I have learned that riding a bike in Europe can be fantastic. There are so many countries that are bike friendly and there is so much infrastructure (i.e. dedicated bike paths) supporting the cyclists.

Europe Tops the Lists for Being Bike-Friendly

In a 2023 survey, 9 of the top 10 cycle cities in the world were in Europe (1 in China), with 3 German cities and 2 in Holland included in the total. An older survey from 2018 concluded that 5 of the best countries for cycling were in Europe with Denmark heading the list, and Holland, France, Sweden and Slovenia being the others. Not Germany, surprisingly.

Well, I have biked in Holland, Germany and France, and did a lot of touring when I was in Copenhagen one winter, so I know firsthand what fabulous countries they are to cycle in.

My biking adventure in Germany was the first that I did, and for me it opened up a whole new world. I had discovered active travel and cycle touring! Before, I had no idea that there were so many places where you could ride your bike safely and explore the country at the same time. In Germany I was so impressed by all the bike routes which were clearly marked and integrated. The more I looked into this new discovery, the more I wanted to do! I was aware that the Scandinavian countries were generally all bike-friendly – now I have to add Slovenia to my futures list too.

Cycle Touring in France

There are many biking routes in France. One of my bucket list destinations is the Loire Valley and I am very excited to be going there in Sept 2025. I am not sure why, but I think someone planted the seed in my brain many years ago when I studied in Paris for a few months. My most recent bike-barge excursion in France was through the Burgundy wine region with a group of friends. Our route was Tournus to Beaune, along the Saone River.

We had the whole boat to ourselves (it was a small boat – 17 women plus the guide). As always, there were some people that I knew, and others that I just didn’t know yet. The sleeping rooms were very small and everyone preferred to spend time in the upper deck where there was more space. Of course, this facilitated a lot more interaction as well – we all had so much fun talking into the evening, playing cards or sharing photos.

We had such a wonderful week biking the French countryside – old French farmhouses, rolling fields, and tiny, peaceful towns by the water. I think we saw every shade of green as we cycled along. This is the Burgundy wine region, so we visited some wineries and tasted local cheeses too. We would cycle between towns during the day and then walk through them later on, visiting local museums and learning about the culture.

A real highlight of this trip was a chance meeting of the last surviving member of a French family of Dukes who invited us into the family chateau with many family treasures still intact. I actually held a serving tray that he said dated from 300 BC – for sure the oldest thing I have ever touched. He was so casual about all these items – he said he had found this particular piece in his yard. He told us that there were a lot of such castles in France, so many that the government was unable to provide any money to preserve these ancient artifacts. So we sat in ancient chairs and walked through what used to be the family kitchen, looking at the pots and trying to figure out how things would have worked. A fascinating afternoon – such wonderful shared memories!

This trip was all about the scenery – and the fabulous pastries that we sampled each day!

Cycle Touring in the Czech Republic

Another European bike trip was in the Czech Republic, starting in Prague and following the Upper Moldova River to Melnik, and then back to Prague along quiet backroads and trails along the Elbe River.

The Czech Republic was a new country for me – following some touring time in Berlin, Dresden, and Mittenwald. I had heard lots of wonderful things about the charm of Prague and I was eager to visit. This cycle route started and ended in Prague, so we had lots of time to explore this “bohemian” city.

I admit to being confused with that word. In my mind, a “bohemian” was in the context of “a person who lives an unconventional lifestyle, often with few permanent ties, involving musical, artistic, or literary pursuits”. Should I expect to see artists and writers at every café? What I learned is that Bohemia is a large historical region in central Europe, which now refers to about 60% of what is now the Czech Republic. Ah – ha – mystery solved. I was in Bohemia for about a week, can’t say that I was Bohemian.

Destinations included Kralupy (the birthplace of Antonin Dvorák), Mělník in the wine growing area, where the Vltava and Elbe rivers meet. Mělník was founded in 10th century as a castle guarding the confluence. We passed through Litoměřice, with its historic town centre, well preserved and now protected by law, and Roudnice.

All lovely towns with chaming European architecture. We visited castles and churches and rode our bikes past calm waterways and though interesting residential areas with grand homes. Your eyes take in so much on these cycling excursions. I am always struck by the diversity of what I see, and I admire the creativity of people everywhere.

Do you have a favourite place to bike in Europe?

Where else can I ride my bike?

Please contact me if you are interested in discovering wonderful places with a new travel community!

3 highlights:

• Discovering that there are seemingly limitless places to ride your bike in Europe
• Having a casual, impromptu visit with the owner of a French castle, in his chateau
• Riding one of those early bikes with the gigantic wheel in front at the Musée du Vélo in Tournus

3 things for next time:

• Explore the EuroVelo, a network of 17 long-distance cycle routes that cross and connect Europe
• Do some cycling in the UK – I have never been there on a bike and the green landscape beckons
• Find out more about the Bike Hotels Europe organization – they cater to cycle tourists and have a large presence in Italy, where I have never cycled