/ Giulia Gasparotto / to cycle bike and boat
Where to go on a bike and barge holiday: 8 itineraries you won’t want to miss
How does a bike and barge holiday work? At night, you sleep aboard a comfortable floating hotel; during the day, you cycle and explore the area. Your cabin is yours for the entire week — no luggage worries, and if you feel like skipping a day in the saddle, you can simply stay on board and enjoy the cruise. We have handpicked 8 bike and barge itineraries perfect for anyone who wants to explore Europe slowly and authentically. All that’s left is to let yourself be inspired and find the one that’s right for you.
Italy, from Mantua to Venice along the waterways of Veneto
The Museum of Carousels and Popular Entertainment in Bergantino, the tiny village of Zelo with its three hundred inhabitants, the evocative island of Pellestrina: this itinerary takes you off the beaten track and reveals unexpected corners between Mantua and Venice. The bike and barge format is perfect for truly connecting with the culture of the places you pass through and sharing authentic experiences with local communities. At the table, too, the region takes centre stage: on board you will enjoy traditional dishes made with fresh, local ingredients, excellent Italian wine, and to finish, a fine artisan coffee. You will always have a local crew on board, ready to share their love of these places with you. Read more about the journey from Mantua to Venice — we’ll be waiting for you on board! Discover the tour The waterways of Venice.
Provence and the Camargue, between wild landscapes and local delicacies
On one side, the Provençal countryside; on the other, the wild expanses of the Camargue: the perfect setting for a slow bike and barge journey, discovering villages with an unmistakably French character, art cities, and rolling vineyards. Famous stops include Avignon, the city of the Popes, and the medieval Aigues-Mortes, but also smaller gems like Vallabrègues, with its long tradition of wickerwork, and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, birthplace of Nostradamus and refuge of Vincent Van Gogh during his most productive period. On board, the crew will be ready to help you discover the area with enthusiasm and fall in love with traditional French cuisine. Discover the Provence and Camargue bike and barge trip!
The Netherlands, where bike and barge was born
Bicycles, canals, windmills, and green landscapes: the Netherlands is where the very concept of a bike and barge holiday was born! There’s plenty to explore: vibrant Amsterdam and the Southern Route, cycling through typical Dutch villages, clog workshops, the contrast between old and new in Rotterdam, the cheese city of Gouda, and many more unmissable corners of the Netherlands. Then there’s the Northern Route, discovering ancient windmills, the lush island of Texel, and fishing villages like Volendam. And for families? Lake IJssel is one of the best choices! The largest freshwater lake in the Netherlands is ideal for a holiday with children: flat stages and plenty of attractions along the way, from national parks to towns with a fairytale atmosphere. And in spring, don’t miss the tulip tour — cycling past vast, colourful tulip fields. Highlights include the Aalsmeer flower auction, the Keukenhof park with its millions of blooms, and the city of Leiden, where the first tulip was planted. Read more about the tulip season and discover all our cycling holidays in the Netherlands.
Flanders, between art cities and… pommes frites!
Flanders is a small region, yet it captivates at first sight. And the best way to discover it? A bike and barge holiday! The classic route runs from Amsterdam to Bruges, an itinerary that reveals the best of the Netherlands and Belgium in a single week. Or you can dive into the heart of Flemish territory with the Bruges to Brussels route, taking in the region’s most iconic cities: the surprising Brussels, the romantic Bruges, and Antwerp, the city of diamonds. Here you’ll cycle along polders, canals and knooppunten, street art and contemporary architecture, through a landscape that’s constantly changing. And after the ride? Refuel with pommes frites, a good beer, and artisan chocolate to finish. Discover what makes Flanders unique and see all our cycling holidays in Flanders.
The Danube Cycle Path, from Passau to Vienna
If this is your first cycling holiday, the Danube Cycle Path is the perfect starting point. Accessible, well-signposted, away from traffic, and lined with attractions: you only need to ride a stretch to understand why it’s one of the most loved cycle routes in Europe. The most famous section runs from Passau to Vienna — a steady procession of castles, abbeys, and vineyards drifting slowly past along the river. The journey begins in Passau, Germany, where the cathedral houses the largest organ in the world, then winds through baroque towns like Aschach, past ancient fortresses like Ottensheim Castle, and alongside the Habsburg manor houses that dot the route. From there, you reach Linz with its lively historic centre, the Wachau Valley with its charming villages and wines worth savouring, and finally the imperial elegance of Vienna. But you can also choose to push on beyond the Austrian capital: just a few kilometres further, the Slovak and Hungarian countryside opens up, with the small but remarkable Bratislava leading at last to Budapest — split in two by the Danube itself, historic Buda on one side, lively Pest on the other. Discover our holidays on the Danube Cycle Path.
