Collserola Natural Park

Collserola Natural Park is one of the largest metropolitan parks in the world, covering the range of hills that separates Barcelona from the inland town of Sant Cugat del Vallès. Spread across more than 8,000 hectares — roughly 22 times the size of New York's Central Park — it acts as the green lung of the whole Barcelona metropolitan area. It was officially declared a natural park in 1987, formalizing protection for a landscape that sits right on the doorstep of a city of millions.

What is the history behind Collserola?

Human presence in Collserola goes back to prehistoric times, and archaeologists have identified numerous sites across the hills documenting settlement stretching back thousands of years. After the Romans arrived on the Iberian Peninsula in 218 BC, they built a road climbing through Collserola that connected Barcino (present-day Barcelona) with the military camp of Castrum Octavianum, around which the town of Sant Cugat later grew. The park also preserves the remains of an Iberian settlement, medieval castles, and Romanesque churches, layering centuries of history onto the natural terrain.

What kind of landscape and wildlife does the park protect?

Collserola's scenery is a classic Mediterranean mix of oak and pine woodland, scrub-covered slopes, and rugged ridgelines. Botanists have recorded more than 1,500 plant species within the park, and it shelters a wide range of mammals, birds, and reptiles that manage to thrive despite the proximity of a major metropolis. This density of species makes Collserola an important ecological corridor for the wider region.

What can visitors do inside the park?

A dense network of well-marked trails makes Collserola a favourite destination for hikers and cyclists from both Barcelona and Sant Cugat del Vallès. Routes wind through forest and lead up to viewpoints with sweeping panoramas over the city and the Mediterranean coastline. One of the park's best-known landmarks is Tibidabo mountain, which offers one of the finest overlooks of Barcelona and its surroundings. The park draws city dwellers looking for an easy escape into nature as well as trail runners and mountain bikers making the most of its terrain.

Frequently asked questions

How big is Collserola Natural Park? It covers more than 8,000 hectares, making it one of the largest metropolitan parks in the world.

When was it declared a natural park? In 1987.

What historical remains can be found there? Traces of a Roman road and the Castrum Octavianum camp, an Iberian settlement, medieval castles, and Romanesque churches.

Which viewpoint is the most famous? Tibidabo mountain, with panoramic views over Barcelona and the coast.

Is the park home to wildlife? Yes — more than 1,500 plant species have been recorded, along with numerous mammals, birds, and reptiles.