Guide to Hiking in and Around Barcelona

In this article we cover the beautiful hiking routes and trails in and around Barcelona. These make ideal day trips and most starting points can easily be reached by metro, train or bus.

🍃 City | Collserola | Garraf | Monserrat | Montseny | Campdevànol | Groups | FAQ

Hiking within the City

You don’t even have to leave the city to enjoy some scenic hiking with this great path.

The Three Hills Walk

***

Three Hills is a beautiful walk of about 6km within the city that takes about 2 hours, winding through the districts of Gràcia, Carmel and Horta-Guinardó. For more about this urban hike see here.

Start: Vallcarca metro (L3)
Finish: Alfons X metro station (L4)
Route: Linear
Distance: 6KM
Time: 1 hour 16 minutes
Wikiloc: wikiloc.com/walking-trails/the-3-hills-walk-el-coll-el-carmel-and-la-rovira-47311642

Hikes in Collserola

The Parc de Collserola spans 8,000 hectares of protected land covering the range of small mountains (Serra de Collserola) between the Besòs and Llobregat rivers. Within the park a forest of white pines and evergreen oaks is home to a wide variety of species including wild boars and genets. At the crest, the Carretera de les Aigües offers uplifting views of Barcelona and the Mediterranean sea on one side and the Vallès plain on the other.

Collserola is the largest metropolitan park in the world, 8 times larger than the Bois de Boulogne in Paris, and 22 times larger than Central Park in New York. Living in Barcelona, this expanse of unspoiled nature is just a short metro ride away.

Barcelona to Sant Cugat (GR 6)

***

The hike from Barcelona to Sant Cugat begins on the GR 6 trail beside the Parc del Laberint d’Horta. The path reveals the Ermita De Sant Medir dating from the 11th century and the the Forn Ibèric, a relic from the second century BC. Before reaching Sant Cugat, hikers are greeted by El Pi d’en Xandri, a monumental pine tree over 230 years old and 23 meters high.

Start: Mundet Metro
Finish: Sant Cugat FCG Station
Route: Linear
Distance: 12KM
Time: 3 hours 25 minutes
Wikiloc: wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=11458918

Vallvidrera to La Floresta (GR 96)

***

This hike begins in the Vallvidrera neighborhood which features attractive modernist houses and brushes up against Collserola. After a short walk into the park you reach the Vallvidrera reservoir, pictured above. The reservoir provided the old town of Sarrià with drinking water until the end of the 19th century. From there the GR 96 trail leads to La Floresta with views of Montserrat along the way. More information and photos of the hike here.

Start: Vallvidrera Superior Station (FGC)
Finish: La Floresta Station (FCG)
Route: Linear
Distance: 8KM
Time: 2 hours 4 minutes
Wikiloc: wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=18073931

Can Masdeu to Torre Barro

***

This hike begins in the district of Canyelles. After a short distance into the trail you reach Can Masdeu (pictured above); a famous squatted social center, residence and community garden. The path continues to rise into the Serra de Collserola, with sweeping views of Barcelona from the crest of the hills. The route also passes Torre Baró, an unfinished hotel from the early twentieth century in the Nou Barris district of Barcelona. See more photos of the hike here.

Start: Canyelles Metro (L3)
Finish: Roquetes Metro (L3)
Route: Linear
Distance: 7KM
Time: 2 hours 35 minutes
Wikiloc: wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=12342677

Baixador de Vallvidrera to Tibidabo

***

Baixador de Vallvidrera station drops you off right at an entrance to Collserola park. The path leads past Museu-Casa Verdaguer, dedicated to the Catalan writer Jacint Verdaguer. This hike leads to Tibidabo from behind, with attractive views of forest and the back of the Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor. For more photos of this hike, click here.

Start: Baixador de Vallvidrera (FGC)
Finish: Tibidabo
Route: Linear
Distance: 3.5KM
Time: 1 hour 11 minutes
Wikiloc: wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=4027253

Sant Jeroni de La Murtra and Puig Castellar

***

Being to the north of the Besòs river, this hike is just beyond Colserolla, in the Sierra de Marina park. The route takes you past two sites of historic interest. The monastery of Sant Jeroni de la Murtra was built in the Gothic style at the beginning of the fifteenth century. After King Ferdinand II of Aragon was wounded by an assasination attempt in 1492 on the steps of the Royal Palace of Barcelona, he spent a few days recovering in the monastery with his wife Isabel of Castile. Sant Jeroni de La Murtra was also the setting where Catholic Monarchs received Christopher Columbus in April 1493 after returning from his first voyage to America.

Remains of the Iberian Settlement of Puig Castellar are located nearby, at a peak of the Serralada de Marina Park, 303m above sea level. The site belonged to the Laietani tribe, who lived there from the 4th century BC to the beginning of the 2nd century BC. Historians believe that the settlement was abandoned because of the Second Punic War. For more photos of this hike click here.

Start: Singuerlín (L9N)
Finish: Singuerlín (L9N)
Route: Circular
Distance: 8KM
Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
Wikiloc: wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=16877106

Trinitat Nova to Vallvidrera

***

This hike starts out at Trinitat Nova metro, which is the end of both the green (L3) and yellow (L4) lines. After a short hike into the hills, the trail overlooks the Besòs river, marking the northern border of Barcelona. The path continues along the crest of Collserola all the way to Vallvidrera, a neighborhood in the Sarrià-Sant Gervasi district of Barcelona. The hike ends in front of Vallvidrera superior station, where you can take the funicular down and then get on the train back to the city center.

