Arc de Triomf

A triumphal-style arch built to welcome countries to the 1888 World Fair.

Barcelona's Arc de Triomf isn’t just a grand monument—it’s the perfect starting point for a relaxed urban stroll. Surrounded by wide pedestrian walkways and lined with palm trees, the area radiates a welcoming energy, ideal for walking, skating, or simply people-watching. Nice place with a walkable area; if you walk a little more you will see a giant park with a monumental fountain. Just beyond the arch, a gentle walk leads you into the sprawling beauty of Parc de la Ciutadella, where nature and architecture meet in perfect harmony. At its heart, you’ll find a majestic fountain—a sculptural masterpiece featuring mythical figures and cascading water that feels like the soul of the park. Whether you’re unwinding by the fountain, exploring the gardens, or watching the rowboats glide along the lake, the whole experience is both tranquil and invigorating. It’s a place where history stands tall, but leisure is always within reach.

Nice place with a walkable area. Went in December so was not so crowded. Some street musicians performing. On a sunny day its a beautiful walk from Arc de Triomf to the Citadel Park. Many joggers in the morning. Overall a nice vibe.

Metro station: No access for people with strollers or wheelchairs (elevator out of service Apr 10). Staff not showing any empathy or interest to help.

I really like here! It’s very very green and very beautiful! There are a lot of space to rest and to have a seat. Street artists can work in freedom showing their talents. The Arc is a wonderful construction. It’s clean and very important

Pretty good looking, pretty crowded as well with a ton of merchants trying to sell you fancy sheets of fabric very hard :)

Triumphal arch built as the entrance to the 1888 World Fair that gives way to the Ciutadella Park. Great place for a photo op early in the morning when no one is around and the sun is shining bright.

A good metro station which has plenty of choices for which street to come up to. Trains are often.

30m high by 28m wide this colossal gate, was built for the World Fair in 1888. Today there is a ton of pigeon protection at the top because falling off a ladder at that height is "no bueno!" Even Humpty dumpy wouldn't survive. Anyway, we stopped along this wonderful structure on our cycling tour. There was a couple singing a love song underneath to welcoming visitors.

Very cool landmark - not as grand as the one in Paris, but way easier to get a good photo without a million people in the background. The red brick design gives it a unique vibe, and it's a nice walk around the area. Heads up: watch out for the photo scammers. They'll snap your pic, print it on a fake "newspaper," and then try to get you to buy it or "donate." Just say no and keep moving. Great quick stop if you're nearby -- and perfect if you're headed to Parc de la Ciutadella right after.

The 1888 entrance to the Universal Exposition, it is not the same architecture as the more famous one in Paris, but the spirit it the same. Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas was the architect, it's pretty impressive. I wouldn't call this a must-see in Barcelona, but it's clearly visible looking down from the Museo d'Historia de Catalunya which is a must and it's right above one of the busiest metro stations so you may as well stop and take the obligatory selfie. It's a local spot for romantic young couples, which I find both sweet and nauseating at the same time. While you're here, you may as well walk over to Las Arenas de Barcelona.

The Arc de Triomf of Barcelona's history dates back to 1888, when it was built to welcome visitors to the Universal Exposition, not to be confused with the Arc de Triomphe of Paris and similar structures around the world. Differences between Paris include the style, with Barcelona's arch being red, the style as Barcelona's arch features a neo-Mudejar style, and the fact here it's in a fully pedestrianised area, so it isn't full of tourists cutting across the road who are unaware of the underpass like in Paris, the latter I think is a huge benefit compared to Paris, although I do prefer the french structure in general. The red colour of the arch stands out, along Parc de la Ciutadella, making it a fairly pretty area to sit back and relax and spend some time, although it does feel very touristy at the same time. Benches are available which have views of the arch. There is a Metro station of the same nearby, which is handy if visiting the arch and planning to continue your journey around the city with ease. While I don't think it's much better than similar structures which tend to exist in cities across Europe, it's certainly one of the main attractions to visit when in Barcelona and worth a visit for sure. 4*

The arc de triomf is very touristy but a great spot to walk around and take pics of. Wife and I enjoyed walking through and watching a few street performers. It was great on a sunny day. Parc and historic spot it is well taken care of and easy to get around. Must see while in Barcelona.

Arc de Triomf is a replica of the landmark in Paris. It's a beautiful structure with many artistic details. It's located near a park in the city center and is easily accessible by the metro. Both sides of the structure have beautiful views. Overall rating: 10/10

Very famous landmark of the city. There are street performers along the passageway to the park.

