Introduction: Why Belgium is a cyclist’s paradise
Cobblestones, culture and cycling passion
Cycling in Belgium is not just a sport; it’s an integral part of daily life, culture, and tradition. From cobbled streets and rolling fields to lush forest trails and scenic canals with its resident ducks, swans and geese, the country celebrates bikes at every turn. Belgian culture, with its waffles, frietjes with mayo, chocolate, and world-renowned beers, complements every ride, making each journey a feast for both the senses and the legs.
A bucket-list destination for every rider
Belgium is small enough to explore easily, yet varied enough to offer something for every cyclist.
- Ride the legendary Spring Classics,
- uncover hidden gravel trails in Wallonia,
- or follow endurance routes weaving through canals, countryside, and cobbles.
Living here for over three years, I’ve experienced firsthand the character and variety that make Belgium a must-visit cycling destination.
Best Belgian cycling routes you have to ride
1. Flanders Classics route – cobbles and short, sharp climbs
This route, roughly 140 km in length, links together short but brutal climbs, such as the Oude Kwaremont, Paterberg, and Koppenberg, with flat sections in between. Total elevation gain is around 2,200–2,500 metres, depending on the version you ride.
Terrain includes tarmac, steep cobbled climbs, narrow lanes winding through farmland and historic villages. Highlights are the ancient cobbles of the Flemish Ardennes, views across patchwork fields, small chapels, and roadside bars.
When I rode this loop with friends, we stopped in Oudenaarde, where the Tour of Flanders Centre is located. Standing at the Ronde van Vlaanderen monument, reading the names of past champions etched in stone, really brought the history of these roads back to life. It’s a reminder that every cobbled climb is a connection to legends like Eddy Merckx, Tom Boonen and Johan Museeuw.
Difficulty is high: you need good bike handling, lower gearing, and strength to manage the steep gradients. Best ridden in late spring or summer when the fields are green, though rain can make cobbles treacherous.
- Suggested Komoot / GPX route: Tour of Flanders – Belgian Road Classics
2. Tour of Flanders sportive – ride like the pros
Every spring, thousands of hobby and avid riders descend on Flanders to ride the Tour of Flanders Sportive during the Spring Classics season. Distances range from 75 km to 175 km, with an elevation gain of up to 3,000 m. Terrain mixes smooth asphalt, cobbled bergs, narrow lanes and rolling hills.
I haven’t ridden the sportive myself, but living in Belgium, I’ve seen the excitement it generates. Friends who have taken part describe the festival-like atmosphere, camaraderie among riders, and the thrill of tackling the same roads as the pros.
Difficulty increases on longer cycling routes; ensure you have the endurance, a solid fitness base, and sufficient time to recover.
- Suggested Komoot / GPX routes: Climbs of the Tour of Flanders
3. The Muur van Geraardsbergen – legendary climb off the beaten path
The Muur van Geraardsbergen, or Kapelmuur, is a 1.1 km cobbled climb with an average gradient of 9.3% and peaks at 19.8%. While it was once a decisive part of the Tour of Flanders, it was removed in 2012. Today, it features in races such as Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and occasionally the Brussels Cycling Classic.
When I rode the Muur, we stopped for coffee and pancakes at a café in Geraardsbergen just before tackling the climb, possibly for the extra energy but also for the great café vibe. Conquering the Muur, with its chapel at the summit, felt like a rite of passage and gave a real sense of what the pros endure during the Spring Classics.
- Suggested Komoot / GPX route: The Muur of Geraardsbergen (17km)
4. The Ardennes in Wallonia – hills, forests and hidden heritage
The roads twist through wooded hills, deep valleys and open ridges, with longer, sustained climbs. Key ascents include the Côte de La Redoute and Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons.
For enthusiasts of road cycling seeking to experience the race atmosphere of the Tilff–Bastogne–Tilff Sportive, which covers the legendary climbs of the Liege-Bastogne-Liege pro event, from shorter options to the full endurance route. I haven’t ridden it yet, but it remains a bucket-list event for cycling holidays. The Côte de La Redoute and Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons are included in the route.
Slightly southeast of Liege, I enjoy the popular mountain bike routes of and near the Ardenne Trophy MTB event. One highlight was passing the 11th- to 12th-century Franchimont Castle in Theux, an archaeological site within a medieval fortress.
The forest trails were technical in places, with roots, stony sections, and steep inclines, and they were wet and muddy. However, seeing the castle ruins on my mountain bike made it a memorable ride. It perfectly showcases the Ardennes’ combination of sporting challenge and rich cultural history.
The region is also home to several UNESCO sites, which you can link into multi-day rides. Komoot has an excellent collection called The Belgian Treasure Chest of Wallonia: The UNESCO Cycle Route, which includes Franchimont and other historical gems.
The difficulty level is medium to high, depending on the chosen distance and the number of climbs. Roads are quieter than in Flanders, with smooth asphalt and some narrow lanes, while forest trails offer a more technical challenge. Summer is ideal, but autumn brings spectacular colours in the forests.
Suggested Komoot / GPX routes:
- Tilff routes near Liege (Road)
- Theux (MTB)
5. Belgian coastal ride – dunes, sea air and endless paths
Belgium’s 66.5 km coastline offers flat, wind-swept rides from De Panne to Knokke-Heist. The Coastal Route, one of the best spots for scenic cycling in Belgium, runs mostly traffic-free along dikes, dunes and sea walls, with spurs into towns.
