SpainGIRONA & COSTA BRAVA
Self-Guided Cycling Holiday
SpainGirona & Costa Brava
Self-Guided Cycling Tour
Length: 7 Days
Level: 
Price: €1,320 EUR
This self-guided cycling holiday discovers the best of the Girona province and the Costa Brava. You ride through several natural parks, cycle along quiet country lanes and follow stunning coastal roads. On the way you visit Medieval villages, ancient cities and picturesque coves that have captured the imagination of some of Spain's greatest artists.
The six night tour starts in the historic city of Girona and finishes in Salvador Dalí's home town of Figueres. On the way you stay in luxury hotels along the Costa Brava and in beautiful villages, and you will immerse yourself in the culture of the Catalonia region.
This tour is designed as a leisurely cycling holiday, with plenty of time to stop and take in the sights. It is suitable for riders of most levels, with different route options depending on how far you wish to ride. Below you can find a detailed itinerary, and click on the tabs to see more highlights, as well as all the practical information about the holiday.
We also run a guided version of this tour.
Day 1 - Girona
We will pick you up from Girona airport or train station and transfer you to your hotel in the historic center. Girona began to take its modern form 2000 years ago, when the Romans built a citadel there.
Since then it has been strategically important as the first major settlement across the Pyrenees. Both Charlemagne and Napoleon made capturing the city a key part of their plans to invade Spain. The city walls and winding streets of the old town are vivid reminders of this impressive past.
Since then it has been strategically important as the first major settlement across the Pyrenees. Both Charlemagne and Napoleon made capturing the city a key part of their plans to invade Spain. The city walls and winding streets of the old town are vivid reminders of this impressive past.
Colorful Girona
Day 2 - Begur
The first day in the saddle begins by leaving Girona on cycling lanes, before tackling a climb through the pine forests of the Angels Natural Park.
From here you ride along quiet lanes through beautiful scenery, and pass through picturesque Medieval villages. Peratallada and Pals are well worth spending time to explore and both make for a great coffee or lunch stop.
The day finishes in the hotel on the edge of the village of Begur. Housed in a converted 17th century convent, this is a great place to relax, and is also within walking distance of the cove beach at Sa Riera.
Shorter Route: 36km (22 miles)
Longer Route: 52km (32 miles)
From here you ride along quiet lanes through beautiful scenery, and pass through picturesque Medieval villages. Peratallada and Pals are well worth spending time to explore and both make for a great coffee or lunch stop.
The day finishes in the hotel on the edge of the village of Begur. Housed in a converted 17th century convent, this is a great place to relax, and is also within walking distance of the cove beach at Sa Riera.
Cycle Routes:
Shorter Route: 36km (22 miles)
Longer Route: 52km (32 miles)
Medieval Peratallada
Day 3 - Medieval Villages of Catalonia
The longer route today begins with a loop along a picturesque and undulating road with views of the coast. Both routes then head inland on a winding cycle route through picturesque open farmland.
You pass through more of the historic villages that are so characteristic of the region and can stop at the ancient ruins of Ullastret - a fascinating ancient Iberian town, which was an important local settlement before the arrival of the Romans.
The ride finishes by riding alongside the Ter River into Torroella de Montgrí. There you stay in the center of the town, in a stunning hotel, converted from a 14th century mansion.
Shorter Route: 33km (21 miles)
Longer Route: 46km (28 miles)
You pass through more of the historic villages that are so characteristic of the region and can stop at the ancient ruins of Ullastret - a fascinating ancient Iberian town, which was an important local settlement before the arrival of the Romans.
The ride finishes by riding alongside the Ter River into Torroella de Montgrí. There you stay in the center of the town, in a stunning hotel, converted from a 14th century mansion.
Cycle Routes:
Shorter Route: 33km (21 miles)
Longer Route: 46km (28 miles)
Medieval Peratallada
Day 4 - Empuries & Roses
The ride today is slightly longer than previous days, but it is mostly flat and so not overly challenging. You continue head north along quiet country lanes and cycle routes through beautiful open farmland, before reaching the site of Empuries.
An ancient Greco-Roman city, Empuries was founded over 2000 years ago, when it was the most important city in north-eastern Spain. It only began to decline after Barcelona was founded as a Roman colony under the Emperor Augustus. Today you can see the ruins of both the Greek and Roman colonies, which were built alongside each other. You can easily compare the different architectural styles of the two ancient super-powers!
From Empuries you continue through the vineyards and fruit orchards of the Aiguamolls Natural Park, before reaching the town of Roses, home to a vast citadel.
From Roses it is just a short distance along the coast to your destination. Situated on its own cove overlooking a delightful beach, this ***** hotel is your luxurious home for two nights.
