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Head to the city beaches (Parks & 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.

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.

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 50-m (164-ft) sprints. During the summer, there’s a film programme known as “watch and swim”.

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.

On weekend mornings year-round you can pick up a volleyball game at Platja de la Nova Icària. It is best to go with enough people to form a team, but you are usually welcome to join in an ongoing game.

The sports centre in the Parc de l’Espanya Industrial (Parc de l’Espanya Industrial), which has excellent weight-lifting facilities, plus a sauna, Turkish bath, Jacuzzi, badminton courts and a swimming pool. One-day membership is available.

Hire a pair of in-line skates from Desconnecta and breeze around Barcelona. Bikes and scooters are also available for rent from here.

Shoot some pool at Gràcia’s lovely Cafè Salambó, where there are pool and billard tables for rent upstairs, not to mention good drinks, tasty food, a friendly ambience and a lively, arty crowd (Gràcia Cafés).

These traditional Catalan dances (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 (Sources of Information can provide information on these events.

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 (Parc de l’Espanya Industrial).