Touring - Touring the Mediterranean

If there were one place you've been or would like to go along the Mediterranean, in Italy or France, where would you go? :)



We're enjoying the part of Switzerland we're currently in (although Switzerland is, in general, quite expensive), but are thinking ahead to where we might like to go next. We'd like to spend about a week in a more southern part of Europe, a part we haven't been to before. But a place where there is decent cycling, and not too many people. The fact that it is now September should help with that.

Depends what your tastes are, and whether your priority is cycling or culture. If you have never been to Tuscany, though, you should try it. Great cycling, great food, great weather in September, and more art and architecture than you could believe. Siena. Go to Siena. There'll be plenty of people there, but it's worth it.

I'm thinking in terms of nice beaches and good cycling. Perhaps a point that would make for some good hub-and-spoke stuff. Go cycling one day, go to the beach the next ... and maybe check out a bit of art and architecture on another day.

Beaches? Oh well, tastes differ. Try the Italian Riviera. Lots of nice things to see in Genoa and its environs.

I love beaches ... one of the reasons I like Australia. :D

I think Genoa isn't too far from where we currently are, so that might be a possibility.

Macedonia. But it may be further than you like to go.

I had a lovely camping trip on France's Atlantic coast once, somewhere north of Bordeaux. Seemed wilder than the Med, lots of pine trees and sand dunes.

Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia and the Adriatic coastline from Durres to Dubrovnik: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/fullscreen/114299795/

Corsica! It's gorgeous and has some of the best cycling of all Europe, but it's not flat except for the east coast which is the least scenic part of Corsica. The north, west, south, and center are all wonderful. The Italian Riviera is hellish, with far too many cars and people. I haven't been to Croatia but I've consistently heard good things. The Pelopennese of southern Greece is good, but is even more challenging than Corsica.

We'd rather not head too far away from France. If we go into Italy, it would only be just into Italy for a little while. We haven't got much time left (less than a month) and would like to take in quite a bit more of France.

I'd go to Greece ;) I've toured Peloponnese two times, there are two specific parts of the route that are really bad. But they are small and you can easily find alternatives.

In general, Greece has beautiful routes, with hundreds of beaches along the road. If you have strong legs for the mountains, go for it.

I don't have strong legs for the mountains! Worse now that my knees are black/blue/purple/green and slightly swollen after a recent little accident.

Flat or gentle climbs are good. :)

Sardinia is very scenic with easy routes along the sea. Passenger ferry access is very good.

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/132585617

Macedonia. But it may be further than you like to go.

I had a lovely camping trip on France's Atlantic coast once, somewhere north of Bordeaux. Seemed wilder than the Med, lots of pine trees and sand dunes.

Actually that does sound appealing. :) I was looking in that area wondering what it was like.

Have any of you travelled anywhere between Montpellier and Perpignan?

Or between Genoa and Nice?

Did a little searching and found this thread from back in 2006:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/196519-Cycling-near-the-Med


There is a recommendation for the Perpignan area.

I'd go to Greece ;) I've toured Peloponnese two times, there are two specific parts of the route that are really bad. But they are small and you can easily find alternatives.

In general, Greece has beautiful routes, with hundreds of beaches along the road. If you have strong legs for the mountains, go for it.
I have never been but want to. My daughter spent some time there and her pictures were breathtaking. From what she said it sounded like a great place to visit, she was not biking on that trip though.

Have any of you travelled anywhere between Montpellier and Perpignan?

Or between Genoa and Nice?

We travelled from Port Camargue to Bezier before heading inland. Port Carmague was a nice place to stay and enjoy the sea. The cycling to Sete was OK and we stayed on Frontignan Plage for a night. Quite a pleasant area. We would have liked more time in Sete as it looked an interesting town but we were just passing through. Beyond Sete, the coastal route was not nice, being busy. It may be nicer to take a more inland route to avoid this section (although there were some nice swimming beaches along this section).

Heal Up, the Swiss-Italian passes are not to be missed
[little ones , not the tunnels with Lorry traffic]

Have any of you travelled anywhere between Montpellier and Perpignan?

Or between Genoa and Nice?
Yup, and my comments about riding between Genoa & Nice are in the 2006 link you gave. It's awful. Nonstop development & traffic from the French border to Genoa, and that was years ago. The French Riviera is only marginally better. There's much better riding inland.

I biked to Perpignan but I got there via the Pyrenees, so that won't help you. I also biked a bit north of Montpellier, but sounds like that would be too hilly for you, too. If you want great but fairly level riding, head to the Dordogne & Lot valleys. Fantastic scenery while riding through limestone gorges. Mass quantities of castles, caves, and medieval villages.

overnight train to portugal. ride the coasts. this time of year, it's great.

my .02€

The camargue is magic :)