The Best Cycling Tours in Europe for 2025

With over 150 cycling tours in 27 European countries, choosing a tour is not always easy, and it certainly wasn't easy to narrow down our top recommendations for 2025! Based on customer feedback, our team's personal experience and up-and-coming destinations, these tours are the best of the best and guarantee a special experience that leaves lasting memories.

For personal advice and more recommendations from our friendly, knowledgeable team, call +44 (0)1273 224066 or contact us online.

By Catherine Gray, Head of Freedom Treks

A few things make for one of Europe's best cycle paths. Firstly, a smooth, well-maintained trail is crucial to ensuring a comfortable time in the saddle. Secondly, a path that’s well signposted and easy to follow greatly lowers the stress levels of your holiday. And finally, the backdrop of the route needs to take your breath away more than any amount of pedalling. For these reasons, the Lake Constance & Rhine Falls Bike Tour tops our list of tours with the best cycle paths.

Starting and finishing in the German city of Constance, you’ll pedal around Lake Constance's sparking shoreline through Austria and Switzerland on a loop back to where you started. When you’re not cycling on the mostly flat terrain, you’ll be stopping at enchanting towns and beauty spots including the medieval town of Stein am Rhein and Europe's largest waterfall - the Rhine Falls.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A fantastic week cycling around Lake Constance. The scenery was beautiful particularly the ride from Konstanz to Schaffhausen and back (an add-on to the trip to see the Rhine Falls). The cycle paths were very well-marked and easy to follow in most places. The hotels were of a good standard with excellent breakfasts to set you up for the day. This is a must-do tour!” - Jacqueline Field, UK

View Tour: Lake Constance & Rhine Falls

If you’re the type of cyclist who wants to pack as much as you can into an adventure, how does a 4 night tour through Italy, Slovenia and Croatia sound? There's never a dull moment and always something to marvel at, whether it’s the stunning UNESCO World Heritage Euphrasian Basilica in Porec, the shimmering Adriatic coastline, or the vast Sečovlje saltpans.

The Istrian Coast - Trieste to Porec Short Break is by no means a difficult tour, but you should expect a few undulations and gravel paths along the way as you follow the shoreline past ports, vineyards and karst hills. The condensed climbs are well worth it, as afterwards you can relax in beautiful, historic squares with their café-culture style restaurants.

Freedom Treks Chairman Richard cycled the longer version of this tour in July 2024 and said: "Cycling along the Istrian Coast proved to be a massive hit with my family. The daily distances were easily done in about three hours each day - leaving plenty of time for less active holiday pursuits."

View tour: Istrian Coast - Trieste to Porec Short Break Bike Tour

The Bolzano to Lake Garda Leisurely Bike Tour earns the accolade of the best cycling tour for families because of the leisurely nature of cycling in Italy’s South Tyrol Region. The short distances are perfect for little legs, with regular opportunities to stop for gelato, and there’s even the option to shorten particular stages of the tour with the train. Plus the option of specific children’s bikes, trailers, FollowMe bikes and child seats make this tour one our most accessible for families of all ages.

The route itself is gentle and follows quiet, dedicated cycle paths. The peaceful trails allow you to take in the immense mountain backdrops, grand castles, and emerald vineyards all at your own pace.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “What a fabulous trip! We were not expecting the tour to be so great. We had two 15-year-olds and we are 60ish, and we had no problems. We all had a fabulous holiday. Going by bike lets you see so much more. We stopped en route in quaint little villages for gelato, that you may never have visited if you were driving on the highway. Also, this particular part of Italy has bike paths everywhere, which means you barely have to go on roads, and never on highways. The trails are all separate from roads.” - Carolyn Rogers, Canada

View tour: Bolzano to Lake Garda Leisurely Bike Tour

The Alpe Adria Bike Tour has every picturesque backdrop you're likely to find on a postcard. Starting with a southward cycle from Salzburg, you’ll experience both Austria’s spectacular mountains and Italy’s vibrant coast. On the route, you’ll encounter impressive rivers, dramatic waterfalls, charming ancient towns and magnificent castles before reaching the lagoon town of Grado on Italy's Adriatic coast.

