Barcelona by bike

Renting a bicycle in Barcelona

Rental bikes in Barcelona cost about €4–€6 for two hours, or €10–€15 per day. (That's for a city cruiser. Expect to pay about twice as much for a mountain bike.)

Barcelona has a growing number of bicycle lanes on local roads, and an impressive two dozen or so bike rental outfits—peruse them all in the "Getting around the city" section of Barcelonaturisme.com. Here are a few of the most central:

Bike tours of Barcelona

Again, the "Getting around the city" section of Barcelonaturisme.com links to a dozen or so bike tour companies in Barcelona, or sign up directly via our partners at Viator.com:

The city bike program is really for residents

You'll see city-run Bicing bikes (www.bicing.cat) in racks around town. This is not intended as a tourist or recerational bike rental program, but rather as a locals' and commuter option for quick rides, since you have to pay an annual fee up front (€46.46). However, if you plan to be in Barcelona for a while, you might look into joining.

Once you are signed up, you can grab any of the bikes at dozens of automated locations and use it for up to 30 minutes for free, dropping it off at any other location.

You pay €0.73 per half-hour if you keep a bike longer than 30 minutes, and a penalty of €4.43 per hour if you go over two hours. (Rack up four penalities, and they take your biking privileges away.)

Tips & Links

How long should I spend in Barcelona?

If you're just passing through, I'd give Barcelona at least two full days.

It is a lovely place to relax, however, so you might be happier spending 3-4 days.

» Barcelona itineraries

Useful links & resources

SIGHTS

Barcelona tourist info: Barcelonaturisme.com (info office), Guiadelocio.com (events mag); Catalunya.com (regional info), Spain.info

Sightseeing passes: Barcelona Card (20+ sights; transport; discounts), Museum Pass (6 sights)

Tours & activities: Viator.com, ContextTravel.com, UrbanAdventures.com, City-Discovery.com, Intrepidtravel.com, Gadventures.com

LODGING

Hotels: Booking.com, Venere.com, Priceline.comPartner, Hotels.com

B&Bs: Booking.com, Bedandbreakfast.com, Airbnb.com, Venere.com

Apartments: Rentalo.com, Vrbo.com, Booking.com, Airbnb.com, Interhomeusa.com, Homeaway.comhomeaway

Hostels & campgrounds: Hostelbookers.com, Hostelworld.com, Hostelz.com, Booking.com

TRANSPORT

Airfares:



Airports: Aena.es

Trains: Raileurope.com (throughout Europe), Renfe.com (within Spain), Bahn.de (throughout Europe), Seat61.com

Public transport: Barcelona Card (free transport; sightseeing); Search all public transit: mou-te.gencat.cat; Metro/Bus: Tmb.cat; Tram: Trambcn.com; Light rail: Fgc.cat; Taxi: Taxibarcelona.cat

Car rentals: Autoeurope.com, RentalCars.com, Momondo.com, Orbitz.com, Expedia.com, Travelocity.com, Kayak.com

Get a sightseeing / transport pass

Barcelona has two types of sightseeing/transport passes:

There's a full description of both passes here, but in brief: The only museum covered fully by the Museum Pass that is not also covered by the Barcelona Card is the Museu Picasso (where you get only a 20% discount with the Barcelona Card).

You can also get discounts (usually 10% to 20%) on a wide range of sights, activites, and shows if you have a hop-on/hop-off bus ticket.

Barcelona tours
  • Sightseeing
  • Food & wine
  • Day-trips
  • Excursions

 

Reserve it

 

Tours Under $995 G Adventures


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This article was by Reid Bramblett and last updated in October 2013.
All information was accurate at the time.


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Copyright © 1998–2013 by Reid Bramblett. Author: Reid Bramblett.