13 best places for cycling holidays

Are you even a proper cyclist if you haven’t been to Mallorca? It certainly seems this way as thousands of riders flock to the Spanish island every year. Renowned for its iconic road cycling climbs such as Sa Calobra, Puig Major and Coll de Soller. The good thing about Mallorca is you can choose between easier coastal rides or tougher tests in the mountains.

Base yourself in Palma to experience the city or head to the other side of the island in Port Pollença for direct access to the mountains. Don’t worry about bringing your own bike - our Mallorca experience partners, Rad International and Canyon Base Mallorca, will ensure you have the best bike no matter where you ride on the island.

The annual Mallorca 312 in April is worth signing up for if you want to hit all the best spots in one ride in a supportive atmosphere. Choose between 312 km, 225 km or 167 km.

As the home of many professional riders, Girona is where the who’s-who of the cycling world flock to every year. The city itself is brimming with medieval buildings and quaint shops hidden in the alleyways off main roads. Among these historic buildings is Jan Frodeno’s La Comuna (his SGRAIL 100 event starts from here every year), where you can enjoy speciality coffee and locally sourced produce. It’s the perfect start and end point for a ride in the Catalonian hills nearby.

On the subject of hills: don’t miss the opportunity to climb the famous Rocacorba, Els Àngels and Mare de Déu del Mont. And if there’s opportunity for some off-bike activities then the Lake of Banyoles should be the first place you head to.

We couldn’t choose just one island here, so instead we’ll recommend you visit them all at some point in your life. The most popular islands for cycling are Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and La Palma.

Their volcanic landscape offers breathtaking scenery around every corner. Quiet roads mean the islands are perfect for road cycling and mountain biking. In fact, the Canary Islands are some of our favourite places to ride an e-mountain bike in Europe.

Tenerife is famous for Mount Teide, though its reputation precedes it. Beginning at sea level, the climb takes riders on a journey up to the highest point in Spain. The summit is 3718 m, however the sealed tarmac ends at around 2360 m. At this point, you’ll need to swap your wheels for hiking shoes or a trip in the cable car to get to the very top.

Lanzarote is famous for its persistent wind, so brace yourself! That said, training into a headwind will only make you stronger, right? You’ll find plenty of cycle-friendly hotels and it’s ideal if you want to bring the family along too thanks to it’s stunning coastline and sandy beaches.

Riding in the French Alps is a true rite of passage for any cyclist. As it’s such a huge area to explore, we recommend starting with some of the more popular places where there’s plenty of cycling-friendly accommodation and cafes. If you want to go off the beaten track, we recommend referring to our Tour de France 2022 guide for hunting out some of the lesser known climbs.

The Chamonix-Mont Blanc area is very well established as a place many outdoors people frequent year-round. It’s very popular with mountain bikers for exploring the trails around Morzine. Expect to see riders like Tahnée Seagrave training around here.

The Alpe-d’Huez region (around Bourg d’Oisans) is also famous for obvious reasons. Notwithstanding the road climb of 21 switchbacks, there are many other world-renowned mountains you’ll be able to experience on two wheels in this area, including the Col de Glandon, Croix de Fer, Lauteret and Galibier.

Check the road closures depending on the time of year you plan on travelling. Many of the mountain passes are closed between November and late spring.

The south coast of France is magnificent if you’re looking to balance the sound of the waves with the sound of your own breathing. Nice is well-placed for mountainous riding into medieval villages coupled with relaxation in the city centre and along the coastline.

Nice has a temperate climate year round thanks to the Alps sheltering it from the worst weathers. A lot of the passes remain open year round and it’s generally dry. Alongside neighbouring Monaco, there’s no shortage of pro-riders who call this region home. Plan your coffee stop at Cycles Camellini to spot some of your favourites.

Nice is a city bursting with culture, tantalisingly good food and a buzzing nightlife. It’s the perfect place for a tough ride and a relaxed, social atmosphere in the evening.

Much like the French Alps, the Pyrenees is home to world-famous mountain passes. Notably quieter than the Alps, the Pyrenees runs along the border of France and Spain attracting riders from these regions and beyond.

Arguably the most well-known mountain in the Pyrenees is the Col du Tourmalet, which has featured in the Tour de France no fewer than 87 times since the race began (more than any other mountain pass). It’s for good reason. Within spitting distance of this mighty mountain, you’ll also find stalwarts of the Pyrenees like Luz Ardinen, Hautacam, Col d’Aspin and Col d’Aubisque.

