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Girona / Costa Brava mountain biking

Mediterranean Collection - Spain

Mountain Biking in Girona & the Costa Brava

The Mediterranean Trail Hub.

1,018

Gavarres MTB trails

1,218 km

Mapped network

350+ km

Baix Emporda routes

Mar-Nov

Best season

Basecamp Infographic

Girona / Costa Brava basecamp infographic

Push Horizons!

The Riding

Girona is the complete Mediterranean MTB basecamp: dense trail networks, natural singletrack, forested hills, coastal escapes, strong cycling infrastructure and a city that lives bikes every day. From the medieval streets, riders can roll into Les Gavarres within minutes and still finish the day with cafes, mechanics, food, hotels and proper recovery infrastructure.

Basecamp decision logic

Ride Intelligence

Use this as the quick-fit logic for season, bike setup, group level and how much support your trip needs.

Best season

March-June / September-November

Technical level

Beginner+ to advanced depending on route choice / approx. S1-S4

Best bike

Trail MTB, eMTB or gravel bike depending on route choice. Light enduro works for technical trail days.

Read more Open the full decision table, support logic and rider-fit notes.

Full decision logic

Expand this when season, terrain, bike setup or support choices need a deeper check before choosing the basecamp.

Girona / Costa Brava is one of the most flexible basecamps in the Epic network. It combines Mediterranean trails, strong cycling culture, villages, food and coastal atmosphere with enough route variety to work for mixed groups, eMTB riders and riders who want a balanced ride week rather than one single terrain type.

Best season

March-June / September-November

Caution season

July-August can be hot and busy near the coast. Winter can work for lower routes, but rain and wind can affect exposed or forested sections.

Ride character

Mediterranean trail riding, forest singletrack, coastal hills, gravel/MTB crossover routes, old villages, Girona cycling culture and Costa Brava scenery.

Typical ride day

30-60 km / 600-1,500 m+ / 3-6 hours

Technical level

Beginner+ to advanced depending on route choice / approx. S1-S4

Fitness demand

Medium. Easier scenic loops are possible, but stronger routes add real climbing, technical singletrack and longer linking days.

Best bike

Trail MTB, eMTB or gravel bike depending on route choice. Light enduro works for technical trail days.

eMTB suitability

Excellent - especially for linking inland villages, coastal hills, forest trails and longer mixed-terrain loops.

Guide logic

Useful for matching the route to the group, avoiding busy or weak links, and combining MTB trails with Girona/Costa Brava culture.

Shuttle usefulness

Usually not essential. This basecamp works best through loop design, eMTB range and smart route linking.

Weather logic

Best in spring and autumn. Avoid peak heat and busy coastal traffic in summer; adapt routes after rain on forest and clay sections.

Best for

  • Mixed-level groups
  • eMTB and gravel/MTB crossover riders
  • Riders who want trails plus food, villages and cycling culture
  • Spring and autumn ride weeks
  • Groups wanting strong logistics and flexible route options

Not ideal for

  • Pure gravity riders looking for bike-park laps
  • Riders wanting high alpine wilderness
  • Groups seeking remote terrain every day
  • Riders expecting only technical enduro

Why Ride Girona / Costa Brava?

The Mediterranean Trail Hub

Most people know Girona as a road-cycling capital. Mountain bikers know a different story. Just outside the medieval city walls begins Les Gavarres, a protected Mediterranean massif with one of the largest mapped trail networks in Spain. From Girona, you can ride from your accommodation into the hills within minutes, climb through cork oak and holm oak forest, link technical singletrack, drop into hidden valleys, and still finish the day back in the city.

  • Les Gavarres covers around 350 km2
  • 1,018 MTB trails listed in Les Gavarres
  • 1,218 km of mapped trail network
  • 59,500+ recorded ridden counts
  • 7,500+ trail reports
  • E-bikes allowed on the listed Trailforks network

Why It Works

A Complete Riding Ecosystem

Girona works because everything is close: trails, cafes, mechanics, hotels, restaurants, airport access, gravel links, greenways, coastal routes and day-trip options to the Costa Brava, Cadiretes, Ardenya, Montgri and the lower Pyrenees. Riders can build a full week here without repeating the same type of ride.

