Motorcycle Tours in Spain: The Complete Guide to the Best Regions and Routes
Spain is one of the best countries in Europe for a motorcycle tour. There are mountains in almost every region, thousands of kilometres of quiet regional roads, reliable weather and a riding season that runs from early spring to late autumn. This guide covers the best regions to ride, the roads worth travelling for, when to go, what a tour costs and what you need to know as a visiting rider, plus the motorcycle tours in Spain we run from Barcelona, Bilbao and Málaga.
Every Adventura route is planned the same way: no motorways, no tolls where we can avoid them, and as much time as possible on the best riding roads in each region.
Why tour Spain by motorcycle
- Mountains everywhere: the Pyrenees, the Picos de Europa, the Sierra Nevada and dozens of smaller ranges mean great roads are never far away.
- Quiet roads: Spain’s motorways carry most of the traffic, which leaves the old national and regional roads empty for riders.
- Long season: the south is rideable from March, the north from May, and both into October.
- Easy to reach: Barcelona, Bilbao and Málaga all have direct flights from the UK and most of Europe.
- Food and culture: from Asturian cider houses to tapas in Seville, the stops are as good as the roads.
The best regions for a motorcycle tour in Spain
The Pyrenees, from Barcelona
The Spanish Pyrenees are the most concentrated mountain riding in the country: high passes, deep gorges and valleys strung together by the N-260, the Eje Pirenaico. The Port del Cantó (1,725 m), the Collegats gorge and the Collada de Toses (1,800 m) are all within a day of Barcelona.
Our tour: the Pyrenees Escape, 2 days from Barcelona, from €635. Read more in our N-260 road guide.
Longer Pyrenees tours: the Pyrenees Grand Tour rides the high passes of Spain, Andorra and the French Tour de France climbs in 8 days, from €2,545, and the Transpyrenees crosses the whole range from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic and back in 15 days, from €4,770.
Catalonia and the Maestrazgo, from Barcelona
Barcelona is also the start for two shorter-season favourites. The Costa Brava & Catalan Pyrenees tour combines the Costa Brava coast road, Cadaqués and the Garrotxa volcanoes with the Catalan Pyrenees in 7 days, from €2,225. The Priorat & Maestrazgo tour heads south to the wine country of Priorat and the empty mountain roads of the Maestrazgo, and runs from March to November, from €2,545.
The Picos de Europa and northern Spain, from Bilbao
Green valleys, limestone peaks and the coast all within a short ride of each other. The Picos triangle, through the Hermida and Beyos gorges and over the San Glorio (1,609 m) and Pontón (1,280 m) passes, is one of the great motorcycle loops in Europe. Further west, Asturias and Galicia add empty coastal roads and the wild Atlantic capes.
Our tours: Picos Express (4 days, from €1,270), Picos de Europa (7 days, from €2,225) and our flagship The Great North (8 days, from €2,545). See our guide to Picos de Europa motorcycle routes.
Andalucía, from Málaga
The south delivers sweeping bends, white villages and the most reliable weather in Spain. The A-397 from Ronda down to the coast, the Sierra de Grazalema and the Alpujarra villages below the Sierra Nevada are classics, while the east feels like another country, with the Tabernas desert and the Cabo de Gata coast.
Our tours: Pure Andalucía (8 days through Granada, Córdoba, Seville and Ronda, from €2,545) and Anda Eastwood (8 days of coast, desert and mountains, from €2,545). Read our Andalucía motorcycle guide.
Spain and Portugal, from Málaga
For a longer journey, ride from Andalucía to the Algarve, Lisbon and the Alentejo, and back through the Sierra de Aracena, Córdoba and Granada. Two countries, two coasts and some of the quietest roads in Europe. Read our Spain to Portugal motorcycle route guide.
Our tour: the Road to Portugal, 15 days, from €4,770.
Our motorcycle tours in Spain
| Tour | Start / end | Days | Region | From (per rider) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pyrenees Escape | Barcelona | 2 | Pyrenees | €635 |
| Costa Brava & Catalan Pyrenees | Barcelona | 7 | Catalonia | €2,225 |
| Pyrenees Grand Tour | Barcelona | 8 | Pyrenees, Andorra & France | €2,545 |
| Priorat & Maestrazgo | Barcelona | 8 | Priorat & Maestrazgo | €2,545 |
| Transpyrenees | Barcelona | 15 | Pyrenees, coast to coast | €4,770 |
| Picos Express | Bilbao | 4 | Picos de Europa | €1,270 |
| Picos de Europa | Bilbao | 7 | Picos de Europa | €2,225 |
| The Great North | Bilbao | 8 | Northern Spain and Portugal | €2,545 |
| Pure Andalucía | Málaga | 8 | Andalucía | €2,545 |
| Anda Eastwood | Málaga | 8 | Eastern Andalucía | €2,545 |
| Road to Portugal | Málaga | 15 | Andalucía and Portugal | €4,770 |
We can also design a bespoke route starting from Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid, Seville, Málaga or Alicante. See self-guided motorcycle tours in Spain for how that works.
