Barcelona Gyms

What with its proud legacy in the field of sports, plenty of city beaches for posing on, and a nightlife scene abounding in exclusive ‘see and be seen’ type venues, Barcelona is probably not the best place to look a bit flabby around the edges.

Of course working out isn’t just about looking your best, it’s about feeling it too, and the health benefits of joining one of Barcelona’s gyms should be weighed up against the membership fees. Too many patatas bravas and cervezas are hardly good for your heart, and a regular cardiovascular work out might be just the detox your body needs.

I’m gonna need some encouragement for this one!

Meanwhile stressed-out office workers and entrepreneurs might find a visit to the gym the perfect way to combat mental pressure and re-energise limbs that spend too long slouching in front of a computer.

Finally don’t forget the social benefits of joining a gym, health club or fitness class either. If you’re new to the city signing up for a group activity, such as a training, yoga or aerobics class, can be a great way to make friends, while more than one happy couple have fallen in love by the rowing machines…

7 Best Gyms & Fitness Centres

Check out our list of recommended venues for staying fit in the city….

1. Ignite Fitness

The leading personal training studio in Barcelona, Ignite Fitness is a great starting point for anyone serious about pursuing health and lifestyle changes. Rather than function as a typical gym, Ignite is focused on offering bespoke fitness programmes, with their international team of coaches working alongside you towards your goals. Usually this takes the form of one-to-one personal training, but they also offer more affordable small group sessions, as well as HIIT and strength classes – all of which are reasonably priced. Given that Ignite is popular with new arrivals to Barcelona, and the friendly coaches are expats themselves (between them they speak English, Catalan, Spanish, French!), this is a great place for anyone looking for a community to share their fitness journey with. Their studio is centrally located, close to Urquinoana metro station.
C/Bruc 8
www.ignitefitness.es

2. Halo Fitness

This friendly fitness studio in Poblenou offers a safe space for anyone in Barcelona to train, and is particularly popular with women and members of the LGBT community. They offer several small group classes a day (up to 6 people), based around strength, endurance and balance, as well as one-to-one personal training sessions – and they leverage their custom-made software to track their clients’ progress and maximise their development. Prices are extremely affordable, ranging from €25-65 a month, depending on how many classes you wish to take, while personal training plans start at €225 a month. Check out their website below for full details on all of the above, and the chance to become part of their diverse community of supportive trainers and fellow trainees.
Passeig de Taulat 235
www.halofitness.es

3. Smartfit (Arc de Triomf)

This modern gym is conveniently located right in the heart of the city, next to Arc de Triomf, making it highly accessible for anyone living in downtown Barcelona. With separate spaces for cardio, free weights, resistance machines and dynamic training zone, however you like to train you should find the facilities you need at Smartfit. Most membership packages cost around €30 per month, and the great news, if you’re a traveller or digital nomad, is that they work with the Barcelona Fitness Pass, so you can pay per visit if you’re just passing through.
C/Girona 9
smartfit.es/arcdetriomf

4. Club Natacio Atletic Barceloneta

A favourite gym with locals the ‘Swimming Club Athletic Barceloneta’ is a sports complex located right on the beach front as you head up from the Barceloneta district towards the imposing W Hotel. With two outdoor swimming pools and one indoor there’s plenty of splashing around opportunities, whilst there’s still space for a spa, 1,200 metres squared of weight training facilities and three studios offering everything from yoga to Tai Chi classes. The views over the beach are rather spectacular.
Plaça del Mar
www.cnb.cat

5. Holmes Place Barcelona

This international chain started life in Soho, London, in 1980 before opening it’s first club in Spain in 1997. Today it operates five clubs in España, three in Madrid and two here in Barcelona. If you’re a fan of the syndicate then you can find them in Carrer Balmes and Carrer Ausias Marc.
C/Balmes 44-46
www.holmesplace.com/gyms-barcelona

6. Club Metropolitan

With 7 branches in Barcelona, this upmarket chain is likely to have a centre near your home or place of work. While membership is a little pricier than some of other options, each location has a number of classes you can join for free and many also have an onsite spa.
www.clubmetropolitan.net/en/gimnasios/barcelona

7. Nova Icaria Esport & Fit

Residents of Poblenou might want to check out these facilities that include gym, swimming pool, indoor football / basketball courts and outdoor padel courts. The also run regular fitness classes like spinning, zumba and pilates for those looking to do cardio and toning work.
www.novaicaria.com

Further Reading

If you’ve recently moved to Barcelona, you might find some useful advice for expats on this article, while we’ve also got a comprehensive list of places to learn Spanish, as well as plenty of ‘tourist’ information on great things to do in the city by day as well as by night, with more suggestions on our blog.