5 Reasons Why You Should Go Road Cycling in Girona
Riding The Stunning Roads of Girona
Girona has become one of the most iconic road cycling destinations in Europe, attracting everyone from professional riders to passionate amateurs looking for the perfect place to train and explore.
With its smooth quiet roads, breathtaking climbs, and easy access to both the Pyrenees and the Costa Brava coastline, this Catalan city offers an unbeatable mix of challenge and scenery. Add in a mild Mediterranean climate, a thriving cycling community, and world class cafes and bike friendly services, and it is easy to see why so many cyclists return year after year.
If you are searching for the best location for a road cycling holiday in Spain, Girona delivers an experience that combines performance riding with an unforgettable lifestyle. Here are our 5 top reasons why your next cycling holiday should be in Girona.
Reason 1 - Girona’s Cycling Routes
Girona is home to a huge number of professional riders. If you’re cycling Rocacorba, you’ll be studying some famous names on Strava’s KOM for the climb but even away from the professional scene, there are just so many standout road cycling routes in Girona that you’ll always find a top class route to enjoy.
Within minutes of the old town you can access:
- Smooth rolling countryside roads with minimal traffic
- Long steady climbs like, ideal for threshold training
- Iconic mountain routes into the Pyrenees
- Coastal rides along the Costa Brava with breathtaking sea views
Whether you are planning a self guided road cycling holiday in Girona, a Girona gravel cycling holiday or even some leisurely rides into places like Olot and the volcanic countryside, we have a variety of routes that allow you to tailor your rides to your fitness or holiday goals.
The road surfaces are generally excellent, drivers are used to cyclists, and route options are virtually endless.
Our Favourite Steady Climb in Girona
Our favourite climb when road cycling in Girona is Els Àngels. It’s a long and steady ascent that is ideal for endurance efforts and controlled threshold training. The climb rises gradually from the outskirts of the city, offering smooth tarmac, consistent gradients, and very little traffic, making it perfect for riders looking for a manageable yet rewarding Girona cycling climb. Averaging a steady gradient rather than sharp ramps, Els Àngels is challenging enough to feel satisfying but not so difficult that it becomes overwhelming, which is why we encourage our community to ride the climb either as an introduction to punchier rides later in the holiday, or as a goal in itself if you’re a less experienced rider.
Our top tip is that when you reach the summit, be sure to continue along the short unsurfaced section to access the Santuari dels Àngels (Sanctuary of the Angels) chapel. The sanctuary is where Salvador Dali was married and its restaurant offers stunning views across the Catalan countryside.
Our Favourite KOM Challenge in Girona
The road to nowhere, Rocacorba was once a secluded road used by radio mast engineers to reach the mast that towered over the Girona hillsides, and to hand gliders. It’s now a road though that demands to be ridden on a road cycling holiday in Girona. Made famous by David Millar and widely regarded as one of the most challenging road cycling climbs in Girona, Rocacorba has built a reputation for its relentless and uncompromising gradients, offering a true test for anyone seeking a demanding Girona cycling challenge. Once you summit, the views are spectacular and the descent back where you came from, is truly exhilarating.
Our Favourite Scenic Ride in Girona
A cycling tour of Girona is not just about the best climbs, it’s also about rolling Catalan countryside. And there is none better than the route out to Lake Banyoles. Lake Banyoles is genuinely one of the most underrated rides you can do during a road cycling holiday in Girona, because it feels like you’ve stumbled into a completely different side of Catalonia.
The approach roads are smooth and quiet, rolling gently through farmland and small villages, and then suddenly the lake appears, wide and still, with that unreal blue-green colour that doesn’t look natural until you’re right next to it.
It’s not dramatic in the way the mountains are, but it’s calm, open, and photogenic, especially in the early morning when the mist sits low on the water and the rowing lanes are perfectly straight like a mirror. You can spin the loop easily, stop for a coffee on the waterfront, and just enjoy being off the main training routes without sacrificing quality roads.
Reason 2 - Girona’s Cycling Climate
One of the biggest reasons why road cyclists choose Girona in Spain is the mild Mediterranean climate that allows year round road cycling. Unlike northern Europe, Girona provides:
- Over 300 days of sunshine per year
- Mild winter temperatures ideal for endurance base training
- Low rainfall compared to other European cycling destinations
- Comfortable spring and autumn riding conditions
If you are searching for the best European winter training destination for road cyclists, Girona consistently ranks at the top. The stable weather makes it perfect for professional cycling teams, amateur endurance riders, and cycling holiday makers looking to maximise saddle time.
Cycling in Girona in the Winter (December – March)
At this time, it’s still quite cold, daytime high temperatures are about 15 degrees average overall, and you typically see around 8-10 days of rainfall per month. Whilst it’s the ‘off season’ for Girona, the countryside is extremely quiet, as is the city and so long as you’re dressed appropriately, you can enjoy some stunning riding with a very high likelihood of seeing the professionals out on their training rides.
A top tip for riding in the winter is to fly into Barcelona and then get the train to Girona, as there are very few direct international flights into Girona at this time.
Cycling in the Spring in Girona (April – June)
The Spring is when cyclists descend on the city. Direct flights begin early and become more frequent as Spring rolls into early Summer. The average temperature moves considerably as you move through this period rainfall dramatically decreases.
Girona Cycling Holiday in the Summer (July – August)
Road cycling in Girona in the Summer is amazing, but it’s also hot, intense, and very different to Spring or Autumn.
