Plans for your next cycling holiday, which almost always arise spontaneously. This is also the time to make plans for your next cycling holiday. Because if you’re going this year Biking in Spain, cycling in Italy or at least to DenmarkMaybe it will become Morocco, Rwanda Or how about Finland? To that American Not to mention the endless possibilities for a great cycling destination. But which places are still rough diamonds? We think we know a few. Here are 5x special, off-the-beaten-track cycling destinations. When are you going on your trip?
Poland
The national round is always a great insight into what a cycling destination has to offer. The Tour of Poland This is a beautiful example of that. Aside from all the hassle with the decreasing number of arrivals, the country is stunning. Cycling in Poland is becoming increasingly popular, and especially the region of Silesia, which borders with Germany and the Czech Republic, has a wonderful range of routes, both on and off the road. The top of the Karkonosze mountain range, the Snjezka, rises high above Karpacz. This is a beautiful part of the country where you can enjoy yourself to your heart's content. The mountains don't reach enormous heights, but you can get above 1200 meters. Not bad for a bit of touring in the area. There is also plenty to enjoy on the gravel bike. You can actually follow the border and cycle along mountains, waterfalls and other natural cross-country tracks. A must-try!
Do you want more tips for cycling in Poland? Check this route via the Polish Tourism Agency
Hungary
After Israel, the Giro d’Italia once again came from an atypical starting point for the Grande Partenza in 2022. Cycling in Hungary could use a little extra push, to put it mildly. There is a nice three-part arrangement that leads from Budapest first via a catchy name like Szekesfehervar to Visegrad. Here you (again) get out onto the Danube, the river that runs through the country towards Serbia and Croatia It is a bit more hilly and following the river is certainly not a problem.
The route is slightly hilly, but with a climb in the first stage. But you won’t encounter real mountains on these routes. That’s a shame, because Hungary does have beautiful, challenging (more) routes. Just across the border with Austria you’ll find some beautiful hills and here you can also follow part of the Iron Curtain route. That route separated Austria from Hungary.
Island hopping over the Hebrides – Scotland
That the northern tip of the British island has something beautiful to offer, we had already seen in this article. It is truly a destination with many highlights for a fantastic cycling holiday. Cycling in Scotland is inevitably associated with the conditions. Not only because of the rain, snow, wind, and sometimes even the sun, but also because of the roads and the remoteness of parts of this country. Planning is therefore important. In that regard, the Hebrides, on the north-east side, offer a bit of a challenge, but also a different form of ‘island hopping’ than you are used to. You can start right at the southern tip and take a beautiful route by ferry to the northern tip. In the meantime, it’s pure enjoyment. Wilderness, untouched nature, beautiful views, beaches. Happy days.
More tips? Check out that too These 11 routes which you can cycle in the Scottish countryside.
The Azores – the most beautiful islands of Portugal?
If you think you’ve seen everything on the mainland of Europe, then cycling across the Portuguese islands is a must. Besides Madeira, Portugal has more options, such as the Azores. A bit more remote, but that doesn’t make it any less attractive. It’s a beautiful collection of smaller islands where you can have a great time on your bike independently of one another. The islands (like the Canary Islands) are mostly volcanic, which provides both amazing views and beautiful routes. The island of Ilha do Sao Miguel is stunning. Green, craters, flowers. Oh yeah, it’s also quite steep up there. The climb to Lagoa do Fogo is one you won’t soon forget. You can spend several days on this island without really getting bored. It’s also pure enjoyment on Sao Jorge and Ilha do Pico. You can reach the islands separately by taking the ferry. Alien-like beauty.
Wollongong
In 2022, Wollongong was the place where the World Championship was held. The region also has (thanks in part to this championship) a UCI Bike region label We got it. The city in New South Wales is located just south of Sydney and with its location on the coast, but also because of its proximity to (painfully steep) hills, it’s a beautiful place. Just out of reach for a day trip, but with a little bit of skill, the Blue Mountains are also accessible. See the video below with the course of the elite championships and you can imagine that it’s a great place to be. They didn’t get the title of UCI Bike Region for nothing. It’s worth mentioning: for the next 10 years they are fully committed to cycling as a ‘preferred mode of transport.’ Fantastic!
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.