Family Cycling Holidays

Short stages, big adventures – family cycling holidays across Europe

We know what matters on a family holiday – if the children are happy, the parents usually are too. That means: shorter stages, plenty of time for swimming breaks and playing along the way, and plenty of admission fees to museums, castles or theme parks already included in the price of the holiday. Your luggage is transported from hotel to hotel every day – leaving your hands free and taking the stress out of travelling.

Above all, the combination of cycling and swimming has proved a hit with our young cyclists. At Lake Constance and on the Baltic Sea coast, whole days are set aside for swimming – time for sandcastles, waves and a scoop of ice cream. For those who fancy venturing a little further afield: our family holidays also take you to the Croatian coast, the Loire, Portugal and northern Spain. In addition to our hire bikes, we also rent out child seats, bike trailers, tag-along bikes and bikes for teenagers.

Six people swimming in clear blue water near the MS Mirabela sailing ship anchored in a bay with green forested coastline under blue sky. — Swimming cruise in Kvarner Bay

MS Mirabela wooden sailing ship anchored in crystal-clear turquoise water with mountains in background. Swimmers visible near the vessel. — Ms Mirabela

Three children sitting on a wooden dock splashing water with their feet. Water droplets sparkle in the sunlight against a blue sky and green trees. — Fun in the water guaranteed

View through trees of Lake Constance harbor with Imperia statue, lighthouse, and boats. People sit on benches in the shaded park area. — Constance

Three cyclists riding on a paved path near Lake Constance. A stone monument and vineyard are visible, with mountains in the background. — Cycling around Lake Constance together

Woman and girl standing on wooden jetty surrounded by green vegetation, with red life ring hanging on post. Sunlight filters through trees. — A break at the jetty

White chalk cliffs of Königsstuhl on Rügen Island framed by green beech trees, overlooking turquoise Baltic Sea under blue sky with clouds. — Rügen

Hvar port with white boats in crystal-clear turquoise water, palm trees, Mediterranean buildings, and green hills under blue sky. — Hvar

Stone archway at Miradouro Porta do Espírito Santo in Vila Nova de Cerveira, framing a panoramic view of the Minho River valley with mountains. — Miradouro Porta do Espírito Santo

Our cycling holidays for families

What children love about cycling holidays

Children want to be on the move – not sitting still. That’s exactly what makes cycling holidays so great for families: the little ones are active, see something new every day and still have plenty of time to play and explore. Along the way, there are castles to explore, markets to browse and ice-cream parlours to stop off at. And because the luggage is already waiting at the destination, neither parents nor children need to worry about anything other than the next stage of the journey.

To avoid any frustration, our family stages are deliberately kept short: between 25 and 45 kilometres a day, mostly on well-maintained cycle paths with no motor traffic. This means that, at the end of the day, parents and children still have energy left for the evening – and are looking forward to the next day.

Five cyclists with helmets riding on a grass path beside a river under blue sky with white clouds. Green trees and hills in background. — Drau Cycle Tour for Families

Well equipped – from child trailers to youth bikes

Anyone travelling with young children needs the right equipment – and doesn’t have to bring it with them. Alongside our hire bikes, we offer child trailers, child seats, tag-along bikes and bikes for older children for hire. This allows you to tailor your trip precisely to the children’s ages and fitness levels: the youngest ride along in the trailer, whilst the older ones gradually start pedalling themselves.

It’s best to request the right accessories directly when booking – that way, everything is reserved in good time. Our experience shows that when the equipment is right, even children who were initially sceptical end up enjoying the cycling.

Woman in blue jacket with bicycle and white child trailer with red flag on coastal path in East Frisia. Green dunes and sea under cloudy sky. — Family cycle ride along the Baltic Sea

Discover Europe as a family – from Germany to the Mediterranean

Family cycling holidays don’t always have to take place on your doorstep. Our range of holidays extends from classic German tours around Lake Constance, the Baltic Sea and Rügen, through Austria (the Danube, Drau and Mur rivers) and Croatia, to France (the Loire), Portugal and northern Spain. For families looking for something truly special, we also offer our canoe and cycle tour along the Altmühl – with a canoe included.

All our tours are designed to strike the right balance between cycling, sightseeing and leisure time. Admission to attractions that children particularly enjoy – from Ravensburger Spieleland on Lake Constance to the Ozeaneum in Stralsund – is already included in the price for many of our tours.

Beach bay in Castelsardo with clear turquoise water, red flowers in foreground, and hillside town with historic castle on top under blue sky. — Castelsardo

Which families are our tours right for?

Whether you’re travelling with a toddler in a trailer or a teenager on their own bike – our family holidays are as varied as the families who book them. Those travelling with toddlers need different stops along the way to a family with teenagers. Those who enjoy swimming are looking for something different to those who prefer castles, museums and city sightseeing. And those travelling with grandparents have different requirements when it comes to pace and comfort.

That’s precisely why our range of family holidays is so wide: from short round-trip tours around Lake Constance to a cruise in Croatia, from canoeing and cycling tours along the Altmühl to a beach holiday on Rügen. If you’re unsure which holiday suits your family best, our team will be happy to advise you.

Family of four cycling on paved path beside river with mountains in background. Two children lead, followed by two adults, all wearing helmets. — Family cycling tour in northern Spain

Frequently asked questions about family cycling holidays

Search FAQs

Three children cycling on red bicycles through a lush green meadow under a blue sky with white clouds. Forested hills visible in background.

From what age can children join?

It depends on the trip. With a child trailer, it’s possible from toddler age onwards; with their own bike, from around six to eight years old. We’d be happy to advise you on which trip and which route would suit your family best.

How family-friendly are the accommodation options?

We specifically book accommodation that has experience with families – plenty of space, room layouts suitable for families on request, and no frowns when children are present.

Can I book the trip at short notice?

Many of our family cycling holidays are popular and book up quickly – especially during the summer holidays. We recommend booking as early as possible so that your preferred dates, room configuration and bike hire equipment can be reserved in good time. However, last-minute bookings are possible, subject to availability.