The Best Family Cycling Holidays in Europe

We've carefully chosen routes that follow dedicated cycle paths or quiet roads and take you through some of the most delightful cycling locations in Europe. Our team have cycled six of these destinations themselves and so can personally recommend them!

If you have very young children, you'll find tours that take you over almost entirely flat terrain with short daily distances. For older children or teenagers who are up for more of a challenge, there are hillier, longer routes for them too.

If you see a tour that takes your fancy then call our team on +44 (0)1273 224066 or enquire online and set yourself up for a fabulous family cycle. Or for even more choice, take a look at our entire selection of family cycling holidays. 

Follow a trail of excellently maintained cycle paths alongside the murmuring shores of Europe's largest freshwater lake on our Family Lake Constance Bike Tour. Not only will you be pedalling on cycle paths away from the roads for most of the way, but the cycling is almost entirely flat with short daily distances, ideal if you have small travelling companions.

Plus, if you're hearing the odd 'are we there yet' from the back of your peloton, you'll find plenty to keep the kids entertained away from the cycle paths. Break up your hours in the saddle and stop off for ice cream, let your children play in the many parks and playgrounds or splash about in the lake. You can also take a cable car trip up to a wildlife park, enjoy a day at the Ravensburger Theme Park and visit the Zeppelin Museum Friedrichshafen - all included in the tour price!

Freedom Treks' Catherine and Saul took their 7-year-old son James on this tour last July for his first cycling trip on his own bike. Find out why Catherine thinks that Lake Constance is perfect for families.

Bike Hire Options for Children

• E-cargo bike (with seats for two children)
• Child bike (with 20", 24" or 26" wheels)
• Child trailer
• Tandem
• Child seat
• Weehoo
• More details and prices

Freedom Trekkers say:

"What a truly fantastic family holiday... We are a family of 5 with 3 boys (13, 11 & 9) and had never done anything like this before. In no way are we cyclists but we loved every minute. It was great to head out each morning on a new mini adventure knowing we were going somewhere we'd never been. Even though the trip is self-guided we barely took a wrong turn. This meant we felt really safe which is a huge thing when you have children." - David Rollin

View tour: Family Lake Constance Bike Tour

You'd be forgiven for thinking that cycling through the Alps is for experienced and hardy cyclists only. Not so! Our Bolzano to Lake Garda Leisurely Bike Tour takes you along flat valley floors beneath towering peaks through the gorgeous South Tyrol region of Italy. You'll travel short distances along cycle paths (unusual for Italy), making this tour an ideal choice for your first foray into cycling abroad with the family.

There are plenty of attractions for kids to stay excited about along the way too. Take a short detour to Caldaro where children can climb in the Kaltern Adventure Park in beautiful wooded surroundings, visit the awesome Castel Beseno and reward their efforts with some of the free gelato available on this tour!

Bike Hire Options for Children

• Child bike (with 20", 24" or 26" wheels)
• Child trailer
• FollowMe bike
• Child seat
• More details and prices

Freedom Trekkers say:

"A very good tour in a beautiful region, perfect for families. Very nice scenery (mountains, vineyards and apple orchards, pretty villages etc. with a very scenic arrival at Lake Garda) and moderate cycling (25-40km per day) suitable for children. On the first two days there is an option to take a longer, less flat route (very scenic), which I recommend warmly." - Tanguy Morel

View tour: Bolzano to Lake Garda Leisurely Bike Tour

Introduce the children to the beauty of the French countryside as you cycle through the 'garden of France' on our Loire Valley Leisurely Bike Tour. Forget the stress of dealing with traffic as you pedal along cycleways and quiet roads and simply enjoy cycling through vineyards in gloriously quiet surroundings.

Let your children's imaginations run wild as you hop between spectacular châteaux that seem like they are taken from the pages of a fairytale. And if you don't think your youngsters have the legs for a week-long cycle, the route has a couple of days with looped rides, so feel free to take these as rest days. You'll also have the pleasure of staying in 3* and 4* hotels where children can splash about in the swimming pools, and if that’s not enough, children aged 3 to 11 receive 50% off the holiday price.

