A cycling paradise: Discover the longest cycle paths in Europe!

Do you like cycling and dream of discovering Europe? The Old Continent is full of cycle paths crossing several countries over thousands of miles. Here are the longest in pictures!

From Bulgaria to Norway, the EuroVelo 13 takes you to the heart of Europe's recent history. It goes for more than 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles) along the former Iron Curtain that divided the continent in two.

From the North Cape (Norway) to Portugal, via the British Isles and France, the Vélodyssée offers a discovery of the entire Atlantic coast of Europe. The total distance is 9,100 kilometers (or 5,600 miles).

The EuroVelo 10 route takes you around the Baltic Sea for around 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles). Copenhagen is the starting and finishing point of this loop, which also runs along Poland, the Baltic, and the Scandinavian countries.

Photo: Julius Jansson / Unsplash

Once again starting from the North Cape, the Sun Cycle Route passes through Copenhagen, Berlin, Rome, and Naples, ending in Valletta (Malta). You'll see nine countries during a 7,400-kilometer (4,600-mile) journey.

@Gabrielle Clare Marino / Unsplash

Another departure from the Northern Cape comes with the EuroVelo 11 route (also called the 'Beast from the East'). It connects the far north to Athens and crisscrosses Eastern Europe in between for a total distance of 6,000 kilometers (3,700 miles).

Photo: Alexander Shustov / Unsplash

Want to see the sea and the sun? From Cádiz (Spain) to Cyprus, the Mediterranean cycle route runs along the magnificent coasts of the northern shore of the Mediterranean, for almost 5,900 kilometers (3,666 miles). You will be able to see eleven countries, including France, Italy, Croatia, and Greece.

Photo: Mark Hamilton / Unsplash

From Bergen (Norway) to Ostend (Belgium), without forgetting the shores of Scotland, the EuroVelo 12 goes all the way around the North Sea for more than 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles). Part of the trip has to go by boat.

Over 5,500 kilometers (3,400 miles), the capital's cycle route takes you through the metropolises of the north of the continent, such as Dublin, London, and Berlin. Given the current geopolitical context, the final part of the route, between Minsk and Moscow, is more difficult to complete, however.

Photo: Egor Myznik / Unsplash

Over a little over 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles), the Central Europe cycle route allows you to discover the heart of the Old Continent from Brest. The route that runs through Germany and Central European countries cannot currently be completed, as it ends in Kyiv.

Photo: Markus Spiske / Unsplash

For a comparable distance, the Scandibérique connects Trondheim (Norway) to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. It is also the ideal trail for visiting Paris and the west of France.

An original itinerary, all along the rivers that crisscross Europe. From Nantes to Constanta (Romania), you will follow the Loire, the Rhine, and the endless Danube for a total of 4,400 kilometers (2,700 miles).

Photo: Viktor Keri / Unsplash

Follow in the footsteps of the pilgrims who once went from England to Jerusalem, stopping off in Rome. Departing from London, the track ultimately takes you through Italy on a total route of 3,200 kilometers (1,990 miles).

Photo: Semyon Borisov / Unsplash

A shorter track with just over 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles), the EuroVelo 9 is a must between the Baltic Sea and the Adriatic. You can discover Central Europe, Vienna, and the Dalmatian coast.

Photo: Vladyslava Pertsatii / Unsplash

Finally, we have a shorter and 100% French journey. Over 600 kilometers (373 miles) between Caen and La Rochelle, the Vélo Francette links the landing beaches on the Channel to those on the Atlantic, via the cities of Angers and Poitou.

Photo: Xavier Foucrier / Unsplash

Which cycle path is best for you? If you haven't found what you're looking for in this selection, you're always free to create your itinerary. Safe travels!

Photo: Lachlan Cruickshank / Unsplash