Six of the best cycling trips
Justin Owers
For me, cycling and slow travel go hand in hand. On the bike, you notice everything: the way a village feels as you roll through, the change in light as you climb, the rhythm of your wheels on a quiet back road. Travelling by train feels the same: you become part of the journey, rather than rushing through it. And by swapping flights for tracks, you’re helping to protect the landscapes we love to ride.
These active trips are not bike-packing epics where you haul panniers from place to place. Instead, I’ve designed them to include a solid base for a week, with reliable local bike hire and cyclist-friendly hotels with proper storage. Each destination has routes for different kinds of riders, whether you're chasing PBs up the local col, grinding gravel, or you prefer a gentle spin to a canalside café on a pastel-hued Dutch upright.
I’ve chosen these six places because they all offer world-class cycling, as well as varied landscapes, food and culture. Along the way, you’ll stop in cities and towns that make for perfect recovery days, or great breaks for non-cycling partners who’d rather swap the saddle for a glass of wine and a view.
For more slow travel inspiration, insights into overland routes and insider tips, subscribe to our newsletter.
Justin Owers
Cycling outside Girona.
Cycle Girona
First up is the Spanish city of Girona: a European cycling supercity. Smooth roads, considerate drivers and a good year-round climate have made cycling in Girona a favourite among professionals and amateurs alike. Climbers will want to test themselves on Rocacorba (14km at 5.6% average, with long ramps up to 15%). Measuring it from the stone bridge over the Matamors river makes it a tougher 10km at an average of 7%. Add in the ride out through Banyoles, with its lake, and you have one of Girona's most rewarding routes. For something gentler, Els Àngels (11km at 3.8%) makes for a perfect midweek ride with views back across the city. Gravel riders are spoiled too, with routes north made famous by the Traka race.
La Fàbrica is Girona’s go-to refuelling stop. Run by former pro cyclist Christian Meier and his wife Amber, it’s known for in-house coffee roasts, plus homemade pastries, waffles and bagels that always hit the spot after a ride. The café is set up with cyclists in mind, with bike racks outside and water-filling stations ready when you roll in.
Top tip
Ride Rocacorba midweek and head out early, when the road is cooler, quieter and free from traffic.
Cyclist-friendly stays
Girona: Gran Ultonia; Carlemany; Hotel Nord 1901, all with storage space and close links to local rental shops.
Luca Florio
Siena.
Siena by bike
Siena, in Italy, has become a pilgrimage for cyclists, thanks to the Strade Bianche. The white gravel roads and the final lung-busting climb into Piazza del Campo are legendary, but Tuscany offers much more than the race route. Rolling vineyard roads, rustic hilltop towns and quiet lanes make it ideal for both big training days and gentler rides. A classic is the 65 to 80km loop to Montepulciano, completed with a slice of banana bread from Lalma Café & Tea Room, or a glass of red in the piazza before heading back to Siena.
Breaking the trip in Turin gives you time to jump on a city bike through wide boulevards before settling into the city’s café culture (espresso and gianduja are as good a recovery combo as you will find). Chambéry, on the French side of the Alps, has a strong cycling heritage with more than 90km of cycling facilities, including four greenways dedicated to eco-friendly transport.
Top tip
Tackle Monte Sante Marie, the toughest stretch of the Strade Bianche. At over 11km long with ramps nudging 18%, this gravel sector often decides the race and will give you a true taste of Tuscany’s white roads.
Cyclist-friendly stays
Siena: Hotel Athena; Hotel Minerva, both secure for bikes, with rental options nearby.
Nick Karvounis
Nice.
Nice on two wheels
Few places match cycling in Nice for variety: the Mediterranean coast stretching out on one side, and the Alps rising up on the other. You can spin along the Corniche to Monaco or Cannes with coffee stops and sea views, then test yourself on the Col de la Madone (13km at 6.7%), the training ground of choice for pros. The Col de la Bonette (2,802m) delivers altitude, hairpins, and the challenge of riding one of Europe’s highest paved roads. Whatever route you choose, finishing with a swim in the sea is hard to beat.
Meanwhile, a stay in Avignon lets you wander the old city or head out on easy loops through Provençal vineyards, and Paris offers boulangeries, riverside apèritifs, and the buzz of the Tour’s adopted finale circuit in Montmartre.
Top tip
Ride the final 30km of Milan–San Remo into San Remo itself. It’s an iconic stretch of road and you’ll feel like you’re part of cycling history.
