Cycle Touring in Spain: 5 Things I Learned (4K)

Since moving to Spain from the UK a few years ago, I’ve cycle toured between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic twice, have ridden around a few of the islands, and have completed countless day trips. In this video, I share some of the things I’ve learned while cycle touring in Spain.
A map of all the Greenways in Spain: www.viasverdes.com/mapas_en.asp
Info about some of the Caminos de Santiago: caminoways.com/camino-de-sant...
#cycletouringspain #bikepackingspain #cycletourspain #bikepackspain #cyclingspain
0:00 Introduction
0:07 CYCLE TOURING SPAIN 5 THINGS I LEARNED
1:22 Wild camping is illegal, but possible
2:19 Spain's average altitude: 650 m
3:38 You can find free drinking water
4:20 You can ride old train lines
5:15 Bikes are free on (most) ferries
6:09 Bonus: There are many ways to Santiago

[@saltaireorangebicyclechopp8555]

I've cycled Bilbao to Malaga and Barcelona to Vigo, usually stayed in rooms above bars, they are cheap & near beer..... I like to to tour in football years, the World Cup or the Euros, so that even in tiny places the bars are busy at night. This June it's Alicante to Cadiz.

[@cubgsan]

Good day to you! I am a senior rider on HONDA motorcycle from Japan. I am enjoying camping ,touring and upload video. Your touring video is so nice! Awesome! Full supported ! Have a nice day my friend!

[@IslandRides]

Thanks Cub, sounds like a great trip you're on!

[@kvbcycles]

Nice one bro, sums up Spain really nicely. 👍🏻 my favourite is the fuentes in the pueblos and towns. Oh and the Albergue’s on the Camino when you need a warm bed and shower 😄

[@IslandRides]

Yeah man, love a good fuente!

[@LoicMat]

Thanks a lot for these insights! I'm planning a cycling trip to Spain this spring, and your video made me feel one step closer to that goal :)

[@IslandRides]

Thanks man, hope you have a great trip!

[@markpriest8504]

Very informative. Thanks for this!

[@IslandRides]

Thanks Mark!

[@pawel8365]

Excellent tips, very much appreciated 😎👍

[@IslandRides]

Thanks Pawel!

[@geckoram6286]

I'm from Spain and I think I can add a few things: For number 2, although wild camping is illegal, you can put a vivac almost anywhere legally For number 3, bars and that sort of place will always give you tap water for your bottles for free, it's a law.

[@IslandRides]

Good to know, thanks!

[@falcon771000]

Many thanks for the video / info........the only one I knew about was the Camino 🙂

[@_lordmacgregor_]

awesome opening shot

[@IslandRides]

Thanks Mitchell! Yeah, the timing worked out pretty well for that!

[@ushinawaretakenkou]

I have not changed video’s quality and watched in 480p, so I will watch this again in 4K😆

[@IslandRides]

😂

[@FortheLoveofCycling]

good info. thanks. im on my way there to Barcelona and Girona.

[@IslandRides]

Thanks! I'm planning to do some more riding in that area soon, probably on one of the Greenways near Girona.

[@FortheLoveofCycling]

@@IslandRides wow. Thats very impressive. Im doing just daily rides. In Girona Andorra and Canaria then Barcelona. Hoping I can do a total of 14 ridesl out of my 19 days adventure.

[@gordoncraig8238]

I did the complete Camino del Norte and it was very good. Compared to cycle camping you can leave off your front panniers and go with less luggage in the rear ones and stay in the Albergues. I did the Camino instead of the EV1 route. I found 3 gpx tracks and they do split into 2 or 3 routes in places. The only bad one was pushing up the walking route into Bilbao. l intend to go back and do others in Spain and Portugal.

[@IslandRides]

The Camino del Norte looks great. Would love to do it someday and to spend some time in the Picos de Europa on the way.

[@ElectraHorvat]

8888888⁸8888⁸878⁸8⁸⁸888⁸888⁸iolio

[@donnyo65]

Glad I found this video as i am planning to spend two weeks in Spain on my bike at the end of May and beginning of June (I actually have 18+days but 6 of these will be spent getting to and from Spain from the NW UK. I'm not young or super fit so was hoping to get to Santiago by train from Santander or Bilbao and then cycle back as the hills seem slightly kinder that way - do you have any thoughts on this or info re trains?

