Andalusia

Part of Spain

Andalusia is the southernmost region of Spain. This region offers a mix of beautiful landscapes, challenging climbs, and routes that take you through Spain’s rich culture and history. Whether you want to explore the mountains or the coast, the silence of the interior, or the beautiful villages, Andalusia has it all. Add to that the fact that with more than 300 days of sunshine per year, it is almost always great weather for cycling! On this page you will find all kinds of tips and information so that you can cycle in Andalusia prepared.

Where exactly should you be? The Sierra Nevada – in the province of Granada – is an absolute must for climbers. Here you’ll find the Pico del Veleta, one of the highest climbing routes in Europe. For gravel enthusiasts, the Alpujarras region is great, with gravel routes that lead you past beautiful white villages and through rugged nature. Don’t forget the coastal areas, such as the Costa de la Luz and Costa del Sol. Here you can enjoy a completely different landscape with slightly flatter routes and sea views.

This region also has a lot to offer in terms of history and culture. In Andalusia, you will find many historical sites. This region was once one of the most developed areas in Europe. You can feel the history as you cycle past small villages and Roman ruins like Italica, just outside the capital city of Seville. Or visit the Alhambra in Granada or the Mezquita in Córdoba. As you drive through picturesque streets, chances are that you will come across the sounds of flamenco, a music and dance form that is inextricably linked to this region. In Granada, you can go to a flamenco performance on an evening off. A great experience.

And not to forget; nothing is more delicious than stopping off at a local tapas bar on the way. There’s no better and tastier way to recharge your energy on the go!

Why do you want to go on a cycling holiday in Andalusia?

Compared to Andalusia, it’s almost impossible to beat it. On a cycling holiday you can visit anywhere, but the combination of history and culture, combined with stunning landscapes; that’s what makes Andalusia such a special destination.

One of the reasons this region is so popular with cyclists is that the roads are very well paved and maintained. As a result, there are numerous beautiful longer or shorter routes to choose from. You can literally go in all directions.

In addition to the beautiful roads, you’ll also find great gravel trails here. Badlands, the famous event, starts and ends in Andalusia. Geoparque de Granada is a gravel paradise in this regard. The northern part of the province, along the border with Castilla-La Mancha, also boasts a beautiful route, Al Ballut-Gravel. A round of over 300 kilometers.

You’ll also find beautiful undiscovered gravel routes in Malaga & the Costa del Sol.

Andalusia offers diverse mountain landscapes. In the north lies the Sierra Morena, with rolling hills and quiet roads, perfect for relaxing rides. Further south you encounter the impressive Sierra de Grazalema, known for its rugged limestone formations. For adventurous cyclists, the Sierra de Alhamilla is ideal, with its desert-like views and challenging trails. The Sierra Nevada is Spain’s highest mountain range, with the impressive Pico del Veleta. In the Alpujarras, you cycle through picturesque villages and green valleys, while the Sierra de Aracena offers tranquility and silence in the northwest, with dense forests and charming villages. Further east lies the Sierra de Cazorla, an extensive nature reserve with deep valleys and pristine forests. Around the town of Ronda, you find the Serranía de Ronda, with dramatic cliffs and deep ravines. Between the mountain ranges, the landscape is flat to rolling.

Andalusia has a suitable area for every cyclist, whether you enjoy long and steep climbs or prefer to cycle on rolling roads.

Want to know more about cycling in the province of Granada in Andalusia? Here you’ll find both desert landscapes and the Sierra Nevada. Find out all about it on this page.

There is a suitable place to cycle throughout the year in Andalusia. In the winter, many professional teams come to the coastal region to train. Furthermore, inland and in mountainous areas like the Sierra Nevada there is snow. In the summer, temperatures can rise high to well over 30 degrees, with peaks reaching above 40 degrees around cities like Seville and Córdoba. In this period, it is better to head inland, to the mountains or highlands.

The best time to explore Andalusia by bike is during the spring or autumn season, when you want to see as much of the region as possible, such as the higher mountain areas. In the winter, Andalusia is ideal for training.

Andalusia has several bike-friendly hotels. Because many cyclists come to train in this region, many hotels are set up for cyclists and in many cases bringing your bike onto the premises is not a problem. Please contact the hotel in advance to be sure.

Are you looking for accommodation near the Sierra Nevada, Granada and La Alpujarra? Then Hotel Impressive Playa Granada Golf Motril is a good choice. This Bike Friendly hotel not only offers a nice and safe place to store your bikes, but also has a workshop with extra parts and a laundry room. This hotel is the perfect base for cycling beautiful routes, both on the road bike and off-road.

