Cycling Granada

Why should cyclists visit Granada?

This historic city in southern Spain is one of the country’s most culturally compelling; the dramatic hilltop Alhambra palace dominates the skyline and attracts thousands of tourists each year to marvel at the former Moorish rulers’ architectural legacy.

Alongside its alluring historical treasures and fascinating Arab culture, today Granada also has a strong cycling culture.

Granda typically plays a central role in the major Spanish professional races, such as the Vuleta a España and Vuelta a Andalucía. See more on events below.

You will also find cyclists of all levels out on the vast network of roads around the city.

Big mountain climbs

Granada sits at approximately 765 metres of elevation; from here there are four main climbs of varying difficulty up to Pradollano Sierra Nevada ski village that reaches 2,390 metres of elevation. These climbs are:

• Haza Llana
• El Purche
• Collado de la Sabina
• Hoya de la Mora

Additionally, there is the legendary Pico de Veleta which sits at approximately 3,296 metres of elevation and is the highest asphalted road in Europe. That is more than 500 metres higher than Col de l’Iseran in France, or the legendary Stelvio Pass in Italy. Find out more about these Sierra Nevada cycling climbs below.

A professional cycling base

The Granada and Sierra Nevada region is also a key centre for the professional cycling teams; they are typically found here between February and June.

The teams bring select riders for altitude training in the lead-up to the major grand tour races, including the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France.

One of the first non-Spanish riders to start using the Sierra Nevada mountains as a high-altitude training base was Cadel Evans. Cadel trained here during his years with Team Silence-Lotto (circa 2005). On multiple occasions, these mountains were considered the secret weapons for a number of Cadel’s Tour de France campaigns.

There is often a real buzz in these mountains during the months of May and June. Several professional cyclists I’ve spotted training here include Philippe Gilbert, Bob Jungels and Alejandro Valverde, as well as Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Primoz Roglic and Geraint Thomas.

During 2024, UAE Team Emirates XRG had cycling champion Tadej Pogacar spending considerable time in the Granada mountains.

Rolling rides

For cyclists seeking rides with less climbing, the countryside surrounding Granada is also home to several undulating rides away from the big mountains.

This includes routes that head out from Granada towards the local towns of Guejar Sierra, Guadix, Moclin, Montefrio and Alhama de Granada.

Be aware! The cycling here is typically best suited for road cycling. See more information below.

Cazorla National Park

Located 100 kilometres to the northeast of Granada is the spectacular Cazorla National Park; this is the largest protected natural space in Spain and another amazing cycling destination.

Cazorla is often referred to as the lungs of southern Spain. This natural paradise has many quiet roads and is ideal for road and gravel cyclists looking to escape the busy coast and tourist masses.

Imagine spectacular mountain scenery, whitewashed villages (known locally as pueblos blancos), castles, fresh mountain streams and reservoirs, high mountain plateaus resembling lunar landscapes, river valleys and dense Mediterranean forests.

The terrain through the Cazorla National Park includes many peaks with around 1,000 to 1,500 metres of elevation; ‘El Yelmo’ is the biggest challenge standing at 1,800 metres.

Sierra Sports & Tours has several guided and self-guided cycling packages which start in Granada and finish in Cazorla so you can easily experience the best of these neighbouring cycling destinations.

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Looking for cycling tours in Granada, Spain?

Here at Sierra Sports & Tours, we have considerable experience running road bike and gravel bike tours between Granada and the Cazorla National Park. We'd love for you to experience them on one of our carefully crafted, 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.

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Overview of cycling Granada + surrounds

Location of Granada

Granada is located in Andalucia, Spain’s southernmost region. The city sits on the northwest side of the Sierra Nevada National Park, directly below the towering Sierra Nevada mountains.

Granada is 150 kilometres northeast of Malaga, 150 kilometres northwest of Almeria, 75 kilometres north of the Costa Tropical beaches (i.e. Almuñecar/Salobreña) and 400 kilometres south of Madrid.

Other important cities in Andalucia include Seville which is 250 kilometres to the west and Cordoba 200 kilometres to the west.

Granada is also 100 kilometres southwest of the Cazorla National Park (via the Pozo Alcon gateway). More on this below.

This guide covers Granada, the Sierra Nevada climbs accessible from Granada and Cazorla National Park to the northeast of Granada. If you want a guide to the area to the central and south Sierra Nevada, read this.

Granada from a cyclist’s perspective

Cycling terrain

You can hover over the below map icons to see the names of the climbs and other key locations mentioned in this article.

Southeast of Granada

Road cyclists looking for some big climbs will love the mountainous terrain that is located close to Granada; only ten kilometres to the southeast of the city, the giant road cycling climbs of the northern face of the Sierra Nevada mountains begin.

