In our search for the best holiday destinations for cyclists , we naturally came to the Costa Daurada , and we have to say that its reputation as a Mediterranean paradise to enjoy all year round falls far short.
The Costa Daurada is much more than mild temperatures all year round, which is already something wonderful for cyclists who want to escape the cold, snow and fog in the winter months and desperately look for friendlier destinations in which to continue training between November and March.
What proved to be a pleasant surprise for those of us cycling along the Costa Daurada for the first time was the quality and condition of an extensive network of quiet, winding roads, totaling over two thousand kilometers and snaking through a rich variety of landscapes. These are roads with low traffic density, perched between valleys and mountain passes with views of the sea.
The best routes for road cyclists on the Costa Daurada
If you're looking for cycling routes in Costa Daurada, the best thing to do is check out its Wikiloc profile , where you'll find a wide selection of routes, including road, mountain, and cycle touring routes.
In any case, we leave you a selection of our 8 favorite road bike routes on the Costa Daurada.
1. Serra de la Llaberia
Distance: 70 km
Elevation: + 1.205 m
“Narrow ravines, dizzying precipices and spectacular balconies…”. With this description… who wouldn’t immediately set out to explore this cycling route on the Costa Daurada that ventures into the Serra de la Llaberia and tackles the spectacular ascent to the Coll de Fatxes?
The route starts in Mont-roig del Camp and will allow you to discover Partdip Castle and the walled town of Tivissa. In addition to enjoying the peaceful roads and climbs of the Serra de la Llaberia mountain range, the route also offers glimpses of the Priorat region, providing incredible views of its characteristic vineyards before returning to Mont-roig del Camp via the Coll de Colldejou pass.
2. Poblet and Prades Mountains
Distance: 65 km
Elevation: + 1118 m
A magical cycling route on the Costa Daurada that starts at the Poblet Monastery, a World Heritage Site, and enters the unique Prades Mountains. Did you know that the Poblet Monastery is the largest Cistercian monastic complex in the world? And that Prades is known as the red city? If you do this route you will discover why.
The route includes a long ascent of 19 kilometers to the Coll d'Arena and passes through several medieval municipalities included in the Cistercian Route (Montblanc and l'Espluga de Francolí).
3. Priorat wine landscapes
Away kilometers 87
Elevation: + 1.680 m
Whether you like wine or not... the landscapes of Priorat are something to discover and explore again and again. Its winding roads between balconies and vineyards are a delight for road bike lovers and its constant ups and downs are a challenge to test the legs of the most trained cyclists. In addition, enjoying the views of the Montsant Natural Park as a backdrop adds an unparalleled plus to this cycling route.
This leg-breaking route begins in Falset, capital of Priorat, and begins with the ascent to Gratallops. You will also pass through La Vilella Baixa, Cabacés, La Bisbal, Margalef and Ulldemolins while you border the Sierra de Montsant Natural Park and, to finish, you will face the ascents to Porrera and Falset.
4. Sea and mountain
Away kilometers 74,5
Elevation: + 1.175 m
It encompasses the best of the Costa Daurada in a single cycling route: the extensive beaches of Cambrils, the views of the sea and the coastal mountains. This is a route from Cambrils that will take you to Mont-Roig del Camp, Marçà, Falset and Duesaigües, making you face the ascents to Colldejou and La Torre de Fontaubella, Falset, Porrera and La Teixeta along the way.
5. The Mussara
Away kilometers 110
Elevation: + 1.456 m
Starting in Salou, this route will take you from some of the best-known beaches of this coastal area to the interior of the Costa Daurada, the Baix Camp region and the Prades mountains to face the ascent to La Mussara, the mythical port which gives its name to the famous cycle tour that is held every year in the area.
Upon reaching La Mussara, it is worth stopping to contemplate the views over the Costa Daurada before beginning the descent towards the Montsant Natural Park and returning towards Cambrils and Salou.
6. Route of the Six Ports of the Costa Daurada
Distance: 125 Kilometers
Elevation: + 2.185 m
As its name indicates, with this cycling route from Cambrils you will not lack ports and, in fact, you will crown some of the characteristics of the Costa Daurada.
It is a demanding outing with more than 2.000 meters of elevation gain in which you will enter the winding roads surrounded by Priorat vineyards and will also access privileged viewpoints inside the Montsant Natural Park.
Get ready for a short but demanding climb to La Morera and to face the 15 kilometers of the La Mussara pass from Cornudella. Although all the suffering is worth it to contemplate the views from the highest point of the Costa Daurada.
7. Cistercian Landscapes
Distance: 87,5 Kilometers
Elevation: + 915 m
This is undoubtedly one of the best options to pedal through the beautiful inland landscapes of the Costa Daurada and enjoy not only its vineyards, but also its cereal fields that change color depending on the time of year.
You will depart from Nulles, a wine-growing town par excellence, you will pass through the only Cistercian monastery that is not inhabited, the monastery of Santa Creus, which can and is worth visiting and you will visit the beautiful medieval town of Santa Coloma de Queralt before embarking on the descent back to Nulles.
8. Landscapes of Penedès, the interior of the Costa Daurada
Distance: 74 Kilometers
Elevation: + 966 m
Get ready to enjoy the charming landscape of Penedès, land of wines, cavas and modernist wineries, with this route that will take you to ascend the Collada de les Ventoses along a winding road with wonderful views of the vineyards.
With this route you will also pass by the monumental complex of the Santes Creus monastery which, as we have already said, is very worth visiting.
Accommodation for cyclists on the Costa Daurada
If you're looking for cycling accommodation on the Costa Daurada , you're in luck. This region is highly specialized in cycle tourism, and you'll find several Bikefriendly accommodations , as well as specialized agencies that can help you organize your cycling trip with extra services such as a guide, support vehicle, or training sessions.
That's why the Costa Daurada is an ideal destination both for enjoying a cycling holiday alone, as a couple or with the family, and for planning a training camp or training session with your cycling club.
At Bikefriendly we recommend the following accommodations that are part of the Bikefriendly Network and, therefore, guarantee that they will offer you a safe place to store your bicycle during your stay or that they will let you take it up to your room. In addition, all of them have basic tools for small repairs.
4R Beach Park ***
In this hotel in Salou with two outdoor pools you can also store your bike in its Bikefriendly space with individual bike racks with lock, biketool with tools and inflation pump.
Ohtels Vila Romana **** and Ohtels Belvedere
These two hotels from the Ohtels chain are located very close and share a Bikefriendly Space with a bike rack with individual lock, a workshop area and a large pressure washing area.
The rise of the Costa Daurada as a destination for cyclists
The widespread rise of cycle tourism has made the Costa Daurada become one of the favorite destinations for bicycle lovers. In the last decade, professionals and amateurs travel through the area along its secondary roads and enjoy the institutions' commitment to cycling tourism.
More and more businesses on the Costa Daurada are adapting to bicycle tourism: hotels, travel agencies, tour companies and cycling specialists are focusing their business on tourists who arrive with cycling buddies.
With its unbeatable conditions, the Costa Daurada's infrastructure is ideal for cycle tourism. So whether you're looking to break records or prefer to enjoy the journey, by the Mediterranean you have a place to start cycling where you'll never want to get off your bike.
The Costa Daurada awaits you, with its roads, landscapes and accommodations, so you can explore it entirely by pedalling.
