Experiences
Cycling holidays in Europe: eight routes worth the ride
Riverside paths with no hills, coastal roads with the sea beside you and mountain passes that ask a little more. Our pick of routes for a cycling holiday in Europe, and where to stay along the way.
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It is early morning, the road is empty and all you can hear is the chain and the wind across the water. In an hour you will be at the top. The rest of the day is downhill.
A cycling holiday shows you a country at a pace where you actually see it, while still covering enough ground for each day to feel different. Europe has long, waymarked cycle routes along rivers and coastlines, and many are flat enough for the whole family. We have chosen eight routes of varying difficulty, from the Norwegian mountains to the orange groves of Valencia, and for five of them we have found a hotel that makes a good place to start or rest.
In short: where should you go on a cycling holiday in Europe?
The Danube route between Passau and Vienna and the Loire à Vélo in France are the easiest and most popular, with flat riverside paths and nights in small towns. For mountains, the Rallarvegen in Norway is a classic. For sun and sea in spring and autumn, the Algarve and Valencia are hard to beat.
Best for beginners: the Danube from Passau to Vienna
Best for culture: Loire à Vélo
Best mountain ride: the Rallarvegen
Best city ride: the Berlin Wall Trail
Best autumn ride: the Algarve coast
The Rallarvegen and western Norway: mountains from the saddle
The Rallarvegen was the construction road for the Bergen Railway, and today it is Norway's best known cycle ride. Most people start at Haugastøl and ride around 80 kilometres across the mountain plateau via Finse to Myrdal, before the steep descent to Flåm. You take the train to the start and back, and bikes can be hired locally.
For more mountains, western Norway around Stryn and Geiranger is a fine choice. The roads are steep, but the views over fjords and glaciers are hard to match.
The catch: the Rallarvegen only opens in summer, and snow can linger on the plateau. The gravel is uneven, and on the hairpins below Myrdal you will need to walk. Read more about cycling in Stryn.
The Danube: Passau to Vienna along the river
The stretch from Passau in Germany to Vienna is the most popular part of the long cycle route along the Danube. It is around 320 kilometres, almost entirely flat and on a dedicated cycle path for most of the way.
The finest section is the Wachau, where the river runs between terraced vineyards, apricot orchards and abbeys. Many people take six or seven days, staying in small towns, and luggage can be sent on from hotel to hotel.
The catch: in summer the path is busy, and the best hotels in the Wachau fill early. Go in May, June or September. Read our Vienna guide.
Loire à Vélo: châteaux, wine and the river
Loire à Vélo is a waymarked route of around 900 kilometres that follows the Loire from Cuffy in Burgundy to the sea at Saint-Brevin. Most people choose a section, such as Blois to Tours, where the châteaux come thick and fast.
The route is flat and well signed, and you ride between vineyards, villages and châteaux such as Chambord and Chenonceau. Bike hire and places to stay are easy to find along the whole river.
The catch: the châteaux are big, and you will rarely manage more than one or two a day. Plan shorter stages than you think.
Hotel Oderberger
The pool at Hotel Oderberger in Berlin.
The Berlin Wall Trail: history on two wheels
The Mauerweg follows the line of the Berlin Wall around what was West Berlin, and is around 160 kilometres long. You do not have to ride it all. The central section, from Bernauer Strasse past the Brandenburg Gate to the East Side Gallery, packs plenty of history into an afternoon.
Berlin is flat with plenty of cycle lanes, and hiring a bike is easy. On the outer stretches the trail runs through forest and past lakes, far from the city.
The catch: the centre is busy with traffic and visitors. Ride early in the day and bring a lock. Read our Berlin guide.
Hotel Oderberger: a swim in an old bathhouse
Hotel Oderberger is in Prenzlauer Berg, right by the Mauerpark and a short ride from the memorial on Bernauer Strasse, where the Wall Trail passes. The hotel occupies a historic public bathhouse, and the pool under its high ceiling is open to guests. A good place to come back to after a day in the saddle.
Book your stay: Check availability at Hotel Oderberger
Pousada Convento de Tavira
The facade of Pousada Convento de Tavira.
The Algarve: along the coast from Sagres to Spain
The Ecovia do Litoral is a cycle route of around 200 kilometres along the whole Algarve coast, from Cabo de São Vicente in the west to Vila Real de Santo António on the Spanish border. It follows quiet roads, cycle paths and runs through fishing villages.
The eastern stretch around Tavira is the flattest and calmest, with salt pans, birdlife and boats out to the islands. West of Lagos it gets hillier and the cliffs grow higher.
