Cycle routes and bicycle paths around the world: info and GPS tracks
The Danube cycle path is the mother of all cycling paths, and after having cycled some Italian cycleways, this year we decided to face the track from Vienna to Budapest by bicycle. The heat and the effort were pretty challenging, but the joy of arriving let us forget all, giving the strength and the desire for another adventure. Here is our trip journal...
Picture: Chambord Castle from Shutterstock
One of the most cycled itineraries in Europe follows a fairy river, among castles and artsy cities, in France.
River Loire Cycle Path, or in french Loire à Vélo, is an 800 km long cycling itinerary connecting Cuffy to Saint-Brevin-les-Pins (or vice-versa if you want to start from the mouth), on the Atlantic Ocean. This bicycle path is part of Eurovelo 6, one of the European long-distance cycling routes...
The Inn River Cycle Path is one of those routes for traveling by bike with your family, best friends or solo travelersThink about a pretty flat cycling itinerary surrounded by the Alps: an itinerary for everyone crossing from West to East a good part of the mountain territory between Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. It's not a utopia but real and it's called the Inn Cycle Path. The 520 km track connects Maloja and Passau, giving to every bicycle traveler the safety to ride on cycleways in a spectacular setting.
This itinerary, northern section of the Sentiero Valtellina, starts in Tirano and continues to one of the most well-known resorts in Valtellina.
At the end of the day we discovered a part of Valtellina not only geographically but also historically. For those less trained or those who really can’t stand hills, the underpass out of the train station leads directly to the bus station to take a bus till Bormio and travel the route in reverse. The difference in altitude will almost only be negative
The Valle Isarco Cycle Path, almost 100 km long, connects the Brennero Pass to the near main city, but for whom wants to continue the bicycle trip, you can enter Austria always going east on the Val Pusteria cycle path from Fortezza or west towards Merano and the Venosta Valley...
The cycleways of South Tyrol (Südtirol in German) are very famous in all Europe: they are developed on old railways, in the woods or on secondary roads, allowing bicycle tourists to travel completely safe.
One of the most suggestive and known bicycle itineraries in South Tyrol is without any doubt the Venosta Valley Cycle Path, connecting Resia Pass to Merano. We finally had the possibility to cycle in this valley and we took some time to pedal until the Swiss border along the Monastero Valley. Immersed in Nature and in the company of hundreds of other bicycle tourists, travelers and bikers, it was like cycling in paradise, with cured cycle paths, MTB tracks well signed and complete services for bicycle travelers, from renting to mechanics, from bike hotels to shuttle service.
The Camonica Valley cycleway starts at Ponte di Legno but in this article we will speak about the lower part that connects Capo di Ponte to Pisogne following the valley floor with the exception of a couple of possible detours. Recently the local administrations finished the missing section of the path to link the upper part of Camonica Valley to the lower until Lake Iseo and now we’ll be able to travel by bike the distance between the Tonale Pass (and even before the Sole Valley in Trentino) and the river Po, till the Adriatic Sea... in complete safety!
Liguria is a land enclosed among the mountains and the sea where pristine places are often just around the corner. Thanks to the restoration of the old railway tack in a quite touristy area in the region, the Framura – Levanto cycle path has been set up that can be easily traveled also by families with children or people who don’t love that much climbing. This path for pedestrians and bikes is undoubtedly a very interesting itinerary to discover a glimpse of Liguria in an alternative way!
The Adda River Cycle Way or Greenway dell'Adda is a cycleway following the river (almost!) from its source, which is northern Valtellina, until its mouth into Po river, in the heart of Po Valley. This cycling itinerary, running on fun gravel roads, secondary roads, tracks, and river banks, is more than 300km long and can be faced in 4 - 5 travel days. Traveling by bicycle along the Adda river allows to discover new, fun and curious points of view, and deeply focus on history and events that happened along this big northern Italian river.
Lombardy is a region rich in valleys, peaks and large lakes where many outdoor activities and sports are played. Between its two lakes, one of which is shared with Switzerland, you can pedal along the old railway dismissed for years now. The itinerary of the Menaggio - Porlezza old railway connects the lakes of Como and Lugano, crossing many villages and one natural reserve...
