Cycling day trip from Pontevedra to Padrón

Roll out from Pontevedra’s lovely old town by the Lérez, a famously pedestrian-friendly city, and head north through classic Galician countryside. Expect about 60 km with roughly 1,200 m of climbing: a day of short, punchy ups and downs that top out around 300 m rather than any huge passes. Riding is mostly on quiet backroads with stretches of farm tracks; you’ll hit some gravel and unpaved bits, so wider tires (32–35 mm) are a plus.

The scenery swings from vineyards to eucalyptus and pine, with plenty of sleepy aldeas for coffee and water—village fountains and cafés pop up regularly. Shaded lanes can stay damp, so watch for mossy corners after rain.

Finish in Padrón at the meeting of the Sar and Ulla rivers. The town is famed for its pimientos de Padrón (some are hot!) and its ties to poet Rosalía de Castro and the legend of Saint James’s arrival. Celebrate with a ración of peppers and something cold on a sunny terraza.