The Loire Valley from Tours to Angers
Cycling along the Loire, the garden of France
- Castles & Vineyards
- ‘Sleeping Beauty’ chateau
- Medieval city of Chinon
- Abbey of Fontevraud
5 Holidays found
Cycling along the Loire, the garden of France
Discover castles, vineyards & gardens in France
Follow the cycling path ‘Loire à vélo’
Cycling in the royal garden of France
Cycling in the royal garden of France
Imagine waking up in a charming European town, stepping outside after breakfast and setting off by bike with the whole day ahead of you. Quiet country lanes, picturesque vineyards, rivers and centuries-old villages. You stop for coffee on a sunny terrace, linger over a local lunch and continue whenever you feel like it. No rush. No race. That’s how a bicycle trip in Europe with Cycletours feels like.
Today, we offer cycling holidays throughout much of Europe, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, Albania, Hungary, Slovakia, and Scotland. Choose your perfect bike holiday!
Who better to organise cycling holidays than the world’s most famous cycling country: the Netherlands? At Cycletours, we're enthusiastic cyclists ourselves, and that passion inspired us to start organising bike holidays in Europe back in 1981. Six years later we became the first tour operator to offer bike & barge holidays. Since then, our collection has grown across Europe, but our philosophy has stayed the same: carefully chosen routes, personal service and the reassurance that everything is well organised. So you can simply enjoy the ride.
Not sure where to start? These cycling holidays have been favourites among our travellers year after year. Think colourful tulip fields, historic cities, peaceful river valleys and vineyards stretching towards the horizon.
And this is only a taste of what is possible. Across Europe, many more cycling holidays are waiting to be discovered. Use the filters on this page to search by country, region or difficulty level and find the trip that suits the way you like to travel. Your next favourite place might be just a bike ride away.
Would you rather unpack once and let your hotel ship travel with you, or end each cycling day in a comfortable hotel on land? With Cycletours, you can choose between bike & barge and bike & hotel holidays. But what's the difference?
Explore our bike and barge holidays
Explore our bike and hotel tours
You do not need to be a seasoned cyclist to enjoy a cycling holiday in Europe. Many of our trips are designed for relaxed days in the saddle, with plenty of time to stop for a coffee, explore a village or simply enjoy the scenery. It is not about speed or performance. It is about discovering Europe at a pace that feels good to you.
Each tour clearly shows its cycling level, ranging from level 1 to level 3:
Would you like a little extra help along the way? Then an e-bike is a smart choice. The electric assistance helps you enjoy your cycling days at a comfortable pace, even if the route is a bit longer or more hilly. Good to know: a helmet is always included with your rental bike, giving you extra peace of mind from the moment you set off.
We did the Amsterdam to Bruges tour on the Sailing Home. When we decided to go on a CycleTours because it looked like fun and wasn't overly physically challenging. Given the cost, I was a bit concerned about the quality of the accommodations; it seemed too good to be true. It wasn't. The rooms were small but fine. The food was excellent, the tour guide beyond anything you could hope for, and the crew was lovely. Top it off with a beautiful route and a lot of extremely nice fellow travelers and you pretty much have the best vacation for the least amount of money ever.
Would you rather cycle with a guide and a group of fellow travellers, or enjoy the freedom of setting your own pace? With Cycletours, you can choose the travel style that suits you best: guided or self-guided tours. Whichever you choose, you’ll always benefit from luggage transport and breakdown assistance along the way. And you’ll be cycling on a comfortable (e-)bike that you rent from us. That’s the advantage of booking with Cycletours!
No need to bring your own bike across Europe. When you book a cycling holiday with Cycletours, you can easily add a rental bike to your trip. Choose the bike that suits you best: a standard touring bike, an e-bike or a children’s bike. All rental bikes come fully equipped with gears, hand brakes, panniers, a lock, a water bottle and a helmet. So once you arrive, all that is left to do is get comfortable in the saddle and enjoy the route ahead.
Travelling with children? You can also hire useful extras such as a bike trailer or child seat, making it easy for the whole family to join the adventure.
Ready to start planning your cycling holiday in Europe, but not quite sure which trip suits you best? Our cycling specialists are happy to help you find the right route, destination and travel style. Whether you have a practical question or would simply like some personal advice, get in touch with us. With more than 40 years of experience in cycling holidays, we know Europe by bike and are happy to point you in the right direction.
The Netherlands is one of the most bike-friendly countries in Europe, and for good reason. Its extensive network of high-quality cycle paths, clear signage and mostly flat terrain make exploring by bike wonderfully easy. Cycling is simply part of everyday life here. Germany and Belgium are excellent choices too, with well-developed cycling infrastructure and plenty of scenic routes through river valleys, countryside and historic towns.
Looking for a little more variety in the landscape? Austria, Switzerland and France combine beautiful cycling routes with rolling hills, mountains and dramatic scenery. And if you prefer to cycle with a little more sunshine on your face, Greece, Italy and Croatia offer warm climates, Mediterranean landscapes and plenty of character along the way. Discover our full range of bicycle vacations in Europe on this page.
At Cycletours, we offer the best cycling trips in European countries, such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain and France. Each country offers its own character, scenery and cycling experience. So whether you prefer easy-going routes, historic towns, vineyards, mountains or Mediterranean landscapes, there is plenty to discover by bike.
Is my luggage transported?
Yes. Your luggage is taken care of throughout your cycling holiday, so there is no need to ride with heavy bags.
All you need to carry on your bike are your daily essentials in the provided Cycletours bike bags. That leaves you free to enjoy the scenery, the stops along the way and, most importantly, the ride.
Yes, meals are included on most of our cycling holidays. In many cases, you can count on three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Start the day with breakfast at your hotel or on board the ship. You will usually also have the option to prepare a packed lunch to take with you, perfect for a relaxed stop somewhere along the route. On bike & barge holidays, dinner is typically served on board in the evening. After a day in the saddle, all you need to do is freshen up, take a seat and enjoy the meal while the day’s impressions sink in.
What is included can vary per tour, so always check the specific trip details before booking.
We offer both group tours and individual tours, so you can choose which suits you best. If you opt for a group tour (guided), you’ll cycle with a group, accompanied by a guide. If you choose an individual trip (self-guided), you’ll cycle on your own or with your partner, family or friends, without a guide. We’ll take care of the accommodation, luggage transport, breakdown assistance and route descriptions.
Cycletours welcomes travellers from all over the world, with many of our guests coming from the United States and Canada. We also regularly welcome cyclists from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia and New Zealand. English is the main language spoken on our bike tours, making it easy to connect with fellow travellers along the way.
Our guests are of all ages, but they tend to have one thing in common: they love being active without turning their holiday into a race. They enjoy beautiful scenery, historic towns, local encounters and the freedom of travelling by bike at a comfortable pace.
Yes. Your luggage is taken care of throughout your cycling holiday, so there is no need to ride with heavy bags.
All you need to carry on your bike are your daily essentials in the provided Cycletours bike bags. That leaves you free to enjoy the scenery, the stops along the way and, most importantly, the ride.