Level
Our week-long Costa Brava bike tour covers both the inland and coastal Empordà, one of the most beautiful landscapes in Catalonia, and a popular training ground among local professional cyclists.
Our Great Tour of the Empordà starts in the magnificent city of Girona, and takes you on a journey of discovery across the Empordà (the inland area of the Costa Brava), one of Catalonia’s most beautiful landscapes.
You’ll gain a fantastic overview of the whole region, enjoying a wide variety of landscapes: medieval towns, olive trees, vineyards, and traditional fishing villages. The route also takes you to the windswept Cap de Creus, the eastern-most point of the Iberian Peninsula.
This is the perfect tour for cyclists looking for a challenge, with sometimes steep gradients that include mountain passes of 5 and 10km in length.
The route begins and ends in Girona, and combines rugged coastline with bucolic countryside. As you follow the coast northwards, you’ll discover the important Greco-Roman ruins at Empúries and the Aiguamolls d’Empordà Natural Park, an important birdwatching centre.
Further inland, you’ll enjoy rolling hills and picturesque medieval villages. You’ll visit the area’s most important attractions: the regional capital of La Bisbal d’Empordà, which boasts a beautiful castle, and also the historic medieval village of Peratallada.
Heading back to the coast, you’ll ride through the picturesque fishing village of Calella de Palafrugell, which still retains its traditional colourful seafront houses. Along the way, you can enjoy fabulous gastronomy, spectacular rugged coastline, long sandy beaches, and charming medieval villages.
Day 1: Girona
Arrival day
Accommodation: Hotel Gran Ultonia Girona
Welcome to your fabulous bike tour of the Costa Brava!
Enjoy some time at leisure in the beautiful city of Girona. The city is famous for having one of the best-preserved Jewish Quarters in the world, and the Cathedral boasts one of the widest vaulted naves in Gothic architecture. We highly recommend that you climb up to the ancient city walls to enjoy the spectacular views all the way to the snowy peaks of the Pyrenees. Make sure that you take a walk along the Onyar river, where you can enjoy a picturesque view of the brightly-coloured houses that line the riverbanks.
Day 2: Vall de Llémena Loop. Girona
Route: 65km/40 miles OR 102km/64 miles
Elevation: +668m/2193ft OR +1560m/+5118ft
Accommodation: Hotel Gran Ultonia Girona
Meals included: Breakfast
On the first day of your Costa Brava bike tour, you’ll discover the inland countryside of Llémena Valley, a paradise of volcanic landscape, dramatic cliffs and verdant forests, dotted with centuries-old farmhouses. After cycling around the base of the small volcano of Adri, you’ll follow the course of the river Canet, admiring the grottos and waterfalls that the river and the volcanic eruptions have sculpted into the landscape over the millennia.
OPTIONAL: Those looking for a challenge can head up into the forested mountains of Les Guilleries and visit the mountaintop town of Sant Hilari Sacalm, a very popular training climb with local professional cyclists.
Day 3: Girona – Sant Feliu Guíxols
Route: 56km/35 miles
Elevation: +979m/3212ft
Accommodation: Hotel S’Agaró Spa
Meals included: Breakfast
Today you will follow a cycle path out of the city, heading south across a plain to Llagostera. From there, you will start to climb Sant Grau (465m). After passing the summit, you will be rewarded with a wonderful descent with fantastic views over the Mediterranean sea – one of those rides which you’ll never forget! This coastal road was made famous in the cycling world in 2009, when it was used for that year’s Tour de France. The day’s ride ends in Sant Feliu de Guíxols, where you will stay near the charming Sant Pol beach.
Day 4: Sant Feliu de Guíxols – Torroella de Montgrí
Route: 61km/39 miles
Elevation: 483m+/1585ft
Accommodation: Hotel Moli del Mig
Meals included: Breakfast
Today’s route takes you north along the coast, combining the coastal road with seafront boulevards and giving you fabulous views over the Mediterranean Sea. You’ll pass through the important port town of Palamós, before following the historic “Ruta del Tren Petit” greenway towards the pristine cove of Platja de Castell.
Leaving Castell behind, you’ll head back to the sea and the picturesque fishing village of Calella de Palafrugell, considered to be one of the pearls of Costa Brava. As you leave Calella, you’ll tackle a short but steep climb up to the light house of Sant Sebastià, where you can enjoy spectacular views over the Mediterranean Sea.
Continuing along the inland road, passing by natural wetlands with extensive rice fields, you’ll reach Pals, a beautifully well-preserved medieval town. We also highly recommend a visit to the spectacular medieval town of Peretallada. From here, you’ll continue on to Torroella de Montgrí, finishing at the foot of Montgrí castle.
Day 5: Torroella de Montgrí – Castelló d’Empúries
Route: 52km/32 miles
Elevation: +190m/623ft
Accommodation: Hotel Palau Macelli
Meals included: Breakfast
The route continues to the north, passing the Montgrí massif and into the region of Alt Empordà. You’ll cycle along the long Bay of Roses, enjoying views over sandy beaches.
We highly recommend that you stop to visit the well-preserved archeological settlement of Empúries, once the gateway of the classical Greek and Roman cultures into Spain, and the only site on the Iberian Peninsula where the remains of a Greek city coexist with those of a Roman city.
The route then continues north, finishing in the village of Castelló d’Empúries, which boasts a rich architectural heritage; a gothic church, a palace, an old market building and a well-preserved Jewish quarter.
