Sunbathing & Swimming
Head to the city beaches to cool down and escape the stifling heat. Barcelona boasts a wide range of fabulous beaches, from Barceloneta, lined with bars and restaurants, to the reclaimed beaches of Vila Olímpica, Bogatell and Mar Bella.
Sunbathers, Platja de la Barceloneta
Watersports
A wide variety of activities is on offer in the jet-set surroundings of Port Olímpic and neighbouring beaches, including dinghy sailing and windsurfing. For the experienced, boats are available for hire from the Escola Municipal de Vela; for the beginner, there are classes. Night-time kayaking tours of the city’s beaches are available from Desconnecta.
Moll de Gregal
93 225 79 40
Open 9:30am–8pm daily
C/Ticia 42
93 417 93 62
Swimming
Set in the green environs of Montjuïc, the outstanding outdoor pool of Bernat Picornell is surprisingly uncrowded, especially in summer. Renovated for the Olympics, it has sun loungers, an ice-cream stall and a huge electronic timer for swimmers to time their sprints. During the summer, there’s a film programme known as “watch and swim”.
Open 7am–midnight Mon–Fri, 7am–9pm Sat, 7am–8:30pm (4pm winter) Sun
Adm
DA
Bernat Picornell outdoor pool
Pitch-&-Putt Golf
The Costa Brava is emerging as one of Spain’s top golf destinations but if you’re looking to tee off in town, your best bets are the nearby pitch-and-putt courses in Badalona and Castelldefells.
Castell de Godmar, Badalona, 5km NE Barcelona
93 395 27 79
Open 8:30am–dusk daily
Castelldefels, 20 km S Barcelona
93 636 28 96
Open 9am–9pm Tue–Sat (to 8pm Sun)
Weight Lifting
The sports centre in the Parc de l’Espanya Industrial has excellent weight-lifting facilities, a sauna, Turkish bath, Jacuzzi, badminton courts and a swimming pool. One-day membership is available.
C/Muntadas
93 426 10 70
Open 6am–11pm Mon–Fri, 8am–9pm Sat, 8am–2:30pm Sun
Adm
Biking
Hire a city bike from Barcelona Biking and breeze around Barcelona. Mountain bikes are also available for rent here.
Baixada de Sant Miquel, 6
65 635 63 00
Pool & Billiards
Shoot some pool at Gràcia’s lovely Cafè Salambó, where there are pool and billiard tables for rent upstairs, not to mention good drinks, tasty food, a friendly ambience and a lively, arty crowd.
Sardanes
These traditional Catalan dances (see Sardanes) take place regularly all over the city and at most local festas. Far from being exclusive, they often involve up to 200 people and there’s no reason why you can’t be one of them. The tourist office (see Tourist Information) can provide information on these events.
Frontó
Egalitarian tennis or poor man’s squash, all you need is a tennis racket and ball to beat against the wall to enjoy this popular pastime. The city’s parks are full of free frontó courts; one of the best is next to the Casa del Mig in the Parc de l’Espanya Industrial.
FC Barcelona Football
Tickets to see this side are rare; book online or by phone.
Sep–Jun
93 496 36 00
902 189 900
RCD Espanyol
It’s easier to get tickets for this first-division football side; they play at Estadi Olímpic.
Sep–Jun
90 219 62 59
FC Barcelona Basketball
The team of the city’s second favourite sport play at the Palau Blaugrana.
Sep–May
90 218 99 00
93 496 30 00
Barcelona Marató
The marathon takes in the whole city before culminating at the Plaza d’España.
Early March
90 243 17 63
Barcelona Open
This tennis tournament attracts some big names.
mid–late Apr
93 203 78 52
Cursa El Corte Inglés
A 11-km (7-mile) run with thousands of participants.
May or Jun
90 112 21 22
La Volta Ciclista de Catalunya
Cyclists warm up for the more serious European events with this testing route.
late May–Jun
93 431 82 98
Montmeló
Motor racing, including Formula 1, regularly comes to this circuit.
Apr–May
93 571 97 71
Cursa La Mercè
A 10-km (6-mile) run through Barcelona’s centre.
Late Sep
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