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The Sierra Greenway (Vía Verde de la Sierra) in Andalusia, Spain, continued to attract a high number of visitors in 2025, confirming its importance as one of Spain’s leading greenway destinations. The report analyses data collected through eco-counters, visitor surveys conducted by the Green Patrol, and records from the route’s interpretation centres.
Visitor Numbers and Use
During 2025, the four eco-counters installed along the 36.5 km route recorded 228,694 uses, of which:
- 132,934 were walking trips (58%)
- 95,760 were cycling trips (42%)
Walking activity was concentrated mainly at the route’s endpoints, especially around Olvera, while cycling activity was strongest around Puerto Serrano and Coripe, where bicycle rental services are available. Both walking and cycling showed strong seasonality, with peaks in spring and autumn and lower use during the hot summer months.
Visitor Profile
The Green Patrol interviewed 9,941 users, representing approximately 4.3% of all recorded uses. The results show that:
- 69% were first-time visitors, demonstrating the Greenway’s strong ability to attract new users.
- 56% travelled by bicycle, compared with 43% on foot.
- Most visitors came from the nearby provinces of Cádiz and Seville, while Germany, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands were the leading international markets.
- Visitors from 23 different countries were recorded during the year.
Most users learned about the Greenway through local knowledge, recommendations from friends and relatives, or online sources rather than traditional marketing channels.
Economic Impact
The Greenway generates significant benefits for local tourism businesses:
- Many visitors use local accommodation, particularly in Olvera, although day trips remain common.
- Motorhomes represent a substantial share of overnight stays.
- Restaurants and cafés located at former railway stations, especially in Coripe and Puerto Serrano, benefit from visitor spending.
Interpretation Centres
The Zaframagón Interpretation Centre and Ornithological Observatory, famous for its griffon vulture colony, received 5,540 visitors in 2025. Three-quarters of visitors were Spanish, while the remaining quarter came from international markets, particularly Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and France. Cycling was the main mode of access (60%).
The Sierra Greenway Interpretation Centre in Olvera welcomed 867 visitors. It serves as an accessible visitor centre explaining the history of the former railway and its conversion into a greenway. Most visitors were domestic tourists from Andalusia, with Germany leading international demand.
Main Conclusions
The report concludes that the Sierra Greenway:
- Maintains a high level of recreational and tourism use.
- Successfully combines railway heritage, nature tourism, cycling and walking activities.
- Attracts both a strong local market and a growing international audience.
- Generates positive economic impacts for nearby communities.
- Benefits from complementary attractions such as interpretation centres, wildlife observation facilities and bicycle tourism services.
The Sierra Greenway demonstrates how a former railway corridor can become a major sustainable tourism destination, combining active mobility, heritage conservation, biodiversity interpretation and local economic development.