Highlights include Nieuwpoort’s fishing harbour, Oostende’s promenade, Blankenberge and De Haan’s belle époque architecture, and Knokke-Heist’s nature reserve Het Zwin. Wind can be the main challenge.
I haven’t cycled these cycling routes yet, though they're on my list for next summer's cycling trip. Locals typically combine a morning ride with stops at seafood and brasserie restaurants, making it a perfect, relaxed cycling holiday.
Suggested Komoot / GPX route:
- Sea, sand and saddle - Coastal route (includes photos)
- Coastal Route - Belgian Coast (includes photos)
6. Gravel and MTB adventures – forests, castles and cobbles
Belgium’s amazing forests, riversides and backroads make it ideal for gravel and mountain biking. Wallonia and Flanders offer a mix of technical forest trails, farm tracks, and village connectors.
One of my favourite rides is in Brussels’ Sonian Forest (Zoniënwoud). This loop mixes gravel lanes, cobbled stretches and climbs, passing landmarks such as Solvay Castle, Arenberg Castle, and the Africa Museum in Tervuren, making it rich in cultural experience. The ride totals around 1,240 m of rolling hills and was a brilliant way to explore the area off-road.
Elsewhere, Flanders and Wallonia have longer MTB and gravel trails, perfect for technical exploration or endurance training.
- Suggested Komoot / GPX routes: Sonian Forest Gravel & Cobbles (Gravel - various distances)
The Sonian Forest route I rode is also uploaded on my Strava - view here.
Fun fact: the Belgian champion’s jersey
The Belgian national champion’s jersey features the black, yellow and red bands of the flag. Its design is simple but striking, making it instantly recognisable in the pro peloton and a badge of pride for riders.
Planning your ride
Belgium’s cycling seasons each bring their own character.
- In spring, the Classics set the tone, and the countryside bursts into colour. I rode through the Sonian Forest (Zoniënwoud) in late spring, where the morning's crisp, cool air soon gave way to sunshine, and bluebells and daffodils began to emerge from the ground beneath the tall beech trees.
- Summer brings long days for endurance adventures, perfect for linking Flanders’ cobbled climbs or taking on a full Ardennes loop.
- Autumn transforms Wallonia into a tapestry of gold and red, making it a favourite time for locals.
- By contrast, the Ardennes region in winter is generally avoided by cyclists, who prefer to ride there up until autumn before icy conditions set in.
When it comes to choosing a bike, you have options.
- A road bike with a compact crankset (50/34) and a cassette of 32 or even 34 teeth is ideal for the short but sharp cobbled bergs and the longer climbs of the Ardennes, allowing one to spin and not grind the pedals.
- Wider tyres (28–30 mm) will add comfort and confidence on the cobbles.
- For mixed routes, a gravel bike opens up more possibilities, but a mountain bike can also be a good choice in places like the Sonian Forest. I used mine here, appreciating both the extra gearing and the stability on its stoney trails and cobbled cut-throughs.
Belgium’s weather is famously wisselvalig, or changeable, so check the weather app just before heading out. Rain showers can appear out of nowhere, cobbles turn slick in the wet, and forest trails can be muddy even after sunshine. Smooth pedalling and controlled handling are more valuable than brute force.
The cultural aspect of cycling in Belgium is just as important as the riding itself. Stopping to refuel at a local café or brasserie isn’t optional; it’s part of the rhythm of Belgian culture. Refuel with waffles, fries with mayonnaise, mussels, or even a Trappist beer or a sweet Cherry Chouffe beer (my favourite) if the hard work is behind you. These food traditions are as deeply ingrained in the sport as the climbs themselves.
Finally, logistics planning is straightforward. With excellent train connections across the country, you can easily plan point-to-point rides without worrying about looping back. GPX files on Komoot definitely make planning even smoother.
Indoor & virtual Belgium on ROUVY
Many of the routes mentioned are available on ROUVY, allowing cyclists to train indoors while experiencing real Belgian roads and scenery. Virtual rides help you study route profiles, climbs, and cobbled sections, making your real-life rides more enjoyable and better prepared.
Some sample itineraries
1-day cobble conqueror: Flanders Classics loop with Paterberg and Oude Kwaremont, ending with a café stop in Oudenaarde.
2-day Ardennes weekend: Tackle Liège–Bastogne–Liège climbs, La Roche-en-Ardenne MTB trails past Franchimont Castle, and visit UNESCO sites in Wallonia.
2-day Coastal Tour: Ride Knokke-Heist to Oostende (40 km), explore the promenade, and enjoy fresh seafood by the harbour. Continue from Oostende to De Panne (45 km), taking in dune landscapes and finishing with a well-earned seaside terrace.
Belgium: a cycling canvas of culture and challenge
From the cobbled streets of Flanders to the wind-swept dikes along the coast, the rolling forests of the Ardennes, and hidden gravel tracks in Brussels and Wallonia, Belgium offers many excellent options and a way to connect with history, landscapes, culture, and local life. It is possible to create unforgettable experiences within a small but extraordinary country.
