From Placa d'Espanya up the Expo steps to the MNAC, across to the Miro Foundation and the castle, then down through quiet gardens into Poble-sec for pintxos.
Best time: Afternoon into sunset; Saturday after 15:00 for free MNAC
The route, stop by stop 1 CaixaForum Barcelona Modernista mill; 30-60 min.
A converted 1911 Modernista textile mill by Puig i Cadafalch hosting strong temporary exhibitions.
2 Magic Fountain of Montjuic Steps up to the Palau Nacional.
Carles Buigas's 1929 fountain below the Palau Nacional, whose evening water, light and music shows draw big crowds.
3 Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC) Romanesque murals and roof terrace; 90 min.
World-class Romanesque church murals rescued from Pyrenean chapels, plus Gothic and Catalan Modernista art, in the domed 1929 Palau Nacional.
4 Fundacio Joan Miro 60-90 min.
Miro's own foundation in Josep Lluis Sert's white modernist building: paintings, tapestries and sculpture terraces spanning his whole career.
5 Montjuic Castle Harbour views; 45 min.
18th-century hilltop fortress with 360-degree views over the port and city; a sombre site in Catalan history, as President Lluis Companys was executed here in 1940.
6 Jardins de Mossen Costa i Llobera Cactus garden over the port; 20 min.
Cactus and succulent garden on Montjuic's sea-facing slope overlooking the port, almost empty on weekdays.
7 Jardins de Laribal Terraced gardens down towards Poble-sec.
Terraced Moorish-style gardens with fountains and stairs between the Miro Foundation and Poble-sec; locals use it as a shortcut.
8 Carrer de Blai Pintxos to finish.
Pedestrian street lined with pintxo bars where young Barcelonans do cheap evening crawls; mostly skipped by visitors who stay in the Gothic Quarter.
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