RunCity

Barcelona on foot: a self-guided walking route

This route takes you past 11 of Barcelona's best-known sights, including La Boqueria Market, Plaça Reial, Barcelona Cathedral and more. It is about 13.5 km on foot, roughly 4 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Follow the list on your own, or play it as a free GPS checkpoint game with RunCity and race the clock on the Barcelona leaderboard.

  • 11Stops
  • about 13.5 kmDistance
  • 4 hoursWalking
  • about 103 minRunning
Play Barcelona in RunCity

Free during launch. Runs in your phone's browser; the app is in English, German and Hungarian.

Barcelona
Photo: M McBey · CC BY 2.0

This route runs from the foot of Montjuïc through the old city to Gaudí's Barcelona and up to Park Güell. The bonus stop, the Magic Fountain below the National Palace, sits a little apart, so many players start at La Boqueria on the Ramblas instead and fit the fountain in on an evening when it plays. From the market you cut into Plaça Reial with its Gaudí lampposts, the Gothic cathedral and Santa Maria del Mar in the Born, then come back to the sea at the Columbus Monument.

The second half follows the city north: Plaça de Catalunya, then Passeig de Gràcia with Casa Batlló and Casa Milà, and on to the Sagrada Família, best seen across the pond in Plaça de Gaudí. The last stop is the entrance to Park Güell, up a steep hill; the metro or a bus saves your legs for that climb. Keep an eye on your phone and bag on the Ramblas and in the metro.

Coming from a cruise ship

Cruise terminals are on the Moll Adossat breakwater; a port shuttle bus runs to the Columbus Monument at the foot of the Ramblas, which is on this route. At 13.5 km the full route is long for a port day: walk from the Columbus Monument up the Ramblas and through the Gothic quarter, then take the metro to Passeig de Gràcia and the Sagrada Família, and skip Park Güell if time is short.

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Download the route as GPX (for Komoot, Strava or a watch)

The stops

A suggested order. In the game you can visit them in any order.

  1. Magic Fountain of Montjuïc

    Magic Fountain of Montjuïc Bonus

    The big fountain below the National Palace.

    Photo: Avda · CC BY-SA 3.0

  2. La Boqueria Market

    La Boqueria Market

    The famous food market just off the Ramblas.

    Photo: Didier Descouens · CC BY-SA 4.0

  3. Plaça Reial

    Plaça Reial

    The arcaded square with Gaudí-designed lampposts.

    Photo: Mac9 · CC BY-SA 3.0

  4. Barcelona Cathedral

    Barcelona Cathedral Photo

    The Gothic façade from the square in front.

    Photo: Fernando · CC BY-SA 4.0

  5. Santa Maria del Mar

    Santa Maria del Mar

    The plain Gothic church of the old fishermen's quarter.

    Photo: Kent Wang · CC BY-SA 4.0

  6. Columbus Monument

    Columbus Monument Photo

    The column and statue at the foot of the Ramblas.

    Photo: RayAdvait · CC BY-SA 4.0

  7. Plaça de Catalunya

    Plaça de Catalunya

    The big square where the Ramblas begin.

    Photo: Tango7174 · CC BY-SA 4.0

  8. Casa Batlló

    Casa Batlló Photo

    The skull-and-bones balconies and the scaled roof.

    Photo: ChristianSchd · CC BY-SA 3.0

  9. Casa Milà (La Pedrera)

    Casa Milà (La Pedrera)

    The rippling stone façade on the corner of Passeig de Gràcia.

    Photo: Thomas Ledl · CC BY-SA 4.0

  10. Sagrada Família

    Sagrada Família Photo

    The towers seen from the pond in Plaça de Gaudí.

    Photo: Canaan · CC BY-SA 4.0

  11. Park Güell main entrance

    Park Güell main entrance Photo

    The gatehouses and the tiled staircase at the entrance.

    Photo: essetefano · CC BY 3.0

Play Barcelona in RunCity

Leaderboard

    Questions

    Can you see Barcelona on foot in one day?

    Yes. The 11 stops on this route add up to about 13.5 km, roughly 4 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Some stops are far apart, so you may want public transport for a leg.

    Is this self-guided walking tour free?

    Yes. The route and map on this page are free, and the RunCity game for Barcelona is free during launch.

    How does the RunCity game work in Barcelona?

    Open Barcelona in RunCity, walk to a stop and tap Validate: your phone's GPS confirms you are there. Some stops also ask for a photo. Timed runs go on the Barcelona leaderboard.

    Where does the route start?

    This page suggests starting at Magic Fountain of Montjuïc and finishing at Park Güell main entrance. In the game you can take the stops in any order.

    Can you walk into Barcelona from the cruise port?

    Cruise terminals are on the Moll Adossat breakwater; a port shuttle bus runs to the Columbus Monument at the foot of the Ramblas, which is on this route. At 13.5 km the full route is long for a port day: walk from the Columbus Monument up the Ramblas and through the Gothic quarter, then take the metro to Passeig de Gràcia and the Sagrada Família, and skip Park Güell if time is short.

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