These climbs are steeped in Vuelta folklore and offer some memorable road cycling challenges. When you arrive at towns including Pinos Genil, Guejar Sierra and Monachil then it’s time to click down into the small chain ring and get your climbing gears ready.

The only way is up and there are several climbs to choose from which range from approximately 10 kilometres through to 40 kilometres in length. Some of the best include: Haza Llana, Collado de las Sabinas, Hoya de la Mora, and the mighty Pico de Veleta. Find out more about these climbs below.

Southwest of Granada

To the southwest of Granada city centre the cycling out to Alhama de Granada takes place mainly on rolling terrain. The cycling route to Alhama de Granada is approximately 75 kilometres and around 1,000 metres of elevation gain.

Alhama de Granada is a lovely town and also makes a good road cycling base. See more information below.

Northeast of Granada

To the northeast of Granada city centre, you can ride out to Guadix. The route passes the Quentar Reservoir and is a lumpy route which covers 60 kilometres and 900 metres of elevation gain.

If you stay in Guadix you are now in striking distance to the only north-south crossing of the Sierra Nevada mountains by road bike.

The Puerto de la Ragua climb sits at 2,041 metres of elevation and crosses into the Alpujarra región on the southern side of the Sierra Nevada.

From La Calahorra just out of Guadix, the northern approach of the ‘La Ragua’ measures 14.7 kilometres and has an average grade of 6.1%.

Northwest of Granada

About 15 kilometres northwest of Granada, the Sierra crew usually likes to start their rides from the Cubillas Reservoir.

From the reservoir there is an enjoyable 45-kilometre cycling route that passes through the town of Moclin and out to Montefrio, it covers around 850 metres of elevation gain.

Fun fact! The view of Montefrio village has won an award from National Geographic Magazine for being the most picturesque in the world. This whitewashed village with sandstone buildings is tucked away on a steep hill and is a sight to behold.

Roads

The high volume of premier road cycling races that visit the region means that the road surfaces are generally very good and well looked after. See more information about these events below.

Cycling etiquette

Cycling is also a popular sport amongst the general Spanish population.

Drivers must leave at least 1.5 meters of space when overtaking cyclists and this is typically well respected by drivers.

Cyclists still need to ride with care. However, it is common practice for drivers to wait patiently behind a group of cyclists until it is safe to overtake.

Sierra Sports & Tours clients also often comment on how the drivers are exceptional when compared to their counterparts back in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom.

What kind of cyclist is Granada for?

The routes featured in this article are better suited to intermediate cyclists with a good fitness level who can comfortably ride 1,000 to 2,000 metres of elevation gain on multiple consecutive days.

In particular, the north side of the Sierra Nevada mountains is ideal for road cyclists who love epic climbs and long exhilarating descents.

The region is also great for gravel cycling.

• There are some awesome gravel paths to the east of Granada connecting Almeria through the Gorafe and Tabernas deserts. There is a major gravel cycling event that starts in Granada and heads to Almeria; the event is called Badlands. See more information below.
• Sierra Sports & Tours has an adventurous eight-night guided gravel tour through the best of the Cazorla National Park. Four-wheel drive tracks take riders out to amazing lookout points where the vultures live and to where the mighty Guadalquivir River begins. You experience vast high alpine plateaus touching 1,600 metres of elevation, cycle through Mediterranean forest and whitewashed Andalusian villages.

Be aware! Leisure cyclists will find the mountainous terrain relatively challenging through the Granada and Cazorla regions. So, if you want to cycle this region but are concerned about climbing, it’s worth considering an e-bike.

Do you need a guided tour of Granada?

Strong cyclists who are used to riding major European climbs will find it possible to organise their own rides out of Granada.

However, there is some great added value from the support of a cycling tour in the high mountains. For example, Sierra Sports and Tours provides a support van which can be particularly beneficial for tired riders needing a rest. A support van also provides food and drink refuelling options and somewhere to escape to in case of poor weather conditions in the mountains. See more on the weather (and wind!) in the Sierra Nevada, below.

If you are less experienced with road cycling, the additional support and local knowledge can be really beneficial. It also makes rides possible to local towns such as Guadix, Alhama de Granada and Montefrio. Reaching these towns from Granada often requires a return van transfer to keep the mileage and elevation gain reasonable.

Sierra Sports & Tours also has considerable knowledge and experience of running road and gravel bike tours between Granada and the Cazorla National Park. Here is a list of the possible tour options:

• Granada Vuelta Peaks Guided Road Bike Tour from Granada to Cazorla (seven nights)
• Cazorla Self-Guided Road Bike Tours (six night or nine nights)
• Granada to Cazorla Guided Gravel Bike Tour (eight nights)

All of the above cycling tour itineraries and tour types can also be organised and modified for private groups. With us, a private tour can also sometimes be cheaper than our standard trip offering.

