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EuroVelo cycling routes, a complete guide to cycling across Europe
EuroVelo is an ambitious project that was conceived more than 25 years ago. It involves creating 15 magnificent cycle routes spanning the length and breadth of Europe, which are constantly updated. The EuroVelo routes are designed to encourage the use of bicycles in daily life and to promote cycle tourism by introducing people to lesser-known regions. The underlying goals are sustainability and encouraging a more responsible lifestyle through education.
The story of the EuroVelo project
The idea was conceived in 1995 by the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF), an umbrella organisation representing 60 national bicycle promotion associations.
In 1997, the European Commission granted the necessary funds to begin studies, and the first route, the North Sea Cycle Route (EuroVelo 12), was launched in 2001.
How many EuroVelo routes exist?
There are currently 15 planned routes. In some areas, we have already reached excellent levels, partly thanks to existing cycle routes. In many other places, however, the infrastructure does not yet exist and the route is still being planned. To understand the current status of each EuroVelo route, please refer to the official website.
Maps and signs
Each route has a corresponding number and name. Odd numbers indicate routes running from north to south and even numbers indicate routes running from east to west.
The name usually refers to a geographical feature along the route, such as the Baltic Sea Cycle Route (EuroVelo 10), or to a historical feature: for example, EuroVelo 13 is dedicated to the Iron Curtain and runs from the Barents Sea to the Black Sea. Where pre-existing bicycle routes exist, EuroVelo signage has been incorporated into them. You may also find exclusive Eurovelo signage in some sections.
Below is a brief overview of each bicycle route. Bear in mind that they are only partially realised and there is still a long way to go.
Tip: You could also use three smartphone apps for now: EuroVelo 13, EuroVelo 5 and EuroVelo 6, which provide some information and the full route.
Eurovelo 1 The Atlantic Coast
9,100 km
From the North Cape in Norway to Caminha in Portugal
Following the western border of Europe, the great journey is centred around the ocean. We travel along the Norwegian coast, passing through Tromsø and Bergen, before taking a 30-hour ferry ride to Scotland. We then travel along the Celtic coast, taking another ferry to Northern Ireland. We continue to the beautiful Connemara coast and Cork, before heading down into France along the Velodyssée. Heading further south, you will arrive in Spain, passing through Pamplona and Salamanca, before continuing to the Algarve and Portugal’s coast from south to north, finally reaching the Spanish border.
Eurovelo 2 The Road of Capitals
5,500 km
From Galway to Moscow
It’s a fairly gentle start in the heart of Connemara, with its musical atmosphere. No fewer than six capitals are traversed, from Dublin to London, then Berlin, Warsaw and Minsk, with the final pedal stroke taking place in the grandiose setting of Red Square in Moscow. There is no shortage of majestic peaks along the way, such as the 100 lakes and endless pristine mountains of Snowdonia Nature Park in Wales, which is shrouded in legend. Then there is the ancient Bialowieza Forest, straddling the border between Poland and Belarus, where the European bison still roams free.
Eurovelo 3 The Pilgrims’ Route
5,100 km
From Trondheim in Norway to Santiago de Compostela in Spain
This route combines several ancient pilgrimage trails, including the path between Oslo and Trondheim in the footsteps of Norway’s patron saint, Olav Haraldsson; the Ochsenweg between Denmark and Germany, an ancient agricultural route also used by pilgrims heading south; and more. After passing through Belgium and France, we arrive in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, from where we continue to Santiago de Compostela.
Eurovelo 4 Central Europe
4,000 km
From Roscoff in France to Kiev in Ukraine
A great start on the wild Breton coast with its powerful tides leads to Saint-Malo and the Great War sites in Normandy and Belgium. Then, you’ll descend into Germany, riding along the pleasant cycle paths alongside the Rhine and Main rivers. Next, you’ll head into the Bohemia of castles and hills before heading north again to Krakow. For the final leg of the journey, you will cycle through relaxing nature and the historical legacies of Soviet rule en route to Kiev.
