Author Topic: Suggestions for a nice cycle route through Europe?  (Read 3814 times)

Linea_Norway

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Suggestions for a nice cycle route through Europe?
« on: November 11, 2019, 01:56:00 PM »
Hi.

Next year we are FIREd and we plan to make a long cycle trip through Europe. We live in Norway and can take a ferry to Denmark to start.
We would like to visit nice old/romantic towns and villages along the route and cycle on quiet roads or preferably dedicated cycle paths. Gravel roads are also great. We will bring camping gear and hope to camp most nights. We are very open about countries to visit, but so far we have been thinking about south Germany, Austria, and further east along the Donau or thereabouts. There are some long distance cycle routes through Europe, but a lot to choose from.

Does anyone here have some good suggestions of areas that are nice to visit on a bike? Or one of the routes to recommend?

cerat0n1a

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Re: Suggestions for a nice cycle route through Europe?
« Reply #1 on: November 12, 2019, 01:47:55 AM »
Hi.

Next year we are FIREd and we plan to make a long cycle trip through Europe. We live in Norway and can take a ferry to Denmark to start.
We would like to visit nice old/romantic towns and villages along the route and cycle on quiet roads or preferably dedicated cycle paths. Gravel roads are also great. We will bring camping gear and hope to camp most nights. We are very open about countries to visit, but so far we have been thinking about south Germany, Austria, and further east along the Donau or thereabouts. There are some long distance cycle routes through Europe, but a lot to choose from.

Does anyone here have some good suggestions of areas that are nice to visit on a bike? Or one of the routes to recommend?

No personal recommendation, but I know several people who've done the Danube (Donau) cycle path from Germany to Hungary - it's traffic-free, flat, navigation is simple, lots to see and do and the route seems to be suitable even for small children. I think the section further east is much less developed, but is still possible.

Linea_Norway

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Re: Suggestions for a nice cycle route through Europe?
« Reply #2 on: November 12, 2019, 05:31:17 AM »
Hi.

Next year we are FIREd and we plan to make a long cycle trip through Europe. We live in Norway and can take a ferry to Denmark to start.
We would like to visit nice old/romantic towns and villages along the route and cycle on quiet roads or preferably dedicated cycle paths. Gravel roads are also great. We will bring camping gear and hope to camp most nights. We are very open about countries to visit, but so far we have been thinking about south Germany, Austria, and further east along the Donau or thereabouts. There are some long distance cycle routes through Europe, but a lot to choose from.

Does anyone here have some good suggestions of areas that are nice to visit on a bike? Or one of the routes to recommend?

No personal recommendation, but I know several people who've done the Danube (Donau) cycle path from Germany to Hungary - it's traffic-free, flat, navigation is simple, lots to see and do and the route seems to be suitable even for small children. I think the section further east is much less developed, but is still possible.

Now I found this link: https://www.danube-cycle-path.com/, so I will look into it. Sounds like an easy route. We can also do more challenging routes.

cerat0n1a

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Re: Suggestions for a nice cycle route through Europe?
« Reply #3 on: November 12, 2019, 05:42:53 AM »
I'd also suggest having a look at the cicerone books website - they're IMO the best english language source for guidebooks on long distance walking and cycling routes in Europe. Even if you don't buy a book, the titles are a pretty good guide to what is out there. (But don't mistake the existence of a book for it being particularly popular - I recently did a 7 day run along one of the UK national trails they have a guidebook for and only met 1 other person doing the same route that week.)

https://www.cicerone.co.uk/european-cycling

Linea_Norway

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Re: Suggestions for a nice cycle route through Europe?
« Reply #4 on: November 12, 2019, 07:35:36 AM »
I'd also suggest having a look at the cicerone books website - they're IMO the best english language source for guidebooks on long distance walking and cycling routes in Europe. Even if you don't buy a book, the titles are a pretty good guide to what is out there. (But don't mistake the existence of a book for it being particularly popular - I recently did a 7 day run along one of the UK national trails they have a guidebook for and only met 1 other person doing the same route that week.)

https://www.cicerone.co.uk/european-cycling

Thanks. For the Donau/Danube tour, another series of books was recommended. I just ordered a second hand copy of a German and a Dutch version. The English version of the first book cost a fortune.

We also plan to walk the Pennine Way at some time next year, probably in September.

