Cycling in Barcelona

Cycling guide to Barcelona

Barcelona sits at the southern end of the Maresme coast, and the riding from the city runs north along it. The recorded route leaves through Sants-Montjuïc, the Old Town, l'Eixample, Gràcia and Sant Martí before crossing into Sant Adrià de Besòs and Badalona, then picking up the string of seaside towns: Montgat, el Masnou, Premià de Mar, Vilassar de Mar and Mataró. Beyond Mataró the towns keep coming in close succession — Caldes d'Estrac, Arenys de Mar, Canet de Mar, Sant Pol de Mar, Calella, Pineda de Mar, Santa Susanna and Malgrat de Mar — before the route turns inland briefly at Palafolls, passing Sant Genís de Palafolls and Ciutadella, then reaches Blanes and finishes at Lloret de Mar after 77.3 km. Total climbing is 239 m, so this is a distance ride rather than a climbing one, and it works equally well as an out-and-back or a one-way trip.

Best time to ride

The route was recorded in September, with temperatures of 27-28°C — warm but manageable on a flat, coastal profile; earlier starts help at those temperatures.

Terrain

The terrain is flat to barely rolling: 239 m of ascent spread over 77.3 km, with a high point of just 51 m. There is no significant climb on the route, and the only gentle rises come where it moves inland around Palafolls.