Barcelona Bike Tours

Why Explore by Bicycle?

A bike tour is a great way to see Barcelona, and has numerous advantages over traditional walking tours. The most obvious is that being on a bicycle enables you to see much more of the city, but those of you who like a little exercise will also appreciate the chance to burn off a couple more calories and keep the oxygen flowing to the brain as your knowledgeable guide regales you with fascinating histories and amusing anecdotes.

The chance to rattle around Barcelona on two wheels will also make you feel a little more independent (and dare we say ‘cool’) than those who’ve hopped on the nearest tourist bus

The chance to rattle around Barcelona on two wheels will also make you feel a little more independent (and dare we say ‘cool’) than those who’ve hopped on the nearest tourist bus – and you can even maintain the moral high ground on environmental friendliness. There’s no carbon emissions generated from pedal power.

The fact that Barcelona is (with the exception of the odd mountain) an incredibly flat city with over 300km of bike paths (and more planned) should provide additional incentive to get in the saddle and discover the town’s best attractions.

Most of Barcelona’s numerous bike tour companies offer both private tours and group excursions with a guide. As well as catch-all routes that take in the likes of La Sagrada Familia, Barceloneta Beach and La Rambla in one circuit, you’ll also find some exciting alternative tours on offer, concentrating on different themes (like eating tapas or football) or taking you to less-heralded, but equally fascinating, districts.

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Top 7 Bike Tours

Find our recommended list of providers below, many of whom also do bike rentals if you prefer free-wheeling it…

1. Steel Donkey Bike Tours

Looking for a two-wheel ride you will never forget? The Steel Donkey team (the donkey is the national animal of Catalonia in case you were wondering!) offer intimate adventures around the city of Barcelona, riding in small groups of no more than 8 people. Their friendly guides are all Barna locals, with an eye for the fascinating details and stories that others might miss, and a nose for adventure. You won’t get a history lesson on Gaudi, but you might learn a little bit about Catalan independence and see sides of the city that most tourists simply don’t know about, as you spend a unique afternoon uncovering Barcelona’s secrets. There is no fixed itinerary (each guide shows you their personal Barcelona highlights!), but hidden squares, city beaches, side streets, chocolate and churros, flea markets and forgotten cemeteries are just a few delights you might experience. A simply great tour for people who don’t like to be tourists. Serial Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence winners, check out their bike tour reviews, or their website below.
www.steeldonkeybiketours.com

2. Gaudi Bike Tours

If you’re curious about Barcelona’s legendary architect, look no further than the aptly named Gaudi Bikes Tours, because their comprehensive tours visit ALL of Gaudi’s greatest hits. Their daily Gaudi UNESCO Highlights Tour not only stops at the world-famous Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila and Casa Batllo, but also calls by underrated gems like Casa Vicens and Palau Guell, and examines the architect’s street lamps, tiles and other design work in iconic locations like Plaça Reial and Parc de la Ciutadella. Their Gaudi Legacy w/ Park Guell electric bike tour goes even further, up to the gorgeous gardens of Park Guell – tickets to the park are included in the price. Both tours include a relaxing refreshment break, either on a charming square or on the rooftop of a luxury hotel, with spectacular views over the city.
www.gaudibiketours.com

3. Ocean Bikes Barcelona

If you’re keen to see as much as possible while in Barcelona, electric bicycles will take you that bit further than a pedal bike. That’s the philosophy of Ocean Bikes who have created two sensational itineraries for curious explorers: namely their morning Photo Highlights Tour and their afternoon Barcelona Off The Beaten Track Tour. The former is the perfect introduction to the Catalan capital, as it calls by all the most breathtaking sights of the city, such La Sagrada Familia, the Gaudi mansions, and the famous palm tree-lined Barceloneta beach. On this tour you also cross over Montjuic hill, and see the Olympic Stadium, Calatrava’s Needle, the Joan Miro Foundation and several sensational view points – perfect for a few selfies. The more chilled Off The Beaten Track Tour meanwhile is ideal for a relaxed afternoon of cycling and alternative exploring and can be done on a pedal or electric bicycle. Both tours can be combined with a sailing trip from the bike store’s Port Olimpic base!
oceanbikesbarcelona.com

