Our cycling holiday insider tips
Less well-known, just as beautiful – cycling holidays off the beaten track
The Danube, the Moselle, Lake Constance – anyone who cycles a lot knows the great classics. And loves them. But sooner or later the question arises: what comes next?
Our cycling holiday insider tips are tours through lesser-known regions – often not far from the famous cycle routes, but with a completely different atmosphere. The Lahn Cycle Path instead of the Moselle. The Rhine Gorge in Switzerland instead of the Middle Rhine. Funen instead of Rügen. Istria instead of the well-trodden Croatian classics. Those who turn off the main route are always rewarded.
On this page you will find over 20 cycling holiday insider tips in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Scandinavia and Southern Europe – with daily stages of between 35 and 55 kilometres, luggage transfer and hotels included.
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What makes an insider tip
An insider tip isn't a lesser tour – it's a different one. Fewer fellow cyclists on the route, fewer tourist crowds in the towns, more of the feeling that you've genuinely discovered something. Those who cycle the Lahn Cycle Path will barely encounter other touring cyclists along the way – even though the route from Marburg to Koblenz is every bit as scenic as the great river cycle paths.
That's the principle behind our insider tips: not fame, but experience. Regions that haven't yet been taken over by travel guides, places that still have their own character, routes that feel as though you found them yourself.
Insider tips in Germany – from the Lahn to the Baltic Sea
Germany has more to offer than the Danube, the Elbe and the Moselle. The [Lahn Cycle Path] takes seven days through half-timbered villages between the Taunus and Westerwald hills – ending with a boat trip on the Rhine. The [Wine Tour along the Moselle] stays on wine estates instead of chain hotels, making the enjoyment of wine the thread running through the entire trip.
Those looking for something greener and quieter will find a centre-based tour through the Murg, Enz and Nagold valleys on the [Cycling vacation in the Northern Black Forest] – with numerous train rides included. And the [Cycle tour through the hinterland of the Baltic Sea] leads from Lübeck via Schwerin back to Lübeck – taking in Schwerin Castle, the island town of Ratzeburg and a boat trip on Lake Schwerin.
Insider tips in Europe – from the Jura to the Adriatic
Switzerland is more than the Rhine Falls and Lake Lucerne. The [Alpine Rhine Cycle Tour] leads from Constance into the Graubünden Rhine Gorge – including a train journey through one of Europe's most spectacular gorges. The [Cycling tour through Eastern Switzerland] to St. Moritz takes in the Albula Railway and Vereina Tunnel – train journeys that are an experience in themselves.
Those heading to Scandinavia but already familiar with the Baltic coast will find Denmark's garden island and the islands of the Danish South Sea on the [Cycling vacation on Funen] – peaceful, flat and full of character. And in the south, a [Cycling Holiday in Istria] is well worth considering as an alternative to the main Croatian route: ancient harbour towns, olive groves and far fewer fellow travellers.
Who are cycling holiday insider tips right for?
For anyone who isn't cycling for the first time. Those who have already ridden the Danube, the Moselle or the Baltic coast and know the feeling of truly knowing a route – they're ready for an insider tip. But first-time bookers who deliberately want to start away from the main routes will also find what they're looking for here.
The tours on this page are aimed at travellers who put discovery above convenience – who would rather stay in a charming wine village than a well-known tourist town, and who prefer an empty route to a well-signposted, well-trodden one. Luggage transfer, hotels and route notes are included as standard – the only difference is that you'll come back with a story not everyone has heard yet.
Frequently asked questions about our cycling holiday insider tips
Are insider tip tours more difficult than standard cycling holidays?
No. The difficulty level depends on the individual tour, not on whether it's an insider tip. On this page you'll find tours with a stage length rating of 1–2 alongside more demanding routes rated 4–5. The stage length and topography ratings on each tour will help you find the right fit.
Are the routes well signposted, even if they're less well known?
Yes. All our tours – classics and insider tips alike – come with detailed route notes including maps, stage descriptions and sightseeing tips. Good on-the-ground signposting is also one of our criteria when putting tours together.
Are new insider tips added regularly?
Yes – we regularly expand our range with new routes and regions. Anyone who doesn't want to miss a new addition can subscribe to our newsletter or check back on this page.
