Cyclists who prefer variety in what and where they ride will find it in Granada. “In my sauce” (estoy en mi salsa) is the Spanish equivalent to “in my element,” which is where you’ll be here, whether you ride road, off-road, with companions (like your kids), or solo. Welcome! Here’s your weekend cycling itinerary for Granada (Spain).
If I were to plant a chair next to the Carretera de la Sierra here in Granada on a Saturday morning and count the number of cyclists passing by, I’d guess there’d be hundreds. But I’d miss all the off-road riders who’ve fled to the dirt road along the Genil River. The point being, there’s space for everyone, whether you ride 16”, 20”, 24”, 27.5” (650b), 29” (700c), or even 32” wheels. If they roll, you are welcome here. Your only challenge may be choosing what and where to ride. This cycling itinerary for Granada should help grease the cogs to get you thinking about where to ride this weekend.
Where to go on Friday in Granada, Spain
You’ve checked in and you’ve got a few hours for exploring before bars and restaurants open at 20:00 for tapas and dinner. Warm up to Granada with one of these options to loosen your legs and see why there’s such diverse cycling here.
Gravel – spin alongside the Rio Genil in the direction of Pinos Genil for a short, flat ride from Granada or ramp it up with our Güéjar Sierra-Argumosa-Quéntar loop.
Mountain bike – The best mtb ride to do upon arrival is all or part of our Trails of the Alhambra ride, which has jaw-dropping views of both the Sierra Nevadas and the Alhambra. You can also do our Trails of the Alhambra Circular, which is shorter and takes you through some of the historic sections of Granada.
Road – Ride like a local with a spin out to Pinos Genil along the Carretera de la Sierra and a modest climb up to where the road intersects with the highway heading up to Europe’s highest cyclable climb. From the intersection you can either drop back down or continue climbing for a while.
Saturday Cycling in Southern Spain
There aren’t really any crowds to beat so you can leave any time…unless it’s July or August, when you must leave by/before 8:00 to avoid the heat. Any other time of the year, the only challenge you may run into is scoring a table outside for post-ride tapas. If, like me, you’re from a cold/snowy winter climate, being able to sit outside in January never gets old.
Road — This ride is one of my favorites. El Legionario is an 88-kilometer circuit south of Granada that’s popular for piling on the base miles during winter and spring (but it may be best in fall). Once you get past Ventas de Huelma, the roads pretty much empty out and you may have stretches of road all to yourself. You can lengthen this ride by tacking on a detour to Chimineas from La Malahá (La Mal-A) and/or rerouting to Cacín at Ventas.
Gravel – I haven’t done this ride since COVID (!) so a refresher is in order. While this version starts from Güéjar Sierra, I’d start from Granada, take the road to Tocón and pick up the route from there. The 2026 Vuelta a España popularized the paved climb from the Güéjar side but the climb from the Tocón side is all gravel with great views.
Mountain bike — This ride isn’t a long one but there’s lots of technical climbing and descending. My best recommendation is to take your time — don’t rush, enjoy the views, and roll back into town along the river (with perhaps a stop for a tapa at El Peregrino near the complejo polideportivo in Cenes de La Vega). *Don’t bother taking the left at mile 6.4, just continue straight.
Sunday Mornings Are for Calm Cycling in Andalusia
Cloudless blue skies are common here, but they just seem sweeter on a Sunday morning ride when traffic is at its weekly low.
Mountain bike — When we were at last allowed to go outside after weeks of confinement during COVID, this ride became routine. It’s a quick escape with a decent chunk of singletrack (optional) before dropping down to Dúdar and delivering you back to Granada via the Rio Genil.
El Purche
Road — if you like to climb, you’re in the right place. For your final day, test your legs on El Purche, which is either pain or pleasure for racers in the Vuelta a España and/or the Vuelta a Andalucía. The climb from Monachil is a bit steeper but far more scenic than the climb from the other side.
Gravel — I confess that there’s more asphalt than gravel in these two rides, but the off-road sections are still dreamy — especially on a Sunday morning when Granada is still recovering from the night before.
The most important thing in Granada (as in life) is that you get out and ride. If you’ve only got an hour or a few kilometers/miles in you, I always say, “Something is better than nothing.” So get out there! These rides should get you on the right path, no matter if it’s paved, dirt, or gravel.