EuroVelo 8 - Mediterranean Route

EuroVelo 8, the Mediterranean Route, runs from Cádiz in south-west Spain to Athens in Greece, then continues to İzmir in Turkey and a circuit of Cyprus. Along the way it crosses 12 countries: Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Turkey and Cyprus, staying on or close to the Mediterranean coast for most of its length.

It is also one of the least complete EuroVelo routes. Finished, signposted cycleways in France and Turkey alternate with long on-road stretches and sections still in development, especially in Spain and the western Balkans. That makes EV8 two things at once: a demanding long-haul objective for experienced tourers, and a collection of shorter trips that work on their own, such as the French Mediterranean coast, the Slovenian Parenzana or the İzmir peninsula.

Essential route information

Start and end: Cádiz (Spain) to Athens (Greece), with continuations to İzmir (Turkey) and a loop of Cyprus
Countries: Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus
Character: coastal riding for most of the way, with inland legs through Provence, the Po valley and Croatia's Lika region
Completion: among the least complete EuroVelo routes; France is fully developed and signposted, several other countries are partly developed or still on shared roads
Surface: paved on completed sections (the Slovenian Parenzana is fully paved); elsewhere mixed, including a rough path between Leucate and Port-la-Nouvelle that the operator recommends only for mountain bikes
Route type: dedicated cycle paths on finished sections; long stretches on roads shared with cars in Spain, Croatia and the Balkans
EuroVelo connections: EV5 in Piacenza, EV7 in Mantua, EV9 in Trieste, Koper and Pula, EV11 in Athens
Best for: experienced cycle tourers over the full distance; recreational riders and families on selected finished sections
Family suitability: not family-friendly as a whole; see the section-level verdict below

How complete is EuroVelo 8, and how well is it signposted?

Development status varies sharply by country, so plan around it. France is the reference section: the route is complete and signposted from the Spanish border, which it crosses at the Panissars pass by Le Perthus, to the Italian border at Menton, following the coast for most of the way. In Spain the route is incomplete (status per the operator as of January 2021) and much of the riding is on roads. Three stretches are finished and signposted: the Pirinexus route in Catalonia, open since March 2013, which EV8 follows from Sant Feliu de Guíxols to the French border; the section between Cádiz and Guadiaro north of Gibraltar; and the stretch from Almería to Carboneras.

In Italy, the route is complete from Pavia to just beyond Venice, where it follows the BicItalia 2 cycle route along the Po; between the French border and Pavia it remains in development, as does the Roja valley near Ventimiglia. From the Po delta to the Balkan border it uses the BicItalia 6 Adriatic route. The Slovenian section along the old Parenzana railway is fully paved and part of the national cycle network. In Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece and Cyprus the route was still under development or not yet developed as of the operator's January 2014 assessments, which can mean busy roads; the operator notes that continuing across the Montenegrin and Albanian sections is a job for experienced travellers. Turkey is the exception in the east: the İzmir section has carried EuroVelo signs since November 2019.

Given how much the picture differs from country to country, ride with a track rather than trusting signs. The full GPX for EuroVelo 8 is available directly in VeloPlanner, free to download from the route page.

How does the route break down?

EuroVelo presents the Mediterranean Route as a chain of sections between major cities, summarised below. VeloPlanner shows the complete route on the interactive map, and you split it into stages your own way in the planner.

Cádiz – Murcia. The opening leg crosses Andalusia, where Moorish heritage shapes the towns, passing Málaga and Granada with its Alhambra before reaching Almería and the Costa Cálida. The Región de Murcia mixes coastal riding with quieter routes through the mountains behind the shore.

Murcia – Barcelona. From Murcia, with its cathedral and tapas bars, the route follows the Segura river towards Alicante province, then continues past Valencia and the Ebro Delta to Tarragona and on to Barcelona, home of Gaudí's architecture.

Barcelona – Perpignan. The beaches of the Costa Daurada give way to the coves of the Costa Brava before the route climbs into the Pyrenees, crossing into France at Le Perthus. A descent along the Tech river leads through forest to the coast at Argelès-sur-Mer and the resort of Saint-Cyprien.

Perpignan – Manosque. Fish ponds and pine forest line the early kilometres, then the Canal de la Robine leads towards the Fonseranes staircase of nine locks on the Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. Beyond the Camargue, with its free-roaming horses and bulls, the route turns inland through olive groves, vineyards and lavender towards the perched villages of Haute-Provence.

Manosque – Turin. Across the Durance the route enters the Haut-Var, combining steep roads with former railway lines past spots such as the Sillans waterfall. It then follows the Riviera from Cannes along Nice's Promenade des Anglais, climbs the Èze Pass at 507 m above the sea, and crosses into Italy, where the Piedmont foothills lead to Turin.

Turin – Venice. This section follows the Po, Italy's longest river, through the flat farmland and nature parks of its valley. Pavia, Piacenza, Cremona, Mantua and Ferrara all sit on or near the route, which continues to the Po delta, the lagoon fishing town of Chioggia and Lido di Venezia.

Venice – Rijeka. Past the Marano Lagoon and Grado, the route reaches the port city of Trieste, then follows the old Parenzana railway through Slovenia: the Škocjanski zatok Nature Reserve, Venetian-influenced Koper and Izola, Strunjan Landscape Park, Portorož and the saltpans of Sečovlje Salina Nature Park. In Croatian Istria it passes the UNESCO-listed Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč and the Roman arena in Pula, then rounds the Opatija Riviera to finish on Rijeka's Korzo.