The catch: some stretches use busy roads, and in summer it is too hot to ride in the middle of the day. Spring and autumn are best. Read our Algarve guide.
Pousada Convento de Tavira: a convent on the route
The pousada occupies an old convent in Tavira, one of the prettiest towns on the eastern Algarve, and the Ecovia do Litoral runs through the town. There is a pool in the garden, and boats leave from the centre for the beaches on Ilha de Tavira. A good place for a rest day.
Book your stay: Check availability at Pousada Convento de Tavira
Vila Foz Hotel & Spa
The pool at Vila Foz Hotel & Spa in Porto.
Porto: along the Douro to the sea
From Ribeira in Porto you can ride west along the Douro to Foz, where the river meets the Atlantic. From there a cycle path follows the seafront north towards Matosinhos.
The ride is short and flat, ideal for half a day with stops for coffee and seafood. For something longer, take your bike on the train into the Douro valley.
The catch: central Porto is steep and cobbled. Start by the river and leave the hills alone. Read our Porto guide.
Vila Foz Hotel & Spa: by the sea in Foz
Vila Foz is in Foz do Douro, on the seafront where the cycle path runs, in an old mansion with a modern wing. There is a spa and a pool, and many rooms look out to sea. Choose it if you want to stay by the ocean with the city within reach.
Book your stay: Check availability at Vila Foz Hotel & Spa
Hotel Lungarno
The view over the Arno from Hotel Lungarno in Florence.
Tuscany: hills, wine and gravel roads
From Florence the roads head south into Chianti, between vineyards, cypresses and small towns each on its own hill. It is one of Europe's best known places for a cycling holiday, on both tarmac and gravel.
The terrain is hilly, so many people choose an electric bike. With one you can fit in a wine tasting and dinner without being exhausted.
The catch: the climbs are many and long, and summer is hot. Ride in the morning and plan your route around places to refill water. Read our Florence guide.
Hotel Lungarno: the river and the Ponte Vecchio from your window
Hotel Lungarno sits on the Arno, right by the Ponte Vecchio, on the Oltrarno side of the river. From here you are quickly out of the city and heading south, and in the evening the restaurants of the centre are a short walk away. The river rooms have one of the finest views in Florence.
Book your stay: Check availability at Hotel Lungarno
Palau de la Mar
The lobby at Palau de la Mar in Valencia.
Valencia: through the city in the old riverbed
When the Turia was diverted after a flood in the 1950s, the old riverbed was turned into a park. The Turia Garden is around nine kilometres long and runs through the whole city, with a cycle path from the Bioparc to the City of Arts and Sciences.
From the park you can ride on south to the Albufera, a large lagoon surrounded by the rice fields that gave the world paella. Valencia is flat with plenty of cycle lanes, which makes it a good choice for a cycling holiday with children.
The catch: summer is very hot. Go in spring or autumn. Read our Valencia guide.
Palau de la Mar: a palace near the park
Palau de la Mar is in the Eixample district, in two 19th century palaces a short ride from the Turia Garden. There is a spa and a quiet inner hall lit from above. A good choice if you want to cycle by day and walk to the old town in the evening.
Book your stay: Check availability at Palau de la Mar
Good to know before you go
Match the season to the route: mountains and northern Europe in summer, southern Europe in spring and autumn.
Luggage transfer saves energy: on the Danube, the Loire and many other routes your bags can be sent from hotel to hotel.
An electric bike opens more routes: in hilly country like Tuscany it puts the ride within reach of more people.
Take your bike on the train: many regional trains in Europe carry bikes, but some need a reservation.
Cycling holidays in Europe: frequently asked questions
Where is best for a cycling holiday in Europe?
The Danube route between Passau and Vienna and the Loire à Vélo are the most popular, as they are flat and well organised. The Rallarvegen is a classic in Norway.
Which cycle route in Europe is best for beginners?
The Danube from Passau to Vienna is almost entirely flat and follows a dedicated cycle path for most of the way. It suits beginners and families well.
How long is the Rallarvegen?
The usual stretch from Haugastøl to Flåm is around 80 kilometres. Many people ride it in one or two days.
When is the best time to cycle in southern Europe?
Spring and autumn are best in southern Europe. In summer it is often too hot to ride in the middle of the day.
Do you need an electric bike for a cycling holiday?
No. On flat routes like the Danube and the Loire most people manage fine without one. In hilly country like Tuscany an electric bike makes the ride easier.