Overview
Cycling in the Penedès Wine Region (centre-based) for four days, is the perfect short break for those who like to combine a little wine with wilderness, but also with comfort as you’re based in one hotel throughout this tour. Based in Vilafranca del Penedès, this is a quick hit of Catalan culture, with two full days of cycling through ancient villages, churches, monasteries and mountain landscapes. You can explore the landscapes with ease on this tour, which is also accessible by train from Barcelona.
- Penedès Wine Region
- Vilafranca del Penedès
- Castellet Castle
- Família Torres winery
- Cava capital Sant Sadurní d’Anoia
- Caves Codorniu winery
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Vilafranca del Penedès
Arrive in Vilafranca del Penedès and head off to explore the capital of the Penedès Wine Region, famous for its wine and cava production. Vilafranca del Penedès has a well-preserved medieval quarter, which includes the Gothic Basilica de Santa María, built in the 14th century. Visit the Vinseum (wine museum), or try one of the many restaurants located in the historic centre.
- Accommodation: Mercer Casa Torner i Güell or similar in Vilafranca del Penedès
- Upgraded accommodation: Bolet Casa Modernista, located on the south-western side of Vilafranca del Penedès, in a rural setting surrounded by vineyards. If choosing this accommodation, you will need to cycle 10km to reach the start of the cycling route and another 10km to get back to the hotel on day three. Alternatively, we can book an optional transfer on request.
Day 2: Castellet – Pacs del Penedès | 46km
Start cycling towards the village of Moja and its church of Sant Jaume de Moja, where you can visit Cavas Hill, one of the oldest wineries in the Cava D.O. Continue through rural paths to the Foix reservoir by Castellet Castle. Cycle up and down typical Catalonian rolling hills, alongside farms and vineyards towards L’Arboç, Banyeres del Penedès and Sant Sadurní de Castellví. Arrive at Família Torres winery for an optional guided tour and wine tasting before returning to Vilafranca, crossing more rural roads.
- Cycling for the day: 46km, ↑411m ↓411m
Day 3: Sant Sadurní d’Anoia | 42km
Cycle through vineyards and olive groves to the romanesque Monestir de Sant Sebastià dels Gorgs, a 12th-century Benedictine monastery known for its well-preserved cloister and medieval frescoes. Continue on to the church of Sant Pere de Lavern, before riding on to Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, known as Cava’s capital. The Caves Codorniu winery was designed by modernist architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch and built in 1895. Here, there is an optional visit to the winery with a Cava tour and tasting. Head back towards Vilafranca after passing the 10th-century castle ruins in La Granada, along the route.
- Cycling for the day: 42km, ↑334m ↓334m
Day 4: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour is in a three or four star hotel in the heart of the city of Vilafranca del Penedès. The hotels have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view sample hotels
- Mercer Casa Torner i Güell (Vilafranca del Penedès)
- Hotel Pere III El Gran (Vilafranca del Penedès)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide you with the exact accommodation details upon booking confirmation.
Click to view upgraded hotels
- Bolet Casa Modernista (Castellví de la Marca)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide you with the exact accommodation details upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available en route, lunches and snacks can either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from some hotels the night before. Dinner is available from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This trip is graded easy/moderate, including cycling distances of up to 45km per day on a mixture of asphalt and dirt roads, with a maximum daily elevation gain of 411m. We recommend that you have some previous cycling experience and have a good level of physical fitness (read more about difficulty grades). E-bikes are also available to rent on this tour, making the journey more accessible and enjoyable for a broader range of riders.
We strongly advise you only to follow marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed digital route notes and maps and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available all year round. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date within the season.
The best time to cycle in the Penedès region is spring (green landscape, flowers) and autumn (mild weather, grape harvest). During spring, April to June, the vineyard awakens, the landscape changes rapidly and the colours are vibrant. During autumn, September to November, it coincides with the harvest and wine festivals, offering a complete wine tourism experience.
The climate in this region of Catalonia is Mediterranean, characterised by hot, dry summers and mild winters. The most comfortable conditions for cycling are typically found in spring and autumn, when temperatures are moderate. During summer, particularly in July and certainly August, daytime highs often exceed 30C, so it’s advisable to begin rides early in the day to avoid the peak heat. To find out more about when to go, take a look at our blogs, Best time to go to Catalonia and Best time to go to Spain.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
The recommended airport for this tour is Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN).
By train or bus
- If you can travel to Spain without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail, with a railway station in Vilafranca del Penedès. For more details, see the national rail operator Renfe or use the Omio planner above.
- From Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport take the R2N (Sant Celoni) train (20mins), before changing in Barcelona Sants to take the R4 train to reach Vilafranca del Penedès (1h). From here you can walk directly to the accommodation or take a taxi.
- Private transfers to and from Barcelona Airport or Vilafranca del Penedès train station can be arranged on request.
Inclusions
Included
- 3 nights accommodation
- 3 breakfasts
- Digital Tour materials: detailed roadbook including maps (digital format), a navigation app for smartphones, GPS tracks. Please note that no printed documents will be provided on-site.
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- International flights and land transfers
- Lunches and dinners, drinks and snacks
- Tourist tax
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Optional bike insurance if available
- Additional travel-related changes in the programme due to bad weather
- Entrance fees for attractions, including wineries and museums
- Personal expenses
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own.
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Extra nights
- Bike and e-bike rental
- Optional transfer from/to Bolet Casa Modernista to Vilafranca del Penedès
Bike rental
Choose from normal bike or e-bike rental. All bikes come with helmet, multi-tool, bike lock, extra inner tube, hand pump. It is highly recommended that you bring a phone holder specific to your device, as this will be crucial for your tour.
Mountain bike (Orbea MX40)
- Model: MTB with front suspension and 24-speed gearbox
- Frame: Aluminium frame
- Brakes: hydraulic disc brakes
- Wheel/tyre: all terrain tyres
Trekking E-bike
- Model: E-bike (trekking bikes with assisted pedaling)
- Frame: Aluminium frame
- Adjustable handlebar/stem setup with sprung seat post for improved comfort
- Gearing: 250W 48V 12Ah 576Wh
- USB port with 5V to charge mobile phones
Sample pictures shown above, please note that the exact models may differ depending on availability, but the standard will be the same. The bike rental’s deposit is payable on site at the moment of the bike delivery.
Spain’s legal requirement for personal information
Please note: in December 2024, the Spanish government introduced a new law making it a legal obligation for all visitors to Spain to share personal details with their accommodations and car rental companies. Consequently, as we book your accommodation for you, we are obliged to pass these on to our local partners on the ground. After booking your holiday, we will send you a form to complete requesting all the legally-required information, including: name, nationality, gender, passport number, DOB, address, phone numbers and email address. This applies to all travellers aged 14 and over. If you are travelling with people under 14 years old, you need to declare your relationship to them. We apologise for any inconvenience. For more information, see here.
