Barcelona for The Thrill Seekers: a Friday-to-Monday weekend
Trencadís, sea light, and streets that argue in Catalan.
You see a city from its hills, its water and its bike lanes. Early starts, real sweat, a hike or a paddle out of town, and the best recovery meals in the place.
Friday: The seafront at a run
- Run the seafront to the Fòrum
Drop the bags and run the five flat kilometres of promenade to the Fòrum, the sea on your right the whole way, and back along the sand.
- Climbat La Foixarda
A bouldering gym in a disused Montjuïc road tunnel, open until eleven; the outdoor walls on the Foixarda rocks are the warm-up.
- La Cova Fumada
The bomba was invented here: a potato croquette with a hit of chilli, plus grilled artichokes, in a Barceloneta room with no sign.
Saturday: La Mola
- La Mola, Sant Llorenç del Munt
Forty minutes by car to the Sant Llorenç massif: two hours up the conglomerate cliffs to the monastery on the summit, lunch at the top.
- Can Solà
A restaurant in Matadepera, in the foothills below the Sant Llorenç del Munt massif. Sit down, drink plenty of water and eat well after the morning on La Mola.
- Bar del Pla
Back in El Born: a plate of oxtail and a bottle of Priorat at the bar, earned twice over on the descent.
Sunday: Paddle and cable
- Kayak from Mar Bella
Hire a kayak at the Base Nàutica and paddle out past the breakwaters while the beach is still empty and the water is flat.
- Transbordador Aeri del Port
The 1931 cable car from the beach tower over the harbour to Montjuïc, then run the castle road down the hill.
- Can Paixano
A standing cava bar with sausage sandwiches and pink fizz at the price of water; the recovery meal, loud and fast.
Monday: Sea pool and the tower
- Club Natació Atlètic-Barceloneta
The seawater pools and sauna of the 1913 swimming club on the beach, day pass at the door, open from seven.
- Sagrada Família towers
The tower lift and the spiral down, the one ticket that is also a climb; book the Nativity side at opening.
- Bar Pinotxo
Eggs with baby squid at Pinotxo's counter, now in the Santa Caterina market, before the Aerobus from Plaça de Catalunya.