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Costa Brava Coast Road Ride — Full Day, 118 km

A long day on the cliff road between coves, with a seafood lunch stop and rolling climbs that add up to 1,650 m.

Distance
118km
Climbing
1,650m

Currently unavailable

This tour can't be booked right now.

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Road cyclists riding the cliff road above a cove on the Costa Brava

At a glance

Costa Brava coast road ride — full day, 118 km is a hard full day road tour in Madrid, taking in Costa Brava.

Places on the way: Costa Brava

Key facts

Distance
118 km
Climbing
1,650 m
Bikes
Road
Level
Hard
Suits
experienced road riders, fit riders wanting a coastal day
Surface
Tarmac (road)

About this ride

This is a full day on the road bike along the Costa Brava: 118 km of coast tarmac with 1,650 m of climbing, linking one cove to the next on the cliff road. Mid-ride there is a seafood lunch stop, which breaks the day in two and gives you time to eat properly before the second half.

The climbing is rolling rather than one big pass. The road rises over headlands and drops back to sea level again and again, and those short ups and downs add up over the day. It is graded hard because of the distance and the cumulative height, not because of any single steep ramp.

Among the Ride Madrid tours, this is the only coastal ride. The others stay around Madrid on gravel, greenway or city streets, or head into the Pyrenees for several days. This one is a road day with sea views, and it means travelling from Madrid to the coast, so plan the logistics before you book.

  • 118 km of road riding on the Costa Brava cliff road
  • 1,650 m of rolling climbs between coves
  • Seafood lunch stop mid-ride
  • The only coastal tour on Ride Madrid
  • Graded hard: a long day for experienced road riders

Who this ride suits

The ride is graded hard, so it suits road riders who already manage long days in the saddle. If you have ridden 100 km or more and are comfortable with repeated short climbs, 118 km with 1,650 m should be achievable at a steady pace.

It is a poor fit for first-time riders, anyone who has only done short urban outings, or families with children. If that sounds like you, look at the Madrid greenway easy day or the Madrid old town e-bike ride instead. Check minimum age and bike hire options with the partner when booking.

The route and the climbing

The route follows the cliff road along the Costa Brava, dropping into coves and climbing out over the headlands between them. Expect tarmac throughout, with sea views on the exposed sections and some bends where you need to stay alert on descents.

The 1,650 m of climbing comes in many short rises rather than one long ascent. That makes pacing important: ride the early climbs easily, because the effort accumulates and the final hours feel harder than the first. The seafood lunch stop falls mid-ride, so use it to refuel properly.

Getting to the coast from Madrid

The Costa Brava is a long way from Madrid, so this is a day trip with real travel attached rather than a ride you can reach by metro. Check the meeting point with the partner when booking, then work out how to get there. Trains, a hire car or an overnight stay near the start are all worth considering.

If you want to avoid the travel, the Madrid big climb morning gives you a hard ride that starts and finishes much closer to the city.

How it compares with other Ride Madrid tours

Against the Madrid big climb morning, this ride is about length and steadiness rather than a single intense effort. Against the Pyrenees three-day cycling camp, it is a single day with no van support described and far fewer metres of climbing.

The gravel days, such as the Madrid volcano gravel day, offer forest and volcanic landscape on mixed surfaces. This is the tarmac, coastal alternative, best for riders who want sea views and a proper lunch in the middle of a hard day.

How the day runs

  1. Start on the coast

    Meet the group and set off along the Costa Brava road. Check the exact meeting point and start time with the partner when booking.

  2. Cliff road between coves

    Ride the first half of the route, climbing over headlands and dropping to the coves. Keep the effort steady.

  3. Seafood lunch stop

    Stop mid-ride for a seafood lunch before the second half of the 118 km.

  4. Second half and finish

    Complete the remaining rolling climbs back along the coast to finish the day.

Included

  • Seafood lunch stop on the route

Not included

  • Travel from Madrid to the Costa Brava
  • Personal insurance
Group of riders climbing a coastal headland road on the Costa Brava
Seafood lunch table overlooking a Costa Brava cove during a cycling stop

Good to know

How hard is the Costa Brava coast road ride?

It is graded hard. The distance is 118 km and the climbing totals 1,650 m, spread over many short rises rather than one long pass. Riders used to long road days will cope best.

Is lunch part of the ride?

Yes. There is a seafood lunch stop mid-ride. Check with the partner about dietary needs when booking.

Does the ride start in Madrid?

The ride is on the Costa Brava, a long way from Madrid. Confirm the meeting point with the partner and plan your travel to the coast in advance.

What kind of bike do I need?

A road bike, as the whole route is on tarmac. Ask the partner about bike hire when booking.

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Climbing
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