The Columbus Monument at the foot of La Rambla
The Columbus Monument is the tall column at the bottom of La Rambla, at the Portal de la Pau, where the boulevard reaches the harbour. It dates from the 1888 World Exhibition and is the landmark you see from far up the street. A viewing gallery sits near the top, known as the Mirador de Colom.
Looking at the column from the street needs no ticket. The part that needs planning is the lift to the gallery. Check before you go whether it is running, and see the Mirador section below. If you want company on the walk down, Barcelona walking tours usually follow La Rambla and the old town.
Mirador de Colom: what to check before you go
Details for 2026. Check before you go whether the lift is running.
| Question | What to know |
|---|---|
| Is the lift running? | The lift is sometimes out of service for longer stretches. Check before you walk down whether it is running. |
| Ticket price | Tickets start at €7.50 (2026). Confirm the final amount for adults, children and seniors at checkout. |
| Opening hours | Daily 10:00–19:00 where the lift is open. On 24 and 31 December 10:00–14:00. Closed 1 January and 25 December. |
| Information office | Open daily 08:30–14:30. These are not the lift hours, so do not use them to plan a ride. |
| Reduced mobility | The gallery is not suitable for visitors with reduced mobility. The information office may be reachable with help from a platform, but that does not mean the gallery is. |
| Height | 56 m or 60 m, depending on what is measured. Treat both numbers as approximate. |
For most visitors the safest plan is to treat the monument as a free outside stop at the end of the Rambla walk and add the lift only if it is running on the day.
Our pick: a boat from the monument
Our take: the Golondrinas leave from the harbour at the foot of the monument.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tours and boat trips near the Columbus Monument
Walking tours along La Rambla and harbour boat trips from the Moll de Drassanes, with live prices and availability.
Getting to the Columbus Monument
The easiest approach is on foot from the top. La Rambla runs from the Plaça de Catalunya to the monument, about 1.2 km in total, in five named sections. The last one, Santa Mònica, is the section by the sea. You can stop at the Boqueria and the Liceu on the way down.
If you prefer to start at the bottom, take metro line L3 to Drassanes. The station can also appear as La Rambla | Drassanes. From there it is a short walk to the column. The Liceu station on the same line is in the middle of the street. Fares and the airport options are on the getting there page.
The street is being rebuilt, with completion aimed for 2027. Expect barriers and changing walking routes in places, and do not count on a finished promenade.
What is around the monument
Everything below is within a short walk of the column.
Moll de Drassanes
The harbour boats leave from the quay opposite the monument. The 60-minute harbour and coast trip costs €13 for adults and the 40-minute harbour trip €9 (2026). The shorter trip may run only on weekends, and weather can change the timetable.
Port Vell guide →Rambla de Mar
The footbridge and promenade lead from the foot of the Rambla across the harbour water to the Moll d'Espanya. A swing section opens for leisure boats, so a short wait is possible.
Rambla de Mar and Maremagnum →Back up the Rambla
The Boqueria market is at La Rambla 91, the Liceu at La Rambla 51–59, and the Palau Güell is a short detour on Carrer Nou de la Rambla.
Things to do on La Rambla →
Columbus Monument history in short
The monument belongs to the 1888 World Exhibition. It stands at the Portal de la Pau, where the Rambla meets the harbour, and the column still marks the place where the street ends and the port begins.
The height is given as 56 m to 60 m, depending on what is measured. Either number is fine as a rough guide. For the wider story of the street and how it grew outward from the old walls, read the history of La Rambla.
Columbus Monument: frequently asked questions
Can you go up the Columbus Monument?
There is a lift to a viewing gallery, the Mirador de Colom, but it is not always running. Tickets start at €7.50 (2026). Check before you go whether the lift is running.
How tall is the Columbus Monument?
Between 56 m and 60 m, depending on what is measured. Use either number as a rough guide.
Do I need a ticket to see the monument?
No ticket is needed to look at the column from the street. A ticket is only needed for the lift to the gallery, when it runs.
Which metro station is nearest?
Drassanes on line L3, which can also be shown as La Rambla | Drassanes. It is a short walk from there. Liceu is on the same line, in the middle of La Rambla.
Is the viewing gallery suitable for wheelchair users?
No. The gallery is not suitable for visitors with reduced mobility. If you travel with someone who uses a wheelchair, enjoy the monument from the street and the harbour promenade instead.
Is la-rambla.org the official site of the monument or the city?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to the City of Barcelona, Turisme de Barcelona or the operators of the monument and the harbour boats.