Cycling in the City: Barcelona's Ronda Verda
The Ronda Verda is an epic 72 kilometer bike route touring the Barcelonès comarca (county). From the hills of Collserola to the northern edge of Badalona, this route is not for the faint hearted. The Ronda Verda will take you past the best of what Barcelona has to offer and afterwards you will be able to irritatingly remind everyone of all the amazing sights you saw on board your bicycle.
Practical Info
The path can be approached from either direction but in this instance we started with the Montjuïc stage and tackled the Ronda Verda in a clockwise direction. You can tell you’re on the right track because you’ll be able to spot the green markings on the bike lanes throughout, not to mention many signposts. However, some of the signs are questionably small so keep a close eye out.
The route consists of six sections: Montjuïc, Llobregat, Collserola Park, the River Besòs, Serralada de Marina Park and the Seafront. The official Ronda Verda site offers an interactive map of each stage of the route or you can download the route and follow it on your phone. It will save you a lot of pedaling up and down hills in a state of utter confusion.
We thoroughly recommend you fit your bike with a phone holder in order to check your location en route. Water and sunscreen are a must, no matter what time of the year it is. An electric bike may be wise if you aren’t feeling fighting fit. It’s advisable to use an all-terrain bike, as the path can be rough in places. Getting a puncture up in the hills would certainly put a downer on things.
Also, in case you're not familiar with Barcelona's cycling laws, take a look at our article Cycling in Barcelona: Know the Rules of the Road before you head out. There are a number of important regulations you should be aware of, and non-compliance could result in fines of €100 or more.
Montjuïc, 6 kilometers
Start: Parc de Bombers de Montjuïc
End: Masia Can Mestres
The start of the Montjuïc stage will take you up through the Mossèn Costa i Llobera Gardens, one Europe's largest gardens specializing cacti and succulent plants, including a number of exotic species. The path then takes you up through the Miramar Gardens where you will have some impressive views of the city. Other highlights include the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, the Palau Sant Jordi and the Fundació Joan Miro. You will also pass through the Foixarda Tunnel where you may find climbing enthusiasts clinging onto the roof of the tunnel above you.
Note: Cycling through the gardens is easy but the route does start to get more tricky to follow as you climb up towards Collserola hill. Keep your eyes peeled for the green signs. The path down to the Campo Municipal de Rugby La Foixarda is also pretty bumpy.
Llobregat, 8.9 kilometers
Start: Masia Can Mestres
End: Carrer de Ferrer i Bassa
Arguably the most underwhelming stage of the Ronda Verda, this section is very urban following mostly along paved cycling lanes. While not the most picturesque section of the route, you will be surprised by the manor house dating from the 17th century, a neo-Mudejar tower and a modernist temple; all nestled at the top of Can Buxeres park.
Note: This is by far the most tricky stage to navigate; one bout of day dreaming and you could be lost in the depths of Llobregat forever. Keep your wits about you.
Collserola Park, 25 kilometers
Start: Carrer de Ferrer i Bassa
End: Torre Baró Metro
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Or they switch on that electric motor… Either way, be warned this is a steep climb up. However, the route is oddly peaceful and you feel as if you have left the hustle and bustle of the city behind. Espai Mireia café is waiting for you at the top if you fancy a coffee or a cheeky ice cream. You’ll find a bike rack just beside the “Picnic Plaça Mireia,” so you can stop and admire the view. From here, the Ronda Verda takes you on a track that winds its way round the hills of one of the world’s biggest metropolitan parks: Collserola Park. Enjoy looking out onto a mass of verdant tree tops with the city sprawling below you in this area of natural beauty. You’ll pass charming houses and sleepy small-holds as well as better-known sights such as Tibidabo and the Fabra Observatory. There are plenty of fountains along the way too, should you need a splash of cold water to cool off during the summer. The regular viewpoints beside the path mean you can tackle this stage at your own pace. As you make your way towards the River Besos, you will also get a chance to see the Castell de Torre del Baró, which has a magnificent viewpoint.
Note: The path through Collserola Park is uneven in places and there are parts where you may have to get off your bike briefly as you enter a new section of the track. The route is also poorly signposted in areas. Take care as you make your way along this enchanting stretch of the Ronda Verda.
The River Bésos (Shorter Leg), 9.75 kilometers
Start: Torre Baró Metro
End: Parc Del Litoral
A refreshing route along the bank of the vast Bésos river presents a dramatic change from the rolling hills of Collserola Park. You’ll pass through the Montcada i Reixac and Santa Coloma de Gramenet municipalities, with the Parc Fluvial de Bésos to your right. The park is an impressive stretch of manicured lawns. You will glide past football games, picnickers and Barna’s infamous rollerbladers. If you cross over to the right bank of the river, there’s a chance to see an ancient open canal, the Rec Comtal which still provides water to surrounding orchards on the outskirts of Barcelona. Look out for a vertical wall of plants beside the river; a tribute to the many environmental projects that are underway in the park.
Note: Luckily this is an easy path with segregated cycle lanes and ramps at the entrances to the park. Make sure you check the opening times of the River Bésos and don’t leave it too late to get back from Collserola Park. From April 1st to September 30th the park is open daily 8:00-21:00, and from October 1st to March 31st, the park closes earlier, at 18:00.
Alternative Route: Serralada de Marina Park, 8.42 kilometers
Start: Camp de Atletisme Antonio Amoros
End: Carrer de l’Orient
As you pass by the Antonio Amoros athletics track at te B-20 (Ronda de Dalt), you will have the option to take a left turn in order to explore the Parc de la Serralada de Marina; a 3,000 acre protected area, including vineyards and olive groves. A dirt road takes you through clusters of ochre buildings, red tile roofs and rustic barns. The route also takes you straight past the ancient stone walls of the gothic Monastery of Sant Jeroni de la Murtra. Not to mention you can take a slight detour from the path to visit the Puig Castellar Iberian Settlement as well as the ancient chapels (or ermitas) of Sant Climent and Sant Onofre. The path then descends to the La Morera district, where you can get a sense of suburban Badalona. As you approach the seafront you will pass by the Can Solei-Ca l'Arnús gardens, which boasts a lake castle, water tower and clock tower.
Note: The monastery of Sant Jeroni de la Murtra provides “rest for the soul.” But if you want a peek inside you’ll need to time it right; the monastery is only open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00-13:00, and not at all in August.
Added note: With a combination of forest trails and urban paths, this is one of the hardest parts of the Ronda Verda. You’ll have to get off your bike and walk on the pavement at times in Santa Coloma de Gramenet when traveling against traffic.
Seafront, 14 kilometers
Start: Carrer de l’Orient
End: Parc de Bombers de Montjuïc
Admire the yachts and sailboats as you cruise past the Badalona Marina. As you speed along the waterfront you can delight in the Barcelona beach culture and pick your next beach day destination. Keep an eye out for the tall column of Christopher Columbus and take a moment to look up La Rambla to see the hills of Collserola where you were cycling just a few hours ago. Then continue on to Parc de Bombers de Montjuïc to come full circle and celebrate your victory over the Ronda Verda.
The great thing about the Ronda Verda is that you can join the path at any point. No matter where you are in Barcelona, you can simply head towards the segment nearest you and hop on the trail to start your Barcelona cycling adventure!