If you’re looking for stunning mountain scenery, quiet roads, great road surfaces, and near year around sunshine, look no further. Cycling in Calpe and the Costa Blanca offers these things in buckets. March and April are super peak season, but more than 300 days of sunshine each year makes a Calpe cycling trip attractive at any time of year.
The cycling routes in Calpe are also noteworthy. The region is often featured in the Vuelta a España and Calpe is the winter cycling training camp destination of choice for many pro teams. In the past, ten of the eighteen World Tour teams have chosen Calpe for their training camps.
For those with kids, the Costa Blanca’s long white sandy beaches mean you can probably sneak some cycling into a family holiday too…
All you need to know about Calpe cycling
In this guide, you’ll find the information you need to get the most out of your trip: our favourite Calpe cycling routes, plus where to stay, when to visit, bike rental in Calpe and guided and self-guided cycling tour options.
We’ve also picked the brains of Paul D’Andrea and the team at Sierra Sports & Tours. They’ve been cycling around Calpe and the Costa Blanca for nearly a decade. You’ll find tips and input from them throughout the guide.
Want Sierra Sports & Tours to help you plan your trip? Make sure you use the discount code below!
Paul D'Andrea is the owner and lead guide at Sierra Sports & Tours which, for more than a decade, has been specialising in European cycling tours for beginners through to advanced cyclists.
Born in Australia, Paul and his family have lived in Spain for many years. They have several bases in Spain, including in Girona and Granada, allowing them to run trips from these destinations, with ease. Paul adores his job and gets a buzz from helping his clients get off the conventional routes and into the most beautiful parts of the country.
Where is Calpe located?
The Costa Blanca is in south-eastern Spain and enjoys one of Europe’s most exceptional climates (more on that below).
In the heart of the Costa Blanca, alongside the Mediterranean Sea, lies the town of Calpe. Calpe is approximately 23 kilometres north of Benidorm and 147 kilometres south of Valencia.
Why is Calpe a must-visit?
A playground for the pros
The multitude of climbs located near Calpe are a big part of what makes it such a mecca for both amateur and professional road cyclists. There’s more detail on these climbs below.
It’s one of the most popular winter training destinations for pro and amateur cyclists. Paul at Sierra Sports & Tours says “You would be unlucky if you didn’t cross paths with some of the world’s best out on the same roads as you. They will probably speed up and cruise by without even raising a sweat.
Don’t be surprised in the pre-season months from January to April to see the likes of Tadej Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel and Matthias van de Poel burning up the tarmac.”
Noteworthy cycling events
Calpe is a regular host of La Vuelta a España. This Grand Tour regularly visits to take on the region’s six mighty passes, including the Alto de Aitana, Xorret del Cati, Coll de Rates, La Carrasqueta, Port de Tudons and Cumbre del Sol.
The ‘Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana’ professional road races run in February, and there are also many other amateur events throughout the year. There’s more information about these cycling events below.
Gastronomy
A trip to Spain is full of gastronomical and cultural treats.
Did you know? The Costa Blanca is close to Valencia where the famous Spanish paella dish originates. Some excellent carbohydrate loading awaits!
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Looking for cycling tours in Calpe, Spain?
Here at Sierra Sports & Tours, we have considerable experience running road bike tours in Costa Blanca. We'd love for you to experience them on one of our carefully crafted, guided or self-guided cycling holidays.
Get in touch via our website, and let's discuss!
Exclusive offer: use the code below and get 200 euros off any of our guided tours and 75 euros off any of our self-guided tours when you book with Sierra Sports & Tours before 31 January 2026.
Costa Blanca cycling climbs
Within 20-50 kilometres of Calpe, you can find a great range of quality road cycling climbs to tackle.
Most are located to the northwest and west of Calpe.
Paul from Sierra Sports & Tours says “our guests love tackling these climbs during their stay in Calpe. Here’s why:
Coll de Rates
The Coll de Rates is probably the Costa Blanca’s most famous climb. It’s not an overly difficult climb; it is popular due to its many switchbacks, the excellent asphalt conditions and its gradual progression. The 6 kilometre climb averages 6% and the fastest time to conquer it is in 15 minutes. Any takers to try and beat the pros?
Port de Sa Creueta
The climb of ‘Sa Creueta’ from Tárbena measures 7.5 kilometres with an average gradient of 3.4%. It’s a nice climb away from the traffic.
Port de Confrides
At 7.5 kilometres and 5% gradient, the climb to Confrides will be achievable for most recreational cyclists. The summit peaks at 970 metres of altitude and you are never too far from the breathtaking views of the Mediterranean.
Port de Tudons
Many local road cyclists in Alicante would rank this climb as their favourite.
The climb can be ridden from the coast or the interior. If you start your ride on the outskirts of Benidorm you will encounter a constant 20 kilometre climb that rises from sea level to 1024 metres of altitude (with an 5% average gradient).
From the “Tudons” sign is the detour to the Aitana military base. This climb is restricted access, but in the distance, you can see the antennas.
Fun fact! Four incredible Vuelta a España summit finishes have been played out up to the restricted military base of Aitana, in 2001, 2004, 2019 and 2016. In 2016, Nairo Quintana secured the victory of La Vuelta on the climb to Aitana after a one-on-one with Chris Froome.
Cumbre del Sol
This is a relatively short climb and its double-digit ramps will be sure to test you. It is a 4 kilometre climb that will take you from sea level to 400 metres of altitude. You can do the maths!
Port de Bernia
This 5 kilometre climb averages a leg shattering 12% average grade. It is typically best to divide the climb into two sections:
- the first part that includes some steep ramps, but also some places to recover
- the final 3.5 kilometres that never go below 15%
This climb was asphalted in 2019 and became an instant success. It was used in the ‘Volta a Valenciana’ professional race the following year!”
You’ll find these climbs incorporated within the routes below.
The magnificent Coll de Rates climb (photo credit: Sierra Sports & Tours)
Calpe cycling routes
Cycling Calpe and the Costa Blanca is all about the hills and mountains that form its craggy backdrop. Twisty roads weave up rocky mountain passes and offer far-reaching views over the coastal plains and valleys below. There’s little in the way of forest, so for much of every climb, you’re treated to fabulous panoramas.
Calpe’s bike routes aren’t the top choice if you’re looking for flat, easy riding. Flatter areas do exist, but the geography means they’re along the coastal plains. The coast is densely populated; don’t expect quiet roads.
Want to get inspired?
Check out our Costa Blanca cycling routes, below!
Rides
Tips for cycling in Calpe
And finally… don’t miss our top tips for cycling in Calpe.
Coffee rides
If you’re looking to meet other cyclists in the region – or you’re just after a coffee run kind of a bike ride while you’re in Calpe, check out the cycling focused coffee shops in the Calpe region. More details below.
The Serra Gelada ride above is also worth a look – it heads to D’Origen near Alicante.
Costa Blanca cycling tours
Paul from Sierra Sports & Tours says “The Costa Blanca region is well suited to road cyclists looking for a challenging getaway. If you would like to join a Calpe cycling tour, we have the following tour options and we’d love for you to join us:
- Costa Blanca Road – Guided Tour – 11-17 May 2025 or 14-20 October 2025
- Costa Blanca Road – Self-Guided – Choose your own 2025 dates
These cycling tours can also be organised and modified for private groups. At Sierra, a private tour can be cheaper than their non-private equivalent! Just get in touch and we can tell you more.”
Sponsor Message
Looking for cycling tours in Calpe, Spain?
Here at Sierra Sports & Tours, we have considerable experience running road bike tours in Costa Blanca. We'd love for you to experience them on one of our carefully crafted, guided or self-guided cycling holidays.
Get in touch via our website, and let's discuss!
Exclusive offer: use the code below and get 200 euros off any of our guided tours and 75 euros off any of our self-guided tours when you book with Sierra Sports & Tours before 31 January 2026.
Costa Blanca cycling events
The Costa Blanca region plays host to a number of amateur and professional cycling events. Many are focused on road cycling. However, there is also a well-known UCI mountain bike race also thrown into the mix.
Below, Paul from Sierra Sports & Tours shares his thoughts on them.
