When hikers travel to a new place, one of the first things they look for are the best places to get their trekking poles dirty.
One of the greatest pleasures of being a hiker is that it’s something that you can do wherever you go. Plus, it will take you to some of the most gorgeous and unique sights around the world.
Traveling and hiking often goes hand-in-hand. You’ll find that a lot of travel destinations worldwide have some interesting hiking spots that you should try out for yourself.
One such travel destination would be the city of Barcelona.
The city of Barcelona is the second most populous area in the country of Spain. It’s also the capital city of the Catalonia autonomous community.
This city has plenty of natural sights and wonders that make it a gorgeous hiking destination. That’s because it faces the Mediterranean Sea.
If you’re an avid hiker, you should stop by these seven spectacular hiking trails.
1. Montserrat National Park
Perhaps one of the most popular hiking spots in Catalonia or near Barcelona are the hiking trails in Montserrat National Park. Montserrat National Park centres around the preservation of the mountain ranges present around the area.
The mountain ranges around this area are unique and have unusual but natural formations.
Aside from the mountain range itself, the monasteries in the area are also quite famous. A popular hiking trail in the area is the hike starting from the mountain’s foot up to the Montserrat Monastery.
But the most popular hiking trail is from a monastery towards the highest peak, Sant Jeroni.
2. Montseny Natural Park
Montseny Natural Park is another natural park in Catalonia, about 50km from Barcelona or 31mi away, surrounded by mountain ranges.
This natural park’s name came to be because sailors would use the mountain ranges as a landmark when returning to Catalonia – ‘Montseny’ means ‘mount signal’ in English!
There are many hiking trails in the natural park worth a try, and they boast various levels of difficulty. For more leisurely walks, it is worth trying the Sot de l’Infern, Hell’s Nook or the Fontmartina Forest Path, both of which are loop paths.
One of the best hiking trails in the Natural Park is Circuito Turó de Tagamanent Desde Aiguafreda. This trail is quite a tricky one, so bear this in mind before heading out to give it a go!
You need a map if you want to complete the hike since many people find that it’s relatively easy to get lost or confuse yourself here.
3. Tibidabo Mountain
Tibidabo Mountain is one of the best hiking spots in Barcelona, so you should definitely stop by here. You can find it in the Collserola National Park, and it is the park’s largest peak.
If you happen to go by here on a particularly clear day, you might even get a glimpse of Montseny Natural Park and the Montserrat Mountains from afar.
There are many routes to take to go to Tibidabo Mountain. But the most famous way is to start at Vallvidrera.
If you drop off at the Baixador de Vallvidrera station, you’re going to find yourself right by the entryway of Collserola National Park. This is where your adventure begins!
4. Parc del Garraf
Another natural park that is home to plenty of great hiking spots is Parc del Garraf. Most of the hiking trails in the park here are loops. You can ask for leaflets about these routes from the information centres available in the area.
You can try out the Coastal Path, which is a marked route. If you plan on biking, you should also go to the trail leading to the Country houses in the sleepy town of Garraf.
5. Vall de Núria
The stunning Vall de Núria is a natural sanctuary. But you can only reach this place either by hiking or hopping on a train.
Although the train ride is great, it’s even better up close and personal, so try walking to get the beautiful views that this valley offers.
6. The Collserola Park
Aside from the Tibidabo Mountain, the Collserola Park also offers plenty of other hiking trails. For example, the hike from Vallvidrera to La Floresta will lead you to the Vallvidrera Reservoir.
Another hiking trail worth trying is the route to Sant Jeroni de la Murtra and Puig Castellar. This trail is excellent for history buffs because there are two historical sites along the way.
7. Costa Brava
Of course, the list won’t be complete if you don’t do some hiking by the coast looking out over the Mediterranean Sea. The best place to do this would be on the Costa Brava.
In particular, the Cami de Ronda trail is the coastal hike that you should do, which runs along the entirety of the Costa Brava.
Do note that this trail runs for 200 km or 124 miles, so you need some preparation, but the coast’s views beside you sure help.
There are plenty of hiking trails in or around Barcelona that any avid hiker will enjoy. From ones by the coast to atop the mountains, many natural sights are waiting for you to behold them. Next time you find yourself in Barcelona, consider these hiking trails listed above!
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