These 8 European Cities Are Best Explored On Two Wheels. Hop On!

Birthplace of the bicycle and home to the Tour de France, it’s only natural that the love for cycling runs deep in Europe. Cycling is perhaps the best way to explore European cities as it gets you closer to ground. After all, that’s how the locals do it. More importantly, it’s environment friendly, saves you a buck or two, and to top it all, it’s a great exercise! What’s more, the locals will love and respect you for cycling!

If you love to cycle, travel smart and discover the hidden nooks and corners of different places, then here are 8 European cities you must explore on two wheels.

This number one spot has been officially held by Amsterdam with pride for ages. A city populated with more bikes than people, Amsterdam’s love affair with cycling is legendary. With nearly 40 percent of all commutes done on the humble bicycle, cycling is a way of life in Amsterdam. The city is home to an extensive network of bike paths, cycle routes, and plenty of bike rental shops where you can find all types of bikes – tandem bikes, family bikes, and classic Dutch bikes so you probably explore the best places to visit in Amsterdam on two wheels.

Where to bike: Head to Nieuwmarkt to get a flavor of Amsterdam’s multicultural lifestyle. In this historic old area, you can find the iconic 15^th century De Waag building, Chinatown, and not to mention Amsterdam’s notorious red light district, De Wallen. Other places worth biking are Vondelpark and along the Waterfront

In the recent years, Copenhagen has been giving tough competition to Amsterdam as the world’s most bike-friendly city. No matter the weather or who they are or where they are going, Copenhageners love to bike and over 50 percent of them commute by bike every day! In fact, a whopping 63 percent of the Members of the Danish Parliament pedal to work. With plenty of car-free zones, 380 kilometers of biking lanes, and cheap bicycle rental ports across the city, Copenhagen is designed for cyclists.

Where to bike: Copenhagen’s city center and its historic streets and squares are best explored on a bike. From there you can ride along the harbor and further to the bohemian district of Vesterbro famous for its funky boutiques, pubs, and restaurants. In the morning, don’t forget to ride to the Donning Louises Bridge to witness a morning rush hour like none other. Each morning more than 35,000 cyclists cross this bridge, considered to be the busiest bicycle bridge in the world!

With its many roundabouts and few dedicated bike lanes, cycling in Paris can be a little challenging. But it’s well worth it once you experience the sheer magic of pedaling along the Seine in the evening. Cycling is made even better with the city’s customer-friendly bike rental system, Velib that allows you to rent bikes 24/7 across 1,800 bike stations located every 300 meters! This is certainly the best way to burn off all those croissants!

Where to bike: This is a no-brainer, the best cycle route in Paris is along the River Seine and its two river islands. On this trail, you can stop by Paris’ most famous sights – Notre Dame, the Louvre, and obviously, the Eiffel Tower. Take a ride on this route and you’ll know exactly why Paris is the most romantic city in the world

Barcelona is fast climbing up the ladder of the world’s most bike-friendly cities credit to its fantastic bike hire scheme Bicing. Within three months of its launch in 2007, more than 50,000 people had already started using Bicing bikes to get around the city. Today, there are around 400 bike stations with over 6,000 bicycles all over Barcelona. Miles of dedicated bike lanes, wide cycle-friendly boulevards, and pleasant sunny weather coupled with Barcelona’s lively and infectious energy makes biking in this city an exhilarating experience.

Where to bike: The stretch of coast running north from Barceloneta Beach is one of the best places to bike in Barcelona. Along the way, you can stop at one of the chiringuitos (beach bars) to grab a beer or soak in some sunshine on the beach.

Although not quite as popular as Amsterdam or Cophenhagen, Berlin loves to cycle. In fact, over 500,000 Berliners ride their bikes every day! Berlin is made for cycling thanks to its flat topography, wide streets, plenty of Radewege (cycle lanes), pavements with bike paths built in (what!), and bike-friendly parks. But what makes bicycling in Berlin a truly great experience is the city’s rich heritage and its Gothic beauty. Sehr Gut, indeed (Very good)!

Where to bike: Pedaling along the Berlin Wall is an absolute must. Start from Mauerpark and follow the trail along the wall towards Nordbahnhof to the Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer (Berlin Wall Memorial). This memorial commemorates the division of Berlin on 13 August 1961 and the deaths that occurred here on that day. A ride along the Berlin Wall is an unforgettable experience!

Until a few years ago, London was never considered as a cycling city. But over the past decade, the city’s public bike loan plan, Santander Cycles popularly called Boris Bikes, has made the city fall in love with cycling. With Boris Bikes, bicycles can be rented 24/7 all year long from its 700 docking stations scattered across London.

Where to bike: Ride to London’s beloved South Bank alongside River Thames for a glorious view of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and St. Pauls Cathedral. While you are here, make sure to check out the famed Tate Modern Art Gallery and the London Eye. On a sunny day, it’s a delight to pedal through Hyde Park or Regent’s Park and later enjoy a typical English picnic.

Home to spectacular Baroque buildings, imperial palaces, opera houses, museums, traditional Kaffeehäuser (coffee houses) dotted along winding cobbled lanes, cycling through Vienna is an experience to cherish for culture buffs. Vienna has over 1,300 kilometers of bike paths and 121 public bike hire stations. There’s something even better – the first hour is free!

Where to bike: Start from the Stadtpark and follow the Ringstrasse right until the iconic Vienna State Opera. From there head inside the Innere Stadt, the UNESCO World Heritage listed old city area, and then towards the Danube Canal. Along the way, you can spot some of Vienna’s most striking buildings – the University of Vienna, Rathaus (City Hall), Burgtheater, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. While you are wheeling around, don’t forget to stop for a cup of coffee in a quintessentially Viennese Kaffeehäuser.

A popular University Town, the Flemish city of Ghent is a medieval architectural masterpiece and Europe’s undiscovered gem. Characterized by cozy little cafes, a network of narrow canals lined with antique brick houses, and its youthful vibe, Ghent is as picturesque as it is vibrant. Passionate about the two wheels, the city hosts the Six Days of Ghent track cycling race every year. Ghent is also a rare city where bikers are free to ride against the traffic on all of its 700 one-way streets! Cycling in Ghent is even better in the evening when it beautifully lights up. The city has even received three Michelin stars for its lighting plan! What else is great about Ghent? Its historic city center is car-free! Ride away, we say!

Where to bike: Pedal away in Ghent’s heritage city center where you can visit medieval wonders like the Gravensteen Castle, Groentenmarkt, St Nicholas’ Church and St. Bavo’s Cathedral.