Ready for a free-as-air bike adventure with your hair blowing in the wind? Prepared to cycle thousands of kilometres across Europe, criss-crossing in every direction? Well then, you’re going to love the EuroVelo trails. Seventeen behemoth cycle trails invite the pedal-happy traveller to explore our continent on two wheels. Make no mistake: these are absolutely not for the faint of heart! However, each route can offer unforgettable scenes, and some seriously muscly legs by the end of them.
These EuroVelo cycle trails are a true bucket list experience
So, how ambitious are we talking? Well, the shortest route (EuroVelo 19) is 1050 kilometres. It follows the route of the River Meuse through France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Still, that’s a wee baby compared to the truly taxing EuroVelo 1 – codenamed the ‘Atlantic Coast Route’. It winds for 11,000 kilometres from the very north of Norway to the Portuguese Atlantic coast, with the small matter of the UK, Ireland, France, and Spain lying in between.
These incredible routes are the product of the European Cyclists’ Federation, who were apparently a little tired of being confined to cycling around just one country.
You can chose a theme
Each EuroVelo route follows a theme. For instance, the 5000km EuroVelo 2 trail (the ‘Capitals Route’) winds from Galway to Moscow, via Dublin, London, Berlin, and Warsaw. Sunseekers might prefer the ‘Mediterranean Route’ (EuroVelo 8, 7500km). It goes from Spain to Cyprus, with stops in holiday destinations like Italy, Croatia Greece, and Turkey. And history buffs can trace the route of the old Iron Curtain on EuroVelo 13 (at 9950km, the second-longest available trail).
EuroVelo aims to roll out top-notch cycle routes across Europe, harmonizing standards and best practices from different countries. By promoting these routes to decision makers and potential cyclists, EuroVelo seeks to become the go-to resource for cycling info in Europe. Ultimately, the initiative hopes to inspire more Europeans to embrace cycling, both for everyday travel and tourism, fostering a shift toward healthier and more sustainable transport.