Eurovelo 5 The Via Francigena
3,300 km
From Canterbury in UK to Brindisi in Italy
Over the centuries, thousands of pilgrims have walked or ridden along this long path to Rome. It is one of the most beautiful and historically significant routes, offering a sense of history from beginning to end. In the past, once you reached Brindisi, the journey would continue to the Holy Land. What are the highlights? The journey begins symbolically at Canterbury Cathedral. Leaving the white cliffs of Dover behind, you will arrive at the beating heart of the European Union. Then it’s on to the wine region of Alsace, Switzerland and the beautiful hills of Tuscany, before arriving in the Eternal City. You will reach the final destination of Brindisi, on the coast of Puglia, along stretches of the Via Appia Antica.
Eurovelo 6 From the Atlantic to the Black Sea
4,400 km
From Nantes in France to the Danube Delta in Bulgaria
We could also call it the ‘Route of the Great Rivers’, as it follows the courses of the Loire, Rhine and Danube for long stretches, eventually reaching the Black Sea. It includes the famous Danube cycle path, which is travelled by hundreds of cyclists every year on the stretch from Passau to Vienna. Next comes the ‘pinnacle’ section of the Danube cycle path, connecting the three splendid capitals of Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest. As you continue towards Serbia and Bulgaria, nature takes centre stage.
Eurovelo 7 The Way of the Sun
7,400 km
From North Cape in Norway to Valletta in Malta
Nine countries are crossed, from the land of the midnight sun to the sunny islands of the Mediterranean. It’s a journey through the heart of Europe, from north to south, through some of the most diverse landscapes: from the vast fjords of the north to the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia, between Sweden and Finland; from the Elbe Cycle Path, stretching from Prague to Dresden, to the castles of Bohemia — all renowned cycling destinations. You won’t miss out on the best of Austria by bike either, with the chance to explore the lakes of the Salzburg region, the Alpe Adria and Carinthia, as well as sections of the Drava Cycle Route. You will also cover Italy in its entirety, taking in the Peschiera-Mantova, Bologna, Florence, Rome, Naples, and Catania routes, before taking a ferry to Malta, the island of Ulysses!
Eurovelo 8 The Mediterranean Way
5,900 km
From Cadiz in Spain to Nicosia in Cyprus
This route is perfect for lovers of warmer seas and sunny coastlines! This route exudes the warmth of southern Spain, with its Arabian architecture, the vibrant city of Barcelona, the Principality of Monaco, which is squeezed onto a small stretch of coastline, the future Vento bike path stretching from Turin to Venice, and the fantastic coastline running from the Gulf of Trieste down into Dalmatia, with its moonscape-like islands. After the natural wonders of Albania, you can immerse yourself in history in Greece, exploring Patras, Corinth, and Athens, before finally reaching Cyprus, an island that is still partially under Turkish rule.
Eurovelo 9 From the Baltic to the Adriatic
1,900 km
From Gdansk in Poland to Pula in Croatia
This slightly eastward-shifted itinerary crosses all of Poland, from the historic city of Gdansk to Poznań and Wrocław, a little-known jewel of a city. You will then descend into Moravia in the Czech Republic, continuing on to Styria in Austria — the spa region — and touching on the beautiful Mur River Cycle Route. Next, you will continue into Slovenia, an area of castles and vineyards between Maribor and Ljubljana. Finally, you will travel along the beautiful Croatian coast to Pula, home to a magnificent Roman amphitheatre.
Eurovelo 10 The Baltic Sea Cycle Route
8,000 km
Circular tour from Gdansk in Poland
This route is ideal for lovers of the cool north. You will cycle along the entire Baltic Sea coast from Poland and Germany on the beautiful Baltic Sea Bike Path. Between Sweden and Finland, you will cycle around the Gulf of Bothnia, which is almost completely frozen in winter due to its icy microclimate. You will pass through a variety of cultures, from the small 19th-century-style seaside resorts of northern Germany to the Russia of St. Petersburg, and then on to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which look to northern Europe while still retaining an Eastern identity.