What a beautiful Arc - this Arc de Triomf, it's a little bit far from La Rambla and Sagrada Familia but it's so worth it to come to this park to experience this beautiful open space. It's hard to believe that Spain and Portugal were world powers up until the late 1800s. They were like the astronauts of today - sailing to unknown worlds and territories. Cuba, Mexico, Central and South America and the Philippines, etc., their triumphs were vast and wide. This park, I suppose, is a celebration of all that, the Arc was built in 1888. I just recently visited the Dewey monument in Union Square (San Fran), and it marks the US Navy defeating the Spanish armada in Manila Bay, in 1898. Thus, loosening their global grip and lessening their military victories. Still, as of today, Spain has the 14th largest GDP, so economically, it's still very relevant. Glad to celebrate my Spanish roots (5% per 23 and me) and it was cool to see all the similarities between the Philippines and Spain. In fact, they fast track citizenship for Filipinos wishing to immigrate, due to this historical relationship. But I obviously digress, as I often do, so come to this park and take it all in, the architecture, the history, the people, this Arc of Triomf.

An absolutely stunning arch that's located at the westside entrance of Parc de Ciutadella. The arch was constructed by architect Josep Vilaseca and served as the entrance for the 1888 Universal Expedition (Spain's first international World's Fair). It is comprised of beautiful red brick and a row of decorative friezes as well as stone bats that represent the emblem of King Jaume I. This part of the park is always bustling with locals and tourists. People can be seen regularly posing near the arch. It makes sense as it's a truly beautiful sight. This is an excellent spot to embark on a leisurely walk or even to rest and take in the pretty views. It's bright and beautiful during the day, but I must admit that it's even more gorgeous at night. It's almost as if it's glowing in the dark. I must have passed by this arch about 5 or 6 times during my visit, and it was intentional most of the time. It served as a great resting spot that was also fun for people watching. You're pretty much destined to pass by Arc de Triomf at some point while in Barcelona. But if not, make sure that you carve out some time to see this beauty. It's a really stunning sight.

Enormous and beautiful arc adjacent to a park! Very popular spot for tourists! So many people taking pictures at all angles. Love the detail of the arc if you go up close!! So meticulously made, and everykne appreciates it.

Seems every major city has one. So how do you pass up this one ? It's at the northwest entrance to the Ciutadella Park facing Passeig de Sant Joan. A grand way to enter a beautiful area of Barcelona. In 1888 for Barcelona World Fair, Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas built the arch as the main gate. Today it crosses over the wide central promenade of the Passeig de Lluís Companys, leading to the Ciutadella Park that was once the site of the world fair. Unlike other Arcs this one is created from red brick and truly stands out. Grab a seat in the shade in the park and peer through the arc at newer Barcelona from the old world-and enjoy.

First time in Barcelona so I wanted to check out all the sites and see almost everything that they have to offer and one of the popular hang-out spots is at the Arc De Triomf. I was amazed at how big and how many people are just hanging around and sitting with their friends just hanging out. You can see people running, walking, and just sitting down in the areas around it. It's a must-stop just to see how beautiful it is!

We went by this on a long walk through Barcelona on our way to the Sagrada Familia. It was in a neighborhood with lots of fun comic shops and good restaurants.

"Every relationship ends, until maybe you find one that lasts forever." - Penélope Cruz Hola! I admit I have an Arc fetish! Hoy! And maybe a Penélope one too! Arc de Triomf in Barcelona is perhaps one of my favorites or at least tied with Napoléon's Arc in Paris, which is second only to the majestic Arc de Triomphe also in Paris. Come follow me on my journey... Quiero ser tu heroe... Barcelona is one of my favorite European cities to just wander the streets. Of course it doesn't help everyone speaks to me in Espanol even though English is my first language and I never got above the 2nd grade in Spanish! I must sound dumb Jaja!:D Barcelona is filled with so much history, whimsical buildings by Antoni Gaudí, delicious Spanish tapas on every street corner, vintage vespas running around endlessly, and that one majestic red Arc called the "Gateway to the World". Arc de Triomf de Barcelona is a wonder to behold. Built for the 1888 Barcelona World's Fair, so of course the name stuck. Standing at 100 feet tall and 164 feet wide it's one of the largest Arcs in the world! The Neo-Mudéjar or Moorish Revival architecture is a sight you'll never forget. The front frieze contains the stone sculpture Barcelona rep les nacions (Catalan for "Barcelona welcomes the nations"). My favorites are the bats - The two pillars of the Arc feature bats carved in stone, which were the emblem of King Jaume I, who ruled over a period of prosperity in Barcelona. These bats are considered to be lucky in Barcelona! How amazing is this, right?! In the end, a visit to Barcelona without walking to, around, and through Arc de Triomf de Barcelona is simply no bueno. If staying in Barcelona, I highly recommend walking to this majestic landmark, to fully capture the essence of Spaniard lifesyle, as you pass the cafés, historic buildings, and everyday people just enjoying life. I walked under it from the Gothic Quarter to La Sagrada Familia with Penélope! Quiero ser tu heroe. Let me be your hero;)