Shorter Route: 50km (31 miles)
Longer Route: 61km (37 miles)
An ancient Greco-Roman city, Empuries was founded over 2000 years ago, when it was the most important city in north-eastern Spain. It only began to decline after Barcelona was founded as a Roman colony under the Emperor Augustus. Today you can see the ruins of both the Greek and Roman colonies, which were built alongside each other. You can easily compare the different architectural styles of the two ancient super-powers!
From Empuries you continue through the vineyards and fruit orchards of the Aiguamolls Natural Park, before reaching the town of Roses, home to a vast citadel.
From Roses it is just a short distance along the coast to your destination. Situated on its own cove overlooking a delightful beach, this ***** hotel is your luxurious home for two nights.
Cycle Routes:
Shorter Route: 50km (31 miles)
Longer Route: 61km (37 miles)
Greco-Roman Ruins of Empuries
Day 5 - Cap de Creus & Cadaqués
The ride today heads through the incredibly scenic Cap de Creus Natural Park. This is the most challenging day on the bike, as the terrain today is more hilly than on previous rides. But it is well worth the effort for the stunning views you get of the Costa Brava coastline.
Mid-way into the ride you reach the picturesque-postcard village of Cadaqués. Artists including Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso and Marcel Duchamp all spent considerable time here; and it's easy to see how they could find inspiration in the charming and colorful surroundings.
From Cadaqués you return to the hotel on the edge of Roses.
Shorter Route: 43km (27 miles)
Longer Route: 55km (35 miles)
Mid-way into the ride you reach the picturesque-postcard village of Cadaqués. Artists including Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso and Marcel Duchamp all spent considerable time here; and it's easy to see how they could find inspiration in the charming and colorful surroundings.
From Cadaqués you return to the hotel on the edge of Roses.
Cycle Routes:
Shorter Route: 43km (27 miles)
Longer Route: 55km (35 miles)
The Artistic Village of Cadaqués
Day 6 - Figueres
For the final day in the saddle you begin by riding alongside the beach through Roses, before entering the Estanys Nature Reserve. The surrounding area is popular with bird watchers due to its large population of storks, spoonbills and terns.
The longer route takes a slight diversion to climb up to the Monastery of Sant Pere, an imposing Medieval building situated on the edge of the Cap de Creus peninsula.
Your destination is the town of Figueres, best known as the home of Salvador Dalí. There is an excellent museum and theatre dedicated to the artist, situated in the lively and charming historic center.
Figueres is also home to a huge castle, whose walls stretch for over 5km. It was built in the 18th century to try to defend Spain from a possible French invasion. But despite its impressive size, it was unable to stop Napoleon when his Grand Armée came across the Pyrenees.
Shorter Route: 33km (20 miles)
Longer Route: 56km (35 miles)
The longer route takes a slight diversion to climb up to the Monastery of Sant Pere, an imposing Medieval building situated on the edge of the Cap de Creus peninsula.
Your destination is the town of Figueres, best known as the home of Salvador Dalí. There is an excellent museum and theatre dedicated to the artist, situated in the lively and charming historic center.
Figueres is also home to a huge castle, whose walls stretch for over 5km. It was built in the 18th century to try to defend Spain from a possible French invasion. But despite its impressive size, it was unable to stop Napoleon when his Grand Armée came across the Pyrenees.
Cycle Route:
Shorter Route: 33km (20 miles)
Longer Route: 56km (35 miles)
Dalí Museum, Figueres
Day 7 - Departure / Extensions
After breakfast, the cycling holiday comes to an end. We can help to arrange extra nights for you to stay in Catalonia to discover even more about this great region.
Popular extensions include Barcelona, the Costa Brava and the Pyrenees mountains.
If you prefer not to extend your stay, we will transfer you to Girona airport or train station in time for your onward journey.
To find out more information about this holiday; including practical information, prices, dates and more tour highlights; return to the top of the page and click on the various tabs.
Popular extensions include Barcelona, the Costa Brava and the Pyrenees mountains.
If you prefer not to extend your stay, we will transfer you to Girona airport or train station in time for your onward journey.
To find out more information about this holiday; including practical information, prices, dates and more tour highlights; return to the top of the page and click on the various tabs.
Barcelona is one option to extend your holiday
This tour explores the best of Girona and the Costa Brava. You ride through natural parks, visit dozens of stunning villages and stay in luxurious hotels.
You can swim in the cove beaches of the Costa Brava and enjoy the finest Catalan and Spanish cuisine. This holiday really allows you to immerse yourself in the history and culture of this fascinating region.
These are just a few of the many highlights of the tour. Check out more in the photo album below:
You can swim in the cove beaches of the Costa Brava and enjoy the finest Catalan and Spanish cuisine. This holiday really allows you to immerse yourself in the history and culture of this fascinating region.