Linea_Norway

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Re: Suggestions for a nice cycle route through Europe?
« Reply #5 on: November 12, 2019, 10:54:52 PM »
Also have you done any riding along the Norwegen coast? That was my plan for my start. I already have an airline ticket to Stockholm then wanted to go as far north as I could by bike inland, then bike south along the coast camping. I'd done that by train before (Stockholm to Helsinki to Narvik to Oslo via Trondheim and Bergen and some coastal areas via bus with a bit of biking) and camping or hostels, and thought it would be spectacular by bike touring. @gaja said it might be lots of mosquitos in Spring and summer so may Sept would Sept would be better.

I haven't cycled along the coast in Norway myself. But the coast is very beautiful in general. The musquito issue is not bad along the coast, because there is usually some wind. May should be a good month, also weather wise. Keep in mind that I am usually further north along the coast, I haven't been much along the south coast. DH once cycled Kristiansand - Bergen over inland roads Setesdalen). But he had to choose between motorway with a lot of traffic or small gravel roads which don't go fast. I have only experience by cycling mountain gravel roads with little traffic.
There are few dedicated cycle tracks. There are some long distance cycle routes on small roads, but you will meet some car traffic there. The cycle routes over the smaller roads often go over the mountains, so you will need good gears and brakes and a good condition. Or an electric bike, which has now become popular.

https://www.cyclingnorway.no/en/routes/north-sea-cycle-route/
https://www.cyclingnorway.no/en/routes/sorlandsruta/
https://www.cyclingnorway.no/en/routes/

The good thing about Norway is that you are allowed to camp anywhere (for max two days), as long as it is not in someone's garden and not in a farm field. And you can typically drink the water in the mountains.

Linea_Norway

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Re: Suggestions for a nice cycle route through Europe?
« Reply #6 on: November 12, 2019, 11:11:59 PM »
Hey Linnea I've been planning a long bike tour thru Europe so have done tons of research. I was originally planning to go last spring but put it off until next year. I have a lot of route maps and other I downloaded so will go thru it once on.a computer instead of a phone. I've also done some of the long distance walking routes (my favorite thing) but most were in S. Europe.

I also like to follow some people on.the Crazy Guy on a Bike journals for real life experiences https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?doctype=journal there are quit a few who've done or currently doing European routes like this one:
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1mr&doc_id=22511&v=Xi

Thanks for the links. We might need to cycle in the length through Germany to reach the Donau path.

BicycleB

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Re: Suggestions for a nice cycle route through Europe?
« Reply #7 on: November 13, 2019, 06:34:14 AM »
I don't know if the trail below has enough things to see that you would like it, but I have heard that the strip of nature along the old Iron Curtain border is quite pretty because humans left nature alone for several thousand narrow kilometers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EV13_The_Iron_Curtain_Trail


gatortator

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Re: Suggestions for a nice cycle route through Europe?
« Reply #8 on: November 13, 2019, 09:24:59 AM »
what kind of distances and number of days are you looking for?

Overall,  I would recommend the Neckartalradweg (Neckar Valley bike path).  The route has vineyards, biergartens, forts, castles and historical cities.   We biked it for a milestone event and it remains our favorite vacation.

You could make it longer or more active by adding on a trip to the Lake Constance/Bodensee or continuing on past Mannheim.

https://www.cycling-holiday.com/cycling-tour-neckar

or you can keep it pretty leisurely

https://www.cycling-holiday.com/neckar-cycling-holiday

I am only linking this tour company to give you an idea of the daily distances/ stopping points.  The route is very easy to explore on your own.

We bought this book once we arrived in Germany and found it very good/useful.
« Last Edit: November 13, 2019, 09:44:57 AM by gatortator »

Linea_Norway

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Re: Suggestions for a nice cycle route through Europe?
« Reply #9 on: November 13, 2019, 10:17:58 AM »
I don't know if the trail below has enough things to see that you would like it, but I have heard that the strip of nature along the old Iron Curtain border is quite pretty because humans left nature alone for several thousand narrow kilometers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EV13_The_Iron_Curtain_Trail

Interesting. The only vision I have of the iron curtain and the concrete walls and wire in Berlin, not very green. We can consider this on the way up or down.

Linea_Norway

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Re: Suggestions for a nice cycle route through Europe?
« Reply #10 on: November 13, 2019, 10:24:53 AM »
what kind of distances and number of days are you looking for?

Overall,  I would recommend the Neckartalradweg (Neckar Valley bike path).  The route has vineyards, biergartens, forts, castles and historical cities.   We biked it for a milestone event and it remains our favorite vacation.

You could make it longer or more active by adding on a trip to the Lake Constance/Bodensee or continuing on past Mannheim.

https://www.cycling-holiday.com/cycling-tour-neckar

or you can keep it pretty leisurely

https://www.cycling-holiday.com/neckar-cycling-holiday

I am only linking this tour company to give you an idea of the daily distances/ stopping points.  The route is very easy to explore on your own.

