Barcelona is always attracting a huge number of outdoor activities’ fans, because the most original types of entertainment are available for the travelers there. The coastal area is perfect for water sports. The rocky Costa Brava coast is the best holiday destination for divers, and on the beach of Platja 1’Aro, you can try parasailing over the azure coast. The “Aquabrava” and “Water World” water parks offer perfect conditions for a family holiday. You are able to make sure of it personally with the help of car rental at Barcelona Airport.
Recently, golf is gaining popularity in Spain, especially in Catalonia. Excellent golf clubs, the best courses, international championships and well-known golfers could be seen there. If you are vacationing directly in Barcelona, you do not have to travel far for your golf experience: there are 19 excellent golf clubs here.
Fans of outdoor activities are able to find something new for them in Barcelona. Not far from the city are the ski resorts, which, albeit not so popular, as the world-famous Alpine resorts, nevertheless, enjoy great popularity, because there are routes suitable both for the beginners in skiing and for the professionals. The mountainous regions invariably attract not only skiing and mountaineering enthusiasts, but also those, who want to stroll through the picturesque natural places. Another distinctive feature of Barcelona is the large number of outdoor pools, where you can swim and refresh yourself at any time during the day.
A special attention deserves relatively new ‘Ferrari Land’ amusement park. This is the first suchlike park in Europe, which includes a large number of rides and thematic places, including karting. The park covers an area of 70 thousand square meters and its main attraction is the ‘Red Force’ ride, which is the fastest and highest vertical accelerator in Europe. The height of the amusement ride is 112 meters, and the acceleration is 180 kilometers per hour in just 5 seconds! Excited? Take your sports shoes to Barcelona and do not miss a chance to come to the karting club or the Olympic Canal in Catalonia, which are described below.
Kart racing
Location: Lleida, s/n (C-17, Km. 17.5. Polígono Industrial El Plà), Lliçà de Vall
‘Kartòdrom Catalunya’ is located just 15 minutes from Barcelona, in the town of Llica de Vall. Today, the Kart circuit is considered one of the most equipped and modern tracks of the peninsula. The first tracks were developed here in 1989. However, in January 2000, the kart circuit underwent significant changes and modifications, a new asphalt was laid, and new routes were developed. The length of each track is from 140 to 230 meters. The maximum permissible speed (on specially provided road sections) reaches 165 km/h.
The stadium has an area of 45000 sq. meters. There were developed more than 20 tracks with exposed areas, for enthusiasts of all ages with long straight segments for advanced riders. For those who prefer single karting, there is a special track -1100 meters in length and 8 meters in width. You can ride here in a single ‘Kart Base’ or ‘Kart Evo’. On the other hand, you can take a double kart.
In addition to the tracks, the karting club has green zones for respire from the racing, bar-restaurant and a dispatcher station.
Here, not only the riders, but also of the spectators feel comfortable. Tribunes, located above the boxes, provide an opportunity to follow all the details of the race, but at the same time, you can watch the work done in the ‘pit lane’ zone.
The Canal Olimpic de Catalunya
This canal was constructed specially for the Barcelona-1992 Olympic Games. Today this facility is not only a place for practicing professional sports, but also a unique platform for a family holiday in the open air. The Olympic canal has spread to 43 hectares of land: 15 of them are in the water, 15 are in the green zone, and the remaining 13 are internal roads, squares and buildings.
In summer, the center of Canal Olimpic is a real paradise for children and adults. In the park there are: the largest in Catalonia inflatable water park, ‘Olimpic Cable’ surf station, swimming pool, fitness center, tennis courts, table tennis, golf courses, karting, football fields, volleyball courts, shooting gallery, educational institutions, conference halls, a restaurant, parking place and a canal.
The proportions of the Olympic canal are 1,250 meters in length, 130 meters in width and 4 meters in depth. Here you can do canoeing, as the canal was constructed by the Catalan Institute of the Sun exactly for this purpose.
It is also possible to do rowing, sailing, surfing, windsurfing, swimming and kayaking there. The right to use a boat costs 15 euros; for the opportunity to swim in the canal you need to pay 10 euros. The cost of renting kayak, sailing boat “Optimist”, windsurf, canoe, passenger boat costs 10 euro per hour.
Surf-station ‘Olimpic Cable Park’ mirrors the atmosphere of a fashionable tropical beach: there is a chiringuito bar, a professional shop with equipment and, of course, a DJ music desk. To the sounds of music, experienced instructors teach beginners to stand on the board.
The fitness center occupies 650 square meters and it is equipped for a wide range of activities: the gym, hydraulic ‘Power Plate’ program, cardio class, salsa, spa, sauna, Jacuzzi and a massage parlor. The entrance ticket to the fitness center costs 10 euros per day. There are both group and individual lessons.