Active Pursuits

Golf

One of the city's best courses, Club de Golf Vallromanes, Afueras s/n, Vallromanes, Barcelona (tel. 93-572-90-64), is 20 minutes north of the center by car. Nonmembers who reserve tee times in advance are welcome to play. The greens fees are 75€ ($94) on weekdays, 125€ ($156) on weekends. The club is open Wednesday through Monday from 9am to 9pm. Established in 1972, it is the site of Spain's most important golf tournament.

Reial Club de Golf El Prat, El Prat de Llobregat (tel. 93-379-02-78), is a prestigious club that allows nonmembers to play under two conditions: They must have a handicap issued by the governing golf body in their home country; and they must prove membership in a golf club at home. The club has two 18-hole par-72 courses. Greens fees are 60€ ($75) Monday through Friday. Weekends are for members only. From Barcelona, follow Avinguda Once de Septiembre past the airport to Barrio de San Cosme. From there follow the signs along Carrer Prat to the golf course.

Swimming

Swim where some Olympic events took place, at Piscina Bernardo Picornell, Av. de Estadí 30-40, on Montjuïc (tel. 93-423-40-41). Adjacent to the Olympic Stadium, it incorporates two of the best swimming pools in Spain (one indoors, one outdoors). Custom-built for the Olympics, they're open to the public Monday through Friday from 7am to midnight, Saturday from 7am to 9pm, and Sunday from 7am to 4pm. Entrance costs 8.50€ ($11) for adults and 4€ ($5) for children and allows full-day use of the pool as well as the gymnasium, the sauna, and the whirlpools. Bus no. 61 makes frequent runs from the Plaça d'Espanya.

Act Like an Olympian -- One of the city's most prestigious fitness centers, Piscina Bernardo Picornell, is adjacent to the Olympic Stadium in an indoor/outdoor complex whose main attractions are its two beautifully designed swimming pools. Built for the 1992 Summer Olympics, the facility contains a health club and gym, and it's open to the public.

Tennis

The Centre Municipal de Tennis, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 178 (tel. 93-427-65-00; Metro: Montbau), has been the training ground for some of the country's top players. It has 17 clay and 7 grass courts set over beautiful grounds, but you will need to supply your own racket and balls.

Horseback Riding

Located high above the city on the mountain of Montjuïc, this is a top setting for a riding school. The Escola Municipa d' Hípica, Av. Muntayans 14-16 (tel. 93-426-10-66; Metro: Espanya), imparts classes to all ages from 15€ ($19) per hour.

Surfing & Windsurfing

When the wind blows, Barcelona's beaches offer good conditions for wind and kite surfing and regular surfing, and the latter has really taken off. Wind 220°, on the corner of Passeig Marítim and Pontevedra (tel. 93-221-47-02; Metro: Barceloneta), right on the beach at Barceloneta, has all the equipment you need for rent, plus storage facilities, a cafe, information, and courses.

The Swallow Boats

Las Golondrinas (Swallow Boats; tel. 93-442-31-06) are pretty little double-deckers that take you on a leisurely cruise of the city's port, or port and northern coast combined. Boats depart from the port side of the Plaça Portal de la Pau, directly in front of the Columbus statue. The port-only tour leaves every hour (weekends only) between 11:45am and 6pm, and the port and coast excursion departs daily at 11am and 12:20, 1:15, and 3:30pm. Prices for adults are 3.80€ ($4.75) for port-only and 9.20€ ($12) for port and coast; children 4 to 14 pay 1.90€ ($2.40).

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

Happy Park is the perfect solution for kids who need to let off a little steam. It's a huge covered labyrinth-type setup full of bouncy, touchy, feely, jumpy, rubbery contraptions for the little darlings to romp around on. Monitors are on hand and there is a special enclosed area for tiny tots. There are two in Barcelona: one at Comtes de Bell-lloc 74-78 (tel. 93-490-08-35; Metro: Sants) and the other at Pau Claris 97 (tel. 93-317-86-60; Metro: Urquinaona). Both are open Monday to Friday 5 to 9pm and weekends 11am to 9pm. Cost is 4€ ($5) per hour for children, free for adults.