The Top 10 Ways to See Paris by Bike

Often gently chaotic in terms of traffic, Paris has recently morphed into a bike-friendly city. Cycle paths and car-free neighbourhoods have been introduced, and several scenic cycling routes now link sights along the River Seine as well as towns and villages in leafy suburbs. Bikers – whether novice or experienced – now have their own urban playground. Today, you can cycle peacefully along Canal Saint-Martin, explore historic neighbourhoods like Belleville at your own pace, or discover the city’s numerous parks and gardens while you get closer to nature. Exploring Paris by bike is both a sustainable way to see the city and an economical way of getting around. So hop on your cycle and set off – safely – on 10 of the best rides in the Paris area!

Suitable for all skill levels, here are five inspiring cycle rides that will help you get to know the City of Light.

A classic way to see some of the most iconic Paris sights by bike, this route (mostly) follows the banks of the Seine and its historic bridges. Start at Place de l’Alma, from where you have cracking views of the Eiffel Tower, before riding up Avenue George V to the Champs-Élysées. Follow the designated cycle path along this elegant avenue for a few hundred metres before heading back down towards the river, passing the Grand Palais and Petit Palais on the way. From there, either take a detour on to Place de la Concorde and the Jardin des Tuileries, or cross Pont Alexandre III to the Parc Rives de Seine riverside promenade. Follow the quays east, passing the Pont des Arts – the first iron bridge in Paris – and take the historic Pont-Neuf to Notre-Dame Cathedral on the Île de la Cité. Your expedition ends in front of the monumental Hôtel de Ville across the Pont d’Arcole.

• Route (one way) 6.5 km
• Easy cycling suitable for the whole family

With much of the route on designated cycle lanes, the Boulevards des Maréchaux circuit follows a series of notable avenues like Boulevard Masséna, all built under the reign of Napoleon I and encircling central Paris. Take a full day for this excursion so you can really soak up the ambience of the neighbourhoods you pedal through, and make enough time to stop off at landmarks like the Philharmonie de Paris and the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie in Parc de la Villette. If you’re cycling this loop on Saturday, Sunday or Monday, you can have a rummage at the Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen too.

• Full loop 33 km
• Intermediate, not recommended for young children

This day-long bike ride takes you on a journey through the heart of Paris to famous historic sites, winding its way through several arrondissements as you discover more treasured icons of the City of Light.
 

Notre-Dame is one of the greatest Parisian landmarks, so why not meet on the Île de la Cité and set off from the square outside the cathedral? First stop should be a short hop to admire the stained-glass windows of Sainte-Chapelle; after that, cross to the Right Bank to explore the charming Marais, quickly followed by the Louvre, the Musée de l’Orangerie, Opéra Garnier and Place de la Concorde. Then it’s back over Pont d’Iéna to the Left Bank and fantastic views of the Eiffel Tower, before cycling through the Champ-de-Mars gardens to Les Invalides, skirting Montparnasse Cemetery (Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir are buried there if you have time to visit their graves) before winding up your bike ride with a visit to the grisly Paris Catacombs.

• 18 km one-way route
• Easy, suitable for the whole family

It’s time to explore the coolest districts of the 20th arrondissement in eastern Paris, where a boho, offbeat vibe reigns supreme. Foremost among those neighbourhoods is buzzing, cosmopolitan Belleville, traditionally a working-class area and now fast-gentrifying. Together with its neighbour Ménilmontant, it is at the very epicentre of Paris’s cultural and creative scene, so lose yourself amid the rather raffish charm of the winding streets before taking a break under the trees in the much-graffitied Place Maurice Chevalier.
 

There’s more street art lining the climb up to Belleville Park, your final destination. When you get there, catch your breath on a gentle stroll to the hilltop Belvédère de Belleville, where you’ll have stunning views of the Eiffel Tower and Montparnasse.

• Duration and mileage are up to you
• Easy, suitable for the whole family, with the option to get off and push if the hill to Belleville Park gets too much

To discover a charming district of Paris by bike, head for Canal Saint-Martin and a gentle ride through the heart of Paris. Set off from the delightful little marina at Port de l’Arsenal and cycle north to Place de la Bastille, where the canal disappears underground. Follow Boulevard Richard Lenoir until the path takes you through the Place de la République and on to Quai de Jemmapes, where the waterway re-emerges at ground level.
 

There’s lots to see along the way. If you’re there in the morning, stop off to browse the markets at Bastille (Thursdays and Sundays) or Popincourt (Tuesdays and Fridays). Admire the canal’s tree-lined walkways, cast-iron bridges and narrowboats as you continue on to handsome Place de la Bataille de Stalingrad; with its double lock and fountains, this square makes a great place to stop and refuel in a waterside bar. Pedal along the Bassin de la Villette to the junction with Canal Saint-Denis, and once there, you can tour the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie or simply put your feet up by the canal and watch the world go by.

• 5 km one-way trip
• Easy, suitable for the whole family

Keen to see beyond the city centre? Branch out into the suburbs on five bike rides for all the family.