Bike Hire Options for Children

• Child bike (with 20", 24" or 26" wheels)
• Child trailer
• FollowMe bike
• Child seat
• Family tandem
• More details and prices

Freedom Trekkers say:

"The chateaux that you cycle past on this trip are absolutely stunning and certainly worth stopping to explore." - Ian Griffiths

View tour: Loire Valley Leisurely Bike Tour

Germany is a particularly good country for family cycling because of its vast network of cycle paths - over 70,000 km of well-signposted routes! One of our favourite routes in the whole country is our Moselle Cycle Path Leisurely Bike Tour where you'll enjoy gentle riverside cycling along the quiet banks of the Moselle River between Trier and Koblenz.

This is a great location to create fond memories as a family, with plenty of places to stop by the banks of the river for a picnic and swim in one of the many lidos. There are also plenty of activities to keep kids entertained along the way including water parks, mini-golf and a forest adventure trail.

Freedom Treks' Catherine, Saul and their son James also went on this tour in 2020 and loved it. One of the revelations for Catherine was the FollowMe bike that their then 5-year-old James used. Catherine loved the security of being able to choose between letting James cycle on his own and attaching him to her or Saul's back wheel.

Bike Hire Options for Children

• Child bike (with 20", 24" or 26" wheels)
• Child trailer (suitable for 1-2 children)
• FollowMe bike
• Child tag-along (with 20" or 24" wheels)
• Child seat
• More details and prices

Freedom Trekkers say:

"This trip was absolutely fantastic for a family of four including two teenagers! Easy cycling on most days, lots of things to do on the way, and lots of delicious food and wine to taste! Freedom Treks was the best holiday company I have ever used." - Sophie Grice

View tour: Moselle Cycle Path Leisurely Bike Tour

Our Umbria Leisurely Assisi to Spoleto Bike Tour takes you through the green heart of Italy on quiet country lanes and cycle paths and along valley floors with stunning views. This tour is as much about the stays as it is about the cycling, as you unwind in the evenings by the pools of quiet rural retreats surrounded by classic Umbrian countryside.

This tour offers something for both parents and kids - after days in the saddle exploring old hilltop towns, looking at frescoes and visiting Romanesque churches, kids can let off steam by having a good splash about.

Bike Hire Options for Children

• Kids bike (up to 12 years old)
• Child trailer
• Tag-along bike
• Child seat
• More details and prices

Freedom Trekkers say:

"The bike guide was the best we have ever had! The accommodation was stunning. The cycling route was easy with so much to enjoy on the route. The food and coffee was superb. Just do it!!" - Amanda Barton

View tour: Umbria Leisurely Assisi to Spoleto Bike Tour

Cycling in Sweden is perfect for families with teenage children seeking a cool summer adventure without any grumpy red faces. Escape the heat on our Land of Lakes & Castles Leisurely Bike Tour in Sweden. Starting in Stockholm, pedal through serene nature reserves, lush forests and picturesque villages.

Cycle on quiet roads and tracks through enchanting pinewood forests, stopping along the way for relaxing picnics and swims in clear Baltic waters. And for a little added extra, your Scandinavian adventure will conclude with a voyage on an old steamer across Lake Malaren back to Stockholm.

See bike hire options.

Freedom Trekkers say:

"A great holiday in a stunning place. The service provided by the local partner was excellent, and it was a brilliant way to discover some of the real Sweden. Anders' B&B was a highlight, as was the canoeing." - Emma Curran

View tour: Land of Lakes & Castles Leisurely Bike Tour

We've told you about our Bolzano to Lake Garda Leisurely Bike Tour, now go a step further with our Bolzano to Venice Bike Tour. This pleasant route will lead you beyond the stunning blue waters of Lake Garda towards the famous canals of Venice. With longer distances to cycle every day, this tour is great for older children with a little more energy in their legs.