Mini Arc de Trimoph from Paris. It's located right off the Arc di Triomf metro exit.

One of my favorite arches. The color contrast and setting with the palm trees and wide boulevard is just stunning. A definite must-see when in Barcelona.

A Landmark from Exposició Universal de Barcelona I was just showing off my Catalan; that means "Barcelona Universal Exposition"! :-) Arc de Triomfn or Triumphal Arch was built in 1888 as the main access gate to the World Fair by Catalan architect Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas. It is a redbrick structure and if you pass under it and walk all the way through Passeig de Lluís Companys, you'll end up in Parc de la Ciutadella which was built over the former site of the world fair. The arc is a popular spot for tourists, like yours truly, who want to snap photos of themselves with the a recognizable landmark in the back drop.

What an arc! This landmark is sure striking! It's a BIG red brick structure that you can wander through, around, and past. It's so big, it has its own park that goes along with it. This arch of "triumph" doesn't really celebrate any military victories that the Spanish have had. There aren't too many of those recently. Instead, they built it as the entrance to a world's fair exposition. The arch architecture is different from other arches around the world, and is more like the one in New Delhi than the one in Paris. My favorite thing is the bats carved into the base. They're the symbol of some former king of Spain who led the country to prosperity, but I'm sure there's also bats that like to hang out under the archway. It's a big ol' landmark that's hard to miss. It's a cool spot to cut through from the subway to the park.

I didn't even realize Barcelona had an Arc de Triomf until I ran smack dab into it. I now think almost every major city in Europe might have one... I'm a fan of beautiful architecture and this small yet mighty landmark didn't disappoint. With intricate details in every inch of the structure, I was busy marveling at its unique beauty for nearly an hour. I know not of its history, but couldn't help but to feel some Roman influence. Again, this isn't a grand tourist site, just a simple albeit really cool and free stop. If you're taking the metro, there is a specific stop for Arc de Triomf.

Holy Shit! If you come to Barcelona from Hamburg, if you are used to the typical northern german bricks, this buildung is a epiphany. No functional building, no office, no house. Just a triumphal arch - beautiful without the used northern strong geometric patterns. Something you know from Paris, Moscow or Munic, but here its RED! Something more astonishing, this triumphal arch never ever had been build to remind a blody victory. No miltary background. This one had been build as the main entrance to the EXPO (World Fair) in 1888. Nowadays its located on a long Passeig de Lluis, one of the (nearly) traffic free zones of Barcelona.

Interesting architecture located at the historical area of Barcelona. Unlike Paris, I don't think you can go in here but if you are in the area, be sure to walk by here to admire the architecture of the Arc. I noticed on bike lanes on the other side. They have a plenty of rental bike here and I think it will be fun to ride a bike around here.

Nice arch Big and towering Reminds me of the arch in france that reminds me of the archs in rome Clean and a nice place to walk People were playing music and blowing bubbles - nice vibes

One of the city's iconic landmarks, Arc de Triompf was built as the gateway to the fair which was held in the Parc de la Ciutadella- 1888 Universal Exhibition. The architect Josep Vilaseca designed a monument to showcase Barcelona's respect for the nations and provinces taking part in the exhibition. There are reliefs on one side symbolising agriculture and industry, and commerce and art on the other. At the top of the arch the shields of the 49 Spanish provinces are presided over by the coat of arms of the city of Barcelona. It is a beautiful photo op that will take 10 min of your time.

Arc de Triomf is the triumphal arch of Barcelona. Most of the famous arches I have seen in my travels have been white in color but this one was unique that it was brick red color. It was pretty massive in size. Great detail. The mini domes on top were neat. Not one of the main attractions of Barcelona but worth a visit if you have time.

