City trip Barcelona - Gaudí guaranteed: A bike tour through the Spanish metropolis

Normally, a report like this should probably start with a bike ride through the city. But we have decided otherwise. Two projects that have developed in Barcelona in recent years are so remarkable that we would like to start with them.

Superblocks: Cyclists have priority here

We are staying in the Eixample district. As soon as we leave our accommodation, we mainly meet locals. We immediately fell in love with the surrounding cafés and tapas bars, which still offer Spanish delicacies on a budget. A typical Catalan neighbourhood. However, the noise of pneumatic hammers and moving excavators spoilt the atmosphere. A relaxed coffee at one of the street tables in the cafés? Not a chance. However, the building site turns out to be a harbinger of the future, as we are witnessing the construction of a "superblock". "Superblocks", known as "superilles" in Catalan, are traffic-calmed zones. Up to nine blocks of houses are grouped together in them. Pedestrians and cyclists have priority there and car traffic is reduced to a minimum. Sounds fantastic, but does it work?

Green oases and segregated cycle paths

Without further ado, we abandon our planned sightseeing tour and drive to "Poble Nou", an existing superblock in Barcelona. As we turn the corner, we immediately realise that things are different here. Instead of the next junction, we roll towards a children's playground. Nowadays, parents would usually panic if they were told: "Your child is playing in the middle of the street." But here it's the norm. Roads approach the playground from four directions and lead to a roundabout. There are no cars or motorbikes to be seen. If a motorised vehicle does drive past, it does so at only 10 to 20 kilometres per hour. Instead of dreary city grey, we see raised beds, flower pots and newly planted trees. Instead of car noise we hear children laughing, instead of exhaust fumes we breathe in fresh air. The success proves Barcelona's urban developers right. Delegations from many major European cities are now travelling to the city. They want to learn from the Catalans and learn from them how to create green oases with a high quality of life and living in the centre of a big city.

But there is something else that has impressed us since we arrived in the metropolis. After just a few hours in Barcelona, our week-long concerns about a bike sightseeing tour through the city have been dispelled. Something has really happened here! All the major connecting roads now have a separate cycle lane throughout. Only at junctions are there still points of contact with motorists. We are particularly impressed by the fact that the paths don't just stop anywhere - even though they were integrated into the infrastructure at a later date. The only downside is that the cycle lanes are unfortunately a little narrow, which requires increased caution and consideration, especially when travelling from two directions.

Get on your bike for sightseeing

But now enough anticipation. Our tour begins: After the most important morning ritual, enjoying a delicious cappuccino in one of the cafés near our hotel, we saddle up. We head through "El Poble-Sec", the lively neighbourhood at the foot of "Montjuic". Carrer de Blai, the most famous street in the district, is lined with one tapas bar after another. In the evenings, the street is packed with people. But now, around 9 o'clock, it is still quiet here, the shops are still closed.

Our first destination is the summit of Montjuic. The mountain is one hundred and seventy-three metres high. This makes it one of the biggest in Barcelona in many respects. There is a lot to see and visit up there. The mountain is home to the Montjuic Castle, the Olympic Stadium and the Botanical Gardens. So let's get up there! However: Although the thermometer shows a pleasant 20 degrees, the ascent makes our foreheads sweat. So when the cable car station comes into view, we change our minds: we quickly fold up our bikes and hop into a cable car cabin that takes us to the top of the mountain. There we enjoy the unique view over the city and the sea, which stays with us for a while on the rapid descent.

We don't miss out on a short stopover at the "Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies". Anyone with a passion for street art will immediately fall in love with this place, the hub for skaters and graffiti artists. Our time is short, however, because the sea, or rather the beach, is calling.

From the beach to the Ramblas

The promenade is bursting with energy and joie de vivre. Everything is in motion: cyclists, skaters, joggers and walkers. United by one desire: to enjoy the fresh sea breeze. For a brief moment, it's time to get out of the city, away from everyday life and simply switch off. We enjoy the ride along the beach, past the old harbour, cafés and restaurants.

Our next stop is the Barri Gòtic. The neighbourhood is a labyrinth. Narrow alleyways through which streams of visitors meander. It quickly becomes clear that there is no point in cycling here. Okay, if you love your bike, you push it. Many of the houses around us are centuries old, some dating back to the Middle Ages. Having barely escaped the labyrinth, we are standing directly on the Ramblas, one of Barcelona's landmarks.

The road from the harbour to Plaça de Catalunya runs for almost one and a half kilometres. What a picture: street musicians and artists entertain their audiences, passers-by pick up their daily newspapers from the kiosks, children indulge in ice cream and older people take a break on the benches. Not only they, but also we watch the colourful hustle and bustle and are fascinated. Hardly any other place is as popular with visitors and locals alike. And it has so much more to offer. The sights are almost one after the other along the street. One of the biggest attractions is the Mercat de la Boqueria. The market offers almost everything the culinary heart desires: sweets, honey, cheese, exquisite oils, olives, fish, seafood and much more. A huge selection and all fresh! We take a look inside the hall. A potpourri of smells and colours floods in.