In July and August you can expect long sunny days and consistently dry weather, which means the roads are fast and the riding is reliable. The scenery looks at its best too, golden fields, bright blue skies and that proper Mediterranean feel. But the heat can be brutal, especially inland where climbs like Rocacorba can feel oven-like with very little shade.
Most experienced riders adapt by riding early, heading out around 7am (sometimes earlier), finishing by late morning, and then doing the classic Girona routine of coffee, lunch and relaxing in the afternoon. Hydration becomes a big deal, you’ll go through bottles quickly, and planning your route around fountains, village cafés, or refuel stops is essential.
The good news is Girona is still very rideable in summer if you’re smart. Coastal routes towards the Costa Brava can feel cooler with a breeze, and higher climbs into the Pyrenees offer slightly lower temperatures. You’ll also notice the city feels quieter in August as locals escape and some pros disappear until the cooler months.
Autumn Riding in Girona (September – November)
Autumn is arguably the best time of year for a road cycling holiday in Girona. The intense summer heat fades away, the temperatures drop into that perfect “jersey and gilet” range, and the roads feel made for long steady miles. September still has plenty of sunshine, but by October the air becomes cooler and fresher, which makes climbing routes like Els Àngels and Rocacorba feel far more manageable and enjoyable. November can be very wet so we recommend avoiding that month.
The scenery also changes in a way that gives Girona a completely different vibe, the countryside turns golden, the light gets softer, and the early mornings often start with mist hanging over the fields before the sun burns through. It feels quieter too, with fewer tourists than summer but a strong cycling presence still in town, meaning the cafés are busy with riders and group rides remain a daily ritual.
Autumn in Girona is basically prime cycling season: comfortable temperatures, beautiful landscapes, and ideal conditions for both endurance training and relaxed exploring.
Make An Enquiry
We are the cycling holiday experts.
Whether you're a keen road cyclist, enjoy riding an e-bike or hybrid bike, or want to get your family more active, we have the perfect cycling holiday for you.
Reason 3 - The Road Cycling Community in Girona
If you are looking for a European city with a strong road cycling community, Girona stands out. The reason we love that is the city feels geared towards 2 wheels.
Over the past decade, many professional cyclists have based themselves in Girona because of:
- Quiet training roads
- Proximity to high mountains and coastal routes
- Relaxed lifestyle
- Strong cycling culture
This has created a unique cycling ecosystem which makes cycling in Girona, a perfect road cycling break.
You will be guaranteed include high quality bike rental services, although heeds our big tip - if you want the best choice of road bikes, you need to book them early. The most in demand frame sizes get snapped up quickly and the best hiring outfits book up early so contact us, ideally with your height ready (as that is how we will size your bike), when you’re ready to make your enquiry. Another reason Girona is so great for your road cycling break is the specialist bike cafes. You’ll find great coffee, great food pre or post ride, as well as spares, nutrition products and even kit, should you need.
Why us
Why book with Love Velo?
ABTOT protected
Many of our holidays are protected by ABTOT and you can find our bond using membership number 5523.
Trust
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot, 10,000+ Cyclists Travel with Us Yearly.
Exclusive Perks
Free Access to Rewards and Discounts on Top Brands like Garmin, Le Col and Oakley.
Easy Payment
Spread Your Tour Cost Interest-Free.
Reason 4 - Girona’s Gravel Cycling Scene
Girona’s gravel scene has quietly become one of the most exciting off-road riding experiences on a road cycling holiday in Girona, attracting riders who want to expand beyond tarmac without heading deep into remote wilderness.
The region’s network of smooth farm tracks, forest fire roads, and gently rolling rural terrain makes it perfect for gravel bikes, and many locals now mix road and gravel into their weekly training.
Popular gravel loops wind through vineyards around Monells, over the rolling foothills toward La Bisbal, and deep into the cork oak forests near Sant Martí Vell — all on surfaces that are firm, rideable, and scenic. What sets Girona’s gravel scene apart is how accessible it is: you can start from the old town, follow quiet country roads into gravel, and still be back for coffee in a café plaza within a couple of hours. The vibe is relaxed but social, with plenty of guided gravel rides, bikepacking options, and routes that reveal a quieter, greener side of Catalonia that many road-only cyclists never see.
Reason 5 - Girona’s Gastronomy
Beyond the riding, Girona offers something many road cycling destinations cannot, a rich cultural and culinary experience.
After your ride, you can enjoy:
- Historic medieval streets in Girona old town
- Local Catalan cuisine and world class restaurants
- Relaxed cafe culture popular with cyclists
- Easy access to the beaches of the Costa Brava
- Short transfers from Barcelona and Girona airports
For cyclists searching for a road cycling holiday in Spain that combines cycling, training but with an emphasis on lifestyle and culture, Girona delivers the perfect balance. You can ride challenging mountain climbs in the morning and enjoy tapas and coffee in a sunlit plaza in the afternoon.
If you are planning a road cycling holiday in Europe, looking for the best winter training base for road cyclists, or searching for scenic and safe road cycling routes in Spain, Girona should be at the top of your list. With its ideal climate, world class climbs, thriving international cycling community, safe roads, and unbeatable lifestyle, Girona has become one of the most sought after road cycling destinations in the world. Whether you are a beginner cyclist, a seasoned amateur, or an elite competitor, road cycling in Girona offers an experience that is difficult to match anywhere else. You can also check out our ultimate guide to cycling holidays in Girona for more information on this great location.
FAQs
Girona Cycling Holiday FAQs