2016 was the year of walking paths, and usually, these trails are perfect for bicycle tourists too! Moreover, Italy is rich in suggestive paths and it is the perfect destination in order to discover these places through alternative roads with adequate infrastructures dedicated to bicycle tourists. This year (like every other year) might be the perfect moment to try and cycle on a walking path, and here you'll find our top suggestions. We chose to write a list of the 10 best Italian ways to be cycled: our goal is, like last year, to cycle at least one of them.
In the north-eastern part of the Alps there is a cycling itinerary that connects one of the biggest German cities to the charming city on the lagoon. The Friendship Cycle Way, Munich to Venice bike route, travels through cycle paths already existing, secondary, low-traffic roads with the dream to see the whole trail turning into one single connection cycle trail between Germany and Italy.
Also known as "the Finland of Italy" for the presence of many lakes and Alpine ponds, Trentino boasts many lake panoramas loved by German and Dutch travelers. The Valle dei Laghi Cycle Path links Torbole (or Riva del Garda), laying down on Garda Lake, to Lake Toblino, an evocative place with a fascinating fortress. Easy, enjoyable, well preserved, the Valle dei Laghi Cycle Path in its about 27 km crosses vineyards, picturesque villages and the debris sedimentation of Marocche di Dro.
The evolution in transportation, the revolution of the tire and the consequent abandon of the railways, during the years, has brought to a transformation: some abandoned railways have been requalified, becoming a cycle and walking paths. In Italy too this small change has brought to a form of development in bicycle touring: when there is a safe path people come and visit, tourism develops and grows...
As the years go by the number of bicycle tourists, as well as of cycling paths is growing in our old continent. Of course, central European countries, counting on thousands of km of bike lanes and bicycle paths - which represent an important sustainable income source - are driving other "not so bike friendly" countries. In this article I will be listing 10 most beautiful European cycle paths or, at least, the ones I love: we will be travelling together from Spain to Italy, cruising through Austria, Germany, France, and the U.K., but also other European destinations!
Rome, Italy's capital, is a big and crowded city. Cycling safely in the streets of this Eternal City might sound utopic but, if you know the right itineraries, it magically becomes something possible. Pedal through the Appian Way is a "must do" in order to visit Rome in an eco-friendly way.
The construction of the "Regina Viarum" began in 312 B.C. by Appius Claudius, from whom it was named: Appia Antica, the Appian Way. You can easily cycle through the first 16 km (XI Roman miles), from Porta di San Sebastiano in the historical centre until Santa Maria della Mole, south from the city.
Pusteria Valley cycle path is one of the main roads of the cycling-tourist itineraries in South Tyrol. The trail connects San Candido to Fortezza in about 70 km of an average demanding route. Unlikely the San Candido – Lienz cycle path developing exclusively downhill (going from Italy to Austria), cycling towards Fortezza requires anyway a minimum training because overall you have to face about 700 meters of difference in altitude.
The Alpe Adria cycle path is an itinerary between Austria and Italy and it connects Salzburg, in the Alps, to Grado on Adriatic sea.We had the occasion of traveling many kilometers along the Alpe Adria cycleway during our trip by bike among Trentino, Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia and we discovered many beautiful villages, ancient cities, old railways and wild nature. The Alpe Adria cycle route is perfect for those wanting to get to know these territories, from art cities to the medieval villages, from the mountains to the sea, in a slow way, with no stress.
The railway of the Dolomites, later become Dolomites cycle path, was opened in 1921 to connect Calalzo di Cadore, Dobbiaco and Cortina d'Ampezzo. With the passing years and the development of motorization and technologies it was gradually abandoned. It had its time of glory during the year 1956 on occasion of the Cortina Winter Olympics, but then its decline was inevitable especially when, in 1960, there was a serious accident in which two persons died. 65 kilometers long, the railway was dismantled in 1964. Today, as mentioned before, the railway has become the cycleway of the Dolomites and connects Calalzo di Cadore in the Veneto region to Dobbiaco in the Alto Adige region.
Living in Trento and having a racing bike, it happened to me many times, especially at the beginning of the season, to train along Adige cycleway which runs along the bottom of the valley and often, in summer, it happened to me to meet many cycling tourists, first of all German: the cycling route is indeed ideal for those wanting to skip the traffic and is well linked to other routes that combined can make a trip by bike rather varied and interesting. The cycle route of Adige river is the longest cycle path in the whole province of Trento and continues in the nearby provinces of Verona and Bolzano, being a perfect cycling route for those who love the tranquility of pedaling with no effort and with good cultural-touristic alternatives along the way.
