The best European cycle routes

A collection of 14 cycling routes, created by Cycling Thread.

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The best European cycle routes

Overview

About this collection

The guide presents a ranking of the top cycle routes in Europe based on infrastructure, scenery, sightseeing, transport access, food and lodging, info resources and overall appeal. It features a wide mix of destinations - from quiet riverside paths and converted railway lines to coastal rides and alpine passes. Each route is picked for its scenic charm, cultural highlights and quality of cycling infrastructure. Popular classics like the Rhine Cycle Route and others appear, showing the variety of experiences available. The ranking helps cyclists find great adventures tailored to different preferences - from smooth and easy paths to more adventurous mixed terrain. It also reflects the growing trends in cycling tourism, such as better infrastructure, sustainable travel and digital support.

14
Routes: 151 h 4 min
Duration: 4,813.4 km
Distance: 31.9 km/h
Avg. speed: 34,994 m
Ascent: 38,222 m
Descent

Cycling Thread

created this 5 months ago

The best European cycle routes

Routes in this collection

All 14 routes in this collection can be opened on the map or in the Bikemap App for more details, where you can adjust them in the route planner, or download them as GPX or KML file. Use them as a template for planning your own rides, or let Bikemap navigate you along them directly.

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Alpe-Adria Cycle Route - Salzburg to Grado

Cycling route in Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria

More about the Alpe-Adria Cycle Route: https://www.cyclingthread.com/alpe-adria-bicycle-route-cycling-through-alps-to-adriatic-sea The Alpe-Adria route is about 415 km long and links Salzburg in Austria with the seaside town of Grado in Italy. It runs through Salzburger Land, Carinthia and Friuli…

560.6 km
Distance: 4,614 m
Ascent: 5,034 m
Descent

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Lakes Route - Zurich to Lausanne

Cycling route in Zürich (Kreis 6) / Oberstrass, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland

More about the Lakes Route: https://www.cyclingthread.com/exploring-swiss-alps-cycling-lakes-route-in-switzerland The Lakes Route is a 500-kilometer cycling route across postcard-like Switzerland, linking ten scenic lakes and regions such as Werdenberg, Lucerne at the foot of Mount Pilatus, Iselt…

341.3 km
Distance: 5,957 m
Ascent: 5,992 m
Descent

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Drava Cycle Route - Toblach to Aich/Dob

Cycling route in Toblach, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy

More about the Drava Cycle Route: https://www.cyclingthread.com/cycling-in-austria-drava-cycle-route-in-carinthia The Drava Cycle Route (Drauradweg) is one of only four European routes awarded the top five-star rating by the ADFC, and its central section through Carinthia shows off some of Austri…

288.3 km
Distance: 2,961 m
Ascent: 3,722 m
Descent

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Loire by bike - Sully-sur-Loire to Angers

Cycling route in Sully-sur-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire, France

More about Loire by bike: https://www.cyclingthread.com/cycling-loire-valley-loire-velo-castles-and-wine The Loire à Vélo route in the Loire Valley is mostly on gravel paths instead of smooth asphalt, which makes the cycling different than many imagine. The river views are calm and modest, but th…

382.1 km
Distance: 1,990 m
Ascent: 2,064 m
Descent

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Rhine Cycle Route, EuroVelo 15 - Andermatt to Basel

Cycling route in Andermatt, Canton of Uri, Switzerland

More about the Rhine Cycle Route: https://www.cyclingthread.com/switzerland-and-rhine-cycle-route-one-of-most-beautiful-in-europe The Rhine Cycle Route in Switzerland is the first section of EuroVelo 15 and runs from Andermatt in the Alps to Basel – about 430 km. It begins near the source of the …

492.2 km
Distance: 6,424 m
Ascent: 7,590 m
Descent

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Elbe Cycle Route - Dresden to Magdeburg

Cycling route in Dresden, Saxony, Germany

More about the Elbe Cycle Route: https://www.cyclingthread.com/exploring-elbe-cycle-route-from-dresden-to-magdeburg The Elbe Cycle Route from Dresden to Magdeburg is a flat and scenic section of Germany’s most popular long-distance bike trail - perfect for weekend rides or longer tours. It runs r…

312.5 km
Distance: 538 m
Ascent: 597 m
Descent

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Carinthian Lake Loop - Villach to Villach

Cycling route in Villach, Carinthia, Austria

More about the Carinthian Lake Loop: https://www.cyclingthread.com/carinthian-lake-loop-cycling-carinthia-with-velovista The Carinthian Lake Loop (Kärnten Seen-Schleife) is a new 420-kilometer cycling route in Carinthia that runs past lakes, rivers and Alpine landscapes. It connects some of the r…

438.5 km
Distance: 3,948 m
Ascent: 3,948 m
Descent

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Velo Dunajec - Zakopane to Tarnow

Cycling route in Zakopane, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland

More about the VeloDunajec route: https://www.cyclingthread.com/velo-dunajec-in-malopolska-most-beautiful-cycle-route-in-poland What really makes VeloMalopolska cycle routes stand out is their consistently high quality and how easy they are to use. The routes along the Dunajec, around Lake Czorszt…

227.5 km
Distance: 1,572 m
Ascent: 2,232 m
Descent

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Tauber-Altmühl Cycle Route - Rothenburg ob der Tauber to Kelheim

Cycling route in Rothenburg upon Tauber, Bavaria, Germany

More about the Tauber-Altmühl Radweg: https://www.cyclingthread.com/franconia-and-tauber-altmuhl-radweg-perfect-german-getaway The Tauber-Altmühl Radweg in Franconia is one of the most fascinating cycling routes in Germany, running through the valleys of the Tauber and Altmühl rivers and the rock…

252.2 km
Distance: 1,118 m
Ascent: 1,200 m
Descent

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Oder-Spree-Tour - Frankfurt (Oder) to Wiesenau

Cycling route in Frankfurt (Oder), Brandenburg, Germany

More about Oder-Spree-Tour: https://www.cyclingthread.com/oder-spree-tour-truly-cyclist-friendly-brandenburg The Oder-Spree Tour is a circular route of about 278 km through the lakes, rivers, forests and canals of eastern Brandenburg. It usually takes around four days to complete and starts and e…

289.4 km
Distance: 1,362 m
Ascent: 1,357 m
Descent

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Velo Baltica, EuroVelo 10 - Świnoujście to Ustka

Cycling route in Świnoujście, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland

More about Velo Baltica: https://www.cyclingthread.com/eurovelo-10-bicycle-route-in-poland-velo-baltica-in-west-pomerania The EuroVelo 10 route in West Pomerania - also called Velo Baltica - runs about 240 km along the Baltic Sea coast. It starts at Świnoujście and passes Międzyzdroje, Kołobrzeg,…

351.8 km
Distance: 921 m
Ascent: 923 m
Descent

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Szczecin Lagoon Cycle Route - Szczecin to Szczecin

Cycling route in Szczecin, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland

More about the Szczecin Lagoon Cycle Route: https://www.cyclingthread.com/szczecin-lagoon-cycle-route-cycling-west-pomerania The Szczecin Lagoon Cycle Route is a 296 km loop that runs through both Poland and Germany, circling Lake Dąbie and reaching the Baltic Sea coast. Around 200 km of the rout…

316.4 km
Distance: 1,121 m
Ascent: 1,124 m
Descent