5 of the best Swiss city cycling routes

For those happiest in the saddle, Switzerland is a land of limitless opportunity. Diligently mapped routes, tracks and dirt trails run for thousands of miles across the country — hugging the banks of great rivers like the Rhine and Rhône, unfurling through vertiginous vineyards, and tearing down steep, forested slopes. 

But cycling in Switzerland isn’t limited to the country’s wild corners — the cities are primed for two-wheeled adventure, too. Rivers, lakes and mountains abound in their backyards, ready to be savoured at a more relaxed pace on a range of designated routes. For the easiest ride, invest in some serious Swiss cycling heritage with BMC's new 257 urban bike range — versatile vehicles ready for everything from city streets to alpine steeps.

Route 1: UNESCO Tour, Bern

Best for: cultural highlights in the capital
Difficulty: easy/medium
Distance: 37 miles
Start/end: Bern

Beginning bang in the heart of Bern, this full-day spin takes city and country in its stride. Before setting off, take a snoop around Bern’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town, with its medieval arcades, gothic minster and the Zytglogge clock tower that sparked Einstein’s theory of relativity. Stop to savour the fragrance of the city's famous rose garden, before pedalling on to outlying districts as the scenery becomes increasingly rural. Push on through the forests and meadows to castle-topped Laupen for lunch, where you can dine on seasonal specialties such as minced veal and salmon provençale. Hop back on your bike and weave past tiny villages, shadowing the Aare River to reed-fringed Lake Wohlen, before looping back through the woods to Bern.

Route 2: Rehbergerweg, Basel

Best for: art and design
Difficulty: easy
Distance: 3 miles
Start/end: Basel

The Rehberger-Weg may only be three miles long, but you’ll need to take your time to appreciate its beauty. Meandering through vineyards before skipping briefly over the border to Germany and back again, this art-packed pedal sets out from the Renzo Piano-designed Fondation Beyeler, where a phenomenal modern art collection includes Miró and Lichtenstein originals. It then travels through picturesque countryside to Frank Gehry’s crazily abstract Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein. Here, boundary-pushing exhibitions spotlight architecture, industrial and interior design. En route, keep your eyes peeled for the 24 public art installations by German sculptor Tobias Rehberger — from birdcages and beehives to bells and cuckoo clocks.

Alternatively, if you’re up for a longer ride, make for the 25-mile Kleiner Dreiland Radweg along the Rhine. This well-signposted tour dips in and out of Switzerland, France and Germany.

Route 3: Mont Salève, Geneva

Best for: astonishing Alpine views
Difficulty: easy
Distance: 4.3 miles
Start/end: Geneva/Le Pas de l'Échelle 

If you fancy freewheeling from the city to the French Alps without once breaking a sweat, this gentle route from Geneva to Mont Salève is for you. Begin with a sightseeing pedal through Geneva’s historic centre, ticking off landmarks like the Parc des Bastions and its striking Reformation Wall, before zipping through Parc Bertrand, which bristles with rare trees and willow-framed lakes. The ride then joins cycle lanes along the Route de Florissant, connecting city and country. Crossing the Pont de Sierne over the glacial waters of the Arve River, the views open up across the charming hamlet of Sierne and its rural farmsteads. Further on, the limestone walls of the Petit-Salève welcome you to France, where a cable car whisks you to the top of Mont Salève for rousing views of Geneva, its eponymous lake and mighty Mont Blanc.

Route 4: Lugano Bike

Best for: mountain bike enthusiasts
Difficulty: challenging
Distance: 74.5 miles
Start/end: Lugano/ Ponte Tresa

With its palm-lined lakeshores, picturesque piazzas and steep alleyways, Lugano occupies a cultural and geographical sweet spot between Switzerland and Italy. Fuel up with a morning coffee before embarking on this tough but spectacular mountain bike trail to Ponte Tresa, which is broken down into four stages and involves a thigh-burning 16,404ft of ascent. Only a quarter of the route is asphalted and a hefty chunk of it is single trail. It’s a challenge, for sure, but rewards are many as you blaze across rock and root, through wildflower meadow and forgotten forest. Climbs to peaks like Monte Brè, Monte Bar and Monte Tamaro, to enjoy spectacular views over glittering Lake Lugano and its surrounding mountains.

Route 5: Lavaux par les corniches, Lausanne

Best for: culinary delights
Difficulty: easy/medium
Distance: 25 miles
Start/end: Lausanne

Perfect for gastronomes, this day-long route begins in Lausanne, a city with sublime lake views, rich Olympic heritage and plenty of artistic establishments. From here, roll east along the shores of Lake Geneva, with its striking mountain views, through to the pretty, pastel-painted town of Lutry. Here you can join the Lavaux Tour, a gentle loop that winds through steeply terraced World Heritage vineyards. Stop to taste citrusy Chasselas whites, fruity Pinot noirs and rich Gamays at caveaux (cellars) in wine-growing villages like Grandvaux, Riex and Epesses. Back down by the lake, in Vevey, refresh over a local craft beer at retro-style Le Café Littéraire by the waterfront, before wheeling back down to Lausanne for a memorable dinner at Michelin-starred La Table.