Barcelona Segway Tours

Are you familiar with the Segway? It is a two-wheeled vehicle that is kept stable by dynamic stabilisation technology. There is no accelerator or brakes and each movement responds to a change in body position. Don't worry, before starting any tour, the people in charge of the rental agencies will give you a short training.

This Segway tour of Barcelona is perfect for getting to know the essentials of the Catalan capital. The routes usually start from the Gothic Quarter, the oldest part of Barcelona. The first settlements date back to the Roman domination - in Plaça Ramon Berenguer part of the city wall and defence towers of the time survive - and yet most of the buildings date back to the Middle Ages.

Highlights include the Cathedral of Santa Eulàlia, Plaça del Rei (the former residence of the Catalan counts) and the Basilica of Santa Maria del Pi. Some of the routes touch on one of the most romantic corners of the city: Plaça Sant Felip Neri. It is a space away from the hustle and bustle and dominated by the church of the same name. The buildings bear the marks of the Civil War; in 1938 Barcelona was bombed by fascist aircraft and the church still shows the machine-gun holes.

Once you have left the Gothic Quarter, you continue on to the Old Port (Port Vell), which lies just below the Columbus Monument. The route also reaches the Olympic Port and continues on to the Parc de la Ciutadella, the oldest park in Barcelona. Until the mid-19th century it housed a pentagonal walled bastion that was demolished to create the city's first public park. A must-see stop is the Monumental Cascade, a splendid neoclassical fountain guarded by two large stone griffins.

The tour concludes at the foot of the Arc de Triomf, the monumental gateway built for the Universal Exhibition of 1888. At the top you can see the inscription "Barcelona rep les nacions" (Barcelona welcomes the nations) that greeted visitors to the great event.

• Duration: between 2 and 3 hours
• Price: approximately 50 €.

Barcelona is known for its Art Nouveau architecture. Antonio Gaudí, one of the greatest geniuses of this artistic movement, embellished the streets with iconic buildings such as Casa Batlló or La Pedrera, but he was not the only one. Segway rides are more pleasant and don't require physical effort, ideal if you're travelling to Barcelona in the warmer months.

The Catalan capital has a number of monuments that are well worth discovering. The list below lists the most important ones.

• Arc de Triomf, the old entrance to the Universal Exhibition of 1888. The architect Josep Vilaseca designed a classical yet Moorish-style monument that symbolises Barcelona's respect for the nations that took part in the fair. It is located at the junction of Passeig de Lluís Companys and Passeig de Sant Joan.
• Casa Vicens, Gaudí's first masterpiece. It resembles a Moorish castle decorated with white and green ceramic tiles.
• Palau Macaya, the former residence of a wealthy cotton farmer. It now houses a section of the Caixa Forum.
• Sagrada Família, Gaudí's unfinished church
• Avinguda Gaudí
• Sant Pau, the largest Modernista complex in the world. Until 2009 it housed a hospital, while today it can be visited. The work was designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, the same architect as the Palau de la Música Catalana.
• La Monumental, Barcelona's bullring. Today it is still used as a venue for concerts and artistic events.
• Casa Amatller, a "sweet" residence. It belonged to the master chocolatiers of the same name. It now houses a museum.
• Casa Batlló, a Barcelona classic. You'll recognise it by its colourful façade and skull-like balconies. It is considered Antonio Gaudí's masterpiece.
• Casa Milà, the famous Pedrera on Passeig de Gràcia. In 1912 it was compared to a Zeppelin car park, but the locals have changed their minds over the years.
• Casa de les Punxes, a fairytale residence on Avinguda Diagonal. This residential block built in the shape of a medieval castle will leave you speechless.
• Casa Comalat, a modernist building that is not as famous as others. It belonged to a lender who wanted to reflect his social position by commissioning the project to Salvador Valeri i Pupurull. The architect designed a building that pays homage to Gaudí's aesthetics.
• Fuster House. This is where the painter and industrialist Mariano Fuster lived. Today it houses a five-star hotel.

The Segway makes it easy to reach the different stages of the route. If you've never ridden a Segway before, you don't have to worry about anything. Most of the route takes place on cycle paths and roads with little traffic.

• Duration: between 2 and 3 hours
• Price: around €100

The coastline is the flattest part of the city, the ideal place for a Segway tour. If this is your first time with this means of transport, it may be the most recommendable option. The routes usually start in the Gothic Quarter, the medieval heart of Barcelona.

Its narrow streets hide charming squares such as Sant Just and Sant Felip Neri, as well as churches, museums and countless bars and restaurants. After leaving this part of the old town, the route reaches the following areas and attractions:

• Parc de la Ciutadella, the most famous garden in the Catalan capital. It is a green area built on the remains of a military citadel.
• Barceloneta, an old fishermen's neighbourhood that has not lost its link with the sea. You'll pass by the beaches of Sant Sebastiá, Sant Miquel and Somorrostro with the scenic Hotel W as a backdrop. This neighbourhood is also home to the famous Maremagnum shopping centre and the Museum of the History of Catalonia.
• Sagrada Familia, Gaudí's most famous work. The church is located on the right side of the Eixample district and is a must on any trip to Barcelona.
• Arc de Triomf, a small Mudejar jewel just a stone's throw from the Parc de la Ciutadella and the coastline.
• Montjuic, the hill overlooking the old town. Thanks to the 1992 Olympic Games, it is home to some very interesting sporting venues
• Font Magica, a fountain known for its water games.
• Basilica de la Merce, the church dedicated to the patron saint of the city. If you travel in September you can take part in the celebrations dedicated to the saint.

