Ready to swap your office chair for a saddle? Europe is made for pedal-powered adventures – not just the Lycra-and-hills kind, but the meandering, coffee-stop, photo-opportunity-around every corner sort that feed your soul. Here are ten magical routes and rides across Europe to set your wheels spinning.
Ten of the best cycling adventures in Europe
1, The Via Transilvanica, Romania
This one’s new and glorious: around 1,400 km from Putna (near Ukraine) to the city of Drobeta-Turnu Severin on the Danube, winding through rural Carpathia and peddling past monasteries, forests, and forgotten villages. This storied route is dubbed ‘the Camino of the East’ for a reason.
How to do it: Ride the full route using maps from viatransilvanica.com.
2, Alpe-Adria Cycle Path, Austria, Slovenia and Italy
Pedal 410 km from Salzburg and past lakes, through rolling hills, and down into the Adriatic at Grado. Follow quiet secondary roads and cycle through winding alpine tunnels to reach the Mediterranean.
How to do it: Self-guided
3, Camino de Santiago, France
Yes, pilgrims walk it, but cycling the Camino Francés (800 km from the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela) is a revelation — the tiny chapels, the clinking cowbells, the friendly hostels to stop of at on your way to Santiago, where you can raise a glass as a fully-fledged ‘bicigrino’ (a cycling pilgrim).
How to do it: Rent a bike and ride independently or join Cyclomundo’s Camino trips.
4, Bavarian Beer Trail, Germany
Ride 350km between Munich, Regensburg, and Bamberg, passing beer halls, fields of hops, cobbled towns and plenty of gemütlichkeit (a German word for friendliness and good cheer). This isn’t just about beers after long days on your bike; it’s a love letter to Bavarian slow life that just happens to pass several breweries.
How to do it: Book a self-guided route through UTracks or plan your own via the Bier-Radlweg trail network.
5, Dalmatian Coast & Islands, Croatia
This is sea meets spice: pedal up to 400 km of coastal roads and ferry-linked islands including lavender-scented Hvar, the hilly Peljesac isthmus and the medieval streets of Dubrovnik, dodging tourist throngs and diving into turquoise coves between rides.
How to do it: DIY your own route
6, Loire Valley, France
Cycle among châteaux, lavender fields, and sleepy riverside lanes for roughly 600 km on smooth paths and wine-scented air. The Loire is cycling heaven for romantics and foodies alike.
How to do it: Follow the official Loire à Vélo route or join Cycling Holidays France such as Happy Cycling Holiday’s 8-day Along the Loire adventure, which includes hotel stays and luggage transfers.
7, Puglia & Matera, Italy
Southern Italy’s heel is a dream: 350 km of gnarled olive groves, whitewashed towns, cave dwellings and shimmering coastlines. Every stop comes with gelato.
How to do it: Book the Puglia tour by Happy Cycling Holidays – this 8-day Cycling Holidays Italy round trip includes detailed maps and support.
8, EuroVelo 13 (the Iron Curtain Trail) Austria, Slovakia and Hungary
For history buffs with strong legs, this pan-European giant stretches an astonishing 7,500km from the Barents Sea to the Black Sea, tracing the old Cold War divide. You don’t need to do all of it of course – pick a border section and ride through living history.
How to do it: Plan your segment via EuroVelo.com — local providers along the route offer supported legs in Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary.
9, Bike & Barge, Belgium and the Netherlands
Flat, dreamy, and perfect for lazy legs and laidback days: cycle a section of 250 km along canal paths each day, then sleep on a floating hotel at night. This is as mellow as cycling gets – photograph windmills and tulips, eat cheese, drink local beer, repeat.
How to do it: Book a bike and barge week with Boat Bike Tours.
10, Crossing Corsica, Corsica
Corsica is the Mediterranean made rugged, fierce, and fabulous. The GT20 is a multi-day cycling route that traverses Corsica from north to south, covering about 600km and 12 stages of tough climbs, mountain passes and a peak of 1,500 metres above sea level that will have you laughing
and crying in equal measure.
How to do it: Plan it at gt20-corsica.com