  • Girona city centre is around 1.5 km from the first climbs
  • Girona-Costa Brava Airport is around 13 km from the city
  • Baix Emporda MTB centre network includes 350+ km of routes
  • El Girones MTB centre offers 150+ km of marked routes
  • Catalonia's MTB centre network totals around 4,100 km of marked routes

Flagship Identity

The Complete Mediterranean MTB Basecamp

Girona / Costa Brava is the flagship all-rounder because it combines trail density, cycling culture, ride-out logistics and Mediterranean lifestyle better than almost anywhere else in Spain. It is not only a city with trails nearby. It is a complete riding ecosystem: Les Gavarres, Baix Emporda, Ardenya, Cadiretes, Montgri and the Costa Brava all connected by practical logistics.

  • The strongest complete-basecamp identity in Catalonia
  • Ride-out access plus day-trip variety from one city base
  • Works for trail, natural enduro, e-MTB, gravel-hybrid and mixed groups
  • Food, mechanics, accommodation and recovery infrastructure already fit riders

Hero Ride

Gavarres To The Sea

This is the ride that explains Girona better than any statistic. Start in Girona's old city, roll out past the cafes and stone streets, and within minutes the climb begins into Les Gavarres. The city disappears quickly. Cork oak forest closes in. Gravel and fire roads become old paths, narrow singletrack and fast forest descents. From Els Angels, Puig Miquel, Puig Estela or deeper inside the massif, riders can link trails eastward until the Mediterranean appears through the trees.

  • Medieval city start
  • Ride-out access from accommodation
  • Mediterranean forest climbs
  • Flowing and technical singletrack
  • Historic churches, dolmens and old stone tracks
  • Optional finishes around Sant Feliu de Guixols, Platja d'Aro, Calonge or the Ardenya / Cadiretes coast

The Four Faces

Girona, Les Gavarres, Ardenya And Costa Brava

A flagship Girona week should show four different sides. Girona city gives cycling culture and ride-out logistics. Les Gavarres gives the dense forest trail network. Ardenya / Cadiretes gives rockier forest-to-sea terrain. Costa Brava gives the Mediterranean finish: coves, coastal light and recovery after proper trail days.

  • Girona city: cafes, mechanics, hotels and ride-out access
  • Les Gavarres: 1,018 listed MTB trails and 1,218 km mapped network
  • Ardenya / Cadiretes: granite terrain, coastal viewpoints and technical tracks
  • Costa Brava: Sant Feliu, Platja d'Aro, Calonge and sea-finish options

Ride Character

Dense Trails, Short Climbs, Endless Combinations

Girona's MTB character is not defined by altitude. It is defined by density. The hills are not huge, but the trail network is enormous. Climbs are often short to medium length, usually between 200 and 400 vertical metres, which makes the area perfect for linking multiple descents in one ride. Instead of one huge climb and one massive descent, Girona delivers a rhythm: climb, trail, connector, descent, repeat.

  • Natural singletrack and dry Mediterranean terrain
  • Cork oak and holm oak forest
  • Fast forest descents and technical rocky sections
  • Short, punchy climbs
  • Flow trails and hand-built local lines
  • Gravel, greenway and E-MTB-friendly connectors

Les Gavarres

The Heart Of Girona MTB

Les Gavarres is the core of the Girona MTB experience. The massif forms a large natural arc between Girona, the Baix Emporda and the Costa Brava. It is a protected Natural Area of Special Interest, with rounded hills, Mediterranean woodland, cork oaks, holm oaks, granite, slate and schist terrain. This is where Girona's trail density becomes extraordinary.

  • Western Gavarres around Quart, Llambilles and Sant Miquel
  • Puig Miquel, Puig Estela and Els Angels trail combinations
  • Fast local singletrack and dry forest surfaces
  • Natural enduro-style riding
  • Easy return to Girona
  • Excellent E-MTB potential

Els Angels

The Classic Girona High Point

At around 485 metres, Santuari dels Angels is one of Girona's classic cycling landmarks. Road cyclists know it as a famous climb. Mountain bikers know it as a useful launch point into longer forest descents, ridge lines and Gavarres trail combinations. It is not extreme. It is scenic, central and ideal for first-day orientation rides.