[@IslandRides]

Sounds great! Looks like it should be possible to get from either Santander or Bilbao to Santiago by train, though you'd probably need to change trains a few times and may need to keep your bike in a bag. I'm hoping to ride the Camino Frances later this year, starting in the south of France and following the pilgrim route to Santiago.

[@kayasper6081]

Most part of Spain is just too hot in summer time to cycle.

[@ushinawaretakenkou]

One day I want to go cycle touring👍

[@IslandRides]

You should do it! I want to ride through Japan one day!

[@ushinawaretakenkou]

@@IslandRides I need to work out to go cycling then! Haha Yeah, come to Japan👍

[@symbiketour4704]

Hi..I just found your channel, a lot of good tips for bike touring, thanks dude. Done subscribe your YT Ch.

[@IslandRides]

Thanks man, have subscribed to you too.

[@symbiketour4704]

@@IslandRides 🙂Thanks. I am excited to do bike touring across europe. Now I getting more information in youtube and web sites. when I am ready I will start long bike tour since I am not working anymore.

[@walshwestern]

Hi, thank you for sharing. I'm planning to go to Spain this summer and bike tour. I haven't decided whether to bring a tent or not. I want to travel light, but also have flexibility. From your experience, is non-camping accommodation easy to find without planning too far in advance, possibly even on the same day? I've previously cycle toured in the Basque Country but I had booked each day of the journey in advance and the accommodation prior, but this time, I've got more time so I'd like to be flexible.

[@IslandRides]

I think it would definitely be possible to book hotels just before arriving. I've done this quite a few times, usually in early autumn, but don't imagine it would be much harder to find places in summer. I recently spent a few days riding in Ibiza with just a hammock, which could be a good light-weight backup option!

[@walshwestern]

Great, thank you for the tips. I think I’ll leave the tent at home. I like having some comforts after a day cycling. Andrew

[@WaterInmyHands]

How safe did you feel cycling around Spain? My parents have a holiday home in the South so I've debated buying a bike there but everytime I visit Spain I can't help but feel it seems a bit ill-suited to cycling.

[@IslandRides]

I've always felt safe, but it probably depends when you are. I've mostly ridden in the north and on the islands. I haven't ridden in the South, but I've visited lots of times and I know there are loads of busy roads following the coast! You could check out if there are any Green Ways near where you go if you want to avoid the traffic: www.viasverdes.com/en/itineraries/principal.asp

[@stephenhammond3656]

Nice Video!! - Can you recommend destinations in Spain that are suitable for Bike Touring / Bike Packing during the months of December and January??

[@IslandRides]

Thanks Stephen! The Canaries have good weather all year round, though I'm yet to ride there. I spent some time bikepacking in Ibiza this January, which was really nice and quiet. If you're looking at the mainland, I'd probably stick to the Med coast.

[@stephenhammond3656]

@@IslandRides Great!! Thanks for the reply :)

[@petesig93]

Majorca has some great cycling options and would be warmer in Dec-Jan.

[@JACKOJACKO121]

Thanks for the advice, thinking of trying to do a big trip this year, would spain be too hot to cycle in augst? is there a time of year that would be ideal in terms of tepriture?

[@IslandRides]

Hi Jack, the north coast might be OK in August, but most of Spain is really hot then. September and October would work in most parts.

[@jendajerabek2388]

Hello, can I ask you, if you have experience with trains in Spain? We are planning trip from Barcelona to Sevilla in autumn 2023. We would like to arrive to Barca with the car, leave the car in Barca and go along seacoast to south. We want to travel back with train, but dont know how is it with this possibility there? Thanks a lot.

[@IslandRides]

Hi Jenda, with the regional trains you can normally just walk on with your bike quite easily. However, with the long-distance/high-speed trains, you would probably need to dismantle your bike (e.g., take the wheels off) and put it in a bag: www.renfe.com/es/en/viajar/informacion-util/luggage/bicicletas-y-patines