The last stage is in the Gothic quarter and marks the end of our route.

• Duration: between 80 € and 100 €.
• Price: between 2 and 3 hours

The 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games revolutionised the city. The urban transformations changed both the coast and the hill of Montjuïc, although this route focuses on the lower area. If you're interested in going up the hill, move on to the next point on the list. Let's get back to business. As a general rule, the routes start in the vicinity of the Segway rental offices. In addition to the traditional streets and monuments, the tour focuses on the following attractions:

• Moll de la Fusta, the stretch of coastline from the Columbus monument to the Port Vell viewpoint. Until 1987 it was crossed by a railway line that separated the city from the sea. It was remodelled in 1987 in view of the Olympics following the project by Manuel de Solà Morales.
• Cap de Barcelona. In addition to a large sculpture representing a lobster, the sky above the Moll de la Fusta has another guest: the Face of Barcelona. It bears the signature of Diego Delgado, who created a drawing by Roy Lichtenstein. The mosaic on the side is a tribute to Gaudí's works.
• Vila Olímpica, the neighbourhood that hosted the athletes. The 1992 Olympics gave not only a new neighbourhood but also an iconic pair of skyscrapers (Mapfre Tower and Hotel Arts), squares, parks and the Nova Icària beach.
• Port of Vila Olímpica, the sports marina in the shadow of the towers. A few metres away are some of the best clubs in the city as well as the Casino de Barcelona.

The guides are very knowledgeable about the history of the time and provide interesting anecdotes. This tour is recommended for those who are passionate about sport and major urban planning projects.

• Duration: between 2 and 3 hours
• Price: between 30 € and 50 €.

This district occupies a wooded hill in the southwest of the city. Its name means "Mountain of the Jews" as in the past it was home to the majority of the Jewish community. The area changed radically before the 1992 Olympic Games and is now the greenest neighbourhood in the Catalan capital. As usual, the Segway routes include the following stages:

• Jardines del Mirador del Alcalde, a panoramic viewpoint overlooking Barcelona and the Mediterranean. Its particularity lies in the terraces on different levels embellished with stairs, ornamental fountains and a small waterfall. The cable car arrives a few metres from the entrance.
• Montjuïc Castle, a defensive fortress remodelled by the military engineer Juan Martín Cermeño. During the Civil War it was a place of detention for soldiers and civilians accused of betraying the Republic. Unfortunately, it continued to be a place of confinement during the Franco era. From here you can enjoy a 360º panorama.
• Joan Miró Foundation, one of the best museums in the city. Contrary to what you might think, it does not focus exclusively on the works of the Catalan painter but on contemporary art as a whole. Open every day except Monday.
• Teatre Grec, an open-air amphitheatre built for the 1929 Universal Exhibition.
• Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, the most complete museum in Barcelona. Its more than 50,000 square metres house various collections, one of the most interesting of which is the Renaissance and Baroque collection, with works by Rubens, Goya, Tintoretto and other artists. The MNAC is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00, and on Sundays and public holidays from 10:00 to 15:00.
• Poble Espanyol, a village built for the Universal Exhibition of 1929. It recreates the most famous architectural elements of Spain and has been the backdrop for some scenes of the film "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer".
• Anella Olímpica, a site that includes the Bernat Picornell Swimming Pools, the Palau Sant Jordi and the Lluís Companys Stadium. It was the epicentre of the 1992 Olympic Games and after the closing ceremony it has been left for the enjoyment of the people of Barcelona. On one side of the square stands the sinuous telecommunications tower designed by Santiago Calatrava.
• Magic Fountain and its famous play of lights and water to the rhythm of music. To see the opening hours I recommend you take a look at the official website of the town hall.

In my opinion, this is the best Segway tour. The hill is 173 metres high and walking up it would take up too much of your time and energy. On the other hand, with this means of transport the distances are shorter and your strength does not diminish. Alternatively, you can reach the summit by cable car.

• Duration: approx. 2 hours
• Price: between 50 € and 70 €.

No, you don't. Segways are personal mobility vehicles and are therefore similar to bicycles. However, the minimum age to ride a Segway is 16 years old.

In any case, you must respect traffic regulations and always wear a protective helmet. The rental companies will provide you with one. If you are travelling with children, you can opt for an ebike tour, which is subject to lower age limits.

Sorry, the overwhelming majority of agencies do not allow it. The segway is a stable means of transport and yet it is not recommended for pregnant women. In case this is your situation, I recommend you to book a hop-on/hop-off tourist bus ticket. It is cheaper and if you avoid going upstairs you will be able to get around the city comfortably.