Take in the staggering views, breathe in a lungful of fresh air, and explore Europe on a bicycle. Is there a more captivating kind of undertaking?
Thanks to its intricate network of incredible and well-travelled bike routes, a cycling journey in the Old Continent—traversing verdant countryside, charming small towns, and perhaps even epic mountain passes—is hard to rival. In fact, it’s one of the top ways to really explore Europe and discover its best-kept secrets!
If this sounds like your kind of adventure, there are a few routes worth ticking off your travel list. Here are five of the best bike routes in Europe to start you off.
The Best Bike Routes in Europe
Via Francigena
- Location: Starting in Canterbury, England, and finishing in Rome
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: 514 km (319 miles) from Aulla
- Best time to travel: April to October
Ancient pilgrimage trails might be a dime a dozen in Europe, but this medieval route that also welcomes hikers and walkers stands above the rest for its historic highlights and stunning sights. Paved with signposts to make it easier to follow, the Via Francigena traditionally starts in Canterbury, England, with Rome as the final terminus, passing through regions in France and Switzerland. Yet for a two-week cycling trip, the town of Aulla in Northern Italy is the best place to start, passing through incredible places like Siena and its UNESCO World Heritage designated historic centre, as well as Val d’Orcia in Tuscany.
- Our tips: While there are some rolling hills, they aren’t difficult to climb. Adopt a leisurely pace and dedicate up to 11/12 nights (if you’re starting in Aulla) as there are many places worth pulling over for. For a challenge, start your journey in the Great St Bernard Pass in Switzerland.
Danube Cycle Path
- Location: Starting in Passau and finishing in Vienna, along the Danube River
- Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
- Length: From 654 km (406 miles)
- Best time to travel: April to September
Following Europe’s second-longest river and spanning 10 countries, the Danube Cycle Path is, without a doubt, a cycling trip of a lifetime. Yet it’s also an easy one, with most of the path well developed and flat, especially on the Western side, and there are many wonders to behold. It’s so easy, in fact, that many families with kids take on its segments, the most popular of which goes from Passau in Germany to Vienna in Austria. Take a leisurely pace, as there are many places worth exploring: ancient castles, grand churches, and old villages, to name a few.
- Our tips: For an easy, 15-day trip, start in Passau, Germany, and head all the way to enchanting Budapest; swimming in lakes, learning a bit of history, and feasting on wine along the way. For a challenge, extend your trip for 1390 km (870 miles) more to see Croatia, Serbia, and Romania.
Cornish Coastal Way
- Location: Cornwall, England
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: 110 km (68 miles)
- Best time to travel: Spring to Early Autumn
Coastal paths like England’s Cornish Coastal Way are popular for a reason. Not only do they offer sweeping sea-to-shore panoramas and adorable seaside villages that are ideal for honing your photography skills, they also serve up succulent seafood that makes a long day’s cycling trip especially worth it. Start your trip in Bode, near the Devon County border, and trace Cornwall’s Northwestern coast all the way to Land’s End along coastal roads and cliff paths, passing places like the fishing parish of Padstow and cliffside town of Newquay. Pull over for beautiful sunsets and larger-than-life cliffs, and lunch on fish and chips in between rides.
- Our tips: For a longer, slightly more challenging trip, take the 288-kilometre Cornish Way, which starts and ends in the same places but also goes inland through Truro and Bodmin. A nine-day coastal cycling tour that roughly follows the South West Coastal Path, one of England’s great walks, is also on hand.
Adige Cycle Path
- Location: Northern Italy, from Innsbruck to Bolzano
- Difficulty: Easy
- Length: 150km (93 miles)
- Best time to travel: Spring to Autumn
Dramatic alpine views, riverside tracks, and charming orchards and vineyards await cyclers along Northern Italy’s Adige Cycle Path, where quiet shimmering lakes and fertile mountain slopes provide a backdrop for your cycling adventure. This route is one of Italy’s best, taking you from Bolzano in South Tyrol to the romantic streets of Verona along trails that are well developed and easy enough for the whole family. Stops include Trento, where its late-medieval attractions will make you want to stay just a while longer; the resort destination of Rive, where you might find the time to windsurf; and of course, Lake Garda.
- Our tips: A longer trail, if you’re seeking a challenge, will start off in Innsbruck, Austria, tackling Brenner Pass and passing places like Gossensass, Thumberg, and the Reifenstein Castle. When in Verona, take a couple of days to see its historic—and Shakespearean—attractions.
Baltic Coast Cycle Path
- Location: Along the Baltic Sea, starting in Flensburg and ending in Usedom
- Difficulty: Challenging
- Length: 8000 km (5000 miles)
- Best time to travel: April to October
Exploring the Baltics by bike is an amazing way to explore the Baltic states, but for cycling enthusiasts, the one thing to definitely tick off the Baltic bucket list is the EuroVelo 10. It traces the entirety of the Baltic Sea coast, from Germany to Denmark, travelling through Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Finland, and Sweden. There are national parks, exquisite cities, and historic towns, not to mention sparkling white sand beaches where you might take a break, kick off your shoes, and take a refreshing dip. It’s a massive and challenging undertaking, one that could last for months, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip worth doing if you’re an avid cycler.
- Our tips: If you haven’t got the time to invest, the shorter, 250-kilometre Germany section from Lübeck to Stralsund is full of stunners and is easy to take on. The section between Finland and Russia might be cold and snowy, so fat bikes are a good alternative.
There are plenty of amazing experiences to be had all over Europe, but there are few better ways to explore this historic and fascinating continent than by bike! No matter which route you decide to take, a cycling tour in Europe is sure to be an unforgettable experience.
Have you been cycling in Europe? How did you find it?
