Take to the tracks of Bordeaux on two wheels
With over 200 km of bike paths, Bordeaux and its surroundings feature among the most sought after destinations for cycle tourism. From the Hôtel de Ville to the vineyards that put the Bordeaux region on the map, you will discover a variety of landscapes not to mention a variety of great vintages.
Restoring your energy after a full day of pedalling around Bordeaux with your significant other, you take refuge at Mama Shelter, a modern hotel in the heart of the city. You have well and truly earned a pizza in the in-house restaurant, Mama Pizzeria. A perfect spot to recharge your batteries and plan tomorrow’s itinerary.
In Barcelona, learn to say’ bicicleta’ like the locals!
In the capital of Catalonia, getting from A to B en bicicleta is just as commonplace as going out for tapas or visiting the Sagrada Familia cathedral! You fit right in as you grab a bike through bicing, the city’s bicycle sharing system , no doubt the best way to experience Gaudi’s masterpieces. Basking in sunshine, you pedal your way across the famous avenue Las Ramblas, making a beeline for Boqueria market and being the sporty couple you are, you begin the ascent of Montjuïc!
Having made it this far, you deserve to recover in the Novotel Barcelona City Hotel. After dropping off your gear, you cool off in the terrace pool together and get awestruck by the splendid view over Barcelona. Simply ‘perfecto’!
Nantes, land of dukes and bikes
Welcome to Nantes, residence of the Dukes of Brittany between the 13th and 16th centuries! Overlooking the Loire estuary, it is a haven for active people and for those with a soft spot for romantic rides, two abreast. The Mercure Nantes Centre Grand Hotel is an ideal base to set off and explore the city and its surroundings by bike!
In the heart of the city, you bike past the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul of Nantes, before making a detour along the quaint shopping street Passage Pommeraye and then continuing on to see the Château of the Dukes of Brittany. The nature-lover within saunters along the Loire River, lapping in the breath-taking scenery it offers in abundance.
Strasbourg, the French capital of two wheeled-pursuits!
With over 560 km of cycling tracks, this Alsatian hub is the 4th most cycle-friendly city in the world! Being the truly athletic and bike-crazed couple that you are, you have to go for a pedal and check out Strasbourg’s bike-obsessed nature for yourselves. Thanks to the easily accessible tracks, you can effortlessly go from one monument to the next, from the Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg to the Grande Île. No sweat (well, very little anyway)!
You stop off for a foodies’ dream detour, where you have the option of a freshly-baked pretzel or a gugelhupf , fuel to continue your ride to the historic quarter Petite France and Ibis Styles Strasbourg Centre, your hotel in the Alsatian capital. Being so well located, now that you’ve put away the bikes, you can enjoy a little stroll together in one of the city’s most stunning areas.
Next stop; Amsterdam, World Capital of all things cycling
If Elvis fans have Memphis, and Beatles followers have Liverpool, then unconditional fans of the bicycle can claim Amsterdam as their mecca! As the international headquarters of the bike, Amsterdam has almost as many bikes as it does people and has turned its number one means of transportation into a lifestyle unto itself. Cycle lanes, parking spaces… Everything here is designed so that you can get around and make the most of the city as the cycling gods intended.
Striding your faithful pushbike you glide together along the most elevated spots in the Dutch capital: The Port, of course, but also the Canals, the Royal Palace and the Nieuwe Kerk or ‘new church’. Just a few streets from Anne Frank’s house, you will find space to park your bike at the Ibis Amsterdam Centre Hotel. Smack bang in the city centre, it’s a perfect starting point to make the most of all the attractions the city has to offer.
