Planning a bike tour in Europe? These are the top five best European bike tours you need to ride.
A European bike tour is a dream for many cyclists. Many countries within Europe boast excellent cycling infrastructure and a general awareness of bicycles on the road, making cyclists feel safe and secure while touring.
In addition, there are currently seventeen routes in Europe’s EuroVelo network. This network of long distance cycle routes connects the whole continent, and the routes total over 90,000km/56,000mi!
When I plan a bike tour, I search for routes where the majority of riding is on a dedicated cycle path or quiet country road. Luckily, most long distance European bike tours follow these characteristics.
With so many routes, though, it can be complicated to choose the best European bike tour. To make things easier, we’ve compiled a list of a few of Europe’s most popular bike rides.
Danube Cycle Path: one of the most famous European bike tours
One of the most beginner friendly and famous European bike tours is the Danube Cycle Path, which is part of the Eurovelo 6 route. This route follows the Danube river, which flows from the Black Forest of Germany to the Black Sea, covering a distance of over 2,800 kilometers, or around 1770 miles.
The route passes through many of Europe’s historic and famous cities, including Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Belgrade. Between the cities, you will ride through small, culturally-rich towns.
Bike infrastructure on the Danube Cycle Path
What makes the Danube Cycle Path so great is the route’s excellent bike infrastructure. A paved bike path leads cyclists from the river’s source in Donaueschingen, Germany to Budapest, Hungary. This path is car free, allowing cyclists to fully enjoy the scenery without worrying about traffic.
The popularity of the route means the path is well suited for cyclists. From Germany to Budapest, you won’t have any trouble finding accommodation and bicycle repair shops. Additionally, the amount of cyclists on the route means it’s easy to meet new cyclists while riding.
As you travel from Budapest into Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania, cycling infrastructure weakens and the terrain becomes more hilly. Nonetheless, this section of the Danube Cycle Path can offer a more rugged experience compared to the flat, all-bike-path section at the start of the route. It also brings lower prices and the possibility to wild camp, which is prohibited in Western Europe.
At a distance of 50 miles per day, it would take approximately 35 days to cycle the entire length of the river. Many cyclists, however, only do sections of the ride on a bike tour. The two most popular routes are from Passau to Vienna and from Vienna to Budapest, each of which should take around 6-7 days to complete.
You can ride any type of bike on the Danube cycle path, from road bikes to tandem bicycles and recumbents!
Berlin-Copenhagen Cycle Route: a unique look into northern Europe
The Berlin-Copenhagen Cycle Route connects the capitals of Germany and Denmark on a 630km/390mi route. Depending on your daily mileage, you can expect the route to take between 6-9 days.
Many travelers start cycling from the hip German capital of Berlin, although you can also start in Copenhagen. Once out of Berlin, the route passes through the picturesque lake district of Germany, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and continues to the Baltic coast.
You must take a ferry between the towns of Rostock, Germany and Gedser, Denmark. The ferry costs around 20 euros per person in the summer—when the route is most popular—and takes just 45 minutes.
Once in Denmark, you continue cycling on several islands on route to Copenhagen. On this section of the route you will experience the country’s tranquil, old-fashioned countryside as you travel from island to island.
The route ends in Copenhagen, coincidentally regarded as one of the best cycling cities in the world.
Bike infrastructure on the Berlin-Copenhagen Cycle Route
You can complete the Berlin-Copenhagen Cycle Route on any type of bike; the vast majority of the route is on paved surfaces. Some sections, however, are dirt or compacted gravel, so we recommend a hybrid or gravel bike.
Finding accommodations along the route is easy, as both countries offer plenty of hotels and campsites. Wild camping is not permitted in either country, so it’s best to stay in a designated campsite if cycling with your tent.
Camino de Santiago: popular for trekkers, but also for cyclists
The Camino de Santiago is an extremely popular trek in Western Europe, but did you know you can cycle the route instead of walking?
The Camino de Santiago—otherwise known as The Way of St. James—is a network of pilgrimages leading to the shrine of Saint James the Great, located in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. Although the route has religious influences, travelers of any background can travel the route.
In fact, over 300,000 trekkers walk the Camino de Santiago each year! It takes most experienced trekkers around 30 days to cover the 800km/500mi path. Fortunately, if walking for thirty days doesn’t sound enjoyable, you can cycle the route with a much quicker pace.