These are just a few of the many highlights of the tour. Check out more in the photo album below:
Girona
The colorful river-front of Girona backs on to the winding streets of the old town. Thanks to its strategic location, Girona has been fought over for thousands of years.
Pals
A picturesque Medieval village which makes for a great lunch stop.
Begur Beach
These charming cove beaches are dotted all along the Costa Brava. This one at Begur is within walking distance of our hotel.
Ullastret Iberian Village
The remains of this ancient village date back to before Roman times. The Iberian people were known as fierce warriors, who gradually became civilized through contact with the Greeks and the wider Mediterranean world.
Cadaqués - Costa Brava
Literally meaning the 'Wild Coast' - the Costa Brava is home to beautiful fishing villages and hidden coves. Cadaqués is one of the best known.
Cobbled Medieval Street
Whether you cycle or walk, you can't help but soak in the atmosphere.
Dali Museum - Figueres
Figueres is best known as being the home town of Salvador Dali. This museum in the city center is constructed in suitably surrealist style.
Cap de Creus - Roses
The clear waters of the Cap de Creus peninsula - near to our hotel in Roses.
Peratallada
The colorful square in the village center.
Ter River
We follow a cycle route alongside this river, which is the largest in the Emporda region.
Empuries
Ancient Roman and Greek town that was a major trading post around the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE. It began to decline when the new port of Barcino (Barcelona) was founded in the late 1st century BCE.
Gravel Trails
On this tour we provide route options for both hybrid and road bikes. We generally recommend hybrids so you can take advantage of some of the great gravel cycle routes like this one.
Medieval Village
Girona province is full of small villages dating from Medieval times. An era during which Catalonia really began to develop its distinct regional identity.
Included
- ✔ 6 Nights Accommodation (see the Hotels section for more details)
- ✔ Continental breakfast each day
- ✔ Bicycle Hire (Hybrid, road or e-bike)
- ✔ Transfers to and from the arrival and departure points (see below for details)
- ✔ Luggage transferred between hotels
- ✔ GPS routes and mobile app to easily follow the routes
- ✔ Detailed information pack
Not Included:
- ❌ Flights
- ❌ Tour Extensions
- ❌ Travel Insurance
Bicycles
Bicycle hire is included in the cost of the holiday. We recommend our lightweight hybrid bikes or e-bikes for this tour.
If you prefer we can also provide road bikes, although the routes do change slightly for these to avoid a couple of gravel sections.
More details about our bikes can be found on our bicycles page. All of our bikes come with helmets and handlebar bags if required, as well as a Cycle Fiesta water bottle.
More details about our bikes can be found on our bicycles page. All of our bikes come with helmets and handlebar bags if required, as well as a Cycle Fiesta water bottle.
Difficulty Level & Roads
We rate this tour as easy-medium level of difficulty on the shorter rides. Most of the routes are easy, but the ride on day 5 is a bit more hilly, and the the ride on day 4 is longer than the rest. The rest of the shorter rides are 'easy' level; and generally the terrain here is flat or gently rolling.
The longer routes have a few more hills and we classify these routes as being medium-challenging level. You can choose whether to do the shorter or longer ride on any given day.
We hate cycling alongside traffic, and so ride on a combination of quiet paved roads and cycling greenways. The majority of the route is paved, but there are some light gravel sections. These can be avoided if you are on a road bike or prefer to stay entirely on paved roads.
Find out more about our tour difficulty levels.
The longer routes have a few more hills and we classify these routes as being medium-challenging level. You can choose whether to do the shorter or longer ride on any given day.
We hate cycling alongside traffic, and so ride on a combination of quiet paved roads and cycling greenways. The majority of the route is paved, but there are some light gravel sections. These can be avoided if you are on a road bike or prefer to stay entirely on paved roads.
Find out more about our tour difficulty levels.
Arrival and Departure
The tour begins in Girona. Transfers are included from Girona airport or train station. If you are unable to get a flight there, then we recommend flying into Barcelona airport and taking the train to Girona. This takes less than an hour and runs roughly hourly throughout the day.
The holiday ends in Figueres. From here we transfer you to Girona airport or Figueres train station. From Figueres you can easily take the train into Barcelona and also into Perpignan in France; from there fast trains leave to Avignon, Lyon, Paris and other destinations.
Please contact us if you would like any advice or more information regarding getting to and from the region.
The holiday ends in Figueres. From here we transfer you to Girona airport or Figueres train station. From Figueres you can easily take the train into Barcelona and also into Perpignan in France; from there fast trains leave to Avignon, Lyon, Paris and other destinations.
