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Barcelona's Secret Olympic Pool: The Hidden Gem Kylie and Dua Lipa Both Chose
Most tourists walk straight past it. Here's why you shouldn't.
If you've been to Barcelona and spent a day sweating it out on Barceloneta beach with the rest of the tourist crowd, you missed one of the city's best-kept secrets. Sitting high up on Montjuïc Hill, with panoramic views across the entire Barcelona skyline, is a public swimming pool that most visitors never even know exists — and it has a pop culture history that makes it unmissable for gay travellers.
What Is the Montjuïc Olympic Pool?
The Piscines Municipals de Montjuïc — also known as the Montjuïc Olympic Pool or Picornell Pool — is Barcelona's historic outdoor swimming complex, built in 1929 and famously used during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Perched on the side of Montjuïc Hill, it offers what is arguably the most spectacular view of any public pool in Europe: the entire city of Barcelona spread out below you, with the Mediterranean in the distance.
And the price? Less than €7 to get in.
No resort fee. No hotel wristband. No overpriced cocktails you have to order just to keep your sun lounger. Just you, the Barcelona skyline, and one of the most iconic outdoor swimming venues in the world.
Why Gay Travellers Know This Pool
This is where Kylie Minogue filmed the music video for Slow in 2003. It's also where Dua Lipa filmed Illusion. Two of the most celebrated pop artists in gay culture, drawn to the same pool — and yet most tourists visiting Barcelona have absolutely no idea it exists.
For the gay travel community, the Montjuïc pool has quietly become one of those insider Barcelona experiences that gets passed around like a local recommendation rather than a guidebook entry. It's the kind of place you find out about from someone who's been, not from a tourist map.
What to Expect When You Visit
The pool complex sits within the wider Olympic Ring area on Montjuïc, close to the Olympic Stadium and the Palau Sant Jordi. The outdoor pool is large, the sun decks are generous, and on a clear day the views over the city are genuinely breathtaking.
It's popular with locals, especially on summer weekends, so arriving earlier in the day is recommended. The atmosphere is relaxed and unpretentious — a world away from the crowded, overpriced beach clubs that dominate Barcelona's summer scene.
The pool is open to the public every summer, typically from June through September, with entry costing under €7. It's easily reachable by cable car, bus, or a walk up through the Montjuïc park — which is worth doing in itself.
The Best Hidden Experience in Barcelona
Barcelona is one of Europe's top destinations for gay travellers, and for good reason. The city has a world-class gay scene centred around the Eixample neighbourhood — known locally as Gayxample — excellent beaches, incredible food, and a relaxed attitude that makes it one of the most welcoming cities on the continent.
But the Montjuïc Olympic Pool is one of those experiences that elevates a Barcelona trip from good to genuinely memorable. It combines history, spectacle, and value in a way that's rare in one of Europe's most visited cities.
If you're planning a trip to Barcelona, add this to your list before anything else.
Looking for more insider Barcelona travel tips? Read the full DailyJocks Local guide to Barcelona at dailyjocks.com — covering the best neighbourhoods, bars, beaches, and experiences for gay travellers.