There are multiple routes to reach Santiago de Compostela, but the majority of travelers opt for the most popular route, which crosses northern Spain from East to West. Other routes include the Camino Portugues, which travels north from Portugal into Spain, and the Via de la Plata, which starts in Seville and travels through Spain’s rural western regions.
Related: Portugal Bike Tour: 11 best tips for cycling in Portugal
Bike infrastructure on the Camino de Santiago
Unlike other bike tours on this list, the Camino de Santiago requires cycling on hilly, dirt paths. Cycling the exact route followed by trekkers leads to some technical sections best suited for a mountain bike. Therefore, you might occasionally find yourself cycling away from the specified course in favor of better roads. Generally speaking, a gravel bike is the best option for the Camino de Santiago.
Why you should bike the Camino de Santiago instead of walking
Cycling the Camino gives you more time in each destination, as you can arrive in a new town with plenty of time to rest and explore. You’re also able to leave the well-trodden path for detours to nearby towns and landmarks. A twenty mile detour on a bike is, after all, a lot easier than walking twenty miles off trail!
As another plus, having your panniers attached to your bicycle puts much less stress on your body compared to carrying a heavy backpack for hours each day. And, as the route is so popular with travelers from around the world, you’re sure to strike up fascinating conversations with those you meet along the way.
Adige Cycle Path: one of the best European bike tours for short trips
Photo credit: Davide e Paola (license)
The Adige Cycle Path is one of the most enjoyable and longest cycle paths in Italy. At nearly 300km/186mi, the route takes between 3-4 days for most cyclists to complete.
The route follows the course of the Adige River in northeastern Italy. It begins in Landeck, Austria and climbs over the Reschen Pass into Italy. The route ends in Verona, although many cyclists continue riding to Lake Garda.
Many cyclists choose to start the route in Merano, Italy in lieu of the hilly section over the Alps. Merano is located in the German-speaking region of Italy, giving a unique insight into this lesser known region of the country.
The easiest way to reach Merano is by train from a major city in northern Italy, such as Venice, Verona, or Milan. However, Merano’s more remote location means train options may require several changes before reaching the town.
Bike infrastructure on the Adige Cycle Path
The Adige Cycle Path is a dream for cyclists who prefer car-free roads. The entire route is almost entirely car-free and travels through apple orchards, vineyards, and quaint towns. Because the path follows the river, it is mostly flat, making it a great ride for cyclists of all ages and fitness levels.
While you can speed along the route, we recommend taking your time and experiencing the highlights of this region of Italy. Don’t miss the towns of Bolzano and Trento or the cafe designed just for cyclists along the route.
As another plus, because the route travels through several towns, it’s easy to find accommodation, and many hotels and bed and breakfasts are accustomed to bicycle tourists. This makes it easy to safely store your bicycle for the night.
We recommend this route to any cyclists, but especially those interested in a (mostly) car-free ride through the Italian countryside.
ViaRhôna Cycle Route: from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean
Dreaming of croissants and crêpes? If so, the Via Rhôna Cycle Route may be one of the best European bike tours to discover.
The ViaRhôna runs from Lake Geneva—in the Swiss town of Saint Gingolph—to the Mediterranean coast of France along the Rhône River. In total, the route spans 815km/506mi and is 60% on car-free greenways.
Highlights of the route include cycling along the coastline of Lake Geneva, riding through Lyon and Avignon, and visiting the archaeological site of Saint-Romain-en-Gal.
Bike infrastructure on the ViaRhôna
The ViaRhôna Cycle Route has its own website here, which provides extremely detailed information on each section of the tour. The sections are split into two difficulty levels:
- I cycle often: for intermediate to advanced cyclists comfortable riding on roads shared with cars
- I begin/Family: for beginners and families; these sections are mostly on greenways or roads with very little traffic
A guide on each section shows the length of each type of path along the route, as well as elevation gain. I have never seen a website about a bike route so detailed and thoughtfully designed. The helpful information already has me daydreaming of planning a tour here myself!
The website also has a map of recommended accommodations. This allows for easy planning when deciding how far to cycle each day. Campsites, hotels, bed and breakfasts, and other types of stays are all included on the map.
