WHY GIRONA IS THE BEST CYCLING DESTINATION IN EUROPE
There are many great cycling destinations in Europe. But few offer the complete package quite like Girona.
From world-class climbs to quiet rolling countryside, from smooth tarmac to endless gravel tracks, Girona delivers variety, quality and atmosphere in a way that’s hard to match.
Climbs for Every Rider
Within minutes of the city centre, you can be climbing.
Whether it’s the steady rhythm of Els Àngels, the benchmark test of Rocacorba, or the panoramic summit of Mare de Déu del Mont, the region offers an incredible mix of gradients, lengths and landscapes.
Short and punchy. Long and sustained. Rolling and scenic.
There’s something here for first-time cycling holiday riders and seasoned competitors alike.
Roads Made for Riding
Girona’s roads are famously smooth and well-maintained. Fresh tarmac, flowing corners, and wide shoulders make long days in the saddle a pleasure rather than a battle.
Traffic is minimal once you leave the city, and drivers are generally patient and respectful. Cycling isn’t a novelty here — it’s part of the culture. Riders are expected, understood and given space.
That sense of safety changes everything. It allows you to focus on the ride itself.
Café Culture & Post-Ride Life
Few cycling destinations combine riding and lifestyle as seamlessly as Girona.
The city and surrounding villages are packed with quality cafés and restaurants — many shaped by the cycling community itself. Specialty coffee, healthy brunch spots, recovery lunches, and world-class dining all sit within walking distance of each other.
You can finish a ride and, within minutes, be sitting in the old town with great food, good company and the feeling that tomorrow’s route is just as exciting.
Gravel That Rivals the Road
And then there’s the gravel.
Beyond the paved climbs lies a vast network of dirt tracks, forest roads and quiet farm lanes stretching across the Empordà and into the Gavarres. Smooth hardpack, rolling countryside, remote ridgelines — often with even less traffic than the road.
In Girona, gravel isn’t an afterthought. It’s just as good as the road riding — arguably better.
It means one destination, two completely different riding experiences.
The Complete Cycling Destination
What truly sets Girona apart is balance.
• Challenging climbs and accessible routes
• Quiet roads and respectful drivers
• World-class café culture
• Road and gravel at equal quality
• A compact, beautiful city as your base
You can ride hard. You can ride relaxed. You can mix both in the same week.
That combination — terrain, infrastructure, culture and lifestyle — is what makes Girona not just a great cycling destination, but arguably the best in Europe.
