The single most useful thing to know before searching for a rooftop pool in Barcelona: most hotels with a rooftop pool have the bar open to the public and the water reserved for guests. These are different spaces in the same building, and the distinction is almost never clear in the marketing. There are exceptions — hotels that sell day passes including pool access — and those exceptions are the ones that actually answer the question you’re asking. One important note: prices and access conditions change by season, so always confirm on the hotel’s own site before you go. This guide separates them clearly.
Which Barcelona rooftop pools can non-guests swim in? With genuine swimming access via day pass: InterContinental 173 Rooftop (infinity pool + cocktail, open ~10:00–19:00), Purobeach Hilton Diagonal Mar (Oasis zone, noon cancellation policy), Meliá Barcelona Sky (GAIA Pool Bar, with lunch or a drink) and Hotel Condal Mar (360° pool with lunch, from €39). As a cheaper public alternative, the Bernat Picornell Olympic pools on Montjuïc. By contrast, The Clock at the Catalonia, the Grand Hotel Central, Ohla and La Isabela at Hotel 1898 have their bars open to the public but the pool strictly for hotel guests.
Quick Decision
- Lowest price for real pool access → Bernat Picornell Olympic pools, Montjuïc — a few euros, the public option
- Cheapest hotel day pass → Meliá Barcelona Sky (GAIA Pool Bar, from ~€35) or Hotel Condal Mar (from €39, lunch included)
- Best value with an included cocktail → InterContinental 173 Rooftop — infinity pool, harbor and MNAC views
- Best premium day-pass experience → Purobeach Hilton Diagonal Mar — chemical-free pool, own music label, from ~€85
- Most festive (and priciest) → W Barcelona Wet Deck — premium day pass, or Sunday-evening Summer Series (21+, Marriott Bonvoy)
- Best bar access without paying for a pool you can’t use → Grand Hotel Central bar (from 13:00), Ohla bar (Fri–Sat from 18:00), The Clock terrace (evenings, drinks only)
The Pools That Actually Let You In
InterContinental Barcelona — 173 Rooftop Terrace (Montjuïc)
The name refers to the building’s altitude above sea level — around 173 meters. It sells a day pass that includes access to the infinity pool, a sun lounger in the solarium area and one cocktail, bookable through the hotel or day-pass platforms. The pool opens roughly 10:00–19:00 and usually closes for a few weeks between February and March for the season.
The view from this position: the Palacio Nacional, the harbor, the sea and — in a single frame — the transition from Montjuïc to the coastline. The price is indicative (from about €65) and worth confirming, as it varies by date. It’s the most impressive view-per-euro in the premium day-pass category.
Purobeach — Hilton Diagonal Mar (Fòrum / Diagonal Mar)
A beach club concept on the roof of the Hilton Diagonal Mar. The base day pass (Oasis zone) starts at around €85 and includes a sun lounger, a welcome tray and drinks. Reservations are sold online and places are only held until noon — if you haven’t arrived by 12:00, your slot is released.
The pool is chemical-free by design and the music comes from their own Puro Music label. Metro L4, Maresme-Fòrum stop. Less central than the city center, but the installation is the most complete in this category.
Meliá Barcelona Sky — GAIA Pool Bar (Poblenou)
The sixth-floor pool, on the renovated GAIA Pool Bar terrace (formerly Le Pool Club), can be enjoyed with a day pass that includes pool access plus a lunch or a drink. Sea and Torre Glòries views, Mediterranean atmosphere and live music in summer. Advance booking required (no same-day reservations). The price is indicative, from around €35 for the most basic option. Metro L4, Selva de Mar.
Hotel Condal Mar (Diagonal Mar)
Day pass from €39 with 360° pool access and an à la carte lunch included, plus lounger, towel and parasol — one of the best total price-to-experience ratios in the guide for anyone planning to eat and swim the same day. Lunch is served 12:00–15:30 and the balance of price-to-service is high compared to central options.
W Barcelona — Wet Deck (Barceloneta, Plaça de la Rosa dels Vents)
The W Hotel, designed by Ricardo Bofill in the form of a sail, has the Wet Deck as its main terrace, directly facing the Mediterranean. It does allow non-guest access, but in a premium format: the pool day pass is high-end (one published rate runs about €250 for two, bottle included) and there are private VIP cabanas for groups.
On top of that, the Wet Deck Summer Series are Sunday evening parties (19:00–00:00), for over-21s only and requiring prior Marriott Bonvoy registration — a music event, not a cheap daytime swim. Dress code is strictly enforced: smart and chic, no beachwear or flip-flops outside the pool area. This is the most festive and socially visible rooftop pool in Barcelona.
The Bars That Are Open — But the Pool Isn’t
These spaces are worth visiting. Just know before you arrive what you’re paying for.
The Clock — Catalonia Barcelona Plaza (Plaza España, 8th Floor)
A design terrace on the eighth floor with a pool, Balinese beds and a chill-out area, and a privileged view over Avinguda Maria Cristina, the Fuente Mágica and Montjuïc. Important: the pool is for hotel guests only. The terrace and bar do open to the public, but in the evening (roughly 19:00–1:00) and for drinks only — tapas, wine and cocktails with a view. It’s a sunset plan, not a swim. Metro L1 and L3 (Espanya). The terrace bar is closed in winter until spring.
Grand Hotel Central — La Terrassa del Central (Via Laietana 30)
The infinity pool overlooking the Gothic Quarter rooftops is one of the most photographed in Barcelona. The pool is guest-only. What’s open to the public: the bar and terrace from 13:00–20:00 daily, and from 20:00–21:00 in summer with house and deep house music sessions at €16 entry (redeemable against drinks). Cocktails €12–16. The Gothic rooftop view doesn’t require swimming to be worth the visit.
