Barcelona
Collserola & la Conreria Loop
Two ridges, one sea view.
A half-day loop from the city centre over both of Barcelona's ridges: Collserola by the old Horta road, the quiet Conreria climb with the Mediterranean below, and home through the Vallès. Lunch stop included.
Tested from Barcelona, with route notes you can use before you ride. · Last ridden: 2026-07
Elevation profile
The climbs
Getting there
The loop starts and ends in the Eixample, no train, no logistics. Roll out of the pickup and you're on route.
Water & cafés
Fountains at Plaça d'Eivissa (km 11) and in Cerdanyola (km ~17). Cafés: the terraces of Plaça d'Eivissa in Horta, the stop that names the ride, and Sant Fost (km ~43). Two bottles in summer; there's no water on the Conreria until the ridge ends.
The ride, km by km
Across the city to old Horta
Backstreets through Sagrera and up into Horta, a village Barcelona swallowed, all tree-lined streets and easy café squares. Stop at Plaça d'Eivissa, terraces, a fountain, the bar that named this ride, then climb the first ramp past some seriously handsome modernist villas.
First crossing of Collserola: the Carretera d'Horta
The old road over Collserola. Steady ramps to the pass, the whole city appearing behind you around km 14, then the shaded drop through the pines to Cerdanyola. Honest note: the surface on this descent is rough, ridden on 28 mm at 5 bars it rattles, and that's the ceiling. On the 32 mm slicks we fit, it's a different bike.
Across to la Conreria
Quiet lanes through Montcada, then the day's main course: la Conreria, a steady, almost traffic-free climb. At the top, the fence viewpoint: Badalona and the whole coast at your feet. Worth the stop, don't ride past it.
The Marina ridge
Rolling high road along the Serralada de Marina, over the day's third climb, then the hairpins above Alella, a lovely, slightly technical descent on good tarmac, vineyards on one side, the Mediterranean on the other, before the drop inland to Sant Fost.
The long way home
Flat Vallès backroads to Cerdanyola, a second crossing of Collserola, same pass, other side, and the descent through Horta back into the city.
Quick answers
How hard is the Collserola & la Conreria loop? +
72 km and about 1,180 m of climbing over two ridges, a solid half-day at 3-4 hours of riding. Physically 3/4, technically 2/4: every metre is on asphalt and the descents are open and predictable.
What bike do I need? +
A road setup, the whole loop is asphalt, so we fit the bike with 32 mm slicks. €29.99/day with lock and spares included.
Where does the ride start? +
At our pickup point in central Barcelona, it's a loop, so no trains or transfers. Out via Sagrera and Horta, back down the Carretera d'Horta.
Rent the bike for this ride
More rides on the same bike: Sant Celoni to BarcelonaBesòs & la Vallensana Loop