Running: The best routes in Barcelona
If you like to to exercise and run, Barcelona is the right place for you. There is a beach, mountains nearby and (almost) always good weather. There are so many different routes you can try so you will never get bored.
Carretera de les Aigües
This is one of the most popular circuits for runners and cyclists in Barcelona and it is about 20 km long. It is a flat and unpaved road in the mountain where you can see the whole city with a breathtaking view. You will always find people around and this route is available at any time!
Natural Park of Collserola
For those who want to do some workout without going so far, Collserola allows you to do trail running. With more than 8000 hectares it is one of the largest urban parks in the world and its very close to the famous Tibidado. If you get bored easily it is a great option because it has so many different circuits you don’t have to repeat them!
Mountain of Montjuïc
Surely you have heard about the Olympic Games of Barcelona 92 which happened in Montjuïc. Especially the views are very nice and you can see the whole city from above. You will find fountains to cool off and beautiful gardens to rest or have a picnic after the workout. There is a public swimming pool as well to refresh after your run!
Park Guell
It is a place full of tourists but you can also find plenty of runners. It has more than 17 hectares to run and you can find different circuits. Try to go early to avoid too many people and take some time to enjoy the view. Isn’t it amazing to do sports right next to Gaudi’s famous park?
Park of the Ciutadella
Is located in the triangle between the Estacion de Franca, the Arc de Triomf and the Olympic Village. The running route is quite short as its only 2km but you can take as many rounds as you want. It has a good location and is very easy to reach, plus there are many green areas and musicians to listen to when you take a break. The Zoo of Barcelona is also located there and is definitely worth seeing!
Diagonal Avenue
The famous Diagonal Avenue is another classic route for the runners. It is one of the biggest and most important streets of Barcelona and reaches 11km of length and 50m width. If you like urban running, it is one of the best options you will find closeby.
Joan Miró Park
This is a beautiful green space right in the center of Barcelona, next to Plaza España. It is located on the far edge of the left Eixample neighbourhood. It is a square and each round is about 700 meters so it is recommended to take several rounds or vary doing different exercises. Inside the park there is a library, which also has the name of the artist Joan Miró.
Gothic Quarter
The Gothic quarter the most popular district for tourists but also has a special running route to offer. We recommend starting at the Palace of the Generalitat and the Parlament, seeing the Liceu, the Boquería and finishing around the harbour area or in Barceloneta. You can run and at the same time admire those small streets. It is definitely the most historical running circuit of the city, almost 5 km.
Barceloneta
For those who are used to run at the beach, Barceloneta is exactly the right place. It offers you a circuit of ten kilometers which passes through the well-known beach and the marina. The route will take you all the way to Llevant Beach and the Forum. We recommend downloading an app to your cell phone, where you can control the amount of km that you ran and thus increase your goals day by day. Many of these apps offer different exercises to tone the body and also give you options to save music playlists.
There are so many different apps to download and keep track of your workout!! Here are our recommendations:
Nike Training
You can measure time, distance and rhythm and also obtain voice indications at each kilometer. It has training programs, coaching tips and many specific exercises you’re your training. In summer there are weekly meetings organized by Nike around the W Hotel area. Great app!
Sports Tracker
Whats special about this app is that it also allows to share your records, comment on photos and trainings of your friends and other Sports Tracker users. Check it out and compare your results to the ones of your friends to start a competition!
Runtastic
It has the option of interval training, being able to program a specific rhythm or speed. It also has a great auto pause function, so you do not have to worry every time you take a little break J