What is the best season for cycling in Europe?

The best time for cycling in Europe depends on where you're headed. Here's a quick breakdown by season: Spring (April–May) is ideal for Southern Europe — moderate temperatures, quiet roads, and the countryside in full bloom. Great for Portugal or Italy Early summer (June) is the sweet spot across most of Central Europe — Austria and Slovenia are all at their best, with long daylight hours and alpine passes fully open. Late summer to early autumn (August–September) suits places like Norway and Denmark — cooler temperatures, plenty of daylight, and far fewer tourists than peak season. Winter is generally off-season for most European cycling destinations. The exception is warmer regions like the Canary Islands and southern Spain — all rideable year-round. Still a hard choice? See our tour choosing guide that will answer any questions or doubts you still might have.

How do bike types compare one to another?

We offer four types of cycling holidays, each suited to a different kind of rider — and it's worth noting that most of our tours are compatible with more than one bike type , so you're rarely locked into a single option. Road cycling — best for avid cyclists with the endurance to handle multiple long days in a row. Expect high daily distances, paved roads, and a pace that rewards fitness. Gravel cycling — suitable for anyone comfortable spending multiple days in the saddle with some moderate climbing. Terrain is mostly tarmac and gravel, stages are manageable, and the pace is flexible. Our most popular format . E-bike holidays — ideal for those who want to cover the same scenic routes with less physical strain. Electric assistance makes longer distances and hillier terrain accessible to a much wider range of riders. Mountain biking — suited to riders comfortable on technical terrain. Our MTB holidays tackle rougher trails, steeper descents, and more demanding surfaces . Adjustable to your skill level, but not recommended for complete beginners.

How does luggage transfer work?

On cycling trips, luggage transfer allows you to ride without carrying heavy bags . Each morning, you leave your luggage at the designated spot — often the hotel reception — and it's transported to your next overnight stop. Your bags are usually waiting for you when you arrive. Weight limits and pickup times can vary slightly depending on the service provider.

Why is the accommodation not always specified?

We are always looking for the perfect fit for you . We work with several accommodation providers that meet our standards , but availability varies — especially during high season . We can also adjust the holiday keeping in mind your preferences and budget , and can always find a more suitable solution for your taste.

Can I extend my trip?

Yes — you can add extra nights before, during, or after your tour . We'll take care of the additional accommodation bookings and can suggest what to do with the extra time — whether that's exploring a city at either end of the route or taking a rest day somewhere along the way. Just schedule a meeting with our agents and we'll build it into your itinerary .

How much in advance should I book?

We recommend booking as early as possible . Most of our tours run through very popular destinations where accommodation is limited. The best hotels start getting booked for summer before spring arrives — so the earlier you reach out, the better your options.

What if the weather forecast is bad?

Most tours can be done even in light rain , as long as you dress accordingly. It is not unusual in summer for afternoon thunderstorms to appear, so early starts are advisable . If the weather looks really bad, we will try to adjust the tour or skip a stage with a shuttle .

I have food restrictions

It depends on the level of your restriction. Vegetarian options are fairly easy to find across Europe, but vegan dishes can be extremely hard to come by in rural areas and smaller towns. Please note that the places where we stop for lunch are often traditional and may have difficulties accommodating you outside of their standard menu. We suggest you reach out to our team before booking if you have specific requirements.

Can I bring my own bike?

Yes — in most cases you can bring your own bike. That said, we always recommend checking with your booking agent before you do . Not every bike is suited to every route — surface types, gradient profiles, and daily distances vary significantly between tours. Get in touch before you book and we'll let you know whether your specific bike is a good fit for the tour you have in mind.

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Vänerleden Bike Tour

7 days / 6 nights

Sweden

Ride the eastern shore of Vänern, the largest lake in the European Union, from Karlstad to Vänersborg on lakeside lanes and quiet forest roads.

