National park · Spain
Parc de la Serralada de Marina
Entry is free and no permit is needed: ride Rodalies to Badalona or Tiana, walk the GR92 ridge to Turó d'en Galceran (485 m) in 3–4 h, and start before 9:00 on weekends to avoid the crowd.Entry is free and no permit is needed: ride Rodalies to Badalona or Tiana, walk the GR92 ridge to Turó d'en Galceran (485 m) in 3–4 h, and start before 9:00 AM on weekends to avoid the crowd.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
21 km²8 sq mi
approximate
Established
1992
Best months
Mar–May, Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 9Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Iberia ↗Plan meals on the Iberian clock: Spanish kitchens serve lunch from about 13:30–14:00 and dinner from 20:30–21:00; Portugal eats an hour or so earlier. Early evenings are for tapas or petiscos, not full meals.
- Iberia ↗Inland Spain and Portugal (Seville, Córdoba, Madrid, the Alentejo) pass 40 °C in heatwaves from late June to August: sightsee before 11:00 and after 18:00, and keep July–August for the coasts and the green north.
- Iberia ↗Andorra and Gibraltar have their own border and customs rules and are reached only through Spain (or France for Andorra); read their pages before adding them, especially if you hold a limited Schengen visa.
- Spain ↗Spain is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
- Spain ↗High-speed trains have airport-style baggage screening at the station and boarding gates that close a few minutes before departure: arrive early.
- Spain ↗Carry your passport or ID: police may ask for it, and hotels must register every guest's document.
- Spain ↗The Alhambra in Granada and the Sagrada Família in Barcelona sell timed tickets that sell out weeks ahead in season; book on the official sites before you fix your dates.
At a glance
- Country
- Spain
- Area
- 21 km²8 sq mi
- Park surface about 2,086 ha; the consortium that manages it covers about 3,032 ha (check).
- Established
- 1992
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct
- Permits
- Not needed
- Base
- Barcelona
Parc de la Serralada de Marina is the southern end of the Marina range, a low coastal-Mediterranean ridge of oak and pine inside the Barcelona metropolitan area, between the Besòs to the east and Collserola to the west. It is free, ungated and crossed by the GR92 long-distance path from Montcada i Reixac to La Conreria, with the high point at Turó d'en Galceran (485 m) between the Vallès plain and the coast. The Diputació de Barcelona manages it through a consortium covering about 3,032 ha, while the park itself is about 2,086 ha. Two medieval monasteries, two Iberian hilltop settlements and four signed viewpoints sit on its slopes, all within a commuter-train ride of the city.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1992.
Size and age
21 km²8 sq mi · national park since 1992
Park surface about 2,086 ha; the consortium that manages it covers about 3,032 ha (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Barcelona.
Why go
- A metropolitan park you reach by commuter train: Mediterranean oak and pine, no ticket, no queue.
- Turó d'en Galceran (485 m) is the high point, sitting between the Vallès plain and the coast.
- The GR92 long-distance path crosses the whole park, from Montcada i Reixac to La Conreria.
- Medieval monasteries and two Iberian settlements sit inside or on the edge of the park.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecGo
- JanCool and clear; dry paths
- FebCold mornings; good visibility
- MarMild, green, few people on weekdays
- AprWarm and clear; wildflowers
- MayWarm; go early on weekends
- JunHot by midday; little shade on the ridges
- JulHeat and fire-risk closures possible
- AugHottest month; start at dawn
- SepStill hot; storms possible
- OctDry, mild, best walking
- NovMild; some rain
- DecCool, often clear
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mediterranean oak and pine woodland birdsMar–May, Sep–Oct | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| Wild boar on the lower slopesAll year · Common near the city edges; keep distance and do not feed. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Wildflowers on the ridgesMar–May | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Fire-risk closures and heatJun–Sep · Access can be restricted at high fire risk (check). | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Barcelona (Plaça de Catalunya)
Rodalies R1 or RG1 along the coast to Badalona or Montgat, then walk up into the park.
30–45 min
Open the page →
From Barcelona (Arc de Triomf / Sant Andreu)
Rodalies R2N to the north-side villages, then a local bus or a walk to the trailheads.
35–50 min
Open the page →
From Badalona
Tusgsal buses (lines 2, B-19, B-24, B-25, B-26, B-27) to Can Ruti, then on foot to the BV-5011 (≈ US$6,000) trailheads.
20–30 min
From By car
C-33 or B-20 to the park edge; the B-500 crosses Tiana–La Conreria–Martorelles and the BV-5011 (≈ US$6,000) crosses Badalona–Montcada. Many inner roads are unpaved.