Ohla Barcelona — RoofTop (Via Laietana)
The 13-meter glass-wall pool is the most distinctive visual element — transparent sides allow continuous visual interaction with the urban environment while swimming. Guest-only. The “Ohla Chill Out” bar opens to the public Friday and Saturday from 18:00 to midnight. No minimum consumption. Views over Ciutat Vella.
La Isabela — Hotel 1898 (La Rambla, 7th Floor)
Rooftop of the historic former Philippines Tobacco Company building. Pool is guest-only. The La Isabela bar opens to the public 12:00–23:00 (until 2:00am in summer). Reservation recommended. Cocktails from €12.50. One of the few rooftop bars in the old city with extended evening hours.
Nobu Hotel Barcelona (25th Floor, Sants area)
Highest rooftop in the city. 360° views with the Sagrada Família on the horizon. Pool is guest-only. The Nobu restaurant and bar are accessible without a room reservation. Saturday Vertigo Sessions feature live music. Cocktails €14–18.
Comparison Table
| Rooftop | Pool for Non-Guests | Day Pass Price (indicative) | Main View |
|---|---|---|---|
| InterContinental 173 | ✓ Yes (day pass) | From ~€65 + cocktail | Harbor, MNAC, sea |
| Purobeach Hilton | ✓ Yes (day pass) | From ~€85 | Sea, Torre Glòries |
| Meliá Barcelona Sky (GAIA) | ✓ Yes (day pass) | From ~€35 + lunch | Sea, Glòries |
| Hotel Condal Mar | ✓ Yes (day pass) | From €39 + lunch | Sea 360° |
| W Barcelona Wet Deck | ✓ Yes (premium/events) | High-end (~€250/2) | Mediterranean |
| Piscines Bernat Picornell | ✓ Yes (public) | A few € | City from Montjuïc |
| The Clock Catalonia | Bar only (evenings) | Drinks only | Montjuïc, Fuente Mágica |
| Grand Hotel Central | Bar only | €16 for bar sessions | Gothic rooftops, sea |
| La Isabela 1898 | Bar only | Drinks only | Old city 360° |
| Ohla Barcelona | Bar only (Fri–Sat) | Drinks only | Via Laietana, Cathedral |
| Nobu Hotel | Bar only | Drinks only | City + sea 360° |
The Public Option Worth Knowing
Piscines Bernat Picornell (Avinguda de l’Estadi 30–38, Montjuïc) are the 1992 Olympic pools. Diving board, bird’s-eye view of the city from the mountain. Entry is only a few euros. They’ve been used as film locations in international productions and hold a specific visual quality — stadium-scale architecture, the Eixample grid below — that no hotel rooftop replicates. Not a rooftop in the hotel sense, but the combination of price, altitude and view is difficult to beat for anyone willing to actually swim. The full network of Barcelona municipal outdoor pools starts even lower for budget swimmers.
Club Natació Atlètic-Barceloneta accepts non-member day visitors, at around €13 for adults. Outdoor fresh and saltwater pools steps from the Barceloneta beach. Sport and wellness focused, no cocktail atmosphere — but the Mediterranean is the backdrop and the price is substantially lower than any hotel day pass.
Who Is This For
You want to swim, full stop, at the lowest price → Bernat Picornell Olympic pools (public, a few euros). Among hotels, the cheapest day passes are the Meliá Sky (GAIA Pool Bar) and the Condal Mar.
You want the premium experience with a view that justifies the price → InterContinental 173. The altitude and the panorama are the correct answer.
You want the most festive pool party in the city → W Barcelona Wet Deck. Understand it’s the Sunday-evening Summer Series (21+, Marriott Bonvoy registration) and the premium pricing before committing.
You’re going with children → The Condal Mar includes lunch, which simplifies logistics, and Bernat Picornell is the cheapest public option.
You want to combine a rooftop bar with the Gothic Quarter atmosphere → Grand Hotel Central bar (from 13:00). Don’t expect pool access — do expect one of the best rooftop bar views in the city.
You want the most technically complete pool experience → Purobeach Hilton. Chemical-free water, own music, full service. Accept the Fòrum location and the noon arrival requirement.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Arriving at Purobeach after noon — reservations are released at 12:00 if you haven’t checked in. The policy is firm. If you book, arrive by 11:45.
- Assuming The Clock has a pool day pass — it doesn’t. The pool is guest-only; the terrace opens to non-guests only in the evening (around 19:00) and for drinks.
- Not checking the W Barcelona schedule — the Wet Deck Summer Series is a Sunday-evening event, over-21s only, and requires Marriott Bonvoy registration; daytime access is premium.
- Booking a Grand Hotel Central “pool visit” — the pool is guest-only. The bar is excellent; the confusion between the two creates a lot of disappointed visitors.
- Going to the Ohla rooftop bar on a weekday — it opens to the public Friday and Saturday only from 18:00.
- Arriving at Piscines Bernat Picornell without checking the schedule — public sessions alternate with swimming club lane training. Check the municipal pools timetable before going.
Final Insight
The cheapest swim from height in Barcelona costs just a few euros at Bernat Picornell, doing what the Olympic athletes did in 1992 and looking down at the Eixample from a diving board. Among the hotels, from around €35–39 you can swim and have lunch at the Meliá Sky or the Condal Mar, and about €65 buys the best view-per-euro plus a cocktail at the InterContinental. The gap between those options is not a gap in quality. It’s a gap in atmosphere and context. The water is wet in all of them.
For the rest of Barcelona’s rooftop scene — terraces without pools, budget options and the free miradors that outperform most hotel rooftops for pure views — the best rooftops Barcelona guide covers the full range. For planning the budget across the whole Barcelona trip, the daily costs guide gives the realistic numbers.