Greece, between the Ionian Islands, the Cyclades, and fishing villages
Coastal paths, whitewashed villages, olive groves, outstanding cuisine, and crystal-clear water: Greece has everything you need for a perfect bike and barge holiday! This is a land where ancient myths, stories, and legends still hang in the air — from Ithaca, ancient home of Odysseus, to Corfu, the oasis of Sissi. Along Greece’s western coast, the Ionian Islands offer fishing villages, olive groves, and rugged coastlines to explore, including Paxos and Kefalonia. In the Aegean, the Cyclades and Saronic Islands offer a different kind of wonder: Kythnos, famous for its cheese and honey; Ermoupolis, with its colourful buildings perched on two hills; the island of Aegina, between temples and monasteries; Hydra, fragrant with orange trees and aromatic herbs and animated by… donkeys! Then there’s the archaeological site of Delphi, the Gulf of Corinth, Athens, and the Saronic Gulf: so many places to explore between rides, a sea that never stops surprising you, and a comfortable boat waiting for you each night. Read more about the most beautiful islands to explore in Greece and discover all our bike and barge holidays in Greece.
Croatia, between crystal-clear sea and unspoiled nature
Forse la Croazia la conosci già, ma hai mai pensato di viverla in un modo tutto nuovo? Di giorno in sella, con l’Adriatico sempre al tuo fianco, pedalando tra baie cristalline, borghi medievali e porti pittoreschi; la notte a bordo, cullato dalle onde. Nel Golfo del Quarnaro, ogni isola ha la sua identità: Krk ti accoglie con le sue mura romane e il suo castello; Rab, con le sue quattro torri campanarie, è considerata una delle isole più belle dell’Adriatico; a Lussino ti perdi tra profumi di pini, eucalipti e allori; mentre Pag ti sorprende con le sue rocce bianche, un paesaggio che la rende unica su tutto l’Adriatico.
Più a sud, la Dalmazia offre natura rigogliosa, parchi nazionali incontaminati e panorami sempre a vista mare: Spalato e Dubrovnik sono le due mete assolutamente da non perdere! A completare il quadro, le isolette: Hvar; Brač, nota per il marmo; Korčula; Vis, antica colonia greca e Mljet; l’isola del miele, una delle più verdi del Mediterraneo. Scopri tutte le vacanze bici e barca in Croazia.
You may already know Croatia — but have you ever thought about experiencing it in a completely new way? By day in the saddle, with the Adriatic always by your side, cycling past crystal-clear bays, medieval towns, and picturesque harbours; by night on board, rocked to sleep by the waves. In the Kvarner Gulf, every island has its own identity: Krk welcomes you with its Roman walls and castle; Rab, with its four bell towers, is considered one of the most beautiful islands in the Adriatic; in Lošinj you lose yourself among the scents of pine, eucalyptus, and laurel; while Pag surprises you with its white rocks, a landscape unlike anywhere else on the Adriatic. Further south, Dalmatia offers lush nature, pristine national parks, and sea views at every turn: Split and Dubrovnik are the two absolute must-sees. Completing the picture: the smaller islands — Hvar; Brač, known for its marble; Korčula; Vis, an ancient Greek colony; and Mljet, the island of honey, one of the greenest in the Mediterranean. Discover all our bike and barge holidays in Croatia.
The Moselle, the wine lover’s cycle path
Conosciuta come la ciclabile del buon vino, la Mosella è uno degli itinerari ciclabili più famosi della Germania. Oltre 248 km di percorsi tranquilli e ben segnalati, quasi sempre pianeggianti, perfetti per pedalare senza fretta. Il paesaggio cambia continuamente: città imperiali, castelli che si riflettono sull’acqua, piccoli villaggi con case a graticcio e distese di vigneti. Qui provare un calice di vino è d’obbligo! Da non perdere lungo il percorso? Treviri, la città più antica della Germania; Saarburg, con la spettacolare cascata nel cuore del centro storico; Cochem e il suo castello. Ma anche Coblenza con la sua fortezza e infine Beilstein, la Bella Addormentata sulla Mosella, con i suoi vicoletti e un’atmosfera senza tempo. Scopri i viaggi sulla Ciclabile della Mosella.