Cyclist-friendly stays
Nice: La Villa Nice Victor Hugo; Hyatt Regency; Malmaison Nice; Palais Saleya, all bike-friendly with secure storage and good rental contacts.
Justin Owers
Mallorca.
Cycling in Mallorca
In my opinion, Mallorca is a cycling paradise: the roads are pristine, the weather is reliable, and the island has a long-established cycling culture. The north-east, around Pollença, is the best base for cycling in Mallorca. The Tramuntana mountains cut across the island and serve up legendary routes, none more famous than Sa Calobra (9.4km at 7%). The twisting descent to the coast followed by the long haul back out is a rite of passage for visiting cyclists. For something shorter but equally rewarding, ride to the Formentor lighthouse: a 40km out-and-back with rolling climbs and views over the Mediterranean. If you prefer a steadier spin, the quieter roads south of Pollença offer 40–60km loops across flatter terrain.
Away from the saddle, you can hike to Mirador de Cala Boquer, where a secluded cove, seabirds and the occasional goat take the place of hairpins and gradients. This trip also includes a stop in Girona on the way home, giving you a chance to sample Catalonia’s riding and tapas culture.
Top tip
Set out for Sa Calobra before 9am. You will have the descent to yourself, and by the time the coaches arrive you will already be halfway up the climb.
Cyclist-friendly stays
Pollença: Hotel Pollentia; Hoposa Pollensamas Apartamentos; Hotel Illa d’Or; Hotel Llenaire; MarSenses Puerto Pollensa Hotel & Spa; Hotel Miramar, all with safe storage and experienced in looking after visiting cyclists.
Coen van de Broek
Fietsen in the Netherlands
If you want an easy, family-friendly cycling holiday, the Netherlands is unbeatable. The country is built for bikes, with flat terrain, safe cycle lanes and a culture where two wheels are part of everyday life. Cycling in the Netherlands means schoolchildren on their way to class, locals carrying shopping on upright city bikes, and club riders all sharing the same paths.
Breda, in North Brabant, is an ideal base thanks to its train connections and access to woods, heathland and classic Dutch villages. A favourite route is a 60km loop through Mastbos forest and the Markdal nature reserve, with quiet paths along rivers and meadows. For a bigger day, a 100km ride towards Zundert takes you through the countryside that inspired Van Gogh. And with bikes welcome on local trains, it's easy to extend your range to Utrecht or Rotterdam.
To refuel, stop at a fietscafe like Kamu in Breda. It’s a café and bike shop rolled into one, with good coffee, simple lunches and racks full of custom builds to admire while you eat. Locals come here for rides, events and route tips too.
Top tip
Bring lights for longer rides, as many Dutch paths cut through woods or rural stretches where it can suddenly feel much darker, even in summer.
Cyclist-friendly stays
Breda: Hotel Nassau Breda; Golden Tulip Keyser Breda Centre; Leonardo Hotel Breda City Center, all central and bike-friendly.
Loire vineyards and vélo
I picked the Loire Valley as it gives you the chance to enjoy two of my favourite things: cycling and wine. This is where the EuroVelo 6 route finishes, a long-distance trail that runs from the Black Sea to the Atlantic. Based in Tours, you can follow the river on quiet traffic-free lanes perfect for families or anyone on their first cycling holiday. Vineyard loops of around 40km take you past rows of vines, while longer rides of 100km or more reach Saumur, Angers or Orléans. With regional trains linking the valley, it’s easy to ride out in one direction and return by rail, which opens up more of the region without worrying about the ride back.
Cycling in the Loire Valley means easy miles along the river, châteaux on the skyline, and villages where it’s hard to resist stopping for a pastry. Back in Tours, you’ll want a good meal after a long day. Case. does modern plates with local produce, while La Rissole is the spot for hearty French classics and a glass of local wine.
Top tip
Take the riverside route between Tours and Saumur in the late afternoon. The light on the water and châteaux is pretty special, and you can roll into town just in time for dinner.
Cyclist-friendly stays
Tours: LABE Hôtel Tours Centre Gare; Hôtel & SPA Oceania L’Univers Tours; Hilton Garden Inn; Hotel Mirabeau; La Héraudière B&B, all happy to accommodate bikes and near reliable rental shops.
Contact Byway concierge for bespoke trips.
Read about why we love the local train, or check out six of the best scenic train journeys in Europe.
