6 of the Best Bike Trails in Europe

Cycling is an ideal way to travel mindfully in Europe, soaking up the continent's sights, sounds, scents and flavors. You'll see grand castle ruins, vast vineyards, serene wetlands, quaint waterfront cafes, elegant villas, cobbled town squares, and other gems that you might miss if you were flashing by in a bus or car. And from Spain to Sweden, you can find paths that are largely or completely free of traffic. Your only distractions will be the breeze whispering through the trees, the birds soaring above, and often the scent of fresh bread wafting from a nearby bakery. For the most part, these six paths have a gentle grade, making them ideal for riders of all levels.

Carrilet I Greenway, Spain

One of more than 100 greenways in Spain, the bucolic, 37-mile Carrilet I Greenway mostly follows the corridor of a former narrow-gauge railway. Start in the city of Olot, set within the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park where inactive, forest-draped volcanoes dot the land. (Visit Museu dels Volcans before you leave to learn details about the region’s geology.) The ride will take you through shady rock cuts, created when the hillside was blasted for the railroad tracks, and sunny, verdant river valleys. Take a break and sample scrumptious cheeses at La Xiquella, an artisan dairy in Sant Esteve d’en Bas. The renovated pink train station in Sant Feliu de Pallerols is another good culinary stop. Their cafe serves up cockles and pork cheeks. At the end of your journey, stroll along the city wall in Girona’s Medieval Quarter for a lovely view of well tended gardens and stately courtyards.

Southern Burgundy Greenway, France

Built on an old railroad bed once operated by French National Railways, this 47-mile greenway (voie verte in French) meanders through tranquil woodlands and pastures and along slopes draped in grape vines. Before setting off from the city of Chalon-sur-Saone, check out the thousands of cameras and images on display at the Nicéphore Niépce Museum, a photography museum named for man who helped invent photography in the early 1800s. Cycle 24 miles to reach the 17th-century Chateau de Cormatin, ringed by a moat and stunning gardens. Nine miles away in Cluny, another historic site awaits: the remains of a Cluny Abbey, a Benedictine monastery that is now a museum, where one of four original bell towers still stands. Between Cluny and Macon, the landscape becomes dramatic, with rugged limestone cliffs that stood under water millions of years ago. After dismounting in Macon, saunter along the Esplanade Lamartine, a cafe-lined promenade fronting the Saone River.

Klaralvsbanan, Sweden

Tracing a 56-mile north-south route from Karlstad to Uddeholm, this greenway runs along an embankment the Klaralven Railway once used to carry passengers and timber. Starting at the confluence of the Klaralven River and Lake Vanern in Karlstad, the route offers both nature and culture. The buzzy city is a haven for water-based activities, including kayaking, as well as art. Explore the Sandgrund Lars Lerin, an art gallery filled with massive watercolors by the Swedish landscape artist. Twenty miles north, the riverfront Gamla Kraftstationen gallery has more for contemporary art lovers as well a tranquil garden to sit with a coffee and pastry. Another five miles brings you to the Edeby Nature Reserve, a placid wetland with rich birdlife. After Edeby, the path becomes more forested, flanked by willows, birch trees, and various conifers.

RAVeL 38 and 39, Belgium

RAVeL is a network of nearly 1,000 miles of paths for cyclists, walkers, and horse riders crisscrossing Belgium’s Wallonia region. (The acronym stands for Réseau autonome des voies lentes, or “autonomous network of slow ways.”) These two routes, which follow two disused corridors of the National Railway Company of Belgium, total 31 miles through Pays de Herve, a rich agricultural land of orchards and pastures, from a point near the intersection of the Belgian, Dutch, and German borders to the city of Liege. Before beginning, take the steps or the elevator to the observation deck of the 164-foot-tall Three Borders tower for a panoramic view of the fertile countryside. Along your journey, stop to sample the handcrafted apple syrup at the Aubel Artisan Syrup Factory, then cycle an hour to reach Le Herve du Vieux Moulin, a noted fromagerie in the village of Battice where you should be sure to buy the signature pungent Herve.

Treviso-Ostiglia Cycle Route, Italy

This often shaded path, nearly half of which passes through peaceful woodland, is a particular delight for architecture and history aficionados. Running 68 miles along the corridor of a former state-run military railway, it begins in Treviso, a walled, cobblestone-paved city often called “Little Venice” for its network of canals. Roam the historic quarter, taking in the many frescoed palaces lining Piazza dei Signori and the arcaded Via Calmaggiore, a thoroughfare that still bears traces of an ancient Roman road. As you ride southwest, veer off the path to check out treasures such as the Rotonda di Badoere, a 17th century colonnaded square in the village of Badgers peppered with cafes. A mile away is Ca’ Marcello, a grand Palladian-style villa. Continue 19 more to reach Villa Contarini, an even more luxurious property surrounded by an expansive pond- and lake-speckled park. Additional work is underway on an additional 10-mile leg, after which the route will reach the town of Ostiglia.

Danube Cycle Path, Germany and Austria

This route follows the Danube for more than 1700 miles, from its origin in the Black Forest all the way to the Black Sea. The most popular portion runs 200 miles between Passau, Germany, and Vienna, Austria, switching back and forth between river banks via small bridges or ferries. In Passau, catch an afternoon or evening concert at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, home to the world’s largest church organ. Oenophiles and cafe connoisseurs will be particularly enthralled with the pastoral Wachau Valley that stretches along the river for more than 20 miles in Austria. You’ll roll through terrain that includes terraced, vineyard-covered slopes, apricot gardens, and charming riverfront villages. Relax with at the Gasthof Prankl in Spitz with coffee and an apricot-inflected dessert. Be sure to visit the Old Town of Krems, a historic enclave of cobblestones and medieval gates whose records go back to 995.