Known as the wine lover’s cycle path, the Moselle is one of Germany’s most famous cycling routes. Over 248 km of quiet, well-signposted trails — almost entirely flat — perfect for cycling at your own pace. The landscape shifts constantly: imperial cities, castles reflected in the water, small half-timbered villages, and sweeping vineyards. A glass of wine here is non-negotiable! Not to be missed along the way: Trier, Germany’s oldest city; Saarburg, with its spectacular waterfall right in the heart of the old town; Cochem and its castle. And then Koblenz with its fortress, and finally Beilstein — the Sleeping Beauty of the Moselle — with its narrow alleyways and timeless atmosphere. Discover our holidays on the Moselle Cycle Path.
You have read the article and now you can’t wait to hop on board for a bike and barge tour? Check out all our tours and choose your next adventure! Cycling in Salento 6 days Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Venice lands 8 days Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Amsterdam and the Southern Tour, summer edition Bike and Barge guided girolibero.com Amsterdam and Flanders, summer edition Bike and Barge guided girolibero.com Flanders tour, summer edition Bike and Barge guided girolibero.com Amsterdam and the Northern Tour, summer edition Bike and Barge guided girolibero.com Kvarner Bay, summer edition Bike and Barge guided girolibero.com From Pisa to Florence 5 days Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Grand Tour of Tuscany 7 days Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Lake Garda for families Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Loire Valley 7 days Cycling self-guided girolibero.com South Tyrol for families Cycling self-guided girolibero.com From Venice to Vicenza 5 days Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Dolomites and Lake Garda Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Lake Garda to the Venice lands Cycling self-guided girolibero.com From the lands of Venice to Croatia Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Grand Tour of Tuscany 5 days Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Veneto region for families Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Pre-trip extension Euganean Thermal district Cycling self-guided girolibero.com From Mantua to Venice Bike and Barge self-guided or guided girolibero.com Provence and Camargue Bike and Barge self-guided or guided girolibero.com From Vicenza to Venice 5 days Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Loire Valley 8 days Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Innsbruck-Bolzano-Verona Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Bolzano – Resia Pass – Verona/Mantua Cycling self-guided girolibero.com From Pisa to Florence 8 days Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Cycling in Puglia 8 days Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Loire Valley 6 days Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Loire Valley for families Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Bolzano-Verona Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Bolzano-Verona-Venice Cycling self-guided girolibero.com From Innsbruck to Venice Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Bolzano-Resia Pass-Lake Garda Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Amsterdam and Flanders Bike and Barge guided girolibero.com Amsterdam and Flanders Bike and Barge self-guided girolibero.com Amsterdam and the Northern Tour Bike and Barge self-guided girolibero.com Kvarner Bay Bike and Barge self-guided or guided girolibero.com Dalmatia and Kornati Islands Bike and Barge guided girolibero.com Amsterdam and the Southern Tour Bike and Barge self-guided girolibero.com Paris and Champagne Bike and Barge guided girolibero.com Ionian Islands Bike and Barge self-guided or guided girolibero.com From Amsterdam to Maastricht Bike and Barge guided girolibero.com Athens and the Gulf of Aegina Bike and Barge guided girolibero.com Frisian Islands Bike and Barge self-guided girolibero.com Moselle Cycle Path Bike and Barge guided girolibero.com Langhe and Monferrato Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Alpe Adria cycle path Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Rome, Lake Bolsena and ancient villages Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Rome, the Appian Way and the coast Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Northern Burgundy Bike and Barge guided girolibero.com Rhine and Moselle cycle route Bike and Barge self-guided girolibero.com Holland tulip tour Bike and Barge guided girolibero.com Umbria, the green heart of Italy Cycling self-guided girolibero.com Heart of Holland Bike and Barge self-guided girolibero.com Danube Cycle Path Bike and Barge self-guided girolibero.com Southern Dalmatia Bike and Barge guided girolibero.com Cyclades Islands Bike and Barge guided girolibero.com Moselle Cycle Path Bike and Barge self-guided girolibero.com Dalmatian Islands Bike and Barge guided girolibero.com Dalmatian Islands for families Bike and Barge guided girolibero.com Gulf of Corinth and the Ionian Islands Bike and Barge guided girolibero.com Ionian Islands for families Bike and Barge guided girolibero.com The Heart of Holland Bike and Barge guided girolibero.com Danube Cycle Path Bike and Barge self-guided girolibero.com One-week Tulip Tour Bike and Barge guided girolibero.com Venice lands 2024 Cycling self-guided girolibero.com66 Travel tips
