The interior of the Iberian Peninsula offers a series of motorcycle itineraries that are not only spectacular but also surprisingly unknown to the general public. This region is the least populated in the country, making it ideal for enjoying on two wheels.

Interesting Places to Explore by Motorcycle That You Can’t Miss

Castles and Walls

Ávila, Segovia, Toledo, Trujillo… The list of places to visit in central Spain is endless. Here, you can find the Wall of Ávila (one of the most important and best-preserved defensive complexes in Europe), the Alcázar of Segovia (the castle that inspired Disney for the movie ‘Snow White’), or the Aqueduct of Segovia (built by the Romans almost 2,000 years ago and a true engineering marvel). Not to mention Toledo, a city that was once the capital of an empire and has such cultural wealth that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Alcázar of Toledo, a 16th-century architectural marvel, stands out in the city. This former military and civil fortification now houses the Spanish Army Museum.

About 200 kilometers east of Toledo, you will find another gem of the central peninsula: the Hanging Houses of Cuenca. Perched precariously on the edge of the Huécar River gorge, these three houses have withstood the test of time and gravity since the 15th century, astonishing all who see them. All these cities are very accessible as they are not metropolises like Madrid or any large city on the Mediterranean coast—Toledo is the most populous with 85,000 inhabitants—and they offer many accommodation options with a wide range of lodging choices.

Madrid, the Capital of Spain

A motorcycle route like the one we are showing you must necessarily pass through Madrid, the most populous city in Spain and practically the geodesic center of the Iberian Peninsula. Wide avenues (like Gran Vía), palaces (like the Royal Palace), markets (like San Miguel Market), and museums, many museums (like the Prado Museum or the Thyssen Museum), are part of the many attractions that make Madrid a must on this adventure through the central peninsula.

Sierra de Gredos Regional Park

The Sierra de Gredos is located in the southern part of the Castilla y León community, the backbone of the Central System, the mountain range that runs east to west across the Iberian Peninsula for 66 kilometers. With a rugged and very vertical profile at times, Almanzor Peak stands out above the rest with its 2,592 meters of altitude. The variety and good condition of the roads here, as well as the tranquility and fresh air that you breathe among its mountains, are some of the highlights of a motorcycle route through the area.

Mountain Passes

With such a variety of natural parks and rugged terrain, mountain passes are a constant in the center of the country. A territory that might initially seem flat, but the reality is quite different. The list of mountain passes to visit on this route through the interior of Spain includes the Navacerrada Pass. Establishing the border between the Community of Madrid and Castilla y León, the Navacerrada Pass has become one of the most sought-after nearby paradises for motorcyclists from the capital of Spain, just an hour from downtown Madrid. At just over 1,800 meters above sea level, it is one of the highest mountain passes in the entire Iberian Peninsula, a meeting point for bikers traveling through the Sierra de Guadarrama. You can reach this spot by taking the N-IV road, the main route connecting Madrid and Segovia, which crowns the mountain range with a pleasant and very agile ascent, without major technical complications for motorcycle riding.

Other interesting mountain passes in the area for planning a motorcycle itinerary through central Spain include: the Pico Pass (1,352m), with views of a Roman road; the Honduras Pass (1,440m), from which you can see the Jerte Valley and the Sierra de Gredos; or the San Vicente Pass (807m), marking the border between Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha.

High-Level Gastronomy

In regions where the food supply has historically been based on agriculture, hunting, and livestock, we can begin to get an idea of how rich and varied their cuisine is today, where any of the many pork-derived products become the star guest. In the southernmost part, the Andalusian influence is noticeable, which is almost the same as saying Arab, while in the northernmost part, where winters are particularly cold, strong flavors and products from the slaughterhouse predominate. As we can see, the stomach will also greatly enjoy this route through the most interesting places in the central part of our country.