We bought this book once we arrived in Germany and found it very good/useful.

Thanks, another good alternative. Germany does indeed have some nice old style houses.
The book you refer to is from the same series as I bought for the Danube path. The maps are supposed to be very useful.

Distances of 70km per day on asphalt roads should be no problem. But I would like to be flexible and doing some sightseeing whenever we feel for it, the distance is unimportant.

gatortator

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Re: Suggestions for a nice cycle route through Europe?
« Reply #11 on: November 13, 2019, 11:15:49 AM »
I haven't done this route,  but I have daydreamed about it a little.

Roman Route from the North Sea to the Black Sea. 

This link has many details, tips and useful links.
https://fam-oud.nl/%7Eoof/Limes/Limes_intro.html

It looks like it connects to the Donau bike path near Kelheim. 
« Last Edit: November 13, 2019, 11:33:09 AM by gatortator »

Panly

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Re: Suggestions for a nice cycle route through Europe?
« Reply #12 on: January 09, 2020, 01:21:44 PM »

my 3 thoughts:

- In case you didn't know it: http://opencyclemap.org/ 

- in the android app Maverick, you can load the tiles of the above map AND use offline. It's a huge help, wherever you go.

- Czech Republic is fantastic for cycling





Linea_Norway

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Re: Suggestions for a nice cycle route through Europe?
« Reply #13 on: January 09, 2020, 01:34:53 PM »

my 3 thoughts:

- In case you didn't know it: http://opencyclemap.org/ 

- in the android app Maverick, you can load the tiles of the above map AND use offline. It's a huge help, wherever you go.

- Czech Republic is fantastic for cycling

Thanks for the link.

Luke Warm

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Re: Suggestions for a nice cycle route through Europe?
« Reply #14 on: January 10, 2020, 09:07:43 AM »
there's also https://www.komoot.com/ for route planning

LennStar

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Re: Suggestions for a nice cycle route through Europe?
« Reply #15 on: January 10, 2020, 10:06:23 AM »
I don't know if the trail below has enough things to see that you would like it, but I have heard that the strip of nature along the old Iron Curtain border is quite pretty because humans left nature alone for several thousand narrow kilometers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EV13_The_Iron_Curtain_Trail

Interesting. The only vision I have of the iron curtain and the concrete walls and wire in Berlin, not very green. We can consider this on the way up or down.
If you decide to do that and like wood frame houses and you come near the stop that is called Ilsenburg, write me PM prior. I live close to the former border in a little town that has is close to having as many of those old houses as world heritage sites Quedlinburg and Goslar. (Not that nice though since not at all tourist-y)

Linea_Norway

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Re: Suggestions for a nice cycle route through Europe?
« Reply #16 on: January 11, 2020, 07:35:37 AM »
I don't know if the trail below has enough things to see that you would like it, but I have heard that the strip of nature along the old Iron Curtain border is quite pretty because humans left nature alone for several thousand narrow kilometers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EV13_The_Iron_Curtain_Trail

Interesting. The only vision I have of the iron curtain and the concrete walls and wire in Berlin, not very green. We can consider this on the way up or down.
If you decide to do that and like wood frame houses and you come near the stop that is called Ilsenburg, write me PM prior. I live close to the former border in a little town that has is close to having as many of those old houses as world heritage sites Quedlinburg and Goslar. (Not that nice though since not at all tourist-y)

Thanks, I will.

Yes, I very much like those wood frame houses. And it would be nice to meet a fellow forum member.

LennStar

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Re: Suggestions for a nice cycle route through Europe?
« Reply #17 on: January 12, 2020, 04:52:10 AM »
I don't know if the trail below has enough things to see that you would like it, but I have heard that the strip of nature along the old Iron Curtain border is quite pretty because humans left nature alone for several thousand narrow kilometers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EV13_The_Iron_Curtain_Trail

Interesting. The only vision I have of the iron curtain and the concrete walls and wire in Berlin, not very green. We can consider this on the way up or down.
If you decide to do that and like wood frame houses and you come near the stop that is called Ilsenburg, write me PM prior. I live close to the former border in a little town that has is close to having as many of those old houses as world heritage sites Quedlinburg and Goslar. (Not that nice though since not at all tourist-y)

Thanks, I will.

Yes, I very much like those wood frame houses. And it would be nice to meet a fellow forum member.

Yes. And btw. if you like movies (or George Clooney) - Monument Man was done here (in part of course).