Where to base yourself in (and around) Granada

Aside from Granada itself, there are several towns on the outskirts of Granada that you could consider basing yourself in, including Cenes de le Vega, Guejar Sierra and Monachil.

Top tip! My team and I especially like the towns of Guejar Sierra and Monachil. Whilst there is nothing fancy about these two towns, they happen to be located directly below some of the most famous road cycling climbs in Europe.

There are also some excellent hiking trails in this area if you fancy a day off the bikes; from Guejar Sierra you probably have the most famous hiking trail in Granada’s Sierra Nevada; ‘La Vereda de la Estrella’.

Be aware! You will typically find only two-star hotels and rural houses (known as casa rurales and cortijos in Spanish). But the sleepy villages offer the chance to enjoy some quality cycling and to really relax in peaceful surroundings. Get our detailed tips for accommodation below.

Granada

Best for anyone who wants to combine the buzz of a big city with daily cycling

Granada is a major Spanish tourism destination so there is a huge selection of hotels to choose from.

This vibrant, cultural hub also has plenty to keep you entertained. Alongside the world-class Alhambra palace, there are many restaurants, flamenco bars and cafes where you can refuel and soak up the eclectic atmosphere.

From Granada, it is pretty easy to ride straight out into the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Monachil

A great base for anyone looking for a quiet and relaxing location to ride from each day

The small town of Monachil is located ten kilometres southeast of Granada and is a good base for ‘secretly’ entering the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Top tip! By starting in Monachil you take away the initial kilometres from the slightly busier Granada roads and instead start in a really quiet area. It is also where the pros detour to ride between Monachil and the El Purche summit. They don’t have traffic, they don’t get recognised and it is a secret place for them to train.

The town is situated right at the foot of the El Purche climb; between April to June, you are likely to encounter pro cyclists putting in their hill repeats on this climb.

Top tip! Monachil is also a great location to enjoy walking. A favourite Sierra Sports & Tours escape is a walk along the ‘Los Cahorros de Monachil’ trail. During this 8-kilometre route you cross beautiful Tibetan bridges with amazing views, waterfalls, rock pools and narrow rock tunnels.

The two routes provided below are right out of the La Vuelta a España textbook for classic Granada cycling stages. Both will leave you gasping for air!

Cazorla

An excellent base for gravel cyclists and road cyclists seeking an adventure on quiet routes

Whilst the park covers a huge area, one of the best cycling bases is the town which goes by the name Cazorla. This is the gateway to the Sierra de Cazorla National Park.

Cazorla is located 150 kilometres to the northeast of Granada and should be on the bucket list for all cycling enthusiasts looking for something different and a unique cycling adventure.

There are several special and noteworthy climbs in the National Park which include: Puerto de las Palomas, Puerto de Tiscar and El Yelmo.

Other areas worth considering

Alhama de Granada

Located 50 kilometres south-west of Granada. This is a good base for a few days of road cycling.

There are quality road rides out to the local towns of Zafarraya, Loja and Velez-Malaga, to mention just a few.

Be aware! There are no flat roads. If you drop down towards the coast (for example Velez-Malaga) remember that you will need to reserve some energy to climb back up into the interior towns.

Baeza/Ubeda

These UNESCO World Heritage towns are also known as ‘Renaissance Spain’ and are located approximately 125 kilometres north of Granada.

These towns aren’t hugely well known, but are becoming more so thanks to the increasing prominence of the UCI pro-race ‘Clasica Jaen Paraiso Interior’.

Every February the pro-riders take on this road cycling race which includes multiple gravel sectors through the sea of olive trees. The race starts in Baeza and finishes in Ubeda. It is an unforgettable landscape home to a sea of olive trees; this is the world’s biggest producing region of extra virgin olive oil.

Famous Granada cycling climbs

The map above shows the location of these climbs; you might need transport to get out to some of these, depending how many kilometres you’re happy riding in a day from Granada! Alternatively you could base yourself in one of the other towns we mention that are closer to the climbs.

Haza Llana

This is an eight-kilometre climb from the town of Guejar Sierra. The climb averages a gradient of 9.6% and includes around 12 ramps with grades ranging between 14-17%. It’s Sierra Nevada’s steepest climb and has been used in many editions of La Vuelta a España.

The climb sits at 1,679 metres of elevation and is a great option when you are short on time and looking for a quick escape from Granada. Or when the upper reaches of the mountain range are under metres of snow.

Top tip! Take a look at the footage of Alberto Contador and Chris Froome challenging each other during stage three of the 2015 Vuelta a Andalucia road race to get a feel for the climb.

