We're looking for recommendations for the best cycling routes in Europe – and I don’t mean flashy top-10 lists from glossy magazines, but solid, tried-and-tested suggestions you can actually trust.

Are there any go-to sources where you'd find routes truly worth flying over from Canada for?

Or maybe you’ve got your own personal favourites – the best European cycling routes you’ve ridden? Loire? Alpe-Adriatic? The Rhine, maybe? Or something else entirely?

Cheers

Fred from the 6ix
🇨🇦

https://en.eurovelo.com/#routes-and-countries

Real rural off road stuff or the usual mainstream tourist stuff?¿

My favorite region in the entire world for touring is the Perigord region in SW France. Specifically, the Dordogne & Lot valleys. There's a great network of excellent minor roads with little traffic, lovely scenery, and a great variety of sights concentrated in the area. That includes a profusion of castles, caves, gardens, well-preserved medieval villages, and some of the best food in all of France. Late spring or autumn are the best times to go there.

This! ^^^

Another vote for the Dordogne River Valley in SW France. I rode this section westbound at the tail end of a 6 week trip starting in Zurich. It was the highlight of the tour! ...




Two photos at an old thread.

The best routes I've done did not always follow established bike routes. The ones most recommended will also be the most crowded.
Most riders will choose their route based on accessibility, (airports, train stations, etc) and avoiding heavy climbs. A picturesque, not crowded route is the Drau Radweg, with a few detours. It also connects with many other bike routes.
Here is a detour I took on a logging road

Select sights along the Adriatic coast of Eurovelo 8
An extremely mountainous route that requires serious training if you intend to meet a daily distance. You'll have a much better time if you do not have to return to work and have an infinite open ended schedule, as was the case for us.

Lake Bled, Slovenia


The colossal fortifications of Dubrovnik, Croatia (they shot the main city in Game of Thrones here)


Inside Dubrovnik


Herzegovina


Bay of Kotor, Montenegro


Kotor Again 2 Hours Later
https://maps.app.goo.gl/nCQ3ZZFcruqAbGC8A


Bonus photo:
Ruins of Mycenae, Greece (Agamemnon, Trojan War, etc...)
Argos on horizon in the distance

Some of those flashy and glossy routes are still worth a ride! :) At least certain sections ;)

Here's our "must-ride" list of cycle routes across Europe:

www.cyclingthread.com/best-of-cycling-tourism-top-21-cycle-routes-to-explore-2025

komoot.com/collection/3822134/-europe-by-bike-the-best-cycling-routes

Besides the well-known names like the Alpe-Adria, Drava, Rhine and Loire routes, our list includes also a few less-talked-about gems - like the Lakes Route and the Aare Route in Switzerland, which don’t get mentioned nearly as often as they deserve. The Tauber-Altmühl Cycle Route is another example - probably better known in Germany than across Europe.


Lakes Route, Switzerland


Aare Route, Switzerland


Tauber-Altmühl Cycle Route, Germany

We’ve also added new and still under-the-radar cycling routes from Poland, which is now building truly European-standard infrastructure in two regions. The Szczecin Lagoon Cycle Route and Velo Dunajec are great examples - the second one will be up on our blog in just a few weeks.


Szczecin Lagoon Cycle Route, Poland


Szczecin Lagoon Cycle Route, Germany

Another route that we feel is a bit underrated is the EuroVelo 10 around the Baltic Sea. We haven't explored the Swedish section yet, but the Danish, German and Polish parts offer some excellent riding, beautiful scenery, extra water-based activities if you need it, and often great food.


EuroVelo 10, Germany


EuroVelo 10, Poland


EuroVelo 10, Poland

Coming soon on the blog: two good river routes - Austria’s Carinthian Lake Loop and the Waterline Route in the Netherlands. Both are top-notch and might earn a place on our "must-ride" list after the next update :)


Carinthian Lake Loop, Austria


Waterline Route, the Netherlands

And we also have a list of river routes we've cycled, as well as routes along former railway lines.

S.

Scotland - Hebridean Way
Wales - Lôn Las Cymru

Oh, heck, all routes in Europa would be worth flying over from anywhere!!

How long do you have, and what is the skill level of the riders? Is camping your primary lodging? A few more details would help getting some detailed opinions.

Look at any of the Eurovelo routes, and see if they go to a place you might be interested in visiting. My wife and I have spent a total of 7 months (3 trips) riding through 11 countries, and we didn't have a bad ride.