The variety of magical views are well-earned with moderate cycling through rolling hills. You'll cycle the famous Alpe-Adria cycle path, pedalling a stunning route that integrates old railway tracks. If you're longing for a cycling holiday with awe-inspiring scenery and delicious local cuisine, then this tour is difficult to top!

I'm speaking from personal experience as I cycled half of this tour with my family in July 2024! The cycle routes were so amazing; leisurely cycling along dedicated paths, gravel tracks and traffic-free country lanes all with stunning scenery from the mountains to the sea. The best decision of the trip was staying on in Grado for more beach days in the sunshine!

View tour: Alpe Adria Bike Tour - Salzburg to Grado

Boat & Bike tours are a remarkable way to travel. The blend of scenic cycling and cruising down incredible waterways make them rightfully popular. One that’s rated highly by both the Freedom Treks team and our customers is the Moselle & Saar Rivers Boat & Bike Tour.

On this 7 night tour, you’ll wind through some of the most scenic parts of West Germany’s countryside, passing ancient castles, pretty timbered houses and market squares, never straying too far from the riverbanks. The guides onboard the boat (the premium MS Olympia) have excellent knowledge of this part of the country, so you’re sure to see and learn about the region's highlights, including the fascinating wine-growing culture.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Our tour was very enjoyable, with no problems or complaints. The accommodation and facilities on the boat were excellent, as was the standard of food. The cycling was mostly very flat and easy, along well-maintained cycle lanes and paths through beautiful countryside, and the supplied bikes and e-bikes were of a high standard.” - Alan Lidell, UK

View tour: Moselle & Saar Rivers Boat & Bike Tour

The Netherlands is home to some wonderful cultural hotspots, many of which you can see as you pedal the gentle route south from Amsterdam to Bruges.

Over the course of a week, you’ll roll along world-class cycle paths to Gouda and the 19 UNESCO-listed windmills at Kinderdijk, before taking a ferry across the border to Flanders. From there, it’s a short ride into Bruges where you can explore the charming medieval city and relax with a tipple of local Belgian beer to round off the tour in style. If you're seeking an authentic experience of Holland and Belgium on two wheels, this is the tour for you.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “The Amsterdam tour exceeded our expectations. The routes were scenic and varied, providing a wonderful opportunity to experience the Netherlands and Belgium from a different perspective. We particularly enjoyed cycling through UNESCO World Heritage Site Kinderdijk, and the final day cycling along the coastal route to Belgium was fantastic. Such a relaxing and enjoyable trip, thank you Freedom Treks! Top tip: Plan your days out so that you get to enjoy maximum time in the places with the most to see, such as Gouda." - Katharine Thorley, UK 

View tour: Amsterdam to Bruges Bike Tour

It’s not just windmills the Netherlands is famous for. Its vibrant tulip fields are synonymous with the country and the routes which pass them on our Holland's Tulips, Windmills and Historic Cities Bike Tour are an absolute joy to cycle on.

You’ll start by exploring Amsterdam’s peaceful World Heritage central canal area, before cycling to Haarlem and then Leiden, pedalling past fields of blooming flowers bursting with colour and floral fragrances. When you’re not taking in rural Holland's striking spring scenery, you’ll be in awe of Haalem's impressive churches and Leiden’s pretty architecture.

As you’d expect, this is a very popular tour with limited departures running from March to May, so it’s best to book your spot on this tour as early as possible.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “The Holland Tulips Bike Tour was one of our bucket list items and the reality exceeded our expectations. The tour routes were carefully planned to provide great scenery. Luggage transfers worked perfectly and the hotel accommodations were comfortable.” - Sterling Bennett, USA

View tour: Holland's Tulips, Windmills and Historic Cities Bike Tour

For an almost guaranteed dose of vitamin D in the winter months, you can’t go wrong with Lanzarote. Our Lanzarote Bike Tour - Land of the Volcanoes is our southernmost European tour and the temperatures average between 14°C to 21°C from December to March, which are ideal for cycling.