Be aware! From Guejar Sierra, watch for the technical descent and sharp bridge crossing which highlights the start of the sudden steep wall and the  need to be in the small chainring from the word go.

El Purche

A ten-kilometre climb from the town of Monachil. Like Haza Llana the climb peaks at 1,492 metres of elevation gain; this makes it one of the lower Sierra Nevada climbs.

However, the 7% average grade has made it the perfect training ground for the professional peloton.

Top tip! You can test yourself on the seven ramps which range between 12-17%. Enjoy the quiet roads;  you will probably see more bikes than cars on this stretch of road!

Collado de las Sabinas

A 27.5-kilometre climb from the town of Pinos Genil. This climb starts from the valley floor just east of Granada and is long and testing. It also includes the Haza Llana climb featured above.

At the summit, you turn left and follow the old road up towards the Pradollano ski station. Before reaching the ski station you will have passed ‘Sabinas’.

Be aware! The Collado de las Sabinas summit is actually not signposted but simply a T-junction at 2173 metres of altitude. By turning left at this junction you cycle following the old road up towards the ‘Hoya de la Mora’ climb. If you decide to turn right you roll down directly to the Pradollano Ski Station.

Pradollano ski station

A 22.5-kilometre climb that also starts from the town of Pinos Genil. After the first few kilometres of climbing, you intersect the main road (A395) up to the ski station.

Be aware! This is the most straightforward route you can take into the Sierra Nevada mountains. But it is also the climb with the most traffic.

Top tip! There is a pretty good shoulder you can ride in and cyclists are commonly found on the climb, so it is still a decent cycling option. Many Vuelta stage finishes have been contested up at the Pradollano ski station.

Hoya de la Mora

A 31.5-kilometre climb from the town of Pinos Genil. This is the highest point of elevation that a Vuelta stage has ever finished in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

At 2,511 metres of elevation, Hoya de la Mora is about 300 metres higher than Pradollano ski station. The effects of altitude and a reduction in oxygen can sometimes be felt by riders at this point.

Pico de Veleta

A 40-kilometre continuous climb with an altitude gain of approximately 2,650 metres and an average grade of 6.5%.

The Pico de Veleta climb has everything that the hardened cycling aficionado might look for and is often referred to as ‘The Everest of European Mountain Passes’. It is the highest point any road cyclist can reach on mainland Europe!

The climb includes the Hoya de la Mora climb; the final 12-kilometre stretch begins at the military barrier. Beyond this point, the road is restricted to military and ski resort vehicles. It includes some amazing switchbacks that look back down over the Pradollano ski station.

Be aware! Adding to this challenge is the threat of snow. Depending on the season it is not uncommon to find fields of ice strewn across the road. As you pass the magical figure of 3,000 metres of elevation gain, there is a ravine that can still have walls of snow up to three metres high in June…

From 3,100 metres of elevation gain, the asphalt starts to break up considerably and things typically become more difficult for those riding road bikes. The last kilometre from near the hiking hut (refugio) is best suited for mountain bikers.

Best cycling routes in/around Granada

Granada cycling routes

Granada to the Quentar Reservoir

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Best for: a great option if you are new to road cycling, or you are looking for a good first ride to shake out any jetlag.

Cycling from Granada, you pass through the Cenes de la Vega suburb. Beyond this suburb, you turn left and follow the signs to ‘Quentar’. The climb up to the dam wall is 11 kilometres long and has an average grade of 3%.

Be aware! It is really a climb split into two parts. As you detour around Quentar village, the second half of the climb has an almost constant grade that hovers between 5-6%, there are some steeper sections at 8%.

Be sure to turn right into the reservoir area ride down to the dam wall and take in this picturesque setting. When you are ready, turn around and descend back to Granada to finish this out-and-back ride.

Granada loop ride (via Guejar Sierra & Haza Llana)

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Best for: Another shorter ride from Granada. But beware! This one is vertically challenging.

Heading out of Granada the cycling goes in search of Guejar Sierra. This ride includes the Haza Llana climb, which measures seven kilometres and has an average grade of 9.5%, it is a straight-out wall. This is a serious test of the legs!

Both La Vuelta a España and La Vuelta a Andalucia professional road races have spiced up their editions thanks to the battles on Haza Llana.

Granada to Pradollano Ski Station loop ride

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Best for: striking views all the way up to the Collado de las Sabinas summit 

This loop ride is based on La Vuelta a España race history and uses a combination of quiet and main roads including scenic long descents. Riding out from Granada, the action begins from Pinos Genil.

The climb meets up with the wide A395 main road and continues to the ‘Dornajo’ Sierra Nevada visitor centre. At this juncture, the cycling route turns left to enjoy the old road up to the Pradollano Ski Station.

