From Norway to Athens: Nineteen routes to explore Europe by bike

Summertime is the season for travel in Europe, and thanks to the proximity of the various countries, the continent can be easily explored by train, car or even by bike.

With this last option, you are definitely doing something good for the environment, as well as for your own fitness. And, you're slowing the pace down, opening the possibility of discovery that you might not have racing through a countryside in a car or train.

Europe has great long-distance bike routes in abundance. If you're not sure where to start, a good place to look is the European cycle route network EuroVelo, an initiative launched some 25 years ago by the umbrella organization of the European cycling federations.

The website lists a total of 19 routes across Europe, some of them thousands of kilometres long.

EuroVelo 1, the Atlantic Coast Route, will lead you from the North Cape in Norway all the way to the southern end of Portugal, for example, while the Meuse Cycle Route, or EuroVelo 19, follows the Meuse river through France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Be it a stretch from Andalusia to Athens or from Norway to Normandy, EuroVelo can also help you plan a customized route using the EuroVelo route planner. Enter your point of departure and your desired destination, and it will come up with an itinerary, combining different EuroVelo routes if necessary.

Quality of route markings varies

Not every EuroVelo route is marked well. It varies from path to path, the federation admits. However, cyclists can download GPS data available for each route from the website to help them navigate their way on the routes.

EuroVelo links up already existing bike routes, but doesn't build new ones, which means that the paths don't all have the same quality. Some may not be completely paved, which can pose challenges to cyclists riding racing bikes.

Getting detailed information about a route

If you have questions about a specific route, EuroVelo recommends contacting the national cycling associations, which are listed on the network's website under national information for each country.

An option for those who do not wish to organize and plan their own bike trip is to sign on with a tour operator. Offers are also listed on the EuroVelo website. The costs range between €190 and €1,500 for a week-long trip.

Tips for planning

When travelling by train to reach a cycle route, make sure that there's space available to bring bike, which can vary from country to country, especially on long-distance services.

Just how bicycle-friendly hotels and other tourist offerings are can be judged by seals of approval. The German bicycle federation, for example, issues a "Bett+Bike" (bed and bike) seal for accommodation in Germany, Denmark, Luxembourg, Belgium, Austria and Italy catering to cyclists. In France, the seal "Accueil Vélo" designates bike-friendly lodgings.

The EuroVelo website also gives an overview of Cycling Friendly Schemes.

For those who prefer to plan their own tour, the German national cycling association ADFC recommends not only to look out for accommodation but also places to eat along the way, as on some routes options might be sparse.