On this self-guided tour, you’ll spend 7 nights exploring the best the island has to offer, with a mixture of dramatic coastal cycling towards beautiful beaches and climbs through Lanzarote's famous Parque Nacional de Timanfaya, where you can soak up the impressive volcanic landscapes including the crater of El Golfo. This tour has its fair share of steeper ascents, so we do recommend it to more experienced cyclists with a moderate degree of fitness - although e-bikes are available and there are options for rest days for those worried about weary legs.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This was the second time we had done this tour and we enjoyed it just as much as the first. The roads in Lanzarote are generally very good for cycling and the scenery is amazing. The weather was hot and sunny at the end of March but very windy which made the cycling challenging at times, especially on the first day cycling north. There was a good variety of hotels, all of which were excellent, the e-bikes were very good and the transfers were very efficient.” - Sally Novell, UK

View tour: Lanzarote Bike Tour - Land of the Volcanoes

Spain's Conquistadors & Paradors Bike Tour is one where bringing a pair of binoculars or a zoom lens for your camera is always highly recommended! Local fauna includes wild bulls, black Iberico pigs, Spanish Ibex and then a real highlight of vultures, eagles and hawks on day four in Monfrague National Park.

Aside from the unique wildlife in Western Spain’s countryside, the Extremadura region is an area known for its historic buildings and monuments left behind by Conquistadors. You'll stay in 'paradors', luxury hotels in restored palaces, as well as castles, monasteries and four star hotels as you cycle between beautiful cities that you're unlikely to have heard of.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Our mid-May e-bike tour of Extremadura "Paradors and Conquistadors" was a fantastic experience, combining historical towns and buildings with marvellous mountain scenery, wonderful flora and picturesque wild birds and occasional deer with domestic cattle, Iberian pigs and sheep living in olive groves which stretched for miles. The scent of the blossom (orange, lavender, broom) was beautiful, especially in the mountains, and the scenery there was fabulous. We were glad we had taken binoculars for raptor viewing in the National Park. We sent 'stork of the day' photos home as the white storks seemed to nest in ever more perilous places along the route.” - Caroline Finlayson, UK

View tour: Spain's Conquistadors & Paradors Bike Tour

Wind down the iconic Danube River on dedicated cycle paths as you make your way to three of Europe's capital cities in seven days on the Danube - Vienna to Budapest Bike Tour. Your first stop is Austria’s capital Vienna, where there’s plenty to do from sampling the local food and drink at Copabeach, to catching a short piano-trio concert featuring pieces from famous Vienna-born composers.

Halfway through the tour, you’ll cycle to Europe’s youngest capital, Bratislava and its legendary hilltop castle. On day seven, the tour concludes in Budapest with the option to catch an evening ferry along the river and witness the iconic Hungarian Parliament Building illuminated on the waterfront. To gain a firsthand insight into this tour, read Freedom Trek’s Chairman, Rich’s trip report from July 2023.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Cycling from Vienna to Budapest ranks as one of our favourite holidays. My wife and I are moderately competent cyclists, so we found the route relatively easy. However, this did not lessen the enjoyment as the location was beautiful and the cycling was relaxing. The warm weather also helped. The navigation app was a breeze to use, and the stops along the route were ideal for exploring and enjoying local culture.”  - Stewart Randall, UK

View tour: Danube - Vienna to Budapest Bike Tour

With soaring peaks, demanding climbs and a stunning route covering nearly 300 miles (474 km), the lofty Highlights of Albania route takes the number one spot for the best climbs. Starting and finishing in the buzzing capital city of Tirana, you'll cycle south past picturesque mountains and sparkling rivers down the eastern border of the country before following the coastline back up in the west.

The challenging portions of cycling are definitely a highlight, but you’ll also enjoy cultural hot spots and unique wildlife, including three UNESCO World Heritage Sites and a national park that's home to wolves, eagles and more. In April 2024, Senior Operations Coordinator Darryl completed this tour and had a brilliant time - you can read all about his adventures in his Highlights of Albania trip report.

This tour is guided, meaning no stressing about the route or taking a wrong turn. You'll also benefit from some great value, with Albania being a hidden gem to most of the world (we recommend making the trip before everyone else catches on!) as well as the tour being full board.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “An excellent bike tour! Everything was well organized. Thank goodness for the reliable e-bikes that made the climbs painless. Our guide Dimitri and driver Vissi were experienced, always helpful and fun. The food was traditional, plentiful and delicious.” - Jean Cyca, Canada

View Tour: Highlights of Albania Guided Bike Tour

If you would like to learn more about any of the tours above, enquire online or call our team on +44 (0)1273 224066. To book, click through to the tour pages for dates, prices and to pay online.

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