Salt mountain from Barcelona

The Salt Mountain at Cardona is one of the largest and oldest of such geological formations in the world, and a must-see attraction of Catalonia. You can now explore the cavernous old salt mines on guided tours to Salt Mountain and Cardona from Barcelona.

Also discover the history of medieval Cardona, wandering along winding streets, Gothic and Romanesque buildings, and the monumental fortress of Cardona Castle.

Read on to learn more about Salt Mountain, one of the most exciting day trips from Barcelona.

How to travel to Salt Mountain from Barcelona?

The Salt Mountain is located about 95 kilometers northwest of Barcelona in Catalonia and easily accessible by car and public transportation.

From Barcelona to Salt Mountain by car

The trip by car along the C-16 and C-55 lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

From Barcelona to Salt Mountain by public transportation

To reach Salt Mountain By bus, you can take an ALSA bus to Cardona from Barcelona Nord station, which depart every 4 hours. The trip lasts 1 hour and 45 minutes.

There are no direct trains from Barcelona to Cardona but you can take a train to nearby Manresa. From there, you take a bus from Estación de Autobuses de Manresa to Cardona.

Guided tour to Salt Mountain from Barcelona

Joining a guided tour to Salt Mountain will take the stress out of planning transportation and tickets, allowing you to relax and enjoy your trip. There are several guided day tours departing from Barcelona to Salt Mountain and Cardona.

What does a day tour to Salt Mountain from Barcelona normally look like?

After pickup from your hotel, you will be transported to Cardona, 95 kilometers from Barcelona. In Cardona you will find Salt Valley, exploited by humans since Neolithic times.

At the Salt Mountain Cultural Park, you will find one of the world’s most important salt deposits, which was mined from 1929 to 1990. Explore the outdoor museum area and the old 'Maria Teresa' mine shaft and learn about the industrial mining of the valley. You will also descend 86 meters deep into the salt mine and marvel at beautiful natural stalactites and stalagmites.

To finish your tour, visit the Cardona town center, bordered by Romanesque and Gothic buildings. Stroll around Cardona Castle, one of Spain’s best-conserved landmarks and famous for its resistance in the Spanish Succession and Napoleonic Wars.

What kinds of tours are there to Salt Mountain?

Medieval Cardona and Salt Mountain Cultural Park group tour

Discover one of Catalonia’s hidden wonders on this small group tour of medieval Cardona and the unique Salt Mountain. Marvel at the ancient, crystalline salt mining caves of Salt Mountain and share centuries of Spanish history on a tour of Cardona’s impressive castle.

Following morning pickup at your Barcelona accommodation, you will travel to ‘Saline Valley’ and the open pit of natural salt deposits. It has been mined since Neolithic times and from 1929 to 1990 functioned as one of the world’s foremost salt mines. The area is now being conserved as the Salt Mountain Cultural Park and offers great views of the valley and old mine galleries, as well as hosting an exhibition of the old mineral extraction machinery.

At the museum in the old ‘Maria Teresa’ mine shaft, you can learn about the salt mine’s history and descend 86 meters underground. On this guided tour of the Salt Mountain chambers, you will look in awe at the spectacular stalactite and stalagmite formations.

At the nearby medieval town of Cardona, you will hear fascinating local tales as you are guided along winding streets and Gothic and Romanesque buildings. Then visit the monumental Cardona Castle, which withstood invasion during the War of Spanish Succession in 1714 and the Wars of Napoleon.

The village grew around the fortress, which is still very well-preserved. You’ll find historic squares, Gothic and Romanesque churches and civilian architecture.  Also enjoy the fine view of the Cardoner River Valley, before returning to Barcelona.

Private Cardona and Salt Mountain guided tour

Explore the charming medieval town of Cardona and the historic salt mine at Salt Mountain Cultural Park on this fascinating guided tour from Barcelona. Learn about Catalonia’s salt mining industry, explore the Salt Mountain 86 meters underground and admire the defenses of the ancient Cardona Castle.

A professional guide will pick you up at your hotel and drive you in comfort to Cardona. You’ll feel the great sense of history when exploring its old streets and ancient buildings. Here you will find the Salt Valley, used by humans since Neolithic times. Explore one of the world’s most important salt deposits at Salt Mountain Cultural Park. The salt mine opened in 1929 and functioned until 1990.

Explore the outdoor museum area, where you’ll find the old 'Maria Teresa' mine shaft and learn about the industrial exploitation of the valley. You will descend 86 meters deep into the Salt Mountain and see the beautiful natural stalactites, stalagmites and colorful folds.

Lastly, visit the Cardona center, bordered by Romanesque and Gothic buildings that have survived some most important battles in Catalonia’s history. Stroll around the Castle, one of Spain’s best-conserved medieval landmarks which in 1714, in the Spanish Succession War, already proved impregnable.

What's the price range for a tour to Salt Mountain from Barcelona?

Tours to Salt Mountain from Barcelona last 10 hours on average and cost from about €100 to €300 per person with private transportation.

For a Medieval Cardona and Salt Mountain Cultural Park tour, expect to pay about €100 per person. A private guided tour to Cardona and Salt Mountain costs about €250 to €300 per person and includes hotel pickup/drop-off.

What can you do on a Salt Mountain day trip?

Cardona Castle

The Cardona Castle is regarded as the most important medieval fortress in Catalonia. Located on a hill, it offers beautiful views over Cardona, Salt Mountain and the Cardoner River valley. It was especially situated on the hill, so the noblemen could keep watch over Salt Mountain with its “white gold”.

The castle was originally constructed in the 9th century by Wilfred the Hairy, in a mix of Gothic and Romanesque styles. During the 14th century, it served as the residence of the Duke of Cardona, second only to the Royal house. It was enlarged and expanded with a palace and the Romanesque church of Sant Vicenç. In 1714, during the War of Spanish Succession, the castle was the only one to withstand King Philip V’s troops.

Church of Sant Miquel de Cardona

The church is built on the site of a Romanesque temple, but what you see today is a Gothic construction from the 14th century, consecrated in 1327. The temple has a single nave, with a polygonal chevet and chapels between the buttresses.

Inside, some excellent examples of Catalan altarpieces are preserved, such as those dedicated to Saint Anna, the Virgin, and Saint Amador. It also displays scenes of the Saint Ursula altarpiece and one dedicated to the Holy Spirit, from the beginning of the 15th century.

The Gothic alabaster carving, Our Lady of Patronage, has been restored after being damaged during the Spanish Civil War.

When is Salt Mountain open over the year?

The Salt Mountain Cultural Park is open all year round.

What are the opening times?

The opening hours for the Salt Mountain Cultural Park are:

• Tuesday - Friday: 10 AM – 3 PM
• Saturday: 10 AM – 6 PM

The entrance ticket costs €12.

When is the best time of the year to visit Salt Mountain?

Any time of the year is a good time to visit the Salt Mountain, as Cardona’s moderate climate is clear and dry and relatively mild throughout the year.

Travel tips

• Temperatures inside the mine can be cool, so bring a light jacket.
• The mines can be dark and slippery, so wear shoes with a firm grip and follow safety instructions given by your guide.
• The 2023 Cardona Salt Festival runs from 3 to 4 June.