A beginner’s guide to cycle touring in Europe

It feels like summer 2026 is conspiring against holidaymakers. Digital border controls, war in the Middle East and petrol price hikes all threaten disruption, however you plan to travel. Unless, that is, you’re going by bike.

The idea of packing a bag and setting off under your own steam is as old as cycling itself. All you need is a bike. And a willingness to be sidetracked by the next patisserie, but little else. You certainly don’t need calves of steel or a heap of specialist equipment for most trips.

You don't even need to organise the trip yourself. Guided tours take care of the admin, local knowledge and social side.

If the all-inclusive approach is not for you, Europe is made for self-guided cycling holidays. Rail networks are comprehensive and bike routes plentiful. EuroVelo alone is a network of 17 long-distance cycle routes linking countries across the continent.

If it’s your first trip, take it easy. The Netherlands is the obvious beginner’s choice, and France has the obvious benefit of being on our doorstep.

Once you’ve picked a region, planning a route is easier than it’s ever been. Wrestling with paper maps has been replaced by cycle touring apps like Komoot, cycle.travel and Ride with GPS. You just download the route and carry a battery pack as a backup. 

Smartphones remove another anxiety of old. Google Translate’s face-to-face mode helps overcome the language barrier if you get stuck.

{{cta-cycling}}

Ride your bike (and the train)

One of the pleasures of touring in Europe is being able to ride for a few days, hop on a train and start again somewhere new. Just check the bike rules before you travel. For example, if you’re travelling between London and Paris, your bike must be disassembled and in a box or bag. On Deutsche Bahn long-distance trains in Germany, you'll need tor eserve a space for your bike, unless it's a folder. 

‍Accommodation

Camping keeps costs down, but on a self-guided trip it means carrying more kit. For many riders, a comfy bed, a shower and secure bike parking are worth paying extra for. 

In France, look out for the Accueil Vélo sign. It shows that the accommodation is within 5km of a cycle route and cyclist-friendly. That can mean bike storage, repair tools, and facilities for washing your clothes or bike. Guides such as Bike Hotels Europe, Cycle Friendly Hotels and Epic Road Rides can also help you find the best examples.

Contingency plans

Despite Brexit, UK riders can still use a GHIC or, in some cases, an EHIC to access urgent state-provided healthcare in Europe. But it’s no substitute for the medical cover provided by travel insurance. However, be aware that some travel insurance policies cover only what they call “casual leisure cycling”, such as hiring a bike for a day, and exclude trips where cycling is the main focus of the holiday. Likewise, if you have standalone cycle insurance, check that it will cover you for your trip.

Whether you are buying travel insurance or cycle insurance, shop carefully to make certain the policy suits your needs.

Packing: less is more

The great lesson of cycle touring, if not life in general, is we need less than we imagine. Lay out what you think you need, then remove a third of it. Then remove a little more.

The same goes for the bike itself. For the kind of trip most people actually take, reliability is the most important thing. You need a bike that fits you, works properly and can carry a small amount of luggage without drama. 

In all the excitement, don’t forget to bring a lock. Don’t assume a bike loaded with luggage is too awkward to pinch. It’s true that thieves often prefer a quick and easy job, but why test the theory? If you have cycle insurance, check whether it covers you when you are abroad. Failing that, your travel insurance may offer some degree of protection.

Travel light and bring poetry

If you are looking for inspiration, or just a holiday read, there are countless written accounts of cycle touring to choose from. One of our favourites is Full Tilt by Dervla Murphy. 

For her tenth birthday Murphy was given a second-hand bicycle, and very soon after resolved to cycle to India one day. Twenty-one years later, in 1963, she made good on that promise to herself and the ride through Persia, Afghanistan and over the Himalayas to Pakistan and India is the basis of Full Tilt.

Dervla Murphy advised aspiring cycle tourers to "travel light and bring poetry".

FAQs

Can you go cycle touring or bikepacking on an e-bike? Absolutely, it’s an obvious way to extend your range and there are e-bikes designed specifically for that purpose. The Tern Orox would allow you to cycle from London to Paris on a single charge of its twin batteries. Accueil Vélo hotels and B&Bs in France, and the equivalents across other European countries, welcome e-bike riders but bring your own charger as facilities vary by location.

How much does it cost to go cycle touring? It’s possible to do it on a shoestring. French campsites can cost as little as €8 a night for cyclists and bivouacking in the wild is free, subject to exclusions and local restrictions. At the other extreme, a luxury guided cycling holiday can cost €5,000 for five nights.

What’s the difference between cycle touring and bikepacking? Not a huge amount. Bikepacking is partly a rebrand of classic cycle touring. The idea of travelling by bike with your luggage is well over a century old. Bikepacking often refers to off-road trips with the use of soft bags, but even that idea is as old as cycling itself. Thomas Stevens rode an Ordinary bicycle (penny-farthing) around the world from April 1884 to December 1886.

What happens if I break down while cycle touring? It’s good to have a plan. Cycle Rescue is a 24/7 breakdown recovery service for you and your bike that includes cover in Europe for 90 days per year. It costs £24 per year.

Does my home insurance cover me while cycling in Europe? It may well cover you for third party liability (damage or injury you cause while cycling), but check the small print and call them if necessary. At least one provider includes theft of your bicycle while cycling abroad as standard, but the advice is always to check your own policy wording. 

Where can I get specialist advice about cycle touring? There is a huge amount of information online, but if you want to speak to someone on the phone, it’s worth joining Cycling UK. For most of its 147-year history it was known as the Cyclists’ Touring Club, and there is very little the team there doesn’t know about travelling by bike.

Is it easy to hire a bicycle in Europe? Yes. Aside from short-term hire from hotels and popular tourist destinations, one-way bike hire in Europe offers a range of e-bikes, gravel and road bikes to choose from. It’s usually pricier than conventional bike hire, but allows for a very different sort of trip.

The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 35 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK's most ethical provider.

{{cta-cycling}}

‍

‍

‍