Half time! We have only covered 13 kilometres of our sightseeing route. But the sheer number of places worth seeing is beyond our schedule. A recommendation from us: with enough time in your luggage, the tour is twice as much fun. So treat yourself to two days! In the meantime, we cycle right across the city.

Gaudí art and basilica in the evening light

After covering a good six kilometres, we reach Park Güell. We continue to Plaça de Catalunya and cross the Gracia neighbourhood. To get to the park entrance, we have two more climbs ahead of us, as this Gaudi masterpiece is located on a hill that is quite a challenge. But it's worth it. Once at the top, we are amazed by the sculptures, the colourful ceramics and the creative elements that speak for the artist himself. The area is extensive, and we simply have to take some time to let it all sink in.

As we are already at the top, it's all downhill for us to our final destination, the Sagrada Familia. We quickly reach the most impressive of Gaudi's works. Unfinished to this day, it is still an absolute must-see for every visitor to Barcelona. If you want to visit the building, it is essential to book in advance.

We walk round the cathedral. It feels like a place of pilgrimage, surrounded by countless people from all over the world. We decide to enjoy the sight from a certain distance and find a quiet spot in one of the cafés in the neighbourhood. We are pleasantly surprised by the price of a cappuccino: a cup costs 3.50 euros - with the best view of the Sagrada! In other European cities, we would probably pay at least twice as much. The sun is already low. Its last rays bathe the monumental basilica in a unique light. For a while, we surrender completely to this sight. Then we set off. It's just under three kilometres to the hotel. On the way back, we pass the Casa Mila, a building from Gaudí's Catalan Art Nouveau period, and then reach our accommodation.

Our image of Barcelona has completely changed after this cycling holiday. The sea, magnificent architecture and a lively, colourful hustle and bustle in the squares and streets - of course, that's what characterises the city. But the great thing is that it can also be discovered by bike, thanks to a well-developed infrastructure with safe cycle paths and lots of fun. The new "superblocks" offer more greenery and quiet areas for a break from the big city. We recommend a visit in the spring months. Then the temperatures are pleasant and the city is full of energy and zest for action, as it is just waking up from its winter hibernation.

City trip by bike: useful tips for the Catalan metropolis of Barcelona

Tour & route character

Our cycle tour is 24 kilometres long and takes in all the sights mentioned in the text. The tour describes a figure of eight, so it can easily be spread over two days. Barcelona has developed into a cycling city in recent years. All major streets in the city have a separate cycle lane.

GPX data for the Barcelona cycle tour

The GPX data for our sightseeing tour by bike through the Catalan metropolis of Barcelona is available here for free download and in the MYBIKE-Collection on komoot

Best time to travel

All year round

Journey

There are direct flights from all major German airports.

Worth seeing

La Sagrada Familia: The cathedral by the famous architect Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926) is considered his masterpiece; construction began in 1882 and continues to this day; advance booking is recommended for a visit: sagradafamilia.org/en/home

Park Güell: Park in the Gracia district, also created by Gaudi from 1900-1914; an entrance ticket is required for the park's monumental zone with sculptures, fountains and other works of art: parkguell.barcelona/en

Montjuïc: Barcelona's local mountain, 173 metres high, a cable car goes up, many sights such as the castle (a former fortress), parks and the view of the city make it an attraction

City beach: Over 4 km long in total, starting in the Barceloneta neighbourhood, followed by a palm-lined promenade

Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies: Park in the district of Sants-Montjuic, known as the "Gardens of the Three Chimneys", named after the chimneys that remain from a former power station located here; the urban park, built in 1995, is a centre of attraction for graffiti artists and skaters and the venue for many cultural events.

Gothic Quarter: In the "Barri Gòtic" you will find trendy bars, clubs and Catalan restaurants in narrow medieval streets, and the Las Ramblas promenade also runs through here.

Bike hire

Unfortunately, the city's "Bicing" bike hire system is only available to locals. However, there are various private providers of hire bikes.

• Bike Rental - Bike Rental Barcelona
  Carrer de Montserrat, 8, 08001 Barcelona, bikerentalbarcelona.com/bike-rental
  Classic city bike per day 16.50 euros; e-bike per day 32 euros, opening hours: daily 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
• Barcelona Rent a Bike - See the city by bike!
  Carrer Tallers 45 (Passage), barcelonarentabike.com/en
  Classic city bike per day 16 euros / e-bike per day 32 euros
  Opening hours: daily 10-20 h

Overnight stay

Hotel Magatzem 128, Carrer de Calàbria, 128, 08015 Barcelona, magatzem128.com

MYBIKE tip

You should make an online reservation in advance for all important sights.

Travel guide, maps, info

• barcelona.com
• go2barcelona.com

Organiser

Guided cycle tours through Barcelona:

• bajabikes.eu
• getyourguide.com