What Should I Know About the 23 Best Bike Friendly Cities in Europe? (Part 2)

Author:

Les Waller

Published:

Updated:

Affiliate Disclaimer

As an affiliate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. We get commissions for purchases made through links on this website from Amazon and other third parties.

I now have a Brompton folding bike and can easily carry it in my car. I do not like to walk for more than 30 minutes at a slow pace. Most towns and cities I have visited in Europe will take a couple of hours to walk around and see everything. So, I got to thinking, “What Should I Know About the 24 Best Bike Friendly Cities in Europe?” Below is a list of cities with key points about biking in those cities. Now we will all be better prepared when we go there and either ride our own bike there or rent a bike from a local shop.

Now we will cover the other half of the best cities for cycling in Europe.

Here, in Part 2 we cover the cities:

Island of Sark

First, let’s see what the Island of Sark has to offer by going to the Official Sark Website for all sorts of information.

Here are some highlight points about biking on the Island of Sark:

Cars are not allowed on the island
Designated as the first Dark Sky island with no cars or street lights
From the visitors center in the center of the island everything is within one hour’s walking distance

Do you want to explore the island on your own? Well then I recommend renting a bike from Avenue Cycle. I would also recommend pre-booking your bike(s) in advance to ensure they are available on your arrival.

If you do not feel like exploring the island on your own you can take a horse and carriage ride. There are two carriage services available: Stocks Hotel Sark Carriage Tours and Danny Wakley Carriages.

Ljubljana, Slovenia

First, let’s see what Ljubljana has to offer in things to see and do or eat and drink by going to Ljubljana Tourism for all sorts of information.
Here are some highlight points about biking in Ljubljana:

Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia
One of the smallest capitals in Europe with a population of 300,000

Do you want to explore the city on your own? Well then I recommend checking out the cycle routes from MayMyRide.
If you do not feel like exploring the city on your own or you want to maximize your limited time, then I would suggest taking a city or countryside bike tour. Here is just one of the businesses that offer that service: Ljubljana Bike Tour.

Malmö, Sweden

First, let’s see what Malmo has to offer in things to see and do or eat and drink by going to Welcome to Malmö for all sorts of information.
Here are some highlight points about biking in Malmö:

Castle Malmöhus
St. Peter’s Church
Old Town in Lilla Torg Square
Biking from Malmö to Lund
Kungsgaten
Ribersborgsstigen
Pildammsparken
Regimentsgaten

Do you want to explore the city on your own? Well then I recommend checking out the cycle routes from bikemap.
If you do not feel like exploring the city on your own or you want to maximize your limited time, then I would suggest taking a city or countryside bike tour. Here are some of the businesses that offer that services from Trip Advisor.

Nantes, France

First, let’s see what Nantes has to offer in things to see and do or eat and drink by going to nantes.tourisme for all sorts of information.
Here are some highlight points about biking in Nantes:

Historic Center
The “Machines”
Erdre Area (tributary of the Loire River)
Nantes Island

Do you want to explore the city on your own? Well then I recommend checking out the cycle routes from bikemap.
If you do not feel like exploring the city on your own or you want to maximize your limited time, then I would suggest taking a city or countryside bike tour. Here is just one of the businesses that offer that service: Baja Bikes.

Oslo, Norway

First, let’s see what Oslo has to offer in things to see and do or eat and drink by going to Visit Oslo for all sorts of information.

Here are some highlight points about biking in Oslo:

Akerselva (Aker River)
Maridalsvannet (Lake on Northern Edge of Oslo)
Sognsvann (Lake Just West of Maridalsvannet)
Bygdøy (Peninsula)
Ekeberg
Nøklevann (Lake on Eastern Edge of Oslo)
Nesodden (Southern Peninsula facing Oslo)

Do you want to explore the city on your own? Well then I recommend checking out the cycle routes from Visit Norway.

If you do not feel like exploring the city on your own or you want to maximize your limited time, then I would suggest taking a city or countryside bike tour. Here is just one of the businesses that offer that service: Viking Biking.

Paris, France

First, let’s see what Paris has to offer in things to see and do or eat and drink by going to the Paris Official Website for all sorts of information, to include a downloadable PDF of Paris bike routes.

Here are some highlight points about biking in Paris:

Canal St-Martin
Coulée verte René-Dumont
Bois de Vincenees (Forest in Paris)
Banks of the Seine River
Sacré-Coeur Basilica

Do you want to explore the city on your own? Well then I recommend checking out the cycle routes from Spinlister.

If you do not feel like exploring the city on your own or you want to maximize your limited time, then I would suggest taking a city or countryside bike tour. Here is just one of the businesses that offer that service: Paris Bike Tour.

Here are some added notes after a recent visit (22 Nov 2018) to Paris. It seemed that mopeds were much more predominate on the streets than bicycles, especially in the bike lanes.

I know I do not like driving in Paris in my car. Many of the multi-lane roads do not have lines painted on them and some of the roundabouts are just crazy!

