Summer holidays are the perfect time to disconnect from the routine and explore new places. While some seek the sun and the beach, others prefer the tranquility of the mountains or the charm of cities. But if you are passionate about cycling, traveling can become a unique opportunity to explore incredible destinations on two wheels, whether with mountain bikes on natural trails or with road bikes on scenic routes.
If you are looking for inspiration for your next cycling trip, the British newspaper The Guardian has compiled a guide with 10 ideal European destinations to enjoy by bike. From the forests of Sweden to the stunning lagoons of the Algarve, these places offer perfect routes for those who want to combine tourism and sport.
Whether you prefer to ride on dirt roads with a mountain bike, or enjoy long scenic roads with a road bike, in this guide you will find options for all levels and styles of cycling.
Are you up for discovering them? 🚴♂️🌍
1- Algarve Cycling Tour
The top summer tourist destination in Portugal is the Algarve. This region in the south of the country boasts paradisiacal beaches and dreamlike coves. But it also offers winding roads along the coast with alternating climbs and descents. If you are traveling to southern Portugal this summer, don't forget your bike.
2- Touring Dubrovnik
The Dalmatian Coast has many tourist attractions. Among them is the Croatian city of Dubrovnik, which still preserves its original wall. Around it are some of the best cycle touring routes in the entire region. These roads offer a journey through time, passing through vineyards, villages with medieval architecture, and the so-called Dinaric Alps, which rise above 2,500 meters in altitude.
3- Mountain biking in the Andalusian Sierra
Summer and Andalusia is a combination with a sure result: heat. Despite the high temperatures experienced in southern Spain, The Guardian newspaper recommends taking a guided cycle tour through Córdoba, Granada, and Seville. Among the attractions of the area are roads that cross rugged sierras and pass through dozens of small villages crowned by a castle.
4- The Danube, by pedal stroke
Traveling along the Danube River on a river cruise is one of the many plans you can make if you travel through Central Europe. Another suggestion is to swap the boat for a bicycle and connect the cities of Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Belgrade by pedaling along the banks of the Danube.
5- Pilgrimage to Mont Ventoux
Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Tom Simpson's death, on the climb to Mont Ventoux during the 1967 Tour de France, a travel agency is organizing a 5-day cycling route from Sault (France) to the summit of the legendary French mountain pass. It's 78 kilometers per day with 2,200 meters of climbing on the day Mont Ventoux is crowned.
6- Bicycle trip to the Renaissance
Italy is one of the European countries with the greatest artistic heritage. And what better way to discover it for a cycling enthusiast than by bike. One route you can follow is the one that connects the cities of Mantua—designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO—with Verona, the medieval city that inspired Shakespeare to write Romeo and Juliet.
7- Take refuge from the heat in the Alps
If you are one of those who prefer the mountains to the beach and want to sleep at night without having to turn on the air conditioning, the French Alps are at your disposal. If you travel there, don’t forget your bicycle. You’ll be able to enjoy mountain biking on the same roads used by the Tour de France, climbing legendary passes such as the Col de la Combiere or the Col de Joux Plane.
8- Forests, castles and bicycles
The Jura mountains in the background, pine forests ahead, and dozens of hills crowned by castles. This is the landscape offered by the Bavarian region in southern Germany. These are roads that cross forests and valleys, skirting the Danube, Altmuhl, Sulz, and Schwarze Laber rivers.
9- Cycling along the Adriatic coast
The Adriatic coast offers fun roads where you can enjoy devouring kilometers along the sea. One of the routes suggested by The Guardian involves touring the Istrian peninsula, starting from the city of Trieste and continuing through Slovenia until reaching Pula (Croatia), a town known for its Roman amphitheater.
10- Night routes through the Scandinavian forests
Sörmland, southwest of Stockholm, is an idyllic region dotted with lakes, hills, and picturesque wooden house villages. Cycling through its forests is to immerse yourself in a landscape of calm and relaxed nature. In addition, in summer you can ride on the road at night, as daylight lasts until past midnight.
Tuvalum Team
