Planning a European Cycling Holiday? Here are 10 Sublime Routes to Try

European cycling holidays are perfect when you want to enjoy a more sustainable vacation, build wellness into your trip and take in a wonderful variety of landscapes and cultures. Europe has so much diversity to offer, so you can choose between routes that provide scenery, gastronomy, history or the whole lot – with flat or mountainous terrains to suit your strengths. Discover 10 of the best European cycling routes for your holiday.

Croatia is known for its enchanting landscapes, with rugged mountains lining the glistening Adriatic. While such scenery inevitably comes with a few hill climbs, the reward is a memorable cycling holiday in Croatia filled with sun, scenery and plenty of history. A good option is to ride a section of the EuroVelo 8 cycling route, which crosses much of Europe, including most of the Croatian coastline. Ride into Dubrovnik's old town to soak up medieval history, and check out the Diocletian's Palace World Heritage Site in Split. The route also takes in the Istrian peninsula, with its rural villages and rolling hills lined with olive trees. How good does a farmhouse restaurant sound after a day on the road?

Trying to single out just one cycling itinerary covering French vineyards is like trying to choose a dish from an exceptional restaurant menu – but being spoiled for choice is a nice problem to have. For a longer ride, consider the Loire à Vélo route, which covers the Loire Valley from the Massif Central highlands to the Atlantic. The route is part of EuroVelo 6, and the section between Sancerre and Nantes is filled with vineyards. Good signposting and plenty of traffic-free sections make this journey ideal for slow travel.

For a shorter route, try the Voie des Vignes from Beaune to Dijon, which is under 50 km. When you want a break from the road, there are plenty of excellent things to do in Dijon before you get back out into the countryside. Spend your night in Dijon at Grand Hotel La Cloche Dijon-MGallery, where Spa by La Cloche is the perfect place to soothe aching muscles.

Majestic mountains like the Pyrenees naturally provide challenging terrains for cyclists, but the incredible scenery of a Pyrenees cycling holiday makes all the effort worthwhile. Traverse mountain passes like Col d'Aubisque and Col du Tourmalet, which are iconic locations of the Tour de France. Cycling between those two points in southern France could be achieved in a day. To challenge yourself to take on even more of the Pyrenees, consider the Cent Cols Challenge. The aim is to climb 100 mountain passes ("cols") in 10 days, and the challenge is meant only for very experienced cyclists.

If 100 mountain passes in 10 days is not quite your idea of a European cycling holiday, perhaps the flatlands of the Netherlands sounds more appealing. The Netherlands has plenty of cycle paths and bike-friendly accommodations, and cycling culture is built into the national mindset, meaning safety and ease of travel are assured. Rewarding routes for cyclists of any level can be found in North Brabant province. The Van Gogh-Roosegaarde Cycle Path between Nuenen and Eindhoven takes in important locations from the painter's life, with scenery straight from one of his works. For a longer and more challenging route, consider taking a week to ride from Amsterdam to the charming Belgian city of Bruges.

Discover 800 km of countryside and cuisine along Slovenia's Green Gourmet Route. Begin in the capital, Ljubljana, and make your way through the medieval towns of Škofja Loka and Radovljica, now centres of gourmet culture. Radovljica is the beekeeping capital of the country, so honey is a must-try. The adjacent town of Lesce is famous for chocolate-making. In Škofja Loka, the irresistible scent of hearty traditional dishes made with local ingredients beckons as you ride into town.

Steer off the beaten track with a Latvian adventure as part of the Baltic Sea Cycle Route. Start in the small coastal town of Ainaži near the Estonian border, and make your way as far as Liepaja in the southwest, some 300 km away, if you have a few days. You'll pass white-sand beaches, sometimes flat and smooth enough to ride right on the sand, as well as charming villages and harbour towns. For a shorter route, ride from Ainaži to Riga, the capital. This section winds through serene Latvian countryside, though the coast is never too far away. When you arrive in Riga, why not unwind in the sauna and pool with a night's stay at Pullman Riga Old Town?

The Pilgrim’s Cycle Trail runs for around 80 km from Rochester to Canterbury in Kent, a ceremonial county known as the "Garden of England" and a wonderful location for cycling holidays in the UK. Rochester Castle and Rochester Cathedral, both around 1,000 years old, begin the tour of historical sites, which also includes historical villages and pubs along the way. Travel through farmland, the fresh, floral scent of the countryside accompanying you as you ride. Don't miss the views of the Kent North Downs.

Near Hollingbourne, take a slight detour to explore the sumptuous interior of Leeds Castle, which was once home to Catherine of Aragon. The final reward is a visit to Canterbury Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the destination for pilgrims since the Middle Ages. You could even plan a bike excursion on the Pilgrim's Trail as a day trip from London, as bicycles can be carried on most UK trains, and the journey is under 90 minutes.

Towering peaks and verdant valleys welcome cyclists to the Dolomites, and this mountain range in northern Italy offers some of the most breathtaking cycling routes to explore in Europe. One route with endless appeal is the Sella Ronda, which takes in four much-loved mountain passes: Passo Gardena, Passo Campolongo, Passo Sella and Passo Pordoi. The staggeringly beautiful route can be enjoyed both clockwise and anticlockwise, and it extends for just over 50 km. With an altitude climb of around 1,900 m, a good level of fitness is required, but the route is not only used by high-level cyclists. This incredible scenery is for everyone, and many of the best European cycling holidays take place in the mountains.

In southern Europe, spring and autumn are the best times of the year to embark on a European cycling holiday for optimal weather conditions. Northern Europe offers pleasant conditions during these seasons too, and summer can certainly be cool enough to ride while using sunscreen and other precautions. If you're looking for winter cycling in ideal temperatures, Mallorca is a fantastic option. Daily highs of around 15°C might be too cool for sunbathing but are perfect for cycling. Well-maintained roads wind up mountains, with the sea as the backdrop. The Sa Calobra route begins with a descent and then a climb of around 10 km, with views as the reward. For a much flatter ride that takes in coastline and inland villages, spend a day cycling from Port de Pollença or Alcudia to Petra.

Spend your family cycling holiday touring any of the three countries that border Lake Constance: Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Lake Constance is surrounded by flat, well-signposted cycle paths, and there are plenty of locations offering bicycle hire. Discover swimming areas, medieval castles like Burg Meersburg and charming towns along the way. The Alps provide the backdrop.

To expand your trip, explore the Danube-Lake Constance Cycle Path that connects the lake with the river and crosses Upper Swabia, which is loved for its baroque architecture. This section will also bring more hilly terrain than circling Lake Constance, if challenging rides are what you're looking for.

Burg Meersburg (Meersburg Castle)

• Schloßpl. 10, 88709 Meersburg
• Open daily from 10am–6:30pm (10am–6pm from November until March)
• Tickets cost €12.80 for adults, with discounts for children, groups, and families, as well as students, people with disabilities and military members

Ready to embark on your scenic, low-impact and life-affirming cycling trip?