From the visitor centre, the road snakes its way a further eight kilometres up to the Collado de las Sabinas summit, with an average grade of 6.5%. It is a breathtakingly beautiful road which eventually takes you through to the Pradollano ski station.

Afterwards, you enjoy a flowing 23-kilometre descent all the way back down to Pinos Genil!

Granada to Purullena (via Quentar Reservoir & La Peza)

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Best for: A moderate ride on rolling terrain

This ride follows the same route as the first ride mentioned above which heads out to the Quentar Reservoir. However, this is an extended version enabling you to ride rolling terrain out to La Peza.

There is a small loop out to Purullena before coming back into La Peza and home to Granada. The ride follows a good section of the Sierra Nevada Limite gran fondo ride which is held annually every May. Find out more below.

Granada to Pico de Veleta loop ride

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Best for: the hardcore road cyclist looking to take on nearly everything that the Sierra Nevada mountains can dish out.

The climbs of Haza Llana, Collado de las Sabinas, Hoya de la Mora and Pico de Veleta all feature on this ride. Strap in!

Be aware! From ‘Sabinas’ which sits at 2,173 metres of elevation gain, there is still another 1000 metres of altitude to cover before reaching Pico de Veleta.

Along the way, the route first passes by Hoya de la Mora (2,511 metres of elevation gain). Many decide to turn around here and head back to Granada. But for the altitude junkies out there, why not push on past the military barrier and ride without traffic for a further 12 kilometres up to the ‘Pico de Veleta´ summit.

Roll back down to the ski station and enjoy a further fast 25-kilometre descent down the main road. This includes a turn-off to Cenes de la Vega and back into Granada.

Monachil cycling routes

Monachil Loop Ride (via El Purche & Sabinas)

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Best for: Tackling the Sabinas and El Purche climbs

The beauty and difficulty of the El Purche climb has already been mentioned above.

There is not much time for a warm-up though so take the initial kilometres out of town easily. Remember there are several 12-17% ramps to contend with.

At the top of the El Purche summit, the road dips down to the main road heading to the Pradollano ski station giving you a short reprieve. Turn right onto the main road and keep climbing up to the Dornajo tourist centre and left onto the Collado de las Sabinas climb.

Top tip! My team and I think that Sabinas is one of the most beautiful climbs in southern Spain. At the top, you can roll into Pradollano ski station to look for some food and drink, before taking the main road back down to the left-hand turnoff to ‘El Purche’.

Be aware! Take care on the descent from El Purche summit down to Monachil; the road has some fast sections which turn into tight switchbacks, and these can catch you off guard.

Monachil Loop Ride (via El Purche, Haza Llana & Sabinas)

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Best for: Sabinas,  El Purche and Haza Llana climbs

This loop includes everything from the above route and also throws in the ‘Mortirolo’ of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Haza Llana. This ride is an authentic Vuelta a España queen stage.

Sabinas, El Purche and Haza Llana have already been described in detail above. The interesting point to note is that this ride doesn’t go over 2,200 metres of elevation.

Top tip! It is possible to add another 15 kilometres of climbing and over 1,000 metres of elevation gain to capture the Hoya de la Mora and Pico de Veleta climbs. However, that would be one huge day out…

Cazorla cycling routes

Cazorla & Tiscar short loop

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Best for: An excellent road cycling route in the Cazorla Natural Park.

The main challenge is the Puerto de Tiscar climb. Tiscar is a Category two climb and covers ten kilometres with a constant grade of 6%. The climb boasts amazing views of the surrounding valleys and peaks.

Cazorla & Tiscar long loop

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Best for: Dramatic canyons and gullies

For those looking for an adventure this longer Tiscar route takes a detour through an amazing ‘grand canyon-esque’ landscape. It offers some fantastic photo opportunities!

On a clear day, the route even offers impressive views back to the Sierra Nevada mountains towering over Granada.

Cazorla to Baeza

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Best for: reaching beautiful Baeza by bike

This route is an interesting option that connects the Cazorla National Park with the UNESCO World Heritage town of Baeza.

This route has a little bit of everything; an initial cruising descent, followed by a flat time trial section, a two kilometres compacted gravel section before the final seven kilometres summit finish up to UNESCO Baeza.

Baeza is a beautiful town that boasts Renaissance-style buildings and architecture. This small town is easy to explore on foot and has many plazas, archways, palaces and fountains.

Cazorla to Segura de la Sierra

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Best for: a dream ride through the heart of the Sierra Cazorla reserve.

This is a dream cycling route which departs Cazorla and immediately passes the Puerto de las Palomas climb. This 14-kilometre climb rises 375 metres at an average grade of 2.5%.

