Costa Brava by Motorcycle: The Best Coast and Mountain Roads

The Costa Brava is the rocky, pine-covered coast that runs north from Barcelona to the French border, and it is one of the best places in Spain to ride a motorcycle. The coast road is a ribbon of bends above hidden coves, the medieval villages inland are made for long lunches, and within an hour you can be in the volcanic hills of La Garrotxa or climbing into the Pyrenees. Here are the best Costa Brava motorcycle routes and how to ride them.

The Tossa de Mar to Sant Feliu de Guíxols coast road

The GI-682 between Tossa de Mar and Sant Feliu de Guíxols is the most famous road on the Costa Brava. It is only around 20 km long, but it twists along the cliffs above the sea with barely a straight section, through pine forest and past viewpoints over tiny coves. Ride it early in the morning, when the light is soft and there is little traffic, and stop in Tossa to see the walls of the Vila Vella above the beach.

Begur and the medieval villages of the Empordà

Between Palamós and L’Escala the coast is quieter, with the hilltop town of Begur and its coves of Sa Tuna and Aiguablava. Just inland, the Baix Empordà is full of stone villages: Pals, with its medieval old town, and Peratallada, with its moat and narrow streets, are both easy stops on small country roads lined with fields and vineyards.

Cadaqués and Cap de Creus

North of Roses, the road over the hills of the Serra de Rodes to Cadaqués is a favourite with riders: tight bends, big views of the bay and a white fishing village at the end that inspired Salvador Dalí. From Cadaqués, a narrow road crosses the bare, windswept landscape of the Cap de Creus natural park to the lighthouse at the easternmost point of mainland Spain.

Inland: La Garrotxa and the Montseny

• La Garrotxa volcanic zone: around Olot, the roads wind between dormant volcanoes and through the beech forest of La Fageda d’en Jordà. Stop at Castellfollit de la Roca, a village built on the edge of a basalt cliff.
• The Montseny: a mountain park between Barcelona and Girona with quiet, twisting forest roads, perfect on the first or last day of a tour.
• Into the Pyrenees: from Olot, the road north through Camprodon leads to the Collada de Toses and the Cerdanya, the gateway to the high Pyrenees.

A 3-day Costa Brava loop from Barcelona

• Day 1: Barcelona to the Montseny, then down to the coast for the Tossa to Sant Feliu road and a night near Begur.
• Day 2: the villages of the Empordà, then Roses, Cadaqués and Cap de Creus, and back to a night on the coast.
• Day 3: inland through La Garrotxa and Olot, and back to Barcelona through the Montseny or Vic.

Want more time? Our Costa Brava & Catalan Pyrenees tour adds the Pyrenees and Montserrat over 7 days.

When to ride the Costa Brava

Spring and autumn are the best time to ride the Costa Brava: from April to June and from September to October the weather is warm, the roads are quiet and the hotels are open. July and August are hot and the coast is busy with traffic and visitors, so plan to ride early and spend the middle of the day inland or in the mountains.

Tips for riding the Costa Brava

• Ride the coast early: the coast roads are at their quietest before 10 am, especially in summer.
• Watch the surface: some coast and village roads are narrow and can be dusty or sandy on the bends.
• Park in the villages: leave the bike at the edge of medieval villages like Pals and Peratallada and explore on foot.
• Avoid motorways: the AP-7 runs inland, but the national and regional roads are far better riding and rarely much slower.

FAQ

Is the Costa Brava good for motorcycling?

Yes. The coast road between Tossa de Mar and Sant Feliu de Guíxols, the road to Cadaqués and the mountain roads of La Garrotxa and the Montseny make it one of the most varied riding areas in Spain, all within easy reach of Barcelona.

How long do you need to ride the Costa Brava?

Three days is enough for the coast and the villages. With a week you can add La Garrotxa, the Catalan Pyrenees and Montserrat.

Can I do a Costa Brava motorcycle tour from Barcelona?

Yes. Our Costa Brava & Catalan Pyrenees tour starts and finishes in Barcelona, and we can also plan a bespoke Costa Brava tour for your dates.

Plan your ride

Read our guide to motorcycle tours from Barcelona, see our Pyrenees motorcycle tours, or tell us what you want to ride.