The best day of Barcelona was our last day – we had the privilege of being invited on a bike tour Barcelona by Baja Bikes. I was worried that we might double up on some of the sites, but our bike tour showed us amazing parts of Barcelona that we had not yet discovered! 😉
Meeting Rik from Budget Bikes
Jasmijn from Baja Bikes booked us on a tour with the fabulous Rik Van Den Bosch who works for the Budget Bikes shop in Barcelona. Rik was a friendly and charismatic bike tour guide, who doubles up as a musician by night!
First of all, it was a bike fitting in the shop. There were a whole range of orange Dutch bikes for all different sizes!
I was so pleased that they fitted me properly because I got a knee injury once that was exacerbated by an ill-fitting bike. At the Budget Bikes shop, they measured me properly and got the seat at the right height. I hadn’t ridden for a while, but it was extremely comfortable and I got used to it very quickly!
There is the option to get an electric bike. But in all honesty, you really don’t need it. Barcelona is relatively flat and easy to cycle. And the tour guides take it nice and slow and easy. You don’t really get up to speeds that make an electric bike worthwhile on the tour. You only need one for longer distances and more hilly terrain.
Our Bike Tour Barcelona
In the beginning, it was really great how Rik talked to the group to find out a little bit about where we had already been and what we wanted to see. There were just 8 of us altogether, so a good number in the group for a cycling tour.
We cycled through some narrow and busy streets at the start of the trip, but once we got out of this section. the roads and cycle paths were very flat and safe.
Santa Maria Del Mar Church
Our first stop was the Santa Maria del Mar Church (NOT to be confused with La Sagrada Familia). Rik gave us some information about the Memorial Monument and the Church itself, and then let us have some time to look inside.
The flame inside the Santa Maria del Mar Basilica has been lit in remembrance of the fallen Catalans of war, including the War of the Spanish Succession, as well as the World Wars.
Park De La Cuitadella
Then, it was a short cycle through Barcelona to the beautiful Park De La Cuitadella. I was so happy that we found the Elephant!
The weather was amazing and we got some fantastic pictures of the Cascada fountain, a fine example of art nouveau in Barcelona with clams and lizards that were designed by Gaudi.
Cycling to Barcelona Harbour
From there, we rode our bikes past the Zoo and towards the brand new Olympic village, which was constructed for the 1992 Olympic games. We then cycled towards the beautiful Harbour and beach…
It was the perfect time of year to visit Barcelona beach, because it was still sunny (over 20 degrees) but not packed out as it can be in the summer months of July and August. It was great to see people rollerblading and on Segways along the promenade. But I prefer my bike! 😉
Barceloneta
We also got the chance to cycle through Barceloneta, the small fishing neighborhood with narrow streets. It is often characterized by the laundry hanging between flats. Once a run-down and poorer area, Barceloneta is now quite artsy and up-and-coming.
La Rambla, Barcelona
At the end of La Rambla, Rik stopped us to explain about the Christopher Columbus statue, which doesn’t actually point towards America as we thought! Some people also thought that it was pointing to Genoa, Columbus’s home town. But, it is actually pointing South-East somewhere near Constantine (Algeria), so it is more likely that it was pointing out to sea to suggest his voyages and further expansion.
On La Rambla itself, we found the ‘Botero Cat’ – a famous sculpture by a Colombian artist. Botero Cat had moved to different locations around the city before settling on La Rambla. We also found out from, Rik that his whiskers had been shortened as people kept hanging off them!
Mercado de La Boqueria
I always love a good market, and the food market (Mercado de La Boqueria) certainly did not disappoint.
It was vibrant with the bright colors of fruit and vegetables, and the smell of Paella seeping from the open-air restaurants.
Cat Garden – Giardino Gatos
As we continued our leisurely ride, we came across something that I would have never found without Rik. It was an amazing garden for the rescue cats in Barcelona! Any cat lover visiting Barcelona must find this place – so cute!
Before our cycling journey ended, we were privileged to see two hidden away places of historical significance and memorial – the Library of Caralonia and Placa de Filip Neri.
The Library of Catalonia
We visited the Library of Catalonia on Carrer del Hospital, which contains a sorrowful story. In this beautiful iconic square, you can look up to the balcony where Gaudi’s life came to an end.
Gaudi became somewhat a social recluse towards the end of his life, living in the crypt of La Sagrada Familia and devoting every penny and waking moment to the development of the Basilica. In 1926, Gaudi got hit by a tram, and because no-one recognized him, he was taken to the poor pauper’s hospital, instead of the wealthy hospital where he should have been taken.
Plaza de Sant Felip Neri
We then entered Plaza Sant Felip Neri – such a beautiful square, but with a tragic history. 42 people were killed here (20 were children) in 1938 when a bomb (aiming for Plaza Sant Jaume) missed and hit the square during the school recess. Rescuers came in to help, and another bomb hit the square taking the lives of further casualties. This romantic square featured in Anna Christina Barcelona and is a popular film set and place to hang out. Yet it is overshadowed by such a harrowing past.
Bike Tour Barcelona – Would I do it again?
I would absolutely do another bike tour (Barcelona). It was a very gentle and easy ride. Rik rode carefully and safely. One girl in our group got an electric bike and hardly pedaled at all! Although an electric bike is an option, you really don’t need one. I suffer from tendonitis and asthma and still managed the ride with ease, and so I highly encourage you to do this even if you are not a keen cyclist.
On cycling tour in Barcelona – you would be surprised at how much ground you can cover.
If you would like to book, you can visit www.bajabikes.eu. Budget Bikes are based in Barcelona and Baja Bikes book cycling tours throughout Europe. I can’t wait to try another cycling tour in a different city.
Further Reading on Barcelona
- Top Barcelona Travel Tips.
- Gaudi in Barcelona – Discovering Art Nouveau
- Visiting Tibidabo Church Barcelona
- Things to do in Barcelona at night
- Monserrat Barcelona Monastery
*Many thanks to our sponsor Baja Bikes who organized this day trip. We received a fabulous cycling tour of Barcelona with Budget Bikes, and this helps us to get the information to you for free!