These Are The Best Bike-Friendly Cities In Spain For 2025
Cycling is an increasingly popular pastime in Spain. Not only is it a great form of exercise, it's also one of the most sustainable methods of transport in the country. And due to traffic and congestion, cycling can even be faster than other modes of public transport, particularly for short journeys.
Wondering how many people use bikes regularly in Spain? According to a report released at the end of 2019 called "Red de Ciudades por la Bicicleta", around 9 million Spanish people between the ages of 12 and 79 used a bicycle on a weekly basis. Meanwhile a smaller but still significant 1.5 million people used a bike on a daily basis — that's 3.5% of the Spanish population.
Perhaps a reason why cycling is so popular in Spain is because so many Spanish cities have been adapted to be bike friendly with cycle lanes, city-wide cycling networks, and great coverage.
Wondering which cities are the best for cyclists in Spain? These are the 5 best bike-friendly cities in the country for 2025.
Málaga
Málaga is considered an incredibly bike friendly city, with taking a cycling tour considered not only a great way to get around but also a great way to see the city's main attractions as a tourist. Málaga boasts both a growing network of bike lanes as well as a popular bike-sharing system that means that even if you don't own your own bike, you can still cycle in the city easily and affordably.
Málaga has a rich cycling culture, and because the city's designated cycle tracks are painted bright red it makes them much easier to find, use, and for motorists and other road users to avoid too.
Vitoria
The city of Vitoria is officially considered the most bike-friendly city in Spain. This is because of the size and the scale of the bike network. Not only are there comprehensive cycle trails in the city, these also spread right out to the city's outskirts and beyond. In total there are around 100 kilometres of cycle lanes in Vitoria.
It is worth noting that in the historic centre of the city, bikes share space with people and cars, so this can be a little more stressful to navigate. But for commuting, or travelling to the outskirts of the city, there's nowhere better to be.
Seville
While the bike network in Málaga is comprehensive, the city in southern Spain with a reputation for being most bike friendly is actually Seville. There's a whopping 140 kilometres of cycle network here, meaning it has more cycle paths than any other southern Spanish city.
Seville is also a very picturesque place to cycle because several paths have been adapted to the Guadalquivir riverbanks, making them beautiful places to ride your bike. The only drawback to be aware of? In the summer months temperatures can be very high, so you should carry plenty of water when you cycle.
Barcelona
Cycling is hugely popular in Barcelona, and there are more bikes per resident here than in any other city in Spain — that's 38 bikes for every 10,000 inhabitants. This may be a consistent theme throughout this piece, but the reason cycling is so popular in Barcelona is because it has such a great cycle path network. Almost the whole city is connected by cycle path, and Barcelona's cycle paths are wide, safe, and wonderfully easy to navigate. As an added bonus, because the city is mostly flat, you won't have any hills to contend with as you ride.
Valencia
Finally, Valencia is such a pleasant place to ride a bike that it's just as popular with tourists as it is with local residents. The cycle paths connect all the neighbourhoods of the city, and there are a huge number of bike shares and public rental points. The city has really embraced cycling, assigning exclusive bike lanes, as well as good signage and design. If you're a cycling enthusiast then there isn't anywhere better to live in Spain.
Are you thinking of taking the plunge and moving to Spain? Want to cycle in this famously bike-friendly destination? If you've always dreamt of relocating but don't know where to start, then our local property experts are perfectly placed to help you find the Spanish property of your dreams. Why not get in touch today?
Have questions about property on the Costa del Sol? We're happy to help.
Get in Touch