The Coulée Verte in southern Paris is a green corridor designated for walkers and cyclists, tucked safely away from traffic and offering a quiet escape from the bustle of the city. The route starts at Place de la Catalogne in the 14th arrondissement – very handy if you’re staying at elegant Pullman Paris Montparnasse – and finishes at Massy–Verrières RER station.
 

Along the way, you can make a side trip to the magnificent Parc de Sceaux, where manicured gardens designed by André Le Nôtre (he of Versailles fame) meld into woodland trails. You might also like to stop off at Vallée-aux-Loups in Châtenay-Malabry, a grand estate steeped in history where author François-René de Chateaubriand penned his famous “Memoirs from Beyond the Grave”, published posthumously in the 1850s.

• 13.5 km one-way trip; you can get back to central Paris by train.
• Intermediate; good for older kids

Seeing Paris by bike can be combined with cultural visits too. You can have an unforgettable family adventure amid lush greenery on cycle lanes around the Bois de Boulogne, a peaceful haven of shaded paths leading through cedar, oak and plane trees right in the centre of the city. After checking out the Impressionist works at Musée Marmottan Monet, resume your cycle ride by heading south along the Seine. Cross Pont de Saint-Cloud into the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud, a vast estate with formal gardens and breathtaking views over Paris, and continue along picturesque trails through the Fausses-Reposes State Forest – a former royal hunting ground – to Versailles. You’ll have to park up your bike to tour the Sun King’s extravagant palace, but you can cycle through the sprawling park that surrounds it.

• 18 km one-way trip; you have the option of returning to central Paris by train
• Intermediate; suitable for teens

Giving cyclists a rural outing from north-east Paris to Claye-Souilly in the department of Seine-et-Marne, the Canal de l’Ourcq route follows the towpath for easy pedalling. The track is set away from the road, guaranteeing the whole family a safe and enjoyable ride, and you’ll find water fountains along the way for refreshment stops. Your starting point is in the 19th arrondissement; take the cycle path north from the Bassin de la Villette and you’ll be at the Canal de l’Ourcq in less than 10 minutes. Initially the route heads through urban landscapes and suburban towns like Pantin and Bobigny, before gradually giving way to greenery and the joy of cycling along peaceful canal banks lined with weeping willows.

• 20 km one-way trip; return to Paris by train from Mitry Claye
• Easy and safe for kids

Set off on a scenic bike ride along the River Marne, starting from the banks of the Seine in the 12th arrondissement. This day-long loop starts at Parc de Bercy, from where you head east to Charenton-le-Pont – it’s only about 10 minutes – before swapping the Seine for the meandering Marne; you’ll soon be immersed in the charm of pretty riverside towns such as Saint-Maur-des-Fossés. As you pedal, you’ll pass several rustic guinguettes (open-air cafés) on the waterside, where you can take your time over a leisurely lunch. Once you’ve eaten, follow the well-maintained cycle path to Joinville-le-Pont on the edge of the Bois de Vincennes, from where you can cycle around lakes and through woodland on your return to central Paris.

• Full loop 34 km
• Intermediate, not recommended for young children

If you’ve cycled to Versailles from the Bois de Boulogne, you may well already have come across the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud, but this cultural treasure definitely deserves a closer look. Just a stone’s throw from central Paris and covering 460 hectares, it’s the ideal playground for cyclists on family outings. Another of André Le Nôtre’s sublime 17th-century landscaping projects, the park is packed with elaborate fountains, waterfalls, follies and sculptures, but it also has several playgrounds and themed trails as well as a couple of restaurants and burger trucks. You’ll also come across a network of tree-shaded paths, perfect for an easy saunter on two wheels with the kids.

• Numerous possible routes of varying lengths
• Easy, ideal for younger kids

The following rules are mandatory; if they are broken you will incur a fine:

• You need a high-visibility cycling vest (it should be worn in poor visibility and after dark, but carried at all times).
• Kids under five years old must be in a child seat.
• Children aged under 12 must wear a cycle helmet (although everyone is encouraged to).
• There must be a bell on your bike.
• The front and rear brakes must work.
• You should have a white light and white reflector on the front of your bike, and a red light and reflector on its rear.
• You must have orange reflectors on the front and rear wheels, and on the front and back of each pedal.
• Flashing lights are no longer allowed on bikes. They were banned in late 2024.
• Leave the music at home – devices like earbuds and headphones are banned for safety reasons.
• Always stick to designated bike lanes and cycle paths.

On short bike rides around the capital, you can use the Vélib’ Métropole bike-sharing service, but for longer trips, there are scores of bike-rental companies that hire out safety gear, mountain bikes, e-bikes, tandems, tag-alongs and children’s cycle trailers for family adventures. Rentabike Paris is one of the most reputable names; it offers flexible options so you can hire a bike for anything from a few hours to a week. If you fancy a guided bike tour, Unlimited Biking offers day and night rides through the centre of Paris and to Versailles.
 

Paris by bike means cycling along bustling boulevards to majestic monuments and discovering hidden corners of this beautiful city. Hopefully you’re now feeling inspired to book your Paris stay and start discovering its wonders under pedal power.