Please contact us if you would like any advice or more information regarding getting to and from the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please browse through some of the frequently asked questions about this cycling tour. If you have any further questions, or would like any more information, please contact us and we will answer by email.
What is your policy regarding Covid travel restrictions?
*Covid Policy 2021*
In response to the Covid Pandemic we have made some temporary alterations to our standard terms and conditions.
Reservations made in 2021 (for holidays taking place in either 2021 or 2022) can be postponed for any time in the following two years, without penalty, if you are unable to travel as a result of travel restrictions or other uncertainty. Notification of the postponement must be made at least ten days before the start of the tour.
Before the balance of the invoice has been paid, the deposit of €150 is also refundable in full for reservations made in 2021, if holidays are cancelled because of Covid related travel restrictions or uncertainty.
For reservations not made in 2021, the normal terms and conditions regarding cancellation apply.
Should I do the longer or shorter routes?
This depends entirely on you! The longer and shorter routes all start and finish at the same place, and so you can decide on any given day which you would prefer to do. There is no need to commit until the day of the ride itself.
On the longer routes you see more and are able to visit more places, while the shorter routes are more relaxing and ideal if you like to take your time and go at a slower pace.
If you would like to visit the extra towns and monuments on the longer routes, but are worried about the distances, then we recommend hiring an e-bike, which will give you more flexibility.
What is the weather like?
The Girona region is mostly dry and sunny throughout the year, with little rain. This tour is most enjoyable in Spring (March - June) and Autumn or Fall (September to November), when the temperatures tend to be very pleasant for cycling.
It is also possible to go in July and August if you are used to cycling in warmer temperatures (it can be above 30°C (85°F). Please bear in mind though that this is the main season for other holidaymakers. The roads and towns are busier and the hotels are more expensive, so
we recommend avoiding the height of summer if you have the choice.
It is also possible to go on this holiday in winter. Day time temperatures in January average around 14°C (56°F), so it isn't T-shirt weather, but it can be quite pleasant for cycling.
Can I extend the tour?
Yes, we would be happy to arrange any tour extensions for you. The most popular option is to spend extra nights in
Barcelona.
But we can also help you to extend the trip if you wish to spend more time on the Costa Brava, or to visit anywhere
else in Spain or France.
Do you run this as a guided tour?
Yes, for more details, check out the guided version of this holiday.
What is your cancellation policy?
The full cancellation policy can be found in our terms and conditions.
Why book with us?
We are a small and independent company who are locally based, which offers several advantages:
- We have a lot personal experience of all of our tours, which have been refined over many years. We believe we are genuine experts in the regions where we run tours, and we are also close at hand to offer support and a personalized service.
- We are flexible and can tailor our itineraries to suit your requirements.
- We have low overheads. We don't spend money on advertising and don't use third party agents. We only sell our tours through this website.
By cutting out the middle man, you can be sure that more of what you pay is
being spent on the important things: like hotels, equipment and other services.
- We are a registered and fully bonded tour operator in accordance with EU regulations.
Hotel Nord 1901
This charming 4-star hotel is situated in the heart of Girona, just a short distance from the cathedral and impressive city walls. It has large rooms and a nice swimming pool area for relaxing.
El Convent Begur
A beautiful 4-star hotel housed in a converted 17th century convent. It is situated on the edge of Begur and within walking distance of the beach and coves of the Costa Brava. The historic building of the hotel, the colorful gardens and the swimming pool create a tranquil backdrop.
Hotel Palau Lo Mirador
A 4-star hotel in the center of Torroella de Montgrí. The elegantly decorated rooms are housed in a stunning Medieval building which is surrounded by gardens and a swimming pool.
Hotel Vistabella
This luxury 5-star hotel is one of the highlights of the trip. It is situated on its own cove and beach on the Cap de Creus peninsula, a short distance from the town of Roses. We stay here for two nights, where you can take advantage of its stunning coastal location, or use the hotel's excellent spa facilities.
Hotel Pirineos
This 4-star hotel has comfortable rooms and is located in the center of Figueres. It is a short walk from both the Dali museum and theatre, and also from the lively Rambla boulevard.
To find out more about how we select our hotels, please see our accommodation page.
| Starting Date | Price (per person)¹ | Single Supplement | Bike Hire | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Other Dates | €1,320 EUR | €520 EUR | Included | |
| 3rd July - 31st August | €1,690 EUR | €630 EUR | Included |
¹Price is based on two people sharing a double or twin room. If you would prefer to stay in a single room, the single supplement is applicable.
To reserve a place on the tour, click the button above and complete the reservation form. We will then get back to you within 24 hours to confirm the reservation, and to arrange for payment of the deposit.
For more details on the booking process, please check out our Reservations page.
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