A journey through nature, culture, and history
Bikes and holidays are a perfect match in Spain. Whether you just want to cycle between a few sites or you want to embark on a cycling excursion for a couple of hours, you’ll find perfectly adapted routes, cycle tour itineraries, and bike rental companies all over Spain.
Why Spain?
First of all, Spain’s weather makes traveling by bike easy practically all year round.
Equally important, Spain has routes through diverse natural scenery and paths for all levels. The stunning landscapes are truly worth the effort of pedaling! In fact, Spain has the most Biosphere Reserves (55) of any country, not to mention its 16 National Parks as well as some of the most beautiful and best signposted routes in Europe. Just one example is the Way of Saint James, where you can even find hostels that are free of charge. On many routes, you’ll cycle through destinations of cultural and gastronomic interest. Spain has many charming and very quiet villages to explore by bike, both on the coast and inland.
Enjoy a wide selection of accommodation to choose from: hotels, country house lodges, campsites, and hostels. Bike-friendly hotels, particularly in Mallorca, the Canary Islands, and around the Pyrenees offer a host of services such as video surveillance for bikes, washing areas, special menus for athletes, and bike rental.
Best times of the year
Even though you can go cycling practically all year round, bear in mind that summer temperatures can be very high in certain areas, even topping 35ºC/95ºF.
Many cyclists prefer to travel during the low season when the trails are less crowded, avoiding the months of July and August.
A sampling of routes
Vías Verdes (Greenways) comprise over 3,200 km of former railways lines that have been converted into bicycle tourism trails. More than 120 routes are available with distances varying in length from 1 to 100 km.
Over 10,300 km of nature trails wind throughout Spain. Among them you will find old railway lines, canals, cattle routes, tracks, and more. You can download GPS files for several of the suggested routes.
EuroVelo is a cross-border network of 17 long-distance cycling routes that crisscross Europe, in total covering nearly 90,000 km. Three major routes go through Spain: EuroVelo 1 Atlantic Coast Route; EuroVelo 3 Pilgrims’ Route; and EuroVelo 8 Mediterranean Route. In addition to these routes, you will find other types of tracks and rural pathways along the way.
Saddlebag bicycle touring is all the rage if you’re into cycling routes that take several days to complete. If you use a hybrid bicycle prepared for carrying loads, you can take your luggage with you.
