish that live in it.
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Heading back to the exit
After crossing the tunnel, we suggest you take the path to the right, the Cami Josep Cuatrecasas, with is lined up with bamboos and you haven’t done it yet. It’ll take you back to the well crossing, and from there you can take the lovely stairs of the Camí Avelina Rabassa, just a bit further away on your right. At the top of these stairs, to the left, you’ll be back to the first garden and just a few minutes away from the exit of the botanical garden.
Plan your visit to the botanical garden
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Types of admissions
Individual visitors
- Morning / Full day admission. Available online and on site.
- Afternoon admission. Access from 2PM only. Available on site and on the Marimurtra website.
- “Seasonal tasting”. Morning guided tour (in Spanish or Catalan) and admission. Available on site and on the Marimurtra website.
- “Horabaixa sunset visit”. July and August only, at 7PM. Available on site and on the Marimurtra website.
The Marimurtra Botanical Garden also organizes activities such as yoga classes, painting sessions, workshops for families and themed guided tours, that they announce on their website calendar.
Groups
Marimurtra also offers a variety of private tours for groups of 10 people or more:
- 25 minutes introduction to the gardens. Perfect when your group prefers to wander on their own but will appreciate some background.
- “Marimurtra tasting”. 60 minutes tour, similar to the Seasonal Tasting for individual visitors.
- Biodiversity tour. 60 minutes tour that discusses not just the botanical side of the garden but also the animals that live within it.
- Discover Marimurtra. 2-hour in-depth tour of the gardens.
Groups interested should contact the garden directly to book their favorite tour.
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How to get to Marimurtra Botanical Garden from Barcelona
BY CAR
Driving is the easiest way to get to Marimurtra. The C-32 is an easy highway that offers occasional views over the Mediterranean Sea. Drive along it for around 60km / 37mi until you reach the town of Tordera, and there take the GI-600 and follow the signs to Blanes. Once in Blanes you want to get to the Passeig de la Marina, the promenade along the beach, and at the end of the beach turn right towards Carrer de l’Esperança, that will take you up the hill until you reach the entrance to the gardens. The whole ride will take you a bit over an hour, depending on where in Barcelona you are located and the traffic conditions.
Click for Googlemaps directions >>
Rent a car >>
BY PRIVATE COACH
If you are a group that has hired a private coach to get to Marimurtra, be aware that the directions for cars don’t apply to large vehicles, and that your coach shouldn’t be more than 12m / 39.3ft long or it won’t get through the narrowest bends on the road. You’ll still be taking the C-32 and the GI-600 but rather than heading towards the beach you’ll turn to take the GI-682, then leave it on the first exit and follow the signs to Cala Sant Francesc. For more information, here.
BY TRAIN
Taking the train will take you twice as much as driving – about 2 hours. Your journey will start by taking the R1 trains towards Maçanet-Massanes. They stop in the following stations: Barcelona-Sants, Catalunya, Arc de Triomf and Clot-Arago. The train is a scenic ride that stops at every town along the coast (which explains why in the Summer the trains are so crowded with locals heading to the beach), and it takes 1.5 hours to reach Blanes.
Once there, outside the station you can take the L4 BLA-REN bus to get you closer to the town center. However… from there you’ll still have a 21 minutes walk, and the last part will be a steep uphill. Definitely not my favorite way to get to Marimurtra.
BY BUS
The bus 603 departs 4 times a day from Ronda Sant Pere near Catalunya, and it takes you to Blanes in about 1 hour and 40 minutes. Rather than getting off at the last stop, the main bus station, get off at Plaça Catalunya – Sa Palomera – the first stop where you’ll see the beach of Blanes. From there you can either walk 20 minutes to the gardens, or take the tourist train that takes you there (additional fee paid on board – check the schedule here)
OR TAKE A PRIVATE TOUR!
Want to make things easier? Book a private tour with us! Our private licensed tour guide and a professional driver with a fancy Mercedes car or van will pick you up at your hotel and drive you to Blanes in style. You’ll be dropped-off at the door of the Marimurtra gardens and your guide will take you inside while the driver waits for you outside. You can optionally extend your tour to other locations of the Costa Brava, to see more of our beautiful coast!
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FAQ
Every time of the year is great to visit Marimurtra. Sure, May is a favorite because of the pink flowers along the scenic Epicure Stairway. But every season has its perks. Make sure to check out the Plant of the Month section of the gardens blog to know what to look for!
In front of the entrance there’s 20 parking spots – but they fill up fast! If you aren’t able to park there, keep going on Passeig de Carles Faust and some 300m / 1000ft further away you’ll find streets where you are likely to find a place to park (some of it may be blue zone paid on meters found along the street). Otherwise you’ll have to go another 400m / 1300ft further to find the Parking Cala Bona, which is used by beach goers.
If you are a large group arriving by coach, be aware that the area is only accessible to vehicles maximum 12m / 39.3ft long. There is only one parking spot for them, on Carrer Cala Bona, and the group will have to walk from there to the groups or events entrance.
The gardens can be challenging for people on normal wheelchairs, because it’s located in the slope of a hill and the normal itinerary includes flights of steps. However, there’s a well indicated adapted itinerary for wheelchairs and electric scooters are available on request. Make sure to get one if your chair is not electric.
Pictures for personal and non-commercial use are not only allowed but encouraged. And they’ll love it if you share it on social media and you mention them at @marimurtrabotanic (instagram).
However, if you are planning a photography session (wedding, communion, social media shooting, photo books…) using the garden and its features as a background, you’ll need to pay a photo canon at the entrance of Marimurtra. Mind that it will only allow you to access the gardens at their normal opening hours, and only the areas visited by normal visitors but not any restricted area, and you won’t have priority over the rest of the visitors for your pictures (for exclusivity sessions you need to contact them in advance).
The use of drones in the gardens is also heavily restricted and you’ll have to request a special permission, provide a valid pilot license and prove of liability insurance, and obey the local legislation. More information is available on their website.
The only pets allowed are guide dogs.
Yes! Imagine a bride walking down the Epicurus stairway, and the groom waiting for her at the Linné Pavilion where the ceremony will take place, while the guests seat enjoying the Mediterranean breeze and the sound of the waves. Then the reception will take place under the shade of exotic trees, with views over the sea. Contact them for more information.
- If you are visiting in July, you may be able to attend their International Fireworks Festival.
- Enjoy a day in Marineland Water Park.
- Go to the beach in Cala Sant Francesc and Cala Sa Forcanera coves, or the long sand beaches of Platja de Blanes and Platja S’Abanell.
- Climb the Sa Palomera rock, where officially the Costa Brava begins.
- Hike the Cami de Ronda path.
- For more ideas, visit the official Blanes Tourism Site.
When are you going to visit the Jardi Botanic Marimurtra?
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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