Self-Launched: Cycling the Mediterranean Coast — Barcelona to Valencia

Fly into Barcelona El Prat (BCN) and make your own way into the city by Aerobus (~£6) or Metro Line 2 (~£2.50). Check into a well-rated hostel in the Gothic Quarter or Eixample — you're right on the doorstep of all the sights. Spend the afternoon doing a free self-guided walking tour of La Rambla, Barcelona Cathedral and the Gothic Quarter (dozens of free audio guides available on the Rick Steves or GPSmyCity apps). Grab pintxos and a cold Estrella at a bar on Carrer del Parlament for dinner — budget around £15–20 for food and drinks this evening.

🚌Aerobus from BCN airport to Plaça Catalunya (~£6) or Metro Line 2 (~£2.50)

🛏Generator Barcelona or Sant Jordi Hostel Rock Palace (dorm ~£22–28/night; private room ~£55–70/night)

• →Self-guided walking tour of La Rambla, Barcelona Cathedral and the Gothic Quarter (free with audio guide apps)
• →Dinner and drinks in the El Born or Raval neighbourhood (~£15–20)
• →Pick up a pre-downloaded GPX cycling route file for the full Barcelona–Valencia route (free via Wikiloc or Komoot)

Collect your hired bike first thing — book a 7-day hybrid bike hire in advance through a Barcelona bike shop such as Barcelona Rent A Bike or Bike2Bike (~£18–22/day for a Specialized Crosstrail equivalent or similar hybrid). Ride or take the R2 Rodalies commuter train from Barcelona Sants to Sitges (~30 min, ~£4 with bike). From Sitges, follow the coastal road and cycle paths south through Vilanova i la Geltrú (coffee stop), past the Roman Arc de Berà, and on to the medieval town of Altafulla. The evening stroll up to Altafulla Castle and Plaça del Pou is free. Settle into a beachside guesthouse and enjoy a fresh seafood dinner by the sea.

🚌Rodalies R2 train Barcelona → Sitges (~£4 with bike); cycling for all remaining distance

🛏Hotel Altafulla Mar or Hostal Cal Fuster, Altafulla (~£45–65/night)

• →Bike hire collection in Barcelona (~£18–22/day)
• →Rodalies R2 train Barcelona Sants to Sitges with bike (~£4)
• →Cycle 48 km: Sitges → Vilanova i la Geltrú → Arc de Berà → Altafulla
• →Self-guided evening walk to Altafulla Castle and Plaça del Pou (free)

Take an early Rodalies or regional RENFE train from Altafulla/Tarragona south to Tortosa or Benifallet (check renfe.com, ~£8–12, bikes typically permitted on regional services outside peak hours — book ahead or check bike reservation requirements). From the old Benifallet station, join the Vía Verde del Zafán — a glorious traffic-free former railway line running beside the Ebro River through tunnels and over viaducts. Stop for lunch in medieval Tortosa; visit the Gothic cathedral and 10th-century Castillo de la Zuda for free from the outside (entry to castle area ~£3). Continue on quiet minor roads along the Ebro to Amposta (look for the Brooklyn Bridge-inspired suspension bridge), then ride to the seaside town of Sant Carles de la Ràpita for two nights.

🚌RENFE regional train Tarragona → Benifallet (~£8–12); cycling remainder

🛏Hotel Juanito Platja or Hostal La Ràpita, Sant Carles de la Ràpita (~£45–60/night)

• →Regional RENFE train Tarragona → Benifallet (~£8–12, bike reservation required)
• →Cycle the Vía Verde del Zafán (free, car-free former railway path)
• →Lunch in Tortosa — menú del día at a local restaurant (~£10–12)
• →Tortosa Gothic Cathedral exterior and Castillo de la Zuda views (free–£3)
• →Amposta suspension bridge photo stop (free)

A rest-day loop from your base in Sant Carles — no transfers needed. The Ebro Delta is one of Europe's great birdwatching destinations and the cycling is flat and dreamy: canal-side paths through rice fields and lagoons. Pedal to Deltebre (coffee stop), take the small ferry across the Ebro River (€2/person+bike, runs regularly), and continue to Tancada Lagoon where flamingos, herons and ducks congregate. The Delta Natural Park visitor centre in Deltebre has free displays on the ecosystem. Return along the coastal route and spend the late afternoon swimming at La Marquesa beach. Dinner back in Sant Carles de la Ràpita — try the fresh mussels and clams the town is famous for.

