Cycling in Girona: Road or Gravel?
There's a reason so many pro cyclists choose to live in Girona. The roads are quiet, the surfaces are superb, the climbs are long and steady, and the coffee is very good. We've just come back from a week of riding there with a group from Moloko, and honestly, it lived up to every bit of the hype.
What surprised us most was how empty the roads were. Some days we barely saw a car. We hadn't expected the gravel either. Girona has become one of the best places in Europe to ride off-road, and by the end of the week half the group was talking about coming back for the trails.
So if you're planning a trip, the big question is: road or gravel? Here's what we found on both.
Road Cycling in Girona
Girona's road riding is all about long, rhythmic climbs, smooth tarmac and very little traffic. Within an hour of the old town you can be in the mountains, on the coast or rolling through medieval villages.
Three climbs come up in almost every conversation about cycling in Girona:
Rocacorba. The famous one. It's long and steep in places, and it's the climb pros use to test their form. It's a proper bucket-list ride.
Els Àngels. The local classic, starting just outside town. It's steady, scenic and a perfect warm-up for bigger days.
Mare de Déu del Mont. A longer haul up to a sanctuary with huge views towards the Pyrenees. It's well worth the effort.
Between the climbs, quiet back roads link villages that have barely changed in centuries, and it's easy to stop for coffee along the way. You can also head east for a ride along the Costa Brava. It's a different kind of beautiful, with more sea and less climbing.
On our trip, road days ran from 80km to 150km, with 1,000m to 2,500m of elevation. You don't need to be fast to enjoy them, but you do need to enjoy climbing.
Gravel Cycling in Girona
If the road riding is why people come to Girona, the gravel is why they come back. The area is crisscrossed with farm tracks, forest trails and old railway lines. You can link them into huge, car-free loops through lush green hills.
There's something for every level. Smooth, easy-rolling routes like the Ruta del Carrilet, an old railway line turned greenway, are perfect for long, chatty days. Deeper into the hills, rougher and steeper tracks will properly test your legs and your bike handling.
We only had a taste of it this time, but we couldn't stop talking about it. Riding through the forest, popping out at a village square for coffee, then disappearing back onto the trails was the highlight of the week for a lot of the group. It's the reason our next Girona trip has gravel built in.
Road or Gravel? Why not both
Our honest answer: do both if you can. They're two completely different ways to see the same place, and Girona is one of the few destinations where both are world class. It's also a PERFECT destination for a gravel taster if you've never ridden gravel before.
Choose road if you love long climbs, chasing a good average and ticking off famous names like Rocacorba.
Choose gravel if you'd rather lose the traffic altogether, explore deeper into the countryside and ride at a more relaxed pace.
Choose both if you want the full Girona experience. Mix road and gravel days across the week.
You don't need to fly with two bikes, either. Bring the one you ride most and rent the other locally. Girona has plenty of good hire shops with quality road and gravel bikes, so it's easy to swap between the two.
When to go
Spring and autumn are the sweet spots for cycling in Girona. The temperatures are warm without being punishing, the hills are green and the roads are at their quietest. Midsummer can get very hot, especially on long climbs.
May is a particularly good time to go. It's also when Girona hosts The Traka, one of the biggest gravel races in the world, and the whole town has a buzz about it. If you're racing, it's the perfect excuse to stay on for a few extra days and ride the area properly once your legs have recovered.
Where to stay and eat
You can base yourself in Girona's old town for the cafés and the atmosphere. If you want the riding on your doorstep, though, staying out in the countryside is hard to beat.
On our trip we stayed in a renovated 17th-century masia, a traditional Catalan farmhouse, half an hour from Girona and right by the mountains. It feels more like a rural open house than a hotel. There are ten ensuite rooms, a big pool, a bike workshop and a garden studio for yoga. After a long day of climbing, it's exactly where you want to be.
The food was a highlight of the trip. Our chef, who has cooked for the EF Education pro team, works on a "Km0" principle. That means organic, seasonal ingredients sourced as locally as possible. Dinners are served family-style around one big table. It's Catalan cooking with a few influences from further afield, and there's plenty of variety for every palate.
Ride Girona with us
We loved it so much that we're going back in May 2027, this time with road and gravel riding. We've timed it for just after The Traka, so if you're racing you can stay on and ride with us. Want to ride Girona with your team? We also build corporate versions of this trip, so get in touch.
7 days, 6 nights at the masia
Guided road and gravel rides, 80-150km with 1,000-2,500m of elevation
Difficulty 3/5 to 4/5, with options on most days
Dinners by our in-house chef
Members save £60 on deposits (join here)
Bring one bike and rent the other, or ride whatever you love most.
September dates coming SOON - sign up to the newsletter to be the first to find out.
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