Why You Should Consider Cycling in Málaga

The Eat Sleep Cycle Málaga Classic Climbs itinerary will have you enjoying the best of the cycling, the city and the beach, in this blog we will discuss what makes Málaga such a special destination for a cycling holiday all year around & why we've chosen Màlaga to be our base.

The Eat Sleep Cycle Cycling Hub, Málaga

Málaga is also the home of our Malaga Cycling Hub. This city is a gateway to popular Eat Sleep Cycle tour locations like Andalucia and Portugal. It is also our home for culture, food, good vibes and amazing riding.

For us, Málaga is the place to be, it’s a buzzing city that’s full of life and we’re proud to be part of Málaga road cycling’s journey as an up-and-coming cycling destination.

Come and see us, join one of our Social Rides and let’s talk cycling!

Cycling in Málaga: Coast and Mountains

One of our favorite rides out of Málaga is the Puerto Leon, a 16.1 Km 5.6 % AVG gradient road climb that starts right from the city. In no time you are away from the hustle and bustle and into the mountains, crossing paths only with farmers. But it is when you swing back towards the coast and you’re hit with that lovely sea breeze, that you realise just how special that mix of mountains and coast really is.

Our Málaga Classic Climbs itinerary offers 6 unique rides that combine the highlight climbs in the area with the coast. There is no better feeling than riding back from the hills to the beach for that well deserved ice coffee, ice cream or chilled beer (or all three).

Málaga: An Amazing City with a relaxed Spanish vibe

Málaga is Spain’s 6th largest populated city, so there is plenty going on when you are off the bike, but it still has that relaxed feeling where people are not in a rush.

Cycling in Málaga City: Traffic

We had a huge question mark around traffic entering & leaving the city. The relaxed atmosphere means that even the busier roads feel safe. There are dedicated lanes on the road that give priority to cyclists & local drivers are more than happy to sit back, relax & let us cyclist’s do our thing. There are also plently of bike lanes separating bikes from traffic completely. The coastal road is more transited but a joy to ride and again, drivers show cyclists plenty of respect out on the road.

Anyone with a couple of years of experience cycling on roads should feel more than comfortable riding in & out of the city every day.

Food, Coffee & Cyclist Hot Spots in Málaga

The specialty coffee scene has a way to go in Málaga, but there are some great coffee places starting to pop up. We enjoyed a delicious pre-ride coffee at Santa Coffee in the soho district, the breakfast looked fantastic too – plus we saw the chef cycling home from work one day so a huge tick from us!

Mid-ride cyclists in Andalucia enjoy a tostada con jamon. It’s served at pretty much any bar you can find, fills the hunger gap & is completely delicious.

Post-ride it’s hard to beat stopping at a chiringuito on the beach for a cold beer or a coke before retiring for a siesta & a freshen up before heading out into town.

The evenings in Málaga are fantastic. If you’re a cyclist who loves the buzz of a vibrant city then Màlaga should be high on your list of places to ride. Head to the port for an aperitivo & listen to the buskers. Then stroll back into the old town to sample one of Màlaga’s many restuarants. After dinner, head to a traditional bar for a vino dulce to finsih off the night. The brave (or those on a rest day) could happyily bar-hop until the early hours.

Outstanding transport links

Málaga Airport received around 20 million passengers in 2019. It is a modern fully equiped, busy yet relaxed airport. What we love most is eliminating a long transfer in a vehicle after your flight. You can almost land and get right out on your bike, maximising your cycling time. With the high speed train just 2 hrs and 24 minutes from Madrid, Málaga also boasts excellent rail connections to the rest of Spain and Europe.

What a city

Málaga city, as well as being situated right on the beach, boasts an upmarket town center, modern port and many cultural attractions . For years the mayor has been pumping money into restoring various areas of the city and does it show. Trust us, you will be impressed by just how clean and well restored Málaga is.

Did we mention the climate

With minimum winter night temperatures of 10 degrees and daytime temperatures in the late teens and early twenties, Málaga is one of the best winter cycling destinations in Europe.
The combination of coast and mountains means rides can be made to make the most of the temperature conditions, which are predictable and stable. Who doesn’t want to ride with arms and legs out in January?!

You can find out more about our Málaga Classic Climbs tour right here or contact us for a custom tour proposal in South Spain.

Written by Louise Laker

The bike has always been an escape for me - a way to get rid of the stresses of the day, to set myself a physical & mental challenge, to meet great people and have ton of fun.

After years of studying, working in the sustainability sector and road racing on the UK circuit, I moved from London to Girona to pursue the dream of professional cycling.

Instead, something more incredible happened - I co-founded Eat Sleep Cycle in the cycling capital of Europe, Girona.

We create & deliver beautiful cycling tours all over Europe. We love what we do and that shows in our work.

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