Running in BCN

1. Along the beach

Take the metro to Barceloneta, and start your run from there. You can run over to the W Hotel, then backtrack and head along the boardwalk past Barceloneta Beach to Port Olimpica. At that point, you’ll have been running just over 2 miles, so you can backtrack for a 4 mile loop, or keep running east along the boardwalk to extend the run. This is a great route with a major downside - tons of people. So we suggest saving this run for a rainy day, or doing it very early in the morning.

2. On the outskirts of Gràcia

If you’re looking for a hilly run, the streets around Park Güell (in upper Gràcia, Coll and Carmel) are perfect. The neighborhood streets surrounding Parc Güell are fairly quiet, and the nearby Park Carmel is considerably less crowded. The good part is that to get up to this part of the city, you already get your warm-up in by walking there!

3. Passeig Sant Joan

St Joan is a wide avenue with wide sidewalks on either side that are perfect for running. You’ll find kids' play areas, ping pong tables, couples on park benches, and many people walking their dogs. It’s 2 miles from the Joanic metro stop in Gràcia (essentially where Passeig de Sant Joan starts) to Ciutadella Parc.

4. Along Diagonal

For a semi-shaded and straightforward route, try Avenida Diagonal, which cuts through Barcelona from the Parc del Fòrum all the way past Camp Nou. It’s a wide, loud street, but much of it includes a tree-lined, pedestrian walkway (and bike path), and it’s one of the most popular avenues for runners. 

**Note that as of 2023, the city is expanding the tram line down Diagonal, so there is currently a lot of construction and may not be your best option for now!

5. Montjüic

Explore the area behind the Palau Nacional (Art Museum) and head up into the mountains. Here you'll find the Olympic Stadium, Botanical Gardens, and the Castle of Montjüic. This area has a plethora of options for all different levels of runners, as there are options with flat areas (there is an "exercise trail" around the castle) as well as challenging hills/steps. 

There are many organized races (carreras) throughout the year in Barcelona. From full marathons to 5k fun runs, these are a great way to participate in something with locals, often while contributing to a good cause. A quick Google search on “Carreras en Barcelona” should show you the upcoming races, but here are some of the common ones that tend to happen each year:

• Races in BCN (year long calendar)

  • • La Merce 10k (September)

    • Cursa de la dona - Women's run 10k (usually held in November)

    • Barcelona Half Marathon (month can vary)

    • Barcelona Marathon (normally held in spring)

    • Cursa de los Bombers - A 10K that supports BCN fire services (usually held in October)