DK Travel : Barcelona : Outdoor

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City Beaches

The beaches of Barcelona were once insalubrious areas to be avoided. With the 1992 Olympics they underwent a radical face-lift and today the stretches of Barceloneta and the Port Olímpic are a major people magnet. Just a short hop on the metro from the city centre, they provide the perfect opportunity for a refreshing Mediterranean dip. The beaches are regularly cleaned and the many facilities include showers, toilets, childrens’ play areas, volleyball nets and an open-air gym. There are boats and surfboards for rent. Be warned: bag snatching is endemic. (Beaches).
Coastal Bike Ride

Breeze along the city’s coastal cycle path and take in seaside Barcelona. Pick up the path from the bottom of La Rambla and follow it north to Barceloneta, where it runs along the beachfront, past the shiny new Port Olímpic as far as Platja de la Mar Bella.
Costa Brava Coastal Path

At the end of the Platja de Sant Pol in Sant Feliu de Guíxols is the start of a beautiful, coastal path that winds north through shady tamarind trees with views of rocky coves and the Mediterranean. Around the headland and down a stairway, you will find the fabulous beach of Sa Conca, voted the sixth best in Spain.
Cursa El Corte Inglés

A 11 km (7 mile) run with thousands of participants.
Cursa La Mercè

A 10 km (6 mile) run through Barcelona’s centre.
Delta de l’Ebre

This giant delta is a patchwork of paddy fields. The wide expanse of the River Ebre is a nature reserve for migratory birds and has scores of bird-watching stations.
Diagonal Bike Ride

From Pedralbes to the sea, this route along the city’s most elegant boulevard gives you a clear idea of Barcelona’s size. The tree-lined cycle path follows Diagonal; start at the top (Zona Universitària) and continuing through the new city of Diagonal Mar until you arrive on the other side of the city just a stone’s throw from the Besòs River.
Eixample

For some of the city’s most breathtaking Modernista gems, walk the length of Pg de Gràcia south to north, past the Mansana de la Discòrdia (Mansana de la Discòrdia) and La Pedrera (La Pedrera). Turn right onto C/Mallorca, which leads to Gaudí’s Sagrada Família (Sagrada Família). Take a left along C/Marina, past the church’s awe-inspiring Nativity Façade, and head up Av Gaudí to Hospital de la Santa Creu i de Sant Pau (Hospital de la Santa Creu i de Sant Pau).
El Corte Inglés

The top floor of this department store has a glass-fronted cafeteria and restaurant with a terrace – an excellent place to lunch or just have a coffee. From here there are views of the nearby Plaça de Catalunya, the old town and the Eixample. The enormous store below stocks just about anything you might need to buy.
El Mirador del Llobregat

A viewing area with small gardens nearby, this is the only place in the city where you can see the plains of the Llobregat stretching below.