The pass boasts spectacular views over the Guadalquivir Valley; it has been used on a number of occasions during La Vuelta a Andalucia and La Vuelta a España professional races.

What now follows is a flowing descent and favourable terrain down to the turquoise-coloured waters of the Tranco reservoir. A beautiful ride then unfolds from Hornos as you climb towards the back road leading into the township of Segura de la Sierra.

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Looking for cycling tours in Granada, Spain?

Here at Sierra Sports & Tours, we have considerable experience running road bike and gravel bike tours between Granada and the Cazorla National Park. We'd love for you to experience them on one of our carefully crafted, 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.

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Key cycling events in Granada

Granada is home to a number of amateur and professional cycling events.

Many are focused on road cycling. However, in recent years the gravel scene has arrived and is growing at a rapid rate.

Pro races around Granada

When it comes to professional road cycling in the area here are some noteworthy events:

Clasica Jaen Paraiso Interior’ UCI: Mid-February

Just over an hour’s drive north of Granada, you will find Baeza/Ubeda which is home to ‘the only race in Spain which combines asphalt and sections of gravel road.

In 2025 the race will enter its fourth edition and winners already include Alexey Lutsenko, Tadej Pogacar and Oier Lazkano.

The format of the race has similarities with the Strade Bianche gravel race that takes place on the white gravel roads of Tuscany.

Amateur cyclists can also have a go, thanks to the ‘La Clasica’ gran fondo through the Baeza/Ubeda olive fields a couple of days before the professionals, on 15 February 2025.

Vuelta a Andalucía: Mid to Late February

A five-stage professional cycling race that will host its 71st edition in 2025 from 19 to 23 February. The region regularly features in the Vuelta a Andaulcia, but not this year; the 2025 race route does not have any stages in Granada or the Sierra Nevada.

However, stage one starts in Torrox and finishes in Nerja, which are only an hour’s drive southwest of Granada.

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 Granada will be quiet in 2025, but expect the Sierra Nevada mountains to play a major role again in 2026.

Fun fact! During stage nine of the 2024 La Vuelta, the peloton climbed over El Purche; this was followed by a double ascent of Haza Llana. Professional rider Adam Yates launched a long-range attack and was the first to descend down into central Granada to take the stage win.

Amateur cycling events around Granda

Sierra Nevada Limite (SNL) gran fondo

For road cycling enthusiasts who want to take part in events themselves, there are plenty of options.

This event is held annually every May. During 2025 it will be held on 17 May 2025 and there are two epic routes to choose from:

• 114 kilometres and 3,050 metres of elevation gain
• 146 kilometres and 3,900m metres of elevation gain

Both rides start and finish in Cenes de la Vega a suburb of Granada and the official ride centre where there are showers, food and parking.

The climbs include the Quentar Reservoir, Alto de Blancares and La Sabinas. The long ride also conquers ‘El Purche’ which has already been discussed at length!

Subida al Veleta

If you like mountain time trials then this is a great recreational road cycling event to look into.

This ride is held each July and includes a 38 kilometres mountain climb from Cenes de la Vega (Granada) to Pico de Veleta. The ride covers 2,250 metres of elevation gain and tops out at 3,100 metres of altitude.

In 2025 the event will take place on 13 July 2025 and includes the Collado de Las Sabinas, Hoya de la Mora and Veleta climbs.

Badlands

For amateur gravel cyclists looking for a super tough challenge, take a look at Badlands, the unsupported, off-road race. It is known as the wildest gravel challenge in Europe. Riders must complete an 800-kilometre course and tackle over 16,000 metres of elevation gain.

This race is typically held during late August and early September and in 2025 the event starts on 31 August, starting from central Granada at Paseo de los Tristes, near La Alhambra palace.

The route takes in the best gravel terrain in the Granada and Almeria provinces. These unique landscapes intersect the only deserts in Europe, touch the Med coast and also pass over the highest summit in Europe (Pico de Veleta, from the southern side of the Sierra Nevada mountains).

Be aware! The event is so popular it usually sells out almost instantly. Many gravel rivers consider riding the route, or parts of it, at different times of the year. We at Sierra Sports & Tours can support this kind of trip; just get in touch.

Practicalities of bike tours in Granada

Where to stay in Granada (for cyclists)

Granada is a major Spanish tourism destination so there is a huge selection of hotels to choose from.

Top tip! Many visitors to Granada may want to be located near the Alhambra palace. However, to easily access cycling in the Sierra Nevada mountains, the best hotel locations are found southeast of Granada city centre.

Some options to consider include:

Hotel Macia Real de la Alhambra

Located a short bus ride to Granada city centre. By bike, you are only minutes from the township of Cenes de la Vega where, in my opinion, the best road cycling routes begin.

