Cycling guide
Expand your pedalling parameters as you peruse our cycling holidays travel guide and discover routes that take you from Europe, to Asia, to South Africa, and beyond.
Top 5 Cycling Tours in Europe
1. Land’s End to John O’ Groats, UK
Cycle the length of Britain on this tour from the sandy surf beaches of Cornwall to the far north of Scotland via Dartmoor, the Lake District, Loch Lomond and Glencoe. This two-week tour is guided by Nick Mitchell, a passionate long-distance cyclist and author of the Cicerone guidebook LEJOG (Land’s End to John O’ Groats, to those in the know). Accommodation is comfy and the camaraderie is even better – especially when freewheeling downhill after a challenging climb.
When to go: June and September
Our top selling trip: Land’s End to John O’ Groats cycling trip
See all our trips: Cycling tours in Europe holidays
When to go: June and September
Our top selling trip: Land’s End to John O’ Groats cycling trip
See all our trips: Cycling tours in Europe holidays
2. Trieste to Pula
Get ready to ride the legendary Parenzana railway – or what’s left of it. The historic narrow-gauge line, which once connected the former Habsburg Empire, is reborn as a cycle path that delves deep into Croatia’s Istrian peninsula. Starting in Italy, you’ll steam through Slovenia, past an untouched scenery of salt pans, fortified hilltop towns, rolling vineyards and olive groves, finally tucking into truffles in the port town of Pula.When to go: April to September
Our top selling trip: Trieste to Pula cycling tour
See all our trips: Cycling tours in Europe holidays
Read more: Croatia travel guide and Slovenia travel guide
3. Porto to Lisbon
The road to Lisbon is paved in gold – golden sand and sunshine. This sublimely wild, coastal landscape sweeps lazily south past idyllic fishing villages, where you can pause for flame grilled fish and custard tarts, through pine trees and emerald lagoons. Peaceful pristine beaches at Figueira da Foz give way to the record-smashing waves of Nazaré, promising magnificent views of the mighty Atlantic Ocean on this family-friendly ride.
When to go: April to October
Our top selling trip: Porto to Lisbon cycling holiday
See all our trips: Cycling holidays in Portugal
Read more: Portugal travel guide and Self guided cycling travel guide
When to go: April to October
Our top selling trip: Porto to Lisbon cycling holiday
See all our trips: Cycling holidays in Portugal
Read more: Portugal travel guide and Self guided cycling travel guide
4. Tallinn to Vilnius
Crossing the most scenic route across the Baltics in 11 days, this is a three-country cycling tour over varied but mostly flat terrain. You’ll start with the woods and waterfalls of Lahemaa National Park in Estonia, roll along the Russian border to Lake Peipsi, go to the Gauja Valley in Latvia, and finish off with the Hill of Witches sculpture park in Lithuania. Your efforts are rewarded by views of the Baltics’ prettiest villages, national parks and seaside towns.When to go: May to August
Our top selling trip: Baltics cycling tour from Tallinn
See all our trips: Baltics holidays
Read more: Baltics cycling guide
5. Prague to Budapest
A cross-border nine-day journey of seemingly epic proportions, traversing 800km and four European capitals, the route from Prague to Budapest is nonetheless helped along by fairly flat terrain, shady trails and a good few four wheel transfers. An ever-changing backdrop of medieval castles, impenetrable forests and the meandering River Danube is punctuated by the cobbled charms of Cesky Krumlov, Vienna’s parks and palaces, and dumplings in Bratislava.
When to go: May to October
Our top selling trip: Prague to Budapest cycling holiday
See all our trips: Cycling tours in Europe holidays
When to go: May to October
Our top selling trip: Prague to Budapest cycling holiday
See all our trips: Cycling tours in Europe holidays
More Cycling tours in Europe articles
Cycling tours in Europe offer the opportunity for slow travel, whether you choose to pedal across three countries or from city to city.
A cycling tour from Porto to Lisbon encompasses the best of Portugal’s stunning Atlantic Coast, from its sublime scenery to its rich cuisine.
Discover the peaceful green heart of the Low Countries with a barge and cycling tour from Amsterdam to Bruges, past windmills and fields of flowers.
A cycling tour from Prague to Budapest offers more time to see little-known sights, visit beautiful countryside and live like a local, if only for a little while.
Castles, culture and fairly flat terrain make self guided cycling tours from Vienna to Budapest great for families and beginners with a reasonable level of fitness.
Cycle tours along the Baltic coast take travellers through quiet fishing villages, secluded forests and beautiful beaches via interesting histories.
Marseille to Barcelona cycling tours are less about the cities and more about the wide-open spaces in-between, from the canals to the Camargue.
The EuroVelo network is an ongoing project to connect Europe through long-distance cycle routes.
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