Eurovelo 11 The Cycle Route of the East
6,000 km
From the North Cape in Norway to Athens in Greece
Like the other routes, this one begins in northern Norway and passes through diverse capital cities such as Helsinki, Tallinn, Vilnius, Warsaw, Belgrade, Skopje and Athens. After taking in the natural beauty of the Baltic republics, the route continues to the cities of Warsaw and Krakow in Poland, before heading down to the wine region of Tokaj in Hungary. The journey ends in Greece, the land of myth.
Eurovelo 12 The North Sea Cycle Route
5,900 km
From Bergen in Norway to Shetland Islands in the UK
Begin your journey in the beautiful town of Bergen, then follow the Oslo Fjord bike path. In Sweden, the EuroVelo 12 route coincides with the Kattegattleden, which runs from Helsingborg to Gothenburg. The landscape then changes dramatically to the dunes and polders of the Netherlands and Belgium. Take the ferry to the United Kingdom and cycle from south to north along the Lord Nelson Way in Norfolk, then on to Edinburgh and Aberdeen. Continue to the delightful fishing villages nestled in the bays and on to John O’Groats, the northernmost point in the UK. Then head to the wild Orkney Islands and finally the remote Shetland Islands.
Eurovelo 13 Along the Iron Curtain
10,400 km
From Kirkenes in Norway to the Black Sea in Turkey
It is a symbol of the division between East and West Europe for almost half a century: you cycle along the former border stretching from the Barents Sea to the Black Sea. It is a journey through recent history, whose signs and stories are still evident. Eurovelo 13 is the longest of all the Eurovelo routes, showcasing an impressive variety of landscapes and cultures from the cold north to the Baltic republics, Poland, and the capital cities of Vienna, Bratislava, Belgrade, and Sofia. EuroVelo 13 ends in Turkey in recognition of the country’s role in the Cold War.
Eurovelo 15 The Rhine Cycle Path
1,320 km
From Andermatt in Switzerland to Hoek in the Netherlands
Begin your journey in the elegant town of Andermatt, nestled amongst the towering peaks of the Swiss Alps. Cycle down to the thundering waterfalls of Schaffhausen and the serene shores of Lake Constance, a haven for cyclists, before venturing through the picturesque half-timbered villages of Alsace, straddling the border between France and Germany. Then, you will pedal along the German section of the Rhine Cycle Route through rolling hills carpeted with Riesling vineyards on completely flat terrain. Then, in Holland, the Rhine splits to form a large delta where other rivers also converge.
Eurovelo 17 The Rhone Cycle Route
1,100 km
From Andermatt in Switzerland to Port-St-Louis or Sète in France
Like Eurovelo 15, this route begins in Andermatt in the Swiss Alps and once in Lac Léman, where Geneva is located, it takes advantage of the pre-existing ViaRhôna, an ambitious project linking the Alps to the Mediterranean beaches. Then the route passes through beautiful cities such as Lyon and Avignon, where the remains of Roman buildings can still be seen, and makes its way through the vineyards of the Côte du Rhône and the beautiful villages that reflect the Provençal sun.
Eurovelo 19 The Meuse Cycle Route
1,166 km
From angres in France to Rotterdam in the Netherlands
This new addition to the EuroVelo network follows one of Europe’s most important rivers, which flows through France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The route is easy and suitable for cyclists of all abilities, including the youngest, who will see the impressive Vosges and Ardennes mountain ranges. This is the land of Joan of Arc and the magnificent medieval castles, first in France and then in Belgium. The first Dutch city is Maastricht, the heart of the European Union, after which the route continues along dune landscapes to Rotterdam.
All you have to do is choose a route and get on your bike! If a few thousand miles seems a bit much, why not start with a week on the bike, pedalling along some of the EuroVelo routes? Here are some ideas!
Bolzano-Verona-Venice Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Innsbruck-Bolzano-Verona Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Bolzano – Resia Pass – Verona/Mantua Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Loire Valley 6 days Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Loire Valley 8 days Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Loire Valley 7 days Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Danube Cycle Path Bike and Barge self-guided girolibero.com7 Travel tips