Day 6: Castelló – Perafita – Figueres
Route: 69km/43 miles OR 80km/50 miles
Elevation: +1052m/3451ft OR +1300m/4265ft
Accommodation: Hotel Pirineos
Meals included: Breakfast
Today, you’ll cross the protected marshlands of Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, situated within L’Empordá Nature Reserve, the most important of its kind in the region, and pass by the beautiful seaside town of Roses before climbing up to the Perafita mountain pass.
OPTION: You can extend today’s cycling route and visit Cadaques, a charming fishing port made famous for its association with Catalan painter Dalí. The route also passes through the picturesque Natural Park of Cap de Creus, a windswept peninsula at the foothills of the Pyrenees.
Once back inland, you’ll cycle through the vineyards of the Alt Empordà, passing through Vilamaniscle and Rabos, where you can find some of the region’s oldest groves, and the medieval town of Peralada, famous for cava and wine production.
From Peralada, the route takes you on a downhill ride into your final destination, the city of Figueres, known as the home of Catalan genius Salvador Dalí.
Day 7: Figueres – Girona
Route: 65km/40 miles
Elevation: +627m/2057ft
Accommodation: Hotel Gran Ultonia Girona
Meals included: Breakfast
Today, you’ll cycle along quiet backroads through the Costa Brava’s undulating interior, passing through pine forests, farmland and a number of picturesque villages. Your final major climb of the tour will take you up to the Sanctuary of Els Àngels, from where you can enjoy spectacular views. Your route will finish back in Girona, where you can finsh your Costa Brava bike tour with a wonderful dinner at one of the city’s many fabulous restaurants.
Day 8: Figueres
Departure day
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast, your bike tour of the Costa Brava comes to an end.
Let our Bike Spain Tours team know if you would like any assistance with your onward travel from Girona, or if you would like to add any extra nights to your tour.
Hotel Gran Ultonia
Hotel Ultonia is located in the centre of Girona, 3 minutes’ walk from the Old Town, Cathedral and Arabic baths. The perfect place to begin your Costa Brava bike tour!
All 71 rooms at the Hotel Gran Ultonia in the center of Girona are new, spacious and bright, and have easy access to La Terrasseta, an exclusive space for guests with fantastic views of the Cathedral of Girona.
Hotel S´Agaró Wellness & Spa
S’Agaró Hotel is located in the heart of the Costa Brava.
S’Agaró Hotel is located in the heart of the Costa Brava, in the exclusive, idyllic bay of S’Agaró, one of the Costa Brava’s most prestigious enclaves, a pioneer in quality holidays, internationally recognised for its select, glamorous surroundings. S’Agaró Hotel is right on the seafront, on Sant Pol beach, one of the Costa Brava’s top locations. A small beach of fine sand, far removed from the noise of other coastal areas in the summer season.
Hotel URH Molí del Mig
It is a unique space in the heart of Emporda.
The Hotel Moli del Mig Restaurant and SPA is located in the the majestic area of Massis del Montgrí and one kilometer away from the historic center of Torroella de Montgrí. With a careful restoration of the ancient mill, it boasts the most modern facilities and cutting-edge design that seek to highlight its historical value, respecting the landscape in an integrated architecture in the natural environment with seven acres of gardens and fields.
Hotel Palau Macelli
Hotel Palau Macelli is located in the heart of the village of Castelló d’Empúries, next to the Basilica of Santa Maria, the old convent of Santa Clara and the city walls.
Discover a world of comfort and elegance, where each space has been carefully designed for the enjoyment of all our customers.
Relax in our spa, located in the old stables of a noble house, refresh yourself and free yourself from stress in our pool or rest in our warm and cosy rooms.
Hotel Pirineos
Four-star family hotel in Figueres, just minutes from the Dali Theater Museum.
The hotel is especially characterised by the warm and welcoming family atmosphere which it has maintained all these years. It has 53 modern rooms, fully equipped and decorated in warm colors.
1.290,00€ – 1.470,00€
A charming circuit in beautiful Costa Brava. Road or gravel bike trip
Book before the end of 2024 for a discounted price!
| Departure Date | 1 Mar – 19 Jun, 20 Jun to 30 Sept, 1 Oct to 31 Oct |
|---|
This tour delivers everything a cyclist could want and more! Spain is a beautiful country, and Girona was a town I would love to live in. I loved rolling along the quiet roads taking in the beautiful scenery. The people were friendly, the motorists courteous, the roads smooth and clean, and the hotels provided safe storage for bicycles, one even provided tools, a pump, and a bicycle Spa!!!
The uniqueness of the tour, cities visited, and the ability to rent a tandem bicycle, the closeness to Barcelona was also a significant factor! The web site is pretty good. I would add the elevation profile to the itinerary. It’s always helpful to see in advance how much climbing there is on the tour. The accommodations were very nice. We enjoyed all of the hotels and the service was great!
The service was great. The written instructions had good suggestions for stops and places of interest.
The tandem that we rented was great. We have rented tandems several times over the years and this was the best bicycle that we rented. Previous tandems were too heavy and climbing was difficult. The Viking tandem is certainly not lightweight but is a nice entry level hybrid tandem. The tandem was maintained well and shifted well. Braking was also not an issue. Very pleased with the choice of tandem.
On the way from St. Pere Pescador to Madremanya we stopped in the small town of St. Miquel de Fluvia. The church was closed as we arrived early in the morning. A woman noticed us and opened the church for us and we toured it. She explained the history of the church to us and told us about other things to see near the church. My Spanish is limited by I was able to understand some things and the kindnes of this woman will not be forgotten. She gave us some pamphlets in English about the church.
The countryside was beautiful and the small towns wonderful.
And, at the end of the day we were always treated with fabulous food