Find your Spanish motorcycle tour
Eleven tours from Barcelona, Bilbao and Málaga, from a 2-day Pyrenees weekend to 15 days across the Pyrenees or through Spain and Portugal. Every tour includes a BMW GS.
View all toursWhen to ride: Spain by season
| Region | Best months | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Pyrenees | May to early October | Snow and ice on high passes outside that window; summer thunderstorms |
| Picos de Europa and the north | May to October | Fast-changing Atlantic weather; fog and rain in any month |
| Andalucía | March to May, September to November | Heat inland in July and August, often near 40 °C |
| Spain and Portugal | March to May, September to October | Summer heat in the Alentejo and inland Andalucía |
In short, ride the south in spring and autumn and the north in summer. For a month-by-month breakdown, see the best time to ride a motorcycle in Spain. Check the forecast from AEMET, Spain’s national weather agency, before each day’s ride.
What does a motorcycle tour in Spain cost?
Our prices are per rider, sharing a room, and include a BMW F 450 GS. As an example, the 7-day Picos de Europa tour costs:
- Rider, sharing a room: €2,225
- Pillion passenger: €1,625
- Single room supplement: €600 for the 6 hotel nights
- Bike upgrades: from €150 for an F 750 GS up to €690 for an R 1300 RT, for the whole tour
Each tour page has a cost calculator, so you can add a passenger, a private room or a bigger bike and see the total straight away.
Which BMW to ride
Every tour includes the BMW F 450 GS, light and easy to handle on tight mountain roads. You can upgrade to:
- F 750 GS and F 800 GS: friendly mid-size twins for relaxed touring
- F 900 GS and F 900 GS Adventure: lighter and sportier, great on tight passes
- R 1300 GS and R 1300 GS Adventure: the classic big boxer, ideal two-up or on long days, both available with ASA automated shift
- R 1300 RT: a full tourer for riders who want maximum comfort on the road
See the full BMW fleet for details.
Riding in Spain: what visiting riders need to know
- Licence: your licence must cover the bike you ride. The larger GS models need a full category A licence.
- Documents: carry your licence, passport and the bike’s papers at all times.
- Lights and helmets: dipped headlights are compulsory day and night, and helmets are mandatory.
- Speed limits: 120 km/h on motorways, 90 km/h on conventional roads, and 50 or 30 km/h in towns unless signed otherwise.
- Alcohol: the limit is 0.5 g/l in blood, and 0.3 g/l for riders with less than two years’ experience.
- Emergencies: call 112, the European emergency number.
UK riders should check the latest GOV.UK travel advice for Spain, and the official rules are published by the DGT, Spain’s traffic authority.
What to pack
Bring full riding kit with armour, waterproofs (essential in the north), summer gloves and a base layer for the high passes, plus a phone mount or GPS. Our motorcycle tour packing guide has a full checklist, and our safety tips for motorcycle adventures cover riding on mountain roads.
FAQ
What is the best region in Spain for a motorcycle tour?
It depends on the season. The Pyrenees and the Picos de Europa are best from May to October, and Andalucía is best in spring and autumn. For pure mountain riding, the Pyrenees and the Picos are hard to beat.
How much does a motorcycle tour in Spain cost?
Our tours start at €635 per rider for a 2-day Pyrenees weekend, €2,225 for 7 days in the Picos de Europa and €2,545 for 8 days, including the bike and hotels.
Do I need to bring my own motorcycle?
No. Every Adventura tour includes a BMW F 450 GS, with upgrades to larger BMWs available.
Can I bring a passenger?
Yes. Every tour has a pillion option, and the cost calculator on each tour page shows the price.
Do your tours use motorways?
No. Every route is planned to avoid motorways and stick to the best riding roads.
Where do your tours start?
Our tours start and finish in Barcelona, Bilbao or Málaga. Bespoke tours can also start from Madrid, Seville or Alicante.
Start planning your tour
Browse all our motorcycle tours, or contact us with your dates and the roads you want to ride. For regional ideas, read our guides to the N-260 in the Pyrenees, Picos de Europa motorcycle routes, riding in Andalucía and motorcycle tours from Bilbao.