Amateur races
La Gamba Gran Fondo
For road cyclists the ‘La Gamba’ Gran Fondo will hold its 7th edition on 6 April 2025.
Starting and finishing on the coast in Dénia, this 126-kilometre route features over 2,100 metres of elevation gain. It takes on the Puerto de Tudons, Sa Creueta and Coll de Rates climbs. Find out more about these climbs above.
La Aitana Tour
On 1 June 2025 you can take part in ‘La Aitana Tour’ which includes two spectacular road cycling routes:
- media fondo: 90 kilometres and 1,850 metres of elevation gain
- gran fondo: 160 kilometres and 3,375 metres of elevation gain.
The start and finish is in Callosa d’en Sarria which is a 25-minute drive inland from Calpe.
This event is really turning heads, and the long route includes nearly all the major big-name climbs on the Costa Blanca. This includes the Coll de Rates, Sa Creueta, Alto de Finestrat, Puerto de Tudons and Puerto de Confrides.
Gran Fondo La Nucia and Criterium
This road cycling event will be held for the second time between 18-19 October 2025.
This is an interesting concept as a criterium style race will be held on 18 October 2025 followed by two gran fondo distances on 19 October 2025.
As for the criterium race, during 2024 there were 20 Spanish and international professional cyclists (from UCI World Tour and UCI Pro teams) who battled it out on the local roads surrounding La Nucia.
La Nucia town is located 10 kilometres from Benidorm and 20 kilometres from Calpe. On 19 October 2025 amateur riders can choose between:
- 77 kilometres and 1,653 metres of elevation gain (one Cat 1 climb, two Cat 3 climbs and one Cat 4 climb)
- 170 kilometres and 3,556 metres of elevation gain (three Cat 1 climbs, 2 Cat 3 climbs and three Cat 4 climbs)
Sierra Sports & Tours has a guided Calpe and Costa Blanca road cycling tour from 14-20 October 2025 which culminates with participation at the ‘Gran Fondo La Nucia’ event.
Costa Blanca Bike Race
For amateur and professional mountain bikers looking for a serious hit-out, there is the four stage ‘Costa Blanca Bike Race’. This race took place between 30 January to 2 February 2025, so you will need to stay tuned for 2026 dates.
You can sign up to two stages or four stages of pulsating mountain bike action, with race headquarters based right in the heart of Calpe. This highly anticipated event is a part of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) calendar.
Professional races
When it comes to professional cycling, the Costa Blanca area is also home to several cycling races:
Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana – early February
The five stage race usually takes place in early February each year. Brandon McNulty from the UAE team took the overall win in 2025.
Stage two of the 2025 race edition finished in Benifato and included the Costa Blanca’s most well-known climb along the parcours: the Coll de Rates.
Vuelta a España – late August to mid September
Just like the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France, ‘La Vuelta’ is Spain’s three-week grand tour professional bike race.
The roads surrounding Dénia, Calpe, and Altea will be quiet in 2025, but expect the Costa Blanca mountains to play a major role again in 2026.
During stage eight of the 2023 La Vuelta, the peloton raced an epic stage from Dénia to Xorret de Cati. With four categorised climbs along the route the stage finished on the ‘Xorret de Cati’ summit.
The base of this climb is about a 40-minute drive west of Benidorm. The 3.85 kilometre climb has a 11.5% average grade and no less than 10 ramps ranging between 14-22%.
We think La Vall d’Ebo climb has a touch of the Dolomites to it (photo credit: Sierra Sports & Tours)
Accommodation
Remember to double-check accommodation bike storage arrangements (and any other services you need) before booking as policies often change.
If you’re coming to Calpe for cycling, you’ll want to focus your accommodation search between Dénia in the north and Benidorm in the south. This is the part of the Costa Blanca that’s of most interest to cyclists. Just a few kilometres inland from the coastline you find some of the best cycling routes in the Calpe area among the magnificent natural parks and mountains.
This stretch of coastline is a hugely popular beach-focused tourist destination during the summer months. This means there’s loads of accommodation, and many of the hotels offer excellent deals in winter and spring.