Start: Trinitat Nova Metro (L3, L4)
Finish: Vallvidrera Funicular
Route: Linear
Distance: 11KM
Time: 3 hours
Wikiloc: wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=4027253

Baixador de Vallvidrera to Sant Cugat

***

This hike begins at Baixador de Vallvidrera station which can be reached on the S1 and S2 trains (you only need a zone 1 metro ticket). The trail goes by the old Casino of Rabassada, the Font d’en Ribas, the hermitage of Sant Medir and some of the most gorgeous scenery of Collserola.

Start: Baixador de Vallvidrera
Finish: Sant Cugat
Route: Linear
Distance: 12KM
Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Wikiloc: wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/baixador-de-vallvidrera-to-sant-cugat-35268767

Vallvidrera to Sant Pere Mártir

***

This hike explores the southern part of Collserola park, passing by Font de Can LLevallol. After lengthy forest trails the hike finishes along the crest of the hill overlooking the city.

Start: Vallvidrera Superior
Finish: Vallvidrera Superior
Route: Circular
Distance: 8.5KM
Time: 2 hours
Wikiloc: wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/vallvidrera-to-esplugues-de-llobregat-35323011

Les Planes to Can Calopa de Dalt to Vallvidrera

***

Most people don’t know there is a vineyard deep in Collserola Park. The 16th century farmhouse of Can Calopa de Dalt overlooks vineyards with the Cathedral of Sagrat Cor in the far distance. Part of L’Olivera Cooperativa, Can Capola makes quality wines and helps people with disabilities integrate in society with housing, training and work opportunities.

Start: Les Planes
Finish: Vallvidrera
Route: Linear
Distance: 15.8KM
Time: 4 hours
Wikiloc: wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/les-planes-can-calopa-vallvidrera-37460143

Molins de Rei to Can Castellví

***

This is a beautiful walk that passes the 17th century farmhouse Can Planes, the waterfall pictured above and continues alongside the stream to the restaurant Can Castellví.

Start: Molins de Rei
Finish: Molins de Rei
Route: Circular
Distance: 9.2KM
Time: 4 hours
Wikiloc: wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/collserola-molins-de-rei-can-planes-el-salt-daigua-can-castellvi-molins-de-rei-34595358

Baixador de Vallvidrera to Font de la Budellera

***

This is a pretty hike through Collserola. It passes by the Museu-Casa Verdaguer, dedicated to the Catalan writer Jacint Verdaguer and the Font de la Budellera, situated in a holm-oak forest. The loop and starts and finishes at Baixador de Vallvidrera FGC station.

Start: Baixador de Vallvidrera
Finish: Baixador de Vallvidrera
Route: Circular
Distance: 8.26 km
Wikiloc: wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/baixador-de-vallvidrera-to-font-de-la-budellera-130686738

Garraf

Hike from Sitges to Vilanova

***

The GR-92 from Sitges to Vilanova i la Geltrú takes you along a rocky path between the sea and the railway tracks, offering some spectacular views and hidden beaches along the way. Learn more about this hike here.

Hike from Garraf to Sitges via Buddhist Monastery

***

This hike begins takes you deep into the Garraf Natural Park and along the way you will pass a Buddhist Monastery, vineyards and the abandoned town of Jafra. View more pictures of the hike here.

Start: Garraf
Finish: Sitges
Route: Linear
Distance: 20KM
Wikiloc: wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/garraf-monasterio-budista-sitges-8759801

L’Arboç to Vilanova i la Geltrú

***

This trail follows the GR-92 through the Parque del Foix. Covering 2,900 hectares, the Foix park is on the edge of the Garraf Massif, just inland of the Sitges-Vilanova stretch of the Costa Daurada coast. The hike passes by the 10th century Castell de Castellet, the Pantà de Foix, and many masia ruins.

Start: L’Arboç
Finish: Vilanova i la Geltrú
Route: Linear
Distance: 18.92 km
Wikiloc: wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/larboc-vilanova-i-la-geltru-19-km-gr-92-8078484

Montserrat

Montserrat Monstery to Sant Jeroni 

***

This jagged mountain range lies 56km north-west of the city of Barcelona and has numerous spectacular hiking trails. The hike from the Montserrat Monstery to Sant Jeroni (the highest peak) is a classic hike.

Start: Montserrat Monastery
Finish: Montserrat Monastery
Route: Circular
Distance: 11.9KM
Time: 4 to 6 hours
Wikiloc: wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/a0157-sant-jeroni-from-montserrat-monastery-75432155

Montseny

***

The Montseny Natural Park is a protected natural area located 50km north of the city of Barcelona.

Start: Santa Fe del Montseny
Finish: Santa Fe del Montseny
Route: Circular
Distance: 9.2KM
Time: 4 hours 35 minutes.
Wikiloc: wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/volta-pel-montseny-avioneta-estavellada-6259855

Campdevànol

The 7 Waterfalls of Campdevànol

***

Campdevànol is a village in the province of Girona. The route leads though pine forests punctuated by beautiful waterfalls.

Start: Campdevánol RENFE station
Finish: Campdevánol RENFE station
Route: Circular
Distance: 13.3KM
Time: 6-8 hours
Wikiloc: wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/a0228-the-7-waterfalls-of-campdevanol-44637653

Hiking Groups in Barcelona

Centre Excursionista de Catalunya The Hiking Club of Catalonia is a sporting and cultural organisation founded in 1876. It currently has about 4,500 members and offers organised hikes, cultural activities and courses in mountaineering. The club also has a library of maps and photographic archive. Illustrious Catalan figures such as Antoni Gaudí and Jacint Verdaguer were members.

The Barcelona Hiking & Outdoors Group A non-profit Meetup group where you can meet other outdoor enthusiasts. Hiking and outdoor events are regularly scheduled, with a couple of hikes to choose from every week.

Back to Nature This is an excellent group with regular hikes scheduled in Collserola and routes outside Barcelona also.

FAQ