Tuscany and the Dolomites, Italy
Cycling in Italy works well because you can plan two very different cycling vacations inside one country.
Tuscany is more about rolling terrain, vineyard roads and long café-stop rides. The Dolomites are harder, steeper and far more altitude-heavy. Riders often underestimate the Dolomites because the climbs are a bit shorter than Alpine giants, but gradients regularly stay above 8–10%.
BEST FOR: Intermediate to advanced
BEST MONTHS: May to June, September
Italy suits riders who enjoy the riding as well as the towns and cycling cafés between the climbs. Riders can explore the smaller towns and roads that are already familiar from races like the Giro.
Tuscany routes around Siena and Chianti suit riders who want quality riding without full Alpine excursions. Gravel sections from Strade Bianche country also attract mixed-surface enthusiasts.
Above: The Dolomites have steep climbs close together with very little flat recovery parts.
The riding in the Dolomites becomes serious and mounts up quickly:
- Passo Pordoi
- Passo Sella
- Passo Gardena
- Passo Campolongo
- Passo Giau
- Passo Fedaia
- Passo Falzarego
- Passo Valparola
- Tre Cime di Lavaredo
- Passo Erbe
- Passo San Pellegrino
- Passo Costalunga
- Passo Duran
- Sella Ronda
The Sella Ronda loop stays popular because it stacks multiple passes into one ride without long valley transfers. Indoors on ROUVY, the loop also suits climbing pacing because the gradients change constantly.
For more Italy-focused routes, take a look at: Best road cycling in Italy.
The French Alps and Provence
The French Alps are where many riders finally test themselves against climbs they've watched for years during the Tour de France. Alpe d'Huez, Galibier and Col de la Madeleine already carry plenty of history. What catches most riders out is how long these climbs actually feel once the road climbs into double-digit gradients.
These climbs are long. Recovery between them disappears quickly once day two turns into day five and your legs start rebelling.
The Madeleine is also one of those climbs that looks manageable on a web page until you realise the summit is still very far away after an hour of climbing.
Above: Col de la Madeleine is the sort of climb that stays in your legs for hours.
BEST FOR: Advanced riders and climbers
BEST MONTHS: June to early September
The Alps suit riders who want long climbing days on roads they have watched the pros tackle in the Grand Tours, while Provence provides routes at a more relaxed pace.
A typical Alpine route can mean:
- 4–6 hours riding
- 2,500–4,000m of elevation
- long descents with rapid weather changes, especially afternoons
That also changes equipment choices. Compact gearing and lower climbing ratios make far more sense on climbs with double-digit gradients. Extra layers are also needed for the descents.
Provence gives a softer version of southern France riding. Mont Ventoux still dominates the region, but the surrounding roads are quieter and less intense than the high Alps.
ROUVY becomes useful here because pacing matters more than ego. You can rehearse Alpe d'Huez or Ventoux indoors before the trip and learn pacing skills, what you’re in for and whether you are pacing too hard, too soon. If you burn too many matches too soon, you can just step off the trainer, but during an actual climb that could be an issue. For further French inspiration, you can ride the iconic Haute Route in the French Alps.
Tenerife and the Canary Islands
Tenerife solves one problem better than almost anywhere in Europe: winter riding.
When it’s raining or snowing in Northern Europe, Tenerife still has dry roads and long climbing days. That is why pro teams train there every winter. You see rental bikes worth more than some cars outside cafés around Mount Teide.
BEST FOR: Intermediate and advanced endurance riders
BEST MONTHS: Year-round, especially winter
Tenerife makes winter training far simpler because you can ride long climbs in warm weather almost any month of the year. Most rides revolve around Teide in some form, and sooner or later nearly every road points uphill.
Above: Roads around Mount Teide make it easy to settle into long, uninterrupted tempo efforts.
Key points riders should know:
- Climbs are long rather than steep
- The weather changes dramatically with elevation
- Descents can become cold after climbing out of hot valleys
- Wind can make riding less predictable
Tenerife riding suits riders training for gran fondos, long endurance events or IRONMAN racing because sustained climbing blocks are easy to structure there. ROUVY routes around Mount Teide also work well indoors for winter base training because the gradients stay steady enough for long pacing efforts.
Slovenia and the Julian Alps
Slovenia still feels quieter than many larger European cycling destinations. Roads stay quieter, prices remain lower, and the climbing is serious enough for experienced riders.
The Julian Alps have gained more attention since Tadej Pogačar and Primož Roglič pushed Slovenian cycling into the spotlight, but it still avoids the traffic and heavy tourism of bigger Alpine regions.
BEST FOR: Intermediate riders and adventurous climbers
BEST MONTHS: June to September
Slovenia riding appeals to riders who want serious mountain roads without the heavier traffic and packed tourist towns common in larger Alpine regions. The roads around Lake Bled and Kranjska Gora make good base areas. Climbs are shorter than many French Alpine passes but often steeper. Vršič Pass stands out because the cobbled hairpins near the summit arrive unexpectedly after long stretches of asphalt.