Starting Point

Karlstad

Finish Point

Vänersborg

Activity Level

2/5

Season

From May to September

Bike Type

E-Bike

Accommodation Level

Comfort

Daily Distance

31 – 40 mi

Daily Elevation

886 ft

Ride the eastern shore of Vänern, the largest lake in the European Union, from Karlstad to Vänersborg on lakeside lanes and quiet forest roads.

Starting Point

Karlstad

Finish Point

Vänersborg

Activity Level

2/5

Season

From May to September

Bike Type

E-Bike

Accommodation Level

Comfort

Daily Distance

31 – 40 mi

Daily Elevation

886 ft

Highlights

Pass the 15-metre Picasso sculpture at the harbour mouth of Kristinehamn
Ride into Sjötorp, where the Göta Canal drops into the lake through its locks
Round the foot of Kinnekulle, the flat-topped hill Linnaeus called the flowering mountain
Sleep in Lidköping, home of Rörstrand porcelain since 1726
Pass beneath the table mountains of Halleberg and Hunneberg on the last stage
Finish in Vänersborg, where the lake empties into the Göta älv

Itinerary of the trip

Karlstad sits where the Klarälven river fans into a delta on the northern shore of Vänern, two and a half hours by train from Stockholm and a little more from Gothenburg. It is a river town of bridges and long summer evenings; the claim to be Sweden's sunniest city is contested, but the locals make it anyway. Bikes are fitted at the hotel.

Accommodation

Hotel in Karlstad

The first stage runs east on small roads and cycle paths, first along the lakeshore past Alster, then through the farm country around Ölme, with the lake reappearing at the end. Kristinehamn announces itself from a distance: a 15-metre Picasso standing at the harbour mouth, the world's largest Picasso sculpture, placed there in 1965.

The town behind it is a compact grid of wooden houses and lakeside walks, with dinner on the quay in summer.

Accommodation

Hotel in Kristinehamn

Cycling

45 km (28 mi) and 330 m (1,080 ft) of elevation gain

The route leaves the towns behind and heads south down the eastern shore through Silletorp and Valunda, on small roads through forest with the lake appearing between the trees. Services are thin all day, so pack lunch in Kristinehamn. Otterbäcken, the day's end, is a small harbour village on a bay of Vänern, once the shipping port for the timber and iron of the province, with a swim off the jetty and the evening by the water.

Accommodation

Hotel in Otterbäcken

Cycling

51 km (32 mi) and 250 m (820 ft) of elevation gain

A short stage with a long stop in the middle. Twelve kilometres down the shore brings you to Sjötorp, the small port where the Göta Canal enters the lake through a staircase of locks, with a canal museum, a harbour restaurant and boats tied up under the trees: the place for a long lunch.

Then on through Hasslerör to Mariestad, a lakeside town with a 17th-century cathedral, a wooden old quarter and a harbour looking out to the islands of the Vänern archipelago. Arrive early and spend the afternoon on the water, or in it: the town beaches are a short ride away.

Accommodation

Hotel in Mariestad

Cycling

34 km (21 mi) and 150 m (490 ft) of elevation gain

The hill day. Kinnekulle rises 300 metres out of the flat lakeside like a table, wooded on top, with orchards, old churches and quarry lakes on its slopes, and the route goes round it on the lake side: through Hallen and Björstorp to Hällekis, the old cement village on the shore, then climbing gently along the western flank of Sweden's first UNESCO Global Geopark to the medieval church at Västerplana, with the lake below you all afternoon. Down through Källby to Lidköping, a porcelain town on the water with a market square built round its old courthouse.

Accommodation

Hotel in Lidköping

Cycling

58 km (36 mi) and 390 m (1,280 ft) of elevation gain

The last stage is the longest, and it runs inland. South-west of Lidköping the lake drops out of sight and the road crosses the open farmland of Västergötland, flat, straight and almost empty, through Västeby and Kleven to the Göta älv, the river that carries Vänern's water to the sea at Gothenburg.

At Vargön the twin table mountains of Halleberg and Hunneberg stand over the road, royal hunting grounds where elk are the attraction, and a final few kilometres along the river bring you into Vänersborg, the town at the lake's outlet, which closes the week.

