If you love the freedom of exploring on two wheels, but don’t fancy pedalling too hard, then an electric bike tour of Barcelona could be the best option for you.
We take a quick look at the pros and cons of going electric, but first let’s preview the best ebike experiences available in the Catalan capital.
Top 5 Electric Bikes Tours in Barcelona
I love biking and I’ve taken most of these tours myself, so let me compare the key facts of some of the most popular excursions in town, and share my tips on which should work well for you…
1. Photo Highlights Tour (Ocean Bikes)
Covering around 15km over 4 hours, this tour by Ocean Bikes Barcelona makes fantastic use of their beautiful Italian ebikes by ensuring you see not only the most impressive works of Gaudi (such as La Sagrada Familia and Casa Batllo), but also iconic attractions like the National Palace and the Olympic Ring. The latter two are found on Montjuic, and pedalling around this beautiful coastal rise is only really possible thanks to your electric wheels! This itinerary offers stunning vistas from Montjuic over the whole of Barcelona, perfect for a selfie or two. A refreshment break offers a relaxing change of pace, while the tour finishes with a cruise along Barceloneta beach, back to their hub on the recently renovated Port Olimpic. Well-priced at €49 for 4 hours.
2. Main Sights Tour (2.5 hrs)
For a shorter introduction to just Barcelona’s main highlights, this 2.5 hr tour is well priced and well reviewed. You’ll focus on the Old Town districts of Gotico and El Born, and see classic sights like Arc de Triomf, Parc de la Ciutadella and the Palace of Music along the way, while the tour is just long enough for you to check out some of Gaudi’s best works too. The tour leaves at 10am and 3pm every day and is just €36 per person (min. of 2 people). They accept bookings via Get Your Guide. (If you want an even shorter tour, the same company also runs a 1.5 tour, that just goes to the Gothic Quarter and the beach).
3. Gaudi UNESCO Highlights Tour
Gaudi is obviously the main man in Barcelona, and his incredible body of architecture has come to define the city’s aesthetic. This tour takes in all of his downtown mansions, including Casa Mila (‘The Quarry’), Casa Batllo (‘The House of Bones’), Casa Vicens, Palau Guell, and, of course, La Sagrada Familia. Along the way you will see many other Barcelona highlights too, and also stop for coffee and refreshments on a scenic plaza in Gracia. This 4-hr tour by Gaudi Bike Tours can be done on a pedal (€39 p.p.) or electric bike (€49 p.p.), but I’d personally choose electric as the route is quite extensive and some of the sights are uphill from the starting point at Port Olimpic (they use the modern fleet owned by Oceans Bikes!).
4. E-bike, Winery & Sailing
Instead of taking a tour of the city, how about leaving it instead? And heading up the coastline to Alella, a nearby town famous for its urban wineries. The start of the ride is a little industrial, but very soon you’ll cycling through scenic coastal towns, next to golden beaches and the sparkling Mediterranean. After about an hour’s ride you will reach Alella, where you will enjoy a guided walk through the vineyards and cellars, before sitting on the winery’s terrace to enjoy ecological wine tastings and sea views. Don’t worry about drinking too much wine, as you will be returning to Barcelona via windpower, on an elegant sailing yacht. Feel free to take a snooze on deck! You can book this activity directly with the organisers, Sailing Experience. (Note: while it’s possible to sail to the winery and cycle back, or even cycle both ways, I would go with the bike, then wine, then sailing option, for safety and comfort. I did this experience myself a couple of years back and I highly recommend it!).
5. Personalised Private E-Bike Tour
How about a tour where you decide the itinerary? Run by one of Barcelona’s established tour guide companies this private electric bike tour offers total flexibility for those who want to see specific sights, and the private nature of the tour makes it perfect for families, couples or groups of friends who want to go at their own pace. You can book it via Get Your Guide, after which there should be an option to discuss the details with the tour provider. Any unforeseen complications, and you can cancel for free, as long as you do so 24 hours beforehand.
Pros of Ebikes
Electric bicycles have several advantages over mechanical bikes:
- Power assisted pedalling makes getting around the city almost zero effort – even over the hilly bits, like Montjuic.
- You can travel further in less time, and see more of Barcelona’s iconic attractions.
- The extra zip of the motor means e-bikes are simply more fun to ride!
Cons of Ebikes
Are there any cons to consider?
- They are marginally less environmentally friendly than pedal bikes, as they require a battery that needs charging (but still more sustainable than cars, buses or metro!).
- As they are a bit heavier and more powerful, they are best ridden by proficient cyclists, especially in the city.
- Ebike tours tend to cost a bit more than their mechanical equivalents. The market price is about €15 per hour duration of the tour, so expect to pay around €45 for a 3-hr tour, for example, or €60 for a 4-hr excursion.
Renting Ebikes
For total independence you can hire your own set of wheels, however the costs involve mean tours probably represent better value for money for most people.
To grab a bike from the Old Town area then look no further than the appropriately named E-Bike Rent, whose wheels cost from €29 a day.
You can also rent an Ocean Bike for €35 a day, and their Port Olimpic hub is a great starting point for checking out the city beaches. For more on them and other options head to this page.
Different Tour Options
If getting a bit sweaty is all part of the fun for you, then check out these regular bike tours, and give your legs and heart a little work out.
Love motorised transport? Then you might want to consider another way of zipping around Barcelona… on a segway tour!
Or maybe, after all that, you prefer to explore on foot? In which case check out these recommended walking tours.
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