Above: A pic I took of the cobbled hairpins near the top of Vršič Pass can come as a surprise.
Vršič also feels very different in real life compared with photos because the cobbled corners arrive just when your legs already want the climb to end, and you’re thinking, how much further to the top?
Slovenia is also a great idea for mixed vacations. Hiking, lakes and smaller towns make it easier for non-cycling partners or families to enjoy the trip too.
Above: Long climbing days improve once a good coffee and sandwiches appear.
Austria and the Tyrol
Austria makes cycling trips easier than many other Alpine regions because the roads are well-maintained, route signage is reliable and even smaller mountain towns are used to riders during summer. You can spend less time figuring out logistics and more time riding your bike.
Above: Austria’s alpine roads combine long climbs with quieter valley riding and less traffic than many larger Alpine regions.
Tyrol combines long Alpine climbs with flatter valley roads, so mixed groups can split routes more easily without needing long car transfers between riding areas. Stronger riders can head higher into the mountains while others stay on lower roads that still pass through lakes, forests and smaller villages.
BEST FOR: Intermediate riders and cycling couples
BEST MONTHS: June to September
Austria has invested heavily in cycling infrastructure, with more than 10,000 km of marked routes, from riverside family paths to steep mountain roads. Cycling hotels, bike transport services, family cycle paths and e-bike support make multi-day trips easier to organise, especially for couples, families or groups riding at different levels.
The Danube Cycle Path is the best-known example, but western Austria and Tyrol also have extensive route networks linking valleys, climbs and bike-friendly towns. The climbs here rarely get the same attention as Alpe d’Huez or Stelvio. Still, many riders end up preferring Austria because traffic is usually lighter and the roads between major climbs feel less crowded than in some of Europe’s bigger cycling hotspots.
Austria also suits riders who secretly enjoy finishing a big climb without the sound of cars and motorbikes still buzzing in their ears.
Croatia and the Dalmatian coast
Croatia suits riders who want shorter riding days on coastal roads rather than back-to-back mountain climbing. Many routes combine rolling terrain with ferry crossings, swimming stops and overnight stays in smaller Adriatic towns.
Cycling here feels less structured than Mallorca or the Alps because ferries, islands and changing road surfaces become part of the day instead of interruptions between rides. Riders often split days between shorter rides, café stops and time off the bike instead of building the trip entirely around training volume. Island hopping between places like Hvar, Brač and Korčula is a major part of the appeal.
Ferry schedules occasionally become part of the training plan whether you intended that or not, and trying not to miss the ferry usually becomes the hardest sprint effort of the day.
BEST FOR: Recreational and intermediate riders
BEST MONTHS: April to June, September
Croatia works particularly well for riders who enjoy rolling coastal terrain rather than long Alpine climbs. Roads on islands like Hvar and Brač pass olive groves, vineyards, old stone villages and quieter inland sections away from the busier summer coastline.
Above: Island routes often combine ferry crossings, gravel sections and quieter inland roads.
Road surfaces vary more than in France, Austria or Mallorca, so slightly wider tyres usually make longer days more comfortable. Coastal wind can also become strong on exposed sections, especially during afternoon ferry crossings and open shoreline riding.
Popular riding areas include:
- Hvar
- Brač
- Korčula
- Split coastline
- Dubrovnik region
Summer temperatures rise quickly by late morning, especially along exposed coastal roads with little shade, so most cyclists start early and finish before the hottest part of the day.
Best family cycling holidays in Europe
Not every European cycling holiday revolves around long mountain climbs, though.
Family cycling holidays in Europe usually work best when the route removes traffic stress. Long climbs and technical descents are less important than easy navigation, safe surfaces and flexible daily distances.
Danube Cycle Path
The Danube Cycle Path remains one of Europe's best-known family-friendly cycling routes because navigation is simple and gradients stay manageable. Large sections are separated from traffic, and daily distances are easy to shorten if needed, which removes a lot of stress for parents travelling with children.
Above: Austria’s Danube routes combine paved cycle paths, smaller towns and frequent rest stops.
The Austria section between Passau and Vienna works particularly well:
- Mostly flat riding
- Frequent towns and cafés
- Short daily stages are possible
- Strong bike rental support
Families often mix riding with train transfers, which keeps the trip flexible if younger riders get tired. Ferry crossings, riverside towns and regular stopping points also help break up longer days without making the trip feel overly organised.
Loire Valley, France
The Loire Valley gives a different style of family cycling vacation. Distances between towns stay short and routes pass through vineyards, castles and quieter riverside roads rather than major climbing terrain.
Above: Relaxed riding past the Renaissance castle in Lassay-sur-Croisne, Loire Valley.
This suits:
- Couples
- Multi-generational trips
- Recreational riders
- Families with older children
The riding seldom becomes physically demanding, which keeps the vacation relaxed rather than built around training goals. It also works well for riders who want slower mornings, longer lunch stops and shorter riding days mixed with sightseeing instead of back-to-back endurance rides. Some lunch stops can end up longer than the riding itself.