Accommodation

Hotel in Vänersborg

Cycling

64 km (40 mi) and 220 m (720 ft) of elevation gain

Bikes are collected after breakfast. Gothenburg is an hour by train, its airport a little more, and Stockholm about three hours; the lakeside path by the station makes a last stretch of the legs before you go.

Vänerleden Bike Tour

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What’s included in the price?

Accommodation levelComfort

Carefully selected 3- and 4-star hotels, guesthouses, and B&Bs, all with private en-suite rooms and breakfast included. Expect comfortable, well-appointed rooms with attentive hospitality, typically in convenient and scenic locations — some properties also offer on-site dining.

Vänern is big enough to have weather of its own, an archipelago of more than twenty thousand islands, and a horizon with no far shore. It is the largest lake in the European Union, and the Vänerleden, a marked cycle route opened in 2021, goes all the way round it.

We ride the eastern shore, from Karlstad in the north to Vänersborg at the lake's outlet in the south, five stages and 252 km.

It is the quietest of our Swedish routes, and the one fewest foreign cyclists have found. The riding runs on lakeside lanes, cycle paths and short stretches of gravel, mostly flat, with one hill that matters: Kinnekulle, the wooded table mountain the route rounds on its lake side.

The rest of the interest is at the water's edge. A Picasso sculpture at Kristinehamn. The Göta Canal spilling into the lake through the locks at Sjötorp. Mariestad's cathedral and harbour. Lidköping's porcelain works. The table mountains of Halleberg and Hunneberg standing over the last stage.

Stages run from 34 to 64 km, and services are thin on the second one, so the guidebook marks the shops; an e-bike suits anyone who would rather not think about the distance.

As on all our Swedish routes, the hotels are booked, the bike is included, the luggage travels ahead and the route is on your phone.

Vänerleden also pairs naturally with the Göta Canal tour, which starts an hour's ride from Sjötorp, for two weeks of riding in one Swedish summer.

Our Bikes

To ensure the best possible experience on your cycling adventure, we offer top-quality bikes for rent. Our fleet features the latest models, meticulously maintained for both performance and comfort.

To match each rider with the right equipment, our team will also assist you in selecting the most suitable bike based on your physical profile, personal preferences, and the technical requirements of the tour.

Each bike rental includes:

Delivery of the bike to your first overnight stay and pickup at the end of the tour
Helmet (properly sized, road-certified)
Handlebar phone mount for navigation and route notes
Basic tool kit for small adjustments on the road

Disclaimer: Please note that while we strive to provide the exact models shown, bike availability may vary. In such cases, we'll always ensure you get a comparable bike of the same type and quality.

E-Bike

Touring E-Bikes

Best for: Comfortable trekking, touring, longer distances, and hilly routes

Top Places You’ll See

From natural wonders to authentic local culture, the route is packed with memorable sights—these are our absolute favorites.

Picasso Sculpture, Kristinehamn

At the mouth of Kristinehamn's harbour stands a 15-metre concrete head, the largest Picasso sculpture in the world, raised in 1965 from a small drawing of his wife Jacqueline. Picasso never came to see it; the Norwegian artist Carl Nesjar built it to his instructions on the lakeshore at Strandudden. It is visible from far out on the water and from the cycle path along the bay.

Sjötorp

Sjötorp is where the Göta Canal meets Vänern. Built in the 1810s and 1820s as the canal's western harbour, it has a flight of locks climbing from the lake, a canal museum in the old workshops, a marina full of sailing boats and a shipyard that still repairs wooden vessels. In summer the passenger boats that cross the whole country tie up here, and the village is at its liveliest.

Kinnekulle

Kinnekulle rises 306 metres above Vänern's flat eastern shore, a table mountain layered like a cake from sandstone up to diabase, which is why Linnaeus called it the flowering mountain when he came in 1746. Orchards, meadows, quarry lakes and a dozen medieval churches cover its slopes, among them Västerplana on the lake side, which the route passes. Since 2022 the hill has been part of Sweden's first UNESCO Global Geopark.

