Barcelona Local Bike Tour: El Born, Poblenou & Hidden Gems

4.73

(22 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

First thing I noticed pedaling through Poblenou was the hush—just the soft whir of our wheels and a few locals chatting outside Forn Baluard bakery. The streets here feel wide open, lined with old fishermen’s houses painted white, and you can still catch a salty breeze from the sea if you’re early enough. Our guide, Marta, pointed out Torre Glòries poking above the rooftops—locals call it “the cucumber,” which made us laugh. She knew every shortcut through car-free lanes and even showed us a mural tucked behind a playground that I’d never have spotted alone.

We rolled on toward Platja de la Mar Bella. Even in late morning, there were volleyball games already starting up and someone selling cold horchata from a little cart near the sand. It’s not packed like Barceloneta—more relaxed, with space to stretch out or just watch the skyline shimmer over the water. After a quick stop at a chiringuito for fresh orange juice (the owner grumbled about last night’s football match), we headed back into town.

The Old Town is another world—narrow alleys echoing with footsteps and church bells. In El Born, we parked our bikes near Santa Maria del Mar. The basilica’s stone walls felt cool inside; Marta shared how shipbuilders helped build it centuries ago. Outside, terraces buzzed with locals picking at anchovies and olives. We finished up under the Arc de Triomf—red brick glowing in the sun—and wound through leafy parks where kids zipped by on scooters. By then, my legs were tired but my head was full of new corners of Barcelona I’d never seen before.