Road cycling holidays in Spain

Mainland Spain and the Canary and Balearic Islands are very popular, year-round, road cycling holiday and winter training camp destinations with thousands upon thousands of cyclists from around the world and northern Europe making their annual pilgrimage for a cycling holiday.

If you intend to hire a bike or go on a road cycling holiday in Spain it is well worth knowing the local laws before you travel.

This list is for guidance only.

• You must ride on the right-hand side of the road and never against the flow of tracking (eg on the left-hand side of the road)
• Cyclists may ride 2 abreast as long as they stay as far to the right of the road as possible. The exception is on stretches with poor visibility or when traffic is dense you must ride single file.
• Bicycles are classed as vehicles and cyclists are expected to respect the traffic rules just like drivers do.
• Stopping at traffic lights and stop signs. If you jump the lights or fail to come to a halt at a STOP sign you could be subject to the same fine as other vehicles on the road.
• Helmets: You are required by law always to wear a helmet. The exceptions are, a) if it is excessively hot, b) if you are riding up a steep hill c) if you are a professional cyclist
• Cyclists should always carry photo ID
• You are NOT allowed to ride on pavements, in public parks or other pedestrian areas
• If you are riding on a bike specific path/lane the speed limit is 30kph. Be extremely cautious when you come to sections shared with pedestrians and other road users
• It is forbidden to ride in bus lanes
• You are not allowed to use your phone or other handheld devices that may affect your attention whilst riding
• You are not allowed to listen to music using headphones or earbuds whilst riding.
• You cannot cycle with an alcohol level exceeding 0.5 grams/litre in blood (0.25 milligrams/litre exhaled). You can be fined up to 500 euros if you do.
• You must keep your hands on the handlebars when riding except when making a signal to turn
• Cars, for their part, must observe a side distance of 1.5m when overtaking cyclists.

The Highway Code in Spain is very favourable to cyclists. If there is an accident between a vehicle and a cyclist it is automatically assumed to be the vehicle drivers fault.

Spanish drivers are usually extremely patient with cyclists, however, there are a few that are not, these drivers are usually tourists in hire cars who perhaps are not aware of the Highway Code. Generally, Spanish drivers are accustomed to waiting behind a cyclist until they can see that there is sufficient room to pass without causing the cyclist or other road users a problem, especially on narrow twisty roads.

Rural roads in Spain have very little traffic and can be quite narrow. Don’t get lulled into the false sense of security that there will be nothing coming the other way and start to clip/cut blind corners because if there is a car coming it will be in the middle of the road, like yourself and there will be very little time or space to manoeuvre around it. Please remember to keep to your side of the road.

Enjoy your riding in Spain and contact us if you want a safe and enjoyable cycling holiday organised for you.