So, where are you going to stay for cycling in the Costa Blanca region?
(For the in-depth low down on where to stay, read our article sharing the best cycling hotels in Calpe).
Large hotel on the coast?
Most people coming for cycling in Calpe, Spain and the Costa Blanca, stay on the coast in places like Calpe and Dénia. The advantage of these towns is that there is plenty of bike hire, you’re close to the mountains, accommodation is reasonably priced in winter and (if relevant) you’re close to the beach. However, be aware that you’ll inevitably have to cycle the coastal roads, which are busy with traffic.
Our selection of the best hotels for cyclists in Calpe is here.
Or small, inland hotel?
The alternative to a large hotel on the coast is a small hotel in an inland village: for example Guadelest and Benissa.
Many of these villages/small towns are very picturesque, with ancient winding lanes topped by a castle or pretty church. The hotels tend to be small and boutique, and you’re surrounded by quiet routes ideal for some Calpe road cycling. The downside is that you’ll probably have to do a fair amount of climbing from the door at the beginning and end of each day.
Our selection of the best hotels for cyclists inland is here.
Our choice: Gran Hotel Sol y Mar, Calpe
We stayed in a sea view room on the seventh floor of the four-star Sol y Mar hotel on Calpe’s seafront. It’s a large, glassy structure, with a prominent location on the promenade adjacent to the beach.
Since we stayed here in 2018, we see they have added a bike centre which includes secure cycle storage, bike rental, a workshop, a washing area and laundry.
What we loved
Downsides
Conclusion
We’d happily suggest the hotel to friends heading of cycling in the Costa Blanca area, and would return.
Still not sure where to stay in Calpe? Read this in-depth article on Calpe’s best cycling hotels.
Costa Blanca bike hire
Prices, services and bike brands often change. Please let us know if anything is incorrect.
There is a good range of bike hire outlets in this area of the Costa Blanca. Not all of them are obvious from a quick google search for bike rental in Calpe, but they are there!
We hope that our list helps with your planning, but please note:
Undecided on whether to hire a bike or bring your own? Read this now.
Bike hire Calpe |
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Baguet Bicycle Center – Service Course Av de los Ejercitos Espanoles 45, 03710 Calp |
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Service Course by Baguet Bicycle Center offers bike rental and the opportunity to join guided tours. There’s also a cafe, sports massage and bike maintenance/servicing.
Open seven days a week in season.
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Hire is from 35 euros per day. A deposit is also payable on each bike.
Prices include saddle bag, tube, tyre levers, pump, two bottle holders. Some brands of pedals can also be supplied, but probably better to bring your own. Trek and Ridley bikes are available. |
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Solybike Calpe Carrer Blasco Ibañez 10A, 03710 Calpe |
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| Solybike bicycle rental is the most prominent of the bike hire places online. They offer Orbea carbon bikes with 105 or Scott. |
Hire costs from 38 euros per day. A minimum rental period of three days applies to some bikes. Longer hire periods work out cheaper per day. Prices include saddle bag, tube, two levers, air pump, two bottle holders, computer and a map. |
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Top Bikes Cap Negret 17, N-332. Local 12, 03590 Altea |
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Merida bikes with carbon or aluminium frames and Shimano Ultegra groupset.
Specify your dimensions on booking, and they will provide the bike adjusted to those dimensions.
Offer different collection points in Altea, Albir, Benidorm, Calp and Villa Joyosa. On Saturday afternoon and Sunday all the rental points are closed; pick up/delivery is agreed by discussion. Bike delivery to your hotel is available for an additional charge. |
Prices are in the region of 70 to 90 euros plus. These numbers are based on two days minimum rental
Bikes are provided with two bottle cages, pump and inner tube.
Two day minimum hire period and a deposit is taken.
Insurance is available. |
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Vuelta Turistica Located next to the AR Diamante Beach Spa, Calpe Avenida Rosa de los Vientos 7, local 4 |
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| Predominantly a cycle holiday company, they also offer bike hire on Specialized bikes. |
BMC Teammachine SLR Di2: from 35 euros per day or 189 euros per week
Specialized Tarmac Disc Sport: from 28 euros per day or 145 euros per week
A deposit is payable and rental rates are cheaper per day the longer you book for. |
Bike hire Dénia |
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| Café Ciclista Dénia Carretera de les Marines 16 Dénia 03700 |
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Have a fleet of carbon Focus, Ridley and Canyon bikes with 11-speed Shimano groupsets. All have compact chainsets (52-36, 11-28).