  • Strong first Girona MTB day
  • Good for mixed ability groups
  • Restaurant and viewpoint stop
  • Links Girona with deeper Gavarres terrain
  • Useful for E-MTB loops and scenic forest descents

Ardenya / Cadiretes

Where Forest Meets The Sea

South-east of Girona, behind Sant Feliu de Guixols, Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar, the Ardenya and Cadiretes massif adds a more rugged coastal dimension. The terrain is rockier, the views are bigger and the sea becomes part of the ride. Puig de Cadiretes reaches around 518-519 metres, with granite formations, Mediterranean forest, technical tracks and coastal viewpoints.

  • Puig de Cadiretes loops
  • Sant Feliu de Guixols to Sant Baldiri de Solius
  • Tossa de Mar and Torre des Moros routes
  • Sant Grau rides
  • Granite terrain, coastal viewpoints and technical natural trails

Baix Emporda

Multi-Day Costa Brava Riding

The Baix Emporda MTB network adds official structure to the destination. The region links three major natural areas: Gavarres, Ardenya and Montgri. These create the backbone for multi-day rides that combine mountains, villages, history and coast. This proves Girona / Costa Brava is not just a singletrack playground; it can become a proper Mediterranean MTB journey.

  • Three Massifs Route: Gavarres, Ardenya and Montgri
  • Around 164 km and 2,445 m positive elevation
  • Recommended over 2-3 days
  • Two Massifs Route: Gavarres and Ardenya
  • Around 97 km and 2,128 m positive elevation

Scenery

Mediterranean Forest, Medieval Villages And Sea Views

Girona does not win with dramatic alpine peaks. It wins with texture. The scenery is subtle, rich and constantly changing: cork oak forests, holm oak woodland, pine forest, granite ridges, rounded Mediterranean hills, Romanesque churches, megalithic dolmens, old farm tracks, coastal coves, sea viewpoints and medieval Girona.

  • Cork oak, holm oak and pine forests
  • Granite ridges and rounded Mediterranean hills
  • Romanesque churches and megalithic dolmens
  • Old farm tracks and stone villages
  • Coastal coves, sea viewpoints and Costa Brava light

Best Season

March To June / September To November

Girona is rideable all year, but the best MTB conditions usually sit in spring and autumn. Winter is generally mild and rideable, especially compared with northern Europe. Summer can be hot and humid, so early starts, shaded forest routes and coastal recovery become important.

  • Spring: premium trail conditions and green landscapes
  • Summer: workable with early starts and shaded forest routes
  • Autumn: premium temperatures and quieter trails
  • Winter: mild and rideable
  • Prime months: March, April, May, June, September, October and November

How We Build It

Maximum Riding With Minimum Logistics

Girona is one of the easiest destinations to build into a high-quality MTB trip because the logistics work. Accommodation is strong, bike shops are excellent, trails start near town, and the network is dense enough to adapt rides day by day. The goal is maximum riding with minimum transfer time.

  • Ride from base whenever possible
  • Use Girona, western Gavarres, Els Angels and deeper Gavarres for variety
  • Add Sant Grau, Ardenya, Cadiretes and Costa Brava days
  • Use Baix Emporda and Montgri for multi-day extensions
  • Shape rides for flow, technical enduro, E-MTB, gravel-hybrid or mixed groups

Who It Is For

Riders Who Want A Complete MTB Holiday

Girona is perfect for riders who want proper mountain biking without sacrificing comfort, access or lifestyle. It is one of the best destinations in Spain for groups where the riding matters, but the rest of the trip matters too.