Mariestad

Mariestad was founded in 1583 by Duke Charles, later King Charles IX, who named it after his wife Maria, and its church was built as a cathedral for the new town, with a spire that dominates the lakeshore. The old town of low wooden houses runs down to a harbour on the Vänern archipelago, and a bridge leads to Torsö, the lake's largest island.

Lidköping

Lidköping stands where the Lidan river enters Vänern: an old town east of the river and a new town laid out in the 1670s around a huge square, with the old courthouse in the middle. Rörstrand, Europe's second-oldest porcelain works, founded in 1726, keeps its museum and factory shop in the town.

Famous Halleberg mountain in sweden in morning light - Halleberg, Vargoen, Vaenersborg, Sweden, Europa, Europe

Halleberg and Hunneberg

Two flat-topped mountains rise above the Göta älv where it leaves Vänern, their cliffs of dark diabase some 150 metres above the plain. Royal hunting grounds since 1885, they still host the king's elk hunt every autumn, and the plateaus are a maze of forest, lakes and marsh with an elk museum at the foot.

Frequently Asked Questions

The best time for cycling in Europe depends on where you're headed. Here's a quick breakdown by season:

Spring (April–May) is ideal for Southern Europe — moderate temperatures, quiet roads, and the countryside in full bloom. Great for Portugal or Italy
Early summer (June) is the sweet spot across most of Central Europe — Austria and Slovenia are all at their best, with long daylight hours and alpine passes fully open.
Late summer to early autumn (August–September) suits places like Norway and Denmark — cooler temperatures, plenty of daylight, and far fewer tourists than peak season.
Winter is generally off-season for most European cycling destinations. The exception is warmer regions like the Canary Islands and southern Spain — all rideable year-round.

Still a hard choice? See our tour choosing guide that will answer any questions or doubts you still might have.

Our tours can be adapted to any bike type — whether road, gravel, or mountain bike. We are in constant communication with you to find the optimal conditions for your cycling holidays in Europe.

The most versatile option is a gravel bike, even if you are coming on a road cycling holiday. It does not really affect your road performance while allowing you to take some scenic backroads that can be in a slightly worse state than the main ones. A gravel bike is usually more comfortable as well.

Europe is a very diverse continent and there is something for every cyclist. Whichever bike you choose, we will find the perfect route for you.

We offer four types of cycling holidays, each suited to a different kind of rider — and it's worth noting that most of our tours are compatible with more than one bike type, so you're rarely locked into a single option.

Road cycling — best for avid cyclists with the endurance to handle multiple long days in a row. Expect high daily distances, paved roads, and a pace that rewards fitness.
Gravel cycling — suitable for anyone comfortable spending multiple days in the saddle with some moderate climbing. Terrain is mostly tarmac and gravel, stages are manageable, and the pace is flexible. Our most popular format.
E-bike holidays — ideal for those who want to cover the same scenic routes with less physical strain. Electric assistance makes longer distances and hillier terrain accessible to a much wider range of riders.
Mountain biking — suited to riders comfortable on technical terrain. Our MTB holidays tackle rougher trails, steeper descents, and more demanding surfaces. Adjustable to your skill level, but not recommended for complete beginners.

Absolutely — and in fact, most of our tours are designed with solo travellers in mind.

Our self-guided tours mean you cycle at your own pace, on your own schedule, without being tied to a group. You're independent on the road, but fully supported behind the scenes — we handle your accommodation, luggage transfers, and route planning, and our team is reachable throughout your trip.

If you're travelling alone, just let us know when booking. We'll advise you on the single supplement and flag which tours are most popular with solo travellers.

If you want to, sure! We are well aware that some people love to stay in groups while others prefer some more alone time on their trip. We wanted to give you the opportunity to do things your way — it is your holiday, after all!

