Sternfahrt Ariany/Sineu
The heart of Mallorca by bike: open fields, small villages, the market at Sineu and places where time seems to have stopped. Every evening back to the same finca.
30–65 kmSaturdaysCentre of the island (Pla de Mallorca)
A guide for leisure riders
Cycling in Mallorca
Cycling in Mallorca does not have to mean mountains and a stopwatch. There are back roads through the centre of the island, the car-free Via Verde in the east and coves to swim in along the way. This guide covers the regions, the best months, bike hire, helmets and trains. It is written by Uli and Stefan, who have organised cycling weeks on the island since 2010.
- Best monthsMid-March to mid-June, September and October
- Regions for leisure ridersCentre of the island, east coast, north
- Car-free routeVia Verde, 28 km from Manacor to Artà
- Bike hireTrekking bike, mountain bike, e-bike, delivered to your finca or hotel
Where to go cycling in Mallorca: three regions
The centre of the island
Open fields, small villages and places where time seems to have stopped: Costitx, Lloret, Llubí, Búger. Sineu sits right in the middle of the island and holds the oldest market in Mallorca every Wednesday. The stages here are easy and manageable even for riders without much practice.
The east coast
The east is called Llevant, the side of the island where the sun rises. Artà with its fortified church, the harbour at Cala Rajada, the caves of Artà and wild coves such as Cala Torta are all within a day's ride. And then there is the Via Verde, the old railway line.
The north
The bay of Alcúdia with the S'Albufera nature reserve, Pollença with its 365 steps up to the Calvari, and the Camí Vell de Pollença below the Tramuntana, a classic for anyone cycling in Majorca.
Tours
Cycling in Mallorca with everything arranged: our weeks
Sternfahrt Levante
Wake up to a sea view, come back in the evening to the same finca. In between, 40 to 65 kilometres through the real eastern Mallorca: Artà, Cala Rajada, the Via Verde and wild coves.
40–65 kmSundaysEast coast (Llevant)
PetitHotel Tour
The rather different cycling tour: four petit hotels right across the island, six stages, and your luggage already waiting in the next house. Riding with luggage can be this comfortable.
40–70 kmFridaysRight across the island: Felanitx, Algaida, Moscari, Alcúdia
At a glance
| Best months | Mid-March to mid-June, September and October |
|---|---|
| Less suitable | July and August, often above thirty degrees |
| Regions for leisure riders | Centre of the island, east coast, north |
| Car-free route | Via Verde, 28 km from Manacor to Artà |
| Helmet | Compulsory in Spain outside built-up areas |
| Bikes on trains | Carried free of charge (Palma, Sineu, Manacor) |
| Bike hire | Trekking bike, mountain bike, e-bike, delivered to your finca or hotel |
| Written by | Rad und Finca Mallorca, Uli and Stefan, on the island since 1992 and 2006 |
Flat cycling routes and quiet lanes
The Via Verde runs 28 kilometres from Manacor to Artà: no cars, no gradient worth mentioning, a few tunnels and picnic spots. At each old station the detour into the village is worth it. Read more in The Via Verde from Manacor to Artà.
Elsewhere the best riding is on back roads and the old camins. Stefan has been cycling this island since 1992 and knows the lanes that do not show up in any app. Our favourite loops are available as GPX route suggestions, and full day stages from your own accommodation as route planning made for you.
The best time for cycling in Mallorca
The short answer: not in July and August, everything else works.
- Mid-March to mid-June: the island is green, 18 to 24 degrees, and from May the sea is warm enough to swim
- September and October: the sea is at 25 degrees, the air 24 to 28
- November to February: twelve to seventeen degrees and empty roads; from late January to late February the almond trees blossom
- July and August: often above thirty degrees, riding only early in the morning and with plenty of water
More in When is the best time for a cycling holiday on Mallorca?
Bike hire, helmets and trains
You do not need to bring a bike. We have trekking bikes, mountain bikes and e-bikes, each with a rear rack, pannier, lock and a loaner helmet. Without a cycling week we deliver the bike to your finca or hotel. See bike hire in Mallorca.
In Spain a helmet is compulsory outside built-up areas and recommended inside them. The rules are published by the Spanish traffic authority DGT.
The island railway is handy: trains run from Palma by way of Sineu to Manacor and carry bikes free of charge. Timetables are on the TIB website.
On your own or on a cycling week?
Both work. If you already have somewhere to stay and a bike, we can supply routes and, if needed, the biketaxi. If you would rather not organise anything, book a cycling week: a house, six stages, maps, GPX files and a hotline seven days a week. You always ride at your own pace, with no group to keep up with.
All weeks are listed under cycling tours in Mallorca. How a week works is explained under self-guided cycling holidays in Mallorca.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The centre of the island and the east coast are flat to rolling, and the Via Verde from Manacor to Artà has no gradient worth mentioning. On our stages there are no big climbs, and the ones that get in the way can be ridden around.
The best time is from mid-March to mid-June and in September and October. July and August are hot, often above thirty degrees. In winter it is twelve to seventeen degrees and the roads are empty.
Yes, outside built-up areas a helmet is compulsory in Spain, and inside them it is recommended. We give you a loaner helmet free of charge.
Yes. Trains from Palma by way of Sineu to Manacor carry bikes free of charge. The station at Manacor is also the start of the Via Verde.
Rad und Finca Mallorca rents trekking bikes, mountain bikes and e-bikes by the week. We deliver them island-wide to your finca or hotel, fit them to you and collect them at the end.
The centre of the island around Sineu and Ariany. The stages there are easy, with plenty of villages to stop in.
Sounds like your kind of holiday?
Tell us when you would like to come and what matters to you. Uli and Stefan reply in person.