By bike: the seafront and the neighborhoods
The city is flat, compact and threaded with bike lanes. A bike tour chains in three hours what would take two days on foot: Eixample, hill and all four beaches in a row.
The seafront route
From the port to Mar Bella along the promenade: four kilometers without hills or harsh lights, with a photo stop at every beach. It is everyone's recommended route, deservedly.
Rental by the hour or guided tour
Renting is cheap and the city explores itself with a map; the guided tour adds the history and the stops no guidebook lists. Serious outfits give helmets and small groups.
Bikes and public transport
The metro takes bikes outside rush hour and parking dots almost every central corner. The municipal Bicing is residents-only: do not count on it as a visitor.