25–40 min from central Barcelona
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| La Conreria and the central ridge | Park office, the B-500 road crossing, the classic climb and the highest ground. | Open; free. |
| Turó d'en Galceran | The 485 m summit at the northern end, with wide views over the Vallès plain and the coast. | Open; walk or mountain bike. |
| Badalona and Santa Coloma slopes | Southern side above the city: Can Ruti, the Turó d'en Boscà Iberian settlement and the Puig Castellar settlement. | Open; short climbs from the bus stops. |
| Tiana and Alella side | Eastern slopes with the Montalegre charterhouse, hermitages and viewpoints. | Open; road access on the B-500. |
Sketch map
- 1La Conreria park office · Headquarters≈41.491, 2.253Ctra. B-500, km 6, Tiana; weekday mornings.Ctra. B-500, mile 4, Tiana; weekday mornings.Map ↗
- 2Turó d'en Galceran · Summit≈41.505, 2.225485 m, the park high point.Map ↗
- 3Mirador del Coll de la Vallensana · Viewpoint≈41.479, 2.224Map ↗
- 4Badalona (Rodalies R1) · Ranger station≈41.450, 2.247Map ↗
- 5Tiana · Town≈41.483, 2.267Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | Free; no ticket gate (check). |
| Rodalies train, Barcelona to Badalona or Tiana | EUR 2.5–5 | person one way | 2026 estimate; zone-based fare, T-casual or contactless. |
| Guided walk or activity run by the park consortium | EUR 0–10 | person | Many are free with booking; some charge a small fee (check). |
| Lunch at a park restaurant | EUR 15–35 | person | 2026 estimate; menú del dia to grilled meats. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Guided activities and information points no permit
Mountain bike on signed trails no permit
Park rules
- Fires and barbecues
- Banned year-round; fire risk is high from June to September and access can be closed.
- Mountain bikes
- Allowed on the marked bike routes only; give way to walkers on shared paths.
- Dogs
- Keep on a lead, especially near wildlife and in the areas grazed by livestock (check).
- Litter and foraging
- Carry out all rubbish; do not pick plants or mushrooms in protected zones.
- Drones
- Not allowed without permission from the park consortium (check).check
Where to stay
Near the park
Barcelona
The widest choice of hotels and hostels; 30–45 min by train to the park edge.
Near the park
Badalona
Coastal city on the park's south side; cheaper rooms and a beach.
Near the park
Santa Coloma de Gramenet
Metro-connected town right under the southern slopes.
Near the park
Tiana and Alella
Small towns on the eastern side, closest to La Conreria and the B-500 trailheads.
Safety
Heat and exposure on the ridges medium
Unpaved roads and steep gradients medium
Getting lost on the network of paths low
Wild boar near picnic areas low
Accessibility
- The B-500 and BV-5011 cross the park by road, so viewpoints and the La Conreria area can be reached by car with short walks.
- The GR92 crossing, Turó d'en Galceran and the Iberian settlement paths are steep and rough; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Take the Rodalies train instead of driving; the park is inside the metropolitan area and parking at trailheads is limited.
- Stay on marked trails to limit erosion on the sandy, easily damaged slopes.
- Buy lunch in Tiana, Alella, Badalona or Sant Fost de Campsentelles so the villages around the park benefit.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Parc de la Serralada de Marina?
Nothing. There is no ticket gate and no entry fee; you walk in from the roads and trails that cross the park. Your only real cost is the Rodalies train from Barcelona, roughly €2.50–5 one way (2026 estimate), or parking near a trailhead.
What are the best hikes in Parc de la Serralada de Marina?
The GR92 crossing from Montcada i Reixac to La Conreria (4–6 h) is the full traverse. Shorter: the climb to Turó d'en Galceran at 485 m (2–3 h), the walk to the Puig Castellar Iberian settlement above Santa Coloma, and the viewpoint paths around Coll de la Vallensana and Nou Pins.
When is the best time to visit Parc de la Serralada de Marina?
March to May and October are best: mild, clear and green. June to September is hot and exposed on the ridges, with fire-risk restrictions possible, so start before 9:00. Winter is cool and often clear, with good views.
Do I need a guide or a permit?
No. The park is open and free, and the trails are signed, including the GR92. Guides are only needed if you want a themed walk or a monastery visit; the park consortium runs some activities from La Conreria.
How do I get there without a car?
Take Rodalies R1 or RG1 from Barcelona to Badalona or Montgat for the south side, or R2N for the north-side villages, then walk up. Tusgsal buses (2, B-19, B-24, B-25, B-26, B-27) reach Can Ruti in Badalona, close to the BV-5011 trailheads.
Can I visit the monasteries inside the park?
The Cartoixa de Santa Maria de Montalegre and the Monestir de Sant Jeroni de la Murtra are both historic sites on the park's edge. Access is limited and often by guided visit only, so check opening times before you build a walk around them.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go