  • Intermediate and advanced riders
  • Trail riders, natural enduro riders and E-MTB riders
  • Gravel-curious MTB riders and mixed riding groups
  • Couples, long weekends and week-long MTB holidays
  • Riders who value food, culture and city life
  • Less suitable for pure downhill riders or groups wanting remote wilderness every day

Mediterranean Comparison

Girona Vs La Cerdanya Vs Barcelona Backcountry

Choose Girona for trail density, cycling culture, ride-out logistics and a complete Mediterranean basecamp. Choose La Cerdanya for high valleys, open landscapes and Pyrenean adventure. Choose Barcelona Backcountry for city access, sea views and quick trail escapes. Girona is the flagship all-rounder.

Epic Takeaway

Where Cycling Becomes A Lifestyle.

Girona / Costa Brava is one of the most complete MTB basecamps in Spain. The riding starts almost at the city limits. Les Gavarres delivers one of the densest mapped trail networks in the country. Ardenya and Cadiretes bring forest-to-sea adventure. Sant Grau adds scenic ridgelines and historic mountain routes. The Costa Brava gives every trip a Mediterranean finish. Endless singletrack. Mediterranean forests. Coastal escapes. This is Girona.

Accommodation

Girona City Hotels & Mas Rural

Your Base Between Rides

Great trails. Local character. A welcoming place to unwind. For your Girona adventure, we select hotels and guesthouses in the city or surrounding countryside, chosen for their comfort, quality and authentic atmosphere. After a day exploring, settle in and enjoy the region’s food, medieval streets and Mediterranean pace.

Accommodation typically includes a shared twin or double room with a private en-suite bathroom. Prefer your own space? Single occupancy is available on request, subject to availability and a supplement. Your proposed accommodation and room arrangements will be detailed in your personal offer.

Girona / Costa Brava accommodation, option 1
Girona / Costa Brava accommodation, option 2

Your Bike for the Adventure

Great trails deserve a capable bike. We work with carefully selected local rental partners across Spain to source quality MTBs and eMTBs suited to the terrain and your riding plans. Expect dependable components and, for eMTBs, a reliable motor to help you enjoy the climbs as much as the descents.

We’ll confirm the proposed bike model, size and availability in your personal offer, so you know what you’ll be riding before you book.

Helmeted mountain biker leaning into a dusty forest corner on a full-suspension bike
Mountain biker riding a rocky trail feature in golden evening light

Build your package

Choose your Girona / Costa Brava ride

Choose your trip length, bike type and group size to see an estimated price. Then send us your preferred dates, and we’ll check availability and prepare your personalised offer.

This is an enquiry, not a booking. Submitting it does not reserve accommodation or bikes. To book, simply reply to our offer and confirm that you’d like to proceed.

Accommodation

Bike rental

Bike rental

Choose your bike collection and return dates.

Both collection and return dates count for calendar-day tariffs. Accommodation nights are independent.

Collection and return times, availability and any time-based billing adjustments are subject to supplier confirmation.

Self-Guided Plus requires at least four riders. For two riders, choose Self-Guided or request Epic Guided.

Your selected package

Girona / Costa Brava · Girona

Self-Guided · 2 riders · 3 days · 2 accommodation nights · Choose your bike collection and return dates.

  • Accommodation: 2 nights in one shared double or twin room in Mid-range accommodation in Girona.

    Accommodation based on a shared twin or double en-suite room. Single occupancy on request, with a supplement. Your accommodation is confirmed in your personal offer.

  • Bike rental: Choose your bike collection and return dates.

    Bike collection date: … · Bike return date: …

Estimated package price

Price on request

Indicative price including the accommodation with breakfast and bike rental selected above, based on Feb–May and Sep–Nov pricing. Your final price depends on your exact dates and available accommodation and bikes.

What happens next?

  1. 1. Send your enquiry

    Add your preferred dates and contact details. Your package selection is included automatically. Use the optional message field for questions or special requests.

  2. 2. We check and shape your trip

    We check accommodation and bike availability, then clarify any riding preferences or practical details needed to prepare your offer.

  3. 3. Receive your offer and decide

    You receive a proposal with the final price, what’s included and any optional extras. If you’d like to proceed, we explain the booking and payment steps. Your enquiry alone does not confirm a booking.

FAQs

Build your package