A beautiful structure and landmark situated close to where we were staying, right on the outer border of the Born neighbourhood. It's very similar to the Arc in Paris except this one is more for looking than climbing all up inside - but having done that in Paris... it's not a big deal, you walk up, look and go down (womp womp) - people just want a picture anyway. Unlike the Paris Arc, this one was built for a worlds fair in 1888 and is a beautiful representation of Spanish/Catalonian architecture from the era. Aside from the majesty of this landmark from a pure tourist photo-op perspective, what I really thought was cool was how the city uses this as the backdrop for local events/festivals. We were in Barcelona for La Mercè Festival Barcelona, which is essentially Barcelona Day. The Arc was used as the background for a massive stage that allowed the entire park in front of it to be concert grounds. This is also a very distinct landmark if you're lost AND there are a ton of metro, bus and transportation options right here as it is a major hub

This is a great quick stop for a picture while being in Barcelona, Spain. (Check out my Photos) I did the Barcelona hop on & hop off bus tour (I recommend getting) and they have a stop right next to the Arc de Triomf. (3 min walk) It was definitely a great piece to look at. The details of it was great. I wish i would have had a tour person to tell me about it but just by doing it on my own, it was beautiful. I was able to get my pictures , walk through it and touched it. Good luck in trying to take a photo with no one in the background lol that was a challenge. I was there for about 30mins so i had enough time to jump off my bus to look around and then jump right back on it to head to my next stop. I recommend it. It was definitely worth adding it to your things to do in Barcelona, Spain. Enjoy!!!!!!!

Not as grand as other famous Arcs (like the one in Paris), this arc is still interesting in it's own right. During my stay in Barcelona, there were several independance protests and one of the spots was on the Avenue behind the Triomph. While I did enjoy seeing it, walking around and under it, I would have felt different had my hotel not been a 5 minute walk from it....otherwise, I would have been disappointed if I made a trip to it.

A neat monument associated with a small park with nice restaurants nearby. I don't know if this is par for the course or not, but when we visited there was some mesh stuff covering most of the monument so it was definitely not as visually impressive as it could've been. Still worth walking past if you're touring the city and it isn't far out of your way.

El Arco de Triunfo de Barcelona. . . Another piece of architectire in Barcelona that lays right outside of ciutadella parc . Nice place to walk around, meet other tourist,head over to the Ciutadella Park and even take a stroll to the art district from there. Pretty much a gateway to a variety of things. Follow @thehungrynomadz on instagram for more

We checked out the Arc De Triomf as it was one of the places on my check list to see and it didn't disappoint. There were signs directing us how to get the Arc on the streets which was helpful. My friend and I had fun trying to get the perfect pics by the arch. We walked through the park and checked out the scenery. It wasn't a "wow" attraction but cool to see and get those famous pics.

After visiting Paris' Arc last year I knew I had to check out this one in Barcelona while on vacation. We are only in Spain 3 full days so there were several things I wanted to see and didn't get a chance to, however, tonight on our last night here, we took a cab ride for $10,00€ before heading back to our hotel and it was worth every cent. The monument itself is free to visit and it's very pretty at night time. Wouldve like to see it during the day as well but I'm glad we made it at all. Kind of dirty in the plaza around the Arc. Broken glass and a little bit of graffiti, but you see that all over this big, beautiful city.

Just amazing. The feeling of accomplishment and triumph takes over you. Its definitely a site to see. A definite must on anyones Barcelona bucket list. Walking around this amazing arch is inspiring and breathtaking.

I was in Spain and took a stroll around my neighborhood and I happened upon the Arc de Triomf. It was surrounded by a gorgeous park area. My friends and I immediately saw the space as a great photo opportunity to commemorate our trip. Its an iconic structure and beautiful to look at. I'm so happy that I crossed paths with the Arc de Triomf.

I was doing my list about the places i would like to visit in the city. When i saw the pictures of Arc de Triomf, the architecture style just caught my eyes. So I just decided to visit this place and check the place out in person. When I arrived to the gate I just amazed by how it look. This is another one of the kind gates I have visited so far. I like it's red color that made it pop. And the sculpture on it. It's historical and cultural as well. I think it really speak local spirit. I was walking toward to the Parc de la Ciutadella, when I looked back and saw the Arc de Triomf getting smaller and smaller was quite interesting. This place wasn't as busy as other tourist attractions I had been in Barcelona. Well, probably because I visited this place quite early. It was around 10 am. I really like it. I enjoyed the time I spent there and made quite some good pictures.

