Cycling Spain’s Seasons
Spring, Summer, Fall
As Europe’s third largest country, there’s no shortage of things to see and do in Spain. Fortunately for cyclists, Spain’s climate is ideal for cycling almost year-round. While the Pyrenees certainly see snow in the winter, there is a lot of southern coastline that allows for warm days and sunny travel through the majority of the year. From Catalonia’s vibrant culture and cuisine to the rich history and architecture in Andalucía’s rolling hills, ExperiencePlus! delights in running Spanish tours from May to November as this long cycling season allows our travelers to explore much of Spain’s varied terrain (comfortably) through the year.
Spring Flowers along the Costa Brava
Start your spring (and cycling season) in Catalonia. You’ll begin your tour in the stunning city of Girona, one of the most fought after towns in all of Spanish history. While pedaling the Spanish countryside in the Spring you witness wildflowers blossoming, accenting fields with bright bursts of color. Travel along the Costa Brava and through the rolling hills of the Empordà region – dotted with Roman ruins and medieval towns. You’ll stop along the way and see hidden fishing villages and quiet walled towns coming back to life after the winter season. Take in the sights and sounds of spring as you pedal under the sun through nature reserves and ancient Roman spa towns before finishing in Barcelona, one of Europe’s most-loved cities – before it becomes overwhelmed with summer tourists.
Summer Cycling on the Camino
Spend a part of your summer cycling across northern Spain while discovering the legendary Camino de Santiago. As James Michner once wrote, “a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela is the finest journey in Spain”. The earliest records of a pilgrimage to St. John’s grave date back to the 9th century and, since then, people from across the world have been traveling this historic route. Along the way, explore Gothic cathedrals, visit medieval monasteries, pedal through one of Spain’s premier wine growing regions – the Rioja. Selected by National Geographic Traveler magazine as one of “50 Tours of a Lifetime” in 2010, our bike tour along the Camino is more than a bicycle tour, this is a trip of a lifetime.
Read what it’s like to do the Camino first hand from one of our travelers.
Fall For Ancient Andalucía
Fall in Spain is also synonymous with harvest season for olive groves and vineyards. Pedal Andalucía’s rolling hills in October and admire the many ancient olive groves as they are at their peak. Though people often think of Italy when they think olive oil, Southern Spain is known for producing some of the world’s finest. On tour you’ll look out over the olive groves and visit a mill while tasting some of the world’s finest olive oil from the very trees. The south of Spain stays warm late into fall, which is perfect for cyclist as they can ride and explore three of the most culturally significant and historically important cities in Spain: Cordoba, Granada and Seville. Diving into the rich history and stunning architecture of sites such as the Alhambra in Granada and the Mezquita in Cordoba, it is nearly impossible not to fall in love with this sunny region and all it has to offer.
Learn about more Andalucían treasures from Spain Tour Leader Joan Escosura.