Unlike a few of the other spots we’ve mentioned in this article, you need to bring your best climbing legs for riding in the Pyrenees - there’s very little in the way of flat cycling!

Where do we even start? If you have a solid level of fitness and love climbing, the Dolomites can’t be missed. Towering limestone peaks rise up underneath and around you while you ride leaving you awe-inspired as you crest the many summits.

The Corvara/Sella Ronda region offers a glut of cycling’s most famous climbs, many of which are featured in the Giro d’Italia every year. Ride the Passo Gardena, Passo Sella, Passo Pordoi and Passo Campolongo in just 53 km during the Sella Ronda Bike Day, a couple of days each year when the passes are only open to people on bikes.

In addition to our favourite Italian mountain bike trails, we also recommend Villa Bassa and the Lago di Braies for unspoilt views for the chance to explore a section of the South Tyrol trails. The region is host to the Dolomiti Superbike event every year, which is one of the biggest MTB Marathon events in the world.

The Strade Bianche (white roads) await riders who love meandering around one of Italy’s most historic cycling regions, which lies just south of Florence. Tuscany is a gravel rider’s dream and high on the list of Italy’s best gravel riding. The almost traffic-free roads around the sun-soaked Tuscan terrain are unparalleled.

If you love wine and the most authentic and tastiest Italian food you’ll ever taste, this is the region for your next holiday. Bring your gravel bike to recreate the Strade Bianche race route or the vintage L’Eroica route to capture the best of Tuscany. Whatever you do, don’t forget to wash it all down with a glass of chianti red wine!

The southern coast of Portugal where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea boasts year-round sunshine, which makes it a great place to explore in the later months of the year. Though still hilly, the lower altitudes and quiet roads mean the Algarve is particularly attractive whether you want to enjoy a slower pace of life or push your performance. Touring bikes and E-Bikes are ideal for taking in the sights and attractions throughout the region.

Browse Komoot’s collection of rides in the Algarve here.

A mountain biker’s paradise awaits on the Portuguese island of Madeira. Whether it’s cross-country, trail or enduro mountain biking, Madeira is the place to go. It’s easy enough to create your own mountain biking holiday, but there are many events throughout the year that you could also include into your schedule such as Transmadeira.

The island is full of sweet downhill trails that you can explore on your own or with friends. However, if you’re pushed for time or want to go straight to the best trails, the team at Freeride Madeira offers uplifts, advice and tips for riding them to the best of your ability.

Beginning your adventure in Vancouver is a great introduction to Canada. There’s plenty of great city riding to explore the area and discover the best attractions in the city. Once you’re ready for something a little more daring, make your way an hour and a half up the road to Whistler.

In the winter, Whistler is a world-famous ski resort and in summer it turns into a bike park for mountain bikers. With trails for all kinds of mountain biking and abilities, nobody should be left behind. The bike park itself is suitable for E-MTBs or you can use the ski lifts with your bike to get to the top of the trails.

Tourists flock to Cape Town year on year due to its picture-perfect coastline and spectacular mountains. However, if you head a little further east of the city, you’ll find Stellenbosch, a wine region with some of the best road cycling, gravel cycling and mountain biking South Africa offers.

The dusty gravel roads through the vineyards are perfect for gravel bike adventures. Gravel and cross-country MTBs make the perfect tools for the famous Cross Cape Route, which starts in Stellenbosch. At 750 km, you’ll need to pack a solid amount of endurance with you, but splitting the route over a week or more is a great way to see the back country landscapes of South Africa.

As home of the Tour Down Under, riders from all around Australia and beyond descend upon the South Australian city for just over a week. The city puts on a huge cycling festival and the streets are buzzing with the hive of activity during this one week in January. Road cyclists can be found on pilgrimages to Mount Lofty and Norton Summit, or further south to Port Elliot and the southern beaches.

Adelaide has some of the country’s best riding. The Mount Lofty Ranges, Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale offer roadies quiet climbs among the regions’ wineries. The city is a great base for cyclists with direct, easy routes out to the serene countryside.

Mountain bikers also have a huge network of trails just beyond the city limits. Canyon’s own Troy Brosnan calls Adelaide home and you’ll often find him in the Sturt Gorge Recreation Park or Glenthorne National Park-Ityamaiitpinna Yarta testing out the downhill and enduro trails. Elsewhere, you should hit up Shepherd’s Hill, Cleland, Belair and Cobbler Creek (great for kids) bike parks for a little bit of everything else.