Wasn't on our agenda but when we saw a sign for it we said, "Why not". The walk over was pretty nice, regardless of my ever growing blisters. The Arc itself...It's gorgeous. Towering and impressive - great for a couple of photos. But...that's about it. The "park" (mainly a runway leading up to the arc) around it is vast...but mainly empty. There's a couple of places to sit under trees where birds will FOR SURE poop on you. The arc was built in 1888 for the Barcelona World Fair. I'm always impressed with super old structures. How did they build this thing so long ago without modern technology? It's amazing. We didn't spend much time here. Got our photos...sat down in a poop free zone and then headed off to the next location.

It's a beautiful spot. We headed over after a long day of Football. It was really cool to see at night. They were preparing for a festival. So there were a lot of street vendors. Beautiful setting though with lots of people and fun things to see. In addition there are a lot of great restaurants really close to the area. We had an amazing dinner at a restaurant near by.

Beautiful and historical! It was right by our hotel or we may not have chosen this as a spot to see with only two days in Barcelona. But I'm glad we did. In the adjoining park there were musicians, a man making huge bubbles with bubbles blowing everywhere, and a general happy atmosphere. The arc is much larger than it looks in pictures. Definitely worth seeing!

One of many monuments in Barcelona the Arc de Triomf is simply that, an Arch in the middle of a public green space celebrating some historic event. While I think we can all agree most cities could use more Parks, both the size and the fact that most of the structure was blocked by several stages was a disappointment.

Definitely check it out for photo opps and the red is very different from the Paris Arc.

Worth a visit. It's cool. The arch is smaller than France but is still really neat in spanish style and worth a visit

Really cool to see. It is very unique in shape and color. The architecture really makes it stand out. The park that is around it is beautiful and well maintained. The city has done a nice job of keeping the whole area clean and well manicured.

A big city like Barcelona needs an Arc like Paris. Somehow, the Paris Arc de Triomphe seems like a bigger deal and more original. New York seemed to copy it. This arc is nice to visit. It is located at a big open plaza which is nice to hang out at if you are sightseeing in Barcelona. It looks different from the Arc in Paris. It's red instead of gray.

Impressive arc...similar replica to the one in Paris. Love the walkway leading up to it. The arc itself is so intricate and beautiful. Beautiful backdrop for pictures.

Not as impressive as the one in Paris and really not much to do here but look at it. It is a massive structure and provides pretty backdrops. The arc is a nice entrance or exit to the park if you are making your way in the area. Good: Impressive view you don't back home; free; Bad: Not worth more than a 10 minute stop and photo-op

The Arc de Triomf is located near a metro and a large beautiful park. Take a stroll down the avenue, drink a bear and take a break lying on the grass while you enjoy the Arc. Not that crowded

Built for an exposition in 1888, the Arc del Triomf differs from the famous arch of the same name in Paris by being (a) made of red bricks, (b) having more bizarre carved detail (bats?) and not being entirely encircled by roaring traffic. It stands at one end of a broad pedestrian avenue that has impressive iron-work light posts and imperssive buildings like the palace of justice. Worth a look if you're in the neighbourhood, but not worth a special trip.

This was surprisingly not on the radar during my research for the Barcelona weekend! It's not really on many of the "to-do" lists you can find around the internet. I think it's worth a visit, even if only due to it's location right next to Ciutadella. There were many people milling around and a Michael Jackson street performer to admire. Cute scene! Just something to admire while passing by.

this historical site was built as a gate for barcelona's world fair in 1888. it was built in the neo-mudejar style by josep vilaseca i casanovas, a catalan architect. currently, the arch overlooks pg de lluis companys, which is a promenade that leads to parc de la ciutadella. i've seen the arc de triomphe in paris, and to be honest, this arc in barcelona cannot compare. however, i did appreciate that this site is free and open to the public and one can come and take a stroll along the promenade and enjoy some leisurely time here. there are also some historical facts at the front of the arch so that you can read up on the history of this monument. the arc do triomf metro station is just steps away from this landmark.

What I've noticed is that most (major) cities in Europe and in NYC have some sort of Arc. Barcelona is no different and this Arc de Triomf is a nice photo op to add photos for any trip! This was a little smaller than I expected, but it is still beautiful. Unlike the Arc De Triomphe in Paris, you cannot climb to the top of this one in Barcelona. It was also a short walk away from the beautiful Parc De La Ciutadella and also the Picasso Museum. This is definitely a quick and free attraction. This will only take a few minutes but it is definitely worth it if you are in the area!