You shouldn't miss these climbs in Andalusia

Pico del Veleta (Sierra Nevada)

Length: 42 kilometers
Altitude meters: 2772 meters
Average rate of increase: 6,5%.
Starting point: Granada
Description: The climb to Pico del Veleta is a tough one! This is the highest paved road in Europe. The road runs through a beautiful mountain landscape. The last 24 kilometers have an average gradient of 7%. As you get higher, the landscape becomes increasingly rugged. The view from the top offers a panoramic view of the surrounding mountain ranges; on a clear day you can even see Africa. Note: the final kilometer to the top has deteriorated, but you can still ride the bike up the hill.

Puerto de la Ragua (Alpujarras)

Length: 13.4 kilometers
Altitude meters: 847 meters
Average rate of increase: 6,3%
Starting point: La Calahorra
Description: The ascent to Puerto de la Ragua begins with a gradual ascent through pine forests and rural landscapes. The steepest part is in the middle, with an incline that increases to 10% for several kilometers. In the colder months, this is one of the climbs where the chance of snow is lower.

Sierra de la Pandera (Jaen)

Length: 12.7 kilometers (from Valdepeñas de Jaen)
Altitude meters: 966 meters
Average rate of increase: 7,3%
Starting point: Valdepeñas de Jaen
Description: The ascent to Sierra de la Pander has several variants. This is the most famous one, which starts in Valdepeñas de Jaen). It starts quite quickly with average gradients of 8-9 percent. At 4.5 kilometers from the top you find the hardest kilometers, with two kilometers above twelve and thirteen percent on average. The top is at 1832 meters, so in winter there is a risk of snow.

You must not miss these GRAVEL REGIONS in Andalusia

Geopark of Granada

Description: Gravel enthusiasts who have never heard of the “Badlands” event may have lived outside the social media bubble. That’s not a problem. Badlands is a beautiful, ultra-gravel racing event. There’s a target audience for that. But Badlands takes place in the Geoparque de Granada, where you can also go graveling on your own. If you’re in Granada anyway, this is a trip and worth a day or two on the gravel bike.

Al Ballut Gravel

Description: This is another relatively unknown, but very well documented route north of Cordoba that takes you through 17 villages in the Pedroches region in 350 kilometers. The landscape is very diverse and as you traverse the different areas, from the imposing castles, such as that in Belalcázar, to the winding paths with stone walls, you will pass through the largest contiguous oak-covered area in all of Europe. It is also the place where the Iberian oak-humped pig is bred.

Sierra de Tejada

Description: The region north and northeast of Malaga is beautiful for gravel riding. Especially the Sierra de Tejada, which is also part of the larger Parque Natural de Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama, where you can also ride beautiful routes from the Costa Tropical, such as the Carretera de la Cabra. In this area you will find beautiful, remote gravel routes, where you definitely need to bring plenty of water. Because here you won’t encounter any wild animals, except for a stray dog.

Caminos de Pasión

Description: Throughout Spain you will find pilgrimage routes. The most famous of course is the Camino de Santiago, but in Andalusia you will find the Caminos de Pasión. It is a beautiful, culturally rich pilgrimage route in Andalusia that connects 10 wonderful cities. For gravel lovers, there is a special 339-kilometer gravel variant of the GR 341 route available, which runs from Alcalá la Real to Utrera and goes right through the heart of the provinces of Jaén, Córdoba and Sevilla. A picture-perfect route!

Travel tips

• Best destination: If you want to climb a lot, fly to Granada for the most beautiful climbs in the Sierra Nevada, such as the Pico del Veleta. In winter, Málaga or the Almeria region are good destinations thanks to the mild climate.,
• Traffic information: Andalusia is increasingly well equipped for cyclists and is rapidly becoming a popular cycling destination. As a result, motorists are accustomed to cyclists.
• Bike rental: You can rent bikes in the region. Be sure to book in advance during the high season. We have worked with several partners, including Sunhill Cycling, TunTunTrip, and EatSleepCycle.
• Culinary: Of course, the hard-training cyclist deserves to be rewarded. In Spain, of course, you do that on a nice local terrace. There you eat the most delicious Andalusian dishes, such as Pescaíto Frito (fried fish) or Flamenquín. On a warm day, you enjoy one of the famous cold soups, such as Gazpacho.

When are you leaving?

Areas

Areas in Andalusia

Granada and the Sierra NevadaView →

How do you get there?

• Flying: Fly to Málaga · Seville · Granada. Bring your own bike; book a place for your bike box in time.
• By car: From Utrecht you are in about 23 hours. AndalusiaPlan an overnight stop along the way, or drive in two days.