Seville, Spain

First, let’s see what Seville has to offer in things to see and do or eat and drink by going to Seville tourism website for all sorts of information.
Here are some highlight points about biking in Seville:

Real Alcázar
Parque de María Luisa
Catedral de Sevilla and La Giralda
Barrio Santa Cruz
Plaza de España
Metropol Parasol
Torre del Oro

Do you want to explore the city on your own? Well then I recommend checking out the cycle routes from bikemap and limit the search to 30 km or less.
If you do not feel like exploring the city on your own or you want to maximize your limited time, then I would suggest taking a city or countryside bike tour. Here is just one of the businesses that offer that service: See By Bike.

Strasbourg, France

First, let’s see what Strasbourg has to offer in things to see and do or eat and drink by going to Strasbourg Official Tourism Website for all sorts of information.

Here are some highlight points about biking in Strasbourg:

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg
Parc de l’Orangerie
La Petite France
Over 20 Bridges
Botanical Gardens

Do you want to explore the city on your own? Well then I recommend checking out the cycle routes from bikemap.

If you do not feel like exploring the city on your own or you want to maximize your limited time, then I would suggest taking a city or countryside bike tour. Here is just one of the businesses that offer that service: Baja Bikes.

Utrecht, Netherlands

First, let’s see what Utrecht has to offer in things to see and do or eat and drink by going to Utrecht Tourist Information Website for all sorts of information.

Here are some highlight points about biking in Utrecht:

De Haar Castle

Oudegracht (Canal)

Dom Church
Amelisweerd

Do you want to explore the city on your own? Well then I recommend checking out the cycle routes from Utrecht Tourist Info – Cycling Routes.

If you do not feel like exploring the city on your own or you want to maximize your limited time, then I would suggest taking a city or countryside bike tour. Here is just one of the businesses that offer that service: Holland Cycling – Utrecht.

Vienna, Austria

First, let’s see what Vienna has to offer in things to see and do or eat and drink by going to Vienna Tourism for all sorts of information.

Here are some highlight points about biking in Vienna:

Ringstrasse
Rathaus
Parliament
Imperial Palace
Opera House
Giant Ferris Wheel
Danube River

Do you want to explore the city on your own? Well then I recommend checking out the cycle routes from komoot.

If you do not feel like exploring the city on your own or you want to maximize your limited time, then I would suggest taking a city or countryside bike tour. Here is just one of the businesses that offer that service: Vienna Explorer.

Zermatt, Switzerland

First, let’s see what Zermatt has to offer in things to see and do or eat and drink by going to Trip Advisor – Zermatt for all sorts of information. As a bonus, here is a website with beautiful pictures.
Here are some highlight points around Zermatt:

Matterhorn
Klein Matterhorn
Rothorn
Zermatt Village

Do you want to explore the city on your own? Well then I recommend checking out the cycle routes from komoot.
If you do not feel like exploring the city on your own or you want to maximize your limited time, then I would suggest taking a city or countryside bike tour. Here is just one of the businesses that offer that service: Zermatt Bike Tours.

In Part 1 we covered:

Amsterdam, Netherlands
Antwerp, Belgium
Barcelona, Spain
Berlin, Germany
Bordeaux, France
Budapest, Hungary
Copenhagen, Denmark
Dublin, Ireland
Ghent, Belgium
Giethoorn, Netherlands
Hamburg, Germany
Helsinki, Finland

Now you have seen some of the most bicycle friendly countries in the world!

FAQ

What is the bicycle capital of Germany?

Münster is often referred to as the bicycle capital of Germany. With a well-developed cycling infrastructure, cycling is a significant mode of transportation for its residents.

Where is cycling most popular in Europe?

Copenhagen, Denmark, is considered the cycling capital of Europe. Its extensive cycling infrastructure and high percentage of residents using bikes make it a popular cycling city.

Which is the world’s number one cycling city?

Amsterdam, Netherlands, is often considered the world’s number one cycling city. It has a well-established cycling culture, extensive bike paths, and a high percentage of cycling commuters.

Why is biking so popular in Germany?

Biking is popular in Germany due to its extensive cycling infrastructure, bike-friendly policies, and a strong cycling culture. The country’s flat terrain and eco-conscious attitude also contribute to its popularity.

What is the world’s cycling capital?

Amsterdam, Netherlands, is often considered the world’s cycling capital. Its bike-friendly infrastructure, cycling culture, and high percentage of bike usage make it a top destination for cyclists.

What is the best country to cycle in?

The Netherlands is often regarded as the best country to cycle in. It has an impressive cycling network, dedicated bike lanes, and a high level of bike safety and awareness.

Which country is known as a bicycle country?

The Netherlands is known as a bicycle country due to its strong cycling culture, high bike usage, and bike-friendly infrastructure that makes it easy and safe to cycle.

Where is cycling most popular?

Cycling is most popular in countries like the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany, where cycling culture, infrastructure, and bike-friendly policies promote widespread use of bicycles as a mode of transportation.