In addition to bike hire, Café Ciclista is a coffee shop, cyclists’ hub and massage. They offer cycling training camps in Spain via their Train in Spain sister company.
If you’re looking for a group ride, check out their Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10.00am rides that start and finish is at Café Ciclista. Rides are approximately 60-85 kms, average speed approximately 28-32 kmph. It’s advisable to get in touch with them before your first ride. |
Prices: Hire starts at around 35 euros per day or 160 euros per week. Special rates may apply to training camp customers, so do ask!
Provided with pump or CO2 gas canister, spare inner tube, levers.
A deposit is payable.
Additional options include pedals and damage insurance. |
| Note: Café Ciclista is the only company we are aware of that offer road bike rental in Dénia. There are several other bike shops in Dénia. However, they don’t offer road bike rental, just leisure bikes, e-bikes etc. | |
Bike hire Altea and Albir |
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Crono Bike Altea Ptda The Planet 207 03590 Altea |
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Offer a range of bike rental in Altea, including Orbea, LaPierre, BH and Megamo.
Group rides leave from the shop every Wednesday at 9 am for 3-4 hours at a moderate level. Check before you arrive. |
Prices range from 25 euros per day for shorter hire periods, and decrease when you rent a bike for longer.
If you need a helmet or pedals, they each come at an additional cost per day.
Rental includes a pump and inner tube. |
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Elite Bikes Albir Av de l’Albir, 159 03581 L’Alfàs del Pi |
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Bike hire Javea/Xabia |
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Xabia bikes (also referred to as Xabia bike and Xabias bike) Avda. Lepanto 5 Jávea / Xàbia |
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Offer Specialized Tarmac Sport disc bikes.
They also offer repair and maintenance. |
Prices: Hire prices are from 28 euros per day, and are cheaper for longer rental periods. |
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Siesta Advisor Av. De Augusta 22, Jávea |
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| More of an adventure tour company, but do also rent out some road, mountian and electric bikes |
Helmet, water bottles, repair kit with spare tube, pump or oxygen cartridge all supplied. |
Bike hire Moraira |
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Moraira cycling Calle Naranco de Bulnes 603724 Moraira |
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Offer Giant, Sensa and Cannondale bikes.
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Prices are from 35 euros to 50 euros per day plus. Weekly rentals cost 140 euros to 230 euros upwards. |
Bike hire Jalón |
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Alta Bike Rental La Almazara 17B, 03727 Jalon |
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Offer Wilier bikes with Shimano parts and compact cassettes.
Offer free delivery within a certain radius (that includes Calp, Moraira and Dénia).
Each bicycle comes with a bicycle pump, bag with spare tire and tire levers. |
Prices are from 30 euros to 50 euros per day plus. Weekly rentals cost 150 euros to 300 euros upwards.
A deposit is payable per bike |
Tips:
Bike hire with Sierra Sports & Tours
Paul says “If you are joining a self-guided or guided cycling tour with Sierra Sports & Tours you can select from a range of hire bike options. We have carbon road bikes for hire (Di2 electronic shifting, disc brake bikes through to 105 mechanical shifting, rim brake bikes).
We also have e-road bikes and e-hybrid bikes to choose from. The main brands Sierra Sports & Tours work with include Orbea, BMC and Specialized. But your hire bike will depend on the availability of the bike type and frame size you have selected.
Top tip! Remember, you can choose your own Calpe self-guided road bike tour dates or join a Calpe road bike guided tour between 11-17 May 2025 or 14-20 October 2025.”
When to go
The Calpe region boasts more than 300 days of sunshine per year (or even 325 days if you read some reports). The World Health Organisation says the Costa Blanca climate is one of the best in the world.
Top tip! Calpe cycling are viable all year around, although the temperatures in summer mean you’ll need to head out early and plan your route carefully.