As long as you respect the group timings and locations designated by your guide, please feel free to customise your itinerary by scheduling a free meeting with our specialists and we will see what we can do at the chosen destination!

On a self-guided cycling tour, you're in charge of your own pace and schedule — no group to keep up with, no fixed departure times, no guide leading the way.

Before your trip, we take care of everything behind the scenes. We plan your route, book all your accommodation, arrange daily luggage transfers, and load your GPS with turn-by-turn navigation. You receive a detailed digital guidebook covering each stage, what to expect on the road, and recommendations along the way.

On the day, you simply check out, drop your bags at reception, and ride. Your luggage arrives at the next hotel before you do.

Throughout the trip, our team is reachable if anything comes up — a question, a change of plan, or something unexpected. You're independent, but never on your own.

If you'd like to know more about how it all fits together, visit our self-guided tours manual.

On our guided tours, you will have professional local guides. Our guides will make sure that you will have expert guidance combined with great fun and a memorable experience.

Some of our Slovenian tours are also also available as group guided tours.

Every day starts with breakfast at your hotel. From there, the day is yours.

Your luggage is collected from reception and transported to your next hotel — so you set off with just a daypack. Your GPS route and daily notes are ready in the app.

Most stages take between 4–7 hours of cycling depending on the tour, with plenty of stops along the way.

You decide the pace, when to take breaks, and whether to linger somewhere that catches your eye.

By the time you arrive at your next hotel, your bags are already waiting. The evening is entirely free.

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Lan Cycling Tours Expert

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Ratings & Reviews

+176

Jek Cooper

Verified customer · 5 months ago

We loved our cycling trip! Cycling Holland were very helpful and responsive. We chose regular bikes and cycled over 5 days from Amsterdam to Bruges. The bikes were excellent - good quality and no issues at all. Our luggage arrived before us each day. The bike paths in The Netherlands are exceptional, we felt safe at all times, even when cycling in/out of big cities. If deciding between regular bikes or e-bikes, consider the wind in The Netherlands. We were on regular bikes and on a couple of days the wind slowed our pace down to around 10km/hr. It was a super fun adventure, we’ll definitely be back for another one!

People walking on a brick street lined with historic brick buildings and tall trees in a European town.

Person cycling on a paved path lined with bare trees in early spring.

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Person walking on a path through a rural landscape with green fields, trees, and traditional houses.

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Mystie Pineda

Verified customer · 10 months ago

I found this place with a simple Google search, and I never could’ve expected the custom experience I received. They provided options to help my husband and I hone in on exactly what we wanted to do for our honeymoon. We had perfectly curated GPS-lead rides all across the country, they booked all of our hotels, and planned all of our transportation. Every place that we went was so beautiful. I’m so grateful that we found this company to help us plan our honeymoon, couldn’t have asked for a better experience!

Mountain bikes parked near blue and white crosswalk in European alpine village street

Wet, narrow street in a European town leading to a church spire, backed by a forested mountain.

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River flowing through a European town with historic buildings and forested mountains in the background.

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Bill Wright

Verified customer · 11 months ago

I was able to tailor a bike tour itinerary along the Adriatic coast that suited our group during the shoulder season. We added individual pre and post-trip activities which went smoothly. Our trip included stops in Italy, Slovenia and Croatia. The trip planner, guide and support team were great.

Group posing in front of Pula Arena with a stone wall and parked car.

barney barnhart

Verified customer · 11 months ago

Brilliant planning, great communication, terrific hotels and accommodations, interesting cities and beautiful scenery plus amazing routes.

Black and white cat with green eyes looking up from light gray tiled floor

Maroon gravel bike resting against a low stone wall in grassy terrain

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Gravel bike with rear rack and phone mount resting against a dry-stacked stone wall outdoors.

