Our cycling holiday insider tips

Less well-known, but just as beautiful – cycling trips off the beaten track

The Danube, the Moselle, Lake Constance – anyone who cycles a lot knows the great classics. And loves them. But at some point you find yourself wondering: what’s next?

Our insider tips for cycling holidays are routes in lesser-known regions – often not far from the major cycle routes, but with a completely different atmosphere. The Lahn Valley Cycle Route 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 venture off the beaten track will be rewarded.

On this page, you’ll find over 20 insider tips for cycling holidays in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Scandinavia and southern Europe – with daily stages ranging from 35 to 55 kilometres, including luggage transport and hotels.

Cobblestone street in Ettlingen with historic buildings, church tower, street lamp, and lush green trees under blue sky. — Ettlingen

Aerial view of Rhine Falls with white water cascading over rocks. A historic castle and bridge are visible on the right bank, surrounded by lush green forests. — Rhine Falls

Ancient Roman amphitheater ruins at Piazza Sant'Oronzo in Lecce with stone columns, arches, and steps, surrounded by historic buildings under blue sky. — Roman Amphitheatre, Lecce

Colorful pedal boats lined up on sandy beach at Titisee with passenger boat at dock, forested hills and blue sky in background. — Titisee

Row of red wooden boathouses with white trim along a stone pier in Rødvig harbor. Small boats are moored beside the buildings under clear blue sky. — Rødvig

Vaduz Castle on a green hillside with winding road, surrounded by trees. Mountains and dramatic clouds visible in the background. — Vaduz Castle

Whitewashed trulli houses with conical stone roofs in Alberobello. A bicycle with red flowers stands in a narrow alley decorated with potted plants. — Alberobello

Two cyclists with helmets standing at a bronze fountain model in front of Konstanz Minster. The Gothic church tower rises behind green trees on a sunny day. — Constance

Thatched-roof garden house with blue door and orange timber framing at Hindsgavl Slot in Middelfart, surrounded by purple globe thistles. — Hindsgavl

Turquoise water cove at Grotta Zinzulusa near Castro with limestone cliffs, a boat crossing the water, and stone steps with railing. — Grotta Zinzulusa

Sunny plaza in Valencia with fountain, palm trees, and historic buildings including Valencia Cathedral with its bell tower under blue sky. — Valenzia

Cyclist on white sandy path through golden dunes on Terschelling island. Houses visible on distant dunes under blue sky at Formerum beach. — The island of Terschelling

Our cycling holiday insider tips

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.

Several boats moored in calm blue water beside a large tree. Reeds line the waterway under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds. — The hinterland of the Baltic Sea

Insider tips in Germany – from the River Lahn to the Baltic Sea

Germany has more to offer than just the Danube, the Elbe and the Moselle. The Lahn Valley Cycle Route takes you on a seven-day journey through idyllic half-timbered villages between the Taunus and the Westerwald – culminating in a boat trip on the Rhine. The Moselle Wine Tour offers accommodation at winegrowers’ estates rather than chain hotels, making wine tasting the central theme of the entire trip.

Those who prefer something a little greener and quieter will find a star-shaped cycle tour through the Murg, Enz and Nagold valleys on a cycling holiday in the northern Black Forest – with numerous train journeys 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.

Colorful flowers frame the Lahn River in Bad Ems with white historic buildings along the promenade, green hills, and a boat on the water. — Bad Ems on the River Lahn

European hidden gems – from Switzerland to Istria

Switzerland is more than just the Rhine Falls and Lake Lucerne. The Rhine cycle tour in Switzerland runs from Constance to the Rhine Gorge in Graubünden – and includes a train journey through one of Europe’s most spectacular gorges. The cycle tour to St. Moritz in Graubünden takes in the Albula Railway and the Vereina Tunnel – train journeys that are an experience in their own right.

Those who want to visit Scandinavia but have already been to Rügen will find, on the circular tour of Funen, Denmark’s ‘Garden Island’ along with the islands of the Danish South Sea – 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 port cities, olive groves and far fewer fellow travellers.

Sunny cobblestone street in Grožnjan with stone buildings, white café chairs, potted plants, and blue sky. Historic Croatian hilltop town. — Grožnjan

Who are cycling holiday insider tips right for?

For anyone who’s been on a cycle tour before. If you’ve already cycled along the Danube, the Moselle or the Baltic Sea and know what it’s like to really know a route inside out – then you’re ready for an insider’s tip. But first-time bookers who want to deliberately head off the beaten track will also find just the thing here.

The tours on this page are aimed at travellers who prioritise discovery over comfort – who’d rather stay in a charming wine-growing village than in a well-known tourist town, and who prefer a quiet, uncrowded route to a well-signposted, popular cycle path. As with all our tours, luggage transport, hotels and route guides are included – the only difference is that, at the end of your trip, you’ll have a story to tell that not everyone knows about yet.

Two cyclists resting on a bench in Flensburg's old town with yellow half-timbered houses, bicycles with blue bags, and a blooming tree. — Flensburg’s Old Town

Frequently asked questions about our cycling holiday insider tips

Search FAQs

Red touring bicycle with blue panniers parked on grass overlooking a calm lake. A large tree and house are visible under a blue sky.

Are hidden gems for cycle tours more challenging than normal tours?

No. The level of difficulty depends on the specific tour, not on whether it is an insider’s tip. On this page, you will find tours with stage lengths of 1–2 as well as more challenging routes with stage lengths of 4–5. The information on stage length and topography provided for each tour will help you make the right choice.

Are the routes well signposted, even if they are less well-known?

Yes. All our tours – whether classic routes or hidden gems – come with detailed route guides containing maps, route descriptions and information on places of interest. Good on-site signposting is also one of our selection criteria when putting together our tours.

Are new hidden gems added regularly?

Yes – we’re constantly expanding our range to include new routes and regions. If you don’t want to miss out on any updates, you can subscribe to our newsletter or visit this page regularly.