Barcelona is a city that, once you are under it's spell, you don´t get out so easily. That's fine if you you are here for a short stay. But if you have more than 3 days to spend, it is highly recommendable to make a few excursions around or even entirely out of the city, because there is so much beauty to experience...
Within reach of Barcelona
Collserola is the hilly ridge to the north of Barcelona, the highest point of which is Tibidabo hill (540 m), with the church on top of it (to be seen from almost everywhere in Barcelona). Collserola is a Natural Park with many routes to hike or bike to places of great beauty, some of which with overwhelming views of the big city down below. Collserola is spotted with very nice "masías", former farms, now refurbished as restaurants, where to take a break and to enjoy the catalan kitchen at noon.
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| View from the "Carretera de les Aigües" |
"Carretera de les Aigües"
When you plan to go to Collserola for the first time, the best thing is to take a bike to the "Carretera de les Aigües", the Water Route, so called because of the 100 water depots present on the highest points to give pessure to the Barcelona water system. The Carretera de les Aigües comprises some 25km of bikeable fine gravel path, almost level (so requiring very little effort) which can be done entirely from start (Plaça Mireia at Esplugues de Llobregat) to end (Trinitat Nova, at the rio Besós), or partially, taking the funicular at Peu del Funicular Ferrocarriles de la Generalitat train stop and get off at the first stop "Carretera de les Aigües", from where you can go left towards the Rio Besós, or right, towards Plaça Mireia (there is a restaurant and bbq area there).
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| Collserola |
There are plenty of alternative routes through Collserola, with varying degrees of difficulty. There is one that starts from La Floresta FGC train station and takes you all around Collserola to Les Planes train station. This one has a high degree of difficulty, you need a mountain bike, and it takes you a day to accomplish. Also you need a good description of the route as it has many bifurcations without any kind of indication where to go and you will get lost easily. Halfway you can have a break and a nice meal at Can Capmany.
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| Les planes |
There is another one that takes you from Tibidabo hill to the Sanctuary of Sant Medir and from there to Can Borrell where you can have lunch, and to Sant Cugat with its famous Monasterio. There you can take the train back to Barcelona. This route is very well indicated and you will hardly run the risk of getting lost. This route will take you half a day.
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| El Monasterio de Sant Cugat |
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| Ronda Verde |
Going altogether out of Barcelona
Just for one day
El Maresme. You can also decide to leave the city entirely and make a ride along the mediterrannean along the Maresme area. This route takes you out of Barcelona, passes along the Forum area, to Badalona, Montgat, Masnou, Premià de Mar, Villasar de Mar, until Mataró and beyond. The route follows the train track along the Mediterrannean coast which makes it easy to take the train back if you are tired of biking. It is a very beautiful route along very nice villages with plenty of places to take a break and enjoy a nice paella at one of the many "chiringuitos" you will find along the route.
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