From fjords to vineyards: five of Europe’s best cycling routes
Cycling is one of the best ways to explore Europe> From east to west, from north to south, here are some biking routes not to miss.
Published on August 22, 2025
© Unsplash - Christian Leonard Felten
Mauro swapped Sardinia for Eindhoven and has been an IO+ editor for 3 years. As a GREEN+ expert, he covers the energy transition with data-driven stories.
Camping, eating out, and swimming: in the previous episodes of Destination: data, we gave you an overview of some of the summer holiday essentials. In this latest episode, we shine the spotlight on one of the favorite holiday activities by Europeans: cycling. From North Cape to Valletta, or from the Atlantic Ocean to the Black Sea: you can cross Europe in many ways, riding your bike.
EuroVelo (EV) is Europe’s most extensive cycling network, consisting of 17 long-distance routes, with two more under construction. The network spans over 90,000 kilometers of cycling routes with the European Cyclists' Federation (ECF) coordinating the implementation and quality assurance of EuroVelo in collaboration with national and regional partners. In 2023, 3,6 million people went on a cycling trip with more than three overnight stays.
Here are some of the most picturesque routes to cycle on, in case you're still planning a last-minute cycling trip or already looking forward to next year’s holidays.
Destination: data
Where are Europe's cleanest waters to swim? Where can you enjoy more hours of sunshine? This summer, we dive into some figures about Europe's most popular destinations.
View Destination: dataEV 7: From North Cape to Valletta
From Europe’s northernmost point to the deep south, the Sun route is one of the best ways to criss-cross the continent by bike. This route spans about 7,650 kilometers, passing nine European countries. It features a variety of landscapes and things to see, such as the Swedish countryside, stopovers in capitals such as Berlin, Prague, and Copenhagen, and a full immersion in Southern Italy.
EV 6: west to east
Castles, rivers, vineyards: the Atlantic – Black Sea is ranked as one of the most popular EuroVelo routes. Not only for its ample variety of scenery, but also for its flat topography, as it stretches along the Loire and the Danube rivers. On this route, you can explore central Europe, cycling across six countries.
EV 15: along the course of the Rhine River
The Rhine River is one of Europe’s main waterways, originating in Switzerland and flowing into the Dutch North Sea. Stretching along the river banks, the route is mostly flat, making it suitable for all fitness levels and abilities. On top of that, this route boasts top-tier cycling infrastructure, being the only EuroVelo route with a large stretch complying with the highest certification standards.
EV 13: a journey through history
If you are a fan of history, the Iron Curtain Trail allows you to experience the history of Europe’s division. This route is the longest within EuroVelo’s network, stretching for over 10,600 kilometres across 20 countries. From Norway to Turkey, EV 13 boasts the ultimate Eastern Europe experience. However, much of the route is not ready to cycle yet, with most of the stretches along Finland’s border and Bulgaria still under development. Yet, something to put on your ‘to-cycle’ list.
EV 1: exploring the Atlantic coast
Another lengthy route is the Atlantic Coast Route, following Europe’s westernmost border. The over 10,600 kilometers of this route allow you to visit six UNESCO heritage sites. From Norway’s fjords to Portugal’s sun-kissed beaches, the EV 1 lacks no landscape and gastronomy variety. If you can’t get enough of seaside views, that’s the right trail for you.
Understanding EuroVelo’s network development
Before you hop on your bike, though, there is some information about the cycling infrastructure quality. There are different development level categories for EuroVelo cycling routes.
- Certified EuroVelo route. It is the highest-quality level, and it is a section of at least 300 km that complies with the European Certification Standard.
- Developed with EuroVelo signs. A developed route with continuous signage and integrating EuroVelo route information.
- Developed (at national/regional level). A route developed for cyclists that is part of a regional or national network.
- Under development. The route contains sections that still require development, with cyclists advised to use public transportation in non-developed stretches.
- At the planning stage. The route is underdeveloped and lacks available information on the internet.
The donut chart below provides a clearer overview of the level of development of EuroVelo’s network, according to the organization’s latest report. In fact, the only fully certified stretch of the network is along the Rhine route. Nevertheless, in the vast majority of the over 90,000 kilometers, there is appropriate signage and adequate infrastructure for cycling.
So, choose your favorite route, pump your tyres, pack your bags, and you're all set to explore Europe on a bike.
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