CiclaMadrid: enjoy slow tourism in Madrid... whilst pedalling!
15 May, 2024CiclaMadrid brings together the offer of cycling tourism in the Region of Madrid in a comprehensive and diverse network thanks to the refurbishment of derelict paths and trails, former railways and cattle trails, among others, signposted and with different difficulty levels for pedalling along them.
CiclaMadrid brings together the offer of cycling tourism in the Region of Madrid in a comprehensive and diverse network thanks to the refurbishment of derelict paths and trails, former railways and cattle trails, among others, signposted and with different difficulty levels for pedalling along them.
All the routes allow you to respectfully enjoy these unusual corners of Madrid’s nature and its regions, its gastronomy, crafts and traditions, in a sustainable, healthy and very enriching way and, above all, using the time needed, without rushing, in the purest slow tourism style.
To make the most of the cycling tourism on offer in the Region of Madrid, you can contact the CiclaMadrid Product Club, which brings together specialised agencies that offer all the necessary services, such as bicycle hire, which they provide at the requested location, hotel and restaurant bookings and problem solving such as punctures or changes to routes, to name but a few. Everything to provide the best experience on the road, whether for groups or individual travellers, also from its CiclaMadrid Conecta mobile app.
More information on all the possibilities offered by the region in this field can be found in the following brochure:
CiclaMadrid, a tailor-made offer for every traveller
CiclaMadrid is a commitment to cycling tourism as a means of sustainable development for the whole of the Madrid region, promoting a series of specific products for different profiles of cycling tourists. It all depends on each individual’s preferences and interests as well as the time available but the offer is undoubtedly adapted to the tastes and needs of each and every visitor.
The best-trained cyclists will therefore find new challenges on the routes in the north of the Region where important international events such as the Territorio Sierra Norte Bike Challenge are held; while lovers of slow culture, families, groups of friends and nature enthusiasts will discover new opportunities to enjoy unique experiences, also on routes that can be travelled with adapted bicycles.
The circuit allows you to go right up to the banks of the Manzanares reservoir. Image courtesy of the Region of Madrid. Source: Hugo Fernández.
These are some of the suggestions to hopefully inspire all travellers to trace their own path. The aforementioned CiclaMadrid Gran Tour is the undisputed star of the Region of Madrid’s cycle tourism offer, which can also be carried out in alternatives of two, five, seven or nine days, in order to adapt to the abilities and available time of each tourist. It is a perfect suggestion for the whole family, as the itinerary of each stage ranges between 15 and 38 kilometres, with a gradient of just 200 metres in each section.
By region
The beauty of the regions of Madrid is visible to visitors who cycle along their paths.
- Comarca de las Vegas y la Alcarria de Madrid is the perfect route for lovers of nature and rural areas and charming villages. The best example is Aranjuez, one of the Royal Sites of the Crown of Spain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Sierra de Guadarrama, which stands out as an extraordinary refuge of biodiversity. Surrounded by impressive mountains, cirques and glacial lakes, this landscape of high mountains and large pine forests is one of the most popular areas in the Region of Madrid for all those who love active tourism.
- Sierra Norte: CiclaMadrid also offers a long route specially designed for mountain bikes (MTB). The route runs along the 213 km-perimeter of the Sierra Norte and there are numerous accesses to towns where you can find all kinds of restaurants, accommodation and other tourist services. The circuit crosses the Peñalara Natural Park and the Sierra del Rincón Biosphere Reserve, home to the Montejo Beech Forest, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017.
- Sierra Oeste offers numerous tourist attractions, including a huge forest mass of enormous ecological value, the Castillo de la Coracera, the Bosque Encantado [Enchanted Forest] and wine tourism, with wines from the Denominación de Origen Vinos de Madrid and many options for activities organised by the wineries throughout the territory. CiclaMadrid offers two routes in this area, among large pine forests, rivers and meadows.
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Three Greenways in the Region of Madrid
The Region of Madrid has three Greenways, totalling over 70 kilometres, in the south and east of the region. These are former disused railway lines that have been recovered as non-motorised routes for walking and cycling. Through them, travellers discover the history, culture and nature of Madrid’s territory, exploring at their own pace the unexpected corners that used to cross the Region’s old railways.
- The Vía Verde del Tajuña or Tajuña Greenway may start at the La Poveda Railway Museum, run in the town of Arganda del Rey by the Vapor Madrid Association, which has restored a six-kilometre section of the old Madrid-Alocén railway, the only historic railway line in operation in the region.
Greenways such as the Tajuña Greenway are perfectly equipped to be travelled with the whole family. Source: Spanish Railway Foundation (FFE). Greenways.- In Carabaña you can connect with the Vía Verde del Tren de los 40 días, a 14 km branch line that runs through old trenches, olive groves and fields. People say that the so-called Vía Negrín was built during this period of time to supply Madrid during the Spanish Civil War.
- The Vía Verde del río Guadarrama, a mere 4.5 km long, starts in Móstoles, alongside the El Soto park and enters the Parque Regional del Curso Medio del río.
The iconic iron railway bridge of the Guadarrama River Greenway is the highlight of the excursion. Source: Spanish Railway Foundation (FFE). Greenways.Other active and nature tourism options in the Region of Madrid are available by clicking on the following button: