Award Winning Active Holidays
Sunshine, smooth tarmac and sea views.
If you’d rather compete for the coveted yellow jersey than hit woodland trails, you can join us on our road cycling holidays. Roadies can get in on the action with specially selected routes and great hill climbs and descents along Mediterranean coastlines and across the hilly landscapes of Greece, Sicily and Sardinia.
We offer road bike holidays suitable for all riders, whether you're an absolute newbie or a regular cyclist. Get in touch to speak with our team and book your next adventure with Neilson today.
The best routes and rolling hills for a road cycling holiday are Levante, Messini and Buca Beach Clubs in Greece or Baia dei Mori Beach Club in Sardinia. On a Neilson Beach Club holiday, our bike guides are with you every step of the way, you just need to turn up and enjoy the ride.
As with our mountain biking holidays, if you own cycling shoes with cleats and plan to bring them with you, we recommend bringing your pedals so that they're guaranteed to fit.
Different Ways To Ride
Get On Your Bike
Guided Cycling Holidays
If navigation isn't your strong point – our guided road cycling holidays are the answer. Our bike team has done most of the hard work for you. All our rides are fully guided, meaning you can just turn up and ride. You can focus on your fitness or take it easy while enjoying the view.
Every Beach Club has a variety of rides mapped out and the team will take the time to make sure you're happy and comfortable on the bikes, with guidance on all parts of the ride if you need it. Simply sign up for a ride with the bike team at the welcome meeting, after completing your first ride, more can be booked with the bike team.
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Free Riding
Our road bikes are free to use at any point during the day, and one of our team will always be on hand at the cycling centre to give you advice and assistance with routes and bike mechanics.
Strava is the must-have app for anybody heading out free riding. It makes discovering the full potential of the local area around our Beach Clubs easier. All routes are now available through destination-specific Strava pages. This gives you the flexibility to choose routes that have been carefully mapped out by our bike guides. A mixture of road routes is available and you will find most of the information you need within the title of the route itself. If that’s not enough, one of our bike team will happily give you more details on specific routes.
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Beginner road cycling holidays
Our green-level road cycling rides start at around 5km with a maximum distance of around 10km. These rides are a great way to ease back into cycling or the perfect introduction to road cycling.
Our bike team have mapped out tried and tested routes to nearby beaches, villages, and tavernas, and don't worry, they know the best coffee and ice cream stops around. If you are new to road biking, our bike team can provide you with riding tips or you can join an introduction session. Our Beach Clubs in Greece, Sardinia and Sicily are perfect for trying out road biking.
For those looking to test the legs and head further afield, our blue-level road bike rides are a small step up from the green-level rides. Blue rides vary from 10 to 25km and will take you inland to villages or along the coast.
Intermediate And Expert Road Cycling Holidays
Are you a confident road cyclist who loves climbing and switchback descents through breathtaking countryside? If so, our red rides are perfect for you.
And, for those who crave a longer, more challenging ride, our black rides are guaranteed to make you work hard.
Red and black routes are available at Levante, Vounaki, Cosmos, Messini, Buca, and Baia dei Mori Beach Clubs. Give them a try and push yourself to the limit.
Our Road Bikes
You need specialist bikes to get the most out of your road cycling holiday and we'll equip you with everything you need. The bikes included in our activity holidays include:
- Trek Domane AL4: Featuring upgraded drivetrains, crisp hydraulic brakes and a premium alloy frame, this bike delivers a smooth, easy ride around Levante, Vounaki, Messini, Buca and Baia dei Mori and Mangia's Torre del Barone Resort. The IsoSpeed carbon forks soak up road buzz, so you can ride all day without fuss.
- Trek Domane AL5: Available at Cosmos Beach Club in Greece. With a light carbon frame and aerodynamic features, you're in for an all-road riding experience to remember.
Premium bikes for your road cycling holiday
If you plan on spending most of your time riding, Trek bikes with carbon frames in a range of sizes (47, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60 and 62cm) are available to reserve for your exclusive use, with a custom set-up and routes uploaded to your Garmin upon request, subject to availability and for a small supplement per week. Bikes available daily from 8am to 6pm.
This option is available at Levante Beach, Buca, Messini, and Baia dei Mori Beach Clubs. If you have cycling shoes with cleats and plan to bring them with you, we also advise you to bring your pedals so that they're guaranteed to fit.
Road cycling holidays in Greece
Levante Beach, Messini and Buca Beach Clubs offer some of the best routes. Take on technical climbs and steep descents and discover gentle swathes of winding roads. Or stay at Cosmos Beach Club for Greek Islands exploration against a gorgeous Ionian Sea backdrop.
Road cycling holidays in Sardinia
Baia dei Mori Beach Club is located just south of the famous Costa Smeralda and is home to some of the best road cycling.
Road cycling holidays in Sicily
At our new club, Neilson x Mangia's Torre del Barone Resort, you can take in the stunning areas that surround the resort of Sciacca, gentle cruises to hill climbs, quiet coastal paths to rolling roads, it's all there waiting to be discovered.
Our Beach Clubs
Top Beach Clubs For Road Cycling
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News And Article
Inspired By Good Energy
From expert tips and travel stories to guest favourites – here's where the energy lives on, long after the beach towels been packed away.
Our top 5 cycling routes in Sardinia
Baia dei Mori Beach Club isn’t just about turquoise waters and sandy toes, this slice of Sardinia is cycling heaven. With lush hills, coastal roads and off-road trails right on the doorstep, it’s one of our top spots for getting out on the bike.Our expert bike team have handpicked the best routes in the area - covering everything from gentle road rides to technical climbs and rugged mountain tracks. Whatever your level, you’ll find a route that fits, with scenery that never stops showing off.Take a high-spec road or mountain bike and explore, or join a guided ride for local insight and a bit of group motivation. Either way, the ride of a lifetime starts right here.Here are our top cycling routes in Sardinia, favourites with our guides and guests, and perfect for a wide range of abilities.
Cycling in Greece: The Complete Guide
Picture this. You've spent the last hour with your quads on fire, grinding your way up a sun-baked climb. But you're over the top now. You're cruising down a winding coastal road, the Aegean glittering below, a warm breeze on your back, and there's a little taverna at the bottom with your name on it. Fanta Limon. Maybe a cold Mythos. You've earned it.That's cycling in Greece. And while everyone else is packing their bikes off to Majorca or Girona, Greece remains something of a hidden gem — one that delivers island loops, mountain climbs, quiet back roads and jaw-dropping coastal descents in equal measure.Whether you're a seasoned road cyclist chasing KOMs, a mountain biker after epic trails, or someone who just fancies pedalling between pretty villages with a coffee stop in between, Greece has it all. This guide covers everything you need to know. The terrain, the best regions, when to go, what to pack, and how to make it happen.
Four great cycle routes on Lefkada, Greece
One of our favourite places to ride in Greece is the beautiful, mountainous island of Lefkada. The island is blessed with spectacular scenery, forested mountains, some of the best beaches in Greece and a sea of the most beautiful turquoise blue that you could easily imagine yourself in the Caribbean.The terrain lends itself perfectly to mountain biking and there’s some decent road cycling too. There really is something for all riders, from leisurely trips through olive groves and past waterfalls to traditional villages. Then there’s the challenging ascents and descents with plenty of single track and switchbacks galore to keep the experts happy. Most of these rides start from the village of Vassiliki, a true sports playground; well known for its windsurfing as well as the riding. If you’re looking for a place to stay the Neilson Cosmos Beach Club makes a great base for mountain bike adventures.
Four great cycle routes in Peloponnese, Greece
It might not top the list when you think of Europe's best biking spots - but it should. The truth of the matter is that Greece is great for two-wheeled adventures, the beautiful countryside has some of the best routes in the world together with some lovely gentle trails and everything in between.Down in the southern Peloponnese, the terrain’s as varied as it gets, from smooth, traffic-free beach tracks to steep, alpine-style climbs. So, whether you are a beginner or avid mountain bikers and road cyclists, this place delivers. And the best bit? You can base yourself at our Messini Beach Club, just outside Kalamata, and ride straight into the heart of this unspoilt slice of Greece.
Help And Support
Frequently Asked Questions
Road biking is more than just your average bike ride and offers cyclists an adventure like no other. It's all about the thrill of hitting the open road and pushing yourself to meet challenges while taking in the beauty of the surroundings.
Compared to other disciplines such as mountain biking, road cycling is usually on smooth tarmacked roads that allow you to cover longer distances.
Whether you're a solo rider looking to beat your personal best or you thrive on the social aspect of group cycling, road biking is an exhilarating way to experience new cultures and landscapes.
Road bike holidays provide some of the best 2-wheeled experiences in Europe. The continent boasts mountain terrain, hilly countryside, rolling roads and coastal climbs that are a true cycling paradise.
If you're looking for an active fitness getaway that is physically rewarding and allows you to experience the best of Europe, Neilson road cycling holidays are for you. Couples, solo travellers and families are spoiled for choice with the variety of routes and destinations on offer with Neilson road bike holidays. You'll also find plenty of activities to enjoy alongside cycling. Take your focus off the road for a while and unwind with yoga classes before trying water sports, tennis and more.
Preparation before setting off on your next biking adventure with Neilson means you'll get the most out of your road cycling holidays. Having an idea of what to expect will guarantee you'll enjoy every moment. From route grading and fitness to must-have cycling kit and apparel, getting to grips with the basics before travelling will help build your confidence.
Whatever your cycling experience, we recommend checking out the following guides:
We have over 40 years' experience creating unforgettable adventures across the globe so you're in safe hands when booking road bike holidays with us. We've won consecutive British Travel Awards across a variety of categories and offer essential ATOL protection as well.
You can find out just how much our customers enjoy our holiday packages by checking out the testimonials on our Feefo page. Don't forget to visit the Neilson Hub to find inspiration for your upcoming adventure and read up on all the exciting activities you can expect.