By Pau Gómez
Europe is, perhaps unsurprisingly, one of the most popular destinations to visit amongst American tourists. There’s little arguing with this fact, given the rich culture and wide variety of activities to indulge in on the continent across the pond. The more adventurous amongst us might be looking for a hands-on way to enjoy Europe, though – and if you’re the biking type, you needn’t look much further. The following are some of the best places to visit in Europe by bike.
The Algarve
The Algarve, otherwise known as the Faro District, is a region at the southernmost tip of Portugal’s landmass, occupying its southwesterly corner and encompassing the cities of Faro, Albufeira and Lagos amongst others. It is a choice destination in many bicycle tours on account of its incredible cliffsides, beautiful country landscapes and phenomenal beaches, to say nothing of the temperatures it enjoys throughout the year. Come for the cycling and stay for the wine for a great adventure experience!
The Swiss Alps
The Swiss Alps are perhaps better known for their ski routes than their biking routes – and you couldn’t go far wrong in coming to the Alps with your snowboard in hand instead. However, there’s much more to this stretch of mountain landscape than its ski routes; there’s also a bevy of incredible trail routes, which wend their way through mountainside forests and scenic passes alike. One unmissable route is the Tremola San Gotardo, a winding road which snakes its way up over 7 miles of the mountainside, with a stunning view of Gotthard Pass your reward.
The Scottish Highlands
Moving to the British Isles, we find ourselves north of the Scottish border – and then even a little further north, into the Scottish Highlands proper. The Highlands region is rich in natural history and culture, being at once the home to stunning mountains and glacier lakes and the seat of whisky history. There are many routes from which to choose, but any which end in a distiller are well worth your time; as such, aim for Dufftown, and the various world-renowned distilleries at the foot of a glorious mountain.
Amsterdam
Last but by no means least, we come to an urban center of incredible cultural and societal repute in Europe, and a veritable mecca for cycling and cyclists (amongst other sub-groups): Amsterdam. Amsterdam is a city built on a plain and also built around cycling, with impressive road infrastructure that protects and encourages cyclists. You’ll find few cities as cycle-friendly as this one.
The Netherlands as a country is great for cycling in, too; much of the land is as flat as Amsterdam, which makes travel between towns and cities as easy as can be. The views are unbeatable, too, from quintessential tulip fields and windmills to spurts of brutalist architecture. This is a forgiving ride and a stunning one to boot.
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