Rijeka – Zadar. South of Rijeka the route keeps views of the islands of Krk, Cres, Lošinj and Rab before turning inland into the rugged Lika region. Otočac sits on the clear Gacka river, and near Gospić the village of Smiljan holds the Nikola Tesla Memorial Centre at the inventor's birthplace. Back on the coast, the historic town of Nin precedes Zadar, founded in the 9th century BC and still centred on its Roman forum.

Zadar – Dubrovnik. The Dalmatian coast leg links several UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Šibenik, Diocletian's Palace in Split, the historic core of Trogir and the walled city of Dubrovnik, with the Elaphiti Islands offshore. On the way it briefly crosses into Bosnia and Herzegovina at Neum, the country's only coastal town, covering its entire coastline before re-entering Croatia.

Dubrovnik – Durrës via Kotor. From Dubrovnik the route heads through Cavtat and the Konavle region, where Pasjača Beach hides below the cliffs and the Konavle County Museum documents the area's centuries of silk production. The Montenegrin and Albanian sections are still in development, so this is terrain for experienced travellers: the reward is the UNESCO-listed Bay of Kotor with Herceg Novi, Tivat and the medieval town of Kotor, the Lovćen and Skadar Lake National Parks, Podgorica, and then Shkodër and Durrës in Albania.

Durrës – Igoumenitsa. The Albanian coast leads through Vlorë, Fier, Himarë and Sarandë, with detours to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the fortress town of Gjirokastra and the ancient Greek and Roman city of Butrint. The section ends across the Greek border in the port of Igoumenitsa.

Igoumenitsa – Patras. Entering Greece at the Sagiada border station, the route runs south through wetlands and along the Ionian shore. Vonitsa keeps its Venetian fortifications and the pine-covered islet of Koukoumitsa; further on come Messolonghi, known for its lagoons and its link to Lord Byron, and the water-bound islet town of Aitoliko.

Patras – Athens. The final mainland leg passes coastal towns on the Gulf of Corinth, including Xylokastro and the thermal springs of Loutraki, before reaching the Corinth Canal and the Temple of Apollo in ancient Corinth. Via Megara and the UNESCO-listed Daphni Monastery, it arrives in Athens beneath the Acropolis.

A tour of İzmir. The Turkish continuation crosses 17 districts of İzmir Province, linking the ports of Dikili and Çeşme, which face the Greek islands of Lesbos and Chios. Built as a northward extension of the Ephesus – Mimas Cycle Route, it connects 17 ancient cities, from Pergamon to Ephesus.

A tour around Cyprus. The easternmost part of EV8 makes a circuit of Cyprus, from Larnaca and Limassol to the remoter coast at Pomos, past prehistoric settlements, Greek temples, Roman villas, Gothic cathedrals, Venetian fortifications, mosques and British colonial buildings.

Key attractions along the route

Few cycle routes pass this many UNESCO World Heritage Sites and national parks. The most notable, west to east:

UNESCO World Heritage: Canal du Midi with the Fonseranes locks (Béziers), Euphrasian Basilica (Poreč), Diocletian's Palace (Split), Trogir, Dubrovnik old town, Bay of Kotor, Gjirokastra, Butrint, Daphni Monastery, Acropolis of Athens
Cities and culture: the Alhambra in Granada, Gaudí's Barcelona, Nice's Promenade des Anglais, Turin, Venice, Zadar's Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun installations, the Nikola Tesla Memorial Centre in Smiljan, the Roman arena in Pula, the Corinth Canal
Natural highlights: the Camargue, the Sillans waterfall, the Po delta, Škocjanski zatok Nature Reserve, Strunjan Landscape Park, the Sečovlje saltpans, the Velebit biosphere reserve, Lovćen and Skadar Lake National Parks, the Messolonghi lagoons

Is EuroVelo 8 suitable for families?

Not as a whole. Long stretches in Spain, Croatia and the western Balkans run on roads shared with car traffic, and several sections are unfinished. A section-level pick is the better approach: the Slovenian Parenzana, a fully paved former railway line with resting points along the way, is described by the route operator as suitable for everyone. The completed French section is signposted throughout, though families should note the rough Leucate to Port-la-Nouvelle stretch, which the operator advises crossing by train.

Practical considerations

On a route this long and this unevenly developed, the main planning task is knowing where the gaps are. The route operator has flagged the following; statuses change, so check eurovelo.com for the current picture before setting out.

Valencia province (Spain): after the floods of October 2024, sections south of Valencia between Alfafar and Sueca may be unrideable. The city itself and the sections to the north remain rideable.
Leucate – Port-la-Nouvelle (France): the path along the railway is in poor condition and recommended only for mountain bikes; the operator advises taking the frequent TER Occitanie trains, which carry bikes for free.
Manosque – Meyrargues (France): not yet developed; regional ZOU trains bridge the gap and carry bikes for free.
Roja valley near Ventimiglia (Italy): not yet developed while an alternative is planned; Trenitalia trains run twice daily and require a separate bike ticket.
Corinth (Greece): since 7 June 2024 the Athens–Corinth National Road has been closed following a tanker accident and bridge demolition; the recommended workaround is the Suburban Railway between Corinth and Agioi Theodoroi stations.
Reaching Cyprus: since 2022 a seasonal ferry has connected Athens with Limassol, running June to August.

Final tips

Treat EuroVelo 8 as a menu rather than a single dish. If you want relaxed, signposted riding, start with France, the Parenzana or the İzmir section; if you are an experienced tourer, the under-developed Balkan legs are rideable with planning and a tolerance for traffic. Either way, open the route in VeloPlanner to see it on the map, check surfaces, and split it into stages that match your pace, and take the free GPX with you, because on the ground the signs will not always be there. The Mediterranean does the rest.