The most popular time for cyclists to visit Calpe is between February and May, with peak cycling season being March to the end of April or mid-May.
Between late January and early March, it’s almond blossom season and many valleys transform into a sea of pink.
It’s also worth considering timing your visit around one of the festival days. On 19 March it’s the Fallas festival. In many towns and villages, enormous colourful floats made of wood and papier-mache are paraded through the streets before they’re burned on a bonfire at midnight to mark the beginning of spring. This is accompanied by fireworks.
| January | By Calpe standards, the weather is usually cold in these months. However, it is often sunny, and it’s certainly mild compared to much of Northern Europe. It can feel quite warm when standing in the sunshine, but you will certainly want to pack warm weather gear in case you arrive during a cold snap, and also for those speedy mountain descents.
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| March | In March Calpe weather is usually mild with many nice sunny days. By April, the temperature starts to rise quickly, and by May the evenings should be warm too. This is the most popular time to cycle the Calpe region.
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| June | In June the days are sunny and hot, but not as hot as July and August. July has the most sunshine hours and, statistically, the least days of rainfall of the whole year. August can be very hot, with some days reaching 40 degrees Celsius or more. You’ll want to get up early for cycling the Costa Blanca in August.
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| September | The roads get quieter again as the children go back to school and most cyclists are thinking about the off-season. The weather tends to be warm, with some days being very hot, though evenings start to cool down, particularly in October. You may catch some rain, often in the form of brief showers. October is statistically the wettest month for Calpe.
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| November | Winter in Calpe is very mild compared to Northern Europe. Most winter days are clear and sunny with little rainfall. Temperatures are changeable and can vary greatly. There is always a chance of rainfall. Nights are cold.
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Post ride walk taking in Peñon de Ifach or Calpe Rock (photo credit: Sierra Sports & Tours)
How to get to Calpe
Paul from Sierra Sports & Tours says “We’re often asked about the transport options for arriving to Calpe (Costa Blanca) – the main options can be found below:
From Valencia Airport (VLC)
The airport is located approximately eight kilometres west of the Valencia city centre. The airport has three terminals (T1, T2 and Regional Terminal) which are all interconnected.
The top ten flights to/from Valencia Airport are Paris, London, Palma de Mallorca, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Madrid, Milan, Rome, Ibiza and Brussels. Valenica Airport is a hub for Iberia Regional (Air Nostrum) and Vueling flights.
Top tip! A taxi from the Valencia Airport to the city centre usually takes about 20 minutes. There are also many car hire companies based at Valencia airport.
The Spanish bus company ‘ALSA’ also has services running to Calpe. Check their webpage and be sure to search for direct trips only. A direct bus typically takes 3hr 50min from Valencia, Estació d’Autobusos to Calpe.
With Sierra Sports & Tours: If you are joining a Sierra Sports & Tours self-guided or guided cycling tour, our vans collect clients from Valencia Airport. The drive between Valencia Airport and Calpe is typically around one and half hour’s drive south.
From Alicante Airport (ALC)
Also known as Alicante-Elche Airport, this is Spain’s fifth largest airport. It includes both international and domestic flights. Alicante Airport is only 60 kilometres from Benidorm and 75 kilometres from Calpe. There are many transport options available from Alicante airport to choose from.
There is a regular bus service from the airport, along with several established car hire companies.
If you visit the Alicante Airport webpage you will even find a private transfer section. Prices range from:
- 100 euros for one to four people
- 159 euros for five to seven people
- 199 euros for eight to 13 people
Top tip! Be sure to check any surcharges for transporting bike boxes if that is relevant for your group”
Getting around the Calpe region
Having a rental car opens up options for inland family, shopping, dining, rest days, a support vehicle, recceing new routes and non-cycling friends/partners.
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Tips and articles
Cycling-friendly coffee shops
A few cycling-focused coffee shops have sprung up in the area. They’re a great place to meet other cyclists – and perhaps the odd pro too!
