Barcelona is one of the few major cities in Europe that is surrounded by a dense network of single trails. In this case, the hotspots are located on the Collserola and Serralada hills close to the city. The possibilities are virtually unlimited. Both ridges go up to almost 500 meters above sea level. So don't expect big climbs and endless descents here, but rather several ups and downs per day. The difficulty of the trails is almost always between S0 and S1. In other words: lots of smooth descents, plenty of flow, but always more challenging passages. And above all, there are always great panoramic views of the city and the Mediterranean Sea.

Collserola

Collserola is practically Barcelona's local mountain. The huge radio antenna and the Tibidabo leisure park with its replica cathedral are its trademarks. The north side is interesting for mountain bikers, with an almost limitless network of trails. For the return journey after the northern descents back to the mountain ridge, there are many well-maintained gravel roads or individual asphalt roads. Occasionally, single trails can even be used for the ascent. The south side of Collserola, on the other hand, impresses above all with its fascinating panorama of the town. There are also great trails on the south side, but they are rougher and often steeper than on the north side. They are mainly used to ride down to the city center after the bike tour.

Serralada

The Serralada area is the northern counterpart to Collserola. Here, too, there is a great network of singletrail descents on the north side. In this case, however, the south side is at least as attractive. The not too steep terrain in the direction of Badelona (coastal suburb of Barcelona) has many agile, super-flowing trails through open terrain. Even though a three-meter rule applies here according to the signs on site, the local mountain bikers (and everyone else) don't care. On the contrary: some of the trails were created by mountain bikers by hand and are heavily frequented.

Scene

Mountain biking is super popular in Barcelona. However, due to their moderate steepness and dry conditions, the trails are in good condition despite high usage. They are often even better maintained due to the regular frequency of mountain bikers. The popularity of mountain biking has another advantage: there are many high-quality bike stores in Barcelona. However, rental bikes are rather rare, but the Terrabike store has a decent selection of organic and e-mountain bikes.

To get to the trails, you first have to pass through the city center. This is not a problem, as Barcelona has a sensationally dense network of cycle paths. On many streets, a lane has been taken away from car traffic and converted into a cycle path. Despite the high volume of traffic, cycling in Barcelona is efficient and safe.

A tip for your friends from the gravel department: Barcelona's hinterland is predestined for you. The network of forest roads is huge and of high quality. However, the area south of the city is more interesting for gravel riders than the MTB spots of Collserola and Serralada. Tip: the Garraf Nature Park. Single trails are in short supply here, but there are great gravel roads through the wild and rugged hinterland. The contrast to the city center is even more pronounced here than on the mountain bike tours in the Foothills.