Despite the distance, the cycling is still blissfully flat and cooling off with a swim in Lake Garda's clear waters makes a welcome halfway treat. The difficulty level of this tour is flexible too. If your kids are up for a challenge, take them on a more undulating route via Caldaro Lake. If the daily cycles become a bit too much, it's easy to skip a stage with a picturesque journey in a cool train carriage.

See bike hire options.

Freedom Trekkers say:

"The cycle route from Bolzano to Venice was a terrific experience. The best part was the first half with stunning mountain scenery and the Lake Garda ferry trip was the highlight." - Karen Chapman

View tour: Bolzano to Venice Bike Tour

Take your family on one of the great European bike trails on our Danube - Leisurely Passau to Vienna Bike Tour. Known as 'the classic', the route between Passau and Vienna is a long-established bike trail that typifies Danube cycling at its best. You'll cycle along quiet green riverbanks and pass through stunning areas of natural beauty such as the Danube Loop and the Wachau wine region.

This is a great route if you're travelling with children. Well-sign-posted, flat and traffic-free cycle paths allow you to relax in the saddle and turn your gaze to the beauty of the Austrian countryside. The train journey to Vienna on the last day of your tour will shorten an otherwise lengthy route and give those legs a well-earned rest.

Bike Hire Options for Children

• Kids bike
• Child trailer
• Child seat
• More details and prices

Freedom Trekkers say:

"This was a fab holiday for a family with teenage boys and not particularly fit parents... The leisurely trip down the Danube is great for those who like to sightsee and not spend too much time in the saddle." - Nicola Bees

View tour: Danube - Leisurely Passau to Vienna Bike Tour

If you and your children have the stamina, why not cycle an entire lap of Lake Constance on our Lake Constance Bike Tour? Circumnavigating the entire lake means you won't miss a single one of the spectacular sights on the sparkling shores.

In truth, the terrain on our Lake Constance Bike Tour is no more challenging than our Family Lake Constance Bike Tour. The route is traversed along well-maintained and quiet cycle routes but you'll probably find that the longer daily distances are better suited to older children.

Bike Hire Options for Children

• E-cargo bike (with seats for two children)
• Child Bike (with 20", 24" or 26" wheels)
• Tandem
• More details and prices

Freedom Trekkers say:

"Lake Konstanz is a beautiful cycling area. It is ideal for adults or families with teenagers... As a cyclist, you feel quite safe as it is mostly cycle paths and most of the roads have cycle lanes. The locals were very friendly and the drivers always courteous." - Annmarie Ryan

View tour: Lake Constance Bike Tour

Combine family cycling with a picture-postcard Meditteranean beach holiday on our Family Sardinia Bike Tour. This week-long tour takes you along pristine beaches with idyllic turquoise waters and even to offshore islands via ferry. The cycling itself is mostly gentle, but with a few gentle inclines and roads to navigate, this route is better suited to families with older children and teenagers.

To reduce time spent packing and unpacking, you'll spend a couple of nights in most locations so you have a lot of flexibility when it comes to deciding what to do with your days. You can either cycle inland to visit historic towns and olive groves or pack your holiday with plenty of rest days and sunbathe on the beach while your children splash about in the waves.

Bike Hire Options for Children

• Child Bike (with FollowMe attachment on request)
• Child Trailer
• Child seat
• More details and prices

Freedom Trekkers say:

"Sardinia holiday was excellent; people, food, exotic beaches and interesting archaeology - loved the capital Cagliari and museums. The sun shone every day despite being October and the final hotel was superb." - Melanie Mcbreen

View tour: Family Sardinia Bike Tour

If any of these destinations sound like just the place you'd like to take your kids cycling, then enquire online or call +44 (0)1273 224066 to speak to our friendly team. Or for even more choice, take a look at our entire selection of family cycling holidays.