- Blanca Café, Calpe
- Service Course by Baguet Bicycle Center, Calpe
- Musette Cafe, Alcalalí
- Cafe Ciclista, Dénia
- Velosol Cycling bar, Jalon (note that it often closes for two weeks at the end of August!)
Maps and books
We used Marco Polo’s Costa Blanca guidebook to help plan our trip. The section on Costa Blanca is only 21 pages long, but it packs in some useful information on the main towns.
If you like a physical map, Michelin’s Costa Blanca 1:130,000 may be what you need.
Good to know
Confused about the different names for some of the towns? Calpe is the Spanish name, Calp is the Valencian name. The same goes for Javea (Spanish)/Xabia (Valencian) and Jalón (Spanish)/Xaló (Valencian). Our guides tend to stick with the Spanish names.
Parking spaces marked with blue lines means you need to pay. If you see yellow lines, parking is prohibited.
If you see free chairs at a table occupied by someone else in a busy restaurant/café, don’t ask to sit down. It’s not a habit that’s common in Spain and will make Spanish people feel uncomfortable.
It’s worth knowing that both Calpe and Dénia have attractive old towns hidden away behind the urban sprawl (more on their history, here). If you’re staying in one of the towns and have any time off the bike, it’s worth searching out the old towns. The castle in Dénia doesn’t close until around midnight in July and August, so plenty of time after your ride!
Highway code and travel information
As ever, it’s a good idea to check current travel information before you book and travel. For UK visitors, the UK government travel information pages for Spain are here. You should also read and follow Spain’s highway code.
Sponsor Message
Looking for cycling tours in Calpe, Spain?
Here at Sierra Sports & Tours, we have considerable experience running road bike tours in Costa Blanca. We'd love for you to experience them on one of our carefully crafted, guided or self-guided cycling holidays.
Get in touch via our website, and let's discuss!
Exclusive offer: use the code below and get 200 euros off any of our guided tours and 75 euros off any of our self-guided tours when you book with Sierra Sports & Tours before 31 January 2026.
What does Sierra Sports & Tours offer?
Paul says “The team at Sierra Sports & Tours has been cycling the Costa Blanca for nearly a decade. We have several guides who have called Alicante home, enjoying both the cycling and triathlon scene alike.
Over the last few years, every February our guides head down to Calpe to start their own training for the upcoming European cycling tour season. There is nothing quite like rubbing shoulders with the pro-riders as they do their superhuman repeats on Coll de Rates!
What the Sierra team loves best about this region is the benefits it offers during the early and late European season. Especially during the winter and spring months. While the rest of the big European passes are under metres of snow, the Costa Blanca has the coastline and local climbs which peak at 1,000 metres of elevation.
Many gentle training rides await, featuring climbs ranging from 7.5-20 kilometres with average grades of 5-6%, these are mixed in with a few out-and-out walls to see just how good your cycling condition really is!”
Where can cyclists find out more about your services?
Head to the Sierra Sports & Tours website for full details of the guided Calpe and Costa Blanca cycling tour we offer.
Got a question for Sierra Sports & Tours?
Fill out this form and we will pass it to Sierra Sports & Tours who aim to reply (within 24 hours wherever they can!)
Enjoyed our guide?
We’d love to hear from you – comment below or drop us a line.
Want more? Don’t miss our guides to the best Costa Blanca cycling routes in the road rides section above.
Want to check out some other destinations? Don’t miss our overview of Spain for cyclists, our pick of the best cycling destinations in Spain. Also check out our guides to Girona and Costa Daurada to the north and Murcia and Almeria to the south. Or search by the month you want to travel or cycling destination you want to visit, here.
Looking for winter training camps in Costa Blanca? Read this.
Got a question for Paul?
Fill out this form and we will send it to Paul. We aim to get you an answer within 24 hours where possible!Paul D'Andrea is the owner and lead guide at Sierra Sports & Tours which, for more than a decade, has been specialising in European cycling tours for beginners through to advanced cyclists.
Born in Australia, Paul and his family have lived in Spain for many years. They have several bases in Spain, including in Girona and Granada, allowing them to run trips from these destinations, with ease. Paul adores his job and gets a buzz from helping his clients get off the conventional routes and into the most beautiful parts of the country.
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