Why Spain Is the Best Country for a Motorcycle Tour

Riders always love Spain, especially those who either come from cold countries or ones where land is scarce. Spain’s vast openness has a sense of freedom to it – it’s why many of us ride in the first place. And that’s before we add in the sun and mountains.

Roads that actually reward riders

It’s best to start in the north, where temperatures are lower.

The Pyrenees passes are great – narrow, twisting, criss-crossing the French border along roads like the N260. Then there’s the Col du Tourmalet, climbing toward 7,000 feet, all hairpins and thin air (albeit mostly French side). But as you may know, the middle of the country, besides Madrid and a few other cities, is very sparsely populated.

The north has rich dark greens, while the south gets more arid. Andalusia has some altitude, but is mostly sunshine and sweep, with the Ronda road (A-397) named as one of the best rides in the country.

The Sierra Nevada has snow-capped mountains in front of the warm tarmac, a combination you don’t get in too many places. Coastal riders get the Costa Brava’s cliffside GI-682, while island riders get Mallorca’s Sa Calobra descent.

Local expertise makes planning easier

Figuring out which back road is worth the detour and knowing what hotel stores a bike overnight is something that, unless you have years of experience, you may not know. But there are local specialists for that. Motorcycle tours in Spain are a way to jump in without worry (or logistics) as they have both guided and self-guided itineraries across the whole country. It pairs verified routes with vetted accommodation that is rider-friendly. That way, you just focus on the Spanish roads.

A riding season that barely closes

Riders from colder countries envy Spain’s Mediterranean climate – the motorbikes are almost like a migrating species, heading there for winter. Almería alone gets more sunshine hours than anywhere else in the country. So while riders elsewhere are packing the bike away for the season, someone in Andalusia is just getting started.

Culture and food worth stopping for

Of course a tour isn’t just all about the road, there needs to be something waiting at the end of it to keep you going. Granada gives you the Alhambra glowing at sunset while Basque coastal towns have pintxos and some of the best food in the world.

One humble and highly specific vision, perhaps an evening stroll around Andalusian pueblos after dark, is enough to romanticise and play over in your head. Navarre and the Pyrenean valleys give you mountain cheeses and hearty autumn menus. You could even trace stretches of the Ruta de la Plata pilgrim road, linking Roman ruins to medieval towns along the way. History-driven riding has endless riches.

A few practical notes before you go

A UK photocard licence works fine for riding in Spain (you don’t need an international permit for most visits). Gear is absolutely needed though, especially with how fast temperature and terrain varies between coast and mountain – and you may not be used to it. Watch the altitude too because the same government guidance flags a risk of altitude sickness in higher ranges around Granada, Huesca and Tenerife. It’s not that likely, but worth keeping an eye on. Spring and autumn are always going to be best for high passes – they’re also more moderate temperatures at sea level than the south.

Plenty of countries have good roads, but few have the sheer space, mountains, weather and coastline. Yes, the US does, but then does it have the centuries-old villages scattered throughout?