Cycling from Casa23

Roses sits at the heart of one of Europe's most celebrated cycling regions. Girona — world cycling capital and training base of Tour de France champions — is 45 minutes away. The coastal roads of the Costa Brava and the wild climbs of Cap de Creus start from the villa's front door.

Road Cycling

The roads around Roses and the Alt Empordà are spectacular. Flat coastal routes along the Bay of Roses warm up the legs in the morning. Then the climbs begin — up through the cap to Cadaqués, or inland to the vineyards of the Empordà. These are proper roads: quiet, smooth, and scenically extraordinary.

Girona, 45 minutes south, is a pilgrimage for road cyclists. It has been home to Chris Froome, Richie Porte, and dozens of WorldTour professionals. The Girona Cycling routes are legendary — café culture, well-marked roads, and a community that takes cycling seriously.

Key Routes

Whether you're a seasoned climber or looking for a scenic spin, there's a route for you:

• Coastal Loop — Roses to Cadaqués (55km): The classic. Out along the cap, down into Cadaqués for coffee, and back along the valley. Moderate climbing, stunning views.
• Cap de Creus Summit (38km): Up to the lighthouse at Spain's easternmost tip. Short but tough — 800m of climbing with views over the Pyrenees and France.
• Bay of Roses Flat Loop (40km): Ideal for warm-up days or mixed-ability groups. Flat roads round the bay, past the Greek ruins at Empúries.
• Girona Day Ride (120km): Commit to a full day — ride to Girona, explore the old town, and return via a different route through the Gavarres hills.
• Rocacorba Climb (80km from Girona): One of Catalonia's legendary climbs — 9km at 7% average. Often ridden in Strava KOM battles. Best approached from a Girona base.

Mountain Biking

Cap de Creus National Park has a growing network of gravel and MTB trails through wild, rocky terrain. Most are technical singletrack through scrubland and ancient cork oak forests, with the sea shimmering below. These are not groomed trail centre trails — they're raw, adventurous, and often shared with walkers.

For more purpose-built trail riding, the hills above Girona and the Montseny Natural Park (90 minutes south) have excellent trail networks.

Seasons

Cycling is genuinely possible year-round from Casa23, but the best windows are:

• Spring (March–May): Perfect temperatures (15–22°C), quiet roads, wildflowers everywhere. The best cycling months.
• Summer (June–August): Hot but manageable with early starts. The coast is busy with tourists but the cap roads stay quiet.
• Autumn (September–November): Second-best season. Grape harvest, warm days, and the off-season quiet returning.
• Winter (December–February): Cool but rarely cold. Often sunny. Girona's café culture is year-round and the roads are empty.

Guided Rides & Operators

We work with local guides and can arrange group rides, route planning, and bike hire through trusted operators. Whether you want a guide for the day or just a curated route card, get in touch when you book.

We're also building our own guided adventure packages — contact us to ask about current availability.