Active Pursuits in Barcelona
Golf
One of the city's best courses, Club de Golf Vallromanes, Afueras s/n, Vallromanes (tel. 93-572-90-64; www.clubdegolfvallromanes.com), is 20 minutes north of the city center by car. Non-members who reserve tee times in advance are welcome to play. The green fee is 100€ on weekdays, 180€ on weekends. The club is open Wednesday through Monday from 9am to 9pm. Established in 1972, it is the site of the Spanish Open Golf Tournament.
Reial Club de Golf El Prat, El Prat de Llobregat (tel. 93-379-02-78), is a prestigious club that allows non-members 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 of a golf club at home. The club has two 18-hole, par-72 courses. Greens fees are 125€ 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.
Horseback Riding
Set high above the city on the mountain of Montjuïc, this is a perfect setting for a riding school. The Escola Municipal d'Hípica La Foixarda, Avinguda Muntayans 1 (tel. 93-426-10-66; Metro: Espanya), has classes for all ages and skills, from 18€ per hour.
Swimming
Swim at Piscina Bernardo Picornell, Avinguda de Estadí 30-40, Montjuïc (tel. 93-423-40-41), where Olympic events took place in 1992. Adjacent to the Olympic Stadium, it incorporates two of the best swimming pools in Spain (one indoor, one outdoor). 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€ for adults and 4€ for children and allows full use throughout the day plus the gymnasium, sauna, and whirlpools. Bus no. 61 makes frequent runs from Plaça Espanya.
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 need to supply your own racket and balls. Court hire is 10€ an hour for clay courts and 14€ an hour for grass courts.