🚌Cycling throughout; small Ebro river ferry (~£2)

🛏Hotel Juanito Platja or Hostal La Ràpita, Sant Carles de la Ràpita (~£45–60/night)

• →Cycle 50 km loop through Ebro Delta Natural Park (free entry)
• →Deltebre Ebro Delta Natural Park Visitor Centre (free)
• →Ferry crossing over the Ebro River in the Delta (~£2)
• →Birdwatching at Tancada Lagoon — flamingos, herons, ducks (free)
• →Afternoon swim at La Marquesa beach (free)
• →Seafood dinner in Sant Carles de la Ràpita (~£15–18)

Today you cross into the Valencia region on the most scenic and challenging day of the trip. Head south along the coastal road through Les Cases d'Alcanar (look for the Spanish Civil War bunker remains by the shore), then continue to the dramatic hilltop town of Peñíscola for lunch. The old walled city and Papal Castle (entry ~£6, or admire the exterior for free) sit on a rocky promontory jutting into the sea. After lunch, enter the Sierra de Irta Natural Park — the track becomes a bumpy dirt path with short steep climbs, but the reward is spectacular: wild, unspoiled Mediterranean coastline with zero traffic. Arrive in Alcossebre for a well-earned dip and cold cerveza.

🚌Cycling throughout

🛏Hostal Alcossebre or Apartamentos Cala Mundina (~£40–65/night)

• →Cycle 58 km: Sant Carles → Les Cases d'Alcanar → Peñíscola → Sierra de Irta → Alcossebre
• →Spanish Civil War bunker ruins at Les Cases d'Alcanar (free)
• →Peñíscola old walled town and Papal Castle exterior (free) or interior entry (~£6)
• →Menú del día lunch in Peñíscola (~£10–13)
• →Cycling through Sierra de Irta Natural Park (free entry)
• →Evening swim at Alcossebre beach (free)

A predominantly flat day making excellent use of Spain's well-maintained coastal cycle paths. Roll south through the Parque Natural del Prat de Cabanes-Torreblanca wetlands (free, great for birdwatching en route), then join the car-free coastal path near Oropesa del Mar, which features short sea-cliff tunnels and sweeping beach views. Stop for lunch with a sea view in Benicàssim — the town is known for its FIB music festival and its long sandy beaches. Continue inland on bike lanes to Castellón de la Plana, the regional capital. Spend the evening exploring the old town on foot: the Plaça Major, the Fadrí bell tower and the Mercado Central are all free to walk around.

🚌Cycling throughout

🛏Hotel NH Mindoro (often bookable independently ~£55–75) or Hostal Tarongers Castellón (~£35–50/night)

• →Cycle 56 km: Alcossebre → Parque Natural Prat de Cabanes → Oropesa → Benicàssim → Castellón
• →Parque Natural del Prat de Cabanes-Torreblanca cycling (free)
• →Car-free coastal path with sea-cliff tunnels near Oropesa (free)
• →Lunch in Benicàssim (~£10–13)
• →Self-guided evening walk around Castellón old town, Plaça Major and Fadrí Tower (free)

Take a short regional RENFE Cercanías train from Castellón to El Puig (~30 min, ~£5 with bike) to skip the busy urban outskirts and pick up the dedicated cycling lanes into Valencia. From El Puig, cycle south through the huerta (market garden orchards that supply Valencia's famous paella ingredients) on excellent bike infrastructure all the way into the city centre. Valencia has a superb network of cycling lanes — follow the route through the former Turia riverbed park (completely car-free) to reach the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences (free to walk outside; IMAX/museum entry optional ~£10–15), the Quart and Serranos medieval towers (free or ~£2 entry), and the spectacular Mercado Central (free to browse). Book a paella cooking class or simply head to the Ruzafa neighbourhood for an outstanding celebratory dinner.

🚌RENFE Cercanías Castellón → El Puig (~£5); cycling remainder

🛏Feetup Garden House Valencia or Russafa Youth Hostel (~£22–30 dorm / £55–70 private); or Hotel Olympia Universidades booked independently (~£65–80)

• →RENFE Cercanías train Castellón → El Puig (~£5 with bike)
• →Cycle 30 km through Valencia's huerta orchards into the city centre
• →Self-guided cycling tour via Turia Riverbed Park (free)
• →City of Arts and Sciences — exterior visit (free); optional interior entry (~£10–15)
• →Serranos and Quart Towers (free exterior; ~£2 entry each)
• →Mercado Central — browse the stalls (free entry)
• →Celebratory paella dinner in Ruzafa or El Carmen (~£20–25)

Return the hire bike at a pre-arranged drop-off point or arrange a one-way return to Barcelona (confirm this with your hire shop at booking — some shops offer one-way hire at a small surcharge). For getting back to Barcelona airport, the fastest and most comfortable option is the AVE high-speed train from Valencia Joaquín Sorolla station to Barcelona Sants (~1hr 40min, ~£25–45 booked in advance on renfe.com — book as early as possible for best prices). Alternatively, ALSA coaches run from Valencia to Barcelona (~4 hrs, ~£15–20). From Barcelona Sants, the Metro or Aerobus takes you to the airport in 30–40 minutes.

🚌AVE train Valencia → Barcelona Sants (~£25–45) + Aerobus/Metro to airport (~£6)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Bike return/drop-off at Valencia hire point
• →AVE high-speed train Valencia → Barcelona Sants (~£25–45, booked in advance via renfe.com)
• →OR ALSA coach Valencia → Barcelona (~£15–20)
• →Aerobus or Metro Barcelona Sants → BCN Airport (~£6)