Cycling tours in Europe: Cycling travel guide with 25 relaxed multi-day tours through Europe's most beautiful regions
Barbara Merz-Weigandt
· 19.08.2025
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DUMONT Travel presents "Cycling tours in Europe", a comprehensive illustrated book that presents 25 relaxed multi-day routes through the continent's most beautiful cycling regions. The 224-page hardcover book is aimed at leisure cyclists who want to discover Europe without sporting ambition, but with plenty of leisure. The focus is on decelerated cycling through scenic areas, with cultural highlights and culinary delights along the routes forming an equally important part of the tours presented. With 300 illustrations, the book not only provides practical information, but also arouses anticipation for the next cycle tour with impressive landscape photographs and atmospheric impressions of the regions.
Three chapters for different cycling experiences
The organisation of the illustrated book into three geographical chapters allows readers to search specifically for tours in their desired region or to be inspired by the different characteristics of the major European regions. The "North" chapter presents routes that lead through the vast landscapes of Scandinavia and the Baltic region. Here, cyclists experience a special kind of freedom with fresh breezes, tranquil forests and the expanse of water. The tours presented include routes along the historic Göta Canal in Sweden, through the picturesque dune landscapes of Denmark, along the amber coast of Lithuania and around the impressive cliffs of the Danish island of Bornholm. The northern routes are characterised by their closeness to nature and proximity to the water, which promises a refreshing cycling experience, especially in the warmer months.
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Cultural diversity in the heart of Europe
The chapter "In the heart" is dedicated to tours through the culturally and scenically diverse regions of Central Europe. The routes presented here combine culture, nature and enjoyment to create a holistic travel experience. The routes lead through regions between the North Sea and the Alps and from the Loire to the Danube, offering a wide range of different types of landscapes and cultural influences. On these tours, cyclists pass through vibrant cities such as Amsterdam or Colmar in Alsace, cycle through the idyllic apple orchards of Flanders or follow the course of the Vltava in the unspoilt Bohemian Forest. The central location of these routes makes them particularly easy to reach and therefore also suitable for shorter cycle tours where a high adventure value is still desired. The cultural density of this region also enables numerous detours to historical sights, museums or regional specialities.
Sunny routes in southern Europe
The third chapter, "In the South", invites you to dream and cycle under the southern sun. The tours presented here lead through regions where the wind smells of lavender and the sea glistens on the horizon. The spectrum ranges from a route on a disused railway line from Slovenia to Croatia to routes along the Italian Adriatic and through the wild south of Sardinia to a tour along the historic Canal du Midi in the south of France. These southern routes are particularly suitable for cyclists who appreciate warmth and Mediterranean flair and would like to combine their cycle tour with culinary delights and swimming breaks. The longer season in the southern regions also makes cycling tours possible in the spring and autumn months, when it might already be too cool for extended tours in the north.
Comprehensive information for travel planning
Each of the 25 tours presented is designed as a relaxed multi-day tour and contains all the essential information you need to plan your trip carefully. Each route is accompanied by a detailed stage overview with maps and altitude profiles, enabling a realistic assessment of the expected requirements. Information on the ideal journey time helps with planning, while information on travelling covers the logistical aspects. Particularly valuable for cyclists are the accommodation and refreshment tips, which are specifically tailored to the needs of cyclists and point out, for example, cycle-friendly accommodation or particularly worthwhile places to stop for a bite to eat. There are detailed descriptions of the sights along the route, which can serve as orientation for cyclists interested in culture and history.
Additional features for a personalised cycling experience
A particular added value of the illustrated book are the additional excursion ideas and insider tips that go beyond the main route and allow for individual detours. These recommendations come from authors who know the area and often lead to lesser-known but particularly worthwhile destinations off the main routes. For practical navigation during the tour, GPX tracks are available to download for all routes, which can be transferred to common navigation devices or smartphone apps. This makes it much easier to find your way along the way and enables even less experienced cycle travellers to complete the tours without the need for time-consuming map work. The combination of detailed route descriptions in the book and digital navigation support thus provides an ideal basis for relaxed cycle tours where the focus is on the experience rather than the sporting challenge.
The stages at a glance
North
- Regions: Sweden (Göta Canal), Denmark (dune landscapes), Lithuania (Amber Coast), Denmark (Bornholm)
- Characteristics: Fresh breezes, quiet forests, close to the water
- Special features: Routes close to nature with plenty of open space and width
Heart of Europe
- Regions: Netherlands-Belgium-France (Amsterdam to Colmar), Flanders (apple orchards), Czech Republic (Vltava in the Bohemian Forest)
- Characteristics: Cultural diversity, varied landscapes
- Specialities: Combination of culture, nature and culinary delights
South
- Regions: Slovenia-Croatia (disused railway line), Italy (Adriatic coast), Sardinia (wild south), France (Canal du Midi)
- Characteristics: Sunny routes with Mediterranean flair
- Special features: Scent of lavender, glittering sea, longer cycling season
Publication details
- Price: 29,95 Euro >> available here
- Scope: 224 pages
- Format: 19.4 × 24.6 cm
- Features: Hardcover with 300 illustrations
- Publication date: July 2025
- ISBN: 978-3-616-03536-9
Barbara Merz-Weigandt
Editor-in-Chief
