Road cycling Girona, Costa Brava & the Pyrenees

In Girona, there’s always plenty to see and do. The city is known for its well-preserved Jewish quarter, the colorful houses along the river, and the grand Gothic cathedral. You can spend hours wandering through the many narrow streets, staircases, and squares. A walk along the city walls is definitely worth it, offering a beautiful view over the city and even a glimpse of the Pyrenees. Of course, the most famous bridge in Girona, the Pont de les Peixateries Velles, is a must-see. This bridge was designed by Eiffel and indeed resembles the Eiffel Tower.

The first cycling day starts gently. From Girona, you head west through the Vall de Llémena. The first fifteen kilometres rise gradually before a short climb to Les Serres.

Via Bonmatí and Anglès, you reach the main climb of the day. Over almost 25 kilometres, the road takes you up to Sant Hilari Sacalm, at more than 800 metres above sea level. It is a long climb, but with an average gradient of around 2.6%, it is never extremely steep. Much of the ascent runs through forest.

After Sant Hilari, you descend for around eighteen kilometres to Sant Coloma de Farners. From there, quiet roads and open countryside lead you back to Girona.

You leave Girona to the south and first ride through flatter countryside towards Llagostera. Here, the climb to Sant Grau begins, taking you up to around 465 metres.

From the top, you descend towards the Mediterranean. The next section is one of the most enjoyable of the trip: the coastal road between Tossa de Mar and Sant Feliu de Guíxols. The road constantly rises and falls above the rocky shoreline, with regular views of small coves and the sea.

You continue along the Costa Brava to Calella de Palafrugell, a former fishing village with small beaches and white houses clustered around the bays.

Straight after departure, a short but steep climb takes you to the Sant Sebastià lighthouse: 1.8 kilometres at an average of around 8%.

After the descent and a few flatter kilometres, you climb again, this time for roughly five kilometres towards Begur. From the elevated village, you have wide views across the coast.

You then leave the sea behind for a while and ride inland towards Pals. Its old centre is made up of narrow streets, stone houses and sections of medieval walls.

The route becomes flatter from here. Via Torroella de Montgrí, you ride towards L’Escala and Empúries, where you can visit the Greek and Roman archaeological remains close to the sea.

At the end of the day, you arrive in Castelló d’Empúries.

Today marks the start of the tougher part of the tour. You ride north into the Cap de Creus Natural Park and climb over the Coll de Perafita.

From here, you can descend to Cadaqués, the whitewashed coastal village where Salvador Dalí lived for many years. You then climb back to the pass and descend on the other side to El Port de la Selva.

From El Port de la Selva, you follow an undulating coastal road towards France. The Mediterranean stays close by until you reach Banyuls-sur-Mer.

Here, you turn south again. Via the Coll de Banyuls, you cross back into Spain. The final three kilometres are the toughest, with gradients regularly above 10%.

From the pass, most of the final thirty kilometres are downhill. You finish in Figueres, the birthplace of Salvador Dalí.

Today you ride further into the Pyrenees. From Figueres, you head north and cross into France via Coustouges. The pass sits at around 810 metres.

Later in the day comes the main climb: the Coll d’Ares. The ascent is around thirteen kilometres long and averages about 6%, taking you to an altitude of 1,513 metres.

At the top, you cross back into Spain. From there, you descend to Molló, a small mountain village not far from Camprodon.

You spend the night here at around 1,160 metres, surrounded by the landscape of the eastern Pyrenees.

The final cycling day begins with a long descent. Over roughly 35 kilometres, you gradually lose altitude towards Olot.

Olot lies in the volcanic landscape of La Garrotxa. From here, the terrain becomes more rolling again, with most of the climbing concentrated in the next thirty to thirty-five kilometres.

After that, the riding becomes easier. Quiet inland roads lead you gradually back down towards Girona.

After six substantial days on the bike, you return to the city where the tour began.

After six days of cycling, you’re probably ready to relax and enjoy some delicious tapas and a drink at one of Girona’s many plazas. Some of the most charming squares include Plaça De Sant Feliu, the large Plaça de la Independència, Plaça del Vi 7, the hidden Plaça Bell-Lloc, or the cozy bar opposite the university at the top of the city: Plaça de Sant Domènec. Here, you can end your journey in style.