More information

Hotel Vincci Albayzin Granada

This is a good option if you want to be closer to the city centre. There are plenty of pedestrian walking strips and plazas in the immediate area with lots of excellent tapas bars and restaurants.

More information

Hotel Coto del Valle

A great hotel option for anyone looking to base themselves in the heart of the Cazorla National Park.

The hotel is situated on a famous road cycling climb; halfway between the Arroyo Frio hamlet and the summit of the Puerto de las Palomas climb. It has a fantastic outdoor pool to enjoy after a long day on the bike and a restaurant that serves ‘delicious but very hearty’ meals. Take our word for it, you won’t be going hungry in this part of the world!

More information 

Hotel Poeta Jorge Manriquede la Sierra

This small boutique hotel is also located in the Cazorla National Park and loves receiving cyclists.

The town the hotel is based in feels like you have stepped back in time. Admire the views across to the mighty ‘El Yelmo’ summit. Visiting road cyclists can add this beautiful yet demanding climb to their ‘must-do’ list.

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Hospedería Los Cahorros

Rural-style accommodation that located in the heart of Monachil town. I have eaten lunch there with the family and the food was very good. Simple, but functional.

More information

Bike hire in Granada

At the time of writing this, I was unaware of any places you can hire bikes in Granada.

About a 45-minute drive from Granada in Vélez de Benaudalla, you can hire a range of bikes from Cycle Sierra Nevada; options include road bikes, gravel, MTB and e-bikes. These can either be picked up from the shop or delivered to you.

Sierras Sports and Tours’ base is located about an hour and 15 minutes drive from Granada city centre. We are able to offer bike rental as well. However, we encourage you to book in advance with at least five days notice. However, do send us an email with your requirements (even if it’s less than this timescale, and we will do our best to help).

In terms of bike shops in Granada to buy gear essentials from, Pedalmoto is somewhere I have bought from in the past.

When to go on a Granada cycling trip

Granada sits over 700 metres above sea level and is characterised by moderately cold winters and hot, sunny summers.

In fact, there are typically 300 days of sunshine per year in Andalusia. That should sound pretty appealing to all the road cyclists out there! However, even experienced cyclists should be aware that the weather can change and must always be taken seriously when riding high into the Sierra Nevada mountains. For example, at times the wind on Pico de Veleta can be brutal and similar to Mont Ventoux in Provence, France.

Winter: January to March

January is the coldest month and the average temperature is eight degrees Celsius. While precipitation is generally scarce it is most frequent from November to April.

In Granada, it typically only snows one or two days a year. However, this is a different story in the nearby Sierra Nevada mountain range where the highest peaks of the Iberian Peninsula are found.

The Pradollano Ski Station has 20+ chairlifts between 2,100-3,300 metres of altitude which are usually open from December to April every year!

Be aware! From December to May most of the Sierra Nevada mountain climbs over 2,000 metres of elevation will likely be under metres of snow.

Summer: June to August

Summer spans from June to August and is characterised by dry heat.

July is the hottest month of the year with an average temperature of 26 degrees Celcius. The temperature during the day can reach scorching levels around 35-40°C. In summer, it hardly ever rains in Granada.

Top tip! We suggest avoiding July and August if you don’t like cycling in hot conditions.

Shoulder seasons: March to July and September to November

With so much sunshine throughout the year, March to July and September to November are usually perfect times to visit for a cycling holiday.

Top tip! The Sierra guides often cycle some of the lower climbs from late February onwards. This includes the Quentar Reservoir, Haza Llana and El Purche.

Getting to Granada

The main transport options for arriving in Granada can be found below:

From Granada Airport (GRX)

The Federico García Lorca Granada Airport is located approximately 15 kilometres west of the Granada city centre. A taxi from the Granada Airport (GRX) to the city centre usually takes about 20 minutes. The airport is also well-connected by bus.

From Malaga Airport (AGP)

It is also possible to arrive relatively easily to Granada from Málaga. There are usually more flight options to fly in to Malaga Airport (AGP), compared to Granada Airport. The distance is approximately 125 kilometres and usually takes around an hour and a half to two hours.

You can find a direct bus from the Málaga Airport (AGP), or the city centre. Malaga Airport also has many car rental companies.

From Madrid

Granada is also well connected to Spain’s capital, Madrid, by both train and bus.

However, this journey takes around 5 hours. So it is quite a cumbersome undertaking on public transport.

Private transfer

Sierra Sports & Tours has a base in Andalusia and can offer private airport transfers with our nine-seater vans. This service is perfect for taking the hassle out of lugging around oversized bike boxes on public transport.

Please get in touch with us on our website if you would like a customised quote for this service.

 

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Tips for cycling Granada

Weather

Whilst the region can be hot in the summer period (especially July and August), there can be big temperature differences up in the mountains!