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Alison Booth

Verified customer

I would highly recommend anyone doing this tour take the e-bike option. There were only 3 of us on our tour who completed this on regular bikes. Four others who started out on regular bikes swapped over to e-bikes after the first day. The climbs are long and steep. There is pretty much only up or down, not much flat or undulating road. It is doable, but very challenging. If you are on an e-bike then this also helps with the group staying together and no-one having to wait too long for others to catch up. The bikes were really good and had great gearing that was capable of handling the steeper climbs. When we booked we were unaware that we would be riding in a group of 20plus at all time. Thankfully our group had prior group riding experience but we did observe other large groups with less than desirable riding behaviours.Others in our group were extremely understanding and supportive. Our guide, David, was very adamant about staying safe on the road. He was flexible with the itinerary and made changes to suit the weather conditions and to ensure we got in as much riding as possible. He was vey knowledgeable about Croatian history and agriculture and taught us lots about the country he is so passionate about. Our captain, Tolma, was also amazing and along with his awesome crew, made our cruise an enjoyable experience.

View from sailboat bow approaching coastal town with white buildings and green hills under blue sky.

Sailboat on the water during a vibrant orange and yellow sunset over the sea.

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Large sailboat named Toma loading bicycles from a dinghy near a forested coastline.

John Woeste

Verified customer

Highly recommend the bike trip from Bled to Pula. It was well planned. We did a small group self-supported. Big fun. Bikes, hotels, route selection and communication with the company was great.

Cyclist riding on dirt path under green leafy archway toward open field

Cyclist with panniers riding up a narrow cobblestone street in a historic town.

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Toasting with white and red wine glasses outdoors with greenery in the background

Jek Cooper

Verified customer · 5 months ago

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Bill Wright

Verified customer · 11 months ago

Alison Booth

Verified customer

Show all 3 photos

Mystie Pineda

Verified customer · 10 months ago

Show all 19 photos

barney barnhart

Verified customer · 11 months ago

Brilliant planning, great communication, terrific hotels and accommodations, interesting cities and beautiful scenery plus amazing routes.

Show all 11 photos

John Woeste

Verified customer

Highly recommend the bike trip from Bled to Pula. It was well planned. We did a small group self-supported. Big fun. Bikes, hotels, route selection and communication with the company was great.

Show all 3 photos

Vänerleden Bike Tour

Highlights

Itinerary of the trip

Day 1: Arrival in Karlstad

Day 2: Karlstad – Kristinehamn

Day 3: Kristinehamn – Otterbäcken

Day 4: Otterbäcken – Mariestad

Day 5: Mariestad – Lidköping

Day 6: Lidköping – Vänersborg

Day 7: Departure from Vänersborg

Loved the Itinerary?

Loved the Itinerary?

What’s included in the price?

Our Bikes

Touring E-Bikes

Top Places You’ll See

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best season for cycling in Europe?

What kind of bicycle is the best for your tours?

How do bike types compare one to another?

Can I do the tour on my own?

Will I have some time to myself?

What are self-guided cycling tours and how do they work?

How do guided tours work?

What does a typical day look like?

Ratings & Reviews

Jek Cooper

Mystie Pineda

Bill Wright

barney barnhart

Alison Booth

John Woeste

Jek Cooper

Bill Wright

Alison Booth

Mystie Pineda

barney barnhart

John Woeste

Similar Products

Hassle-Free

Tried & Tested Adventures

Unbeatable Support

Book with Confidence

Local Experts

Our Bikes

Touring E-Bikes

Ratings & Reviews

Jek Cooper

Mystie Pineda

Bill Wright

barney barnhart

Alison Booth

John Woeste

Jek Cooper

Bill Wright

Alison Booth

Mystie Pineda

barney barnhart

John Woeste

Similar Products

Itinerary of the trip

Day 1: Arrival in Karlstad

Day 2: Karlstad – Kristinehamn

Day 3: Kristinehamn – Otterbäcken

Day 4: Otterbäcken – Mariestad

Day 5: Mariestad – Lidköping

Day 6: Lidköping – Vänersborg

Day 7: Departure from Vänersborg

Loved the Itinerary?

Loved the Itinerary?

Top Places You’ll See