4. Baja Bikes

Baja Bikes are one of the world’s leading bicycle tour companies, operating everywhere from Amsterdam to Zakynthos, Greece. Despite being Dutch-owned they actually started right here in Barcelona, and their Highlights Tour is a natural choice for those visiting the city for the first time. This 3-hour bike ride uncovers the secrets of Las Ramblas, the winding streets of the Gothic Quarter and many of Gaudi’s greatest hits, including of course La Sagrada Familia. The itinerary also includes the colourful Raval neighbourhood, as well as Born, Arc de Triomf and Parc de la Ciutadella. You can book the Baja Bikes’ Highlights Tour on their website, where you can also consider upgrading to their Tapas and Sightseeing Tour, where you also get to try three local tapas with a drink as part of the activity.
www.bajabikes.eu/en/barcelona-sightseeing

5. Fat Tire Barcelona

Fat Tire’s first ever sortie in the saddle took place in Paris back in 1999, and today you can find them in 12 cities around the world, including of course Barcelona. If you’re looking for the classic round up of the city’s main attractions for a fair price you can’t go wrong, and no need to take our word for it: their Barcelona Bike Tour was voted 11th Best Experience in the World and 9th Best Experience in Spain by TripAdvisors’ Travelers’ Choice Awards 2018 & 2019. Crowd-pleasing sights like the Gothic Cathedral, La Sagrada Familia, Parc de la Ciutadella and the beach make for a great introduction to the city, and their guides are young, charismatic and fun. Popular with backpackers and budget travellers they usually ride in groups of 9-10 people. Check out their website for all their tours.

6. Buena Vista Tours

A relatively new player on the scene, Buena Vista explore the Catalan capital in small and intimate groups which respect the city, and its citizens. Their Barcelona City Bike tour takes in many of the city’s top highlights, such as La Sagrada Familia, the Palau de la Musica, Ciutadella Park and Plaça Sant Jaume, as well as some curious and hidden treasures off the usual tourist trail. The tour runs daily at 11am from Plaça Reial (one of the city’s most beautiful squares!), and led by passionate and knowledgeable locals who delight in showing travellers their home town. The relaxed vibe means there’s plenty of time to talk, take photos and – on a warm day – have a picnic on the beach. In 2023 they also launched a Gaudi tour, for fans of the architect.
www.buenavistatours.es

7. Montefusco Cycling

Specialists in road biking, a day in the company of Montefusco involves more than tottering around the tourist sights… on their Hills Around The City Tour you’ll cover more than 80km of ground as you take in the entire city, starting from the epic Parc del Forum then following the route of the River Besos, before climbing up mighty Tibidabo mountain and cycling along the ridge of the Collserola hills for some of the best views of your life. If you want to go further afield check out their full roster of 12 amazing trips, including to the picturesque town of Sitges, along the winding roads of the Costa Brava and to the beautiful landscapes of Montserrat. This is a small and personable company that caters for serious cyclists.
www.roadcycling.barcelona

8. E-Bike, Cable Car and Boat Tour

Run by a boutique tour company specialising in unique experiences, this “Land, Sea and Air” tour is a Barcelona E-bike Tour with Montjuic Cable Car and Boat Trip all included. First you ride your Mercedes Benz electric bicycle up to the magical Montjuic Mountain, where you will hop on the famous teleferic cable car and admire the Catalan capital from the air. From here you can enjoy a stroll around the Olympic Ring and Montjuic Castle. Next you’re back on the e-bikes to ride down to the Old Port and get on board on a romantic “goleta”-style wooden sailing yacht, for a relaxing waterfront cruise. And then there’s still time to ride up to the wonderful Passeig de Gracia to check out Gaudi’s biomorphic mansions, as well as call by the mighty La Sagrada Familia, in the company of your local guide.

Note: While the America’s Cup is running (i.e. until end of October 2024) the boat tour is not included in the activity.