For example, the temperature can be 20 degrees cooler up at the Pradollano ski station compared to cycling in the Granada valley.

Cyclists should be prepared for these fluctuations in temperature and pack warm layers to keep comfortable at the summit.

Cycling at altitude

Cycling at high altitudes might seem daunting for those who live at sea level.

However, all Sierra Sports & Tours clients who have wanted to achieve Pico de Veleta (3296 metres of elevation) have been able to reach the summit. Some are quicker than others, but the important thing is to arrive at the top in the best condition possible.

These are very general rules of thumb, and every individual is affected by altitude differently. But beginner cyclists coming from sea level may experience some issues at 2,000 metres of elevation, including:

• breathing difficulties
• nausea
• general lethargy

Most cyclists will start to feel the effects of altitude above 3000 metres. These numbers are interesting considering that several of the climbs mentioned in this guide, sit within these elevation ranges.

Top tip! No amount of training will be able to fully eliminate the effects of altitude, but here are some simple tips for you all to consider, including good hydration, using lighter gears to lower the strain on your body and conservative pacing in a comfortable zone. It is also worth considering your alcohol intake on the trip.  You might want to skip that post-ride beer or glass of wine, particularly if you feel dehydrated.

Some other ways you can prepare in advance include talking to your doctor about altitude sickness products. Diamox is one medication we have heard of which might be worth investigating. There are also some high altitude training methods you could explore for the really keen, including fitness centres, such as the Altitude Centre, or even altitude sleeping tents you can invest in to prepare your body for high elevation.

Gear essentials

In the high mountains, we suggest you dress in layers where you can quickly and easily adapt to changing weather conditions. In particular, if riding without support vehicles your extra cycling gear should be easy to ‘roll up tight’ for safe storage in your back pockets.

Be aware! The Sierra Nevada has some extreme cycling conditions. One minute you can be sweating it out at the top of a climb, dripping wet, before only minutes later speeding down a 30-kilometre-long descent with the wind chill biting at your fatigued body.

To counteract the sweat factor, we recommend that you wear cycling clothes that are breathable, moisture-wicking and quick-drying. At the same time, for the descents, we almost always start with a gilet to break the wind and have arm warmers, neck warmer, knee warmers and long-fingered gloves on stand-by.

It is also a good idea to have a waterproof jacket on hand. As mentioned previously, your cycling gilet and raincoat should roll up tight. If the cloud comes in be sure to wear bright and reflective colours that make you visible and safe on the road.

Another important cycling accessory is a quality pair of sunglasses for protection against dust, insects and other small airborne objects.

Visiting the Alhambra palace

This is the biggest tourist attraction in Granada and one of the best-loved in Andalusia, so it’s best to book your tickets well in advance of visiting.

This historic site is also huge so you’ll need a good few of hours to take it all in. If you love history, you’ll probably want to take your time and spend longer here! I’ve visited La Alhambra five times now and each time have easily spent four hours here each time. You can easily spend 2 hours walking around the lovely gardens and palaces of the Generalife alone.

Be aware! When you buy a ticket you are given a set entry time to visit the Nasrid Palace. This is the jewel of the entire Alhambra. The Islamic artwork on display is magnificent. There is also the  ‘alcazaba’ which is the western fortress of La Alhambra. This offers fantastic views down to the Granada city below.

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.

Find out more about Sierra Sports & Tours

Sierra Sports & Tours have considerable experience running road cycling and gravel cycling holidays in southern Spain, particularly between the city of Granada and the Cazorla National Park. they have been running road tours here since 2011. Since 2022, we have offered Cazorla gravel tours.

One of Sierra’s European bases is located in southern Spain which means we are well placed to support cycling groups with their specific needs, including support vehicles, bikes, local guides and mechanical support.

Simply send us an enquiry with your group requirements and we can organise a bespoke itinerary and quote.

All of the below cycling tour itineraries can be organised and modified for private groups, including adding or reducing cycling days:

• Granada Vuelta Peaks – Guided Road Bike Tour from Granada to Cazorla (seven nights)
• Granada/Cazorla Guided Gravel Bike Tour – Granada to Cazorla (eight nights)
• Cazorla Self-Guided Road Bike Tours (six or nine night itineraries)

Do you want to experience cycling Granada?

Let us know in the comments below!

A big thank you to Paul D’Andrea for sharing these Granada and Sierra Nevada cycling insights. We think anyone looking for a climbing challenge, or a unique gravel cycling experience will love cycling in southern Spain.

Have you been cycling in Granada Spain, or cycled the Sierra Nevada cycling climbs? Perhaps you have experienced gravel cycling in the Cazorla National Park? We’d love to hear from you. Please comment below.